Keep my heart captive, set me free

by The Queen of Rose

D/s AU - Kurt Hummel had always dreamed of a fairy-tale bond, a perfect, kind and caring Dom. Blaine Anderson had always dreamed of someone who stands out from the boring crowd, someone real, and pure. When their worlds collide, will either of them get what they had dreamed of?

16. Loosened

Hi guys!

Sorry for the small delay on this chapter, we ended up adding a few thousand, hundred, million more words for some unknown reason xD

Maybe because we don't enjoy sleeping… or having lives… or working brains…

Anywhoo!

A big thank you to everyone for all your continued love and support with this story, you are awesome! Thank you to that special someone who makes our lives happy with their awesome fanart they keep sending in and all the lovely people who send us lots of lovely asks and stuff ;P Thank you to Caroline, our tumblr wizard who is actually going to have a little slice of life on our profile page if you wanna check that out :)

A quick warning to watch the line breaks for where we skip in the story, especially in the first half and there may be a few mistakes that we haven't picked up but we have procured ourselves a beta for the rest of the story so that shouldn't be an issue in the future…. Other than that, enjoy!

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Night of the Winter Formal...

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They moved inside once Nick felt Jeff shivering in his arms and bid Kurt and Blaine a goodnight as they headed off for home. The Dom had known instinctively that Jeff didn't want to join the dregs left in the formal as it wound down and they were both still reeling after the claiming so Nick led them back towards the dorms. He had taken Jeff gently by the hand, that faint hum between them that had always been there and exploded when they kissed still happily buzzing between them.

It was surreal finally having what he wanted, being able to finally call Jeff his own and there were a million things he wanted to say. More feelings he wanted to express. Just more, more, more. But he let the need settle, pushed it back for another time because they needed this calm after the storm. This port to dock in while they caught their breath, Jeff especially. He couldn't really, truly imagine how big a deal this was for him to have agreed to be his sub, to agree to putting himself in another hands and power again, but he felt an almost equal weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders in response. Nothing was more important than Jeff now.

They ended up in his room.

He didn't really think about it. It was natural to take Jeff into his space now, the desire to begin fulfilling the steps of their bond fresh and strong within him, especially with the Dominant and submissive pheromones still licking through his veins. It was only when Jeff tensed did his mind clear a little and he realised that he was on the brink of another hug incident.

He needed to keep better control of himself.

"I can walk you back to your own room, angel," he promised immediately, giving him space as he let the sub take in his room… their room he hoped silently, but he might as well have said it out loud the way the words seemed to crawl out of his head and jump into the air.

Jeff wasn't stupid.

He'd gone through a bond before and he knew very well that after being claimed a sub moved in with his Dom. And that prospect scared him. His walls were felled tonight, Nick burrowing his way further and further into his heart, but he knew he'd throw them back up soon enough and the idea of letting them down enough to share a living space with Nick and all the intimacies that came with that was frightening.

What if Nick didn't like what he saw when he got to know him better? Got to see it for himself.

But god… a part of him wanted this, the rusty submissive part that had been reawakened well and truly after being claimed. He shivered remembering the words, possessive and commanding and hot in his ear, soaking into his very soul to brand themselves there.

Nick heard the blonde's throat click as he swallowed and looked over his shoulder at him, eyes searching every inch of his face for what felt like an eternity before turning back around and walking further into the room cautiously. It was a silent acceptance that filled Nick's heart to bursting as he watched him nervously walk around the space taking it all in.

He seemed to fit so perfectly surrounded by his belongings, the final piece he needed to be complete.

He closed the door and had begun shedding his suit jacket when he noticed the wary, almost panicked look his sub had just settled on him.

He stopped dead.

"I c-c… I mean I don't think…" Jeff began to stutter, tripping over his tongue and feet as he began to edge away like a cornered animal.

The implication hit Nick like a brick straight to the gut and it made him feel sick.

"Angel no," he hastily soothed, leaving his jacket where it was and approaching in baby steps with his hands up. "I was just gonna get ready for bed."

Chocolate eyes darted that way to rest on the green comforter, still cautious. "Together?" he asked quietly.

He tried to tell his panicked mind that Nick wasn't like that… he wouldn't do that to him, but the reaction to seeing clothes taken off by a Dominant was almost sickeningly engrained into him. He fought hard against it, pushing and shoving those feelings back to the dark space they existed in.

"I was going to take the sofa," Nick admitted to him and closed the rest of the gap between them slowly, taking Jeff into his arms tenderly, relieved when he didn't push him away, only tensed a little. "I am never going to be him," he promised fiercely holding his gaze. "Whenever you feel like you're uncomfortable with anything we're doing, or need a little space then just tell me and I'll back off okay?"

"I know you're not him," Jeff murmured almost inaudibly and it appeared like he was mostly saying to himself but it unstuck something inside Nick, a fear that Jeff wouldn't be able to separate him from him.

"Thank you, angel. That means a lot to me to hear, I don't ever want to be someone you fear."

Jeff shuddered out a breath because Nick would never be the monster in his head, but he couldn't say that, couldn't talk about this any further without feeling like he was going to unravel at the seams. And so he simply nodded and Nick pressed a kiss to his forehead that he basked in, feeling it chase away the cold again as he lingered there for a while allowing him unconsciously to help calm him down.

"I haven't got anything to wear," Jeff whispered after a while, like talking louder would smash the moment.

"You can borrow my stuff… it's all yours now anyway," Nick told him, pulling back.

Jeff stared at him in confusion and wonder, like it was baffling to him that he should gain from this joining instead of give and it was yet another nail in the coffin he was going to put that good for nothing Dom into when he next saw him.

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask about it, to bring it up but he reigned it back. Now wasn't the time to push something like that. He honestly didn't think there would ever be a right time to bring it up, but he knew for sure at least that this was the wrong one. And so he pushed away the anger and ran a hand through Jeff's hair to sooth himself, still in awe that he got to do this now. Got to hold him and touch him and kiss him and love him.

It wasn't all going to be easy he knew, but he couldn't think of a more important or worthy thing to fight for.

He stepped away and led Jeff to his dresser, opening it up. "You can chose anything you want," he smiled at him, grabbing a worn red Dalton Athletics shirt that he'd had since high school and his cotton, grey sleep pants for himself. Jeff licked his lips nervously before stepping up and peering into the drawer like something was going to jump out at him. "I'm just going to get changed in the bathroom," he informed him, not wanting to leave his sub at all but knowing it was necessary.

He'd never gotten dressed faster in his life… or more messily.

And if he might have knocked all of his toiletries into the sink while trying to brush his teeth and disrobe at the same time and then pulled all his towels to the floor with him when he lost his balance trying to thread his legs through the wrong holes too fast, well, that was his business.

He stumbled out, shoving his suit and shoes out of the way, probably red cheeked for the first time in his life for acting like an idiot because he freaking cared so much what Jeff thought of him. But the sub wasn't staring at him at all. Instead he was staring at the Toy Story pyjama bottoms in his hand, a glaring yellow colour with little Woody's splashed all over them.

Oh shit.

"I can explain those."

A smile began to form on the blondes face and he pressed the knuckles of his free hand there as if to stop it and the little laugh that bubbled out of his throat from escaping as he looked towards him.

Nick wanted to melt into a puddle of loved up goo at the sight and noise, even as he was being made fun of.

"They're nice," Jeff cleared his throat enough to say to him, humour underlying the words.

"I didn't buy them. Blaine thought it'd be funny," he explained weakly but there was no getting around this.

Jeff cocked an eyebrow in a very Kurt expression, before tilting his head in the most endearingly mischievous way that was all him. "You've worn them. A lot," he observed, not buying any of it.

It was true of course, the material had thinned and Woody was missing his face or limbs in some areas from wear especially around the knees…

He might as well come clean. "They're awesome, okay? And super comfy and you like Toy Story too so you agree Woody is badass!"

Jeff laughed again, the soft sound lighting up the room. "He is pretty cool," he agreed shyly.

This was the most ridiculous conversation ever but he loved it, loved that they could actually be comfortable with one another still even though the lines had been redrawn.

"They're my favourite," Nick shrugged with a smile, mussing up his hair carelessly.

"Oh. Sorry," Jeff said surprised and hastily went to put them back and Nick's brain short-circuited for a minute because did Jeff want to wear them? The one of only a few items of clothes that really had everything of him enthused into the fibres because generally he didn't care what he was wearing or what he looked like.

Suddenly nothing else in the world mattered more than Jeff wearing those awesome pyjamas, the Dom in him purring possessively at the thought.

"You can wear them," he burst out.

Smooth.

Jeff startled and looked at him wide eyed, hands still on the fabric. "No its fine, I'll take something el-"

"Angel, wear them honestly. You'll never want to take them off again," he winked trying to emphasize that this really wasn't a big deal in the sense Jeff thought it was. It was only a big deal now because Nick thought he would die if his sub didn't put them on.

Jeff stared at him for a few moment, assessing him before he hesitantly pulled the colourful fabric out and clutched it to his chest like it was precious. "Thank you."

Nick stepped over and kissed his temple. "You're very welcome, angel. Now there's a spare toothbrush under the sink… uh, ignore the mess in the bathroom, there were some... difficulties."

"Difficulties?" Jeff asked curiously. He clearly hadn't registered the racket he'd made.

"Turns out I'm an ambitious multi-tasker who epically fails at it. But you're stuck with me now so no take backs when you see the mess," he grinned and Jeff gave him an under the lashes look.

"I'm not gonna take it back," he told him softly, feeling utterly selfish but knowing it was true. He wasn't good enough for Nick but he loved him in the most heart wrenching way he'd come to the conclusion that he couldn't be without him and so until Nick recognized just how damaged he was, he was going to hold on as long as he could.

He headed for the bathroom before Nick could reply, shutting himself inside firmly and taking a deep breath.

Nick stared after him for a long while, heart in his throat and words replaying in his head.

The biggest, goofiest grin began to form on his face and he barely managed to keep from doing a giddy little happy dance, instead busying himself with making up the sofa with a few spare pillows and his spare comforter- the thinner one he usually used in the summer.

The sofa itself was just long enough to accommodate him, deep enough for his shoulders and was comfy as hell so he wasn't exactly complaining even though deep down he'd rather be spending the night with Jeff in his arms. But they'd get there and he was content in that knowledge, freaking overwhelmed that he even had his angel in his room at all.

Jeff stepped back out, toying with his own undershirt he's kept on instead of borrowing one, over the loud bottoms and looking adorably small and a little unsure again as he twitched.

"You look so cute I think I'll have to make you keep those," Nick found himself saying his thoughts out loud, satisfaction rolling through him on a primal level knowing that his scent was all over Jeff right now.

His sub blushed an endearing, lovely shade of pink and stared down at his toes too embarrassed to reply, arms wrapping around himself as he shivered once.

"You cold?" he asked concerned, spotting his Dalton hoody on his desk chair and snatching it up on his way over to his sub.

"A little," Jeff admitted, looking back up at him. "It was cold outside, guess I haven't warmed up yet."

Nick stopped in front of him. "Arms up."

Jeff obeyed the command straight away without even thinking and then warm material was sliding over his head and Nick's scent was surrounding him.

It was perfect.

"Better, angel?" Nick asked, rubbing his hands up and down his arms to warm him further.

"Yes, thank you," he replied, leaning into the touches and soaking them in greedily.

"Good. Now get your cute butt in bed," he grinned pressing a chaste kiss to his mouth.

Jeff jerked in surprise at the kiss, not unpleasantly even as the subtle command seeped under his skin and Jeff hurried over to slide underneath the forest green comforter, feeling fulfilled in a totally new and vibrant way after he'd got settled and Nick eyed him happily.

"Good boy," he praised and Jeff shivered again, only not from the temperature this time. It was intense, like getting shocked in the best way, adrenaline pumping and endorphins spreading and then this blissful calm would steal over him in waves, cleansing him through until he felt pliant and loose. It was doubly as powerful being in Nick's bed too. Surrounded by his scent, thick and concentrated on the sheets combined with the borrowed clothes he was wearing. He shifted around to get comfortable, wondering just what position Nick slept in and blushing at the desire to mimic it just to feel closer to him.

Nick walked over and flicked the light off before settling in himself on his sofa, shifting around until he found a comfortable position on his side with his back plastered to the backrest and an arm curled up under the pillows.

"Nick?" Jeff breathed into the darkness hesitantly.

"Yes, angel? Everything okay?" he asked softly, ready to jump at a moment's notice.

He bit his lip and considered his words, before closing his eyes and steeling his resolve.

"I just wanted to say goodnight," he murmured shyly, half muffled by the pillow he buried his face into, happy the lights were off to hide his coloured cheeks.

Nick felt a swoop in his stomach and a smile blossoming on his face. "Sweet dreams, angel."

If only they were.

It starts off as just emptiness for a while, dark and quiet and Jeff can handle that, he doesn't mind the silence and he's used to being alone nowadays for the most part. But soon he realizes that he isn't alone.

There's someone in the darkness with him.

He tries to run.

'Pet. There's nowhere to hide, you know better than this.'

He sprints and sprints and sprints until he can't breathe but he doesn't move an inch, like the floor is just rolling out under him and that hidden entity is closing in faster and they want to hurt him, he can feel the malicious intent on his skin like a grimy film.

He calls for help.

He begs and pleads for someone to help him but no one else is there. No one else can hear him except the creature who is now laughing at him, mocking him for his weakness.

'Shut up! No one cares about a worthless fuck up like you. Get on the bed. Now!'

He hurts.

Its painful hands gripping his skin, flesh forced against his own, words taunting his mind and heart over and over.

He cries.

He hates himself for it but the tears always fall, always betray him and the monster grins, licks them up happily, greedily, it's never satisfied.

'Is my pet sad? If you did a better job then you might not be. Spread your legs.'

He wakes up.

Cold sweat drenched his brow and his heart was thumping so hard and fast it was all he could hear. He gasped for an easy breath but it was hard to come by, no matter how frequent his nightmares they never lost their impact and god he just wanted them to stop.

Lifting a shaky hand he wiped his face free of the tears he knew were there and bolted up knowing he couldn't go back to sleep now. Everything held a tint of panic and he stared into the darkness frantically expecting him to jump out, take him away from Nick and make him hurt again. Rip all his taped together pieces to shreds again because he knew just where to tear.

The sound of Nick's soft breathing broke through the haze and Jeff locked eyes on his blurry outline like a lifeline.

I don't want to go. Don't let him take me away again. Don't let him hurt me. Please, please, please…

"Sir," Jeff choked into the darkness, but it was hardly a sound, more like a strangled whine that died off before it got anywhere near the sleeping Dom and really Jeff didn't know why that word had come out at all. Maybe because he was so open and vulnerable, his submissive instincts right under his skin as they urged him to seek out his Dom and get comfort, get safety, get protection.

Desperate and scared Jeff scrambled out of the bed dragging the comforter with and around him so he was bundled up to his neck, the ends dragging over the floor as he approached the sofa, trying not to trip as his watery eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Nick was laying exactly the way he'd fallen asleep, seeming not to have moved as muscle as he breathed deep and evenly into the night and Jeff didn't even hesitate, feeling as if Kevin was right behind him, breathing down his neck.

The free space was on the outside of the couch where Nick's arm was curled up under the pillow and Jeff eased himself next to him slowly, curling himself down until they fit together, his head on the pillow over the Dom's arm and knees and feet inches away from touching. He bit his lip waiting but Nick didn't move a muscle, just continued to sleep on unaware and Jeff didn't know if he was grateful for that or not.

He had all of Nick's thick comforter wrapped around him but he was still shivering, still cold with fear and he slinked closer to the space heater next to him and the easy strength he was giving off even in sleep. This close now he could make out his Dom's features. The relaxed line of his jaw, the parted lips, the smooth brow. He was gorgeous and open before him like a book, no pretence to hide behind, no walls, no face to show to the world. It was calming in its vulnerability, yet at the same time calming because Nick was still strong this way, still able to protect him he knew instinctively.

