For the next three weeks, Blaine and Kurt continue to date. In essence this is fine; Kurt returns to work at the coffee shop and Blaine is often tied up in the evening watching shows, but they meet for lunch, or an early dinner, and though they bicker and argue about every little thing imaginable, they both still enjoy being together.
The only problem for Kurt, is that he wishes for a whole lot more. Blaine is attentive and generous, lavishing huge amounts of money on their dates, including dinner on a private boat, lunch at the top of the Rockefeller center and even another shopping trip, but the nearest they get to having any privacy is in the back of the chauffeured town car, and Kurt is convinced that Blaine's drivers hate him getting in the car because they always end up making out.
Kurt doesn't audition for the Planet America revival. He does, however, audition for three other shows, none of which are successful. Blaine keeps bringing up the play, The Whiskey and the Rye, encouraging Kurt to try for it. At least, he would say it's encouraging, while Kurt would call it pushing.
In the end, he gives in, and to his surprise, he lands an audition. He tries not to get his hopes up, but the chance to land a lead role in a play that will run at one of the most notable off-Broadway theatres is almost too much to bear. He calls his dad, in a frenzy of excitement, and also his granny. Anna and Meredith both back him one hundred per cent, but Blaine is his biggest champion of all, particularly when he gets a callback.
"It's yours, it has to be," he tells Kurt over lunch the day of the callback. "See? I told you it's all about applying your talent correctly. And I'll bet you feel better about it, right? Knowing you've pushed yourself and it's paid off?"
Kurt looks down at his plate, then his whole face breaks out in a massive grin and he looks up, affectionately rubbing his foot against his ankle. "I do, yes. You were right, and that's the only time you'll hear me say it, but thank you for being so obnoxious and forceful, I really do appreciate it."
Blaine smiles smugly. "You're welcome."
He insists on walking Kurt to the callback, and then he lingers in a cafe across the road until he's done. But Kurt emerges from the theatre and walks swiftly away, leaving Blaine to run down the street after him, a fact which annoys him intensely.
"What the fuck?"
"I didn't get it!" Kurt cries, his head down as he keeps walking. "I got down to the final three, and one guy got the part, the other got the understudy, and I got fuck all."
"Kurt..."
"Don't touch me!" he roars when Blaine reaches out. He stops, breathing hard, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I don't know why you're so cruel, but it really hurts so just quit, please."
Stunned, Blaine takes a small step backwards. "What?"
"You thought it'd be funny, right? To put me forward for a role that you knew I had no chance of getting? Did you think I'd learn a lesson in humility? It'd bring me down a peg or two? Well congratulations, Blaine, because you made me feel like shit."
"What the hell are you talking about?" he cries. "I did no such thing! I encouraged you to push yourself and you did so. You got to the final three, Kurt. That's not having no chance, that's doing really well."
"But not well enough!" he cries angrily. "So no doubt you'll now feel exceptionally smug for proving all your criticisms of me were right. You win, okay? I'm a shit actor, you're an amazing critic, and you win."
"I'm..." Blaine shakes his head. "I'm not even going to listen to any more of this. Call me when you're old enough to play with the big boys."
He walks away, and Kurt immediately feels oddly deflated and also flooded with guilt, but it's his anger and hurt that win out in the end and he goes home alone to sit and brood. Of course, he has to call his dad and let him know the outcome, but his dad doesn't yet know that he's dating a man twenty years his senior, and it doesn't seem the right time to mention it, so he waits until Meredith returns home to reveal all that had taken place after the failed audition.
"You know you've been a jerk, don't you?"
"Yes. Ugh."
"I mean, I'm not a nice person, but what you said to him was harsh, even by my standards."
"Yes, okay, thank you. What do I do?"
"You know where he lives?"
"No."
"Then all you can do is call him, and hope he answers. You've gotta grovel, Kurt. Big time."
Unsurprisingly, Blaine is very terse when he answers. "What do you want?"
"To apologize."
