Thanks for all the reviews! *hugs to all* really makes my day when I see one :)
dun dun dun... Chapter 12 is finito - yippee! One scene left to write and I'm all done, whew *wipes brow*
From here on out, I'm flying solo... No beta sadly. So all mistakes are entirely my own :(
Don't own anyone *tear* and no profit is made!
Enjoy! =D
Chapter 10:
Pigs in Blankets!
Uther leaned back against the bar, glass of the finest scotch in his hand and surveyed the ballroom. It was the night of the annual Camelot Industries Christmas and New Year's party and the festivities were in full swing.
Morgana was flirting about the room, jumping about from guest to guest, capturing everyone's attention with a few words. She looked radiant as always, in her full length gold gown, reminding Uther of her mother. Trailing behind was her ever loving husband. Uther was full of appreciation for the man, how he dealt with Morgana on a daily basis and still seemed to love her was anybody's guess.
His gaze landed on Arthur and a smirk touched his lips.
His son was standing in the middle of a group, consisting of board members and business associates. Uther had noticed as soon as Arthur had arrived, alone yet again, that the people that normally sought to monopolise his time at these events had sought his son instead. Making a bee-line for him and waiting their turn. It filled Uther with immense pride to see the man his son had become. He wasn't blind or stupid and he could see the gravitational pull Arthur seemed to have on people.
It was something Uther didn't entirely understand, he had never seen the point of having his employee's love him, he acquired their respect through his prowess on the business battleground – sparing no survivors and suffering no fools. Emotion was always checked like a coat outside the board rooms. He was tough, and had always assumed he would never have accomplished what he did by any other means. However watching his son, discreetly over the last couple of months, he was beginning to revise his opinion. When Arthur commanded, the employee's did – not because he had ordered it but because they trusted him.
For someone in his twenties, it was a remarkable the power that he had. Uther had never been so proud, not that he'd tell Arthur, but he knew his company would be safe hands when he stepped down as Managing Director.
As the crowd around Arthur began to dissipate, with handshakes and claps on the shoulder, Arthur moved to stand next to a couple. It took Uther a moment to recognise them, though it really shouldn't have, the amount of time he had spent thinking about ruining them. It was that girl; that common one whom Uther never approved of – always thought Arthur could do better – Gwen Smith and Lancelot Du Lac. Uther had wanted to find some reason to terminate her employment when Leon had finally told him why Morgana was so annoyed and upset, but his son had intervened from across the Atlantic so he had let it be. He may not pay attention at the best of times but he knew when he heard the unconcealed anger in Arthur's voice. But there they were, happy as Larry, smiling and laughing with Arthur.
Uther had been married and was expecting a child, Arthur, by the time he had been that age. Sometimes he worried that his son would never settle down, and it seemed more likely than not that he would have to rely on Morgana for grandchildren.
"Father, you're looking far too serious for a man at a party," Morgana smiled, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
"Morgana, I'm always serious," he said sternly but then smiled. "Enjoying yourself?"
"Oh yes, having a wonderful time. What with that puppy," she said flicking her wrist in the direction of Leon ordering drinks, "trailing me everywhere and Arthur pouting."
"What's wrong with him?" Uther asked sharply.
"Nobody would accompany Prince Charming to the ball," she grinned wickedly, taking a martini from Leon.
"Don't be ridiculous," Leon laughed, "Cinderella just missed her pumpkin."
"I really despair of you two," Uther said, shaking his head. His gaze landed on the door to see Arthur's PA walk in. For once, the boy looked well put together, not the usual dishevelled mess he encountered in his sons office.
He smiled and that smile could light up the entire room, Uther had never thought it before but there was something slightly endearing about the idiot who didn't seem to know his place.
Uther watched as he walked over to Arthur, seeing an equally bright smile on his sons face. They didn't touch, or embrace or anything that would suggest any form of relations between the pair, apart from their obvious joy at seeing one other.
Now, it was not only his daughter he despaired but also his son. Really had Arthur not bedded the boy yet? Any fool could see the tension between them.
Maybe he would end up with two son-in-laws. Arthur's happiness was his main concern, and he could always count on Morgana for the grandchildren, he reasoned to himself.
"Best have a word with Leon," he muttered, signalling to the tall man who looked like he was being called to the gallows.
Merlin paused inside the door, eyes sweeping the crowded ballroom. They finally landed on the one person Merlin had been longing to see for the last two weeks. Christmas at home with his mother had seemed like such a good idea at the time.
When their eyes finally met, Merlin knew his smile was blinding. Arthur looked incredible as always, in a fitted, designer grey three piece suit and that black shirt he loved, open necked and no tie. He walked across the room quickly but made sure to stop a few steps in front of the man – he wanted nothing more than to kiss Arthur and hold him but Merlin knew he couldn't, not here. This was business and besides Uther was about somewhere.
"Hey," Arthur smiled.
"Hey, sorry I'm late."
"It's fine," they stood staring at each other for a few minutes, the intensity of Arthur's gaze making Merlin's cheeks burn.
