Acting almost on instinct, Simon caught the hand, raising it up to his lips. "This," he explained softly, pressing a kiss to each finger. "I've never been this.. shy. Soft. No one's been able to fluster me this much before." Catching each nervous movement, he hurried to amend his first statement. "I'm definitely not complaining, in case– in case you were worried."
"Is it–" Kaye started, his cheeks warming almost instantly at the words and the kisses to his fingers. "Is it…good that you're this soft now?" Did Simon mean it, that he had softened them…even flustered them? He definitely liked this soft-spoken side to the other man– and every other side too– but it felt nice to have someone who cared about their wellbeing.
“It’s definitely not a bad thing..” he murmured, keeping hold of Kaye’s hand. “But it’s… new to me. I haven’t been like this.. ever, really. Not even with other- other boyfriends. So if I slip.. I don’t hate you, I promise.”
Kaye nodded slowly in understanding, Simon's doubts making sense to him. He had usually been the same with other boyfriends, impulsive, headstrong, quick to fall in and out of love, which just made him wonder why Simon would like him…when the other man was so much more patient and an almost quiet soul. Or was that the thing that had united them? "I think…we balance each other out nicely," he mumbled after a bit, his tangled thoughts voiced after a long pause.
"I'm glad you think so." Tentatively, almost as if he was afraid, Simon tugged Kaye closer to him, tucking him up against his side. "And I think I agree.." His hand moved up, brushing carefully over Kaye's cheek. A comfortable silence sat between them, almost calming in a way. "I didn't– God, a day ago and I never would have imagined any of this would happen.."
Kaye found his shoulders tense up on his own, but Simon was so warm, and smelled so good that he slowly started to loosen up against their side. "What did you– when did you start…liking me?" He murmured tentatively, even though this question had been urging to get out a few moments ago.
Simon carefully rubbed at Kaye's bicep, burying his face in the other man's hair. "I'm not really sure.. I think it happened slowly. I was sort of– very– in denial, I guess, because of my– my past boyfriend. I thought—" He swallowed, closing his eyes. "I though that– never mind. What about you? When did you start liking me?"
"Well…I have to admit that you were a bit intimidating at first," Kaye started with a loose chuckle and shrug, his thumb brushing over Simon's knuckles lightly as if he were tracing their shape. "But I guess– I think that I liked you for a while. It was probably obvious," he murmured.
"Obvious?" Simon let out a quiet chuckle. "Not at all. The date comment at the breakfast place was admittedly disarming, but.. I dunno. I sort of assumed you'd been playing with me, I guess," he admitted, nudging his nose against Kaye's temple. "Not because I thought you were manipulative– I just couldn't fathom how you could like me."
"You couldn't fathom me liking you?" Kaye scoffed, almost in pure disbelief. How could someone like Simon think that someone like himself couldn't ever like them? "You could have anyone in that bar…I'm– I'm lucky that you even noticed me," he added, knowing that the other man had also met them by chance. If it wasn't for that fight, they would have never been sitting here right now.
“What??” Simon withdrew his nose from Kaye’s hair, thoroughly confused. “Kaye, it’s the other way around— how could I possibly have anyone at the bar? Me? Hell, it’s me who was lucky to be noticed by you.”
"Oh please, you should see yourself like I do," Kaye sighed as he glanced up towards Simon, still brushing over their knuckles as he thought through how to word himself. "You're– you're…nearly perfect." He knew the weight that the word carried, that people denied ever being called something like that, but he didn't know how else to describe the other man.
Simon’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly as the word hit home, heart missing a beat. “Perfect?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “You think I’m nearly perfect? Kaye.. I can’t express how touched I am, but you’ve got it wrong. That’s you.”
"No, no," Kaye shook his head, his gaze now completely trained on Simon, not glancing down nervously or tentatively. "I'm not– you're– you… how– how am I the perfect one?" The words struggled to get out, though after a few moments, they finally came out as his brows drew together.
Simon reached out to cup Kaye’s cheek, bolts of electricity shooting through him at the sight of how surely he was looking at him, without hesitation. “God, it would take me until next year to list all the reasons, there are so many.”
Did they…did Simon honestly mean that? That there were so many reasons? "Really– really…?" Kaye finally managed to say after a long pause, the words almost choked out as he felt his face flush under Simon's touch. He quickly averted his gaze for a few moments, trying to compose himself before he glanced back to meet the other man.
By the time Kaye had glanced back at him, Simon had leaned forward until they were nose-to-nose, gazing into the depths of those tawny eyes. “Of course,” he said quietly, earnestly. “Of course.”
Before Simon could finish their last few words, Kaye already closed the distance and pressed their lips together once again. No matter how many times they kissed, he couldn't help but feel his heart skip a few beats at once, gaining some sort of electrifying feeling.
Simon’s breath hitched, fingers threading their way into Kaye’s hair as they were both encased in a perfect bubble of euphoria. His heart thrummed for Kaye and Kaye alone— he hoped to god that the other man knew that.
Kaye leaned forward, away from Simon's side and almost moving onto the other man entirely. He almost lost track of his movements in this setting, letting his hands drift to the back of Simon's neck, fingers hitching on a few soft, blonde curls. God, if only he could describe how he felt to the other man, though this seemed to be the only way he could manage so far.
Simon's blood ran hot at Kaye's touch, his kiss, at the mere thought of him. He didn't bother trying to speak or voice his hopelessly tangled thoughts– what was the point? It was better to explain this way, with his mouth beneath the other man's. Why tell him how he felt when he could show him?
Kaye's finger drifted from Simon's jaw, to shoulder, to collarbone and neck, brushing against their skin as he continued to kiss the other man. Somehow, feeling Simon under him kept him anchored to the moment, not getting to caught up or carried away. But god– part of him really did want to get carried away.
Kaye's touch was like magic, and so was the taste of his mouth. Simon let out a quick breath, winding his arms around the other man and pulling him closer, almost onto his lap. God, I love this. I really, really love this. The thought ran through his mind over and over as if on repeat, accompanied by the only name that sent shivers down his spine. Kaye.
Kaye drew a small gasp as he broke away from Simon, letting the other pull him against their chest. Quickly recovering, he pressed their mouths open once again, his fingers dragging down Simon's sides, trying to elicit some sort of reaction.
Tingles erupted from every place that Kaye touched, blazing a trail down Simon's body. He uttered a faint gasp, pulling Kaye closer still until he was seated directly in his lap. Before he could stop himself, his tongue was slipping into Kaye's mouth, trying to coat itself with the taste of him.
A noise between a groan and a gasp escaped Kaye when the other slipped their tongue into their mouth, and he couldn't help but melt at the feeling. God– he didn't know how Simon made him feel like he was in some sort of hazy euphoria, but he definitely didn't want the other to stop.
The groan only kindled the fire stirring inside of him, his movements grew more urgent, more passionate. He withdrew his tongue, wanting to tease Kaye just a bit.
Kaye's eyes opened at the loss of feeling, his brows drawing together in confusion as he glanced up towards Simon. Did he do something wrong? Or…was the other man playing at something?
Simon offered him a tiny smirk, brushing his lips oh-so-lightly over his. "Your turn to lean," he murmured teasingly, with a 'want it? Come and get it' sort of attitude.
"My turn, huh?" Kaye murmured against Simon's lips, watching the other man for a few moments before he pulled away. If the other was going to tease him, he might as well too. Soon, he leaned forward once again, connecting his lips to Simon's jaw line, placing soft, almost feathery kisses all over the area.