A/N: So this was a fun chapter to write. It took me a few days because of play rehearsal and a teensy bit of writer's block (that you may or may not be able to find)but it's my longest chapter so far and it's a bit more...delightful than the others. I hope you enjoy!


I love waking up in Sherlock's arms. For heaven's sake I just like waking up next to him. The simple fact that we share a bed is enough to make me ecstatic. Add to that the fact that he still sleeps stark naked and my life is suddenly even better.

I smile to myself as I make tea, even when I start thinking about last night. It had been rough; Two nightmares in one night, the second being so much worse than the first. Sherlock had been there both times of course. While the second nightmare had been worse, the relief had been swift. Sherlock had woken me up in the sweetest way possible, bringing an end to my nightmare before it even really and truly began. I had wanted him so badly in the moment my sanity returned. Seeing his concerned face above me, knowing that it was the touch of his hands and his lips that had called me from the brink made me almost frantic with desire.

His gentle touches after I woke up drove me to a rather different edge. I figured I might as well return the favor, smiling – no, wait; smirking – when I made his breath catch in his chest. It was nice to know he wanted me as well. Our lips crashed together and I ran my teeth over Sherlock's lips, whimpering when he broke away, kissing his way down to just underneath my jaw. I thought it had felt amazing when he ran his fingers over that same spot. It turns out I had no idea what 'amazing' really felt like until he was pushing his soft lips against that one bit of my neck, and I honestly lost my breath for just a moment.

I caressed the curves of his face where it was still against my neck, and he began tracing small patterns on my neck, sliding his long, graceful fingers down my chest to rest lightly on the waistband of my boxers. Then he just left his hand there, not moving it or anything. I suddenly knew it was payback for making him so excited a moment ago, and I ground my teeth in frustration, glaring at the ceiling. I could never stay mad at my love though; he made me feel too good to be angry.

I grin to myself again remembering his cheekiness. I mean sure, it annoys me in the moment when all I want is more and he starts holding back on purpose, but I always laugh about it the next day.

I feel warm arms slide around my waist from behind and I lean back into Sherlock's chest automatically. I can't believe I was ever reluctant to show him affection. He held me like that for about…five seconds before he was quickly murmuring rather…naughty things right in my ear. His deep, gravelly voice sent chills up my spine and made me want to push him onto the table and take him right then and there. I didn't of course; I knew he was just teasing me to see if I was alright. I tilt my head slightly to the left, telling him without any words what I wanted. He obliges, brushing his lips over the bare skin of my neck. Not kissing, just running his mouth over the contours of my jaw, down my neck, and across my shoulder.

I turn around and grab fistfuls of the sheet he's got draped rather haphazardly over his naked body, kissing him full on mouth with the most passion I have ever shown him, a low moan rising up in my throat. I ran my tongue over his perfectly shaped lips and he willingly opened his mouth to my questing tongue. He groaned into my mouth, running his tongue over the underside of mine. My hands moved away from his chest to grip the part of the sheet that was barely covering his back.

I let go of him and tore my mouth away from his with some difficulty; neither of us wanted to stop. I smiled at his petulant, childish look of disappointment and pulled him with me into the sitting room. He seemed to understand what I wanted because he suddenly sprang ahead of me and sat down in his chair, pulling me down to sit facing him on his lap. I smiled at his eagerness and he flushed a brilliant crimson. I knew it still embarrassed him when he accidentally let his affection show, and I loved watching him get flustered. Plus his annoyance always made him rather more passionate.

That passion was shown rather violently as he pulled my face roughly towards his to crash our lips back together in an intense kiss. I let my hands roam all over the panting man beneath me, feeling the rapid rise and fall of his sculpted chest. The sheet had fallen off of his shoulders and was wrapped around his arms and chest. I wanted to feel more of his warm skin against my own, so I slid the sheet off of his arms and chest, leaving it to form a small pile in the space between us on his lap. I ignored my urge to just rip it off of him completely. Instead, I pressed myself to him as tightly as I could, grasping at the smooth skin of his shoulder blades. He pulled his mouth away from mine with a gasp, resting his forehead against mine. He was quietly laughing in ecstasy, the sound reverberating through our bodies.

