The Fourth Time (Posted 19 November 2011)

"You know," Harvey said, "you don't have to sit so far away."

"Oh..." Mike answered sheepishly. They were on Harvey's couch, with about six inches between them. Harvey seemed pretty relaxed, but Mike was sitting rigidly, not exactly sure how he should be acting.

Harvey must have sensed his uneasiness because his face softened just slightly as he looked at him. "Come here." he requested, placing an arm around Mike's shoulders and pulling him closer.

Mike let himself be pulled against Harvey, tentatively laying his head on Harvey's shoulder and relishing in the sensation of being sort-of held by him. It almost felt a little awkward at first, but it quickly became the most comfortable position he'd ever felt. "This is nice," he said softly.

"I'm glad you think so." Harvey's voice was low and cautious, and tinged with a hint of a smile Mike was sure he was having a hard time repressing. A few more minutes of silence passed by until he finally spoke again. "I realized something at dinner tonight."

"Yeah?"

"We've gone out every night for the past two weeks, and I haven't kissed you yet."

Mike gulped nervously. "I noticed that too..."

"Does that mean I have your permission to do it now?"

"Yes," Mike whispered, and felt his chin be lifted as he was forced to look into Harvey's eyes. Most people saw them as expressionless and cold, but Mike saw something different. He knew there was more to Harvey than his reputation. It's what had made Mike fall for him in the first place.

It seemed like forever until their lips met, pressing together sweetly for the first time. Mike thought it was oddly out of character for Harvey to be so tender, but when he considered how Harvey always kept himself in check, it wasn't really that surprising. That, and maybe he thought Mike was slightly, kind of, sort of, just a tiny bit... special.

When Harvey pulled away, Mike was surprised (and a little sad) that the kiss was over. But he smiled, because the look on Harvey's face told him everything he needed to know. He wasn't as fragile as everyone thought he was, but the fact that Harvey was taking things slowly made his heart do backflips in his chest. He didn't think he'd ever experience anything more intimate.

That is, until Harvey reached over and took hold of his hand, their fingers pressing together and sending an electric pulse through Mike's body. The kiss was great, but this... this, Mike was sure, was more of a kiss than anything. The waves of passion and sensation he felt through where their hands were connected confirmed that yes, he was very special. He was sure that Harvey had never hugged anyone this warmly, never kissed anyone so gently, and certainly never held anyone's hand at all, let alone this lovingly.

And even though Mike had wanted to inspect Harvey's ears and eyebrows more closely tonight, he decided to just let it go for now and enjoy the happiness he knew they were both feeling.

A/N: This chapter's not as good as the rest... sorry :/ I wanted to work a Vulcan kiss in here somehow, but I just couldn't seem to write it the way I imagined it. I wanted it to be subtle, not completely obvious, but I don't think I did a very good job. Eh, the final two chapters will be better though, I promise :D