Warning/Author's Note: Sorry about the unusually long lapse in updates. I had my first cold in ages, and it wasn't even how I physically felt that sucked, but how my brain shut down. I stared at this screen with a hot face and cold fingers and nothing came. But I'm back! And so is your routine warning: dirtiness is about to ensue. Make sure your door is locked and/or there isn't a parent reading over your shoulder. Classmates and friends, though, are welcome to join in.


Magic Moment
Chapter 28: Marionette

Magnus was settling down on his side, gently guiding Alec to lay down with him. Awkwardly, Alec let his weight sink down onto his knee, his elbow, and up along his relaxing side as he sunk down into the mattress.

Magnus didn't want to take a shower first? Or at the least...change the sheets?

But Magnus didn't seem the least uncomfortable, or concerned about cleanliness. In fact, he was nuzzling the sheets and making a sound between a purr and a moan, tugging on Alec's left hand and slowly dragging that arm around his left side until Alec was being forced to hug the warlock. Not that he was complaining. Alec was just sort of uncomfortable snuggling with Magnus, when he still wasn't -- when he hadn't quite -- well, after that last part, watching Magnus rock against the bed, even though he'd just climaxed, Alec was aroused again. And he didn't think sleep was going to be on the agenda quite so soon.

Maybe that was terribly selfish of him, since he hadn't really done anything for Magnus. Unless...?

Ohh. Blushing, Alec realized why Magnus was suddenly so lazy and content. Alec had been so focused on what he was doing, he hadn't realized that Magnus might have found release as well, that maybe the arch of his back as Alec started to shoot might not just have been a graceful, seductive move for Alec's benefit.

So...he got off, just from making Alec come like that?

It was kind of empowering. For Alec, that is. Maybe for Magnus too.

Magnus's hot lips were sucking on Alec's fingers and Alec's breath hitched, feeling the tug and the wet warmth without being able to see what he was doing. Alec's face was partially hidden behind Magnus's, the ends of the warlock's soft hair tickling his cheek against the pillow. It still smelled sweet and fresh, and up close and in the semi-darkness, Alec could see the shimmer of glitter flecks woven through strands, silver diamonds standing out against black satin. Alec wondered if he would be able to feel the difference, if he ran his fingertips over Magnus's hair. Would his fingertips be able to pick out the different texture of the glitter?

Alec's hand was shaking in Magnus's grasp. It took a force of will not to pull back on his wrist, firstly because it tickled. And because he couldn't see, and he wasn't sure what Magnus was going to do next.

And finally - and perhaps most pressing of all, because this really wasn't helping Alec's situation any.

"I want to sleep like this tonight," Magnus said in a low, stroking voice.

"What?" Alec asked, lifting his head up slightly from the pillow. "With my hand in your mouth?"

Magnus chuckled, closing his teeth playfully against the heel of Alec's hand, pinching the skin. Alec gasped.

"No. Although that's tempting."

"What, then?"

"I want to sleep like this, on your side, and you can sleep on mine."

Alec had to think about that for a second before it made sense. He was referring to the bed itself, how Magnus usually stayed on the right and Alec on the left, and just now, their places were reversed. But it wasn't just about what side of the mattress they preferred. They usually slept facing one another, loosely embracing, Alec curled up against Magnus's chest, or sometimes Magnus's head nestled in the crook of Alec's neck and shoulder. But they always slept chest to chest, arms entangled, legs brushing.

Alec had a feeling Magnus wasn't just suggesting swapping sides of the bed, but also sleeping like this, with Magnus's back to his front. Spooning.

Alec mentally groaned. And how was that helpful? It would only make it worse for him, especially if they went to bed now. Without any relief. What Magnus was doing with his tongue and teeth, that was just teasing.

"What do you think?" Magnus asked, releasing Alec's pointer, but nuzzling the fingertip with his lower lip.

"If you want."

"I do."

"Fine, then."

"You're not anal about what side you sleep on, are you?"

"No."

"Good, because I really like this new arrangement," Magnus purred, nuzzling against Alec's lightly-calloused palm. Alec wanted to curl his nails into his fist in frustration, but he couldn't do that while Magnus was nuzzling his hand. Besides, the feel of the warlock's exceptionally soft skin was really nice. Hot, silky, and incredibly smooth, like...well, unreal soft, softer than skin should probably be.

