The Tiger's Den
John wanted to call Sebastian again immediately, but forced himself to wait two torturous days, not wanting to come off as too desperate.
Sebastian looked excitedly at his phone when he saw that John was calling. His hands still bloody from a recent job, he hurriedly wiped them off and answered. "Wondered when I'd hear from you," he said, keeping his voice casual, verging on boredom.
"Sorry to make you wait. I've been busy with work," John lied. The clinic had been dead the past couple of days. "Are we still on for Thai? I'm free tonight." God, he hoped he didn't sound too eager.
Sebastian smiled. "I'm free tonight. I'll pick you up at half past six?"
"Brilliant—see you then!" John felt like doing a happy dance around his desk. He couldn't remember the last time someone had made him feel this way. He hung up his phone and checked his watch again. Thirty seconds had passed. Fan-bloody-tastic. This would be a long couple of hours.
Sebastian rolled up in his Audi, his heart skipping a beat when he saw John. He rolled down the window to greet John, unsure of how to greet him in a way that let him know how good it felt to see him again without coming off as creepy. All he managed was a "hi" and a grin.
John couldn't keep a wide smile off his face. "Hi," he said, walking around to get into the car. He climbed in and smiled over at him as he buckled his belt. He was trying his hardest not to act giddy as Sebastian looked over at him with a sexy smile, taking him all in. It was unbelievable, really; one look from this man and Lady-Killer, Three-Continents Watson found himself melting into a helpless puddle.
At the restaurant, the conversation flowed endlessly over guns and military jokes and stories from their jobs (though Sebastian's stories needed a bit of editing to keep his precise occupation hidden). Sebastian found it so easy to talk to John, which was remarkable. he was usually a terse man, but he found himself talking without a moment's pause to consider what to say next. Their talk flowed as easily as their drinks.
There was a bit more handholding, and a bit more blushing, and even a bit of footsy, and by the end of the meal, John wanted nothing more than to have the other sweep him off his feet and tote him home for the evening.
Sebastian insisted on paying again, but relented when John wanted to pay for drinks. "Are you drunk, John? Because if you are, goody for me. If you're not...you could give the Audi a spin."
John gave a little chuckle as he finished off his gin and tonic. "I cannot tell you how much I would like to drive, but I'm worried that we will end up wrapped around a lamp post if I do." He sighed and set down the glass. His cheeks were a bit flushed, but it was from the alcohol this time.
"God, you're sexy." The words spilled out before Sebastian could stop them. He laughed and ran his fingers through his hair. "So. Shall we head out? I need a smoke." He moved his foot against John's ankle.
John's cheeks flushed from something entirely separate from the alcohol this time, and he put a hand over his face to keep from giggling. He looked up at him and nodded, nudging his foot back before he stood.
Sebastian stepped outside and immediately lit up, blowing the smoke through his nose. "Look, John, do you want to come back to mine? I know you want to take it slow, and that's fine. But I thought you might be interested in seeing my gun collection..." He flicked his cigarette ash on the sidewalk then stepped closer to John, leaning down so his lips were close to John's neck. "No funny business, I promise."
John's eyes slid down to his lips, and back up to his eyes, "Mm. And do you ever break promises, Sebastian?"
Sebastian cracked a grin and looked straight into John's eyes. "Only all the time, John Watson." He took a step closer, wrapped his hands around the curve of John's lower back and pulled him close to kiss him, opening his mouth a bit more this time, tasting John's lips. John felt so good against him. He hoped to God John wasn't going to tense up and run back to Baker Street. When he pulled away—
"Maybe that's information I shouldn't disclose so early in the dating process."
John smiled against the kiss. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I was disappointed if you broke this particular promise…" John trailed off, moving back closer to him, his lips just barely brushing against the other's.
Sebastian hungrily caught John's lips in his own again, pulling him closer. Yes, John was fantastic to hold close, all of his soft and firm places so touchable. He ran his hands down John's back as he kissed him a bit more fervently and felt John melt against him. John's lips worked with against Sebastian's, and a small moan escaped John as his tongue slid into the other's mouth to explore. His arms went up to wrap around Sebastian's shoulders and neck as he pressed against him.
Sebastian sighed into John's mouth, then forced himself to pull away and smile down at the man. "Well. Shall we continue this somewhere off the streets?" Jim was out tonight. They could have the townhouse to themselves.
