A/N: A song inspired me to write this. "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal. Hence the title ;). Please read and review! ;)
Kissed By A Rose
"Jimmy? Hey, Jimmy!" He heard a tender voice whisper his name.
Slowly he opened his eyes. Had he been sleeping?
"I'm sure that Mr Carson wouldn't like the sight of his first footman sleeping during the work" the voice said lightly.
Jimmy blinked. Thomas was kneeling in front of him, his hand on Jimmy's shoulder to wake him up.
The under-butler smiled. "Come", he said.
But Jimmy didn't move. He was very much aware of Thomas's hand on his shoulder. It felt warm and pleasant. He wanted to sit just a little bit longer and enjoy this feeling.
Thomas arched an eyebrow. "You're not coming?" he asked and his voice sounded playful. "Alright. As you like. Then I think I have to tell Mr Carson."
Just as he wanted to stand up and take his hand away, Jimmy said, "Wait."
Thomas halted in his movement and looked at him. Did he expect something?
"I want…" Jimmy began but he didn't quite know how to express what he wanted. He raised his head and looked the older man straight in the eyes. He could only hope that Thomas understood him and interpreted his look in the right way. A few seconds the under-butler just returned the look, his eyes searching for an answer in Jimmy's. Then, slowly, very slowly, he raised his hand and Jimmy felt the small, soft weight being lifted from his shoulder. Thomas still didn't look away. His hand slowly moved up to Jimmy's cheek. The gentle touch of Thomas's fingers made him shiver. But he didn't flinch. Thomas's hand rested against his cheek, his palm now fully touching Jimmy's face. The footman's eyes were still fixed on Thomas's, his breath now unsteady and his heart beating faster. He was sure Thomas understood him. He knew what he wanted. Jimmy's heartbeat stopped as Thomas leaned in. It felt like aeons of time till their faces were so close that Jimmy could feel Thomas's warm breath on his skin. The older man hesitated for a second and his eyes seemed to ask, Are you sure that you want this?
Instead of an answer Jimmy closed his eyes. When Thomas's soft lips touched his, his heart fluttered in his chest. Yes, this was exactly what he wanted. Desperately. Jimmy kissed him back in the sweetest way he could. The feeling of being so close to the man he secretly loved, of Thomas's lips against his, his hand on his cheek, was overwhelming. He wished this moment would last forever.
But when he opened his eyes and expected to find Thomas smiling warmly at him, he looked at nothing but empty space. The gentle hand on his cheek was gone but the feeling of the imagined kiss still lingered on his lips. There was no Thomas.
Jimmy's eyes turned sad. "…a kiss" he quietly finished the sentence he had begun ages ago.
Outside the window he could see the snowflakes fall silently to the ground.
So it had only been a dream.
A beautiful dream.