James

[kersen]

Kersen was... nervous, which he knew was completely silly. But it had been such a long time since he'd been on a date like this. Even though he and Klaus had gone on dates, it was after they'd already slept together.

He took a lot of care with his appearance. Dressed as a boy, but with his typical androgynous flair. Some makeup, mostly his eyes, and a pair of trousers that he knew made his ass look amazing. Also the cashmere scarf that James had admired.

James had offered to come to his house, so when the doorbell rang he managed to clamp down the butterflies, and answered the door, a smile already on his face.

Comments

[unreadytodie]

There were several replies James thought of. He was not one for spontaneous impromptu replies. Everything he said and did was measured and weighed.

"Oh," he said. It sounded vaguely as if he was disappointed, and that was exactly the effect he was going for.

[kersen]

Kersen didn't comment on this, but a little smile did twitch at his lips... and he took James' hand to pull him back to the sewing room across the hall from his bedroom.

The lighting in the room was quite good, because despite not having a window that could open to the light, there were lamps with soft bulbs and an overhead light. There was a sewing machine and a cutting/drafting table, and shelves filled with fabric and related things.

The painting was hanging above the drafting table, centered and lit by the lamp there. And in the middle of the room as well there was a tall dress form (clearly custom-made for Kersen), and on it was a stunning gown that was in the last stages of completion. It was made entirely of feathers. Midnight blue, royal blue, teal, turquoise, the colors creating lines that followed the curves of a body. The neckline featuring a collar of sparse feathers, and the whole thing ended in a train that looked, well... like a peacock tail, with the black eyes of the feathers dotted with black crystals.

Kersen looked almost shy as he confessed, "I was inspired."

[unreadytodie]

James didn't care too much for dresses as such. Fashion had never been his area of expertise. But to see that dress was to see inspiration, art and beauty, from canvas to fabric. It was quite astonishing. And the lighting was so tastefully done, that the peacock looked at its best.

"I'm very pleased to have been proven to be right about your taste." And as an afterthought. "And the dress is quite beautiful."

[kersen]

"Thank you on both counts," Kersen said, looking pleased. He was very proud of the dress. He wasn't much of a painter; this was his form of art.

He realized he was still holding James' hand, and let it fall, a bit awkwardly.

[unreadytodie]

James noticed and turned to Kersen. "May I kiss you?" He asked.

[kersen]

Kersen's face brightened. "Yes, please."

[unreadytodie]

James cupped Kersen's chin and leaned in to kiss him. It was quite chaste, at first, a tentative kiss, surrounded by beauty and art.

[kersen]

It felt like it had been a long time since someone had kissed him so sweetly. It was awfully nice, and Kersen couldn't help but deepen the kiss - still sweet and soft, but perhaps not quite so chaste.

[unreadytodie]

James didn't mind not so chaste either, and he put an arm around Kersen's narrow frame as they deepened the kiss.

[kersen]

It really was a nice kiss. It felt real, like it meant something, not like it was just a prelude to sex.

When James pulled him close, he pressed against him, and made a content little sighing sound into the kiss.

[unreadytodie]

The kiss broke eventually, and James pulled back a little. "I've had a truly nice evening."

[kersen]

"Oh so have I," said Kersen, and then smiled a little. "That sounds like a goodbye."

[unreadytodie]

"Would you rather I stayed?" James asked with a smile.

[kersen]

"I definitely wouldn't mind you stayed," Kersen said, seeming almost shy again. He was totally on board with this taking it slow thing, but... he didn't want the night to end.

[unreadytodie]

James leaned in and kissed Kersen again. "I wouldn't mind staying."

[kersen]

Kersen smiled into the kiss. "Thank you for taking things slow," he said softly when it broke. "I feel a real connection with you." He certainly couldn't remember the last time - ever? - he'd been on multiple dates that didn't even end with a kiss. "That was a kiss worth waiting for. And I... can't pretend that I don't want you, but I'm also perfectly willing to keep taking things slow."

[unreadytodie]

"I wasn't aware we were taking things slow," James admitted. "As I said, it's been a while since I went on what one might call a date."

[kersen]

Kersen smiled. "Me too," he confessed. "I guess that's why it feels so different. I'm sorry, I don't mean to get in my head, I just - don't want to mess this up." Okay, that sounded kind of pathetic. "I like you." Not really helping...

[unreadytodie]

James wondered then if Kersen had misunderstood his meaning. "I haven't lived a hermit's life, if that is a concern," he explained.

[kersen]

"No, you don't kiss like a hermit," Kersen said with a little smile. He moved closer, put a hand on James' cheek. "Maybe we should stop talking."

[unreadytodie]

James put a hand through Kersen's hair. "Perhaps we should," he agreed and kissed him again.

[kersen]

Kersen kissed him back, his hand sliding to the back of James' neck, a touch of heat behind it. When it broke he said breathlessly, "Do you want to see the etchings in my bedroom?"

[unreadytodie]

James' eyes narrowed, amused and a little more than that too. Turned on, for lack of a better word. "Oh dear. Are you trying to seduce me?" Then, against Kersen's lips. "I would love to see them."

[kersen]

Kersen found that he very much liked that expression on James' face.

It wasn't the first time that he was reminded a bit of Hannibal - not in a direct way, but it was the feeling that Kersen got when someone with such good taste, and rather buttoned up, wanted to taste him. So to speak. (And yes, there were many reasons why associating someone with Hannibal was not a good idea, so he tried to suppress it - but there was still no denying that that feeling turned him on quite a bit.)

He stole one more kiss, and then took James' hand and pulled him out of the sewing room and into the bedroom. He left over overhead lights off and turned on just the lamps, then pressed himself against James and kissed him again.

[unreadytodie]

"I'm afraid this is dreadful lighting for the observation of art work, particularly of fine drawings," James offered. Then. "How fortunate we're not here for that." Tentatively he reached down for the buttons on Kersen's shirt, to undo them.