CHAPTER 37
Kurt, I know we said we'd go slow, but you're killing me….I need to touch you…so much. Please….just….I'll go slow, I'll do whatever it is you want or don't want, but please….
Kurt kept eye contact and nodded his approval at Blaine, who was ecstatic at being finally given the green light. Blaine leaned over him on the sofa and slowly lowered him down to the cushions. God it was about time. Kurt's heart was pounding, but finally in a good way. He was here with Blaine….Blaine was all but laying on him…and his mouth….oh GOD his mouth….perfect…soft…sweet….tempting. Kurt laid a hand to Blaine's cheek guiding him to his mouth, taking full advantage of the warmth awaiting him. So long….Kurt had waited so long for this, for the kisses, the touches, the feelings that came with it all. He didn't want to rush, he just wanted to feel Blaine – everywhere. Kurt felt Blaine's hand move to his belt and start to unbuckle it, working at the button and zipper on his skinniest pair of jeans and his heart pounded. It had been SO long….way too long. Blaine's hand worked under the elastic of his boxer briefs and took hold of him…he felt Blaine's body jerk...shudder...and he was elated that he could have this much power by simply laying here. Blaine wanted him….Blaine was going to have him. Kurt moved his hands to shove down the jeans from his hips, then felt Blaine's knee slip in between his thighs making Kurt moan with the friction. He fumbled with Blaine's jeans….the button…the zipper…shoving them down his hips and oh god Blaine was so hard now Kurt could barely think straight.
Blaine sunk down to his chest and kissed at the soft, pale skin there, making Kurt whine and pant. Kurt's hands went to Blaine's shoulders and put the softest pressure there, pushing him down, making him well aware of where Kurt wanted him and what he was asking. Please…..Please…he breathed out. Blaine sucked in a harsh breath, bit his bottom lip and nipped and nibbled his way down Kurt's chest to his belly button, then to his hip bones before moving his way over to. …beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep….
It droned on forever. What the hell was that….
Blaine, make it stop….I need your mouth on me….please….. Kurt whined softly, before realizing that what he was hearing was his alarm clock blaring. Wait…what?
"Aaaggggghhhhhhhh!" Kurt bellowed from his bed. "Seriously, what the fucking …?! Son of a…..God damnit!…" he railed loudly, sitting up against his headboard. "Aaagggghhhhh!" he added again for good measure. He picked up a throw pillow from the bottom of his bed and made use of it as it was clearly intended. He threw it. Unfortunately, it hit the framed art on the wall causing it to crash to the floor with a loud bang. Kurt was beyond angry now.
From the other side of the wall came a muffled warning. "Keep it down over there, Hummel! Some of us get to sleep in today!" Sebastian yelled.
"Fuck off, Smythe!" Kurt yelled back, getting more and more angry by the second.
"At least I CAN!" Seb yelled back. And what the hell was THAT supposed to mean, Kurt wondered.
7:01a from Blaine: Everything ok over there? Sounds like you're having an interesting morning?
7:02a from Kurt: I was dreaming of you…you were about to give me the world's greatest blowjob but my fucking alarm went off.
Yeah….maybe not the best reply, Kurt.
7:02a from Kurt: All is well.
7:03a from Blaine: Glad you're awake. Answer your door. I made you something! J
7:03a from Kurt: Now?
7:04a from Blaine: Yes now silly! J
7:05a from Kurt: This better be good. One more smiley face and I may choke you to death.
Kurt stumbled from his bed, down the short hallway and to the front door, yanking it open with bleary eyes. On the other side of the door stood a perfectly groomed and smiling Blaine.
"Morning sunshine!" he grinned at Kurt.
"Oh my…oh my God, Blaine! How did you know these are my favorite? Thank you! Did you make these?"
"I did, and I have it on good authority that they're quite tasty!" he laughed, handing Kurt a plate with three homemade blueberry pancakes on it.
"Morning Mr. Kurt!" Mattie said, sticking his head out the door with a big grin, blueberries smeared around his mouth.
"We had a sleepover….Evee's still sleeping. Maggie had a date!" Blaine said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Oh? Well good for her!" Kurt smiled, genuinely glad for their friend. "First date and she didn't make it home?" Kurt whispered, still wary of Mattie's young ears down the hallway.
"No…well yeah, but….no. I didn't want her to cut her night short unnecessarily, and if she thought I was waiting up for her, she would have, so I thought this might work out better. My night was short last night anyway. Nick didn't show, Puck was supposed to fill in but he was really late, and by the time he got there, Mac was so angry he threw him out. He'd already called in a favor for a cover band, and I didn't want to stay. It's been a helluva week and I just wanted to come home. So…I ran into Maggie as she was coming in and she told me this guy had asked her out and how excited she was, but that she told him she'd have to do it another night and all that stuff….blah blah blah, so we worked this out."