Merlin tore his eyes away and moved to stand beside Arthur.
"Missed you," Merlin murmured, trailing his finger down the sleeve of Arthur's suit jacket before lightly circling his palm.
"How's your mother?" Arthur asked, his breath hitching, he twitched his hand away, moving to stand in front of Merlin.
"She's good," Merlin's eyes twinkled, "dying to meet you, of course."
"What? You told her about us?" Arthur asked, taking a step back, glancing around looking for his father. Uther looked busy terrorising Leon.
"Well, I hadn't meant to," he replied, taking a step towards Arthur. "But she caught me on my dash from the shower to my room – thought I'd gotten away with it too until I got down to the kitchen and she was sitting there with tea and biscuits."
"What?" Arthur asked, bewildered.
"She was concerned I'd taken up with some vampires," Merlin grinned, then rolled his eyes indulgently as Arthur still looked adorably confused. "She saw all the bite marks and bruises all over my chest, shoulders and back."
"Oh," Arthur blushed, looking at the floor and running a hand through his hand – making a mess of it. "Sorry."
"It's grand," Merlin smiled, "I would've told her soon enough anyway – we tell each other everything."
"No, I didn't mean... I meant about the..." Arthur waved his hand up and down his torso.
"Oh," Merlin beamed, "don't be sorry. I'm dying for round two."
Arthur blushed, but his gaze became heated again, taking a step forward.
"Yeah?" He asked, voice slightly rougher than it had been a moment before.
"Yeah," Merlin squeaked, suddenly anxious now that Arthur was right in front of him and he could easily lean up and kiss him. "Gwen warned me about it anyway," Merlin blurted out, trying to ease the charged atmosphere.
"What?" Arthur asked, voice sharp, stepping back.
"Gwen, she warned me that you were a biter..." Merlin trailed off at the look on Arthur's face. His jaw was set and his eyes were hard.
"Right," Arthur bit out.
"I mean, they were all just teasing me..."
"I'm going to get a drink," and with that Arthur strode off across the floor.
"Merlin," Lance said, walking over, big smile on his face. "What's wrong?" He asked concernedly after seeing his face.
"Why can't I ever keep my mouth shut?"
Merlin walked off and picked up a full glass of champagne off a table, downing it as he watched Arthur order a drink and slam the empty glass back down onto the bar. His father looked at him sharply and went to move over to him but Arthur moved off, heading towards the bathrooms before Uther could say anything.
Suddenly Merlin found himself under the scrutiny of Pendragon senior himself. Not liking the intensity of Uther's stare he quickly followed Arthur.
Arthur was standing at the sinks, washing his hands and staring stonily at the glided mirror when Merlin walked in. Merlin leaned against the door, looking at the man who had come to mean so much to him.
Arthur glared at Merlin's reflection, watching Merlin chew his lip, looking nervous. Arthur couldn't help but smile, he frowned though when Merlin met his eyes in the mirror.
"It was a joke," Merlin said, slowly walking over until he was leaning into Arthur from behind. He felt the man go rigid and huffed. "Come on, don't be like this."
"Like what, exactly?" Arthur said, turning off the tap.
"A prat," Merlin grinned at his reflection; Arthur sighed and shook his head – allowing Merlin to turn him around. "I'm not going to walk on eggshells around you, enough people do that. But they are our friends and I will make stupid comments from time to time." Merlin wrapped his arms around Arthur's waist and Arthur leaned into him. Merlin lightly kissed him, "but I really did miss you, cabbagehead."
"Missed you too," Arthur murmured before leaning in and catching Merlin lips. The kiss started chaste, just a light press of lips but Merlin had been dreaming of this since he left that afternoon, two weeks previous and this was no time to be delicate.
Merlin snaked his hand around Arthur's neck, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. Arthur moaned, parting his lips and ran the tip of his tongue over Merlin's bottom lip before pulling it between his teeth to nip at it. He smoothed the bite with a brush of his tongue, Merlin groaned slightly before pushing his tongue into Arthur's mouth. Massaging their tongues together.
Suddenly, they were pushing and pulling at each other, trying to get closer. The kiss became messy and desperate as they ravaged each other's mouths.
Merlin tugged on the lapels of Arthur's jacket, slowly starting to walk backwards.
Arthur broke away, face flushed, lips swollen and red, pupils blown and hair a mess.
"Merlin, I am not having sex with you in the toilets," he panted.
"Hush now, with your delicate sensibilities. I'm just giving us some privacy, anyone could walk in and god forbid it be your father." He pushed Arthur against the back wall of the cubicle and closed the solid wood door. These fancy hotels had the best toilet cubicles, no one would see their feet or probably even hear them. They were in their own little room, albeit not very romantic what with the toilet bowl but beggars couldn't be choosers.
Arthur crashed into him, reclaiming his lips and Merlin guided their hips together. Creating the delightful friction that both of them craved. Arthur rolled his hips, and Merlin cried out, mostly drowned in Arthur's mouth.
Arthur tugged Merlin shirt out of his trousers and ran his hands up Merlin's back.
