Cory felt surprsied and a little bit nervous at the quality of Juniper's silence following his question. He watched the man's lips part, his eyebrows lift in perhaps astonishment. Cory wasn't entirely sure which part of his question had stunned Juniper, and he certainly didn't know what aspect of it caused tears to begin welling in the man's eyes, but Cory warmed with compassion at the sight. Juniper turned slightly away, looking down toward the ground, and Cory let out a soft, patient exhale.
"Well I..." Juniper started, but words were clearly proving elusive. Juniper blinked his eyes back to Cory, and Cory offered him a warm smile, which he hoped was reassuring. He might not know exactly what was going on for Juniper in this moment, but he was happy to be here for the man. After all, he had been there for Cory on their last meeting, and perhaps Cory could return the favor somewhat. Tears began to flow freely down Juniper's cheeks, and the man fetched a handkerchief from his pocket to dab at his eyes. Cory felt an urge to offer touch, but uncertainty about whether that would be helpful for what Juniper was going through.
"Perhaps... let's assume it's just for us. At least for now. Then, we can..." Juniper took a deep breath, his voice unsteady. "Then, we can have the freedom to do what we'd like."
Juniper looked at Cory again, and Cory nodded, finally mustering the boldness to lean forward and place a hand over Juniper's on his thigh, his thumb gently caressing near the man's wrist.
"Wonderful," Cory said, his voice warm and light. He nodded again, letting out a deep exhale with a quiet, subtle hum. "May I..." His hand lifted from Juniper's slowly, mirroring his other in an open gesture, gently inviting if slightly shy. "I would love to hold you, Juniper."
They could figure out the drawing in due time; right now, Cory wanted to offer and indulge in the comfort and closeness of touch most of all.
Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
As Juniper attempted to get the tears under control, he took a deep breath in and dabbed once more at his eyes. It was ridiculous, wasn't it? Crying like this. Somehow, Juniper just simply hadn't expected such a gift, the gift of not needing to worry what other people thought of him for once. He hadn't even fully realized the potential implications if someone else saw Juniper's nude likeness in a drawing, even in a gallery setting. The rumors, the speculations--Juniper might never hear the end of it.
But then there was a soft sensation of skin against the back of Juniper's other hand where it rested on his thigh, shaking him from his tears entirely as he looked with mild surprise at Cory. Good gods, how many times could this man surprise him? Endlessly, it seemed. Cory's thumb caressed Juniper's wrist with a slow, measured pace that was deeply comforting.
"Wonderful," Cory said, his voice full of that comforting warmth, nodding as he exhaled with a quiet hum that blended into the background pleasantly. "May I..." Cory began, lifting his hand from Juniper's and raising the other as well. Juniper didn't fully understand what was happening until Cory said, "I would love to hold you, Juniper."
Thoughtlessly, Juniper closed his eyes, his lips pulling together in a mildly pained expression. He immediately worried what Cory might make of that and was terrified. He wanted Cory's hand back, but it seemed they had moved on from that now, and Juniper had well and truly made a scene, hadn't he?
"Oh, Cory, it's..." Juniper said, braving a look at the man and then shaking his head. There weren't scripts for this sort of thing, especially not for facing each other on the couch after having fed the other a dessert. How had he ever managed anything of the sort with Henry? It was difficult to remember, and anyway, Juniper didn't want that experience to cloud this moment.
"I'm all right," Juniper added, trying to salvage the situation, "I think I was simply overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness of what you're offering. And the..." Juniper took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself but ultimately unable to complete his thought. "...well. Anyway. I would enjoy a hug, yes. Thank you."
Juniper then stood slowly from the couch, tucking his handkerchief back in his pocket and raising hopeful brows in Cory's direction.
But then there was a soft sensation of skin against the back of Juniper's other hand where it rested on his thigh, shaking him from his tears entirely as he looked with mild surprise at Cory. Good gods, how many times could this man surprise him? Endlessly, it seemed. Cory's thumb caressed Juniper's wrist with a slow, measured pace that was deeply comforting.