"Who goes out on a Thursday night?" Kurt asked, snickering.
"Dunno, clearly not me. But she said she'd be here bright and early to get them ready for school…" Blaine trailed off hearing the door open downstairs.
"And here I am!" Maggie laughed, taking the steps two at a time.
Kurt raised a brow at her. "Well, aren't WE in a chipper mood this morning!" Kurt teased. "Good date?"
"Amazing. Absolutely….just…best first date I've ever had. Hands down. He's amazing!" she grinned, clearly overwhelmed and happy.
"And does 'he' have a name?" Kurt pried.
"Oh yeah, we never got that far in the conversation last night. Where'd you meet this guy, Mags?" Blaine asked.
"Hmmmmm…yeah…no. No info yet." Maggie laughed. "Give it a bit…let me see how it goes, then I'll cough up some details. Fair enough?"
The boys both groaned like spoiled teenagers and gave her dirty looks.
"And speaking of dates….I hear you two went out the other night to that swanky place…Aria's? How's that? Not that I'll ever get in there!" she teased them back.
"Food was fantastic, music was to die for, company was top notch." Kurt said, giving Blaine a sly grin.
"Says you! I had the pleasure of sitting with the most gorgeous man in the place….top that, Hummel!" Blaine teased him.
"Clearly we were at the same table, Mr. Anderson." Kurt said playfully, winking at Blaine.
"Okaaaaaay, then. I'm leaving before I gag, k?" Maggie said, scrunching up her nose. She headed for Blaine's door to get the kids and left the two men in the hallway.
"So…you gonna tell me what that little outburst was this morning?" Blaine asked.
"Errr….no." Kurt laughed, feeling his cheeks blush, and he dropped his eyes to the floor. Just then Sebastian's door opened and he strolled out clad in running pants and a t-shirt, hair slightly mussed, and a stunning man trailing behind him in jeans and a tight black t-shirt.
"Morning boys…" he smirked before continuing down the hall to the stairs. The man with him gave them the once over, a wink and a smile, and followed Seb down the steps.
"And on that note, I'm gonna make sure the kids eat before Maggie whisks them away and leaves me with a bunch of blueberry pancakes I'll just end up eating!" Blaine grinned.
"You sure, Blaine?" Seb yelled up the stairs as he descended. "Looks to me like Kurt could use a …hand…perhaps? I'm thinking that was what all the bellowing was this morning. Wake up mid-wet-dream, Hummel?" he smirked, never breaking stride.
It was only then that it dawned on Kurt that he probably was, much to his horror, still…..quite aroused. Like watching a train wreck, Blaine couldn't help but glance down. Kurt nearly threw the pancakes to the floor he moved the plate so quickly to obscure the view. Blaine's eyes darted back up in embarrassment and he backed down the hall, smiling widely at Kurt.
"I'll um….I'll call you…later. K?" he said, giving Kurt the biggest smile he'd ever seen and biting his bottom lip playfully. Any minute now Blaine's face was going to crack with that smile, he was sure of it. He couldn't even reply. Kurt simply backed into his apartment and shut the door, leaning against it and banging his skull a few times for good measure.
Unfortunately he still had an obvious issue to take care of, which was really daunting for him, as he hadn't even had to worry about things like this for quite a long time. After the altercation with Jackson, and then his stay in the hospital, Kurt's body didn't quite bounce back like he thought it would. His mind had clearly put a block on certain things and for a long while he thought he may never again be able to…yes, well. Clearly, that hadn't been a problem since Blaine walked into his life. Kurt wasn't sure if he was relieved or mortified at the frequency of having to deal with "things", as it were.
It was one more reason to hate Jax. He'd ruined his mind, he'd ruined his body, he'd ruined his life.
"Well, Jackson Hardy, you hellish monster….I'm not going to let you ruin anything else, or even one more minute of my life. In fact, you can kiss my lily white ass!" he said out loud. "I have things to do, and it'll be a cold day in hell before I roll over and let YOU mess with anything else that's important to me!" And, by God, this beautiful, curly haired man next door is becoming very important to me.
Kurt took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Still leaning against the door, he blew the breath out his nose, thought of Blaine's amazing smile, and pushed off from the door to eat his pancakes. After only one bite he was in a state of bliss. After two bites he was nearly incoherent. While shoving the third bite in before he swallowed the second, he was dialing Blaine's number.
"Hey….you missed me so soon?" Blaine answered, laughing.
"MmmmmmyGODBlaine…so good…..so freaking good….mmmmmmmmm….need more…" he moaned.
"Um….I can….ok."
