Strangers In Love

Chapter 9

Afterglow.

Kurt had always liked that word, but he had never given much thought to the thing itself. The word may have been beautiful, but laying there, he decided he liked the real thing even better. Especially when he was sharing it with the particularly beautiful boy at his side.

Kurt felt so deeply connected to Blaine as they lay together in post-coital euphoria. He nuzzled his head further into Blaine's chest, feeling the strong beat of his heart under his cheek. He sighed contentedly, not sure that he ever wanted to let that moment slip away.

"Is this the part where I make a joke about getting 'lei'd?'" Blaine asked, running an idle hand through Kurt's hair and breaking the sentimental mood. Kurt fought back a laugh.

"If you do, I can assure you we will never be doing what we just did ever again."

"Nah," Blaine joked. "Now that you've had a taste, you can never give me up."

"Modest," Kurt purred, despite the jibing edge the word was supposed to connote, because Blaine had started to trace one finger softly down his spine.

"How do you feel?" Blaine asked.

Kurt assessed the situation by flexing his muscles one at a time. "Amazing," he confirmed when he had finished. "My legs and arms still feel like jelly, but amazing. You?"

"Also jellified. Also amazing."

Pride was not an emotion Kurt had expected he would ever associate with sex, but there it was, warming his chest. Knowing that he had made Blaine feel the way he had felt during and after was half the appeal, and that was something new for Kurt. Something he loved.

"Side effects of the best sex I've ever had, I suppose," Kurt said with a smile and a squeeze of Blaine's hip.

Blaine dropped a kiss to Kurt's hairline just above the center of his forehead.

"Only sex I've ever had."

Kurt slapped Blaine's chest playfully. "Oh, shut up."

"I'm not joking."

Slowly, Kurt's head lifted so that he could evaluate Blaine's seriousness, then when it was determined that Blaine was definitely not joking, he promptly panicked.

"Why didn't you say something?! I could have gone slower, been more careful. You didn't seem nervous at all. You were so sure of yourself. I'm so stupid, I should have asked! But I just assumed, since you're so...you know. How is it that you've never…? Oh god Blaine, I'm so sorry. You can never have that moment back, and I royally fucked this one up." He stopped rambling when he realized Blaine was watching him with an amused smirk.

"Stop worrying. You were beyond my wildest expectations. I'm actually glad I didn't say anything, because you weren't nervous or overly worried about how it was for me. Which, by the way, I thought it was pretty damn perfect."

Kurt narrowed his eyes as if he did not believe Blaine, but Blaine only kept smiling like Kurt made him happier than anything on Earth, so he slowly relaxed. Once the initial shock wore off, Kurt felt honored and full of giddy happiness that Blaine had trusted him enough to be his first, though how someone so cute and funny and good could not meet anyone worth sharing this part of himself with until he was nearly 22 was beyond Kurt.

"I really have a hard time believing I'm the first one to snatch you up," he said adoringly, laying his head back down on Blaine's chest.

"I don't snag many dates being as shy as I am," Blaine shrugged by way of explanation.

"Sam doesn't set you up?"

"Oh. He tries, he just hasn't quite nailed down my type. He's always hooking me up with his big, bulky friends from the gym. I prefer my guys tall and lean, and with more brains than muscle. Bonus if he has silky smooth hair I can run my fingers through. Extra bonus if he prefers wit to potty humor."

"What about his voice? Does he get extra points if he can sing? Or if he has impeccable fashion sense? And what about—mmph!" Kurt was silenced by Blaine's mouth. Their kiss was more teeth than lips because neither could stop smiling or laughing.

"Yes, Kurt, you're exactly my type. No need to brag. Give yourself a round of applause, why don't you?"

Kurt stuck out his tongue at Blaine.

"What's your usual type?" Blaine asked, heart fluttering under Kurt's ear.

"Unbearably cute, sort of short dorks with awesome senses of humor and great bodies."

"Oh. I hope you find someone like that someday."