Reaching out of his blanket nest he grabbed the muscled arm that was curled lax and loose between them and wrapped it over his waist, feeling flushed and shy but his desire for the comfort it would bring far outweighing it.

It seemed to kick-start an unconscious reaction in the Dom, one that the submissive in him had been seeking all along. Nick made a soft grunting noise before his arm snaked all the way around his back pulling him closer, tucked into his body fully, nose to nose, hard body settling half on top of his with legs slotting like they belonged there and it was like he could breathe again despite the weight.

He sighed out in relief, allowing the love he felt to wash over his face as he stared at his sleeping Dom just this once. Even unconscious Nick knew exactly what he needed and Jeff was in awe of him.

His nerves calmed, his thoughts settled, his body relaxed.

Everything was warm again, the harshness easing into the softness, just blankets and pillows and warm breath and Nick's scent. His arms were trapped inside the cocoon he'd made for himself but it didn't make him feel claustrophobic or pinned down, he just felt safe.

For the first time in a long time he felt safe and he closed his eyes.

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The morning after…

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The Privilege of Belonging
By Miriam Sanders
for Westerville Daily

To start of this article, I'd like to explain myself to you so you could understand my motivation and determination to write this.

I'm a 22 year old girl. I'm a finance major, a part time journalist, and a political enthusiast. I'm a shy, completely average girl with a small group of close friends and a supportive family.

I'm also a bonded submissive.

My Dom chose me when we were both seventeen years old and since then we have gone through all the steps of bonding, encouraged and empowered by the balance and completion we provided for one another.

Registering our bond, and thus, sealing and legalizing it, never came into question. It was the logical, natural final step of our relationship. I never doubted. I never feared. I knew.

Another thing that never crossed my mind was the fact that not everyone is as lucky as I am, or as most of my friends are.

An accidental encounter a couple of months ago served as an eye opener and it made me question everything I thought I knew about our world and the way we chose to exist and love. A close friend of mine recently claimed an amazing sub and through them I met S and his sub M; a beautiful couple, committed, in love.

They were moving in together and clearly excited about the prospect. I started asking a million questions about how they met, how long they were together.

I was in love with their love, convinced they had the perfect life.

I could not be more wrong.

I asked them to share their story with me, and you as well, and they said yes.

For comparison I have also asked my close friends, T and R, who are equally in love, to answer the same questions.

The interview you're about to read is unedited and every answer is penned down exactly as the subjects involved answered them.

Miriam: Hi guys…
M: And girl…
(laugh)
Miriam: Sorry…Hi guys and girl, and thank you for agreeing to do this.
S: It's our pleasure.
R: No problem.
Miriam: Okay well if you're comfortable enough shall we get going?
T: I'm ready.
M: Sure.
Miriam: Okay so question number one. How long have you known each other and of that time how long have you been together?
S: We met 3 years ago and we'd gotten together a few months after that.
T: We've known OF each other for about 5 ears, and we've gotten our acts together, met and bonded around three years ago.
Miriam: The "you've known of each other" sounds like an interesting detail and it brings us nicely to the next question which is how did you meet?
R: HAHA it's a funny story. I've seen him around the school a couple of times and I thought he was adorable, all tiny and cute and geeky.
T: I resent that.
R: No you don't. Anyway I had no idea he liked me back and we kind of just danced around each other for ages, literally, before a mutual friend decided to take matters into his own hands. He invited us both to a pool party, and then proceeded to throw munchkin over here into the pool. I jumped right after him, pulled him out, cuddled him the rest of the day under the excuse of keeping him warm and then asked him to be mine.
Miriam: That's quite romantic. What about you?
M: I hit him in the face.
Miriam: Sorry?
M: It was an accident. I was alone in the classroom and I had my back towards the door. I was singing something, and the next thing I know someone says: You have a lovely voice. And I got so scared I turned around and elbowed him in the chin.
S: She packs a mean punch I can tell you that much.
(laugh)
Miriam: So how do you go from technical knockout to date?
S: I didn't just walk into that room by accident. I heard her sing and I had to see who it was. I saw her and…well…I knew I had to get to know her. I had a moment of second thought when she maimed me but then again… I like that she's fierce.
T: Maybe I should have smacked you on the head. Could have saved us a bit of time.
R: Like you could have reached my head, Tiny.
Miriam: Okay. So where are you now, in your bonding process I mean?
R: We registered our bond last year.
(There were a few minutes of silence after R responded, while S and M tried to find the best way to explain where they were.)
S: M and I…we can't afford to register, or to truly fulfill the Gifting so we're trying to complete the steps we can, and love each other as best as we can. We know we're IT for each other and that's what keeps us going.
Miriam: Could you maybe give us a general rundown of what your life looks like?
M: Well, we've recently moved in together, that is S moved into my parent's house since my family is much smaller than his. We go to school every day, we listen to people make fun of us, subs throw themselves at him, because, in the eyes of the law we're…we're not bonded. We do our best to tune it all out and brush it off but sometimes…sometimes it's so hard.
S: She gets scared sometimes. That I'll leave her. That I'll have a sub on the side because there are no consequences. But I love her. She's mine, laws be damned.
Miriam: That must be really tough on you. I have to say I admire the way you handle yourselves and how committed you are to one another. T, R how is their life different from yours?
R: Wow um…after that it seems pointless to talk about our life which is pretty much perfect. T and I live together in our own apartment. Like I said we've registered last year. We go to school, spend time with our friends, T has his tutoring sessions and I train…for us it's a normal life.
Miriam: How hard is it for you to see other couples in your town who were in the same situation and they didn't make it? Does it affect you?
S: It's hard. You always think that you'll be the one to beat the odds. And you truly believe that because you're in love and happy and hopeful. But then you see those other people and you realize they used to be like us…in love and hopeful…and now they aren't anymore and well…it could be us someday.
T: But if it makes you feel any better it's the same thing on this side. You see so many people bonding and then keeping subs on the side. And it takes a lot of trust to place it in your Dom and believe he won't do the same to you. What's horrible is that these people have the privilege to truly belong and they don't even appreciate it. They don't even know there are people wishing they could have what they have.
Miriam: It's very interesting to hear both your sides of the seemingly same story. Now, my next question to the both couples. Hearing this…what do you think should change to make things better?
T: The world?
(laugh)
R: It shouldn't be impossible to belong to someone if that's what you want.
M: At this point we would just like to have a way to complete the bonding process. Everything else is probably just wishful thinking on our part.
S: It's true. So to be specific, maybe make bond registration free? I don't know that much about politics so I'm not sure if that's even possible…but it would help.
Miriam: Do you ever wish you could maybe do something to change things?
M: I used to think about it a lot. But I'm an unbounded sub, in the eyes of the law anyway, I can't finish college because I can't afford one, and I have no one to back me up. It's a circle of obstacles that you just can't get out of.
S: And on the other hand…we just have so much to fight and to brave every day. Adding up to that would take away even more time we have to spend together…and we don't want that.
Miriam: I know what you mean. Keeping a relationship alive and healthy is hard work. Now despite all the rough times you seem to be in love, so why don't we finish this on a high note. What does your other half do to make you feel loved?
T: He doesn't complain when he has to go to my math competitions. He carries me around a lot because I like that. And he tried to learn how to dance for me even though he can't dance to save his life.
R: He lets me call him Tiny even though he hates it. Also I get thirsty a lot during the night but somehow I never remember to take water with me. Despite that whenever I wake up thirsty in the middle of the night there's always a bottle of water on the bedside table…and I know he remembered to put it there for me. Just the little things other people might take for granted.
S: She does a lot of different things. She hates sharing her comforter but she still does it with me. And when she wakes me up in the morning for school she does it by singing softly until I wake up. It's the best feeling ever.
M: He's looking for a job now and he's away from home a lot. So he's taken to leaving me little notes around the house with cute lyrics or just drawn hearts. They make me feel safe when he's not around.
Miriam: Awww that's really romantic guys. I hope you keep doing that for each other for a long time to come. And Thank you so much for doing this for me.

After talking to both couples there was just one thing that stayed with me. How can the same love be treated so differently?

To quote T: "We need to change the world.

"Wow," Kurt said stupidly after reading the article, Blaine peeking over his shoulder in stunned silence.

They read the interview twice over and somehow none of the four of them was able to say much more than wow and shit and damn.

The article was nicely written, sweet and caring questions aimed at the two couples who loved each other, but at the same time it was so provocative, blazingly daring and bold by suggesting a reform of the current bonding and living situation that they all knew it would cause an avalanche of reactions.

What they couldn't know was: would they be good or bad? Would this help their cause in the long run or just cause Miriam trouble in her everyday life, both at school and in public with people who were less than open to new ideas?

"Wow sounds about right," Jared nodded and Dana took a sip of her cold coffee frowning and seemingly deep in thought.

Jared looked at her and leaned in to kiss her temple.

"You all right, my lady?" he asked and she snapped out of her reverie, looking at him with fond eyes and taking his hand.

"I'm okay just... just wondering if this is the 'it' we've all been waiting for to make the announcement of me supporting someone else in the elections. I think it is," she mused seriously and they all fell deep in thought at that.

Ever since the moment they laid out their plans they have agreed to wait for the right moment to step into the public with the information. They had to tread carefully because they knew there would be people trying to stop them and they needed to make sure their game was spot on before clueing in the rest of the world. You didn't tip your hand early in a game of poker and this political game was very much like that.

This article, the tide that was sure to follow it, was their potential moment.

It would drive people to think, to question things and maybe, just maybe, they'll realize something needed to be changed.

"What do you mean by that?" Blaine asked and Dana smiled at him.

"We've been waiting for the right moment to announce our plans to the public. We've been planning something big to do it. Something that would kick start people and force them to stand up for what's right. This article is our big something," she explained and Blaine nodded in understanding.

He could see what his mother was talking about. The article, while written from a place of caring and the wish for equality, was thought provoking and he knew it would make a lot of people realize how wrong it is to live in a world like theirs.

Those same people will look up to Dana when she comes out with her plan and those same people will create a critical mass needed to make a difference.

It was the perfect thing to kick things off.

"Will you tell my dad now as well?" Kurt asked and Dana nodded.

"But we won't tell him anything, Kurt. We will explain the situation and show him that we feel he would be amazing for the job. But we will not order him around. If he refuses to run it will be perfectly okay. Don't worry alright sweetheart?" Dana said taking the subs hand in hers as he smiled slowly.

He had been vaguely on edge since the moment they told him about their plan to change the world and to have Burt be the face of the change.

His dad was still recovering from his heart attack and as much as Kurt craved a better world, he'd still rather live in one where his dad was just an hour drive or a phone call away from him. He also knew his dad and he was pretty sure he'd say yes to their suggestion because he was kind hearted and driven like that. He wanted a better life not just for his own family but for every family under the sun and if he found out there was something he could do, there was no way he'd say no to it.

"He'll say yes. But please… make sure you don't drive him too far. I just... he'll do anything you ask from him to help and I can't lose him," he said, fear evident in his eyes and Blaine cuddled him close, glaring at his mother who rolled her eyes at him.

"If he says yes, I promise we'll keep him safe. No after hours and no over exertion. Trust me, honey," she reassured and he smiled at her, he trusted her because she was family too now.

"When will you tell him? Can I be there?" he asked and she nodded.

"We were thinking of inviting your family over for Christmas. We can tell him then and of course you can be there, Kurt," she said and he beamed at her, the prospect of having his dad and Carole over for Christmas suddenly becoming the best present he could have asked for.

"Thank you. I can't wait for Christmas!" he clapped his hands and the rest of them smiled at him lovingly.

"Have you picked out the presents?" Jared asked and while Blaine shrugged and said he was still deciding on the perfect one, he was thinking of getting Kurt a tablet with all the latest design soft wear on it, Kurt blushed and looked down.

"I already have, Blaine's," he admitted quietly and his Dom gasped.

"You do? Tell me what it is!" he jumped in his seat like an over excited four year old and Kurt rolled his eyes at him.

"It's a surprise," he deadpanned and Jared and Dana laughed at their son's appalled expression.

"I'll be surprised on Christmas I swear, I'll pretend I didn't even know. Tell me, tell me, tell me!" he whined but Kurt tuned him out and turned his back on him, as he bounced up and down, pouting and pleading.

"So… can I help with Christmas dinner?"

"KURT, TELL MEEEEEEE!"

---

He was tiny against him. Tiny in comparison to his actual height. Tiny wrapped up in his Dalton hoody, fingers tucked away under the cuffs, hood up over his blonde hair and clutching an extra blanket to his chest, the dark material partly obscuring his lower face.

He always made himself small Nick had noticed.

It was a defence mechanism for him. Trying to escape notice… only he was entirely noticeable to the Dom, the brightest part of his world. He couldn't have missed him in that crowd of Dalton students, looking so lost and out of place.

His beautiful, broken angel.

He was so much more than he thought of himself. So much more than Nick could have ever hoped for and he only wished for Jeff to see that, he'd spend eternity trying to prove it.

It was shock to drift awake to his angel in his arms and a mountain of blankets drowning him and it took him a few seconds to really register it, the feeling and then the questions it provoked. What had happened? Why had Jeff squeezed onto the sofa with him to sleep? It wasn't like he was complaining because this was like having a wish come true, but he was concerned as to the motivation behind the move. It made him happy that whatever it was Jeff had sought him out instead of running away and so he allowed himself to drop it for now at least.

He shifted more onto his side from his spot on top of Jeff, though leaving their legs relatively tangled in the many, many blankets, careful not to jostle his sub awake as he scooted his head gently closer on the pillow, drawn like a magnet as he propped himself on an elbow and studied the gorgeous lines of Jeff's face. The slightly parted lips letting loose the occasional breathy sigh, the long lashes swept down over sharp cheekbones.

He was struck by just how relaxed he was in sleep.

No worries. No haunted look in his eyes that made Nick's own chest pang. He was utterly vulnerable in Nick's bed, in his room, surrounded by his things but he had trusted Nick enough to let his guard down here and that made Nick's heart swell with the love he tried so hard not to smother Jeff in. He knew Jeff couldn't handle that much so soon. He needed to go slow, which was fine. He'd stand still for all eternity if it meant that he got to have Jeff with him in one form or another while he did it.

Unable to help himself he reached out and gently traced his thumb down Jeff's nose, smiling so wide his cheeks hurt when he saw him screw it up in protest, lashes fluttering as his brows turned down slightly.

He was utterly adorable.

Nick drew his hand back and shifted as close as the sofa would allow until he could feel the heat Jeff was giving off and sighed in contentment. They stayed like this for a while. Jeff sleeping on unknowing that he was the object of such devoted admiration and Nick trying very hard not to be creepy, but the blonde was far too lovely to take his eyes off for even a second.

The sub made a little sound in his throat after a few more minutes and curled closer to him as if he sensed he was there. His face buried into his chest, fingers letting go off the blanket to instead curl into his sleep shirt as if to keep him there.

Nick was still throughout it all, basking in the actions but knowing not to push things when Jeff wasn't aware of himself… which suddenly changed with his subs breathing pattern.

There was a few seconds after Jeff fluttered his eyes open that he curled even closer making Nick's heart jump in hope and exhilaration before the blonde pulled back as if burned, overriding any of his natural instincts as he came back to himself, face flushed red and now hiding behind his blanket as he mumbled nonsensical things into it.

Nick toyed with the hood of his sweatshirt, gently playing with the blonde hair he could get his hands on trying to sooth him the best he could. "Jeff," he called softly. "C'mon, angel. Don't hide away from me."

