Arthur whistled as he saw Merlin "God your beautiful"
Merlin looked put out "I am not a girl!" he said blushing furiously
"I wouldn't be interested if you were, you know that!" Arthur walked up and kissed Merlin "You scrub up very well, but much as I'd like to linger we need to leave."
Merlin glared at him. Although he secretly admitted that the blonde looked extra nice. As always his suit fitted impeccably, the jackets red silk lining matching his tie exactly. They went out and Merlin got into the car pouting when he still didn't know where they were going. It wasn't until they got out at one of the top class restaurants that Merlin had some idea.
"You mean I had to get togged up like a ponce just to get fed?" he demanded as Arthur walked with him to the door, his hand resting on Merlin's lower back.
"Yes you did, but this is somewhere special, no T shirts and jeans allowed" Arthur explained "I thought we would celebrate"
"Celebrate what?" Merlin frowned
"Your Birthday! Or didn't you think I would know" Arthur told him.
"That's not until tomorrow" Merlin snapped "Anyway why are we out a day early? And how did you know?"
"Your mother told me" Arthur grinned "Then she asked if we could go to them tomorrow to celebrate your first birthday since your fathers return, how could I refuse?"
The waiter came up and took them to their table. It was in a quiet corner and Arthur was sat with his back to the wall. The two men with them stood a discrete distance away. When the menu arrived it was in French and Merlin looked at it puzzled. His school boy grasp of the language deserting him. He also noticed there was no prices.
He looked at Arthur who smiled "Shall I order for you or would you like me to read it out?" the blonde asked smirking slightly.
"You clotpole! Are you trying to make me feel silly, and what's more there are no prices, so it's clearly overpriced." Merlin flushed red
Arthur smiled and took Merlin's hand "Just have what you want Merlin, I can afford it"
Merlin looked angry and pulling his hand away spat out "Only because you make other people give you their hard-earned money!"
Arthur's eyes narrowed and he pinched the bridge of his nose in a characteristic gesture. "Oh Merlin, is that what you think of me" he took Merlin's hand once more. "I don't touch a penny of that money. Except to pay the men's wages. All my own expenses comes from my own money, I thought you knew that." he paused looking at Merlin "My mother was very wealthy, long before she met my father. As soon as she knew she was pregnant she made a will leaving all her assets to any child or children she had. She loved my father, but didn't want her family money being used for the 'family businesses'. I plough all the proceeds of the protection money back into the territory. To the hospitals, schools and keeping people safe. I don't need it for myself" he hesitated as he looked at Merlin's disbelieving face "I may be gang leader, that's what I was brought up to do, I did think of breaking away, but then someone else would move in and it would make the situation worse"
Merlin snorted not believing what he was hearing "So you are doing this for altruistic reasons"
"In a manner of speaking, yes, I do like the power and I know I do a good job, but I don't need to do it" Arthur said
"So why do it? Why not just help the authorities to run the place properly, why the guns and the killing?"
Arthur rolled his eyes "Because Merlin they don't care. They are not interested in anywhere outside the wealthy areas. The government is more corrupt than the gangs. At least they don't pretend to be doing it for anyone else"
"Except for you?" Merlin was now confused.
"Ask your father, he knows the system. Now look I am starving and I bought you out to have a relaxing time so can we drop this?" Arthur had almost a pleading tone in his voice.
Merlin thought for a moment before saying "Only if you are honest…are you saying you don't break the law, that you have never killed anyone, or forced then to do what they don't want to?"
"Don't be a child Merlin! Of course I have. I am a gang boss. But at least I'm honest about it, and do more good than harm. It's a dog eat dog world and I am one of the top dogs" he reached across and touched Merlin's cheek drawing the other man nearer "But I do promise you this…you will never have to fear me, no matter what happens between us, and I will always be there for you" he kissed Merlin's cheek. "Now Happy Birthday love" Arthur turned to the waitress who was hovering in the background, he snapped his fingers and she came closer then Arthur ordered in flawless French before turning back to Merlin.
Arthur then acted as if the conversation had never happened, and gradually Merlin began to relax. He wasn't totally convinced, but decided to ask his father the next day. Arthur was a wonderful date and kept Merlin amused with stories and anecdotes and by the end of the meal Merlin was actually enjoying himself and relaxing. He knew deep in his heart he shouldn't be, but he had already admitted to himself that he had fallen in love with the gang boss and he wanted everything he said to be true. Arthur had charisma by the bucket load and Merlin was very attracted to him. He wanted to believe the best, he wanted to start living his life again, after all no one was perfect, were they?