I could hardly contain myself when I was this close to him even when he was fully clothed; since he's basically naked, it's literally taking every ounce of my self-control to not just get rid of his sheet and my boxers and just finish the act we're so close to starting. I'm not sure I'm ready for that though. I love Sherlock, there is absolutely no doubt about that, so I don't want to mess anything up by going too quickly. Even if he's ready (and by the way he's got his hands resting my underwear hesitantly makes me think he's not) I don't want things to move so quickly that he gets bored with me after a while. Not that I doubt him – I've never doubted him – but I want him to love me for the longest time possible. We would make love soon; for now I'm just glad that he's willing to hold me and kiss me and tell me without words that he wants me.

I wrapped my hands around his, which were resting lightly on my underwear while he waited for me to catch my breath, and pulled them up to my face. He put his palms flat against my cheeks, his long fingers brushing aside the hair over my temples where he planted gentle, fluttering kisses, whispering my name between each press of his lips. My heart leaped in my chest, and I knew he felt it, but he just kept going, moving his mouth to rest his lips just under my ear, making me moan his name softly. I felt his answering smirk against the underside of my jaw and it was suddenly my turn to blush furiously.

Even though he doesn't show it (much) I know Sherlock loves being with me as much as I love being with him. Every time I kiss him and I feel him kiss me back instantly, or those rare moments when he accidentally moans my name or lets out the smallest groan, make me smile.

I didn't get a chance to smile as long as I normally would have as my mouth was suddenly glued to the beautiful lips of my lover. His hands slid down my back to grip my body a bit lower down than he ever has before, and I lurched forward on his lap, trying to ignore the feeling of his erection on my own and barely succeeding. He jerked his hips upwards once then seemed to regain a small amount of self-control because his hips were mercifully still after that one frenzied thrust; I don't believe I could have controlled myself if he couldn't. Still, he moaned my name in a voice that was rough with passion and hunger, and I groaned his name in return.

Was it actually possible for two people to fuse into one? It felt as if no force on Earth would separate me from the man I love. Every inch of my skin that touches Sherlock's feels like it will stay that way forever, neither of us ever being separated from each other again. Every touch of his mouth on me burned its way past my skin to settle there, scorching long after his glorious lips had moved on, leaving trails of fire burning all over my face, neck, and shoulders.

When we had calmed down by just a fraction, my beautiful Sherlock leaned his head backwards over the back of his chair, and I took the opportunity to bury face in his neck, gently pressing my lips to a section of skin I knew was particularly sensitive. When he didn't really respond, I gently bit down on that same portion of skin, eliciting a rumbling groan from the man I was pleasuring.

"John," he half-moaned.

"Mm?" I would've been a bit more articulate if my face weren't still buried against his warm neck.

"If you genuinely wish for this to go no further I suggest you stop torturing me."

I could almost hear the smirk in his voice, but I knew by the hardness of the erection that was pressed against my thigh that he was being very serious.

I honestly considered continuing for just a moment, thinking quickly about what would happen if I allowed him to release his tension, and then decided against it (which took more effort than I thought it would).

I sighed heavily against his neck after pulling back just enough to where I knew some of my warm breath would reach his ear. I felt his answering shudder and I grinned, climbing off of his extremely comfortable lap. As I stood there, flushed with arousal and embarrassment mingled, I saw his eyes glide appreciatively over my shorter frame once before returning to my face. Even though it had been a while, I still had the muscles of a soldier, and I knew my body turned Sherlock on. I blushed again, feeling suddenly exposed which was ridiculous; but I was embarrassed all the same. I turned quickly and walked into the kitchen to throw out the now-cold pot of tea and begin brewing a fresh one before deciding against it and almost running past Sherlock, mumbling something about needing to take a shower and that I'd be out in a few minutes.


A/N #2 - I loved writing John's angsty indecision XD. Sorry I would've put that up at the top but I didn't want to spoil any of the sexually frustrating goodies ^_^ Don't forget to review!