Jeff slowly pulled the blanket back and down to reveal wide brown eyes, so shy and reserved as they gazed at him apprehensively.

Like he had done something wrong.

"What's wrong?" he questioned equally as gentle, running fingers over Jeff's as they gripped the blanket tight, wanting to ease the tension out of them. He made his posture relaxed and easy and his face open as he stared at his sub. He was trying to make it a point to try and get Jeff to work through these things with him when they cropped up, he was determined to show him what it was supposed to be like between a Dom and sub.

"I just… I didn't mean to… crawl all over you without your permission," he admitted ashamedly, eyes downcast.

"Hey, no, angel," Nick begged ducking his hand under the hood to cup his head and bring them closer, though the barrier of the blanket was still between their lower faces. "Feel free to crawl, climb… hell, dance on me if that's what takes your fancy," he smiled and Jeff's eyes turned up like he was smiling too.

"I just want us to be comfortable with each other and you know when I said you only have to say if you need some space or want me to stop something we're doing?"

Jeff nodded hesitantly, all vulnerable innocence, the edges of his blush only partly visible over the material covering it.

"Well I'll tell you the same. No yelling, no punishment. I'll just let you know and we'll talk about it like this alright? So I don't want you to worry about it, just do what feels natural to you," he whispered leaning down and in closer still. "Okay?"

"Yes," Jeff murmured and Nick ran his thumb over his ear wanting desperately to look at him properly. To kiss him.

"How about we get rid of this so I can see that beautiful face properly?" he suggested tugging on the blanket and it slipped slightly to reveal that perfect slope of his nose.

Jeff's grip got tighter as his shyness reared its head once more. "I'm not… I mean…"

"Shh," Nick cooed, ducking his head and soft as a feather rubbed the tip of his nose against his subs. He watched fair lashes flutter like wings before closing and heard Jeff's breath hitch as he let himself feel.

It was intense and drugging watching him fall apart and Nick very gently started to pull the blanket away completely until it was gone. He continued to nudge his nose gently against Jeff's until the tension was gone, as they shared breathes and space and everything in that one point of contact.

Jeff, apparently needing something to hold on to, grasped his top once more and Nick knew he could feel how fast his heart was pounding there. Closing his eyes too he leaned down, slotting their noses side by side before, in the softest press, captured Jeff's lips in a chaste kiss. He felt the heat of Jeff's blush on his own cheeks, endearing and warming him through to his core.

He felt those three little words rising again, sitting pretty at the tip of his tongue and eventually the need got to great and he had to pull back to say, 'I love you.'

Jeff whimpered at the declaration letting them wash over him like a drug that he wanted more and more of far more frequently than was healthy. It was just so bizarre hearing them in this way though, not from his parents and not from Kurt. Kevin had never told him he loved him. Not once. And Jeff was actually glad about that, glad that the Dom hadn't tainted those words too like he had done everything else.

He felt the words too, felt them and meant them and though he couldn't say them back right now he knew Nick didn't hold it against him. Didn't expect anything in return for the affection he so freely handed out and Jeff allowed himself to selfishly bask in that glowing, burning feeling.

If only for a little while.

---

Christmas day...

---

"Dad," Kurt admonished, exasperated. "Just sit down would you. I've got this."

"Kurt, honey-"

"And don't even get me started on you," Kurt warned his too-kind-for-her-own-good stepmother, brandishing a wooden spoon in their direction. "Get out of my kitchen and go and enjoy yourself! Right now."

There was a mixture of reactions that rippled across the room but amusement seemed to be the most prevalent as Kurt bossed them all around. It had only become 'his' kitchen yesterday and today when he had been prepping and cooking their Christmas dinner, taking the task very seriously.

The house staff all had families of their own so of course they weren't required to work the holiday and so that left cooking to the Andersons themselves. In the past when Cooper was still in the house they had just ordered in a pre-cooked meal, then Dana went through a phase of wanting to cook it herself a few years after Coop had bonded and flew the nest. They ended up usually splitting the tasks between the three of them and more often than not the end result wasn't stellar, though they all still had a good time making the mess of food they eventually set on the table.

The addition of Kurt to their little number this year was a revelation.

He was organised and completely competent in the kitchen unlike Blaine who could manage an awesome breakfast, pancakes his triumph, but cooked dinner with all the trimmings not exactly in his wheelhouse. Dana had always been a bit too busy to learn all the tricks of the trade and usually just trailed Jared who was the best out of the three of them as he gave her jobs to do.

Burt raised his brows at his son under his cap, arms crossing over his plaid chest. "I thought you'd grow out of this you know."

Kurt snorted, giving him a deadpan side glance as he checked the steaming vegetables. "And let you cook?"

"He has a point, sir," Carole smirked at him.

"I can cook just fine!" Burt exclaimed and everyone laughed at the sheer level of indignation there.

"How about Burt, Carole and I lay the table?" Dana suggested cheerfully, wiping her hands off with the dish towel before heading for the silverware drawer.

Kurt gave in, bending down and opening the oven to check the turkey. "Fine. This will be ready in about ten minutes. We just need to start putting things into dishes and bowls."

"More than enough time," she chirped handing out her good plates for Carole to hold and wine glasses for Burt before the three disappeared.

Kurt straightened up to watch them go before turning off the heat on the stove because the vegetables just need to be plated up now.

Blaine came up behind his sub after retrieving the asked for bowls and placing them down on the counter beside him. He wrapped arms around his waist and kissed the side of his neck, careful to avoid the blue heart standing out in stark brilliance against his skin.

"You're amazing, lovely."

He felt the tension that had been building all morning bleed out as his sub relaxed into the curve of his body.

"It's just dinner," he murmured back, playing it off, but deep down the submissive in him was eating it up. It felt unbelievably good to have taken care of his Dom this way, as well as their families too, even if it had been quite stressful.

"Don't be modest," he teased giving him one last kiss before walking to where his dad was spooning the food out of their pots and pans.

Eventually they were all sitting down and eating together, talking and laughing. Carole was telling a story of how Finn had reacted that morning when she had given the second hand games console she had saved literally all year round to buy for him, beaming with pride and joy.

"Finn is an overgrown child at heart," Kurt nodded sagely making them chuckle, sipping at his water.

The quiet sound of knives and forks clinking against plates and people eating reigned for a few moments before Burt sat back in his chair. "You've outdone yourself this year, bud. This is great."

Kurt preened at the praise.

"The vegetables taste good too," he not so subtly nudged back, looking pointedly at his father's meat filled plate. The only reason he was getting away with it was because it was Christmas.

Burt rolled his eyes but reached out for the steamed broccoli and carrots.

"This really is divine," Dana carried on the praise. "Blaine should have found and claimed you sooner, we could have missed out on last year's burnt incident."

Jared chuckled refilling everyone's wine. "And that had nothing to do with you, my lady."

She stuck her tongue out at him before looking over to her son who wasn't paying attention to anything other than shovelling food into his mouth, moaning around bites. She smirked and remembered the first meal Jared had ever cooked her, just a simple pasta and meatballs, but everything tasted like heaven when your sub made it for you.

"Breathe, Blaine," Jared teased and his son groaned and leaned an elbow on the table.

"I think I'm gonna pass out," he whined.

Kurt laughed. "Well stop eating then."

"But it just tastes so good! This is the best thing I've ever eaten in my life," he declared seriously, spooning another mouthful in.

And that flashed warmth through Kurt's entire body, a bubble of contentment and happy feeling that made him feel like he was filled up with helium.

"Well while my son eats himself into a food coma I'd like to talk to you a bit more seriously, Burt," Dana choose that moment to bring the subject that had been on all their minds lately and Kurt let out a sigh, feeling a little anxiousness blend into his happy cocktail.

Blaine actually stopped eating and grasped his hand in his in reassurance. Kurt gave him a grateful smile and leaned more into his side as he watched his dad put down his silverware and raise a brow at her. "Everything okay?"

"Yes, everything's fine," she assured. "I don't know how well you pay attention to the politics around here but the re-election is swiftly approaching."

"Well you've got my vote. Have done since you started running against all those other schmucks."

She smiled and shared a quick look with Kurt who shrugged. He told her his dad always voted for her. "I very much appreciate that but I'm afraid I'm not canvassing for votes right now. Actually I'm not planning on running at all this year."

There was a second's pause before Burt frowned. "You're getting at something here," he stated. He wasn't stupid and he didn't like to beat around the bush.

Dana smirked. "Changes have been a long time in coming, Burt."

The man snorted. "You can say that again."

"I'm not the only Dom in Westerville that thinks that," she prompted.

"All the help your friends gave during the blackout was a step forwards," Carole interjected with a nod.

"We want to do more than that," Jared said to them.

"How you going to do that if you're not running?" Burt asked adjusting his cap absently.

"I've had my time and to my shame didn't do a lot with it. We need someone new," she stated and Jared leaned in and kissed her on the cheek to comfort her.

"I think you're selling yourself short. You may not have done anything radical to change the way things were but there were some candidates that definitely wanted to make things worse that you prevented from doing so," Burt said strongly.

"You keep saying 'we'," Carole pointed out.

"It's quite a revolution we amassed," Blaine grinned. "Everyone that helped during the blackout and basically all of their children."

"I still feel like the other shoes about to drop here," Burt sighed.

Kurt caught Dana's eye who nodded at him, then turned to his dad. "They want you, dad. They want you to run."

It took a solid second to sink in and then Burt was removing his hat and rubbing his scalp with his palm.

"They been putting something in the water over here?"

Is what he eventually said.

Dana laughed. "We may be crazy but I promise you we're a hundred percent serious. We need someone to run who's authentic. Who the people we're trying to help can look to and relate. Someone who is a pillar of your community and is trying to make it better instead of a rich snob who's handing out charity."

"I think you'd be perfect for it dad. But I don't want you to feel pressured to say yes, we can find someone else," Kurt assured him softly.

They locked eyed for a moment. Father and son.

"Politics, huh?"

Kurt shrugged with a half smile. "It's going to be stressful. You're going to be working all the time and with your heart-"

"My hearts fine, kid," Burt interrupted.

"Now it is," Kurt protested frowning. It wasn't that he didn't want his dad to do this, after all he did truly think he was perfect for it. He was just so worried what the consequences could be.

"He'll have people helping him the entire time," Blaine reassured him. "They'll make sure he doesn't push himself if he does take it."

"I always wanted better for you, bud," Burt began with a small smile. "Ever since your mom passed but I just didn't think I could do that for you. Then you went and did it for yourself but really, it doesn't change the fact that you shouldn't have had to find this by chance or fate or luck or whatever it was," he said gesturing to Blaine and everything in the room. Kurt felt tears sting his eyes at the mention of his mom and snuggled closer to Blaine's side as Burt turned to Dana mind made up.

"I'll do it."

"Are you sure?" Kurt asked.

"They're not gonna know what hit them, kid," he smiled and Kurt shook his head but was smiling too. He'd trust his dad to know his limits this time and trust Dana to place people around him that knew when enough was enough.

He sighed and nodded.

The relief at the table was palpable and pretty soon the adults were leaning closer and talking intently of the details they needed to make this revolutionary scheme work. And with that settled, the anxiousness fading away as things began to fall into place, Kurt only had one other thing on his mind today.

It had been something he had been thinking about for a few days now.

Waking him up in the middle of the night breathless, hard and longing, Blaine's arms and scent around him. It was a growing ache inside him that was that was demanding attention the longer he pushed it down. A seed that had been planted long ago and was now growing and tangling around everything because it wouldn't be pushed aside now. Instead it was spilling over into every thought, every action, the submissive in him yelling and begging and pleading him in turns. It wanted it. It needed it.

And Kurt came to realise that he did too.

He was ready.

"May Blaine and I be excused?" he asked politely. "I want to give him his present."

Blaine perked up considerably in his chair.

"Of course boys," Dana agreed and Burt nodded too.

Kurt hurried out of his seat and pulled Blaine along with him, heading for the larger living room that no one ever used in the back of the house.

"Lovely," Blaine started, confusion and eagerness high in his voice but Kurt simply shushed him stopping them by the door, turning to lean back on it and face his Dom.

"Close your eyes?" he asked sweetly.

Blaine arched a brow and his eyes narrowed suspiciously but didn't close. "What are you up to?"

Kurt stepped into his Dom, arms wrapping around his neck and feeling muscled ones snaking around his waist in return. Kurt didn't answer only leaned in and pressed his lips softly to the ones in front of him. He didn't deepen it, simply pressed their mouths together tenderly, over and over coaxingly, pulling back and taking longer in between presses when he saw Blaine's eyes were indeed finally closed.

Reaching back with one hand he turned the handle and pushed the door open with his foot, leading Blaine slowly into the room with kisses and soft encouragements.

"Keep your eyes closed?" he asked again into his lips.

Blaine hummed an affirmative, allowing Kurt to pull away and lead him to the sofa and sit him down.

"Stay there and keep your eyes closed please, sir," Kurt instructed, feeling his stomach knot up as he raced to the door to shut and lock it.

He had considered going to their bedroom to do this, it was the proper setting for something this intimate but the plans he had didn't work with their bed being so highly situated. Besides their parents wouldn't come looking for them anytime soon while they were still very much caught up in the ins and outs of what Burt running would entail.

The walk to the middle of the room seems like it took forever when in reality it was only five or so steps and god Kurt felt himself trembling already as that urge, that plaguing impatient urge, pushed and pushed its way upwards. Kurt closed his own eyes and for once, let it have its way, let it infect and manoeuvre him where it wanted.

The next thing he knew he was sinking to his knees on the carpet.

It was like being submerged for a second, pressure surrounding him as he held his breathe… but strangely, he didn't feel panicked like he wanted to come up for air, he just let the feeling wash over him warm and suspended in time.

Every wall he had, had come crumbling down with him hitting the floor, leaving him open with raw nerves and vulnerable insecurities and exposed flaws, everything on display and the one thing he felt most when everything was stripped back, the one thing he felt like he was broadcasting like a signal to Mars which was his love for this man in front of him.

It was freeing.

There were no ugly voices in his head right now. No doubts. Just pure instinctive bliss guiding him through, wrapping itself around him like a blanket. And though his heart was pounding, breathe was stuttering, limbs trembling and mouth dry, he had never felt more comfortable in his own skin as he did at that moment.

Giving in to what he submissively wanted had never felt so good and there was only one thing that could make this better…

"You can open your eyes now," he said softly, barely even a whisper as he averted his eyes to the floor and neck to the side.

But Blaine heard it all the same and blinked his eyes open only to give a startled gasp at the sight of him.

He felt like he'd been hit forcefully over the head with every fantasy, dream and imagining he had ever had of Kurt in this exact position. On his knees. For him.

Oh god…

He felt dazed and struck and powerful. More powerful than the Dominant had ever felt in his life.

Having Kurt like that was like he'd hooked a line into Blaine and pumped strength right into his very bones and the weight of that responsibility, of knowing he had to control himself, had to do what was best for his submissive that had handed over this control and trust was staggering.

He was utterly still for a charged moment, taking in every elegant line, every deferential detail in his posture as he realized the depth of what Kurt had gifted him with. It was better than any material gift ever could be. It was a complete physical sign of Kurt's trust in him, of his regard for him and it blew him away.

"Lovely," he breathed, broken and low and heard his beautiful, beautiful boy whimper in his throat in answer, head still titled down and to the side to expose the long, flawless column of his neck that he wanted to mark. "Lovely, look at me," he ordered, the command in his voice almost in overdrive by just how Dominant he was feeling all because of Kurt.

His head snapped up to obey, eyes dark and pupils dilated and god Blaine wanted him. Wanted to take him apart in the best possible way, make him whine and arch and beg underneath him.

His cock was throbbing and straining the zip of his jeans by now, painfully so, but he ignored the insistent ache and instead concentrated all his attention on his boy. "Look at you," he rumbled. "On your knees for me beautiful boy."