"Wonderful," Cory said, his voice full of that comforting warmth, nodding as he exhaled with a quiet hum that blended into the background pleasantly. "May I..." Cory began, lifting his hand from Juniper's and raising the other as well. Juniper didn't fully understand what was happening until Cory said, "I would love to hold you, Juniper."
Thoughtlessly, Juniper closed his eyes, his lips pulling together in a mildly pained expression. He immediately worried what Cory might make of that and was terrified. He wanted Cory's hand back, but it seemed they had moved on from that now, and Juniper had well and truly made a scene, hadn't he?
"Oh, Cory, it's..." Juniper said, braving a look at the man and then shaking his head. There weren't scripts for this sort of thing, especially not for facing each other on the couch after having fed the other a dessert. How had he ever managed anything of the sort with Henry? It was difficult to remember, and anyway, Juniper didn't want that experience to cloud this moment.
"I'm all right," Juniper added, trying to salvage the situation, "I think I was simply overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness of what you're offering. And the..." Juniper took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself but ultimately unable to complete his thought. "...well. Anyway. I would enjoy a hug, yes. Thank you."
Juniper then stood slowly from the couch, tucking his handkerchief back in his pocket and raising hopeful brows in Cory's direction.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Juniper closed his eyes, his lips pulling into a pained expression. Cory's hands withdrew to his own thighs, his expression growing worried.
"Oh, Cory, it's..." Juniper opened his eyes to look at Cory, shaking his head. He didn't look upset to Cory's estimation... perhaps just embarassed or anxious? Cory's mind started to reach toward ways he might put the man at ease, but Juniper went on, "I'm all right. I think I was simply overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness of what you're offering. And the..." Juniper took a shaky breath, and Cory's thumbs subtly pressed in to rub at his own thighs, wishing terribly to offer Juniper comfort but not knowing how. "...well. Anyway. I would enjoy a hug, yes. Thank you."
Cory watched a little dazed as Juniper stood up from the couch and tucked his handkerchief back in his pocket. Juniper looked hopeful when Cory met his eyes, but Cory himself looked a bit uncertain, his lips upturned in a slight gentle smile out of a desire to be comforting but his eyebrows betraying some amount of worry and perhaps sorrow. Still, he gathered together the wherewithal to stand as well, recognizing that remaining seated at this point would only prolong the melachony he felt. He brought a hand up to his chest as he stood, his eyes shifting down toward one of Juniper's hands somewhat absently. He was quiet, feeling nervous about leaving the silence open but not knowing what to say. And, apparently, not feeling ready to enter into a hug.
The hand on Cory's chest idly massaged the tips of its fore and middle fingers into his shirt as he tried to regather something that had wandered away from him somehow. He had a terrible feeling near the back of his ribs, some hot fluttery swirling miasma, which emanated a belief that Cory must have misread something. How had they gone from Juniper sensually feeding Cory a brownie on the couch to standing stiffly in front of one another so quickly?
With a light exhale, Cory lifted his gaze to Juniper again, hoping that refocusing on the man's expression might help Cory to reground in the present moment. Regardless of wherever they had come from, where were they now? That was really what Cory needed to understand.
Juniper had said he felt overwhelmed, and that he would enjoy a hug. Cory wanted to oblige, but he still felt hesitation, nervousness, his own anxiety holding him back, keeping his hand pressed to his chest for comfort. So, what was he anxious about, exactly?
Furrowing his brow apologetically, Cory asked, "Would you... be willing to say anything more about what's on your mind?"
"Oh, Cory, it's..." Juniper opened his eyes to look at Cory, shaking his head. He didn't look upset to Cory's estimation... perhaps just embarassed or anxious? Cory's mind started to reach toward ways he might put the man at ease, but Juniper went on, "I'm all right. I think I was simply overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness of what you're offering. And the..." Juniper took a shaky breath, and Cory's thumbs subtly pressed in to rub at his own thighs, wishing terribly to offer Juniper comfort but not knowing how. "...well. Anyway. I would enjoy a hug, yes. Thank you."
