CHAPTER 14 : ZURICH CALLING

Merlin felt that if he heard one more thing about stocks and bonds, his head was going to burst. They had made progress but sometimes what seeming like a giant leap forward became a slide backwards. However, the department heads seemed to have a more positive outlook on the situation.

Lance and he had even gone out to Jack's one night for supper but he had felt strange and his eyes kept flicking to the door waiting for Arthur to walk in. Libby had joined them but Merlin wanted to be back at his flat as there was a chance that Arthur might phone if he was free and a crowded pub was no place to carry on a phone conversation. He said goodnight to the others and walked home.

He watched a little of the news and his phone rang. Hopefully, this would be Arthur. He had been very faithful in phoning every night and even sending texts sometimes during the day. Merlin looked forward to hearing his voice. He felt adrift as since Arthur had checked up on him after the fall in the laundry, he had seen him practically every other day work permitting. They were very careful during working hours and if they had lunch together it was usually in the company of others.

"When are you coming back?"

"Sorry, we don't know yet. Mrs. Slater has a meeting tomorrow so maybe within the next couple of days. Do I detect longing in your voice, Merlin? Please say yes!"

Merlin had to laugh, if that wasn't a loaded question what was. He said, "Yes, Arthur, you can say that I miss you…but not to the point of pining away." He paused and added a little breathlessly, "Well, not yet!"

"You drive me crazy, you are so forward on the phone yet when I'm with you, you have a tendency to mirror a shrinking violet. Not that I'm complaining as I love all violets, shrinking and otherwise, as a girl once told me that they stand for Love and Faithfulness."

"Competing against a florist, am I?"

"Merlin, we were teenagers and I was tutoring her in math. Not very romantic, her grandmother insisted on sitting in on all the lessons to protect her granddaughter's virtue. If only she had known…"

"Don't sell yourself short, I'm sure the grandmother was also taken with you, how could she not be? A virile, young caring man who had been willing to offer his help…"

"You've be been reading too many romantic novels!"

"Arthur, I assure you that that is one type of literature which has never sullied my hands. Now a copy of The Weight of Legal Persuasion might raise my blood pressure slightly and have me dreaming of all sorts of wonderful things."

"Merlin, you're an absolute nut. I can't wait to get back to Paris. I'll phone you tomorrow night if at all possible. Say hello to the others and tell Dougie at Jack's, that by the time I return I will be ready to taste all his specials. I'd kill right now for a good shepherd's pie."

"Don't worry, the first thing we'll do when you get back is go to the pub and you can fill up on good old British food. His latest concoction has been what he calls falconer's pie. Haven't tasted it yet as I'm worried I might be eating merlins."

"Make it the second thing, Merlin, I have others plans for what I intend to do first."

"...and on that thought, Good night, Arthur! I have to go before you get me all hot and bothered."

"Have I ever made you feel that way, Merlin?" the seriousness of his question being masked by a slight laugh.

Merlin smiled but refusing to elaborate on Arthur's question, repeated his goodnight. "Speak to you tomorrow…"

-0-0-

Merlin's dreams were vivid but nonsensical. Arthur dressed as a falconer was chasing him through the woods. Silly really because he realised even in the dream that if he were a bird, surely he would have flown away. He was captured and Arthur reverted to himself and held him in his arms and kissed him, all over.

He blushed, he needed to have that little chat with Leon before Arthur returned.

Leon had been so nice when he had spoken to him. He'd been happy to hear that he and Arthur had hit it off. He listened to Merlin's questions and patiently explained everything that he knew. "Merlin, you could try looking things up on the internet."

"I can't I'm too embarrassed and anyway it would be other people not Arthur."

"Exactly!" said Leon, "Why don't you just trust Arthur? I'm sure he will be understanding. He has so far hasn't he?"

Merlin nodded and then realised that Leon couldn't see him so he said quietly, "Yes…"

"Well then what are you worried about? If he really loves you, he won't want to hurt you and I'm sure the two of you will manage wonderfully?"

"But Leon, he's so good looking, his body is perfect and well, I'm sort of rectangular, sharp edges and not well muscled."

