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"Then I'd be happy to have one for my sister." Joe grins, looking pleased that Nicky decided to share this with him. "And I'll have to read more of them. Which one would you recommend I start with?" He's not joking, he will read all of Nicky's romance novels if Nicky lets him. What better way to understand Nicky's heart?

"Still working on the first one, actually," Joe answers, lifting his glass in Nicky's direction. "I think it's going pretty well." He's never wanted to seduce another one of his models, really. That would have been unprofessional of him and he knows it.

He has to ask about what Nicky said he was writing, still. "A starving artist? Was that inspired by anything in particular?" Joe's tone is playful, as he doesn't truly think Nicky is writing something about him.

"I'll make sure to sign it and tell her that her brother is an incredible artist," Nicky praises, sipping his wine as he thinks about the books he's been working on over the years. "I think you already read my favourite," he confesses. "Maybe you can keep going in the immortal lovers one, at least, until my new series is released."

He's very excited about that one, for obvious reasons.

"Oh, you know. When I met an incredible artist who fought with me so passionately," he says blithely, like it's no big deal. "I went home and changed my protagonist in the latest. It's a very big scandal, you know, he's seducing someone he shouldn't in the book."

That, luckily, doesn't apply to real life, where Nicky is being very happily seduced.

"I'm sure she'll love that," Joe taunts, grinning. "And so will I." Especially considering how he met Nicky, and their whole debate around whether Joe's art was good or merely self-serving.

"There's more? You've got to let me borrow the sequel then, I want to know what happens to these two," Joe answers, and he means it. Even without having known that Nicky was the writer of that particular novel, he would have been interested in a sequel.

He leans back slowly, his eyes a little wide as he tries to register Nicky's words. "You went home after meeting me, and decided to upend the protagonist in the novel you are writing, to make him more like me?" he repeats, wanting to make sure he's understanding what Nicky is saying properly. That's... quite extraordinary, actually. Joe doesn't think anyone has ever done anything like this for him.

"Anything on my shelves is yours," Nicky guarantees, because he'd be happy to let Joe have anything he likes, especially since Nicky doesn't sit there and read his own work. They're promotional copies only, so he can see the cover, not so he can relive his best moments.

As for the new book...

"Well, I went to an art gallery and met the most handsome man I've ever seen with clever, charming eyes, and beautiful fingers," he lists. "I already knew the plot would be about art, because of my other job, but..."

He shrugs, as if it's nothing at all.

"You make an impression."

"Thank you, I'll let you know what I think of the sequel," Joe says, giving Nicky a sly smile. He'll get to be the critic, this time, and he fully plans to be earnest about it. He's not worried he will have to be harsh, however. The novel he read on the plane had been remarkably well-written and consistent, and he expects he'll only have nice things to say about the sequel as well.

Joe listens as Nicky lists compliments, a little stunned and for once unable to flirt back. "I'm the one that makes an impression?" he wonders, his eyebrows arched. He considers. "Okay," he says, taking a sip from his wine and patting his mouth dry with his napkin. "Okay."

Then he's standing up, leaning one hand on the corner of the table and putting the other on Nicky's shoulder, and he's kissing Nicky full on the lips.

Nicky hadn't expected to render Joe speechless, which means when he suddenly trails off and doesn't give him back a retort, he's starting to get worried that maybe he'd gone too far. Maybe he shouldn't have written a character based on him?

Maybe he should have kept things casual, or maybe...

Then, Joe is kissing him, which makes Nicky melt back into his chair before he greedily reaches for Joe, determined to take as much as he can when he has the opportunity in front of him, sliding his fingers through those perfect curls as he fights to surge up and meet Joe in the kiss. This has been a long time coming, something he's thought about for a week straight, and reality is still beyond his wildest expectations.

It's an awkward position to kiss someone, especially someone you haven't really kissed before, but Nicky is kissing him back eagerly and Joe frankly doesn't care. He shivers when gentle fingers slip through his hair and leans more of his weight on Nicky's shoulder to get a better angle and lick at Nicky's lips.

If the faint brush of lips they exchanged the week before was a shock to the system, it is nothing compared to this. Joe makes a low, pent-up noise at the back of his throat and breaks the kiss before he gets carried away, resting their cheeks together.

