"Ouch!" Peter said grimacing dramatically as Neal opened the door.
"Thanks, Peter," Neal deadpanned as he moved back to the painting he was working on.
"Well, at least he didn't break anything."
"Break anything? Peter if you hadn't got there in time, he would have killed me."
Peter felt cold fear settle in his stomach. "Maybe, but me and Jones made it in time, so let's not think about that."
"Agreed," Neal said slapping out his paintbrush against the easel.
"So, why all the blowback for the shooting?"
"Oh, there's not really, this is all just precautionary. Jones saw him with a weapon raised, so it should be fine. I'm just out until they get everything cleared up."
"And you're bored already?"
"Well, it is the weekend and with your shiner I knew you won't be out working a case so...?" Peter made himself conspicuously comfortable on Neal's couch.
"So, I'll make us dinner, while you pick out the wine." Neal said, turning to him with a smile as he wiped the paint from his hands.
Peter smiled back cheekily, interlacing his hands behind his head as he reclined on the couch.
"Do I even want to know how you can afford wine this good and truffle ice cream?"
"I'll have you know I made the ice cream." Neal said, as he popped another spoonful into his mouth. Peter had to tear his eyes away, because watching Neal lick a spoon was reminding him of everything that had been on his mind the past couple of days, when all he really wanted was to spend time with his best...no that wasn't right, his closest friend. But that wasn't right either...his closest...his closest… and he really hoped that Neal hadn't noticed that his mind had drifted.
But of course Neal noticed, because Neal noticed everything, "You alright, Peter? You haven't had too much to drink, have you?" Neal sat his bowl on the end table as he spoke, looking Peter over.
Peter waved his hand in Neal's general direction, "Nah, I'm fine, just...uh," He shook his head at his own cowardice. Okay, that was it, he could stand a lot of things but being afraid was not one of them. He turned on the small couch so that he was facing Neal. "Is there something...no, that's not what I mean to say...do you..?" Peter was at a loss. Neal leaned in to catch his eye, trying to encourage him to go on. His eyes were so bright and beautiful.
Peter brought a hand up, running a finger along the edge of the bruise on Neal's face. The purple fading to green along the line of his jaw. The area was more stubbled than the rest of his face, the skin too sensitive for him to shave closely. Neal went very still as Peter's hand traveled along his jaw. When he reached Neal's chin he cupped one finger on the underside and brought his thumb to rest in the cleft. Peter closed his eyes as he moved forward and brushed his lips against Neal's.
He felt Neal take in a sharp breath as he pulled back. When he opened his eyes, Neal was giving him that look again. The one that said he was confused and unsure. Peter moved slowly as he came in for another kiss. Neal's lips felt stiff against his and Peter started to fear that he'd made a horrible mistake until he felt Neal respond as he caressed his lips. He lightly nibbled along Neal's bottom lip, planting a soft kiss when he came to corner of his mouth.
"Peter, what are we doing?" Neal was breathless as he spoke. The warmth of his breath ghosting across Peter's skin as he brought his forehead to rest against Neal's.
"I honestly don't know." Peter huffed, "but is it...its...you want this, don't you?"
Neal chuckled lightly and brought his hands up to tangle in Peter's hair, angling his head so he could press their lips together. Peter felt himself smiling into the kiss. He pulled Neal closer, so that they were chest to chest. It didn't feel as strange as he would have thought, as a matter of fact it felt amazing to have Neal's chest rubbing against his as he ran his hands up and down the lean, strong muscles of his back and opened his lips to deepen the kiss.
He hadn't 'made out' this long with anyone since college. Peter had kissed every inch of Neal's face, ghosting kisses over the bruise Lehmann had made and ending their make out session with a kiss to the tip of Neal's nose before pulling back and melting into the couch. Neal looked so pleasantly ruffled that Peter couldn't help but smirk. Neal, never one to be outdone, climbed across the couch cushion, swinging his leg over Peter's lap as he straddled him.
Peter gasped as Neal's weight pressed into him. He'd been aroused for some time, but the feeling of Neal's body pressing into him sent him into overload and he arched up into Neal's inner thigh. "Sorry," He gasped, feeling a little embarrassed.
"There is nothing to be sorry about, Peter." Neal said as he came in for another kiss, his hands wrapping around the back of Peter's neck as they began to rock together. Oh! Oh this was good. He could feel the muscles of Neal's inner thighs rubbing against his outer thighs, while his hands roamed over his back and shoulders. Peter was so aroused he actually was starting to become concerned that he might lose control like some love struck teenager and slowed his movements to keep himself in check.
