Chapter 7 — Are You Trying To Woo Me?

Sherlock had never before found any use for romance, unless it was to help him solve a case. Now, though, he had a boyfriend. And John was surprisingly romantic.

In the beginning, John had confined his demonstrations of affection to their flat, but on their latest case there had been a subtle shift. He was particularly attentive to Sherlock all week – complimenting him more than usual on his brilliance, finding excuses to brush up against him at crime scenes, and showering him with gentle kisses whenever they were alone.

By the time they'd wrapped things up, Sherlock had begun to feel like John was engaged in some sort of old-fashioned courtship ritual. As they sat in a taxi heading away from New Scotland Yard, John magically produced a cluster of seedless red grapes and popped one in Sherlock's mouth.

"John," Sherlock asked, gazing at him fondly, "are you trying to woo me?"

"Maybe… Is it working?"

Sherlock laughed. "Well, I'm certainly not complaining. But you really don't have to try so hard. You've already got me."

John shot a glance toward the cabbie and then murmured conspiratorially, "I want to blow you."

It was a good thing that Sherlock had already swallowed his grape, or he would have choked on it. He spluttered, "R-r-right now?"

John smiled at him, but his eyes were dark and serious. "No. Tonight. If you'll let me."

"Yes."

Sherlock didn't know how he made it through the rest of the cab ride. His body was thrumming with excitement. He kept expecting John to leer at him, or to make some sort of suggestive comment, but his boyfriend remained as chivalrous as he'd been all week.

"Let's go to Angelo's," John suggested. "I want to have a date night with you."

How could Sherlock refuse?

Angelo seated them at the window table where they'd first dined together, all those years ago. This time, when he brought them a candle, John said, "Thanks. That'll make our date more romantic."

It was the first time John had acknowledged their relationship publicly, and Sherlock was surprised by how pleased he felt. Here I am, he thought, on a date, with a man who wants the world to know it.

Although Sherlock wasn't particularly hungry, he had to admit that having dinner out together was a good idea. He'd been in a state of heightened alert ever since he heard John's shocking words in the taxi, flitting between eager anticipation and a strange sort of nervousness. Now, picking at his food and sipping his wine, he felt his tension gradually ebbing away. He placed one hand on the table, and John gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Back in the flat, John took a shower while Sherlock emailed Lestrade a few final notes on the case. Sherlock could hear the water running for a lot longer than usual, and was beginning to feel impatient by the time John finally emerged.

Once he, too, was clean, Sherlock came out of the bathroom to find John dressed in pyjamas, using two fingers to type his latest blog entry. Glancing up, John quickly set the laptop aside and walked over to wrap his arms around his towel-clad boyfriend. "Mmmm… You smell good."

"You mean I don't smell like I've been rummaging through a skip, like I usually do after a case."

John nuzzled under his ear. "No, I mean you smell really good."

"Come here," he added, taking Sherlock's hand and leading him to the bed. "Can we lose the towel?"

Sherlock nodded, tossing the towel over the back of a chair. He pulled off John's sleep shirt, but as he reached for the waistband of his boyfriend's pyjama bottoms, John grasped his hands, stilling them. "I wanked in the shower," he admitted nonchalantly. "I want tonight to be all about you."

Sherlock found himself temporarily speechless. John pulled back the duvet and patted the bed, inviting him to lie down. Once Sherlock was stretched out on his back, John lay down next to him, leaning on one elbow. Brushing a stray lock of hair away from Sherlock's forehead with a fingertip, he said, "I want to kiss you all over."

"Be my guest."

John began by kissing Sherlock's forehead, then his closed eyelids. He kissed the tips of Sherlock's nose and chin, before working his way up Sherlock's jaw to his sensitive earlobe, which he nibbled at teasingly. He moved down the side of Sherlock's neck, alternating his kisses with gentle nips. Sherlock let out a pleased little hum.

John continued down Sherlock's neck to his clavicle, tonguing the hollow above it, before sliding his lips to Sherlock's shoulder and scraping his teeth lightly over his skin. He worked his way gradually down the outside of Sherlock's arm, lifting it up as he went.

When he reached his boyfriend's hand, John kissed the tip of each finger, then slowly drew one into his mouth, swirling his tongue in a way that made Sherlock gasp. Looking up from beneath his eyelashes, John asked, "Is this okay?"

"Mmm hmm."

John sucked on each finger in turn, and Sherlock's cock twitched in vicarious pleasure. He began letting out breathy little moans as John kissed up along the inside of his arm, stopping to tongue at the crease of his elbow.

Reaching Sherlock's armpit, John grasped his boyfriend's hand and placed it down on the pillow over his head, giving himself better access. He nosed into the soft hair there, making Sherlock squirm. Relenting, he released Sherlock's hand and began kissing his way down his side.

John continued on along the outside of Sherlock's hip and leg, scooting himself down on the bed until he reached his foot. There, he gave his toes the same treatment he'd given to his fingers. Sherlock's feet tended to be ticklish, but the sensual way John was moving his tongue caused him to moan rather than giggle.

John began to kiss and nibble his way up the inside of Sherlock's leg. When his boyfriend reached his inner thigh, Sherlock drew in a sharp breath in anticipation. John simply transferred his attention to the opposite thigh, however, beginning to work his way back down to his other foot.

Sherlock let out a groan of mixed desire and frustration as John repeated all of his actions in reverse on the other side of his body, finally making his way back up to Sherlock's face. Sherlock grabbed him hard and pulled him into a desperate kiss. "You're killing me here," he panted.

"I'm just kissing you," John said innocently. "You did say I could kiss you all over, right?"

"Oh my god, you are seriously going to kill me."

John winked at him. "At least you'll die happy."

And with that, he resumed his mission. He kissed his way down Sherlock's throat to his chest, then slid his tongue over to one nipple. Sherlock cried out in surprise at the sharp jolt of pleasure that coursed through him. John raised his head to smile up at him, then lowered it again to lap at the hard little nub. Sherlock began writhing beneath him, fisting his hands in John's hair and pulling him away. "Oh my god," he cried, voice strained, "why does that feel so good?"

"I don't know," John answered, pushing his head up into Sherlock's hands. "Can I try the other side?"

"Yeah."

John nibbled his way across Sherlock's chest, swirling his tongue around the outside of his nipple before flicking lightly at the tip.

"Ungh," Sherlock breathed out, as John flattened his tongue, pressing Sherlock's nipple firmly into his ribs. "Fuck!"

"Sherlock Holmes! Language."

"I had no idea… this was even… an erogenous zone… for men… Do you even know… what you're doing to me? It's so intense…"

"I'm kind of getting that impression," John said with a devilish grin.

"Do it again."

John wasted no time in complying. Sherlock could feel himself falling apart under John's tongue as his boyfriend traced a path from one nipple to the other and back again, before sliding down to lick into his navel.

By the time John reached his throbbing cock, Sherlock was out of his mind with need. He barely had time to register 'hot – wet – amazing' before he was coming hard in his boyfriend's mouth.

Once he could speak, Sherlock panted out "Sorry."

"Hey, no, why would you be sorry?"

"Because I came in three point six seconds. That has to have been the longest build-up to the shortest actual blow job in history."

"But did you enjoy it?"

"Obviously."

"Well, then, mission accomplished!"

End Notes: Did you enjoy this chapter? If so, mission accomplished. ;)