Cory watched a little dazed as Juniper stood up from the couch and tucked his handkerchief back in his pocket. Juniper looked hopeful when Cory met his eyes, but Cory himself looked a bit uncertain, his lips upturned in a slight gentle smile out of a desire to be comforting but his eyebrows betraying some amount of worry and perhaps sorrow. Still, he gathered together the wherewithal to stand as well, recognizing that remaining seated at this point would only prolong the melachony he felt. He brought a hand up to his chest as he stood, his eyes shifting down toward one of Juniper's hands somewhat absently. He was quiet, feeling nervous about leaving the silence open but not knowing what to say. And, apparently, not feeling ready to enter into a hug.
The hand on Cory's chest idly massaged the tips of its fore and middle fingers into his shirt as he tried to regather something that had wandered away from him somehow. He had a terrible feeling near the back of his ribs, some hot fluttery swirling miasma, which emanated a belief that Cory must have misread something. How had they gone from Juniper sensually feeding Cory a brownie on the couch to standing stiffly in front of one another so quickly?
With a light exhale, Cory lifted his gaze to Juniper again, hoping that refocusing on the man's expression might help Cory to reground in the present moment. Regardless of wherever they had come from, where were they now? That was really what Cory needed to understand.
Juniper had said he felt overwhelmed, and that he would enjoy a hug. Cory wanted to oblige, but he still felt hesitation, nervousness, his own anxiety holding him back, keeping his hand pressed to his chest for comfort. So, what was he anxious about, exactly?
Furrowing his brow apologetically, Cory asked, "Would you... be willing to say anything more about what's on your mind?"
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Juniper's eyebrows fell slowly when Cory's smile turn toward pitying. The artist hesitated, still on the couch. At last, Cory stood, and Juniper was pleased, looking forward to setting aside his emotional foray and returning to... well, the question at hand. How clothed would Juniper like to be as Cory drew him? ...just for us. But, Cory brought a hand to his chest and looked down with sadness at Juniper's hand, not moving closer as Juniper had expected.
Cory's hand massaged at his chest, drawing Juniper's attention. Had Cory felt slighted that Juniper had skirted around Cory's offer to hold him? Gods, he had Cory practically on a plate, literally eating out of his hand, and had gone on to reject the man. Why?
As Cory met his gaze, Juniper raised his eyebrows with a gentle question, his expression almost pleading.
Cory's brows furrowed upward with apology as he asked, "Would you... be willing to say anything more about what's on your mind?"
Juniper took a deep breath. He didn't see a way out of this that didn't include a bold-faced confession, at least, if he wanted to continue this interaction with Cory as intended. He couldn't keep hiding behind scripts and polite manners, business-like statements or social graces. He had to be real with Cory, because, Cory had been honest with Juniper and had asked for what he wanted. To hold Juniper. Not for Juniper to hold him? Well, Juniper had been the one in tears.
Looking down at his hands, partly to wonder what Cory had been staring at and partly to afford himself some semblance of calm, he said, "Somehow, up to this point, I've been able to hold two distinct possibilities for our interactions together. One where you enjoy my company and like to discuss museum pieces with me and, yes, perhaps occasionally graze my hand or seek comfort with me..." The story sounded more and more incredulous to Juniper's ears the more he spoke it to someone outside his own mind. He looked at Cory apologetically, his brows lifted with a mild dose of humor. "...and yes, you invited me to your studio with an offer to draw me, but surely you do that often, as a professional. And even..." Juniper closed his eyes and took a breath as he potently recalled the moment, his whole body swaying toward Cory slightly. "...even just now when you let me offer you a bite, that could have been..."