A bottle of champagne and a wonderful meal later Arthur took Merlin, who by now was pleasantly buzzed by the alcohol, back to the base and into their apartment. Arthur drew Merlin into a passionate kiss the moment the door was shut and they were alone.
"Do you know how much I have wanted to do that all evening" he said huskily pulling Merlin in closer to him, aligning their two bodies. "Christ I need you Merlin" with that he picked up Merlin bridal style and made for the bedroom.
Once there he put Merlin down on the bed and started to undress the other man, when Merlin was topless Arthur rained kisses on the other man. His eyes blown with lust. "If you could see what I see…..I have never met a man I wanted more." Then he reluctantly stopped and took of his own jacket exposing his gun in its shoulder holster.
"Do you ever go without that" Merlin asked for him the mood was broken. He had already started to feel on edge and worried that Arthur wouldn't want to stop, but at the same time not wanting him to.
Arthur took of the holster and place the gun under his pillow where it lived every night. He turned back to Merlin ""No, that would be foolish, but forget the gun." With that he got onto the bed next to Merlin and leaned across the other man's slender frame and started kissing him once more. Merlin soon found he did just that as they started to kiss once more, all thoughts of the gun gone.
Merlin put his hands on Arthur's chest and started to undo the blonde's shirt so he could kiss the muscular chest. He felt more relaxed than he ever had, thanks in part to the alcohol. He was a well-known light weight when it came to any booze. Merlin was pushed back down into the mattress and Arthur attacked his neck before trailing kisses down his chest. When he got to Merlin's waist band he looked up asking for permission. They had never gone past his point before.
Merlin's breath hitched and he started to hyperventilate. "Hush my love we won't do anything you aren't comfortable with." Arthur reached back up and kissed Merlin on the lips once more. "We won't go all the way, but can I at least see you and touch you, I want to lie with you without anything between us" he paused and looked Merlin in the eye taking his face in his hands "I won't hurt you my love, but you need to get over this, it is controlling your life."
Merlin took a couple of deep breathes and tried to ground himself by looking at Arthur and the love that shone from his eyes. After a few moments he gave a small nod and was greeted with a blinding smile "Do you want to see me first or can I..?" Arthur hands moved to Merlin's belt.
Merlin opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out, he swallowed then said very quietly "You can"
Arthur very slowly not taking his eyes of Merlin's face undid Merlin's belt and undid the zip then slowly slid Merlin's trousers down and removed them. He then moved his hands to Merlin's boxer waistband and kissing Merlin gently put his fingers inside and slide then down. Then he looked down and gazed at Merlin in all his glory before looking at Merlin's face once more. "Everything I could ever want, you are perfect"
Merlin went bright red then in an attempt to lighten the mood he said "You are over-dressed"
"So I am" Arthur said as he undid his trousers and quickly stripped. Merlin's eyes stayed on Arthur face "You can look you know, you might like what you see"
"Over confident or what?" Merlin said weakly as he did as he was bid. As soon as he had looked he pulled Arthur closer and the two men lay for the first time with nothing between them.
Arthur moved so there was some friction and Merlin's breath hitched once more. "Relax Merlin, just relax" Arthur lifted himself up on his elbows and kissed Merlin once more this time kissing lower than he had been able to before. Going from Merlin's hip bone to his thigh placing small kisses as he did so. Then he took Merlin's hand in his own and moved both hands nearer his swollen manhood. "Touch me Merlin, please touch me"
Merlin slowly touched Arthur very nervously to start with then, with more confidence as he heard Arthur's breathe hitch and was pulled into a tight embrace. As they lay close together Arthur let his hand get closer to Merlin "Can I touch you" he asked determined not to go further than Merlin wanted, even if he wanted nothing more than to take the other man and pound him into the mattress. Looking into Merlin's eyes he saw acceptance so gradually explored his lover's body. Then as Merlin became more aroused Arthur hand clasped their two engorged members together and moved slowly. Merlin arched his body as new sensations took over his senses. It was so different that his own normal hand jobs. Even with them he felt dirty and guilty. But this was so different. It wasn't long before he climaxed and fell back. Arthur soon following him.
After the post orgasmic haze lifted Arthur got up and fetched a cloth and cleaned both himself and very sleepy Merlin before lying down and pulling the other man into his arms. Arthur couldn't believe how well that had gone. He hoped that before long Merlin would trust him enough to allow then to go all the way. Tucking his face into Merlin's shoulder he drifted off to sleep with the scent of the other man in his nostrils.