Chapter 60: New York

"Don't fall asleep." Kurt's lips moved against Nigel's hair, his words whispered in the quiet of the car.

"Too late." Nigel didn't open his eyes.

"Sorry, my dad's expecting us for dinner."

Nigel tightened his arm around Kurt's waist. "Five more minutes."

Kurt smiled as he stroked a hand through Nigel's hair. "You're channeling Angie, now?"

Nigel pressed a kiss to the base of Kurt's neck. "Whatever works."

Kurt smiled at his step-mother. "You made all my favourites for dinner. Let me guess, cheesecake for dessert?"

Carole nodded, as she passed her husband the vegetables. "Yes, the one you like from the Cheesecake Factory." She sat back in her chair, watching as Burt poured wine into four glasses. "Starting tomorrow, everything will be new for you; new city, new home, new school." She paused while Burt handed everyone a glass. "Here's to your new life!"

Burt raised his own glass. "New life or old, we're always here for you. Always."

Kurt's eyes misted a bit as he looked at the people he loved, the people he would be leaving behind. He reached out to either side, clasped hands with Nigel and Carole and smiled across the table at Burt. "I know, Dad." He squeezed the hands in his and let them go. Picking up his fork, he forced a small laugh. "It's just school, you know. I'm not going to outer space."

Just school, Nigel wished it was that simple. There was no way this experience wouldn't change Kurt. Nigel prayed that the new Kurt would still want to come home to him.

Just school, Carole wished it was that simple. Finn was in some military boot camp trying to find himself, and Kurt was hurtling into the unknown. All that she could do, now, was have faith in the men they were.

Just school, Burt wished it was that simple. He only hoped that New York would be everything that Kurt needed it to be.

Kurt's phone blasted out 'Don't Rain on My Parade'. "Sorry, it's Rachel." He scanned the text quickly, hit a few keys in response, and slipped the phone away. "She must be excited. She used four exclamation points!" He turned to Nigel. "She's going to meet us at the airport."

"What time are you leaving tomorrow?" Burt looked at both boys.

"11:30", "12:00"

Burt laughed as the boys stared each other down. "You guys going together?"

Kurt ignored his father. "Our flight's at 2 PM. It's an hour drive, plus an hour to check in and go through security. We can leave at noon."

Nigel shook his head. "It's an hour and fifteen minute drive, and we have to return the rental car." He held his hand out to his boyfriend. "You can be ready by 11:30, Kurt. I'll help you."

Carole smirked at her husband. "Why do I think he doesn't mean help with the packing?"

Kurt grinned at his step-mother. "Because I've already finished packing?"

Burt snorted as Kurt slid his chair closer to Nigel's, and Nigel leaned into Kurt. "Yeah, that's why."

Nigel's foot cleared the last step, and Kurt was in his arms. Like interlocking pieces of a puzzle, they clicked into place. Kurt's fingers played along the waistband of Nigel's shorts, under his T-shirt, as he pulled back to look into his boyfriend's eyes. "You wanted to take the lead tonight?"

"No." Nigel shook his head, his hand around Kurt's neck, thumb brushing along the younger man's jaw. "I just want to fuck you."

Kurt searched Nigel's face, reading his eyes. The hand that had been stroking Nigel's back was suddenly wrapped around Nigel's wrist. In one quick move, Kurt twisted Nigel's arm behind his back, spinning his boyfriend around, and pushing him face first into the wall. Pressed along Nigel's back, his arm keeping Nigel's trapped between them, Kurt spoke low, his head next to his boyfriend's, lips moving against Nigel's ear. "Most people would find those two statements contradictory."

Nigel turned his head, and smiled as Kurt's lips brushed his cheek. This was fucking perfect! Being trapped under Kurt like this was even better than restraints. The leather felt good but Kurt felt better. Nigel's body went almost liquid with submission. Kurt's words dropped through his arousal, and landed in a part of his brain that could actually formulate a response. "You're not most people."

"True." Kurt snapped his hips, brushing his cock against Nigel's ass. Even through the layers of clothes between them, he felt Nigel push back, wanting more.

Kurt released Nigel's arm, and stepped away from his boyfriend. Nigel turned, still leaning against the wall, waiting.

"Take my clothes off."

As Nigel moved to comply, Kurt caught his chin, and held him away. "You can't touch me, Nigel. Just take my clothes off."