"Please….please Blaine…more….just….please tell me there's more? Need some….." Kurt continued begging.
"Kurt….can you…..I'm…"
"Don't tell me no….I know there's more…you said….." he began, shoving another huge mouthful in. "You said there was more, don't deprive me of what I really need now, Blaine….give it up!"
Blaine sat down in the kitchen chair quickly, more than aware of the effect Kurt's words were having. Clearly Kurt was talking about pancakes…right? Right? Oh my God…..
"I…yes…there's….we're uh…we're talking about the pancakes still, right?"
"God yes….please, more!" Kurt moaned again.
"Kurt, STOP! Ok, I get it, if this is your payback from the cinnamon rolls, I'm totally on board with NEVER eating together again. I get it, point made. You win. Holy shit….."
Muffled noises from the background caught Kurt's attention.
"I'm sorry buddy, I know I said a bad word, I'll eat soap as soon as the pancakes are gone, I promise…." Blaine said, apologizing to Matthew. Kurt snickered. Only then did he realized what Blaine had said. Payback for the cinnamon rolls? Never eating together aga-
"Oh my God! Blaine...I'm….I didn't…I wasn't…it's just that…..I have to go!" Kurt said, breathless, then disconnected the call. He sat at the table in silence for a minute or two, replaying what he'd said. He closed his eyes and shook his head, but then a grin started, and before long he was laughing outright, bent over, tears starting in his eyes. Payback indeed! Finishing his beloved blueberry pancakes, he headed to the shower to begin his day and plot revenge against that ass next door, Sebastian. And perhaps, even, to take care of other issues that wouldn't seem to go away because of one Blaine Anderson and his sexy smile.
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Jeff's alarm on his cell phone chirped, letting him know it was time to get up and get moving. He didn't want to, though. He'd never been so comfortable in his own bed in all the time he'd owned it. This morning there was a stunning, beautiful man laying half next to him and half ON him…one leg thrown over Jeff's to intertwine together and one arm resting on Jeff's chest, Nick's right hand over his boyfriend's heart. What had Jeff choked up, though, was the sight of Rudy, his childhood bear, tucked between him and Nick looking as comfortable as ever. Jeff could barely breathe for all of the emotions running through him.
"Make it stop, Jeff…please….but not if you have to move to do it." Nick mumbled, clearly still asleep for the most part. Jeff smiled, but reached out, making the noise stop it's droning, mind numbing chimes.
"Morning, babe…" Jeff said, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on Nick's forehead.
"Mmmmmm…it is…" Nick mumbled back. "I don't want to get up yet, though. Can you give us another hour or …four?"
"You can stay in bed as long as you want, but I have to be to work on time. I have a class first period, and they're brutal if I'm late." Jeff snickered. Nick planted a soft kiss on Jeff's chest, then thought about it and did it a few more times. Jeff hummed in appreciation.
"Don't go….call in sick. Call in dead, just don't leave me." Nick whined playfully.
"Can you manage to come and have lunch with me today?" Jeff asked.
"I can manage anything your little heart desires, Pretty Boy. Test me if you don't believe me." He smirked, but still hadn't opened his eyes. "Just leave me an address and I'll be there. What time?"
"Around 11:40. I'll let the office know you'll be in. Just go there and sign in. They'll probably check your driver's license, so don't be alarmed. Standard stuff. Too many crazy people getting into schools these days. Of course, if you flash that gorgeous smile at Margie, she'll probably faint over her desk and you could stroll right in." Jeff grinned.
"My smiles are saved for you these days…" Nick mumbled, finally opening his eyes and seeing Jeff smiling down at him. "How much time before you absolutely HAVE to get into the shower?"
Jeff checked the clock on his bedside table on instinct, then swatted Nick. "NOW, I have to get in the shower NOW you goof!" he said laughing. Nick just grumbled.
"Can we at least conserve water, then?"
"I think that could be arranged if you'd like." Jeff teased.
"I'd like!" Nick grinned back at him. Jeff slid out of bed in all his naked glory and walked to the bathroom door. Nick was stock still on the bed, mouth hanging open just staring at the beautiful perfection before him. "You're….you're so…just….wow…" was all he managed. Jeff blushed and rolled his eyes.
"Get outta bed you slug. Places to go, things to do!" Jeff said.
"Oh, there are things I'd like to do, indeed….." Nick purred at him, slinking from the bed to follow him. "But I'll give you a minute alone before I bust in and ruin your privacy." Jeff slipped into the bathroom, totally unaware of how odd it would feel to know someone was standing outside the bathroom door waiting to shower with him…knowing Nick could hear him using the toilet, brushing his teeth, opening the shower door and adjusting the water. He stepped inside under the spray and the warm water cascading down his back felt heavenly.