"I'm listening."
"I'm really sorry. You always call me a brat but today I was one. I was upset, and embarrassed, because I'd told everyone about the audition, and I knew I had to then tell them all I didn't get it...and I just felt stupid and dumb and then I knew you were waiting... I think knowing you wanted me to get the part kinda made it even harder for me."
"Oh what, so I'm not allowed to want good things for you?"
"That's not what I mean. I just didn't want to let you down, that's all. You always seem so much more refined than me, so much more sophisticated, like you've really got your shit together, and then I'm just a mess... I felt silly, and I took it all out on you when all I really wanted to do was to have you hold me while I cried."
"You could've done that," Blaine says softly. "I wouldn't have minded."
"You never hold me though."
"I do!"
"You don't. We make out, and it sends us both crazy, you sometimes put an arm around me as we're leaving a restaurant, but we never cuddle."
"Cuddle?"
"Yeah."
"So pretty much anything I do isn't good enough."
"That's not what I said."
"I don't know what you want, Kurt. I take you out, I spend time with you..."
"I want to be alone with you," he says quickly. "Not even for anything to happen, just so I can be in your arms, that's all."
"Get a cab, then. I'll pay."
"Huh?"
"Come on, it's late already and I've still got work to do. Seven hundred Riverside Drive."
The cab pulls up outside Blaine's building and the door is immediately pulled open by a man wearing a smart uniform. "Good evening, Mr Hummel," he says politely. "Go on up, Mr Anderson is waiting. I'll handle the fare."
"Oh. Uh..."
The doorman just nods his head toward the entrance, so Kurt takes the hint and goes inside, staring in awe at a large foyer with a double marble staircase going up, and an elevator waiting with the doors open.
"This way, Mr Hummel."
He jumps at the sound of the elevator operative, and quickly hurries over.
"Penthouse," she explains, and Kurt rolls his eyes.
"Of course."
The doors open almost silently and then Kurt is alone in a hallway with only a large dark wood door in front of him. Feeling like he's in some kind of dream, he knocks, and after some time, Blaine opens the door.
He's just in his dress shirt again, but this time there's no sign of glasses. Still, it's an intimate look at a man who's normally so formal, especially since he's not wearing any socks or shoes. Kurt realizes this is Blaine's sanctuary, his personal space, and he's finally letting him in.
"Are you going to stand there all night, or what?" he grouches, and Kurt quickly scurries inside.
"Oh my God," he breathes, for surely he's never seen such an incredible space.
"This is the hallway," Blaine says, sounding bored of his enthusiasm.
"It's huge. My whole place would fit in here and then some."
The hallway is all white, and seems to extend off to the right, around a corner and out of sight. Kurt can see doors, he guesses to the bedrooms and bathrooms, since Blaine leads him to the left, and into an enormous living room.
It's tastefully decorated, with cream colored walls and dark wood floors. There's two enormous couches, a coffee table and an armchair and then, most striking of all, enormous floor to ceiling windows with views of dusk falling over the Hudson River. There's a terrace too, and when Kurt steps further into the room he can see the whole space extends right around into a dining area and a cherry wood kitchen with marble counters.
"I don't know what to say," Kurt whispers in awe. "This is magnificent."
Blaine just shrugs, and walks past him to the kitchen. "Have you eaten?"
"Yeah."
"Wine, then?"
"Sure."
Everything is awkward, and Blaine moves around the kitchen in silence, while Kurt carefully slips his shoes off, nearly groaning when his feet sink into a thick faun rug. "You're still angry, huh?"
"No." He finishes pouring the wine and leaves the glasses on the dining table to join him at the window. "I'm hurt."
"Hurt?" Kurt is flooded with guilt and he reaches out, gently laying a hand on his arm. "Oh no, Blaine, please...I'm sorry."
"I know you are, but you actually thought I'd set you up like that."
"I didn't. I just said a load of crap because I was hurting, that's all."