"I'm sure Arthur didn't fall for only your body. He seems a sensible adult. How do you not know that it was not your eyes which first attracted him? Good God, Merlin, you are very attractive…"

"But not beautiful!"

"If you really feel strongly that the only thing Arthur is interested in is peoples' looks, maybe you should stop seeing him!" There was dead silence on the other end of the phone. "Is that what you really want to do?"

A very emotional voice whispered, "No, Leon, I think I…love him."

"Well then, the next time you see him, give him a good hug and tell him you want to have a talk. I think your problem is that you don't understand what a catch you are. You have a superior intelligence, you are loving and kind, you have girls taking a second look at you wherever you go and you are oblivious to all of this. Please, Merlin, don't push Arthur away because at the moment you're feeling insecure. Tell him how you feel."

"I did…"

"…and?"

"He said that I could set the pace and he would wait for me to make up my mind."

Leon laughed saying, "Merlin you've found a real prince. Give him a chance. The next thing I'll hear is that you two have slept together." There was dead silence. "Merlin, are you still there?"

"Yes!"

"Just look around you at all the people you know who are head over heels in love with each other. They all at one point or another had questions as you do and everything worked out all right for them. Listen, tell Arthur that if he upsets you, I'll come over to Paris and knock his block off!"

Merlin laughed and said, "You won't tell my Mam about this conversation will you? It will only worry her as I am really happy at the moment."

"No my lips are sealed. Keep me posted and send me a picture of the happy couple when you get one."

-0-0-

The days passed and the calls continued. His phone rang, he made a grab for it knocking it on the floor. He crouched down and saw that it was Arthur's number. He answered in a posh accent, "Good Evening, you have reached the Emrys Residence, how may I direct your call?"

He heard Arthur laugh then say, "Have you been thinking about me?"

"Yes, twenty-four seven!"

"Liar!"

"Well, I did! Every morning when I wake, when the lift passes your floor, then when I walk through the green doors out onto the street. When I come into work, when Lance and I go to lunch, not when I was working as I'm sorry, I am just too busy." Merlin could hear Arthur laughing so he added, "But seriously you are in the back of my mind even through all the legal jargon..."

"...and at night?"

There was silence..."Yes, especially at night. I miss you..."

"Merlin, would you do something for me?"

"Of course, I will..."

Arthur's voice dropped several levels, he sounded positively sexy. It took Merlin's breath away. "Merlin, sleep in my bed tonight..." he waited then added, "You're blushing, aren't you? I can tell..."

Merlin felt not only his cheeks but his whole face aflame. He ran his hands around his neck to loosen his already open collar. He cleared his throat and said, "But Arthur, you wouldn't be there. I'd be all alone."

"Maybe tonight but not forever. Please, Merlin, I'll sleep better..."

"I'd feel wrong being there without you...it would be weird."

"Not if I give you permission and then...I'll phone you and we could talk and I'd know exactly where you are...please, Merlin!"

Merlin thought about it. It really was just between Arthur and him. At first it had seemed weird but the longer he thought about it the more it appealed to him. He'd do it! "All right, Arthur, tonight I'll sleep at your place but..." He started to blush again as he tried to formulate a sentence that didn't seem stupid, "...I'd much rather have been sharing a bed than sleeping in your empty flat all alone."

"Shit, Merlin, if I could leave here immediately I would." There was a lift in his voice as he said, "Save that thought for when I return... Have to go now as I have to meet the others for a late supper. By the way, Tom sends his regards."

"Arthur, I thought you were alone, now I feel stupid."

"I am alone, he said that earlier today. Think he misses Paris...not that I do, only one particular tall, dark, handsome, blue-eyed man who holds me captive...body and soul. Love you, Merlin, I'll call after supper..."

Merlin said, "I'll be in your flat by ten o'clock, enjoy your meal and say hi to Tom. Bye, Arthur!"

He turned off his phone, his hand shaking. He grabbed his bag and shoved what he'd need overnight plus clean underwear and shirt for tomorrow. He felt as if he was going on little holiday. He looked around and saw his dirty laundry. He decided to take that as well, as Arthur had said that he could use his machines. He also grabbed his sheets.