"I can't believe you seduced me by making me a character in one of your romance novels," Joe complains. He's obviously smiling still, his cheek staying against Nicky's before he leans up, keeping his hands on Nicky's shoulders. His eyes are hooded but soft, impossibly fond as he considers Nicky.

The only trouble with Joe doing this at dinner is that Nicky is only going to think about this for the rest of the night, and he really did have a good evening of dinner, dessert, and conversation planned. Joe's co-opted it all with those soft lips of his, and the maddening yet perfect scrape of his beard is only making it worse.

Honestly, it's making Nicky go a little crazy. "Seduced you with that?" he asks, turning to press a chaste kiss to Joe's cheek, since it's right there. "You haven't even read it. I might turn you into a cad," he teases, his breath still shaky and heavy as he hauls it in.

See, Joe has a plan here as well, aiming to make this the perfect second date. He's thrown it to the four winds in favor of this kiss which, imperfect as it is, he can't bring himself to regret.

He smiles at the kiss to his cheek, rubbing his beard against Nicky's cheek just a little in response before he steps back determinately, falling back into his chair. He feels a little out of breath too, almost unsettled by how much he enjoyed kissing Nicky, his face warm.

"You're not going to do that," he tells Nicky, confidently. He'll have more wine, though it won't help clearing his head. "You've said it yourself, I am a very charming protagonist." He arches his eyebrows. "So, what was that about my forbidden love story?"

Nicky is still catching his breath, thinking that it's almost unfair how good at that Joe is. He's still blinking, almost mentally trying to think of every last detail so it can go in the book before Nicky decides maybe some things should be left for only his enjoyment.

He brushes his thumb over his lower lip, like he's reminding himself of Joe's, staring at him fondly.

"You are," he concedes, "and in the book, you fall in love with the daughter of your model, who is her father. It is very forbidden love, and you're forced to run away to escape him, falling deeper in love and creating better art as she becomes your muse."

Joe looks at Nicky's thumb stroking over his lower lip and he has stop himself from standing up again and going right back to kissing him. It's more of a struggle than it should be, considering he literally just kissed the man. He finishes his lasagna instead, making sure to tell Nicky that the dish was delicious.

Pondering that love story, Joe nods slowly, apparently pleased to be the protagonist of such a romantic adventure. "Could the model's daughter be a son instead?" he offers, grinning. "Or is that not the kind of love story people would want to read?"

Nicky knows where he's going, but his smile is a touch sad. "If I hadn't written the book about the immortal lovers, I might have been able to, but I need to make sure I don't do too much in one area," he admits, "but I think maybe if you don't mind, the daughter will have sea-glass eyes," he muses, aware that he doesn't often put aspects of himself in the books, but for Joe, he can make an exception.

Honestly, he thinks he's been making a lot of exceptions for him.

He finishes with the food, reaching for the bruschetta and eyeing Joe. "I've already kissed you, so this may be too late a question, but this has garlic and onions and I'm about to eat it. You should, too."

"Now, I wouldn't mind that at all," Joe says, smiling. Nicky's eyes are not his favourite thing about Nicky, but only because everything about Nicky is his favourite thing. The color is very striking still, and Joe hasn't managed to replicate it exactly in paint yet. "If you want to be true to life, you should also give her a fiery disposition and a tendency to criticize your poor protagonist's art," he adds, playfully.

The comment makes Joe snort and he reaches out for some bruschetta too, giving a shrug. "I will, so we can be in this together." It's very good and Joe hums in appreciation. "Bold choice of food, for a date you knew we would be kissing at," he teases.

Nicky can't help his grin as he ducks his head down. "It was a fine line to balance," he admits, "I had to impress you with the things I knew how to cook and I know how to make a very good bruschetta," he admits, though it's more about the quality of the ingredients.

"I can make her argue with the main character," he says thoughtfully, "maybe they will be more clever than us and while they have a screaming match about what they disagree on, their passion will overwhelm them and turn from an argument to something much more romantic."

"It's delicious," Joe confirms, taking another bite. He doesn't mind the onions and garlic, really. He doubts it could deter him from kissing Nicky anyway, not when he's eaten his fair share himself.

Joe nods, looking fairly convinced. "I would read that. I like a little arguing in my romance stories." He eats more bruschetta, licking his fingers. "Would you have liked that? For me to kiss you in the middle of our argument at the art gallery?" He grins slowly. "Push you up against the wall right next to the art you'd just criticized?"

