Letting it go (Anna/Dare)

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare nodded; that was to be expected. "So you think they'll be safe down there?" he asked. Dare tried not to be distracted by the motion of Michael's thumb, but it took some effort, and he kept reminding himself that they were talking about Adara and Emilian, a more important topic than the taste of Michael's lips. Dare blinked and looked away from those lips back down to their hands, which wasn't much better. He ended in looking down at the pattern of the fibers in the rug they were sitting on.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael nodded absently, his eyes caught by Dare's movements, "They'll be fine." He watched Dare for a moment, then brought his other hand over to bring up Dare's chin. He smiled as he met Dare's eyes then leaned in for a kiss. It wouldn't have happened had he not caught Dare's gaze a few moments before, but seeing Dare turn his eyes away had made it nearly impossible for Michael to resist.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare hadn't been expecting that light touch, or that smile. The look in Michael's eyes had sent a thrill through him that went far beyond the physical, and he was momentarily distracted by it, so much so that he hadn't been expecting the kiss, either. But he didn't argue the kiss, not for a second. In a heartbeat, his left hand rose to smooth against Michael's jaw, moving reverently across his skin. The conversation was forgotten now for the relief, the undeniable pleasure, of being able to show Michael how he felt.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed softly into the kiss and relaxed into the easy pleasure of it. He moved his hand up Dare's jaw and into his hair, curving around the back of his head to pull him deeper into the kiss. It didn't take long for Michael to give himself over to the kiss, though he kept a small part of his mind in reserve, reminding himself what Dare had said about curfew.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare wasn't thinking about curfew anymore. He normally got in just at curfew, except for the one time that he'd been late with Michael, but there had been no consequences that night, and he'd still been the first Gryffindor in the dorm. He wasn't particularly worried, but he knew that if it wasn't for curfew, he'd stay out with Michael all night and not get any sleep. Which was tempting to do. Either way, there was nothing distracting him from the kiss, the slow, intimate pleasure without desperation. He didn't seek to bring the desperation, but just to thoroughly enjoy Michael, an easy task.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael didn't particularly care about curfew, but he knew that Dare tended to want to keep to it, so he tried to keep it in the back of his mind even as he let himself enjoy the kiss. He let go of Dare's hand and moved his arm around Dare's waist instead, shifting closer and seeking more of the comfortable contact. He deepened the kiss slowly as the pleasure increased and as his blood started to rush.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare couldn't help responding, even if he'd wanted to. The light pressure of Michael's body, the growing tension between them, was irresistible. Dare's hand squeezed Michael's briefly, an echo of the motion Michael always used, that brief reassurance he loved so much, then released, his arm slipping between Michael's back and the couch as he angled toward Michael. He couldn't help thinking through the growing haze that he loved this guy, and that Michael loved him. His blood heated with the thought, and it showed in the kiss, in the way his fingers curved against Michael's back.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

It wasn't long before Michael had forgotten any thought of curfew, and the next minutes passed in a whir of pure emotion and physical sensation. And when it was over, Michael found them in much the same position they had been earlier in the day, only he was still fully clothed. In a sense. Both his and Dare's shirts had been pushed up sometime during the kiss to allow for easier access, but Michael didn't think on it too much as he let himself nuzzle into Dare's neck as his blood slowly cooled and he breathed a low I love you.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Those three words sent a rush of emotion through Dare so strong that he could hardly breathe for a moment. His heart felt like it would burst, and he squeezed his eyes shut, just letting himself absorb the moment, absorb the indescribable feeling. Then he turned his head slightly, brushing his lips against Michael's ear, and whispered, I love you, too. He didn't want this moment to end, but as the haze faded, he began to recall curfew, and the chances of getting caught on the way back to Gryffindor Tower. Still, he nuzzled against Michael, let his hand sift idly through his silken red hair. He knew he'd have to stop soon, or this would become a habit, but he told himself, just a few more minutes.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael felt his own little thrill speed through his blood and settle in his chest at Dare's return, and he decided he could stay there for the rest of his life if Dare was willing. One hand spread out over Dare's lower back, and the other on his side, and he pressed soft kisses to Dare's neck where he met skin, trying to take in enough of the taste, feel, and smell of Dare to last him until the next time they were together.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare exhaled slowly, trying not to shift too much, to distract too much from the warm press of Michael's kiss, and the soft strength of his hands. He allowed himself another few minutes to enjoy it, and to stroke against Michael's hair, to breathe him in, before murmuring, "Am I ever going to get to sleep tonight?" His lips curved with the words; he wasn't particularly worried, but it was as close as he could get to making himself pull away.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael grinned, "If you really want to." He wouldn't force Dare to stay, though he would try to encourage him to. His hand moved slowly on Dare's back, trying to keep contact for as long as possible before Dare decided to get up and actually leave, which Michael knew he would do eventually. He pulled back from Dare's neck and looked up at him, examining the lines of his face.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare made a soft noise that tried to sound frustrated, but failed as his eyes searched Michael's. "You know I don't want to go," he said, whether Michael really did know or not. But he should know. It was getting harder to leave every night, and Dare had half a mind to give up sleep entirely. "C'mon, I need my beauty rest if I'm going to keep looking like an Adonis," he tried, his lips quirking despite his best intentions. Still, he couldn't seem to shift his weight off of Michael.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael grinned, "You act like you deteriorate over the day." He shook his head, if anything, Dare looked better as the day went on, and he resisted rolling his eyes at the comment. "I'm not keeping you," he said, letting his hands fall down to rest lightly on Dare's waist. He grinned again and raised an eyebrow, as though challenging Dare to leave.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's lips spread into a grin. "Bastard," he murmured, eyes gleaming. "You're not supposed to call my bluff." He dipped his head down and caught Michael's lower lip between his teeth playfully, then initiated another kiss, giving curfew up for a lost cause. Just this once, he'd make an exception and see what happened. It'd be worth any consequences, anyway.