topino | (no subject)

Joe is about to lean in to kiss Nicky's parted lips again when he withdraws, and he has to take a slow intake of breath to let him. It's difficult, to open his hands and let go of Nicky, more than it should be at this point.

"How comfortable?" Joe calls after Nicky, playfully. He grins and takes the bottle and glasses with him, arching his eyebrows at the suggestion. "I do have a sketchbook. Not sure I have the patience, however."

So Nicky wants a do-over of last week, when they came so close to sleeping together but chose not to? Joe can do that for him. He settles on the couch while Nicky is in the bedroom, pouring wine and flipping his sketchbook open, getting a pencil as if he does intend to draw Nicky again. He undoes a couple more buttons on his shirt and rolls his sleeve up to his elbows, wanting to be a little bit of a tease too.

Nicky spares one last look over his shoulder in time to see Joe with his forearms out, which absolutely does plenty to him. It makes him shiver, reaching for the robe out of the little gift bag he'd put it on. He leaves the bedroom door slightly ajar, stripping out of absolutely everything, even his underwear, and sliding into the silky red thing, knotting it loosely so that it will hold until the moment Joe starts pulling on it, like a ribbon of a gift.

He checks his reflection, runs his fingers through his hair, and then, wanders back out towards the couch to see there really is a sketchbook. That earns a huff of laughter as Nicky gestures to it. "I don't think I was serious, but I'm very charmed, nonetheless."

Joe is sitting on the couch with his elbow propped over the back of it and his chin on his hand, the sketchbook open in his lap. He smiles down at it when he hears Nicky come back into the room. "I can't guarantee my hands will be steady enough to do you justice," he warns, carefully looking up and taking Nicky in.

"That's... a good color on you too," Joe says after a few seconds of just being unable to formulate any coherent thought. He lets himself look at Nicky's strong legs, his arms, what he can see of his chest, the broad line of his shoulders.

He holds out his hand for Nicky to take and come sit next to him, handing him his glass of wine, letting anticipation stretch between them. "I've thought about you like this," he reveals, his voice low. "After you left, last time."

"I think it's a better colour for you, but I didn't buy one in the dark colours I think might suit me best." He'd seen black and navy blue ones, which he might have to return for. Barefoot, now, Nicky walks towards Joe, feeling very vulnerable and exposed, especially considering the difference in layers between them.

He gives him a private smile, small and teasing, and sits next to Joe, taking the wine to give him some liquid courage. Nicky doesn't dare stray too far, because now that he's been in Joe's lap and been kissing him, he wants to continue.

"I did too," he admits. "Usually in the shower, or in bed."

Perhaps Joe will be the one to buy Nicky something silky and alluring, next time. He will have to think about it, and pick something that will compliment Nicky's body and complexion.

Joe can tell this is a vulnerable position for Nicky to be in and he appreciates it, welcoming him near, turning to face him. "Yeah?" he prompts, taking a sip from his wine and resting his hand on Nicky's bare knee carefully. "Can I ask what you thought about?"

He's really going to make him talk about it, isn't he? Here he'd thought that maybe Joe would give him a reprieve and use action, but no, he's going to make him talk about it. "And here I thought you didn't want me to read to you from my books," he quips, seeing as what Nicky is about to say will be very much like what he would read.

Maybe Nicky is the one who needs to take action. He reaches out and slides his fingers over Joe's knee, tracing slowly and gently against the inseam of his pants as he moves his fingers up. "I thought about your hands. Your lips. I thought about how you would sketch me and look at me."

"Is that what you wanted to read to me?" Joe asks, amused. "Only the naughty parts of your books?" He strokes his thumb across Nicky's leg, humming when Nicky reaches out and touches him in return. He shivers and leans into it, moving closer so he can slip his hand up to Nicky's bare thigh, stopping at the hem of the silk robe.

He pitches forward slowly, pressing a kiss to Nicky's shoulder where it's peeking under the robe. "How did I look at you?" he asks, though he knows the answer. He wants to hear Nicky say it, and takes his time kissing a line up Nicky's neck to his ear.

"They're romance novels," Nicky reminds him, "I don't spend that much time going into the history of each profession and their accounting," he dryly states, shivering at the touch near his bare skin, so very close, yet not what he wants.

Not yet.

Nicky groans loudly when Joe asks him a question that requires an answer, because he's not in a state of mind to be coherent. He closes his eyes tightly and works to think, breathing in deeply. "You looked at me, as if I were the most interesting thing you'd ever seen."

"Shame," Joe teases, though he doesn't mean it. From what he remembers, Nicky writes sex scenes often, and well. He squeezes Nicky's thigh at the groan, smiling.

"You were," he says, simple but earnest, kissing Nicky's ear. He chucks the sketchbook and pencil to the carpet so he can move closer, cupping Nicky's face and bringing him up into another kiss.