He was ready; he looked around his little flat, at the stripped bed and felt that he was taking a big step. He laughed to himself it must be nerves as he was only going two floors down for one night. It was not unlike going for a sleepover at someone's house but they wouldn't be there. Maybe once he was down stairs, it wouldn't seem so strange.

-0-0-

Laundry done, Merlin sat in the family room watching TV. He'd found an interesting programme on Music and the Monarchy and although he was listening and enjoying it, his eyes kept glancing towards his phone. He got up and stretched. It was nearly eleven o'clock; maybe Arthur wasn't going to be able to phone after all. He put off the lights and made his way to the bedroom. He smiled to himself, the room seemed to hold so much promise and the bed he knew to be very comfortable.

He unpacked a few things from his bag and slipped into his pyjama bottoms. He pulled back the sheet and decided to lie on Arthur's side of the bed; after all he was the guest of honour at this very strange sleepover. He slid into bed, letting his feet stretch out to the bottom. He shifted over and stretched out his arms feeling for the edges of the mattress in each hand. He pulled the blanket to his chin and smiled to himself. If there was a fire the police would figure that the body in the bed was Arthur's until he turned up hale and hearty.

He could feel himself getting sleepy and he thought, 'Come on, Arthur! Ring otherwise I'm going to fall asleep." He must have dozed as he jumped when his phone went off. He grabbed it, answering with a muffled, "Hello?"

"Hello, sorry to be calling so late but only just got back to the hotel. Are you in bed…mine by any chance?"

"Yes, Arthur, I'm in your room and feeling like the last person left by the wall when teams are picked. I'm all alone and everyone else has already gone to the playing field."

He could hear Arthur laughing as he said, "Merlin, you would have been my first choice."

"Not in football. I was hopeless, honestly my feet and my brain are not connected and I couldn't make contact with the ball even during drills. My only saving grace was that I could run fast and was actually good at shadowing another player."

"See, I knew there was something you were good at besides making my life a living hell. I've missed you all day and Tom poor fool keeps asking me what I think you and Lance are doing in Paris."

"Arthur did you know that the little crack to the left of the window from where I'm lying looks like a baby dragon. You never mentioned that. Why not?"

"Possibly because when I am in bed I am too busy sleeping? What are you doing now?"

"Talking to you and watching a rather voluptuous blonde across the street disrobe…"

"You're lying there is no blonde across the street and anyway, the shutters will all be closed."

"Arthur if all you ever do in bed is sleep, how do you not know that sometimes people might forget to close their shutters?"

"You're driving me crazy. I'll need to have a cold shower before I turn in."

Merlin found himself blushing. He decided to turn the tables and said, "…and Arthur what are you doing now?"

"Talking to you silly!"

"Are you in bed?"

"Yes! But I'm sitting up and I can see the city lights and because it's a clear night with a moon, also the snow on the alps. What are you wearing?"

"Just bottoms, how about you?"

"Nothing!" There was dead silence and Merlin felt out of his depth. "Merlin, are you still there. Sorry, did I embarrass you?"

"No…not really, I just had never thought about that."

"I wish that I was with you right now and I could hold you. Mind you, you'd have to get on the other side of the bed as I bags to always sleep close to the window. Are you all right?

"Yes, the room is warm, the bed is comfortable but some fool keeps whispering in my ear about snow on the mountains and no clothes. Arthur, you're going to give me really strange dreams tonight. When are you coming home?"

"Hopefully Friday. Listen, it's getting late. So, Merlin, pretend I'm lying beside you doing all sorts of wonderful things to you. I can't wait to see you again. Sleep tight and if possible I'll speak to you tomorrow."

"Love you, Arthur! Good night!" Merlin lay on his back and pushed the button on his phone. He was now all hot and bothered, his mind was raging and he couldn't get the picture of Arthur wrapped in a towel out of his head. He was gorgeous and the strangest thing was that this gorgeous man had fallen for him. Well, at the moment…but maybe when he saw more of him, he would be disappointed and find someone else.

He was disturbed by a noise around one o'clock but he was used to the creaking in the old building and fell back asleep.