Kurt made a noise in the back of his throat at the praise and began to shift restlessly, fingers twitching and rocking on his toes back and forth like he wanted to move forwards but needed something else, something more.

"Sir…" he let it trail high and reedy, face flushing and eyes desperate.

Blaine knew exactly what he needed.

"Come here."

Kurt sighed out blissfully, eyes fluttering with the order before dropping to his hands and coming up on his knees and fucking crawling towards him.

He felt like shackles he didn't even know were there had been dropped when Blaine gave him the command and he immediately began moving towards him, every movement instinctually slow and sensual. This didn't feel at all demeaning, he knew he could get to his feet at any moment without a word of protest but he wanted to be good for Blaine. Wanted him to love what he saw, he ached for that. Ached to please him the way he pleased him every minute of every day.

Blaine growled as he watched him move, the dip of his shoulders, the roll of his hips and felt like he was going to blow his load there and then. He clenched his jaw and yanked that white hot feeling back however, until finally Kurt was there, in front of him and Blaine opened his legs to allow Kurt closer, so close in fact that his sub rested his head against the inside of his thigh with a dreamy sigh, looking up at him through half-mast eyes and lashes.

He strangled out his moan and placed his palm on Kurt's neck, fingers curling up around his ear and into his hair possessively, thumb dabbling at the edge of his plump mouth.

"You look so beautiful baby," he complimented him, watching the praise skittering under Kurt's skin like it was alive. "So pretty on your knees. I knew you would."

Kurt was breathing heavy, body hypersensitive to every touch and every word and he only wanted more. More touching. More words. More Blaine. He gripped a hand into what he could of Blaine's jeans, wishing the material far away so he could feel bare flesh under his palms and he could feel Blaine pressing his thumb into the corner of his mouth, gently stroking there in a tease of skin.

Kurt didn't even think about it as he turned his head and took the digit into the warm cavern of his mouth, suckling and wrapping his tongue around the appendage as he held it prisoner.

Blaine jolted. His hips bucking upwards as Kurt pulled his dick out through his thumb. That was literally what it felt like and Blaine's eyes rolled back in his head for a second, making him lose his grip on reality. Fuck it. He'd lost that the moment he'd spotted Kurt across that room at the Showing.

It wasn't enough.

Kurt was desperate now, sucking hard and whining his distress and Blaine was looking down on him concerned. "What do you need, baby?"

He let the finger go with a gasp, unable to think straight enough to articulate anything.

Blaine bent double and kissed at his temple, pulling his head up enough so he could mouth at his neck and jaw as well, sending sparks shooting through him. He arched into the contact, lifting his head fully and coming up taller on his knees so Blaine could get better access, hands braced on his Dom's legs.

"Sir," he begged, turning his head to try and catch his lips for himself, the cooling dampness on his neck making him shiver as their mouths caught and held.

It exploded. All teeth and tongue and gasps for more and harder without words and all the while Kurt edged his right hand upwards until it finally reached its prize and cupped Blaine firmly.

The Dom ripped his mouth away to swear, sweat beading on his forehead already this was all so intense.

"So this is what you want?" he asked darkly against Kurt's flushed cheek, placing his own hand over Kurt's and pressing down into his rock hardness. "You want my cock, greedy boy?"

Kurt whimpered, his own hips thrusting against the base of the sofa wantonly. He did. He did want that. Fuck he wanted it so badly he felt like he would catch on fire. But suddenly his hand was being pushed away and he was crying out at the loss.

"You've gotta ask if you want it," Blaine told him, pulling back to look into his eyes and looking so compelling and Dominant that if Kurt weren't already on his knees he would have dropped there in a heartbeat. "You can have anything you want but I want to hear you say it."

"I want your cock, Blaine," he complied immediately and Blaine grunted happily at hearing it said out loud, putting his hand back on his dick as a reward. But this was just the start of what Kurt wants. Just the tip of the iceberg and having his Dom's length in his hand only fueled the fire. "I want… I want…"

"What do you want?" Blaine pressed, cupping his cheek tenderly and it's that single action that decides it in Kurt's mind. Decides that he is ready to try this, ready to share what he wants and know that Blaine will always help him get it and look after him while does.

"I want to suck your cock… I want it, sir, I want-" he was a little hysterical trying to explain the force of his desires.

"Shhh," Blaine cut him off shakily, kissing his bee stung lips all the while thinking, oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.

His dick was practically jumping in eagerness against Kurt's palm and the little minx has already started rocking the heel of his hand up and down against it, making it fucking difficult to form a sentence past, Kurt wants to suck my cock, oh fuck, Kurt's begging to suck me off…

"Blaine," Kurt whined against his mouth. "Please."

He was getting impatient now, he was so ready for this he felt he might spontaneously combust if they didn't move forwards soon.

"If you want to stop at any moment then just stop okay, lovely?" Blaine asked seriously.

"Yes, sir," Kurt sighed in relief and sat back on his heels at Blaine's instruction.

"Take off your shirt," he commanded soft and low, whipping his own top up over his head revealing all that gorgeous tanned, toned skin. "Then I want you to unbuckle me."

Kurt shivered at the prospect, feeling a hot flash of desire that bled into his skin as he removed his shirt, unbuttoning then pushing it off his shoulders. Blaine hummed in delight at the sight of him, murmuring sweet words of praise as he reached forwards with shaky hands for Blaine's jeans button and zipper.

"My good boy," he hissed out as the teeth unclipped from one another and the pressure was removed from his throbbing erection. "I've dreamed about you doing this. When I was sleeping in that guest room all alone I'd think of you in my bed and all the things I wanted to do to you. All the things I wanted you to do to me."

He helped Kurt pull his jeans down over his ass and to his ankles, boxers soon following and then Kurt was sighing happily at the sight of him exposed, resting his cheek on his inner thigh again for a second as he caught his breath.

Blaine tried not to buck upwards. Tried not to think about the warm exhales skating up towards his balls. Tried to forget about the fact that his cock was an angry red and leaking pre-come all over his stomach. He forced himself to sink back against the sofa, head on the headrest and hand gripping the cushions next to him as the other played in Kurt's hair, waiting for him to be ready.

The first kiss was so feather light Blaine wouldn't have known it was there at all unless he wasn't so worked up and sensitized to everything Kurt did. The second was harder as Kurt lifted his head and pressed fully into his inner thigh making the Dom hold his breath and grunt in turns as he moved higher and higher, closer to where he was dying for him to be.

Kurt eyed Blaine's cock in awe for a split second.

He was aware that it was big and he offhandedly thought that he was pretty too, perfectly proportioned… the only problem was, would those proportions fit in his mouth?

He was feeling a lot of things at once. Anxious, curious, turned on and he looked to Blaine's wrecked expression, the love he thought he saw there plain as day and it bolstered him completely.

His curiosity won out as he took the base in his hand and kitten licked the head and Blaine's reaction was swift and immediate, the moan that drew out of his parted lips obscene. It was empowering. To know that he was the one doing this, he was the one making Blaine this happy, taking care of him and with a surge of confidence he licked a broad stripe up the underside of his cock, tasting Blaine so concentrated and thickly here that it was drugging.

"Oh god baby, just like that," Blaine panted and it got Kurt hot all over. He loved when Blaine talked to him during sex, it made him feel safer and more connected to his Dom.

"Tell me what to do, sir," he begged, gripping Blaine's thigh with his free hand and looking up through his eyelashes. "Talk to me. Please."

Blaine got a better hold of his hair, not painful but firm and it was reassuring. "Put me in your pretty mouth," he commanded, feeling lightheaded already. A familiar coiling low in his stomach told him that this was going to be over embarrassingly quickly and Kurt had barely done anything yet.

Kurt followed the order and leant forwards, carefully wrapping his lips around the tip, already breathing heavily through his nose because he had Blaine in his mouth, against his tongue and the taste was incredible. Bitter with a tinge of sweetness and Kurt whimpered in time with Blaine moaning, fingers digging into his Dom's thigh with the same force that was being used on his hair.

"Fuck… move… please lovely move," was implored of him and he bobbed his head experimentally.

It took everything Blaine had not to shove forwards, sweat was trickling steadily down his chest now and he released the death grip he had on the cushion to feel the corner of those perfectly stretched lips around his cock.

Fuck, he wanted to come so bad he threw his head back against the seat and just felt Kurt tentatively bob, gradually getting more adventurous, more confident as he wrung Blaine out. He didn't care that he was being loud, that potentially his parents and Kurt's family could have heard him, his world was a focus of Kurt, Kurt, Kurt and the perfect, moist, warm cavern of his mouth.

Kurt should have been appalled at how much he loved this, the weight of Blaine on his tongue, the taste of him he couldn't get enough of but he couldn't find it in himself to even care. He was bucking his hips into the sofa in time with the bobs of his head, the friction a much needed relief on his own aching cock but as he'd found out pretty soon into their sexual explorations, pleasing Blaine was a bigger turn on than anything else he'd encountered.

Getting Blaine off got him off and it was that simple.

So to say he was close to coming in his pants was an understatement, he felt coiled tight and ready to spring at any moment but he wanted Blaine to go first so he was redoubling his efforts. Cataloguing everything Blaine seemed to love and what drew the biggest reactions and them using them mercilessly. Like pressing his tongue hard to the vein on the underside of his cock as he pulled up. Or twirling his tongue around the head. He knew it was clumsy and inexperienced but Blaine seemed to think his enthusiasm was more than enough from the look and sound of him and that made Kurt unbelievably happy.

His sub started taking more now, deeper and faster and wetter and Blaine's toes curled in his shoes. "So good, you're so good at this," he moaned, eyes following his every movement with hot intensity and carded his fingers through his hair. "My good boy. Made for my cock."

Kurt felt the words like a caress on his skin and he purred his approval.

Blaine's stomach tightened painfully at the vibration, just on the edge before Kurt was pulling off and kissing at the head of his dick. He was seeing white spots in his vision from being so close but he was still in heavenly torture and he couldn't take his eyes off this wanton creature between his splayed thighs who was pointing his tongue and dipping it into his slit to chase his taste before closing over him again and that was it, Blaine had reached his sensory and visionary limit.

"Kurt," he choked out, trying to warn him but Kurt didn't pull back or off, he wanted it, he wanted everything Blaine had to give him and that was what tipped Blaine over, coming so hard he was no longer on this planet when it careened into him.

He heard Kurt whimper from what felt like miles away and when he came back to, his boy was slumped between his thighs flushed pink, damp and mused, resting on his thigh again right next to his spent cock with his eyes closed and a euphoric expression on his face as he caught his breathe.

Blaine realized belatedly that his fist was very much still is Kurt's hair and straightened it out, smoothing over the soft strands lovingly.

"Lovely?" he called gently and watched as those eyes he adored flutter back open. "There you are," he smiled, the reality of what just happened crashing over him and he grinned wider, satisfaction pouring out of his skin.

Kurt smiled back, blushing a deeper shade as he recognized the look he was giving him and turned his face into his skin to hide adorably.

Blaine laughed softly. "Hey, no, come here," he coaxed and managed to arrange them on the sofa together laying down. Blaine got rid of his shoes, socks and jeans pulling his boxers up and cuddled up to Kurt in his light pants that had stain on the front from where he came too. Blaine was a little disappointed he couldn't reciprocate, in fact a lot disappointed, but he knew that he'd get the chance soon enough to wrap his lips around Kurt so he let it lie; let them bask in the afterglow so he could shower kisses and praise on Kurt for being so amazing.

"So it was okay?" Kurt asked once he was situated on the inside of the sofa, legs tangling with his Dom's.

Blaine leant in the tiny distance that they're separated by and kissed him strong and sure, pouring every ounce of love he felt into it as he swiped his tongue inside to taste himself heavy on Kurt's own tongue. It was heady and dirty and he only wanted more of it, forever.

"It was perfect. You're perfect," and I love you.

He didn't say it but he hoped it didn't need to be said. He hoped that sometime soon he could give voice to the silent three words but for now they were content.

Kurt beamed at him shyly, running his hand over Blaine's chest. "Yeah?"

"This was the best gift I've ever gotten, lovely," he admitted sincerely.

"A blowjob?" Kurt asked with an arched brow making Blaine burst out laughing.

"No! Though that was pretty great-" Kurt pinched his nipple and Blaine yelped wrestling him until he let go and was under him completely grinning up at him looking stunning as always. "You trusted me enough to kneel for me and that… Kurt, I can't even put it into words, lovely. It's...it's an honor to have you kneel for me Kurt. To be deserving of that."

"I trust you with everything I am," Kurt replied simply but the simpler answer was. I love you.

Blaine stared at him for a quiet moment and Kurt was sure he could read the words in his skin, in his eyes and when his Dom leant down and kissed him again, it felt like an answer. It felt like an I love you too.

And for now that was enough… that was perfect.

---

"You miss him?" Lillian asked as she hugged her son from behind and hooked her chin on his neck. He was so tall now, lean and strong and so unlike the little blonde baby she used to carry around. That little boy was vibrant and loud and always up to something; be it climbing on the coffee table and singing his little lungs out or painting the walls with crayons claiming to be making art.

He was full of questions, of dreams about his future and the Dom he would have that would say his pictures were pretty and his dancing was awesome.

Her heart ached because he got exactly the opposite of that. He got someone who poured a bucket of water over the fire burning inside him.

She hated him, she loathed him, she wanted him away from any human being alive but instead he was roaming around free, attending Showings and obviously picking his next victim and it hurt her so much… to think that another parent will have to stand and watch their child turn into a shell of his old self; scared, closed off and broken.

But now, as she stood there, arms wrapped around this new person that she still loved more than life, that was still her little boy despite towering over her petite frame, she saw something in him.

Something she thought was long lost.

As he turned to look at her and nod in confirmation to her question, there was a spark in his eyes again. A spark that just might end up being enough to set that fire blazing again and make him shine.

"Um…I…y-yeah…" he stammered, blushing, and she smiled tickling his side a little bit.

"You don't have to hide it. It's okay to miss him," she smiled and he looked down to his entwined fingers, a nervous habit he picked up in the worst of times for him that just never went away.

He looked at her, brow furrowed and bottom lip caught between his teeth.

"But…isn't it weird? I saw him two days ago, I shouldn't miss him…I…" he started and she smiled at him stroking his fair hair.

"Sweetie… if what you told me about him is true, it's no wonder you miss him and he'll be here any moment so don't fret. Do you want to help me set the table?" she asked but he looked at her sheepishly under his fringe and she rolled her eyes chuckling. "Or you can just remain glued to that window until he gets here, no problem."

"Thanks, mom," he murmured with a smile and for a moment he was her Jeff again, the bright little boy who waited by the window for the ice cream truck to pass by even though they had three boxes of the stuff in the fridge.

She entered the kitchen and took out the plates to set them on the table thinking back to only a few days earlier when Jeff got home and asked them both to sit down so he could talk to them.

"Mom, Dad…I…do you…um…do you have a minute? I need to tell you something." He broached timidly and his parents frowned as they watched them, hunched shoulders and trembling fingers, their hearts aching at how skittish he had become.

"Sure, sweetie. Is there something wrong?" Lillian asked as they settled in the living room, her Dom pressed against her side in comfort as their son sat in front of them, fingers tied together and eyes downcast.

"No…no it's good I think I just…I don't…I don't want you to worry…or be scared for me like I know you are all the time I…I don't want to be a burden anymore and this-" he started rambling but Jeremy raised his hands to cut him off.

"Jeff, you are not a burden to us. Even if nothing had ever happened to you we'd still worry and fuss over you because that's what parents do. It's in our job description okay?" he said with a caring smile and his son returned it carefully, relaxing a bit more.