"All yours…" he called to Nick, indicating he could enter the bathroom in relative privacy if he wanted to. He heard Nick come in and pull the door closed, relieve himself, then brush his own teeth. Jeff's nerves were shot, though. He'd never done….this. He'd never showered with another man, short of the locker rooms in high school where he did his very best to stay far away from any shower stall already in use just for the sake of propriety. Nobody ever asked him to, or hinted that he should, but he didn't want any trouble, any doubts, so he took it upon himself to make sure there were no uncomfortable situations.
Nick hesitated outside the shower doors, watching the play of skin tones moving across the mottled and frosted glass. He wanted to touch that warm skin, kiss Jeff senseless and please him in any way possible.
"Ready for me?" he asked, tentatively.
"Always…" Jeff answered. Nick pulled the door open and stepped in, a grin on his face as he watched the water glide over Jeff's blonde hair, over his face, dripping off of his nose, and running down that amazing body. It nearly took his breath away. Without knowing when his mind lost track of what his body was doing, his hand moved up to cup Jeff's face and pull him in slightly for a kiss. He tasted minty and clean and Nick felt him smile into the kiss, moving toward Nick as he did. Jeff wound his arms around Nick's waist and they stood there, content, under the warm spray for a few minutes, just holding one another, kissing softly, whispering silly things to each other.
"Clean first…." Jeff muttered between kisses, smiling into every one Nick offered.
"Spoilsport!" Nick grumbled, grabbing the shampoo and nudging Jeff out of the way so he could get his hair wet. He passed the bottle to Jeff, watching him do the same, then switch to body wash, which smelled so good, so much like "Jeff" that Nick mentally made a note to buy the same brand when he got back home. The close proximity of Jeff's lithe, wet slicked body was making it difficult for him to concentrate on anything, though. Just watching the stretch and pull of Jeff's muscles as he wound that soapy, scrunchy shower poof around his body was enough to make Nick's mouth water.
Nick became super aware of how hard he was, and as Jeff's thigh brushed against him, he let out a soft groan and pushed his hips forward to meet Jeff. Their kisses turned playful, then, Jeff smiling but not retreating in the least. His hand, however, wandered down to find the source of that groaning, and he wasn't disappointed. His Nicky was rock hard and as Jeff's fingers circled around him, his breathing turned to panting and he leaned back against the cold tile wall. It could have been on fire for all he knew. Every sense was focused on Jeff's hand, the warm water running over them, Jeff's soft, warm mouth mating with his own. Of its own volition, his own hand snaked down to find Jeff just as aroused and ready, and he thought it only polite to return the favor.
His mind blurred a bit when Jeff's mouth untangled with his own and moved down to his chest, kissing his collarbone, nipping at his earlobe, running his tongue over a nipple…then the other….but he wasn't coming back up to meet Nick's lips. Not yet. He shifted enough that Nick had to relinquish his hold on his favorite new toy, and gasped when he felt Jeff's hot, wet mouth close over him.
"Christ Jesus, Jeff!" he grunted, hips tilting toward the blonde god on his knees before him. Jeff's hands rested softly on Nick's hips, then roughly shoved them into the tiles behind Nick. With Nick still in his mouth, Jeff raised his eyes to look straight into Nick's and never broke eye contact….not once. His mouth worked Nick over, sucking and pulling, his tongue twisting and slipping over sensitive spots. He ran his tongue from Nick's slit to his base, then nipped his way down the distance to his inner thigh, licking his way back up to take Nick fully into his mouth again. Jeff's hand followed his mouth, circling around Nick's cock, teasing and pulling, twisting and pumping. Every time Nick's eyes began to close, Jeff stopped his ministrations and pulled back until Nick's eyes met his again.
"God, you're so mean!" Nick whined, still panting.
"Mmmmmm….you'll live. I want to see your eyes when you come. Indulge me…." Jeff breathed, then went back to torturing Nick slowly with his mouth. The delicious pleasure was too much.
"Jeff….baby…it's not gonna be long, I'm…..just….about….Jeff…..JEFF…." he managed to mumble out before his hips canted forward and he saw Jeff's eyes roll back in his head momentarily, the boy's tongue never stopping it's tickling patterns until Nick was clearly spent, breathing erratically and could barely keep himself standing upright. His chest heaving, he slid down the tiles to his butt and pulled Jeff on top of him, into his lap, mindful of all the oversensitivity going on there. "God you're so perfect…." He whispered to Jeff, meeting his mouth, nipping on his bottom lip before diving in for the kill. He felt, more than saw, Jeff's smirk. " I just love you so damn much, Jeff. I want this…every day. Think you could manage that?" he grinned, still nipping at Jeff's mouth.
"I can manage anything your little heart desires, Nicky…" Jeff said, smiling, and throwing Nick's words back at him.