It starts gentle, just getting reacquainted with the taste of Nicky's lips, and then Joe jumps straight to filthy, licking inside Nicky's mouth.

Nicky's breathing is deep, unsteady, and every time Joe gets close, it stutters, almost like he's caught thinking that this isn't real. When Joe leans in for a kiss, that gentle thing, Nicky shifts backwards on the couch, his robe falling open a little on his shoulder.

And then, it gets deeper, harder, great. Nicky growls as he wraps an arm around Joe's neck to pull him in for that desperate kiss, only keeping his legs together because he feels like they should be in the bedroom before the next step.

Panting, he eases back, adjusting the robe. "Joe, wait," he pleads, breathless. "Wait," he groans. "Before we get too far, we should move to a bed, and get supplies."

Joe feels like he can't get enough, no matter how hard he kisses Nicky, no matter how deep, it's not enough to sate him. He feels ravenous, needing to touch bare skin and he pulls on the robe, slipping his fingers over Nicky's bare chest, exploring eagerly.

But then Nicky tells him to stop and Joe pushes up and away immediately, his eyebrows arching in worry. He doesn't move far but he lets go of Nicky entirely, his whole body tingling. Still, no matter how much he wants this, he will not take anything Nicky doesn't want to give, and being told to wait, he waits.

He grins again when Nicky doesn't tell him he's going too fast but merely suggests they move this to the bedroom. He nods and gives him a quick kiss, gently. "You said there was a dip in your mattress from all the artists you've taken to bed, remember?" he teases, his voice low. "I'd like to see it."

Nicky curses in Italian under his breath when Joe's fingers slide over his chest, groaning audibly as he fights not to pin him to the couch and agree that they can do everything there. He knows they'll regret it, knows it, because the instant they need lube and protection, Nicky will have to go to the bedroom and the mood will break.

That doesn't stop him panting desperately, fingertips grasping possessively at Joe's shoulders to hold on, getting to his knees and drawing the robe tighter.

Joe's words garner a rueful laugh. "Yes, the dip is of course all the artists and not because I bought a cheap mattress that makes my back ache," he teases, checking the kitchen that everything is off before he begins to walk backwards to the bedroom, coaxing Joe to follow after him.

"Nicky," Joe protests, shaking his head. "You should get a good mattress. It's an important investment," he teases and waits for Nicky to come back, finishing his glass of wine.

He catches him around the waist, slipping his hand under the robe so he can rest his fingers against Nicky's hip, playfully marching him towards the bedroom even as he presses kisses to his shoulder.

Once there, Joe gives the room a curious glance, taking in any posters or paintings Nicky might have. He's more interested in Nicky himself though, and in pulling him into bed so he can kiss him again.

"Maybe," Nicky murmurs, "or maybe you should show me yours the next time we're at your place, and I can see what I'm missing." He's aware that he's flirting blatantly, but given that he's nearly naked and Joe's hands are all over him, the horse is definitely out of that stable.

The bedroom isn't very interesting. He has some photos up on the wall of Italy, a few vintage posters from old movies hanging, and there are more bookshelves in here. What's most important is shifting and squirming to the edge of the bed to get the lube and condoms out, and Nicky prays they haven't degraded, which would be a very humiliating thing to have happen.

Cupping Joe's neck, he eases back, staring at him with disbelief. "I might have brought an artist or two back to my place," he admits, "but never in this room, and none were ever as beautiful as you."

"You can see my mattress anytime, Nicolo," Joe answers, grinning brightly. He means that. Anytime Nicky wants to come and see him and spend the night, he can. That's how great an evening Joe is having.

Joe spares a glance to Nicky's pictures and posters and to his bookshelves, but none of it is more interesting than Nicky wriggling on the bed to get lube and condoms. Joe sits down next to him, reaching back for Nicky when he cups his neck again.

"None of them?" he prompts, kneeling between Nicky's spread knees, his hands on his shoulders, pushing the silky robe down. His tone is playful but his eyes and soft and warm, obviously pleased by the compliment. "You haven't even seen me with my shirt off yet," he points out, his lips brushing against Nicky's teasingly.

Nicky lets his gaze slide lower, down Joe's body, and his breath catches in his throat when he points out that while Nicky's been nearly naked for Joe twice now, the same courtesy hasn't been extended to him.

Frankly, it's distressing now that he thinks about it.

"Well," he draws out the word, playing along, "there was one artist who had very beautiful eyes..." Yet, they still can't compare to Joe's. He leans in to yank at the hem of Joe's shirt, eager to push it up and off, but also wanting to lie back and watch. That latter desire wins out, so he leans back on an elbow, giving Joe an encouraging nod.

"Go on, then, impress me."

"Who was it?" Joe challenges, playing at jealousy. "Whatever he did, I can do it better," he states, grinning a little smugly at the hungry look Nicky is giving him.

He chuckles when Nicky tugs at his shirt and then reclines, regally demanding to be impressed. It makes Joe laugh softly but he will comply, undoing his cufflinks carefully. "I'll try my best," he agrees, his eyes bright with amusement at the challenge.