"'kay um…well…the thing I have to say to you it that…um…I…I'm c-claimed again…" he whispered finally and dead silence settled upon them.

His parents stared at him, wide eyed, mouths open and disbelief written on their features so heavily that it made him stumble back in his chair, fear lacing his bones and head heavy with remorse.

They were scared, sad and angry.

He had made another mistake?

"Mom…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" his breath was coming out short and he couldn't find his voice against the regret he felt for making them worry again.

Could he do nothing right?

His lungs ached as he gulped breath after breath but it was as if no oxygen existed in the atmosphere around him. He kept apologizing and trying to make it right but he didn't know how. It was like he just couldn't balance things out and please everyone. If Nick was happy then his parents weren't and if they were then he wasn't and it hurt so badly he just wanted to make it stop.

"Jeff…Jeff honey…look at me…baby…baby breathe…you're okay…" his mom's voice was getting through to him seemingly from afar even if he could feel her hands on him, around his shoulders, keeping him from just tearing apart at the seams.

"M-mom…" he sobbed brokenly, the panic attack throwing everything out of proportion. "I'm sorry…so sorry."

"No baby…you have nothing to be sorry for. We were surprised, your dad and I, because we didn't think you'd ever be ready to belong to someone again…but honey this is good news…it really is, we're not mad at you," she hastily comforted him and he looked up, eyes wet and red rimmed and so broken she ached inside.

"It…it is?" he whispered and she kissed his forehead gently.

"Are you happy with him?" she asked and he looked down again, fiddling with his Dalton uniform he hadn't had the chance to change out of.

"He…he's safe I think…warm…I mean…when he holds me…it's warm again…" he tried to explain, tried to make them see but the words came out jumbled and confusing and he ran a hand over his face in frustration, still shaky and reeling from the aftermath of his panic.

"And that's a good thing, baby. You deserve that," Lillian smiled at him and he squeezed her hand on his shoulder.

"Is it, Nick?" his dad asked suddenly and his eyes snapped up in surprise.

"H-how did you know?" he asked on an exhale that had his entire body shake as it got used to getting enough oxygen to function properly.

"When we were on that dinner with Blaine's parents… Nick's were there too. They talked about how much he cared about you, assured us he'd never hurt you… so if you're bonded again… It's reassuring to know it's him," Jeremy said and Jeff gaped at him for a moment before locking eyes with the both of them.

"So…you're not mad…at…at me…" he asked in a small voice and Lillian sniffled quietly.

"We'll never be mad at you for being happy, baby. If Nick makes you feel all that…if he really loves you…" she said and he looked down again.

"He said he does..." he admitted with a shrug of his shoulders.

"You don't believe him?" Jeremy asked and Jeff tilted his head to the side.

"I'm…I just don't know if I can…not yet but…I think I could someday…if he stays…" he said and both his parents put arms around him, holding him tightly.

"He'll stay…" Lillian whispered and he nodded, willing his mind to believe.

Jeff smiled to himself gently as he stared at the street as if compelling it to bring Nick to him faster…now…

He wasn't lying when he said he missed him.

Nick went home two days prior to spend Christmas Eve and morning with his parents and now he was coming over for lunch and he would spend the night with him and he couldn't wait to have him close again. It was strange and a little scary just how dependent he had become on Nick in such a short space of time but he didn't want to change it surprisingly. He eased the weight on his shoulders and he made him feel free for the first time in a while; no continuous nightmares, no harshness that belittled, no pain or fear…

It was just Nick.

His warming presence making his heart mend and his kindness making Jeff feel like someday maybe he'll trust the good in people again without them having to prove it.

He pushed the curtain further away and jumped in place when he caught sight of a flashy red BMW pulling up to his driveway, the bright color standing up against the murky neighborhood.

He was half excited and half terrified to have Nick in his home.

On one hand the sub in him craved his Dom, the newfound balance he had found within his arms and he couldn't wait to be there again; leaning against him, safe and protected with his doubts silenced and pushed aside.

On the other hand though it was frightening because his home wasn't luxurious. His family lost everything trying to protect him, their lunch would be humble, the gift he got for Nick practically had no monetary value at all and he just couldn't shake off the fear that after this Nick would see how different their worlds were and he'd be gone.

The engine shut off and the door slammed, bringing Jeff out of his Nick induced stupor as he ran into the kitchen, out of breath and vibrating with nerves.

"He…he's here, mom," he struggled to get it out when a knock reverberated through the small house and before Jeff could even find his ground again his dad's voice came through the hallway.

"I'll get it!" he sang and rushed pass his son who scowled as he threw the door open and ushered his Dom in.

He could hear the hushed voices and he saw his dad turning his back on him to block his view on something but he couldn't tell what it was.

He took a step forward to peek at their hands curiously but his dad was faster and he dashed upstairs before he could get a glimpse, Nick's beaming smile soon filling up the space around him.

"Hi, angel," he chirped and Jeff pouted at him.

"What's that?" he asked pointing to the stairs where his dad was disappearing, giggling like a mad man.

"What's what?" he mocked innocently and Jeff scowled at him petulantly.

"Funny," Jeff said crossing his arms over his chest.

"Funny enough to get me a kiss from an angel?" Nick whispered gently as he reached him and wrapped arms around his stiff form, still unused to hands on him being gentle and loving instead of harsh and bruising.

"Maybe," Jeff let himself smile shyly as he looked up into his Dom's eyes, tipping his head in timid invitation, his entire body shivering as Nick closed the distance between them, catching his lips with his own, cold and chapped from the biting wind but infinitely gentle.

He melted into him once again, body relaxing and uncoiling as he found strength in his arms.

Their lips brushed silently, slowly, perfectly.

Jeff never knew kissing someone could feel so much like being loved, cherished, but Nick made it so every time he touched his lips and he relished in it.

Nick pulled back just enough to rest their foreheads together and when he spoke their lips still touched and it made Jeff tremble.

"I missed you, angel," he whispered and Jeff offered him one of his rare smiles, eyes lighting up and crinkling in the corners; the last evidence of the fact that he used to be happy.

"Only been two days," he tried to be coy but he knew it didn't work on Nick because he kissed the tip of his nose playfully and jabbed his finger into his ribs tickling him.

"My boy should be telling the truth," Nick pouted and Jeff almost collapsed at the way his Dom called him his so lovingly.

"I…I missed you too," he whispered, eyes downcast and words careful but Nick's hands on him continued to just support and caress.

"That's good to hear. Can I meet your mom now?" he asked and Jeff took a deep breath nodding and taking Nick's hand.

"Um...yeah…she's…she's finishing lunch," he said and pulled his Dom after him into the little kitchen.

They entered the room and found Lillian putting finishing touches on their food, arranging it on plates and making sure everything was in order.

Nick felt slightly uncomfortable because the lunch looked pretty big and more luxurious than he was expecting and he didn't want to think how they managed to pay for that; feeling bad that they went through all the trouble for him, when all he wanted to do was to love Jeff.

"Hello, Mrs Sterling," he greeted when she turned to look at them, a beaming smile on her beautiful face making her look young again and for a moment Jeff felt his heart skip because it has been a long time since he saw his mom looking like this… like she could breathe again.

"Hi. Please call me, Lillian," she smiled as she rounded the counter and offered her hand to him, shaking it enthusiastically, noticing how protective his arm around his son was.

"Okay, Lillian. I'm, Nick," he introduced himself and she nodded.

"I know. Jeff talks about you all the time," she winked and Nick could feel Jeff stiffening in his arms, cheeks heating and eyes turning down as he wound his fingers together.

Nick felt his discomfort like it was his own and he just had to make him relax again, he had to make him see that every little thing he felt for Nick was returned whole heartedly.

"Do you, angel?" he leaned in to whisper in his ear and Jeff tensed even further, fingers shaking and knotted painfully but his head bobbed up and down once, answering the question.

Lillian was looking at them, regretting her decision to tease her son when it was all so new for him, so foreign, but at the same time, loving the way this boy was taking care of him.

"I talk about you all the time. Since the first moment I saw you, when you had no idea how loved and admired you were and still are," he reassured him softly and Jeff turned his eyes back up, pushing closer to him on instinct, the sub inside him purring in contentment when Nick wrapped both arms around him and offered him his own strength once again. He buried his head into the crook of his Dom's neck, braving his own demons and placing a gentle kiss on the soft skin there.

Home. Mine.

His blood almost sang and he cuddled closer, blushing when he caught sight of his mom brushing a tear from her cheek as she turned around to take the food.

"You boys go sit down. I'll get our food out now," she instructed, coughing to clear her thick throat and Nick pulled back kissing Jeff's temple in the process.

"Do you need some help?" he offered politely, reaching out for one of the heavier looking plates.

"Thank you, sweetie. You should look up to the younger generation's darling," she mock scolded her husband who had just reentered the room, who in turn mock scowled at Nick.

"Well, thank you for coming here and showing my wife she could do better," he grumbled petulantly, a twinkle in his eye and Jeff felt his heart warm at the easy way they just slotted together as they set the food on the table and sat down to dig in.

They finished the soup and were just starting on their chicken breasts in mushroom and mozzarella sauce, they hadn't had a traditional Christmas dinner since they'd moved here because of cost but they always managed to scrape something nice together for the day regardless, when Jeff's dad spoke up again.

"So, Nick… Jeff's told us a lot about you but we'd like to hear something from you as well," he broached conversationally and Nick smiled, wiping his lips with a napkin politely.

"Ask away, please," he encouraged, sipping his water.

"You're a Literature major right?" Jeremy asked and Nick nodded, squeezing Jeff's hand under the table when he felt him twitch at the prospect of the interrogation his father had obviously planned.

"Literature and philosophy sir, yes," he answered respectfully and Jeremy nodded.

"There's no need to call me sir, Jeremy is enough son. And that's an interesting combination. Any thoughts as to what you'd like to do with your degree?" he asked, leaning forwards on his elbows indicating his genuine interest.

"I always wanted to teach. I used to play teacher around the house and I'd prepare pop quizzes for my mom and dad and then if they failed I could have an extra scoop of ice cream because they hadn't been studying," he revealed with a casual shrug, not in the least bit embarrassed and they all shared a laugh at the cute story, Jeff imagining tiny Nicky passing out F's on purpose to get ice cream.

"What do your parents think about you career choice? What with them being business people and all," Lillian asked and Nick shrugged easily.

"They are really supportive. I think they always knew I wouldn't follow in their footsteps. I was always bored to death when it was bring your kid to work day and I'd usually just end up sneaking into the break room and drinking all their juice. Teaching is what I love so they want that for me," he answered and they all nodded in approval.

"It's a good thing you knew what you wanted to do since you were little. Jeff here…" Lillian started with a snort and Jeff blushed to the roots of his platinum hair.

"Moooom!" he whined but Nick shushed him gently, a grin growing on his face.

"I wanna hear about little, Jeff. I told you all about me," he nudged his shoulder playfully and Jeff sighed in resignation.

"Fine. But you asked for it," he mumbled and stabbed his fork into his pasta, mock violent and scowling. On the inside though he was smiling. This banter and even the many little, constant touches were all adding up to something Jeff never wanted to go away.

"I did. Okay, what did Jeff want to do when he was little? Give me all the dirt on him," he asked, almost bouncing in his chair, excited that he would finally learn more about his angel.

"He wanted to be a sunflower," Jeremy snorted and Nick almost inhaled his bite of food.

"A what now?" he giggled and Jeff pouted.

"I was two!" he whined and his mom laughed ruffling his hair gently.

"We drove passed this sunflower field, beautiful place and stopped the car to take a picture. We were there to see them turn towards the sun and he was fascinated by them so much he decided that's what he wanted to be when he grew up," she said with a soft smile and Nick could almost see little blonde boy, buzzing with excitement as he saw the beautiful flowers turn their faces towards the warmth and deciding that's what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

He felt his chest tighten at the thought that his inner sun was dimmed so early on, leaving him in the cold all alone and it was so clear he wanted nothing more than to be warm again. A sentence suddenly rushed into his mind...one he didn't think he understood at the time but now made perfect sense to him.

"It's warm when you're around."

Jeff meant it when he said that, in a way he couldn't comprehend the depth of until now. He almost told Nick that he was his warmth, his sun and at that moment nothing could mean more to him.

He loved him so much it hurt and he swore to himself he'd never let him be cold again.

"I can see that. Golden hair, beautiful face. He'd make a great sunflower," Nick said gently, tone suddenly serious instead of teasing and Jeff pinched his arm in an attempt to distract him from his blush and the way his body shivered at his words.

If he was a sunflower then Nick was his sun and he knew that. There was a tingle at the back of his neck, almost a white hot split second burning sensation where his mark rested and he lifted a nervous hand to rub the itch away as his parents continued talking to his Dom, clearly enchanted by the young man.

They shared funny stories and his parents embarrassed him a little bit more, causing Nick to share his own secrets in return making Jeff love him even more for his quirks and silliness. They enjoyed a rich chocolate cake his mom made for desert and as Jeff stood to help his mom clear the table his dad ushered Nick into the living room.

"You don't think he'll scare him away do you?" he asked his mom with a frown on his face and she smiled placing some of the dishes in the sink.

"I don't think he could if he tried, baby. That boy loves you so much, Jeff," she said thumbing a fallen tear away and he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry I caused you so much pain, mom," he whispered into her shoulder and she frowned, holding him at arms distance.

"You listen to me, Jeffery Sterling. You did nothing wrong. If anyone's to blame apart from that monster it's us Jeff...your dad and I. We thought we were doing the best for you, setting that pre-claim. We thought he was a nice, respectful Dom. But look what he did. If anyone should be apologizing it's us baby. I'm so sorry," she said, tears slipping down her cheeks and eyes closing as he hugged her again.

"It's okay, mom. I'm okay," he whispered to her and she sniffled in his arms.

"Are you okay? Really?" she asked at the same time Nick's bubbly laughter rang through the house, making Jeff smile in reaction to it.

"I think...I think maybe I will be...with him..." he said, blushing and she kissed his cheek.

"I think he can if you let him," she agreed gently and he smiled nodding.

"I'll try."

Across the hallway Nick was laughing up a storm with Jeremy as they talked about football and some of the funny moves Nick pulled in his career.

"And then he threw the ball...and I was sooo busy checking my helmet it hit me square in the head and I couldn't even finish the game," Nick wheezed out and Jeremy clutched his sides and doubled over as he laughed.

"How did you ever make first string with that track record?" he joked and Nick threw his head back in laughter.

"To be honest if I didn't know my dad I'd say he bribed the coach," he joked and the two of the chuckled before falling into a comfortable silence; not even the usually busy streets providing background noise.

"I prepared questions to grill you, you know?" Jeremy spoke up after a few moments and Nick nodded in understanding.

"I'd understand if you felt the need to use them. I'll answer anything you ask of me," he said honestly and Jeremy smiled.

"I don't think I need to. I saw...I saw the way you look at him. Like he makes you alive. And I saw the way he lets you in. Let's you close. He hasn't been like that in so long and now...with you it's like I can catch glimpses of my son, the way he was before..." he said and Nick leaned towards him covering his hand with his in comfort.

"I don't know the full extent of what happened to your son, Jeremy, I want Jeff to tell me that when he's ready. But I'm not an idiot and I know what it takes to taint a mark. I will never be like that. Since the moment I saw him I knew he'd been through a lot and all I wanted to do was make it better for him. I...I love him...and if you have tests and like tasks set up so I can prove myself I'll gladly take them all. I'll slay a dragon and bring a golden apple and whatever else you can come up with I promise. He's worth it all," Nick explained passionately, trying to ease the tension but at the same time convey how honest he was and how loved Jeff would be with him.

Jeremy took a moment to inspect a young man in front of him.