"My flatmate's in...can we go to yours?" John asked, placing a light, lingering kiss on his lips. His heart pounded just at the thought of being alone with Sebastian in a private setting.
Neither of them talked or touched during the ride to Sebastian's place, but the car interior crackled with electricity and anticipation. Sebastian was, surprisingly, enjoying this slower seduction. John was worth the wait. He couldn't help grinning to himself as he got out of the car, took a final long pull of his cigarette—no smoking allowed in the house, Jim's law—and unlocked the front door. "Wait till you see the gun collection. And I've got some scotch that makes Lagavulin taste like horse piss in comparison."
John looked up at the elegant townhouse. "Wow. Maybe I should get into freelance body-guarding," he said wryly, then followed Sebastian in. His eyes widened further at the luxurious interior. "This…is...amazing."
Sebastian grinned. "Can't say I'm responsible for it looking so good. This room, however..." He pushed open the door to his room, the room Jim had given him, not as a bedroom, but as a retreat. In it was his extensive gun and hunting gear collection, several mounted heads of exotic big game, fine leather furniture, enough scotch to intoxicate a football team for weeks, and Sebastian's prize possession, a large tiger skin rug,
"Oh my giddy aunt..." John murmured in awe as he stepped in. His eyes danced around the room, taking in the fine leather furniture, the large gun case, and the rug stretched in front of a fireplace big enough to stand in. He brushed his hand over the back of one of the chairs, and grinned at Sebastian. "I hope you know you're going to have to drag me out of here to get me to leave."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "I can live with that." His heart was...goddamn it, was it fluttering? Did he have a fucking crush?! He cleared his throat and strode over to a carafe of scotch, pouring them both glasses. "Taste this right now," he demanded.
John's eyes narrowed a bit and he swirled the liquid around in his cup. "What is it?" he asked curiously, but took a sip before Sebastian could answer. It was the smoothest, most delicious scotch he'd ever had.
"Chivas Regal Royal Salute," Sebastian said, savoring a sip from his own glass. "50 years old. Not cheap." He sipped again, then clarified, "£8000."
"Holy shit! I-I—" John set the glass back down. "I can't drink this. Don't waste it on the likes me, this is...Jesus, that's my paycheck for two to three months! Save that up for a special occasion," John said taking a little step back. God, he wished he could afford to buy himself a bottle of that.
Sebastian grabbed John by the collar and pulled him forward, thrusting the glass back into his hand. His voice grew low and threatening, the kind of voice he used in interrogations. "You. Listen. Here. When I drink, I drink alone. If I'm sharing this with you...that means this is a special occasion." He released John's shirt.
John's mouth hung open for a moment as Sebastian yanked him forward and shoved the glass back into his mouth. He blinked in surprise, unsure of what to say, but his heart was hammering, and he couldn't say whether it was from excitement or fear. "I...yeah...yeah, okay," he muttered, taking another sip and a small step back.
Sebastian couldn't help but be aroused by the astonished look in John's eyes, but he also wondered if he'd come on a little too harshly. "Sorry, erm—shall we sit?" He parked John in a leather chair and got a fire going, sardonically hoping John was admiring the view of his ass.
John was indeed enjoying the view, but at the same time was trying to figure out what had just happened. Sebastian clearly had a darker side, but then again, didn't everyone in the army? John pursed his lips and took another small sip of the scotch. He idly wondered if Sebastian was rough like that in the bedroom. His lips twitched to a quick smile. He sort of hoped so. "Did you kill it?" he asked, "The tiger, I mean?"
"Yeah." Sebastian stood up in front of the strong, crackling fire, turning back to John. "I was posted in Myanmar back in '95, and I saw this beauty. I felt a...well, sounds idiotic, but I felt a kinship with it." He looked down at the rug. This tiger was the reason he had a big leaping tiger tattooed across his back. "So what do you do when you develop a kinship with something? You kill it." He grinned wolfishly at John, then hastily added, "I'm joking. Of course." He smiled. "I most certainly am not going to kill you."
John raised an eyebrow and gave a little chortle, "That's good news. Is that a promise?" he asked.
Sebastian stepped until he was standing over John's chair. "Yeah. It's a promise. So. Want to get a closer look at some of these guns? I know you do..."
