Alec hadn't wanted the night to end. To him it had been like a fairy tale, an entire evening alone in Magnus's company among twinkling lights and delicious food. After dinner, Alec had reminded Magnus that the room was sound proof, and the door had a lock on it, but Magnus had insisted they go home. This was how Alec had wound up pressed against the wall of his boyfriend's apartment, with Magnus's hands trying to find their way under his tux. At least they'd managed to get through the front door before things had gotten hot and heavy. Alec knew Clary was at Jace's tonight - since it was Friday and no one had class tomorrow - so they had the apartment to themselves. This being the case, they weren't too concerned with making out so openly in the living room.
Alec gasped as Magnus managed to get his shirt untucked and pushed up all the way to his neck. Both Alec's crisp black jackets, and Magnus's velvet one were on the floor by now, and Magnus was kissing Alec as his hands went up pushing Alec's shirt away. When Magnus came up for air, Alec took the opportunity to remove Magnus's shirt quickly before his lips were once again seized by his boyfriend's kiss. As Magnus pressed Alec up against the wall, Alec could feel how hard they both were. His own pants were not as comfortable as they had been at dinner, and he could very firmly feel Magnus's length against his leg.
"I really like the tux," Magnus whispered as Alec felt his boyfriend's hands remove the very last trace of the charcoal suit, letting it fall to the ground.
"I can tell," Alec replied grinning. Magnus moved down him, and then Alec felt Magnus's lips latch onto his inner thigh. Alec's smile turned to a moan as he enjoyed the possessive nature of his boyfriend's marks.
"A little higher," Alec begged. He wanted Magnus's mouth around him, but Magnus it seemed, had other ideas.
"I have another plan for that," Magnus replied as he returned to his full height and kissed Alec's mouth again. Alec was pretty sure he knew what Magnus meant from the gleam in his eye, so he decided it was time to move. Steering the kiss toward the bedroom, Alec managed to turn the last layers of fabric separating them into nothing but a trail of breadcrumbs. Magnus fell backwards onto the bed, pulling Alec on top of him.
Alec's hands were moving over every inch of his lover's body he could find, enjoying every slight whimper and gasp he could invoke in Magnus. They exchanged looks. Magnus softly told Alec what he wanted, gesturing to the bedside table. Leaning over to get the necessities from the table in question, Alec lubed up his fingers before preparing Magnus's entrance. Soon, Magnus's hands were gripping the bedsheets, and Alec worried he was in pain.
"You sure?" Alec asked him gently leaning down to whisper in Magnus's ear.
"Yes," Magnus replied simply. Alec leaned all the way forward and pressed his mouth firmly against his boyfriend's parted lips, kissing him deeply as he positioned himself. Lubed and gloved, Alec pushed in gently, gasping as he felt Magnus's heat surround him. Magnus flung one of his legs over Alec's shoulder, and he felt himself go deeper.
Neither of them had much patience for foreplay after that. They moved together, Alec's thrusts rhythmically moving with Magnus's rocking hips. Magnus's hands were on Alec's back, and Alec's hands were wrapped around Magnus's arousal, moving in time with every hit to Magnus's prostate. They finished together, both panting and collapsed side by side on the bed.
Briefly getting up to throw out the condom, Alec returned to bed, and settled himself against his boyfriend's bare chest. For a moment he just lay there, listening to Magnus's heart beat.
"Do you ever wonder what it would be like to live together?" Alec asked, after a moment's silence. "To wake up next to each other every day." He'd almost asked this many times at dinner, but only now in the stillness, had he managed it.
"Sometimes," Magnus shrugged, as he stroked Alec's hair. "Though we almost do that now. Your sister did have a point about the rent." He chuckled. "Maybe you should split it with Clary since she's rarely home anyway." Magnus was still laughing, the vibrations in his chest transferring to Alec's skin. It was comforting, like a cat's purr, but Alec knew Magnus was joking. He hadn't thought about how them living together would work financially. Though Alec almost prefered this reaction to his mother's strictly financial thoughts on the subject over the holidays. Alec's mind drifted back to that conversation as he listened to his lover's heart beat.
"Magnus is lovely," Maryse had told him, only a few days after they'd arrived at the Lightwood manor.
"He's amazing," Alec had replied, smiling. He could still remember the warm feeling in his chest from his mother's acceptance of Magnus as he'd said those words.
"Magnu is graduating soon right?" Maryse had asked to which Alec had replied with just a nod. "Does he know where he is headed after graduation?"
"Not yet," Alec explained. "But I hope he doesn't go far. I have been spending so much time at his place this last year, I want to ask him to live with me."
"Have you thought about the repercussions of that?" Maryse had warned, kindly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if you live together long enough, common law will take effect." Alec had looked confused, and his mother had explained further. "Though it isn't the same as marriage, if you break up from common law, depending on the circumstances, it can get messy."