He was kind and open where Kevin was made of fake smiles and tight responses. He was ready to joke at his own expense and laugh at his own shortcomings where Kevin belittled the ones around him to make himself look greater. He leaned into his son whenever he sought comfort instead of sneering at him and making him feel like it was wrong to do so. He loved Jeff instead of using him as a status symbol and it made Jeremy relax for the first time since he found out his son was claimed again.

Nick was trustworthy, there was no doubt about it.

"I don't think you need to slay any dragons. To be honest just the fact that Jeff let you in is enough evidence that you're worthy. But I am going to warn you, if you ever lay a hand on him in a way he didn't agree on...I will not hesitate to make your punishment tenfold," he warned, trying to show that yes, he did like Nick, but his son came first and nothing would ever change that. If Kevin Landon was still within his reach he would have no qualms in wringing his neck with his bare hands.

"Jeremy, if I ever hurt him, I'll do my best not to, but if I ever do I swear it won't be on purpose and it won't be the way he did. I plan on staying with him forever and we're bound to fight or mess up but his safety, his happiness will always be the first thing on my mind," Nick said earnestly, meeting his gaze squarely and Jeremy knew, in that very moment, that this was the boy to make his son whole again.

"I like you, Nick. And I didn't think I would," Jeremy admitted and Nick chuckled at the frank honesty.

"I didn't think you would either. I was prepared to grovel. Wore my old jeans and everything," he joked and the older Dom smiled at him, shaking his head.

"No need for that. Just keep doing what you're doing."

Nick nodded, glancing towards the kitchen where his sub's sweet voice carried over the clatter of dishes.

He wanted him by his side and he wasn't even gone longer than twenty minutes.

"You can go kidnap him and give him his present if you like," Jeremy said with a smug expression on his face when he caught Nick eyeing the doorway longingly, like his sheer will could make Jeff appear next to him.

The boy jumped at his voice and beamed at him.

"I can?"

"Yeah...yeah you can," he chuckled and Nick jumped up, rushing towards the door when Jeremy's voice stopped him.

"And Nick?" the older Dom called and he spun on his heel to face him again.

"Yeah?" he asked in confusion and the blonde man smiled, twirling his glass of water in his hand.

"Thank you," he said gently and Nick's face softened, heart clenching as he nodded.

"Anything for him," he answered, exiting the room and walking towards the kitchen, catching sight of his sub and stopping dead in his tracks.

Jeff was standing at the counter, closing a plastic food container with one hand and licking the chocolate from his fingers on the other as his mom washed the dishes behind him.

The pink tongue darted out and swiped between the slender digits and Nick was half amused by his sub's love of all things sweet and half turned on by the erotic sight in front of him, however unintentional.

His pants tightened dangerously and he craved the feeling of Jeff's lips on his, that sweet tongue he hadn't had the chance to even taste yet because Jeff was timid and careful and afraid of it and he understood with all his heart.

But at the same time he wanted him. So badly it felt painful sometimes.

To be around him and not just shower him in kisses and caresses. To look at him, so beautiful, but not know what was hidden beneath his clothes. To know that there was someone who saw him vulnerable and pliant and who used that against him, when he wasn't sure he was even allowed to think about having him like that.

God he loved him, he thought when he saw his pink lips stretch into a small smile at the taste of the dark treat as he put the container into the fridge and turned to his mother.

"You need help with anything else?" he asked and she shook her head.

"No, sweetie. Why don't you go and save your man from your dad's clutches. If that poor thing is still alive," Lillian joked and at Jeff's horrified expression he made his presence known, rapping on the doorway frame.

Two blonde head swiveled towards the noise.

"Alive and well don't worry. But I was wondering if it would be okay to steal Jeff to give him his present now?" he asked jokingly and Jeff's eyes lit up at the mention of a present.

"Sure thing. Jer and I usually nap after lunch so you two can go up to Jeff's room and spend some time together," she smiled and Nick nodded at her grabbing Jeff's hand.

"Ready to see your present, angel?" he asked as the climbed the creaky stairs and Jeff lowered his head with a soft smile.

"Y-yeah but you didn't have to get me anything," he mumbled and Nick paused and turned on the step in front of Jeff, towering over him and tipping his chin up with his finger.

"I want to spoil you. I want to see you smile all the time. So please let me, okay?" he asked in a hushed voice and his boy nodded once, blush sitting high on his cheeks and Nick was torn once again. Between wishing he was relaxed enough to stop blushing and wishing he never lost it because he looked angelic with the pink tinge on his cheeks.

They walked up and through the small hallway before stepping through the first door on the left, leading into Jeff's room; small and humble but Jeff's smell lingered in the air and his art was strewn on every flat surface and Nick's hoodie was on the pillow.

Nick smiled when he spotted it and walked over to run a finger over the worn material.

"Did you sleep with this?" he asked and Jeff stared at him, mortified as he tried to form words but his mind betrayed him. He felt so embarrassed but the truth was, he did sleep with it. It smelled like Nick and it made the nightmares go away.

Nick was never meant to see that... he wasn't supposed to know how weak he was, how needy.

"I..." he started but when he glanced back up he saw Nick smiling gently at him, eyes warm and loving and with no trace of malice in them.

He decided to tell the truth.

"Smells like you. It...m-makes me sleep better. No bad dreams," he spoke, but with every word his resolve thinned and his voice weakened and by the end of it he was whispering barely audible and looking everywhere but at Nick.

Nick who stood right in front of him and scooped him into his arms softly as he sat them down onto the bed leaning back and allowing Jeff to cuddle closer.

"I miss having you in my arms at night too. I don't have your clothes but I do have that picture you drew of me. It's under my pillow every night," he said and Jeff looked up from where his cheek was resting on Nick's broad chest.

"It is?" he asked wide eyed and so unaware of the power he had over the older boy.

"Every night. Now...do you want to see your present?" he asked reaching for something and Jeff did his best to hide the fact that he was buzzing with excitement but he failed miserably when he made grabby hands towards the big box he'd missed perched on the end of his bed Nick's was dragging over.

"What is this?" he asked when he was transferred bodily to the bed and the box shape, which was more of a rectangle actually, was placed across his lap.

There was gentle rustling from the inside that made him frown curiously.

"Lift up the cover and take a look," Nick said with a smile and Jeff reached for the cloth and pealed it off revealing a cage with a water bottle attached to the furthest side, a bowl full of food and a small log climbing frame next to the corner piled high with hay. And within that hay there was a tiny, gray something, shivering and hiding its face with its fuzzy, floppy ears drawn low.

"Nick...this...this is a bunny," Jeff whispered, trying not to scare the poor fella even further.

"It is yes. He's a dwarf rabbit so he won't get too big and he's baby still, just able to leave his mother. I thought the two of you would get along great. You're both cute and cuddly and a little bit timid around new people. Why don't you take him?" Nick said pointing at the small animal huddling inside the cage, now looking at them with beady black eyes, button nose twitching curiously.

He placed the cage aside and opened the cage door eagerly.

The bunny was dark gray, with a white belly and there was a small black patch on his tiny bum that became visible when Jeff reached in, slow and steady to take him out. He fought a little initially, trying to evade the hands coming for him but Jeff kept his hold firm and navigated him safely through the gap.

He was small enough that he could cradle him in his hands easily, just over the size of his palm and its tiny body shivered as Jeff scooted backwards on the bed, bringing the little thing close to his chest, over his heart, somehow thinking maybe it would calm him down because he could feel his little heart hammering against his palms almost frantically. He ran soft fingers between his ears, feeling baby soft fur as he caressed his head and cooed at him gently.

He knew what Nick meant when he said they would get along, he was already smitten.

The bunny cowered a little from his unfamiliar touch in fear, skittish and new at being handled but Jeff did his best to show him he wouldn't hurt him, that he was safe. Just like Nick did with him. And just like the bunny wasn't all that convinced just yet, Jeff knew he would prove it to him with time and then they'd cuddle and play and be happy and he had Nick to thank for it.

"Thank you," he whispered gently, glancing over to his Dom next to him and trying not to jostle the tiny fluff ball any more than necessary.

"I had a hard time picking up one. They are too cute, all of them. I swear they do it on purpose, they just want you to buy a hundred! But that one...that one looked like it belonged to you," Nick smiled, reaching out and petting the small, furry head, making the bunny tremble even more and Jeff swatted his hand away playfully, making him chuckle.

"Why do you say that?" he asked curiously, bringing the bunny up to place a soft kiss on his head and cuddle him closer.

"The black patch on his bum... looks like you smudged charcoal on his fur. Made me think of you right away" Nick admitted not caring he sounded like a sap, especially when Jeff laughed though it made his new pet cower and kick his little legs strongly in panic.

"Sorry bunny...no sudden moves again. Promise," Jeff whispered to the animal and Nick smiled at the cute sight in front of him.

"He might need a name if you're gonna talk to him, angel," he teased and Jeff blushed but bit his lip in thought for a moment before beaming at his Dom.

"Poncho!" he said happily and Nick gaped at him.

"You want to name the poor bunny, Poncho?" he asked incredulously and Jeff nodded surely.

"It's cute. He can be called Cho for short and um...it...it reminds me of you," he said shyly at the end and looked at Nick under his lashes, as if waiting for him to laugh or taunt him.

But Nick beamed as he realized the meaning behind the name and leaned in to peck Jeff's lips.

"I love it," he assured then bent down so he was eye level with the newly named bunny. "Hi Cho!" he petted the tiny head again and this time the bunny seemed less upset by his touch as he munched on a loose strand on Jeff's shirt.

"I got you something too," Jeff admitted after a moment and Nick looked up.

"Baby, you didn't have to..." Nick tried but Jeff shook his head.

"It's not much...and I don't...I didn't know what to get so I just...um...it's right there," he pointed towards the white rectangle facing the wall and Nick walked to it turning it around, gasping when he saw it.

It was a water color painting, soft shades and gentle lines swirling to shape the two of them, cuddling on the leather sofa of what looked to be the Warbler hall. Their faces were close together and there was so much between them in just that one look it floored Nick to the ground.

"Angel..." he tried, voice hoarse and shaky as he looked at the work of art that he got to possess.

"It's okay if you don't like it. Kurt...um...Kurt took that picture a while ago and I got it after we got together and I didn't know what to give you and then I had the idea, but it has me in it and I didn't want to draw me in a gift to you… so I tried to draw just you but then it looked like you were staring at the wall and smiling at it and I drew myself too and I don't..." he rambled and rambled until a soft pair of lips cut him off gently.

The kiss was just a little bit stronger than the rest of them, there was something more behind the press of their lips in that moment, something raw and powerful that Jeff just couldn't name, but he felt it burning him all the way to his bones.

He returned it as best as he could, still not used to how loved Nick's kisses made him feel and he prayed he made Nick feel at least a fraction of what he felt.

They broke apart, breathing each other in and when Jeff opened his eyes there was already a pair of warm, brown ones looking at him in awe.

"Apart from getting you...this is the best gift I've ever gotten," he whispered, words falling heavy on Jeff as he clutched Nick's jumper with one hand and cradled a distressed Poncho with the other, the tiny animal clearly not happy with the sudden disturbance.

Jeff cuddled himself into Nick's chest and Cho to his own, eyeing the piece of art he had created.

He had asked Kurt about what he should get Nick and Kurt sent him the picture to his phone. He said he took it in rehearsal once but decided to hold onto it until they were together. He'd suggested to have it framed for Nick but Jeff decided to turn it into a painting instead.

He had set up his supplies and tried to work but every time his brush crossed the canvass he just felt wrong with painting himself, so closed off and obviously broken, next to Nick, who was smiling and caring and beautiful.

Whatever he tried to do to put himself out of the painting didn't seem quite right and in the end he just forced his hand and painted them both; sitting on the sofa together, him looking at the ground with a careful smile on his face and Nick looking at him with so much in his eyes Jeff didn't think he'd ever get used to all of it. There was so much love and gentleness and caring there that he had a hard time believing it was all for him.

But there it was... clear in the photo Kurt took and clear in the painting Jeff made and maybe… just maybe he'd learn to love himself in that painting as well; maybe he'll look at it one day and see not a boy broken, but a boy on the way to becoming whole again and next to him a boy who pushed him that way.

It should have been just Nick in it...but maybe...maybe it wouldn't be right like this.

"Should have been just you in it," he voiced aloud again, looking down and petting Poncho's straight ear that was lying close to his back, making it twitch.

Nick looked at him at that and shook his head in determination.

"It should always be you next to me. That's what makes it perfect. Both the painting and my life. You," he stated and Jeff looked up, eyes filled with tears and lip shaking, body curling around those words to keep them close so nobody could ever take them away from him.

---

New Years Eve...

---

"I'm excited!" Kurt beamed from the passenger's seat of Blaine's car as they drove towards Dave and Sebastian's home for the traditional Warbler New Year's party.

"I can see that, lovely," Blaine chuckled as he took in the sight of his sub bouncing in his seat in excitement, cheeks a healthy, gorgeous pink, hair swept up in his usual quiff that made his angelic face look even more beautiful and a mouthwatering outfit that made his own pants just a tad bit tighter.

He was wearing black skinny jeans that clung to his long, slim legs almost sinfully, the bottom half of them covered in elegant, knee high silver boots that laced at the front. His toned torso was covered with an obscene, silk black shirt that was a little bit see-through; just enough to make Blaine crazy because he knew what was hiding behind the slinky material.

He'd opted to loosely tie a skinny, shiny, silver tie around his neck and on top of it all he tossed an extravagant waist long, black jacket, with short feathers on the shoulders making him look out of this world. Nobody could dress in an outfit like that and make it work the way Kurt could from his own personal perspective and if his mother's words were anything to go by and Blaine trusted her expert opinion on fashion.

Kurt was a trendsetter, not a follower and the outfit tonight more than proved that fact.

The last details that were there to catch the eye and torture him personally was the thin glittery streaks in his brown locks, just on top of his quiff and the same, silver-ish hue he applied around his already magical eyes.

He looked like a magnificent, out of this world creature and once again, Blaine had no idea how he got so lucky to be the one to call him his.

"Do you think I'm overdressed?" Kurt questioned pulling one of the feathers on his jacket delicately. He had found it buried within one of Dana's back wardrobes while searching for their Formal suits and he fell in love with it on sight.

Dana told him how she designed it and she felt excited about the piece but her models just didn't seem to be able to pull it off and in the end the piece never made it into the official male line.

Kurt had tried it on at her insistence and the rest, as they say, is history. His slender waist made the jacket hem wrap perfectly around him and the feathers made his broad shoulders look even broader. Upon seeing him Dana clapped, happy that her piece finally found a worthy owner and she insisted he took it with him.

This was the first time Kurt wore it and as delicious as he looked Blaine could tell he was just a bit nervous.

"No…I think you look very sexy," Blaine said in a low voice and Kurt blushed but the sub in him preened and Blaine could tell by the way he straightened his back and squirmed in his seat a little.

"You have to say that 'cause you're my Dom," Kurt tried to play it cool, fiddling with his hair needlessly, but there was no way he was hiding how good it made him feel to know Blaine thought so much of him.

"Maybe so. But it's still the truth. Besides, wait until you see, Corinne. She's always dressed to the nines. There was this one time we decided to have a pajama party and she showed up in a Victoria's secret, silk pajama set with Swarovski crystals on her slippers. And don't even get me started on Seb. That guy can act tough all he wants he's a downright diva when it comes to clothes. You'll fit right in," he winked at him and Kurt giggled, more relaxed and sure of himself after hearing he won't be the only one who spent hours getting ready.

He filed away the information that Sebastian was just as bad as him with clothes thank you very much, for later use.

"So I didn't even think to ask but…we're going to Seb and Dave's apartment?" he questioned, turning in his seat more to face him and Blaine let out a snort at that.