Kurt giggled and tapped Blaine on the nose. "See? Dork. Let's just say you exceed the qualifying criteria." He planted a kiss on Blaine's collarbone. "Hey, want to go make use of that gorgeous outdoor shower we have at our disposal?"

"I do. Oh, I do. But can we just lay here for a while first?" Blaine asked, and how could Kurt ever deny such a request?

"That's right. Self-proclaimed cuddle whore."

"Sorry," Blaine nuzzled his nose into Kurt's hair.

"Less apologizing, more cuddling."

Kurt wrapped his arms and legs tighter around Blaine. If it had not been absolutely silent in their room, he would not have heard Blaine's next quiet words.

"You make me really happy."

Blaine had no idea. Kurt turned over on his side to face away from Blaine, who immediately spooned up behind him, placing a hand over Kurt's heart. How intimate it was, their bare bodies pressed together, taking comfort and joy in just being together as vulnerably as they were in that moment. But as vulnerable as Kurt felt, the sense of security he felt in Blaine's arms far exceeded that uncertainty.

"Blaine?"

Blaine tightened the hand around Kurt's heart in response.

"You said 'okay,'" Kurt's voice was small as he worried about what Blaine would say.

"I've said 'okay' many times in my life, Kurt. Which time are you referring to?"

"Smartass." Kurt kicked a heel into Blaine's shin, feeling some of the tension leave his body. "When we were...before...I said I don't do casual hookups, and you said 'okay.'"

Blaine pulled Kurt in closer.

"I did," he affirmed.

"Were you acting? Are you acting?"

Kurt's nerves got the best of him while he awaited an answer. He felt sick thinking about what he would do if Blaine said he was.

"No."

"So this isn't…"

He felt Blaine smirk against his shoulder. "Could you classify any of my behavior since the day we met as casual?"

Kurt snorted. Just like that, Blaine had given him confidence, in that magical way that only Blaine could. He had this natural way of putting Kurt at ease, and for that, Kurt was extremely grateful.

"Fair enough."

"Kurt, I should tell you something." Blaine punctuated his sentence with a kiss to Kurt's neck.

"What?" He relaxed his body into Blaine's.

"I feel very not casual about you."

There he went again, being endearing and making things feel so simple. "Good. I feel very not casual about you, too."

Blaine was pleased to report that the outdoor shower was as fantastic as it looked. Perhaps it was the company Blaine had in the shower that made it so enjoyable, but either way...

For him, a switch had flipped, and now being with Kurt was simpler than breathing. It felt like he had finally found the person he was supposed to be with, the one he couldn't get enough of. Unfortunately, their time together was drawing to a close.

They spent the next day lounging by the water and sipping on drinks again, slipping inside more than once when their activities progressed beyond what was considered appropriate for the semi-private beach. They ate lunch in their cabana, went kayaking, and Kurt even graced Blaine with the audition song he'd been preparing. Blaine's fingers itched for a piano to accompany him. He told Kurt so, and was informed that Kurt regretted not following up on their Grindr chat sooner if only so he could have had an accompanist he knew personally during his time at NYADA, to which Blaine laughed and replied that he would gladly accompany Kurt anytime he wanted.

That evening found them laying in bed, strung out on each other and greatly satisfied. They had spent the last hour playing around and ultimately going down on each other, which it turned out Blaine was quite good at, if Kurt was to be believed.

As someone who thrived on physical intimacy, Blaine was so grateful to have found Kurt, with whom he could explore his sexuality safely and securely. He added that to his mental list of Kurt's best qualities. It was quite a long list by now.

Blaine had half-drifted off to sleep when Kurt's phone rang, making both boys jump.

"Ugh. Rachel is trying to Facetime. I've been ignoring her calls and texts for days," Kurt groaned, checking his phone screen.

"You should probably answer, then."

"But we're in bed. Naked."

Blaine whipped the covers up and over their bodies. "Problem solved. She'll never know the difference."

Kurt rolled his eyes and begrudgingly answered Rachel's video call, the camera trained only on himself from the shoulders up.