Merlin cupped his hand against Arthur's erection and slowly ran his hand up and down the length.
"I am not coming in my pants, do you have idea how much they cost?" Arthur panted into Merlins neck.
"Fine, fine," Merlin huffed, turning them around so Arthur was against the door. He continued to kiss Arthur as he undid his buttons, before dropping to knees and pulling the trousers with him.
Arthur laughed but it turned to a groan as Merlin ran his tongue up the length of his cock.
Arthur treaded his hands into Merlin's unruly locks, keeping eyes locked with the man on the floor as he tongued at the head of Arthur's cock.
Merlin smiled as Arthur's breathing became more ragged and he wrapped his lips around the head of Arthur's cock, sucking lightly. Arthur's hips jumped forward but Merlin held him in place, humming lightly, causing Arthur to tighten his grip in Merlin's hair. Merlin smiled, never taking his eyes on Arthur's face. Who now had his eyes screwed shut and was muttering something that Merlin couldn't make out.
Merlin opened his mouth wide and swallowed down to the base, running his tongue along the thick vein on the underside. Arthur cried out, slamming his head against the door as Merlin continued his ministrations on Arthur's cock. Using his tongue to tease, as he sucked on it.
"I'm gonna..." Arthur stuttered, as he tensed and Merlin sucked him right in, feeling Arthur's hot release on the back of his throat. Merlin continued milking him dry, but stopped when Arthur touched his cheek – looking well and truly fucked out and guiding Merlin off his over sensitive cock.
Arthur pulled Merlin to his feet, kissing him softly, tasting himself on Merlin's lips before undoing Merlin's trousers and wrapping his hand around Merlin's hard and leaking cock.
Just then there was a loud bang at the door and both men froze, eyeing it wearily.
"Arthur," came Leon's amused voice, "will you get out of there, your father's looking for you."
When they righted themselves, Merlin grumbling trying to fix himself so it wouldn't look like he was walking around with a raging hard-on, they exited the cubicle.
Leon and Lance were sitting up on the sink surround with grins on their faces.
"Randy teenagers or what?" Lance chuckled.
"Shut up," Merlin said angrily as Arthur walked over to wash his hands, giving Leon a nudge causing him to topple off.
"Morgana's trying to distract Uther," Leon giggled, "so you better get out there and you can finish up later." He winked at Merlin.
"Easier said than done," Merlin muttered, trailing behind a flushed Arthur, and the two giggling idiots they called friends.
"You two make absolutely no sense," Percy snorted from the door into the sitting room.
"Care for a pig in a blanket?" Gwaine asked holding out a plate, dressed in a slightly too big tuxedo.
"Or some bubbly?" Ellie beamed.
"No, thank you," Percy said hesitantly walking over to pick his keys up from the coffee table. "You know, I'm sure if you had of just asked Arthur would have invited you to the party."
"As if we wanted to go to that!" Gwaine said indignantly.
"Right," Percy said slowly, looking each of them over in turn.
"We're having our own ball," Ellie said twirling on the spot, the skirt of her little Bo Peep dress sweeping up in an arch.
"You could always gate crash," Percy said with his hands on his hips.
"Eh, no!" Gwaine snorted, "Besides Arthur said it was only for 'Camelot Industries employee's'."
"Well he told me I could go if I liked," Percy shrugged.
"Outrageous!" Gwaine shrieked.
"Well maybe," Percy laughed, continuing to look at Ellie twirling about the room, "it's best you're not there after the last one."
"Oh," Ellie cooed, "what happened last time?"
"Nothing," Gwaine said sternly, eyes daring Percy to say.
"Well," Percy smiled, he could take Gwaine on any day. "Gwaine got drunk and proceeded to tell Pendragon senior how wonderful..." He rounded the sofa, trying to get away from Gwaine, "his son was."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Ellie said, amusedly trying to block Gwaine's path to Percy.
"No, no. How wonderful Arthur was in bed and how beautiful his arse was."
"Oh!" Ellie burst out laughing and fell onto the sofa.
"Yep," Percy grinned at the glowering Gwaine. "Arthur threw him out, and that was how Uther confirmed that his son did indeed swing both ways."
"You outed Arthur to his father?" Ellie was clutching her side, laughing.
"Well really," Gwaine huffed, eating a pig in blanket, "how was I to know?"
"You are never meeting my parents!" Ellie said, picking up a spring roll.
"And I'm off," Percy said swinging his keys, "dinner with Freya."
"Good riddance," Gwaine huffed as the door swung shut.
"Shall we dance?" Ellie said, turning up the music and holding out her hand to Gwaine.
"Love to," Gwaine replied putting his arms around her and twirling her about the room.
"So," she grinned up at him. "Am I as wonderful in bed as Arthur?"
"Definitely," he grinned, kissing her. "In a different way."
"Well," she smirked, evil glint in her eyes, "if you wanted I could always fuck you with that dildo I saw in your draw of tricks!"
Gwaine froze, eyes wide as he looked down at his little blonde clusterfuck. Where had she been hiding all his life?