His knees were beginning to ache, so Jeff rolled over a bit and settle himself between Nick's thighs and leaned his back into Nick's chest. He leaned up and flipped the shower switch and the tub began to fill with water instead of raining down from the shower head. Nick reached around him and played with the soft, pale hairs on Jeff's chest. There were few, and he liked it that way. He had a sneaking suspicion that maybe Jeff made sure that was the case. His hand trailed down Jeff's chest to circle his nipples, then down to palm over his abs, then again to circle his belly button. He lingered there for a minute before moving down to take Jeff in his hand again and Jeff shuddered at the touch. His back arched a little and his head fall back on Nick's shoulder.
"Mmmmm…..you poor thing….that has to be uncomfortable. Let me help you with that." Nick murmured in his ear.
"Nicky, at this point a couple of quick….unnnggghhhh! Yesssss….please…please NICKY…." He moaned out, Nick's hand stroking him until he was nothing but a puddle in Nick's lap. Soft, loving, whispered words and lingering kisses filled their space, Jeff clearly euphoric and Nick wanting nothing more than to witness Jeff in all his pleasured glory. Nick's fingers grazed the sensitive vein running up the underside of Jeff's hardness, his soft fingertips trailing up and down once, twice, then his hand circling, squeezing and pulling. Jeff was arching his back, trying to push into Nick's hand, trying desperately to get more friction, because he wasn't thinking about prolonging the pleasure this morning. He just wanted Nick to get him off. Now. And Nick didn't disappoint.
Nick smirked, listening to the panting murmurs coming out of Jeff's mouth; the begging and pleading for him to not stop, stroke faster and please…oh God please….and it was only a matter of minutes before Jeff's hips shot up from the safety of Nick's lap and he cried out with the little whimpers and harsh breathing that had Nick already feeling hard again. Erupting all over Nick's hand and his own chest, Jeff settled back into the water that was filling up the tub and let his head rest on Nick's shoulder once again. With his toes he clicked the drain and let the water start making its way out of the tub.
"I take it back, Nicky…..I don't know if I could handle you every day. You might just kill me!" Jeff laughed, tiredly, his breathing still ragged. "All I want to do now is curl up with you all day. That was your evil plan wasn't it!" he said, playfully jabbing Nick in the ribs with his elbow.
"Awwww, you saw right through me!" Nick laughed.
Jeff stepped out first, leaving Nick to soak in what was left of the warm water for a few more minutes. He dried off, toweled through is hair, rubbed some product in his hands and then through his wet locks. He wrapped the towel around his waist and headed back out to the bedroom to get dressed, pulling the door almost all the way closed behind him to keep the warmth in. Dressed and ready for a cup of coffee, Jeff made his way to the kitchen and set about filling the coffee maker since he hadn't done it the night before. One look at the table reminded him he'd left the dinner mess behind in favor of a turned on Nick, so he gathered up all of that stuff as well and hefted it into the garbage. He was just finishing up with the coffee bean grinder and putting it away when a sound stopped him in his tracks.
The distinct noise of a key in his front door caused him to turn quickly only to see his mom rush in.
"Oh good, you're here!" she said brightly.
"Where else would I be?" he asked, smiling.
"Well, you didn't answer when I called this morning, so I hoped you'd be here if I just walked over. I have a flat tire, so I was hoping you'd drop me off at work on the way to school today? The garage will send someone over to fix the tire, but I can't wait on them this morning. I have a meeting and… Lord, I shouldn't have had that third cup of coffee and hustled over here! Just gonna use the restroom real quickly and….OH! Oh my goodness, I'm….I….." his mom said, clearly flustered.
"MOM! Jeff yelled, when he realized what had happened. She'd come in, chattering brightly and took his mind in a totally different direction…between that and the coffee maker, he wasn't paying a whole lot of attention, and then she headed for the bathroom. Without warning, Nick whipped the door open, only a small hand towel held in front of his crotch, and every other inch of his beautiful body glistening with droplets of water. His mom had backed her way down the hall, unable to take her eyes away from the man in the bathroom doorway. Nick stood there, stunned, his eyes wide, clearly surprised at someone else being in the apartment.
"Jeff, there's a …a ….someone's in the….." she stuttered out, mouth gaping open.
"Mom….uh….just….." Jeff began, but in the end, he had no words to say. He closed his eyes and wished with all he had that he could just go back 5 little minutes and have a do-over.
And there was Nick….his Nicky. He moved to hold the towel with his left hand and extended his right one toward Caroline. "Mrs. Sterling? I'm Nick….Nick Duval, and it's very nice to meet you….however odd this must be, and for that I sincerely apologize. Please let me grab something to put on and I'll be right out?" he smiled, finally letting go of her hand. He edged sideways into the bedroom, softly closing the door as if he'd been there for years instead of hours. As if he were at home.