"Well don't," he huffs. "I don't do people, Kurt, or being sociable. It's tough for me, but I want to see you, I like spending time with you, but if you push me away..."
"I don't want to," Kurt says quickly.
"Right, then I'm going to say what I want to say, because I think you need to hear it. Look at me, please."
Kurt slowly drags his eyes upward to Blaine's, which reflect the lights from the terrace.
"I was proud of you today," he says sincerely. "I know it took courage for you to audition for that role, but you did it. You might not have been successful this time, but you will be in the future, and I don't want you to view this as a setback. As for what happened after... I like arguing with you, it brings me great joy. I like to wind you up, and I like it when you drive me crazy but then make me smile... And I think that's the point, really. Your words today didn't make me smile, and that's why they hurt. But you've said sorry, and that's good enough for me."
"You were proud of me?"
"Very. Now come here."
"Why?"
"Because you called me, whining about needing a fucking cuddle, that's why," he barks, but he smiles, and holds Kurt tightly in his arms.
Kurt sags against him, knowing that everything is now fine between them once more. He wraps his arms around Blaine's waist, and turns so that his lips just graze above his collar. "Thank you."
"Are we done? You can go."
"What?"
"I'm messing with you." He laughs, pulling back to kiss his lips. His touch is tender and sweet, as he lovingly holds Kurt's face in his hands. "So beautiful."
It's said so quietly, that Kurt is pretty sure he didn't mean for it to be uttered out loud, so he says nothing but draws him into another kiss instead, running his hands over his broad, strong back. "You have work to do, don't you?" he asks when Blaine moves to kiss along his jaw.
"It can wait. Come sit with me." He grabs their glasses and directs Kurt to the couch, tugging him around until they lie the length of it, with Kurt snugly nestled between his legs, resting back onto his chest. "Is this okay?"
"This is more than okay," Kurt says happily.
"Good. I like it too."
They are content in their silence now. Music plays; Kurt assumes it's piped magically through the walls since he can't see any evidence of speakers, or any type of music player. They drink their wine slowly and then, when they're done, Blaine sets their glasses on the coffee table and lies down again, this time pulling Kurt in next to him, so his head rests on his chest.
"I never lie on my couch," he murmurs. "I never hold anyone, either. I told you you'd be the death of me."
"I'm turning you into a rebel," Kurt teases. "Maybe one day you'll even wear a sweater instead of a suit."
"Not likely." He runs his fingers up and down Kurt's spine, and kisses into his hair. "I think about you a lot."
"You do?"
"Hmm."
Kurt waits and waits, but there's no further explanation offered. His fingers stop their trail and work under his sweater instead, tracing small circles just above the waistband of his pants. Kurt can't help the way his breath catches and his heart pounds. Blaine makes his whole body come alive just from this, the first touch of his hands underneath his clothing, the hint of wanting more.
"S'nice."
"You sound sleepy," Blaine notes.
"Yeah. I guess I should get going soon."
"Stay, if you want to."
The touch of his fingertips forgotten, Kurt sits upright, looking down at him. "Really?"
"Why not?"
"I hadn't thought about it. I could... But I have work tomorrow."
"So take the car in the morning. Roy will drive you home, wait for you to change then take you to work."
"Anna and Meredith will freak."
"Are they your keepers?"
"No, but...I don't know."
"Stay or don't stay, but make a decision either way."
"Do you want me to stay?"
"What do you think?"
"I don't know, do I? Maybe... but then again, did you just offer to be polite?"
Blaine sits, pushes Kurt back down onto the couch and then falls on top of him. "Stay," he whispers into his ear. "I want you to."
His lips are hot and demanding, and Kurt responds eagerly, wrapping his arms about his neck and rising up to meet him. At this, Blaine pulls back quickly. He's already breathing hard, but his fingers are soft as they gently graze Kurt's cheek and he smiles down at him.
"I'm gonna ask this one more time... Are you sure this is what you want? I mean, I know we like spending time together, but I don't want you to feel like you have to go further. I know I'm like...ridiculously old, and grumpy. I don't want you to think you need to satisfy me in some way, just to stay on my good side."