Startled eyes locked on Kurt's. "I don't think I can do that, Kurt." Uncovering Kurt, and not being allowed to touch him, sounded like torture to Nigel.

"Yes, you can." Kurt was certain.

Nigel swallowed and reached for Kurt's T-shirt. "Easy for you to say."

Kurt raised his arms, and Nigel pulled the shirt off. He kicked his sandals off as Nigel undid the fly on his shorts. Nigel got the zip down, and pushed both underwear and shorts down. Kurt stepped out of the material on the floor, and Nigel puffed out a gasp of relief. Thank god, it was still summer. He never would have survived wrangling Kurt out of his skinnys.

Kurt waved a hand and Nigel tore his own clothes off.

"Hands behind your back." He nodded as Nigel wrapped his right hand around his left wrist, behind his back. Naked, Kurt held his arms out at his side, presenting himself to Nigel. "Assuming you could touch me wherever you wanted to, what would you choose?"

Nigel's eyes roamed over 5'10" of pale perfection. He dropped to his knees, Kurt's cock tantalizingly close to his lips.

Kurt threaded his fingers through Nigel's hair. "Good choice."

Nigel looked up. "Please!"

Kurt's fingers tugging at Nigel's hair, pulling his head closer; was a decided yes. Nigel licked along the shaft, till he reached the tip, and sucked it into his mouth. Kurt folded over his boyfriend, and reaching down, unclasped Nigel's hands from behind his back. Free to move, Nigel wrapped one hand around the base of Kurt's cock, the other stroking over Kurt's ass.

Kurt closed his eyes, tracing a hand down the side of Nigel's neck, and over his shoulder. This was Nigel's show, and Kurt made no effort to interfere. He didn't direct Nigel in any way. Why would he, when it felt so fucking amazing? This had always been incredible, right from the very first time in their dressing room. But after almost two years, Nigel knew Kurt's body better than he knew his own. He could drag this out forever or pull Kurt over the edge with a swipe of his tongue. That knowledge had Kurt drawing back. He didn't want to come yet. He wanted to finish with Nigel, with Nigel inside him.

He pulled Nigel up, eating into his mouth, wanting, always wanting this man. "Lube."

Kurt lay back, and Nigel knelt between his legs. The Boston banker ran his hands up from Kurt's knees, along his inner thighs. He stroked from knee to groin, over and over, until Kurt wreathed on the bed, desperate for more. Kurt arched his back, lifting his hips, offering, pleading with his body. Nigel slipped a pillow under Kurt's hips, and ghosted his hands over his lover's sac, and ass, running his fingers down the crease, and over Kurt's opening. He worshipped Kurt's body, touching and teasing. He sent his fingers everywhere, everywhere but the glistening cock, flushed and slick with pre-cum.

"Nigel!" Kurt's voice was an order. It was as close as Kurt ever got to pleading, and it was more than enough for Nigel. He slicked his fingers, and stretched Kurt open.

Kurt locked his eyes on Nigel. He didn't turn over. When Nigel topped, he almost always chose this position. He liked to watch Kurt's face when the younger man fell apart.

Nigel treasured the moments when he was allowed the privilege of witnessing Kurt's vulnerability, his loss of control. Nigel was the only one who ever got to see Kurt like this. A large part of him couldn't help but hope that he would always be the only one.

Nigel aligned himself, and Kurt raised his legs, resting them on Nigel's shoulders. His lips parted, and his eyes closed, as his lover breached the tight ring of muscle. Nigel didn't push, as much as nudge himself inside, slow and careful and steady as Kurt adjusted around him. It seemed to take forever, as they stared into each other's eyes, and tonight, forever was just what they wanted.

When Nigel was fully embedded he closed his eyes and stilled, hovering over his lover. Kurt thrust up, and Nigel groaned. "Nigel if you don't move, I will make sure that your ass feels every grain of leather in that airplane seat tomorrow." Kurt hissed the words, as he glared at his lover.

Nigel opened his eyes and grinned down at Kurt. "Promise?"

"Nigel!" Kurt's voice was low, but it held that tone, the one that sent a shiver down Nigel's spine. The one he couldn't disobey. He reached up and pushed Kurt's legs back. He leaned over him, pressing his weight against the man beneath him, changing the angle just enough that every inward thrust stroked over sensitive tissue. Nigel rocked into Kurt, as hard and as fast as he could. He pushed everything into Kurt. He gasped for breath, sweat broke out along his spine, his balls tightened and he hovered on the edge of coming, standing on the precipice, needing to jump. But none of that mattered. Only Kurt mattered. He watched as a flush spread across Kurt's torso, as Kurt arched beneath him, moving with him.