Juniper opened his eyes with an apologetic smile and gently changed directions. "I'm very good about not getting my hopes up with these things. But, then..." Juniper stepped closer to Cory, gently taking each of Cory's hands in his, his heart hammering and stomach catapulting butterflies through his entire torso, telling him the risk was too great, the potential for letdown too much. "...there's the other possibility. One where this is... where this is..." Juniper looked deeply into the pools of Cory's golden brown eyes, searching between one and the other and finding a profound affection for this man budding, blooming, his fingers oh-so-subtly squeezing Cory's soft palms. "I want to be nude in front of you. I want to relish in this secret with you. I want to hold you and for you to hold me and to know what that feels like, and I'm terrified." His tears were finally threatening to return--he could hear them building in his voice as his bottom lip wavered. He redirected himself to the reason he had begun all this. "I thought drawing me would be..." Juniper shook his head and lightly rolled his eyes, "...just for the art, but you saying it could be 'just for us'... Somehow it shattered that impersonal possibility right in front of my eyes, and ultimately..." Juniper brought one of Cory's hands slowly up to his lips and kissed it--why hadn't his earlier kiss broken his illusion? Ah, because he had done it, not Cory. Juniper lowered Cory's hand. "...I'm glad of it, but it surprised me." Juniper nodded, searching Cory's eyes again for a reaction. "So," he said with a slight shrug, "I'm here now. Please tell me if I'm wildly mistaken."
Cory's hand massaged at his chest, drawing Juniper's attention. Had Cory felt slighted that Juniper had skirted around Cory's offer to hold him? Gods, he had Cory practically on a plate, literally eating out of his hand, and had gone on to reject the man. Why?
As Cory met his gaze, Juniper raised his eyebrows with a gentle question, his expression almost pleading.
Cory's brows furrowed upward with apology as he asked, "Would you... be willing to say anything more about what's on your mind?"
Juniper took a deep breath. He didn't see a way out of this that didn't include a bold-faced confession, at least, if he wanted to continue this interaction with Cory as intended. He couldn't keep hiding behind scripts and polite manners, business-like statements or social graces. He had to be real with Cory, because, Cory had been honest with Juniper and had asked for what he wanted. To hold Juniper. Not for Juniper to hold him? Well, Juniper had been the one in tears.
Looking down at his hands, partly to wonder what Cory had been staring at and partly to afford himself some semblance of calm, he said, "Somehow, up to this point, I've been able to hold two distinct possibilities for our interactions together. One where you enjoy my company and like to discuss museum pieces with me and, yes, perhaps occasionally graze my hand or seek comfort with me..." The story sounded more and more incredulous to Juniper's ears the more he spoke it to someone outside his own mind. He looked at Cory apologetically, his brows lifted with a mild dose of humor. "...and yes, you invited me to your studio with an offer to draw me, but surely you do that often, as a professional. And even..." Juniper closed his eyes and took a breath as he potently recalled the moment, his whole body swaying toward Cory slightly. "...even just now when you let me offer you a bite, that could have been..."
Juniper opened his eyes with an apologetic smile and gently changed directions. "I'm very good about not getting my hopes up with these things. But, then..." Juniper stepped closer to Cory, gently taking each of Cory's hands in his, his heart hammering and stomach catapulting butterflies through his entire torso, telling him the risk was too great, the potential for letdown too much. "...there's the other possibility. One where this is... where this is..." Juniper looked deeply into the pools of Cory's golden brown eyes, searching between one and the other and finding a profound affection for this man budding, blooming, his fingers oh-so-subtly squeezing Cory's soft palms. "I want to be nude in front of you. I want to relish in this secret with you. I want to hold you and for you to hold me and to know what that feels like, and I'm terrified." His tears were finally threatening to return--he could hear them building in his voice as his bottom lip wavered. He redirected himself to the reason he had begun all this. "I thought drawing me would be..." Juniper shook his head and lightly rolled his eyes, "...just for the art, but you saying it could be 'just for us'... Somehow it shattered that impersonal possibility right in front of my eyes, and ultimately..." Juniper brought one of Cory's hands slowly up to his lips and kissed it--why hadn't his earlier kiss broken his illusion? Ah, because he had done it, not Cory. Juniper lowered Cory's hand. "...I'm glad of it, but it surprised me." Juniper nodded, searching Cory's eyes again for a reaction. "So," he said with a slight shrug, "I'm here now. Please tell me if I'm wildly mistaken."