"Blaine, why would I ever think that?" He sits, reaching out to play with the hair at the base of his neck. "I want this, very much. I want you. I've been desperate just to be alone with you for so long. I know you're trying to be a gentleman here but really, I'm an adult, capable of making adult decisions, and I really wouldn't let myself get into a situation like this if I felt uncomfortable."
"I'm not like Frank."
"Trust me, I know." He smiles, biting his lip, his eyes raking up and down Blaine's body. "You're way, way hotter for a start."
Blaine rolls his eyes. "You're so shallow." But he gets to his feet and, taking Kurt's hand in his, leads him down the long hallway to some double doors.
"Is this your room?"
"No, it's the guest room. What do you think?"
He laughs to himself, pushing open the doors and ushering Kurt inside, who just stands and stares for a moment. The enormous bed is on the left-hand side, giving an amazing view of the Hudson along the back wall, which is made entirely of glass. The curtains, bedding and carpet are all cream, and aside from two mahogany nightstands which match the bed, there is no other furniture in the room.
Everything is hidden behind doors; there's no hint that anyone inhabits the place and it's as though they were standing in a luxury hotel room. Kurt finds it impressive, yet also sad when he realizes that although Blaine might live here, it's really not a home.
He's just wondering what to say when out of nowhere, the lights dim and the curtains close. Magic again, Kurt assumes. He turns to see Blaine watching him, a small smile on his face as he steps closer.
This time, Kurt falls eagerly into the kiss, and it is he who backs Blaine toward the bed, still kissing him hard as they fall onto the covers. It's an empowering feeling, to have Blaine underneath him when he always seems so dominant, and he likes it.
He likes the way Blaine's breath catches when he bites lightly on his lip. He likes the unmistakable moan, quickly cut short, that he makes when Kurt tugs on his hair. He likes Blaine's hands, moving up and under his sweater until he forces Kurt upright so he can pull it over his head.
Blaine never says a word, but his eyes seem full of approval when, with Kurt now sitting astride him, he leans in, kissing along his collarbone before biting down into the soft skin of his neck.
Shaking with anticipation, Kurt fumbles with the buttons on Blaine's shirt. He manages two, before Blaine stops kissing him and starts undressing himself, instead.
"Hey! Let me do it."
"It's okay."
"I want to."
Blaine stops, surprised. "Why?"
"Because it's...like unwrapping a gift," Kurt declares happily. Batting Blaine's fingers out of the way, he carries on, more confident this time, mainly because he can sense that Blaine is unsettled by this turn of events, and he becomes determined to make him lose his cool.
Tenderly he nudges him back down again, kissing each new bit of flesh as it's exposed. He has a smattering of dark hair across his chest, tapering off into a line that leads lower. Kurt follows this, trying not groan in satisfaction when he pushes his shirt completely open, and realizes Blaine isn't only fit, but amazingly sculpted and toned, each and every ab pronounced to utter perfection.
He kisses each one and then looks up, grinning when he notices Blaine propped up on his elbows, watching him.
"Get up here."
Kurt is surprised at how rough, how dirty his voice is. He's breathing hard, and the second Kurt is by his lips he flips them, grinding down against him, letting him feel his hardness.
His resolve weakening, Kurt opens his legs and throws his head back with a loud moan. Blaine is all over him; kissing, biting, sucking marks onto his neck, chest, hips, and he keeps moving lower, making quick work of his belt buckle and pants, until he's left in just his underwear.
"You always wear these?" Blaine asks, looking down at his tight gray boxer briefs.
"Not just this pair, no."
"Funny." He sticks his tongue out, something that makes him look impossibly young, and then he kneels between Kurt's legs, firmly gripping his thighs. "I like them. I like...um...you," he says, gesturing up and down his body.
Embarrassed by his admittance, he leans down, hiding his face in order to kiss along the waistband of Kurt's shorts, running his hand over his bulge.