Caroline turned to Jeff, who was still standing there behind her, totally speechless.
"Mom…I…I'm sorry, I…." he began.
"Oh honey, don't be sorry. I see the appeal in bright, living color now. Do NOT be sorry for that one!" she grinned. "Wow…."
"Mother!" he said, slightly taken aback and grinning now. "What…you're not angry?"
"Why would I be angry? Jeffrey, you're an adult, a 25 year old man. You're not a little boy anymore, nor are you reckless or careless. I know as well as you do that this isn't something you just 'do' on a whim. And I can see it all over your face, baby….he's important. He's special." She paused. "He's the one, isn't he?" she said softly. Jeff's eyes glazed over with unshed tears and all he could do was smile and nod his head in agreement. "Well, he's certainly a looker, baby. Hold on tight to that one if he treats you right." She grinned at him and winked, taking a seat at the table after grabbing a cup of coffee. "As if I need more caffeine….after THAT jolt of a wake up call…wow."
"Mom….seriously, do not embarrass me….I'm asking you nicely!" Jeff teased her, pointing his cream cheese covered knife at her before returning it to his bagel.
"Oh honey, I wouldn't DREAM of it…" she said with a mischievous wink. "I'll let Gram do that." She smiled. Jeff just groaned and slumped into his chair.
Nick sat on Jeff's bed in a cold sweat. Jeez, what the hell had just happened, and how had he managed to be so calm during those few seconds in the hallway? Until he'd stepped out of the shower he'd forgotten that there was no trip home from work after that phone call from Jeff, and his words that sent Nick into a tizzy. He had the clothes on his back, and that was it. Probably would have been a good idea to grab something before heading to Ohio, but in his haste to get to Jeff after all of the unanswered texts, he hadn't bothered. It was more important to just get here.
Now what? He certainly wasn't going to go out into the other room where they were, undoubtedly, still sitting and waiting for him and ask Jeff if he could borrow some underwear! Deep breath, Nick. Ok, just….well, surely there's a drawer full of undies here somewhere….and maybe a pair of sweats to get him through until he could hit a store and get something more appropriate for the day? He checked two drawers, finding socks and t-shirts before finding some boxer briefs all nicely folded in the third drawer. He had his pick of colors, and snickered when he grabbed out Jeff's hot pink pair and slipped them on. Grabbing a royal blue t-shirt, he then checked the closet for a pair of….something…anything…jeans? Sweats? Dear God, man, it doesn't matter, just put something on and get out there! Oh and, surely, his dress shoes that he'd been wearing with his suit would look stunning with sweats. Good grief….. Ok, bare feet for now.
As he pulled on a pair of grey running pants with a royal blue stripe up the side, he heard the buzzing of Jeff's phone and saw the screen light up with a text message. Without thinking, he sauntered over and picked up the phone to tell Jeff he had an incoming message. What he saw nearly broke his heart.
9:08p from Blaine: Jeff, he's not here yet. I'll let you know when he gets here. Don't panic man, I'm sure everything is fine.
10:04p from Blaine: Jeff, he didn't show at all, but Puck was supposed to cover for him and he's really late. Nick's not answering his phone, though. Have you heard from him?
11:02p from Blaine: Ok, well, the whole night was a bust until I got home. Evee and Mattie are staying all night. Left work early, and ran into Maggie, long story. No Nick, and no call back or text back from him either. Nothing from you. Starting to worry. Please, just tell me you're ok, alright. You really freaked me out this morning when…
11:04p from Blaine: you called. I know you're upset, but Nick's a good guy. I know telling him wasn't on your to-do list for the day, but if it's how you feel, then …..well….what's done is done. I don't see him running for the hills, Jeff. Hang in there, ok? And let me know you're alright!
6:47a from Blaine: Jeff, so help me God, when I get a hold of you I'm going to throttle you! Call me back dude! I'm freaking out. I just wanna know you're ok. You were so upset yesterday….just…call me, ok?!
So Jeff had been really upset after their text messages. God he was such an idiot, and damn his dad for picking THAT moment to come in bellowing about something stupid. Nick berated himself for his lack of grace in handling the situation. It wasn't every day that an amazing man told you that he loved you, and he had scared Jeff half to death with his "non answer". Yes, he'd have to make it up to him, and he would, in a big way. Jeff needed to know that his feelings were returned in no uncertain terms.