Kurt tossed his head back, eyes shut. Nigel leaned further, and licked at the base of Kurt's throat. Kurt's cock was trapped between their bodies, rubbing against Nigel with each thrust of their hips.

Kurt opened eyes lost in passion, and raised himself up to take Nigel's lips. "Now, Nigel."

Nigel wrapped a fist around Kurt's cock, and stroked in sync with the thrusts he slammed into Kurt. Crystal eyes locked onto green, and Kurt spilled over Nigel's hand. Nigel watched the pleasure flash across Kurt's face, and fell into his own release.

"Thank you."

Nigel whispered the words into the curve of Kurt's neck, but he heard them, and pulled away enough to see his boyfriend's face. "Please tell me you're not thanking me for letting you top because I thought this was a mutual thing between us."

Nigel laughed, and Kurt could breathe again. "No, it's not about that. You know you always give me what I need." Nigel tried to crawl into Kurt, and hide. "I'm way too emotional tonight. Ignore me."

Kurt sat up, arranged the pillows behind him, and pulled Nigel into his arms. "Like that's going to happen. Tell me."

Nigel flushed with embarrassment and he couldn't quite meet Kurt's eyes, but he answered, shrugging as his fingers played over Kurt's chest. "Just thank you, for being you, for being part of my life, for loving me." The Boston banker finally looked at Kurt. "Told you, too soppy for words."

Kurt slid down the bed, taking Nigel with him. He rolled on top of his boyfriend, and pinned his hands to the bed. "Yes, irredeemably mushy. Hallmark cringing sentimental." Kurt stared down at Nigel, trust and honesty radiating in the crystal eyes. "And I'm really pissed that you said it first!"

Nigel shifted out of sleep, and stretched carefully. He didn't want to wake Kurt up. He snagged his phone off the bedside table and checked the time. 8:37 AM. He smiled to himself, as he walked to the ensuite. Waking Kurt this early would be risking a storm of complaints that would highlight Kurt's extensive vocabulary.

He brushed his teeth, stood under the hot water and determinedly blanked out all thoughts of their coming separation. He turned his mind to memories; to images of silk sashes, and black leather, laughter and whispers, making dinner together and watching TV, the day the mirrors came, the night they club hopped, their six month anniversary at a friend's cottage, the first time Kurt brought him home, their dressing room time. Each image excruciatingly clear, lit with Kurt's laughter, Kurt's smile, Kurt's eyes. Nigel turned the water off, and grabbed a towel. He stared at himself in the mirror as he shaved, wondering why he didn't look as maimed as he felt.

He pulled clean clothes out of his over-night bag, and shrugged into them. He didn't want to chance the tread of his shoes on the staircase waking Kurt up, so he padded up the stairs barefoot. He made coffee, and stood at the kitchen sink, slowly draining his mug, staring through the window, seeing nothing.

Carole stopped on the threshold, reading the despair in Nigel's stance. She stepped into the kitchen, and Nigel turned at the sound of her slippers on the floor. He attempted a smile. "Good morning."

Careful of the mug in his hands, Carole put her arms around Nigel, hugged him quickly, and stepped away. "You'll be okay. He loves you."

Nigel nodded. "He loves me now."

Carole turned to get a mug from the cupboard. "Does Kurt strike you as a person who doesn't know his own mind?"

Nigel had to smile at that. "No."

"And do you think your feelings are temporary?"

"God, no!"

Carole nodded, as she poured coffee into her mug. "Then you're both going to be fine, aren't you?"

Nigel looked at the woman who was the closest thing Kurt had to a mother. "Do you really think so?"

"I do, yes." Carole opened the fridge. "Why don't you sit down and I'll make you some French toast?"

Nigel put Kurt's coffee on the night table, pulled his T-shirt and shorts off, and crawled back under the covers. Curling around his boyfriend, he palmed Kurt's ass, stroking down the crease, fingers fluttering over, and around Kurt's anus. He slipped his hand between Kurt's thighs to play over his balls.

Kurt rolled onto his back, sighing his pleasure and complaining in the same breath. "I'm not waking up."