"What how?" Alec had replied, confused.
"I wouldn't suggest it if not for your financial gap," Maryse had began. "And I am sure Magnus has no intention of doing such a thing, but it is best to take precautions, Alec."
"I'm still not sure what you are getting at," Alec had replied.
"A common law break up can get just as messy as a divorce when there is a lot of money involved. Your previous partner could try and sue you for your assets. They would, of course have a better case if you were married, but even so, it can be very stressful. The law hasn't quite caught up with people who act married and aren't. I have seen some Common Law break ups get very lawyer intensive."
"We aren't going to break up," Alec had replied, simply.
"I didn't say you were," Maryse had smiled at him. "It's just a practical precaution I wanted to make sure you were aware of. That's all." She'd smiled and suggested they rejoin the others after that, and Alec hadn't brought up the topic again for the rest of their vacation.
"What is going on in that little brain of yours?" Magnus asked as he switched from stroking Alec's hair to rubbing his sculp. Alec pulled his mind back to the present and focused on his boyfriend's touch.
"That feels good," Alec said closing his eyes at the head massage.
"Thinking deep sinister thoughts then are we?" Magnus continued, clearly grinning from the tone of his voice.
"No," Alec mumbled. "Don't stop."
"The look on your face says otherwise," Magnus teased him. "And on our anniversary too."
"I love you," Alec chuckled as he turned in his boyfriend's arms and kissed him sweetly.
"Happy one year anniversary, my love," Magnus whispered back. Alec repeated the phrase back to his boyfriend, and then they settled back down in each other's arms, neither of them speaking. It was a peaceful silence. Alec focused on the here and now, rather than over thinking crap that his mother had mentioned in passing. Unfortunately, he failed to pull his mind away, and found himself breaking the silence less than a quarter hour later.
"Are you excited about graduation?" Alec's voice pierced the moment.
"Excited, scared, overwhelmed," Magnus replied easily. "Confused, nervous. Take your pick really."
"Why all of those?" Alec asked. "I mean won't it feel nice to be finished?"
"Maybe," Magnus said. "It's just that being a student has defined me for so long. Giving it up feels like giving up part of me. I will no longer be a student. It's a strange concept to wrap my head around. Between that and actually needing to get a real permanent career job, rather than just a summer one... the whole thing just doesn't quite feel real."
"Can you picture your life at all, after Grad?" Alec asked. "Do you at least know where you want to be?"
"It's hazy," Magnus replied. "I've been a student almost all my life. Graduation kinda feels like jumping off a cliff. And I can't stay and get a Master's because I can't afford it."
"If you could stay in school though," Alec asked trying to fish and see how important this was to Magnus without outright offering him money. "Would you?"
Magnus seemed to think about this for a long time. Then finally he said, "No."
"Why not?"
"I've been a student all my life," Magnus began, and Alec was confused since this had been the same argument he'd made for doing more school. "I can't be a student forever, and I am getting kinda tired of classes and essays. I skip more classes now than I ever did in third year. It's time to move on. It's just scary. But you know what they say about being scared of the path ahead."
"No, what do they say?"
"It's a sign that you are on the right path," Magnus smiled.
"That doesn't sound right," Alec said, confused by Magnus's strange logic.
"Well it's true," Magnus replied. "And you are proof of that."
"Huh?" Alec asked.
"Giving you a chance," Magnus explained. "Letting you in. It was scary, but it was the right path."
"Oh yeah that," Alec smiled, snuggling in closer to Magnus. "I remember that. You fought me for so long. I mean, we met in October, early October too. But here we are, celebrating our anniversary in early January, because despite the fact that I liked you right away, and you liked me right away, it took us that long to get our shit together." Magnus laughed, a deep happy noise that made Alec's smile widen.
"When you put it like that," Magnus chuckled. "It does seem quite ridiculous, doesn't it?"
"Damn straight," Alec exclaimed.
Magnus laughed again as he managed to say. "Alec there is nothing straight about you."
"You thought I was for ages," Alec whined. "Confusing person."
"Indeed I am," Magnus chuckled. They settled down even more, laying flat on the bed rather than sat sitting up. Alec closed his eyes and focused on his boyfriend's heart again. The last thing Alec remembered before falling asleep was hearing Magnus whisper, "Goodnight my Darling Alexander," in his ear.
Alec woke quite late on Saturday, having slept in more than he usually did. Magnus was still asleep beside him, and for a moment, he just watched his boyfriend sleep. Then Alec got up and made breakfast. He was singing off-key to one of his favourite songs when Magnus joined him in the kitchen.
"That smells good," Magnus said as he entered the room. "I can't say the same for my ears though."
"Ha ha," Alec replied grinning as he pretended to swat at Magnus with a dish towel.