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Juniper took a deep breath and looked down at his hands. Briefly, Cory's eyes followed, but they returned to Juniper's face when the man started speaking, although Juniper's eyes remained downcast.
"Somehow, up to this point, I've been able to hold two distinct possibilities for our interactions together. One where you enjoy my company and like to discuss museum pieces with me and, yes, perhaps occasionally graze my hand or seek comfort with me..."
Those things were certainly not untrue, but Cory imagined there was a contrast looming on Juniper's mind. He wished he could spare them both the angst and simply vanquish it, but he hadn't the confidence to interrupt. The man looked back up to Cory, his own apologetic expression on his face, though his brows were lifted with a mild hint of bemusement, which seemed a good sign. Cory intuitively mirrored the bemusement with a dash of relief, feeling resonance with the expression.
"...and yes," Juniper continued, "you invited me to your studio with an offer to draw me, but surely you do that often, as a professional. And even..." Juniper closed his eyes, his body swaying toward Cory in a way that very nearly made Cory want to step forward and hug him already, but he held himself still, although his hand did absent-mindedly lower to his side, his chest no longer needing its comfort.
"...even just now when you let me offer you a bite, that could have been..." Cory swallowed, his eyebrows rising in gentle surprise, and perhaps slight embarrassment. It was one thing to think that Cory might offer to draw someone casually, even nude, but the idea that Cory might casually eat from someone else's hand...
Juniper's eyes opened again with an apologetic smile, and Cory averted his gaze briefly, a bout of shyness overcoming his determination to take everything in. Juniper went on nonetheless.
"I'm very good about not getting my hopes up with these things. But, then..." Juniper surprised Cory by stepping closer and taking Cory's hands, and Cory let out a soft gasp, blinking down almost as if to confirm that the touch that he felt was really happening.
"...there's the other possibility. One where this is... where this is..." Cory felt Juniper's gaze on him and he shyly raised his eyes, his heart pounding heavily in his chest as he did so. And, he loved the way that Juniper looked into his eyes. The man's green eyes positively gleamed with affection, interest, searching, and Cory's expression relaxed into a hopeful happiness, all the more blissful when Juniper's fingers gently squeezed Cory's palms, and Cory squeezed back in kind.
"I want to be nude in front of you. I want to relish in this secret with you." Elation danced and spiraled within Cory, his smile steadily brightening. "I want to hold you and for you to hold me and to know what that feels like, and I'm terrified." Cory's heart swelled with sympathy, and he gently squeezed Juniper's hands again.
"I thought drawing me would be..." Juniper shook his head and lightly rolled his eyes, "...just for the art, but you saying it could be 'just for us'... Somehow it shattered that impersonal possibility right in front of my eyes, and ultimately..." Cory watched breathlessly as Juniper slowly brought one of Cory's hands up to his lips, his skin preemptively tingling with memories of a similar gesture just moments before on the couch, and a subtle pleasant shiver rippling through him as Juniper's lips made contact now, helping to tie that moment and this one together affirmingly; Cory hadn't misread things.
"...I'm glad of it, but it surprised me." Juniper nodded, his eyes returning to Cory's with that lovely attentive searching. "So," he concluded, "I'm here now. Please tell me if I'm wildly mistaken."
Cory gently shook his head, the gesture slow and indulgent as his mind hazily began to pull together words. He felt an impulse to reach a hand up and stroke Juniper's face, but he felt stilled a little by Juniper's hands in his, and instead his thumbs offered gentle caresses to Juniper's knuckles.