"Apartment? Try penthouse with more rooms than a couple of college kids could ever need," Blaine corrected dryly and Kurt gaped at him.

"Penthouse? Seriously?" he asked and Blaine nodded, side eyeing him with amusement.

"Yup. Seb…diva…remember? When they decided to move in together Dave found them this really sweet, two bedroom apartment but he pitched a fit, saying how he didn't have enough room to put all his crap and where will the pool table live and whatnot and Dave, whipped as he is, caved and bought them the penthouse in that same building instead."

"A pool table?" Kurt was still trying to wrap his head around it all.

He laughed.

"Among other things but I can't tell you more because he threatened to kick me in the balls if I told you too much and spoiled the tour. He's like a really overgrown, scary, threatening baby sometimes," Blaine said faking a shudder and Kurt giggled at that.

"Will there be just the Warblers?" he asked and Blaine nodded, indicating a left before turning off.

"Mostly it's just us and our subs or Doms so you'll know everyone there. Have you heard from, Jeff?" Blaine asked as he took a sharp right turn and pulled up in front of an impressive, fifteen story high building, the top floor clearly radiating light and shine from the decorations.

The cars parked outside were all flashy and luxurious and once again Kurt felt like he didn't belong; a firm hand on his thigh the only thing keeping him grounded.

He shook his thoughts clear. "Um, yeah, I spoke to him earlier. He and Nick were already on their way so they should already be here," he answered as they got out, the winter air biting at their cheeks. Blaine locked the car and together they entered the building greeting the posh doorman and heading towards the separate elevator leading to the penthouse.

Blaine led Kurt by the small of his back and the look of his ass in those jeans of his, the smooth curve of his hips under the hem of that jacket and the way the silver of his tie and the glitter in his hair sparkled in the lobby lights made him crazy with desire.

He cast a jealous possessive look around and narrowed his lids at the sight of the receptionist eyeing his sub appreciatively. He ushered Kurt into the elevator and pressed the button to take them to the top floor, all the while staring the lustful receptionist down threateningly.

Kurt noticed the impromptu staring match, wondering what the hell had triggered it. He found out the second the doors closed on them Blaine crowded him against the wall, assaulting his senses with his smell and that gruff voice that made the sub in him desperate to kneel. Since that first time on Christmas day Kurt had been fantasizing about doing it again increasingly more.

His back was against the wall, Blaine's palms spread wide on his hips, his lips breathing damp curls of air against the shell of his ear as he spoke to him.

"I want you to remember that you're mine tonight when they are looking at you and how beautiful you are. Remember that only I get to touch you, lovely," he growled low and attacked his lips in a fierce kiss that had them both panting and breathless when the elevator dinged and the doors opened up to complete chaos.

Sebastian went all out on decorations, the silver and blue fairy lights twinkling from every visible spot around the room. Artificial snow clung to the flat surfaces, shimmering and giving the place a magical sort of look that Kurt loved. There were helium filled white balloons dancing just under the ceiling, silver tinsel hanging from them, reflecting the light onto the cheerful crowd.

The place was already fairly packed, people nursing their drinks politely to start them off before they all went crazy.

"Hi guys. Welcome," Dave greeted them wearing a nice white shirt and black slacks, eyeing Kurt up and down to tease Blaine who just stuck his tongue at him, blushing a little at his own continued possessiveness.

"Thank you. This place looks amazing," Kurt smiled back and handed Dave his coat along with Blaine's as they stepped out of the elevator and into the spacious living room. It was a huge open plan design, the white leather couches pushed to the walls with little tables for drinks strategically placed around and every other piece of unnecessary furniture removed to create a huge space in the middle of the room for dancing or other activities.

"Seb will be glad to hear that. He'll be here to give you a tour in a moment and I'll get these somewhere safe," he said pointing to their coats before he slunk through the archway and into the next part of the apartment.

"Looking for, Jeff?" Blaine asked knowingly as he caught Kurt craning his neck to peer over the people crowded in the middle of the room.

"Yeah. I can't see him," he hummed, stepping down from his tiptoes and looking at his Dom imploringly.

"Right there," Blaine pointed towards one of the cushy looking sofas and a beautiful smile spread over his sub's face when he took in the sight before them.

Nick was sitting in the sofa, holding what looked like a cocktail, complete with bendy straws and a little umbrella in an obnoxious green color. Jeff was cuddled on his lap, looking content and relaxed as he took the tip of one straw between his lips and sipped at the drink carefully, Nick eyeing his lips hungrily as he drank, before pecking them gently when he released the straw. Nick's hand went to stroke his cheek lovingly and his friend snuggled closer, kiss timid and slow but Kurt could tell he wanted it, loved it.

"He'll heal," Kurt said, tears in his eyes from the sheer relief he felt and Blaine hugged him around the waist and pulled him closer.

"He will. They'll be beautiful together," he assured and Kurt smiled just when someone clapped them both on the shoulder.

"Are you done being sappy or do you want another moment?" Sebastian asked coolly but his eyes flicked to the happy couple and his lips stretched into a soft smile before rearranging into his usual 'I don't really care' expression.

"Oh I don't know, I'm sure we could manage more," he sassed back gaining himself an eye roll and a soft kiss to his neck from Blaine. "Show us around?" Kurt asked with a knowing smirk and together they made their way through the apartment; Kurt getting more and more excited the more he saw.

"Blaine, that's a hot tub."

"He's got a dancing studio…"

"…and a library…"

"…and a game room…"

"Blaine, that's a walk in closet!"

"Lovely, we have that at home."

"Yeah but his is bigger than yours."

Sebastian actually choked on his drink at that, laughing as Kurt watched them both not knowing what he said wrong; Blaine's blush finally clueing him in.

"Oh…OH…that's not what I meant…NO…ugh…" he spluttered, Blaine was more than adequately sized obviously, but both his Dom and the other sub just cracked up as Blaine took his hand and led them back to the living room to greet their other friends.

Wes was holding court in the kitchen near where all the drinks were being stored, Miriam tucked under his arm comfortably, typing away at her phone. Thad and Ryan were sticking close to the IPod dock and makeshift dance floor chatting away with Trent and Jon, other Warblers scattered here and there. They eventually ended up in front of Nick and Jeff, the best friends all laughing and smiling at one another.

David and Corrine arrived last of course, always late and after they had their drinks the party truly started.

Corrine claimed Kurt the second she walked in and noticed that the two of them matched with their black and silver glitter attires, leaving Blaine and David to fend for themselves.

"I'm not sure if I should be glad or afraid your sub is so taken with mine," Blaine commented watching them go, sipping on his beer and nudging David.

Corrine literally forced Kurt to sit down where a bunch of people had just sat down to play truth or dare and his sub blushed prettily at the questions that were being thrown around straight off the bat, no warming up, reminding Blaine of their time on the boat when they played the question cards. He still didn't know what Kurt's favorite sexual position was but he sure as hell hoped he would get to find out soon.

He cleared his mind of all the images beginning to swell there and tried to concentrate.

"I don't even know what to tell you man. I love her but that girl is batshit crazy," David laughed around the rim of his bottle as he watched her stand up and lift her glittery black top to show off her belly ring, the little pink heart that matched their marks catching the light. He'd been a little dubious about the color of his mark at first, pink wasn't exactly his color of choice, but in the end it was Corrine and the color represented her so he loved it regardless. And screw anyone who said he couldn't pull it off right in the face. He rocked that shit.

"Aaaaaand that's our cue to join in Blainers," he laughed downing his beer before grabbing another one and the two of them joined the game, Blaine sitting down and placing Kurt in his lap so his back was cradled against Blaine's chest.

"Hello again," Blaine whispered into his ear and Kurt tilted his head back and smiled at him.

"Is it always like this?" he asked, eyeing the circle that had only grown with bodies, Bruno Mars' album playing in the background.

"Mmm, they'll play it until the more hardcore drinking games come out," Blaine advised him, offering him a sip of his beer.

Kurt stared at the clear bottle for a second, the amber liquid and lime wedge inside not looking too horrible. He'd never drank before, not having the money to waste or really the inclination for it but he was always up for trying something new. Turning so he was sitting more sideways on Blaine's lap he took the offering and placed it to his lips, sipping before pulling a face and handing it back quickly.

"Ugh!"

Blaine laughed. "Not a beer person then, lovely?"

Kurt shook his head emphatically, swallowing and running his tongue around his mouth to try and get rid of the bitter aftertaste faster. "I'm not kissing you if you taste like that," he declared and Blaine arched a brow and leaned closer.

"Oh really?"

Kurt smiled and lifted his brows. "Yes really."

"Okay, Kurt. Truth or dare?" Trent hollered and Kurt snapped his head around to see all the expectant faces looking his way.

"Um…"

"C'mon, Kurt!" Corrine encouraged excitedly from next to them, sipping on something out of a silver solo cup.

Kurt pondered the question, lip tightly between his teeth. This wasn't his type of game at all. He didn't feel that relaxed to share things with the people around him but Corrine insisted and he…well…maybe he just felt like being a proper teenager for once.

He felt his Dom, solid and comforting behind him and once again he felt the need to be just a little bit crazy for him…just a little bit wild and uninhibited instead of second guessing every move he made.

"Dare," he declared bravely and the crowd went crazy as Trent stroked his chin threateningly.

"I dare you to…drink four shots of tequila…in a row," he announced with an amused smirk and Kurt shrugged, eyeing the small glasses they set out in front of him. They didn't even make for a decent sip so he should be just fine. After all, it had to taste better than that beer did right?

"Lovely… that's quite a lot of liquor. Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Blaine asked as Trent poured the shots. Doms had the power to veto dares or truths for their subs if they felt it was past their comfort zones, it was built into the rules of the game.

"If I back out of it I'll have to forfeit and that means I have to get naked. And I didn't even show off my outfit yet. I'll drink," Kurt nodded surely and Blaine decided to just let him have his first experience as a tipsy person. It built character.

Kurt braved his shots like a soldier, following the instructions set out; licking up the salt off the side of his hand, downing the gold liquid and biting on the lime from the bowl. The first was a shock to the system, the alcohol harsh as it went down and making him cringe a little over the lime he hastily shoved into his mouth. Okay that was way worse than the beer. There was a cheer that went up as Kurt eyed the second dubiously and it took a bit of working up before he reapplied to salt and took the second and third in quick succession to get it over with.

"Fuck, Kurt. You're showing us all up!" Dave laughed and Kurt snorted a giggle, hiding it with the back of his hand feeling a little lightheaded, like the liquid had gone straight to his head.

"Maybe that's enough?" Blaine asked him, trying to get a read on his sub.

Those lovely glasz eyes locked on Blaine's teasingly, mischievousness brewing there as he reached for his hand, kitten licking over the dip where his thumb and finger met before pouring the salt there. Blaine bit his lip to keep from voicing his approval at the slick sensation.

A roar went up, people wolf whistling and cat calling and Blaine smirked, feeling incredibly turned on when Kurt grabbed the shot and lime wedge. He leaned back on one hand, the other still held out in offering and met Kurt's eyes, opening his mouth in a naughty suggestion.

"I'm so turned on right now," Corrine said matter-of-factly as Kurt placed the wedge gently between Blaine's lips, sucking off his sticky fingers. Blaine groaned around the fruit and the sub felt like whimpering himself, mind exactly where his was, back on Christmas day with his Dom's hard length between his lips.

He flushed.

"Get on with it!" Sebastian called impatiently. "Not all of us are interested in watching your sexual tension all night."

Kurt ducked his head and laved over Blaine's hand, humming at the taste of Blaine's skin in his mouth again under the salt and if he spent longer there than was needed then he could just blame it on the alcohol.

The shot was next and Kurt threw it back as quick as he could before diving in for his Dom's mouth. The excuse of the lime was long forgotten as their mouths clashed, the sharp slice of fruit just in the way before Blaine reached up and pulled it away throwing it somewhere.

"Corrine, stop filming them!" Miriam laughed.

"It's hot!"

"Send that shit to me."

"What the hell, Trent?"

It was all background noise.

"You'll be the end of me, baby," Blaine groaned, pulling back a little, the taste of tequila and Kurt thick on his tongue. It was an intoxicating combination. His sub hummed against his mouth, kitten licking his lips and the stickiness there away completely uninhibited for once.

The game continued; people stripping, yelling insults, answering embarrassing questions and getting progressively more drunk as the time went on.

"Blay…" he heard Kurt giggle against his chest just as Ryan came back from streaking a lap around the penthouse, hands cupping his modesty before a laughing Thad covered him back up, crawling onto his lap and kissing him.

He knew the alcohol caught up with his sub properly now, those shots doing their job along with the glass of champagne Sebastian had handed him and he was currently sipping happily from. He seemed to actually like the taste which Blaine wasn't even surprised at, Kurt had expensive taste after all.

He himself was well on the way to being tipsy, more than a few beers and a few Sambuca shots under his belt and he was glad they were sleeping over tonight because there was no way either of them were making it home when it was only ten o'clock now.

"B? Blaine? Blaaaaine!" Kurt whined at him, pulling on his face to make him pay attention to him.

"Yeah, baby?" he asked, looking down on him with a soft smirk.

"You're pretty," he said with a sure nod and smile as he reached up into his loose hair to tug and play with. "And curly. Pretty and curly and… pretty."

Blaine had to stifle a laugh at how adorable he was.

"You're prettier."

"Am not," Kurt sang before taking another sip of expensive bubbles. "This is nice," he declared licking the tingle away from his lips happily.

"Should be for fifty dollars a bottle," Blaine smirked tracing fingers over Kurt's ear and neck. "And that's relatively cheap for champagne."

Kurt raised his brows and peered into the flute. "Has it got like gold dust in it or summink?"

Blaine laughed out loud. "Or summink."

Kurt finished it off and presented the empty glass. "More please!"

"How about we wait a few minutes and then I'll get you another, hm?" he suggested instead, pecking him on the nose to distract him. Kurt followed his lips like he was magnetized, it had become very clear early on that drunk Kurt was equal parts affectionate as he was silly and sassy.

Blaine liked the combination a lot. After all it was all Kurt in his usual state, seemingly only magnified now he was drunk and had no care about his inhibitions.

He was about to kiss his flushed cheek, heading for his lips when his lap was suddenly void of Kurt and he saw Corrine dragging him up and away from the group again, whispering something in his ear that made Kurt wide eyed as they disappeared into the nearest bathroom, Corrine deftly snagging a bottle of champagne on the way.

Blaine watched them go with a pout and David clapped him on the back. "They'll be fine. C'mon, let's go smash Trent and Wes at beer pong. The undefeated champions need to show up these posers."

Blaine smirked and followed him up to where the pair were setting the game up in the corner.

Across the room from the mayhem of truth and dare and beer pong, Jeff was still tucked safely against his Dom, soft fingers stroking his hair and damp lips placing loving kisses against his cheeks and temples every once in a while.

He surveyed the room, now considerably more rowdy and realized that everyone was engaged in some sort of game or dancing with their friends or other half's.

Thad had decided that Ryan had to learn how to dance properly, again, and now the two of them stomped around avoiding bodies and smashing everyone's feet as they tried to waltz, the height difference and the fact that Ryan was sadly uncoordinated outside of football field making the whole thing worthy blackmail material.

Sebastian clearly decided he was host-ish enough because he'd given up his cool facade to attack Dave with kisses and Jeff watched with wide eyed as he jumped up and wrapped his legs around his waist.

Come to think of it… Nick was the only one that hadn't even moved from this spot since they got there; he said hi to his friends, they chatted a bit and then he pulled Jeff into his lap and they stayed there.

All of a sudden Jeff tensed and looked down, shame washing over him.