"Really?" Nigel wrapped his hand around Kurt's erection. "I don't think you'll be able to sleep through this." Sliding lips, sweeping tongue, warm wet suction; and Kurt did wake up. He slid his hand down Nigel's back, over his ass. As Nigel worked his magic, and Kurt got close, he tangled his fingers in his lover's hair. Nigel moaned around Kurt's cock, as Kurt tugged at his hair, and Kurt lost it.

Nigel lapped at Kurt gently, until Kurt softened between his lips. He looked up along Kurt's body, to sleepy, sated crystal eyes. "Awake now?"

"Yes." Kurt smiled and traced a finger over Nigel's lips. "Happy?"

Nigel snuggled into Kurt, his head on his boyfriend's thigh. "Yes."

"Good, now move." Kurt twisted out from under Nigel, pushed the Boston banker over onto his back, and slid down his body. "Your turn."

Nigel pushed his fingers through Kurt's hair, as Kurt swept his tongue along the length of his boyfriend's cock. "Your coffee's going to get cold."

Kurt sucked the crown into his mouth, and mumbled around it. "That's what micro-waves are for."

Luggage in the car, Kurt hugged Carole. "The internet won't be set up till the end of the week, but I'll text you as soon as I get there." He moved to his father. "Don't worry."

Burt crushed his son, and tried to smile. "Who's worried?"

Kurt grinned. "Yeah, right!" He opened the passenger door, and waited while Carole and Burt hugged Nigel.

Car doors closed, seat belts clicked into place, and Nigel backed the car out of the drive way. Carole waved until the car turned the corner. She stood staring at the empty street until Burt put his arm around her waist and steered her back into the house.

"As soon as we get our internet in, I can Skype you every night." Kurt looked out the window, but all he saw was a life without Nigel.

"Kurt, you don't have to call me every night." Nigel's voice was calm, even as his hands clenched around the steering wheel.

"Yes, I do." Kurt stretched his hand out for Nigel to take. "I have to know you're there."

The miles rolled by in silence, both of them thinking, trying to imagine the next few months, till Thanksgiving. "If either of us won't be home, then we'll text a time when we can talk the next day."

"I'm going to be home. I'm not single, remember." Nigel glanced over at Kurt, a smile tugging at his lips.

"You have dinner meetings, and projects that run late. You go out with friends." Kurt forced the next words out in a voice that sounded raw. "And I will be single. I don't want either one of us sitting by our laptops, freaking out. So, we'll text if we can't Skype."

"Okay. Kurt, don't make too many rules. Let's just see what happens." Nigel squeezed Kurt's hand. "You're not getting rid of me, Hummel."

"Final boarding call for American Airlines flight 294 to La Guardia."

The sound system blasted the garbled message into the air and Kurt shivered. Rachel had boarded long ago. Kurt huddled against Nigel till the last possible second.

"Kurt" Nigel pulled away. "They're going to be boarding my flight soon. I have to go."

Kurt pulled Nigel into a harsh kiss. "You're mine!"

Nigel grinned. "I love you too, Kurt. Now, go!"

Rachel talked pretty much non-stop through the whole flight. The words just cascaded out of her in a seemingly eternal loop of anxiety and excitement, for which Kurt was exceedingly grateful. He didn't have to say anything. He let her words flow over him, all his attention on the man sitting in another plane flying home to an apartment that didn't have Kurt in it.

They waited for their luggage in silence, Rachel's nerves finally rendering her mute. They wheeled their suitcases to the Taxi line, and Rachel clicked through screens on her phone to find the address. She had memorized it, but she was just too nervous to trust herself.

They squeezed into the back seat of a ubiquitous yellow cab, beside some smaller pieces of luggage that hadn't fit into the trunk. Rachel read the address to the cabbie, and they stared out the windows as New York flashed by. People streamed over sidewalks and into the streets. Towering buildings formed wavering lines into forever. Car horns, and ambulance sirens, and the noise of 5 million people living on a small island, filtered into the taxi.

Turning away from the windows, they grinned at each other. Rachel grabbed Kurt's hand. "New York, Kurt! We're in New York!"

Start spreading the news

I'm leaving today

I want to be a part of it

New York, New York

Kurt sang sotto voce, and Rachel jumped in, their voices rising together.

I want to wake up

In that city that never sleeps

And find I'm kin of the hill

Top of the heap.

They laughed, startled when the cabbie added to their harmony. All three voices added to the cacophony that defined the city.

If I can make it there

I'll make it anywhere

It's up to you

New York, New York