Stepping out into the hallway, Nick took a deep breath and headed for the kitchen where he could hear Jeff and his mom talking. He was a wreck. Here he was, a grown man, in a position of power at the company he worked for, with more money than he ever dreamed he'd want or need….and he was being a coward about meeting his boyfriend's mother. Maybe because this meeting…this first impression, was worth more to him than anything on his plate at the moment. Not getting her approval was not an option. She was the most important person in Jeff's life, and he was going to make damn sure she had no reason not to like him.
Jeff looked up as Nick came down the hallway, clearly wearing his clothes, a pair of what were clearly Jeff's pants slung really low on his hips and a pair of hot pink boxer briefs peeking out from…..Oh God…Oh God, those are mine and he's…..and now I'm feeling light headed….and why the hell did that stir everything in him, anyway? He smiled at Nick as he hesitantly came into the kitchen behind Caroline. Jeff gestured with his eyes and a nod of his head to have a seat with them, and he got up to pour Nick a cup of coffee.
"Well, that certainly wasn't the way I expected to meet the man my son is enamored with, young man!" Caroline said sternly. Nick felt nauseous.
"I…ma'am….we….I was….it's just that…." He sputtered out. Jeff looked horrified. What in the hell was his mother doing?!
"I thought you'd at least find someone that could speak in full sentences, Jeffrey. What do you two have to say for yourselves?" she began again. Both boys sat quietly, Nick eyeing the table top intently, and Jeff ready to throttle his mother.
"Mom! Please…you said…but you weren't….and…." Jeff sputtered.
"Oh and now it's rubbing off on you, too? You can't put a few words together to form a sentence now either?" she snarked at him, the look on her face very intimidating.
"Maybe I should…." Nick began, rising from his chair slowly, indicating with a tilt of his head that he would just leave them to discuss things.
"SIT DOWN!" Caroline demanded, and Nick dropped into the chair with wide eyes, clearly shaken. Jeff sat at the table speechless, having never seen his mother this way before….well, for a long time anyway. There had been that time when he put the basketball through the garage window…
"Now, I'd like for someone to explain TO ME why you're coming out of my son's bathroom, soaking wet carrying nothing more than a hand towel to cover yourself, Nick. What kind of man do you think he is, anyway?" she bellowed. Nick bit his bottom lip, unsure how to answer. Jeff looked on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It felt like an eternity that Caroline sat there staring at them, eyeing Jeff, then Nick, then back to Jeff, only to keep up her glances as if she were watching a tennis match. Nobody said a word. This had been a 90 second exchange, but to Nick, it felt like a week had gone by where he was under the constant scrutiny of Jeff's mother. He felt lacking.
Raising his eyes from the table, he looked her straight in the eyes and opened his mouth to speak when she couldn't bear it anymore. She could no longer keep up the charade and burst out laughing until fat tears were running down her cheeks. Jeff visibly deflated and laid his head on the table, shaking it back and forth and mumbling something about killing and revenge. Nick still stared, still having nothing come out of his mouth.
"Oh your face….Nick….." she laughed. "…absolutely priceless….best ever…." She giggled, trying to calm herself. Finally she stood and yanked Nick to his feet, the poor boy still clearly stunned. "Nick, I'm just messing with you! You can breathe again, ok? Wow that was fun. I'll have to do that more often" she said, squeezing Nick in a huge hug. Finally, regaining his wits, he softly hugged her back, not knowing if he was allowed to or not. "Don't you dare try one of those weak ass hugs on me, young man….let me know that when I leave my son in your care, you can at least hold on to him properly!" she grinned.
Finally, Nick regained his composure and hugged her back firmly, a wide smile finally breaking across his face at her words….. "when I leave my son in your care…" She knew.
"Mom, I swear to God you can just forget Mother's Day AND your birthday this year! That was evil, even for YOU!" Jeff bellowed, eyes narrowed and grinning.
Soon it was time to leave and Jeff stood, grabbing his mug and placing it in the sink….Nick did the same. Caroline walked over and placed hers there as well, but she grabbed a granola bar out of the box on the counter and smirked at Jeff.
"I'll bring you a new box, don't look at me like I'm eating your last crumb of food!" she said.
"Don't care about the granola bar." Jeff snickered. "So, what happened with the car, anyway?"
"OH! I went out this morning to leave and didn't even make it to the driveway before I realized. My driver's side front tire was flatter than a pancake and the back looked a bit low on air as well. I called Burt at the garage and he said he'd send someone over to take a look at it and change the tire. If he can't just pump it up, I'll need a new one. My spare is shot. Anyway, as I said, I have that meeting all day and I told him to call you when it's done or if he had questions. I hope that's ok?" Caroline asked.
"It's fine. I can't answer my phone if I'm in class, but I can check messages between classes or at lunch. No worries, mom."
"Good, ok….well, can you pick me up after school as well? I'll just wait in my classroom and grade papers until you're finished I suppose?"