If only Magnus would nuzzle against more than his hand. Or maybe if Magnus would just stop the unconscious rubbing he was doing. He was cheek-bumping Alec, and not just with his face. Every time it happened, Alec wanted to reflexively jerk away, but instead, his attention-seeking arousal was happily rubbing back. Alec was blushing like hell, trying not to grind, but that's what his body wanted. Now that he didn't have to kneel and stare at it and feel the pressure of performance anxiety, Alec realized just how natural it was, the impulse to nuzzle against that cleft, to seek out that warmth.

For all he knew, that was Magnus's intention, why he wanted to sleep this way tonight. To taunt Alec with his ass.

Damn, if it wasn't working already. That's all Alec could think about while Magnus returned to sucking each finger on his hand, then moving down the side of his hand to his wrist. He was sucking off Alec's hand, while Alec gently rubbed against his buttocks and the rumpled sheet, biting his own lip.

Eventually Magnus stopped kissing his hand and held it splayed against his chest, wrapping his forearm over Alec's.

Alec was trying so hard not to thrust, not to make it painfully obvious that he wanted to grind. His breath was coming in hot, short puffs against Magnus's sweet, shining hair, the heat trapped between them beneath the comforter.

And then he realized that Magnus wasn't moving anymore. He wasn't talking. Alec stopped moving, despite the protest of his lower body and he listened carefully, detecting the even-breathing, feeling the even rise and fall of Magnus's lungs beneath his hand.

Damnit. He was asleep.

How was that fair? Alec groaned, trying to relax against the bed and forget about his erection.

But it was hard. So very, very achingly hard. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to meditate, to picture a peaceful scene somewhere like a serene beach in the sunshine. He had done it before, had learned as part of his shadowhunter training to focus his mind and imagine himself somewhere else; it was an useful tool, and had helped him more than once relax when he was stressed or hurt, or in need of an escape.

Alec breathed through it as he tried to conjure the right scene. He breathed in and out, the sound of his breathing so loud in his ears. But after a minute the sounds of his steady inhalation and exhalation turned into the sounds of waves, the crash of the water against the sand. He could feel the heat of the sun tickling his face, the ocean breeze sifting through his hair.

The mental image was almost complete, slowly coming into view - a perfect replica of beaches he had only read about in books. But as the shoreline started to appear, and sun lit up across the sand and water, Alec caught sight of a figure walking ahead. It took him a moment to realize they were naked, that the shadow at his back was just shadow, not a black swimsuit. Then the light glinted off the honey tan skin - sun reflecting off glitter, and Alec knew that it was Magnus. Not that the uncommon height and dark, wind-blown hair wouldn't have been a give-away if he had been able to focus on details like that while squinting against the sun.

Alec called out to him. "What are you doing?" Alec asked. "You're not supposed to be here."

And the warlock turned to glance over his bare shoulder, winking at him.

Alec opened his eyes, destroying the scene in his head. He was staring at the back of Magnus's head, his hand still against Magnus's chest, arm loosely wound around the sleeping warlock.

And he still had a hard-on, pressed comfortably against the warmth of Magnus's buttocks. Sucking in a breath, he tried to arch his hips away, but there was only so far Alec could escape with his arm still around Magnus and his hand trapped.

Damn it.

Alec ground his teeth together, no better off than he was minutes ago. This was the first time his meditating hadn't worked for him.

Magnus was sleeping peacefully on Alec's side of the bed, cradling Alec's arm, probably dreaming happy dreams, while Alec was wide awake on his side, fighting an erection, wondering if it would wake Magnus if he made use of his free hand and found some relief?

But he couldn't. He was too self-conscious. And what if Magnus woke up? God, that would be the worst.

Alec turned his face to the side, flattening out his nose and mouth against the pillow. It was going to be a long, sleepless night.


Hey guys, I had replies for half the reviews and the screen reloaded and ate them! How horrifying! But I have most of the next chapter written already, and when I post it, I promise to give the replying another go. I'm sorry:( I don't have the time to fix. But I will come back soon with both.