Nicky had been meaning to ask Joe a question about his work, but then he talks about pinning Nicky to the wall, right after he licks his fingers like the menace he is. He gapes at Joe in disbelief, wondering if he's really seeing what he is, if this is happening.

"I..." Where did his words go? His mouth is open, gaping, and he shakes his head in disbelief. "You..." Oh, and now he has images, of Joe and paints, and him pinning Nicky's naked body to the canvas to create, which makes his cheeks go flush.

Joe was mostly teasing when he asked Nicky whether he would like that, but Nicky's reaction gives him pause. The flushed cheeks, the parted lips, the loss of words; it's all lovely and Joe can't help but chuckle, sounding surprised but delighted. If Nicky's into the idea, Joe is quite happy to follow.

"Oh, you would? Well, we can." He gives Nicky a wink. "Perhaps after the gallery closes for the night, I wouldn't want to give the patrons a show."

Nicky gains the ability to speak not because he comes back to his senses, but because a little stupid part of his brain says that he needs to antagonize and bicker with Joe, which is what gives him the ability to speak. He makes a little 'tsk' sound, shaking his head.

"Oh, I see, then we're not on the same page," is his casual reply. "Because I thought you were going to do this in the middle of an argument with plenty of people watching, pushing me through the crowd to pin me to a wall no matter the crowd."

That surprises a laugh out of Joe and he throws his head back a little, putting his hands behind his head, openly amused at the suggestion. Of course, he thinks, of course Nicky was going to go and try to outdo him even in this.

"Sure," he agrees, easily. "If you're into that, I don't mind. We do this every night, I think I'll end up getting more people coming to see the exhibit." He grins. "We could even call it performance art." He gestures. "A reflection on the artist and the art critic."

The laugh gains a smile from Nicky, a little smug and victorious thing because he's got him, and he knows it. He's overly pleased, honestly, and his attention is fixed on Joe even as he sips his wine, his lasagna and bruschetta finished.

He stands to clear plates, wanting to serve dessert before...well, before other things happen, especially given what Nicky's made.

"What would that message be? That if you disagree enough, you secretly want to bed your critic?"

Joe will smile right back, helping Nicky clear the table if needed. He's eaten a lot already but he's curious about the dessert Nicky made, and eager to try it.

"I was thinking something more along the lines or "love always triumphs over hate", but I'm sure some critics would call that a trite sentiment," he taunts, arching his eyebrow at Nicky.

Nicky ducks into the fridge to get the cannoli, chocolate chips on the whipped cream, and just the right size that fingers and tongues are most definitely going to be involved. He sets them down between them, eyes fixed on Joe.

"I never hated you," he points out, so that might be a step too far. His eyes are set on his lips, thinking of being pinned against the wall, his arms above his head, and he can't help his wry smirk. "I would call it trite," he admits. "And maybe unrealistic."

Did Nicky make the cannoli that way on purpose? That's a cunning plan Joe will gladly fall for. He stares right back at Nicolo, taking in the hungry look on his face. "So, what are these?" he asks of the dessert, his voice a little lower in answer.

"I never hated you either," Joe admits, easily. "But we could pretend well enough, especially in the middle of an argument." He tilts his head to the side. "Do you truly think it's unrealistic? It's worked well-enough for us so far," he points out, playfully.

"These are cannoli. Fried dough, cream inside, with chocolate chips," he shares as he turns them a little to show them off to Joe, picking one up to take a bite, which then ends up with Nicky have to tidy the mess, licking his lips, curving his thumb over the corner of them to catch the cream.

And then, sliding his tongue through to lap up what's left, before finishing it and appraising a good job done.

"I think it's unrealistic. Have you ever moved so quickly before?" he challenges. "I've never had a partner who I've had over within weeks like this, not ever."

That's quite the display and Joe will watch it all with bright dark eyes, following Nicky's tongue and fingers. If Nicky keeps that up he's going to get kissed again, and it shows quite plainly on Joe's face.

The question catches him by surprise and he takes a few seconds to think about it, acknowledging that Nicky is right. "Not with anyone I truly wanted to get to know," he admits, gently. Hookups, yes, but that's entirely different.

"I'm having a good time," he adds, smiling earnestly. "These have been great dates." He reaches out to pick up a cannolo with great care. "Do you feel like we're moving too quickly?" That's not the impression he's getting from Nicky, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Edited (typos!) 2021-01-15 23:06 (UTC)