"Mom, you're out at 2:40, and I'll be there until at least 5 today. Are you sure you want to…." Jeff began before Nick cut him off.
"Jeff, what if you let your mom drive your car today and I'll drop you off at school and pick you up later?" he asked.
"That could work. Ok with you, mom?" Jeff asked.
"Oh that would be so much easier! Thank you, Nick, I appreciate it!"
"It's no problem, I'm meeting him for lunch anyway."
The looks Jeff received when Nick dropped him off in the rental car were hilarious. This was no ordinary rental car…not for Nick Duval. Jeff didn't even know WHAT kind of car it was, only that it rivaled the one he had back at home and it was clearly expensive. The windows were tinted, for which he was grateful, because he gave Nick a long, lingering kiss goodbye, and that proved to be the wrong thing to do. He ended up having to remain in the car for several long minutes to be sure that his appearance was appropriate before heading up to the doors of the school after giving a short wave in Nick's direction. Nick's window was down now, and he smiled and waved back making Jeff's heartbeat race and a huge smile break out on his face.
Jeff stopped in the office to make Margie aware that Nick would be coming at lunch time and to please send him to his office if she didn't mind….this, of course, after he stood, clearing his throat at the office counter for a moment. Margie, the secretary, along with a few of the other teachers, all women of course, were crowded around the window that overlooked the front lawn of the school, and consequently, the sleek piece of machinery that Jeff had just stepped out of.
"Well, Mr. Sterling….." she began, and Jeff's face went bright red. Blushing, he closed his eyes and grinned, then rolled them at the ladies who were still crammed in at the window sill as Nick drove away.
"Nice ride, Sterling, you get a raise or something? I know I sure didn't…." Ebony teased him. She was his friend, a teacher as well, and they usually had lunch together since they had the same free period.
"What? No…it's not my car and you know it." He laughed back.
"Yeah, 'cause yesterday you rolled in here in that same ol' piece o' crap you always drive, so what gives? Why the chauffer today? And WHO was the chauffer, MISTER Sterling?" Ebony teased him while the others looked on grinning.
"I let my mom take my car to work…she had a flat and…and so I needed a ride and….and that's all." He said, ready to duck out of the office and just inform Margie of Nick's visit later.
"Nooooo, no no no no no….don't you EVEN try to slink away, Jeff. We want details and we want them NOW." They said, harassing him.
"Ok…so you know I went to visit my friend in New York last week, right? Well, for the past few weeks I've been talking to a friend of his that he works with…on the phone…texting, all that stuff. He wasn't supposed to be there when I went up…he was going to be out of town, so I didn't tell him I was coming at all. Turns out his plans changed and he showed up at work when I was there with Blaine, so…..yeah. I spent the majority of the weekend with him instead of Blaine, for which I feel horribly guilty!" Jeff explained.
"That ain't tellin' any of us why the dude is HERE, Jeff. Go on…" she prompted, grinning madly.
"We were talking yesterday morning and I said something….had a filter-free moment….that caught him off guard…then I left my phone at home and he thought I was ignoring him, or upset with him, so …."
"So dude just showed up? Because you….because….wait. Seriously? You didn't answer his text message so he drove down here?! From New York?"
"No…no he…um…he got on a plane and…then rented a car I guess. I didn't ask, really. It was the last thing on my mind when I walked into my apartment and he was just…THERE!" Jeff said, laughing, then he huffed out a breath and turned to exit the office. She was hot on his heels. He was smirking.
"I'm not done grillin' you, honey. Don't you run off! Why is this the first I'm hearing of this guy if you've been talking for weeks? I'm thinkin' I should be offended in some way. You wanna explain this to me, Jeffrey?" she admonished him.
"Eb….he's not a passing thing…he's important. He's special, and you can meet him today if you want? He's picking me up for lunch."
"No shit?!" she was jumping in the hall and squealing now.
"Eb! Language!" he said sternly, even though the students weren't there yet.
"Don't you try to get me off subject. So tell me about him…." She said as they continued on down the hall toward the teachers' offices. Jeff mentally ran through what he wanted to say and then began telling his friend about Nick.
A/N - credit to just_klaine_love for the blueberry pancake idea ;) Thanks to the girls for their words of wisdom on where to cut out a few things. I'd hate to get boring and have to drag you all along!
If you haven't read this yet, go do it :) Very sweet and a good read! s/9292596/1/Lullaby-Goodnight-My-Angel
Been really super busy these last few weeks and not updating as much as I'd like to. Too much "end of the school year" things going on with three kids in tow! Thanks for sticking around! Any and all reviews are appreciated and taken into consideration, as I'm always wondering what you guys are thinking :D Rounding third and heading for the weekend...hang in there! One more day! Hugs!