Pointless, shirtless fluff. TGIF!
So…. ever wonder if there is some infinite AU where characters have exchanges off camera? Like the world is always going on, it's just only pieces of it that are captured on film. Well, I have always thought there was perhaps some other scene that prefaced the kitchen cocoa kiss. It was just soooo good, even with it's cock-block from Jesus. So good in fact, that she was ready for more, ef the early morning mass. Maybe there was something earlier that day in the AU that got her going… -)
She was waiting on the water to boil to finish up the tea. Readying the pot and leaves as Lucien was getting ready to go to the gypsy grounds. She hated when he was called out at these ungodly hours, he slept little enough as it was.
The tea was ready and she had been expecting him to join her before he left, but he hadn't come back to the kitchen yet. Thinking he may be stuck with something in his office, she went to bring it to him. As she approached, she noticed his bedroom door open. Walking up to it, her mouth went dry instantly and her scalp began to tingle at the sight.
He was shirtless, standing at his chest of drawers in his slacks only, the muscles of his bare back moving as he dug in the drawer. She had never seen him in this state of undress before, imagined it, but never seen it. Pulling out a singlet, he stepped back and shook it, then turned it upside down to put his arms through. His shoulders and back flexed in a way that she could see each muscle working in tandem as he pulled it over his head, her hands itching to touch them all. She stood stock still as he pulled it down then turned toward her as he was tucking it in.
Their eyes met, she knew she should turn away, but the look in his eyes as he continued tuck all around his waist had her mesmerized. It wasn't until a smile reached his eyes that she snapped out of it. Teacup rattling in her hand, she used the other to steady it as a blush rose to her cheeks and she smiled back. A smile he had never seen on her before. A playful hunger.
"I'm sorry Jean" His voice was raspy and he was moving toward her still in only his singlet and trousers, "I got some ink on my shirt, it's in the office." And he took the cup and saucer from her, still frozen and silent.
Her eyes lowered to his shoulders, then his chest as he reached for the tea. She unconsciously licked her lips, then looked back up to his eyes. They had a teasing smile on them. She was smiling back and to her own surprise, raised an eyebrow, her expression changing from hunger to appreciation in a blink.
"Well, isn't that just like you." She said, eyes unabashedly traveling all over his chest, "To make a mess, before the sun even rises." Returning her attention to the bright blue eyes smiling back at her.
He took a sip, matching her raised brow with one of his own. "I'm just sorry you weren't there to help me out of it." He teased.
She held his gaze intensely as she moved into the room, past him, toward the closet. She grabbed a shirt, turned and "Well let's let me help you into another one then."
A corner of his mouth lifted and he turned to place the teacup down as she made quick work of releasing the shirt from the hanger. They both took a couple steps toward each other, she held the shirt out for him and he turned to put his arms in. And to his shock and amazement, she kissed the back of his shoulder before lifting it over them. He turned and they both blinked their way through a short, unspoken conversation as her fingers began to fasten the buttons.
As she did up the bottom one, she licked her lips, then looking up again "I'll leave you to get the rest of you together."
"Thank you Jean." And he leaned down kissing her on the cheek. His slick tongue touching the spot before his lips closed there.
They shared one more heartbeat, eyes locked with longing and love, then she turned to leave.
"Anytime." She was smiling from ear to ear as her shaky legs carried her back to the kitchen.