"Oh...fuck," Kurt pants, and his desperate arousal only becomes even more evident when Blaine pulls his underwear off, and takes him into his mouth.
Kurt bites his lip, desperately trying to stifle the overwhelming urge to cry out, because Blaine, it seems, is an entirely silent lover. He also knows exactly what he's doing, and suddenly Kurt finds his legs up on his shoulders as Blaine takes him deeper.
Kurt wants to slow him down. He's aware that Blaine is still in his pants and apart from kissing his chest, he's had no chance to explore his body, or reciprocate in any way. Though it's undeniably very pleasurable indeed, this is not how he thought their lovemaking would be.
He can feel his orgasm approaching and, in a herculean effort, he taps the side of Blaine's head. "Stop a moment."
"Huh?" Blaine stops immediately, kneeling up. "Not good?"
"So good but...just come here, a minute. Just be with me."
"Be with...what does that even mean?"
Kurt kneels opposite, softly caressing the back of his neck. "It means, Blaine, that I really like you, and this is about me wanting to be with you. Not anyone. You. I want to cherish this, between us. I want to feel that connection with you."
Blaine looks down at the bed for a moment, then brings his hands to Kurt's knees. "This will sound incredibly self-pitying, but I don't think anyone's ever wanted that before."
"Well I do...and I'm a demanding brat, right?"
At this, Blaine looks up and smiles. "You really are. I think it's entirely evident just how much I loathe you."
"It is. Now get naked."
"See?" Blaine quickly obliges and then pulls Kurt tight into his arms. "So demanding."
His voice is gruff, but he's happy, and Kurt is glad he stopped him before, because now everything is so much better. They kiss slowly, hands roaming, legs entwining. Every now and then, Blaine pulls back, looks Kurt right in the eye and smiles softly.
It's easily apparent just how much he's enjoying this, and when Blaine brings one hand up to his hip, Kurt is surprised to find his touch is shaky. He looks deep into his eyes as his hand smoothes over his skin, smiling when Kurt does the same.
Blaine's hand wraps around him, and again, he waits for Kurt to reciprocate. They move slowly, and though Kurt tries to keep the heated eye contact, he has to look down, just to see their hands knocking together, and the sight of Blaine's thick cock in his hand.
"Oh Jesus," he moans, quickening his pace.
"Hold up." Blaine stops him, leaning over to grab lube from the nightstand. "Told you I think of you," he quips, but Kurt gives a wanton moan, falling onto his back.
"That is insanely hot."
Blaine laughs quietly, pulling Kurt back onto his side and pouring lube into his palm. He never speaks, but Kurt knows he's as close to the edge as he is, because the fingers of one hand dig hard into his shoulder, as his other hand begins a fast pace.
Kurt's not sure if he should warn Blaine that he's about to come; somewhere in the back of his mind the thought that these are probably insanely expensive bed sheets occurs to him, but then Blaine pulls him closer, and bites hard into his shoulder with a muffled groan.
The second Kurt feels wetness over his hand, he lets go, throwing his head back for Blaine's lips to travel there, kissing him tenderly as he shudders then grins. "I..."
"You want to shower? I'll get right on it."
"Hey?" Kurt's still dazed, riding out waves of pleasure. "No," he says when Blaine's words hit home. "C'mere."
He pulls him close, perhaps a touch forcefully, but he can tell Blaine is really rather pleased from the way he brings both of his hands to the back of Kurt's head and kisses his eyelids, cheeks and then his lips.
"I know I'll need to shower, eventually," Kurt whispers, letting his fingers graze over his rough jawline. "But I really like cuddles."
Blaine rolls his eyes affectionately and obliges, wrapping Kurt in his arms and kissing his forehead. "You and your damn cuddles."
They stay that way so long, that eventually they're too tired to move to the bathroom, and Blaine just pulls back the covers instead, ushers Kurt under, and then holds him all night long.