"Hi Rach."

"Kurt! Oh my god, are you naked?!"

Kurt huffed. Of course that would be the first thing she noticed. "That is none of your business."

"What are you doing? Did Blaine step out? Or are you jerking off in the room while he's sleeping or something?"

"Wow, that is so wildly inappropriate. I am not even going to answer." As usual, that did not deter her.

"You look tan and not burnt at all. You must be using the sunscreen I sent with you. That's good. Did you ask Blaine to slather it on you?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Blaine was shaking with silent giggles next to him, half because of Rachel, and half because of Kurt's priceless reaction to his best friend.

"Give it up, Rachel. I'm not giving you details."

"Ahh, so there are details to give…" she said in a conspiratorial voice.

"You're incorrigible."

"Is Blaine there right now?"

Kurt hesitated. "...Yes."

"I want to say hi to him. Hi, Blaine! Where are you?" she called obnoxiously.

"Rachel…"

"What? Show me Blaine! I want to officially meet him. Oh!" She hit her head. "You don't have any clothes on. I forgot that part. Is that why you won't get up and take me to him?"

Kurt darted his eyes to the bed beside him and Blaine gave him the smallest of nods. He shifted the camera so they were both in the shot.

Rachel's shriek was earsplitting.

"God, you're embarrassing," Kurt complained when she quieted down.

"Hi Blaine. Nice to meet you. Didn't know this meeting was clothing-optional."

"Embarrassing," Kurt reiterated.

Blaine gave Rachel a small wave, a blush creeping up his neck.

"They keep showing little snippets of your vacation on GMA," Rachel told them. "Looks like the two of you are having fun, but I never would have guessed by watching them that you're sleeping together."

"Can you open your mouth without something mortifying falling out?" Kurt hid his face in Blaine's neck. Blaine looped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him in closer, placing a kiss on his cheek.

"Oh my god you two are a-freaking-dorable. I've never seen Kurt this smitten, not even with Alex or Jake!"

"Well, it's time for us to go before you ruin everything good in the world," Kurt glared at Rachel through the camera. "Good bye. See you in two days!"

He pushed the "End" button before she could say anything else.

Kurt turned to Blaine, throwing a leg over his hip. "I am endlessly sorry for her. She doesn't understand the meaning of the word 'boundaries.'"

"She said you were smitten. Unusually smitten. Like, copious amounts of smit. Smite? Smut?"

"Yeah, I don't think any of those are right. Good try, honey," Kurt teased. "Anyway, Rachel might be crazy, but she's often right."

"Was she right this time?"

Kurt nodded carefully. "Yes. You're different, Blaine."

"First time I've heard that adjective used in a positive context."

Kurt's heart broke a little for the pain Blaine must have faced in the past due to his introverted nature. By now, though, he knew that humor was the best way to cheer up Blaine.

"Well, you're definitely weird different, too, but I wasn't going to be the one to say it."

Blaine kissed his nose with a laugh. "You wound me."

"We should probably go to bed sleep. It's late," Kurt pointed out, though he could have spent the entire night just lounging in Blaine's arms and talking to him.

"I'm not feeling very tired. How about you help me expend some of that energy?" Blaine pushed his hips into Kurt, a devilish grin on his face.

"Blaine," Kurt whined. "We've been so...active that I think I'm literally going to break if we do any more." Despite his words, his body gave away his true desires.

"Maybe it's your turn to break me," Blaine whispered seductively into his ear.

"Oh hell!" Kurt threw his hands up in the air and gave in. "Okay, but if I die, you're never allowed to disclose the cause of my death to Rachel. Or my dad."

"Death by excess of sex? Not a bad way to go."

"Death by sex with Blaine Anderson. Quite possibly the best way go to."

"Not better than death by sex with Kurt Hummel."

"Agree to disagree, then. Let's just have sex and hope that no one actually dies."

"Deal."

