Y'all seem to enjoy the smut, so have I got a present for you! Fun fact: I wrote this today while waiting for my car in the mechanic, because who doesn't write their smut in public to the sound of drills and hydraulics? Enjoy knowing that that's a thing that happens. As always, you have my eternal gratitude for reading and I do a happy dance each time I get a review notification. Also, I'm now on Archive of Our Own as Wrote_My_Own_Deliverance. I'm cross posting, but if you are looking for a different platform, there you go. Love to you guys!
I got back up after John went to bed. I checked the craigslist want ads again for anything writing related. There was nothing that I hadn't already seen, mostly porn, or kids wanting people to look at their shitty manuscripts for free. Switched tabs to look at my email. One glowing new message, I swallowed hard and opened it, reading the text as quickly as possible. The contact that Greene had given came through, the email carried an apologetic tone and explained the nature of the site, it was more news review than blog, and they were looking to expand their team. My breath caught and team blurred my vision. I sent a copy of my resume to the head editor who had contacted me, despite the late hour and waited, chain smoking out the window.
New York had turned bitter cold in the last week or so, snow clung to window sills and there was a consistent inch of black slush in the roads. I burrowed tighter into the blanket that I'd stolen off the bed in exchange for the duvet and waited. I hate waiting. Hate idle fucking time. As I waited, I glanced at the textbook still on the corner of my desk. Fuck, fine. I bit at my lip and opened a new tab, typing in Columbia's address. I took a deep pull off the cigarette between my lips and clicked over to their graduate programs page. Scholarships, one for continuing education at their institution, yup, one for Latinos, sí, one for history of high grade point average, yup. I worked my way through a notebook, running numbers and trying to figure out where every dime would be accounted for, what classes to take when. Maybe. Maybe I could swing this. In the background, my email pinged. I clicked back over, a little too quick and desperate even for my personal taste.
Another message from James Madison at the Publius. I opened it. Holy shit. They were interested in setting up an interview. Fuck yes. I emailed back my availability - completely fucking open - and thanked him profusely. Within minutes there was another response, interview set up for two days from now. I confirmed and thanked him. I snuffed my cigarette and bounded into our bedroom, feeling a moment of remorse for what I was doing. But I did it anyway.
"John, John! Wake up!" I pulled back the duvet and John sat up, looking ready for a fight.
"What'sa matter, Alex, are you hurt?" only one of his eyes was open.
I flung myself onto the bed and kissed him, "got an interview at that online news place I told you about."
He blinked sleep away, "oh, babe, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you. It's late. What time is it?"
"Late. Doesn't matter, journalists keep weird hours."
"No shit." He embraced me and showered me in sleepy kisses. His mouth warm and sensual. I matched each point of contact from his lips with one of my own. At some point our kisses became more fervent, more needy, more consumed by want. Small sounds escaping both of our mouths, volume dulled against the skin of the other.
"...Alex…"John panted against my throat as I pulled back, tearing my shirt over my head before my needy hands found the hem of his shirt. I had to feel him, feel his warmth, touch the ripples of his muscles. Finally felt worthy of having his attention again. I shook that thought loose and forced myself back into the moment, I dropped my mouth back to his skin, suckling at the valley of his chest, he let me lay him back against the pillows and straddle his waist, continuing my ministrations.
His hips bucked to meet mine, desperate for friction, I leaned into him, closing the gap between our bodies, pressing my pelvis against his, eliciting a low, throaty moan from him. I sucked against the vibrations in his throat, teeth grazing his Adam's apple, certain he'd have purple bruises from my teeth there in the morning. I'm not sorry. I was insatiable for him, starved and demanding, he let me have him. Soft and pliable, submissive under me, hands raking my chest, one reaching behind me to grab a handful of ass, fingers digging at the flesh there.
"So proud of you. You're doing good." his voice was unsteady, quivering in response to my touch.
I picked my head up, lips leaving his body, but my gaze never left his frame, "'so well.' Nothing about my motives are altruistic."
"I can't believe you're correcting my grammar right now." The exasperation in his voice was feigned. I couldn't help but laugh.
I met his eyes and hovered over him, taking a dark, serious tone, "stop talking and I won't have to." With that I crashed our mouths together, tongues dueling for dominance, his moans echoed in the cavern of my mouth.
I needed more of him. Needed all of him. Without breaking contact I pulled at his pants, the soft cotton sliding down his legs with ease. I repeated the action with my own garments, the less forgiving flannel slightly harder to discard.
I melted into his warmth, hand reaching down to grip at his hip, the perfectly protruding bone a handhold, he ground against me, "need you, Alexander, please, I missed you. Missed feeling you. I need to feel you, Alex."
"Roll over, querido." I growled into his ear. He obliged, tucking his knees under his stomach to make himself more available. I made quick work of readying him with lubed fingers, relishing my ability to turn his hisses and gasps into moans of pleasure as he relaxed around my intrusion. I added another finger, enjoying the gasp in shock as his muscles twitched to take it.
"Yes, God, you feel so good. Oh please, yes!" his moans were more and more urgent.