Sebastian showed John his favorite models, but he was much more enjoying their closeness. He could simply seize John right now and take him hard on the rug, and he got the impression John would let that happen, but instead he crept up behind John while he was inspecting a gun and slid his hands on John's hips, beginning to kiss the side of his neck. He tasted fantastic. Sebastian grew harder just thinking about what the rest of John would be like.
John slowed and paused as he felt Sebastian sidle up behind him and place his hands on his hips. His breath caught as he felt the other man's lips lightly press against the side of his neck, and he felt his knees growing weak. He carefully set down the gun he was holding and turned around to face him. "You've got a stunning collection," he murmured.
"Do I?" Sebastian took a step closer, raising an eyebrow, his hands and lips itching to be on John again.
"You do," he breathed, leaning forward a bit, his eyes sinking to Sebastian's lips and then up to his eyes again. He wetted his lips, feeling himself growing hard already.
Sebastian couldn't bear it anymore. He yanked John close to him, their lips almost touching, and growled, "Tease," then kissed John deeply, stepping forward to push him backwards against a wall.
John grunted, but kissed Sebastian back hungrily. His hands went to grab at the nape of Sebastian's neck and his jacket, pulling him closer.
Sebastian let John for a moment, then grabbed his shoulders and spun him around, shoving his chest up against the wall and straddling John's legs, hands pinning John's wrists tightly as he sniffed, licked and bit at John's neck and ears, making animalistic noises.
John's breath caught as he was spun around and slammed against the wall. God, Sebastian was feral. If John didn't take the time to think about how weird it was, he was oddly turned on by it, and so he shoved the thoughts from his mind. He moaned and hissed in breaths before pushing his hips back against Sebastian's.
Sebastian moved John's wrists above his hand so he could hold them with one of his large hands, then the other slid down John's back and began yanking at his shirt to untuck it, pushing the fabric up so he could slide his hand up John's bare skin, caressing his side and stomach, then sliding it up to his chest as he kissed and bit John's neck. "I want you, John—you can drive a man crazy, you know that?" he murmured into John's skin.
"Oh—fuck—" John gasped as Sebastian's rough hand ran over his skin. He tugged lightly at his hands. He could probably break his hold—if he wanted to, that is. "You can have me," he breathed, pushing back against him again. So much for holding off or taking things slow.
Sebastian grunted and pushed his hips against John's, keeping his lower body pinned while he began stripping off John's jumper and shirt, yanking them off his head. He admired John's back, running his fingers down John's spine and kissing along his shoulder before spinning him around to face him again. His eyes blazed with unmistakable lust as he stared into John's eyes
John's heart was pounding in his chest and he reached forward to start pulling at Sebastian's clothes, tearing them off and dropping them to the floor. Once his chest was bare, John pressed up against him, the contact of their skin making them both gasp. He lightly bit at Sebastian's lower lip and his hands slid down to start unbuckling the other's trousers.
Sebastian groaned into John's mouth, loving John's hands on him. He ducked to kiss at John's scar, gripping his hips. "No exit wound...this must've hurt..." he licked circles along it, then bit it, digging his nails into John's hips.
John clenched his teeth and hissed in a breath. "It did." He dragged his nails across Sebastian's back and licked up his jaw, then bit and drew out Sebastian's lip again. "Well? What're you waiting for?" he growled.
Sebastian shut him up with a kiss, tearing at his belt buckle, but tensed and froze as the sound of the front door slamming. Fuck. FUCK, this was not happening.
"Seb?" Jim's voice called from outside the room.
"Shit. John, you've got to stay in here, hide—somewhere—" he said, desperately shoving him away, rebuckling his trousers. What the hell was Jim doing back early?
"Wha...?—who's that?!" John hissed, glancing towards the door. He snatched up his jumper and shirt, yanking them back on. Jesus, he was hard. Was Sebastian cheating on someone with him? Was that why he'd been so quick to assume he and Sherlock were a couple? John grit his teeth, and sunk down in a small space behind the gun case as Sebastian hurriedly crossed towards the door.
"It's my boss," Sebastian hissed. "Do not move." He opened the door and Jim pushed his way in. "Hey, Jim...didn't think you'd be back so early. I was just having a scotch. Join me?" He hoped to God Jim said no.
Jim rolled his neck, cracking it and boredly looked past him into the room, and raised an eyebrow. "Already poured me one, did you, Sebby? Adoorable…" He pushed his way in and walked over to John's glass, downing it.
John would've known that voice anywhere, and his heart stopped. Jim Moriarty.