Kurt tangled his fingers with Blaine's as they walked along the beach on their last night in Hawaii. It was a peaceful night, the water almost completely calm and the stars gleaming brightly in the sky. The boys strolled across the sand, keeping to themselves introspectively.

"Who are Adam and Jake?" Blaine asked out of nowhere, his hand twitching nervously in Kurt's.

Kurt almost stopped walking in surprise. Curse Rachel and her big mouth.

"They're two of my exes. Well, to be technical, I only have two exes. I don't have some crazy long history. Just so you know. I don't want to scare you off with that."

You're rambling. Stop the words from coming out of your mouth, Kurt reprimanded himself.

"Are they the reasons you say you don't do casual hookups?"

Kurt pressed his lips together in a tight line. "Sort of. Mostly. Are we really going to have the ex-boyfriend talk right now?"

"Should we not? I don't know, I've never dated anyone before. You have to help guide me in these things."

Kurt wrinkled his nose as he looked at Blaine. "God, you're cute. Yes, we can talk about it." He mulled things over for a few seconds before speaking. "Here's the thing...when I like someone, I tend to go all in. I'm pretty passionate about my interests, and that extends to guys I'm dating. I dated Alex my sophomore year of college and Jake my junior year. I was so in love with them. That's what I thought, anyway, but now I realize that wasn't even close to being true. I had always thrown myself into relationships head first, but I always kept a strict 'no sex until you're in love' policy. I'm too much of a romantic to do otherwise. Naturally, thinking I loved them, I slept with them. Only to find out they were both sleeping with other people. They both used the excuse that we never said we were exclusive, and I felt like the world's biggest idiot."

"That happened to you twice?"

"Yep." Kurt let the 'p' pop loudly. "After Jake, I vowed to save sex for marriage, but I'm realizing now that that may have been a little extreme."

Blaine swung their hands between them. "Sorry to make you break your vow."

"Well, if the right person comes along, I guess…"

Blaine's smile was wide and bright.

"Don't worry. I can steadfastly confirm that I am not seeing anyone else, nor do I plan to in the foreseeable future."

Blaine was really something else. He pretty much constantly found a way to make Kurt happy, even if he was not aware that he was doing it. "Good. That's really good."

They slipped back into a comfortable silence as they rounded the bend that put their villa in sight. Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, sensing that Blaine was deep in thought.

"My brother, actually." Blaine was not ready to go back inside yet, so he sat down on the beach, holding out his arm for Kurt to sit next to him.

"Are you going to talk to him about it?"

"No. Yes. I don't know. How exactly do I bring up the subject without sounding pompous? 'Hey Coop, heard you're proud of me and show me off to your coworkers.'"

Kurt laughed. "Well maybe don't say it like that. Just sit him down and let him know how you've been feeling about him. Give him the chance to bring it up. Have a heart to heart."

"I am very bad at those."

"You're doing great right now," Kurt pointed out.

Blaine turned to Kurt as though he was missing the most obvious thing. "Yeah, but it's you."

Kurt's heart tap danced in his chest. He wrapped his arms around Blaine's waist and hugged him tightly. Lately he'd found himself thinking that he couldn't believe life had brought him to Blaine, and Blaine kept reinforcing that disbelief. He was so honest and genuine, which was funny, considering where they started.

Kurt had not thought much beyond their six days in Hawaii yet, though, for fear of shattering their perfect illusion. They left tomorrow afternoon, however, so Kurt could not ignore it any longer.

"What happens when we get back?"

"I don't know. I'm trying not to think about it yet. Let's just enjoy the time we have left here and after that, trust in life and trust in each other."

After his bad dating experiences, trusting another guy was difficult for Kurt. But somehow, he found trusting Blaine to be frighteningly easy.

"Do you trust me right now?" Kurt smirked, looking around the beach to ensure that they were alone.

Blaine nodded with certainty.

"Then come with me." Kurt stood, began stripping out of his clothes, and held out a hand for Blaine to take. "We're going to check an item off my bucket list."

"What's that?" Blaine asked curiously, removing his clothes as well.

"To make love in the ocean."