He won't make this a striptease exactly but he will go slow enough to be a tease, watching Nicky with dark eyes and even biting on his lower lip tauntingly. He unbuttons his shirt all the way to the bottom and strokes down his own chest, baring one shoulder and then the next, finally tossing the shirt away. "Trousers as well, Nicolo?" he asks, even as he's unbuckling his belt.

Nicky snorts, because there is no one that could even compare. He knows he's had attractive people in his home before, but only friends. His ex-boyfriends have not been near as handsome as Joe, which isn't surprising.

Truthfully, he's not sure that anyone could be, and as he watches Joe, he can honestly say that he hadn't been expecting ... well, that. His eyes go wide, his mouth slackjawed, and Nicky starts walking back to all those things he said about Joe being a narcissist and of pumping his own ego by blessing his artistic doppleganger with too many muscles and abs and definition.

Nicky is absolutely, terribly, completely, utterly wrong. Joe hadn't been exaggerating at all. If anything, maybe he hadn't gone far enough. Gaping, he's not able to summon words, even if he's sure Joe said something. "...che?"

The look on Nicky's face, stunned and flushed, is both amusing and very flattering. Joe can't keep himself from grinning smugly, shifting a little and leaning forward on his arms to put the muscles fully on display.

He knows he looks good, he goes to the gym often enough, but seeing the wordless awe on Nicky's face is incomparably more satisfying. He tilts his head to meet Nicky's eyes again, noting the way he's apparently defaulted back to Italian.

"Uh, pantaloni?" Joe tries, unsure that his Italian will be correct. "Se ti piace?" He grins, removing his belt entirely and tugging his fly open.

Joe is teasing him, but Nicky is genuinely stunned past the point of words. He really hadn't been thinking properly, his mind stuck on all those times he'd implied that Joe had only been drawing and painting himself with a wishful eye, pretending he's this handsome and toned.

It turns out, all this time, he really has been.

"I thought you were elaborating," he pleads, half apology and half protest. "Honestly, I didn't think anyone could look like this."

It makes Joe laugh again, low and quiet. He'd hoped Nicky would find him attractive, but this is much more than he'd dared hope for, this speechless astonishment.

"It's okay," Joe says, grinning brightly. He puts his hands back on Nicky's shoulders, bringing them a little closer. "I wasn't offended when you told me, I knew you were wrong," he teases, pressing a gentle kiss to Nicky's jaw. "It was worth being called a narcissist multiple times for the look on your face right now," he adds, arching his eyebrows.

It makes Nicky feel astoundingly ugly in comparison, and lucky at the same time that he's managed to get Joe into his bed. He absolutely does not have a six pack like that, though he's lean and his shoulders broad. If anything, his best asset is...well, his ass, and right now, he's on it, gaping up at Joe in wonder.

It turns out that Joe isn't a narcissist at all.

"I mean, you are still a narcissist," Nicky can't help it, because Joe's not technically right. "You're just an accurate one," he says helpfully, as if it's a compliment.

Nicky is far from ugly. If pressed, Joe could give him the full list of what he really likes about his face and about his body, and it would be a very long list.

He gives Nicky time to work through this, his eyes following the way the robe is slipping lower and lower on Nicky's shoulder, hitching to just reach for it and tug it away from Nicky's body entirely.

"Harsh words, to a man sitting shirtless in your bed, Nicolo," Joe answers, leaning up a little. "My feelings are terribly hurt. I might leave." He's not going to, obviously, but he's hoping that will get Nicky to pull him closer and get back on track with what they were doing.

"By all means, leave, but I'm taking your shirt hostage," Nicky replies with an easy retort, smirking up at him as he reaches out for Joe's hands to slide to the loose knot of the robe, heart pounding in his chest. Joe is handsome and impossible and beautiful and here.

Who is he to fight that?

"We didn't speak before," he admits, voice low, "about how you prefer to do this. Do you have any preferences?"

"You like the shirt more than me?" Joe complains, widening his eyes in mock-despair. "Can I keep the robe in return?"

He lets Nicky guide his hands to the knot of the robe, tugging gently until it comes loose. He pulls it open slowly, baring only Nicky's shoulders and chest for now, leaning in to press his mouth to the perfect line of Nicky's collarbone. "Beautiful," he whispers into the skin there.

He considers the question seriously, pushing Nicky back so they can lie down together. "I want to put my mouth all over you, if that's okay," he says, his eyes dark and bright. He'll start by giving Nicky a soft kiss.

"If you're planning on using these," he gestures at the supplies Nicky got ready, "I'd like that too." It's a personal topic, obviously, but Joe will be earnest. "I have more experience fucking than being fucked, but I enjoy it about as much." He strokes his hands down Nicky's sides, parting the robe wider and wider. "What do you like?" he asks, curiously.