They ate breakfast together, and ended up spending the whole day together in the apartment, never even getting dressed. Alec decided it counted as part of their anniversary, and Magnus didn't argue with him. It was just like the dinner last night, in that Alec hadn't wanted it to end. But Sunday came, and with it, homework. Monday meant class, and life ticked by.
As January progressed, Alec became aware that Jace was trying to make anniversary plans. His roommate was rather clueless about such things, and often asked Alec for advice. Alec tried to help, but Jace didn't seem to want help so much as he wanted to panic, so Alec mostly left him to his own devices. Magnus was busy with his classes before Alec got bogged down in school work, since his classes were two years ahead. On top of all the school stuff, Magnus was now applying for jobs. If he wasn't doing homework, in class, or sleeping, Magnus seems to be working on his resume, writing cover letters, and searching job postings online.
More than once, Alec found himself staring at Magnus's face while his boyfriend went on and on about the jobs he'd applied for. Alec tried to listen - he really did - but half of it went right over his head. Magnus was talking about the future career potential of all the jobs, which had something to do with being able to get promotions and wage increases over a period of time. Alec had never had a job in his life, so it was not something he felt he could help with or even comment on. He knew nothing. All Alec really cared about was where these jobs were. Everytime Magnus would talk about a new job he was applying for, or had applied for, Alec asked him how far away it was. Magnus's usual reply was 'in town', and Alec relaxed and tried to listen to the rest of it. But every now and then, Magnus would apply for something an hour out of town, and it made Alec nervous.
"But what if you get the job?" Alec asked on one such occasion. "And you have to move?"
"It's an hour away," Magnus replied. "I'd just commute."
"All that time going back and forth though," Alec argued.
"Yes, but I can't move," Magnus smiled at him. "You are here and besides, this apartment is rent controlled." He smiled, leaned in to kiss Alec sweetly, then turned back to his computer.
"Isn't this all a little early?" Alec asked. "I mean you don't graduate for three more months."
"Getting work right out of school is hard," Magnus explained. "It's first come, first serve. If I snooze, I lose."
"I guess," Alec sighed. "Though I'd love to do something with you this summer, like a trip or something before you get busy with work."
"Christmas was amazing," Magnus said. "Why do something else again so soon?"
"Christmas wasn't a trip," Alec said rolling his eyes. "It was just going home. No, see we could go to London or something. Spend a week on a sandy beach."
Magnus chuckled. "You live in a fantasy world, darling. It must be paradise." Alec wanted to argue that Magnus was part of his fantasy land and should play along, but as he thought the words, he realize just how childish they sounded. Alec decided instead to get back to his essay that was due in less than four hours while he hoped and prayed that Magnus wouldn't end up working far away.
So I have to tell you guys something. This story just hit 100,000 views. o_O Woot! Thanks so much guys! Also OMG we just reached 300 follows! I know I said I'd do a bonus chapter when we reaching 300... but I am not doing updates only once a week now so I am not sure how a bonus chapter works while updating like a spaz. lol. ^_^
Side note: Not sure if anyone cares but my first day at work was awesome. Wonderful group of people. I'm excited.
To guest reviewer that said:
:HOW DO PEOPLE NOT LIKE THE TESSA CHAPTERS, THE HERONGRAYSTAIRS CHAPTERS ARE SOME OF THE ONES THAT REALLY HOOKED MY ATTENTION
My reply:
I know right! I love them, but for some reason I get less reviews (and less views) on Tessa chapters than I do on any of the other chapters. From the start her chapters were planned to be less common as per the pov pattern in this story but I just don't get why people don't like them as much as Malec and Clace. PS-Join in so I can PM you back. :)
Sneak Peek Chapter 76
"I had loved you for a while before that," Jace said. "A long while though I couldn't tell you exact when I recognized the feelings for that they were."
"That I understand," Clary said. "I remember when you tried to tell me, not even I believed you."
"If you'd told me back then that I'd one day be walking arm in arm with you down the street on my way to celebrate being your boyfriend for a year, I'd have asked you what you were smoking," he laughed and Clary joined in. They kept up some casual conversation on the walk. When they arrived Jace gave his name and they were lead to their table. Jace had never made reservations before this. He rarely went to restaurants fancy enough to require such things.
They were seated by a window, looking out over the patio. The murmured conversations all around him somehow made it feel private, like a blanket of white noise over them. The table to their left was empty, but all else was occupied. Jace didn't mind so long as Clary was happy and she was smiling.
"This place is great," Clary grinned. "Look!" She pointed right above them and curious Jace titled his head back. To his surprise what he saw was his own face. The ceiling was covered in mirrors.
Full disclosure: This next chapter is only at 600 words so this sneak peek is rough. Been a while since I wasn't crazy far ahead thanks to my attempt to update once a week then my binge writing fest on Tuesday. This is more like sneak peeks used to be before that.