"Is something wrong? Do I need to stop?" Neal said, sounding urgent and breathless.
"No, no, it's just... I'm going to... if we keep this up."
"Really?" Neal's voice was amused, his eyes shining in mischief.
"Yes, really," Peter said shaking his head as Neal preened. Damn it, he walked right into that one.
"Well, we can't have that can we?" Neal said as he slide to the floor in front of Peter.
Peter took in a deep lungful of air to keep himself from passing out as all the blood in his body rushed south. Neal hesitated, "If you're not ready...I won't to do anything you don't want me to do."
"It's not that...it's just been awhile."
Neal's face softened, "I know. I'll go as slow as you need me to. I just want to make you feel good." Neal said as he stood on his knees to lean into Peter. Peter lifted from his prone position to bring their lips together. His nerves faded as they kissed, muscles that he hadn't realized he had tensed, relaxing at Neal's gentle touch.
He pulled back, keeping his eyes on Neal's face as he reclined back into the couch.
"Remember, if I do anything you're not comfortable with…"
"I'm comfortable, I'm ready." Peter's face heated and he knew he had to be blushing, "I want you to touch me."
Neal grinned as he ran his hands up Peter's calves, up around his knees and bringing them to rest on his thighs. "I just want you to relax and enjoy yourself. Anything you want to do to me, anyway you want to touch me is fine. Okay?" Neal nodded as he spoke, stopping and waiting patiently for Peter to respond.
"Okay, yes," He said hoarsely and gave himself over to the moment.
"I feel the need to defend my honor." Peter said, still catching his breath. He felt Neal's entire body shaking with suppressed laughter. The couch was really too small for them to be cuddled together like this, but it gave Peter a good excuse to hold Neal a little tighter. "How so?"
"I, well, I won't say I'm known for my stamina, because there have only been a handful of people who would know, but of the people I've been with, none of them would describe me as a...uh, two minute man."
Neal apparently found that very amusing as he couldn't suppress his laughter any longer. "You don't have to worry about impressing me, Peter. Your honor's intact."
"Yes, well, just so you know after I've got my strength back and I can feel my toes again. You're going to be very impressed."
"I'm sure I will be." Neal said as turned his face into Peter's shoulder, planting a soft kiss to his neck as they relaxed into one another.
Well, that wasn't right. Peter used his elbows to lift himself up a little. He was in Neal's bed, half-dressed, while Neal was nowhere to be seen. The last thing he remembered was lying on the couch with Neal cuddled next to him. Peter fell back against the pillow, covering his face with one hand. Some red-hot lover he was, he'd fallen asleep on Neal.
"You're up?" Neal's voice was bright, but Peter could hear the apprehension underneath.
Peter pulled himself up a little. "I can't believe I fell asleep on you."
"It's not a problem. Though getting you from the couch to the bed was quite the adventure. You know you get a little belligerent when you're half-asleep."
Peter rolled his eyes, catching a glimpse of the perfectly made other half of the bed. "Where did you sleep?"
Neal swallowed as he looked down at the towel in his hand. He was painting again. "I slept on the couch. I didn't want to disturb you."
Peter felt his mouth hanging open and shut it. "You didn't want to disturb me or you thought I might freak out if I woke up in bed with you?" Neal's shoulders slumped, knowing he had been caught.
"The thought occurred." He conceded nodding his head and not meeting Peter's eyes.
"And what do you think now?" Peter challenged.
"I think that whatever happens next I will accept and understand as long as we're still friends."
Peter lost some of his ire at the acquiescence in Neal's voice. He lifted his hand, palm up motioning for Neal to come to him. "Well, I think I have a promise I need to keep."
Neal looked at the proffered hand, "Peter, I don't want you to feel like you've made any commitments you're not ready for. If last night was just about being lonely or a one-time thing I can accept that. I just want you to be happy and comfortable, not to feel obligated..."
"I don't do one-time things." Peter interrupted, "and last night was not about being lonely. It was about a beginning not an end."
Neal eyes came to meet his then; his face more open then Peter had ever seen it. He wiped his hands on the towel he had been using, throwing it behind him and turning back to Peter, looking so genuinely pleased that he was practically radiating happiness.
Peter felt a catch in his throat and had to swallow hard to keep himself from waxing poetic about how absolutely gorgeous Neal was as he walked toward him, his hips swinging seductively. "I do seem to recall some promises in regards to stamina that I feel need to be kept." He said jokingly, taking Peter's hand and allowing himself to be drawn down to the bed and into Peter's arms.