His Dom was unable to have fun because he had to stay and babysit him all the time. He was the one ruining the night for his Dom and he hated it. He wanted him to enjoy, unwind and relax and he couldn't do that because Jeff was a screw up and he just spoiled everything. He didn't feel comfortable getting drunk and playing games that would potentially push his boundaries, but that didn't mean Nick couldn't. The type of person Nick was he must enjoy those sorts of things and yet here he was sat with him.

He wiggled out from his lap to stand up but Nick caught him around the waist, eyes warm, concerned and beautiful under the twinkling lights.

"I…um…I'm just gonna run to the bathroom and see if Kurt's around. You should…you should talk to your friends," he rushed out and his heart skipped when Nick pouted.

"But I only wanna talk to you," he whined and Jeff forced a smile not really understanding. He'd just given him an out.

"P-please, Nick. I just…I hate to see you wasting the night with me when everyone else is having fun…just please…" he said, eyes downcast and words heavy on his lips.

"Angel, look at me," Nick let out that voice again. The one that did things to Jeff…made the sub in him unfurl and preen with joy.

What was that? He wondered as he lifted his eyes up to look at his Dom. They couldn't be commands, they didn't sound like the harshly barked orders Kevin used to give him.

"Spending time with you is never a waste. I'm with these people every day and you…I just got you. And I want to be next to you all the time because it's what make me happy. You make me happy, Jeff," he said gently and Jeff felt himself melt at those words.

Nick said the sweetest things and even if he still had trouble believing any of them they still made him tremble.

He braced himself and leaned forward, praying not to mess it up as he placed a careful, clumsy kiss on Nick's lips.

"Thank you for saying that but…but please just…just mingle for a while. I'll…I'll find you when I get back," Jeff asked, desperate to make his Dom have the same amount of fun he would've had if he wasn't around and Nick brushed a lock of hair from his forehead and nodded.

"If that's what you want, sure. I'll be around so find me when you come back," Nick agreed, eyeing him carefully for any sign that he wasn't okay and Jeff nodded in relief, pushing a smile onto his face and slinking away to give his Dom some space.

He tried looking for a bathroom to perhaps have a quiet moment to himself away from the pounding music, but the one meant for the guests was occupied and there were loud giggles coming from inside. He backed away from the door and looked around a bit lost before he tried walking out onto the balcony to breathe some fresh air and waste some time while Nick mingled, when he heard a familiar voice that stopped him just before the glass door.

"-it suits you," Wes said and there was a gentle chuckle Jeff would have recognized anywhere.

"I feel amazing," his Dom's voice drifted through the crowd and Jeff leaned forward, as if he wanted to be closer to it.

"I can tell. I don't think I've ever seen you this happy, Nicholas," Wes teased and the smile in his voice was painted into his words.

"I don't think I've ever been this happy, Wesley," he fired back before he got quiet for a second or two. "He…Jeff makes everything in my world better. I've always thought you guys were exaggerating when you claimed your subs but…now I understand it all. I want to sing all the time…I want to just make the rest of the world go away so I can just be with him constantly. Its mind blowing," he finished off and there was another round of gentle, accepting laugh.

"You love him," Wes stated simply and Jeff felt his heart jump in his throat. Hearing this from someone else, not just to placate him because he was so fragile and from Wes of all people, the Dom who didn't sugarcoat things for the sake of it settled something in his mind. That loose screw finally being tightened over the idea that Nick did truly care about him. He might deserve better but Nick truly did care about him… love him.

"I do. And I can't believe he's mine," he said and Jeff threw his caution to the wind. He rounded the corner and walked to his Dom, wiggling his way inside his arms and burying his face inside his neck so he wouldn't do something so stupid as cry.

"There you are. Everything okay? Did you find, Kurt?" Nick asked in surprise as he hugged him close, arms strong and protective around his lithe frame.

"The bathroom was locked…someone was giggling inside," he mumbled and Wes laughed.

"Well…that's a Warbler party for you. They're all posh and collected until you bring out the liquor," he looked through the glass where Blaine and David were cheering and high fiving after Blaine sank another ball into the cup at the end of the table. Those two were dangerously good at that game, he didn't know why every year he went against his better judgment and agreed to play against them. He supposed it was tradition. And the Warblers were big on traditions.

"Do you think someone was hooking up in there?" Nick asked wide eyed and obviously ready to gossip like the little old lady he was.

"I don't think so," Wes said pointing amusedly towards the bathroom door that now revealed Kurt who was wearing eyeliner and had the buttons of his shirt almost halfway undone and Corrine who stumbled behind him, champagne bottle in hand, clearly pleased with her handiwork as the two of them sashayed across the room towards their Dom's who hadn't noticed them yet as they were celebrating their latest win.

Kurt got behind him and snaked his hand up and under the material of Blaine's cardigan and loose tee, pawing at his abs and happy trail as he leaned into his ear and licked.

Blaine grunted, immediately imagining that tongue other places. "There's my beautiful boy," he grinned.

Corrine walked around David, trailing a hand over his back before hopping up on the cleared side board crooking a finger at him. He went to her happily, slotting between her legs.

"Wha'ya doing?" Kurt whispered.

"Kicking people's asses because I'm awesome," he shrugged humbly before detaching and dragging Kurt to his side, feeling hands slipping back under his top as his sub settled into his side. It was then he noticed the additions and subtractions to his subs wardrobe.

He trailed a finger down the length of that pale, perfect chest wanting to put his mouth there and mark it up. "This is interesting," he commented darkly.

"Mm," Kurt agreed with a coy under the lashes smile as he leaned into him. "Like?"

"I might," Blaine considered, looking him up and down slowly, loving when he felt Kurt shiver.

"How about we make this more interesting?" Trent suggested, swaying a little on his feet, eyes hazy.

"Man, we won. Suck it up," Blaine told him with a sloppy grin and a shake of his head, getting distracted when Kurt began nibbling along his jaw absently, hands and now nails still doing interesting things under his tee.

"One game. One shot," he pressed bouncing the ball on the table back up into his hand, almost missing because his coordination was so off with the amount he'd drank already. He just didn't know when to quit.

"Why would they do that when my sexy's team already won," Corrine slurred from her perch, legs still cradling David and bottle soon reattaching to her red lips.

Sebastian came strutting over with an armful of liquor bottles himself, setting them down and beginning to evenly fill up two cups to the brim with everything from Vodka to Whiskey to Midori. "Loser has to drink that," he said, finishing with a flourish and a smirk.

"Fuck that," Ryan declared, throwing his hands up.

"Babe, do you want to be cleaning up sick in the morning?" Dave asked in exasperation following him over. His devious little minx was such an enabler.

"I won't be cleaning it up," he shrugged, sending him a superior smile that had Dave grabbing him by the wrist and pushing him up against a wall to resume showing him who was boss the best way he knew how.

The only time they were openly affectionate to this degree with one another was when they were drunk and so it seemed like they were always making up for the other ninety percent of the time.

"Ry, did you win yet? I want to dance some more!" Thad called across the room, standing on the sofa to be able to see over the crowd gathering around the beer pong table.

"Oh no you don't," Trent declared glomming onto his drinking partner as he made to move that way automatically.

"You know that's not doing anything right?" he asked curiously and everyone laughed. He began to step away easily and in sheer desperation Trent sank down to his knees to wrap his whole body around Ryan's leg… subsequently being dragged along the floor as everyone continued to crack up.

"Bro! You can't leave me like this. Ryaaannn!" he begged not letting go even though Ryan was making good progress.

Thad came hopping over, not drunk but hyped up on sugar and good vibes. He looked down at Trent and poked him with the toe of his converse. "Get your own."

"One throw!" the Dom on the floor continued to whine. "It'll take a few minutes!"

The Dom shook his head. "What do you think, tiny?"

Thad sighed dramatically. "Fine!"

Trent let go and sprang up like a jack in the box. "Sweet!" He rushed back to the table.

Ryan leant forwards and placed a sweet kiss on his boy's lips. "Hot tub later?" he asked suggestively. "It's tradition after all."

"Dancing first, then we'll see about upholding traditions," Thad grinned coyly against his mouth before they made their way over to where Trent was antsy and waiting.

"Okay so one throw each-" Trent started only to be cut off.

"If we're doing this then we're going first. We won fair and square so you can just suck it," David stated and Blaine nodded. He wasn't risking that Trent would luck out on his first go and then one of them would be stuck drinking that nightmare waiting to happen on the table.

"Fine we get to pick the person then," Trent argued back. "Anyone in the room."

"Screw you. You're playing against me and D so you choose between us," Blaine said before turning back to Kurt who was mouthing at his neck quite contently. It was seriously fucking with his concentration and grip on reality. "Baby I nee- oh fuck," he moaned as Kurt bit down where he shoulder met his neck sending sparks straight to his cock.

He was about to say screw this shit and get him and Kurt a room when David, the monumentally cocky idiot, shot them in the foot.

"Fine whatever. We'll still win. Choose away."

"Okay we chooooose…. Kurt!"

The sub wasn't even paying attention and continued sucking his love-bite unawares, Blaine's eyes practically crossing as he sucked particularly hard, cupping the back of his head. Whether to pull him away or keep him there he had no idea.

"He's hammered. Choose again," David demanded.

"He's not hammered," Corrine defended hitting his chest. "He's just happy to see Blaine."

"Oh really. And are you happy to see me, sweetness?" David drawled and got his face pushed away when he leaned in.

"Not really," she sassed with a little laugh.

David pouted and scowled.

"Look can we get this done?" Ryan asked amused.

"Okay, okay," Blaine said breathlessly and reluctantly detached Kurt from his neck. His sub made a noise of protest that did things to his insides, Jesus no one should sound so god damned good.

"Baby, I need you to do something for me quick," he asked, taking in his swollen, pink lips and flushed face. Oh shit did he need him to something for him, like get naked for one.

"And then we can kiss and dance and stuff?" he demanded, looking adorably put out.

"Yeah of course."

"And champagne," he added to his list of demands.

Everyone laughed. "And you can have some more champagne."

"I have some, Kurt," Corrine called and Kurt lit up, going to head that way before Blaine caught him around the middle.

"What, Blay?" he asked exasperated.

"That thing I needed, lovely," he reminded.

"Oh yeah."

"He's gonna regret drinking that much tomorrow," Thad busted up, leaning on Ryan.

"Now I need you to take this ball and throw it in that cup over there," Blaine told him grabbing the ball and placing it in his palm, gesturing over. He was having trouble with seeing things straight by now, so he had no idea if his boy even knew where he was talking about.

"Why?"

Blaine shrugged, coming up behind him and wrapping his arms around his waist. "Because it's the game," he mumbled into the side of his neck, not even caring at this point if they won. He just wanted to drag Kurt somewhere private and relieve the throbbing ache in his boxers. Besides he realized it was David's turn to drink so he wouldn't have to down that god awful thing anyway.

"Seems like a stupid game," Kurt told him matter-of-factly and Blaine laughed while David groaned.

"Just throw it please… and try to get it in?" David pleaded.

Kurt sighed huffily. "Fine."

He hardly even looked as he halfheartedly chucked the ball, it made an arch before plopping into the drink completely cleanly.

The only sound that could be heard was Flo Rida in the background and they all stared at the bobbing white ping pong ball in the silver solo cup.

"That means I won right?" Kurt asked all the shocked faces before turning and snuggling up to his Dom. "I won right, Blaine?"

He glanced at the ball for a second more, back to Kurt, back to the ball…

"Uh yeah."

"I'm going to tell Jeff," he said before breaking free and heading towards the balcony completely forgetting about his rewards. "JEFF I WON THIS STUPID BALL GAME…"

Kurt's voice drifted off and Ryan looked down at their cup. "Did that just happen?"

Trent was gaping.

"Kurt! You fucking legend!" David exclaimed joyously before turning a shit eating grin on the pair across from them. "Drink up, Ry. It's your turn."

Ryan scowled down at the cup of death then right at Trent who sheepishly grimaced at him, backing away from the huge jock. "Chin, chin," he offered.

"I hate you. I am so getting you back for this, like so bad in your face," he warned before picking up the cup and sighing.

"I'm gonna go put the pizzas in," Thad said knowing they were going to need some starch to soak up some of the alcohol as Ryan began to down the cup a horrible grimace on his face.

Corrine hopped down and placed a kiss to David's mouth before following Kurt outside… they were only out there for about five minutes before she came barreling back in with a laughing Kurt both promptly pushing a table and then climbing onto the sturdy, low surface in the middle of the living room.

"Ladies and gentleman. What you're about to whi..wit…winess…wis…what's that called?" Corrine slurred and Kurt giggled stupidly.

"Whiness is fine…" he said eliciting rounds of laughter from everyone around them as he helped his partner in crime completely butcher the word.

"'kay good. So Kurt and I…here…we t-talked and decided this party is bo-ring…" she snapped her fingers twice to emphasize her point and Kurt nodded along, eyes glassed over and a smile on his face so silly it made even Jeff giggle into Nick's shoulder as they followed them in.

"Rin said we needs naked," he clapped his hands in glee and in an instant Blaine was running to the edge of the table trying to pull him down.

Yeah he wanted naked Kurt. But that was for him. Not everyone else's viewing pleasure!

"No, no, no, Blay. The room needs naked," he laughed, evading his grip, bouncing away and the music suddenly changed to the low, bass filled tune of Jason Derulo's, Talk Dirty To Me. Corrine took Kurt by the waist and started twirling them around, the both of them rolling their hips and running hands all over each other.

For being so plastered the way the pair moved was surprisingly sexy and Blaine was transfixed by every pop, drop and roll of Kurt's hips, his ass on perfect display in front of him, all the coy and blatantly inviting looks Kurt was giving him getting him hotter and hotter.

All the Warblers gathered around them as they showed off, making every move dramatic and dirty Corrine egging them on further and further until she had her own top over her head and was throwing it to David, shimmying in her sparkly bra.

She reached for Kurt's and managed to get it unbuttoned all the way and pushed off before Blaine grabbed Kurt's hips and pulled him down to him, unable to take it anymore. Corrine pouted and objected but Blaine was already carrying Kurt off towards the closest spare room.

"Fuck you're so hot baby… couldn't take it anymore," he groaned pressing the door closed with his body on Kurt's, long legs wrapping around him as mouths met tasting of champagne and beer and them.

They fell in a tangle of panting, desperate limbs on the bed, tearing at clothes and kissing frantically, Blaine running hands all over his subs bare torso before following with his mouth to mark it up as he'd wanted to.

Kurt gasped and arched into the wet heat, shivering when he felt the sharp bite of teeth on his nipple and fingers unzipping his straining fly.

"Blaine," he moaned high and needy, head spinning with a combination of alcohol and need. He drove his fingers into his Dom's curls before grasping at his cardigan, tugging to get him to remove it.

Blaine sat back up on his knees, unbuttoning his red cardigan before throwing it over his shoulder groaning at the sight of Kurt spread out underneath him, glitter sparkling and beautiful, before reaching for the hem of his top when there was a knock on the door.

"Go away!" Blaine growled, glaring at the wood.

"We're about to countdown to New Year lovebirds! So cease defiling my guest bedroom for a few secs yeah?" Sebastian drawled through the wood and Blaine groaned in defeat, head falling to Kurt's shoulder.

Begrudgingly they made their way out into the crowd of their friends, all gathered around the plasma screen about to watch the ball drop in Times Square. Blaine kept Kurt close and shielded from any more prying eyes, he'd made the sub put on his cardigan for now, which didn't help his erection one bit, because it was still open at the front showcasing his now marked chest.

Suddenly people began to shout and count down in time with the TV and pretty soon it was, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

Blaine looked into Kurt's sparkling eyes, ignoring the commotion around them as he framed his face lovingly, leaning in to whisper against his lips, "Happy New Year, lovely."

"Happy New Year, Blaine."

They kissed.

---

And now we're gonna curl up into a corner... leave some reviews for us when we finally show our faces again?

Love A&M
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