I settled myself behind him and exchanged fingers for my lube slicked cock, throwing my head back in a moan of ecstasy, my hair tickling the bare skin of my back, and I pushed in farther. He cried out as he took me in. I found the right angle to please us both, nudging his knees farther apart with one of my own to settle his taller body lower to the mattress. He gasped at being moved, changing the sensation of me inside him. I discovered a pace that made him grunt with each of my thrusts and I gripped a tangle of his hair, jerking his head back, his mouth falling open. I pushed even harder and he cried out as I hit the right spot deep within him. His cries died into a constant whimper with each thrust, hard enough for the headboard to knock against the wall.
"You like that don't you? Like how I fuck you? Like how I take care of you? How your man takes care of you." I licked a stripe down the bumpy column of his spine, making him arch his back.
"Yes, oh, love it. Yes. You take such good care of me. Alex, you make me feel so good."
"You're goddamn right I do. Take care of what's mine." I let his hair go and dropped a hand to his shoulder, kneading the flesh there. He moaned at the competing sensations of my urgent thrusts and my hands working the supple flesh of his neck and shoulder.
I threaded my other hand underneath him, hinging my elbow on his hip and took him in hand. He whined as I started pumping in time with my thrusts, working him over totally.
"Don't stop. Please. Please. Alex, I need it, I need to come-" he dropped his head into the pillows and I felt his cock twitch as he came, his muscles clenching, abs tight, every muscle in his body engaged, setting off the chain reaction of my own stuttering orgasm. I dropped against his back, both of us panting in tandem. I pulled out and offered him a tissue from the bedside table. He took it and we cleaned ourselves up.
I flopped into the bed with him, he took his place against me, tucking himself under my arm, head rested in the crook where my chest met my arm. I brushed his hair away from my mouth.
"Good to have you back." he drew aimlessly across my chest.
"What do you mean?"
"The fire. I missed your fire. You went all grey on me."
"Well, I'm back. I'm gonna get this job, John."
"I don't doubt it for a minute. You gonna stay in bed or get back up and work on stuff?"
"I'll stay with you."
He tangled his legs through mine and pulled me tighter to him, possessive, "good, I'm so glad you cuddle me now. That was a bummer at first, especially because you're so good at it."
"Bullshit. I am not."
"You are, though, Alex. You make me feel so loved."
"Good, that's because I love you." I kissed him good night, he returned the admission of love and we both found sleep.
In the morning he was already gone when I woke, the sun was out and I checked the time, shocked and amazed to find I'd slept for ten hours. I got up and started my daily routine of cigarette, coffee, Twitter, but today was different. I felt the differentness in my bones. Something good was gonna happen, goddammit. I spent the rest of the morning combing through the Publius website, trying to learn everything I could, prepare for any questions they'd ask me. I sent an email confirmation of the interview and located my business suit from its place still in a duffel bag.
I was still in the study when John got home, Lafayette in tow.
"Hey babe, it okay if Laf joins us for dinner?" he kissed me.
"Yeah, that's cool. What's up, Laf?" I clapped a handshake with Lafayette.
"How are you doing, Alexander?" Lafayette asked with trepidation in his voice.
"Better. I'm doing better. Got a job interview tomorrow."
"It will become your bitch."
"It's, 'you'll make it your bitch,' Laf." John corrected.
The Frenchman scowled at himself, "merde, I fuck that up every time."
"You do." John laughed.
"What's Herc up to tonight?" I asked.
"He's in Switzerland, working on some new collection thing. I do not have details, but he will still be gone for Christmas." Lafayette screwed his mouth up to one side.
"Hey, that's perfect, I mean that's sad, but, John's been so bummed about missing Christmas with you. Now you can spend it with us." I tried to delicately extract my foot from my mouth.
"Are you sure?" John looked at me, hazel eyes wide and puppy like, "I figured you'd want it just us."
"I'm absolutely sure." I kissed his forehead.
John grinned from ear to ear, Lafayette seemed to loosen up at the prospect of at least being with his best friend for the holiday.
"Don't forget, we're getting Polly from the airport the day after tomorrow." John reminded me.
"And hopefully we're celebrating." I wrapped an arm around him.
"Hopefully."
John and Lafayette cooked dinner together while I lounged in the living room. I was enjoying listening to their lighthearted conversation, laughing with each other while they cooked, hearing the friendliness in their voices. I was almost embarrassed at how jealous I'd been of Lafayette when I'd first met him. Finally, when dinner was ready John brought me a plate, simple chicken and vegetables, but it was delicious nonetheless.
"It's the butter, Americans are so afraid of butter." Lafayette told me as an answer to my compliment.
"Well, whatever it is, it's spectacular."
"Are you nervous for your interview, mon ami?" Lafayette asked me.
"Somewhat, but I've got a good feeling about this."
"Is there anything we can do to help you prepare?" John inquired.
"Nope, it's gonna be what it's gonna be." I took his hand under the table.
"You'll do great." Lafayette encouraged.
"Here's hoping." I tipped my glass reverently and took a sip.