"I would love to draw you nude, Juniper" Cory finally mustered, only after he surrendered to his impulses speaking, his mind altogether unable to plan his words ahead of time. He blushed deeply now, but his eyes remained calmly open to Juniper, if growing a little heavy, and he went on, "Not just for the art. I don't just want to draw your body. I want..." Another impulse arose in his hands, and Cory finally found the boldness to pull one of his hands away from Juniper's to rest it on the man's chest, fingertips curling just subtly against his vest. "I want to embrace the affection and sensuality between us. When I draw you, when I touch you, when I eat food from your hand. There's something absolutely beautiful here, and I want to explore it. Every chance that I can get." Cory slowly applied more pressure on Juniper's chest as he spoke, leaning in subtly closer with each word. He was breathy by the end of it, his eyelids decidedly heavy, his gaze at last falling to Juniper's lips with longing.
"May I kiss you?" he murmured, swallowing and wetting his lips in the wake of it with anticipation, but he waited there for Juniper's response.
"Somehow, up to this point, I've been able to hold two distinct possibilities for our interactions together. One where you enjoy my company and like to discuss museum pieces with me and, yes, perhaps occasionally graze my hand or seek comfort with me..."
Those things were certainly not untrue, but Cory imagined there was a contrast looming on Juniper's mind. He wished he could spare them both the angst and simply vanquish it, but he hadn't the confidence to interrupt. The man looked back up to Cory, his own apologetic expression on his face, though his brows were lifted with a mild hint of bemusement, which seemed a good sign. Cory intuitively mirrored the bemusement with a dash of relief, feeling resonance with the expression.
"...and yes," Juniper continued, "you invited me to your studio with an offer to draw me, but surely you do that often, as a professional. And even..." Juniper closed his eyes, his body swaying toward Cory in a way that very nearly made Cory want to step forward and hug him already, but he held himself still, although his hand did absent-mindedly lower to his side, his chest no longer needing its comfort.
"...even just now when you let me offer you a bite, that could have been..." Cory swallowed, his eyebrows rising in gentle surprise, and perhaps slight embarrassment. It was one thing to think that Cory might offer to draw someone casually, even nude, but the idea that Cory might casually eat from someone else's hand...
Juniper's eyes opened again with an apologetic smile, and Cory averted his gaze briefly, a bout of shyness overcoming his determination to take everything in. Juniper went on nonetheless.
"I'm very good about not getting my hopes up with these things. But, then..." Juniper surprised Cory by stepping closer and taking Cory's hands, and Cory let out a soft gasp, blinking down almost as if to confirm that the touch that he felt was really happening.
"...there's the other possibility. One where this is... where this is..." Cory felt Juniper's gaze on him and he shyly raised his eyes, his heart pounding heavily in his chest as he did so. And, he loved the way that Juniper looked into his eyes. The man's green eyes positively gleamed with affection, interest, searching, and Cory's expression relaxed into a hopeful happiness, all the more blissful when Juniper's fingers gently squeezed Cory's palms, and Cory squeezed back in kind.
"I want to be nude in front of you. I want to relish in this secret with you." Elation danced and spiraled within Cory, his smile steadily brightening. "I want to hold you and for you to hold me and to know what that feels like, and I'm terrified." Cory's heart swelled with sympathy, and he gently squeezed Juniper's hands again.
"I thought drawing me would be..." Juniper shook his head and lightly rolled his eyes, "...just for the art, but you saying it could be 'just for us'... Somehow it shattered that impersonal possibility right in front of my eyes, and ultimately..." Cory watched breathlessly as Juniper slowly brought one of Cory's hands up to his lips, his skin preemptively tingling with memories of a similar gesture just moments before on the couch, and a subtle pleasant shiver rippling through him as Juniper's lips made contact now, helping to tie that moment and this one together affirmingly; Cory hadn't misread things.
"...I'm glad of it, but it surprised me." Juniper nodded, his eyes returning to Cory's with that lovely attentive searching. "So," he concluded, "I'm here now. Please tell me if I'm wildly mistaken."
Cory gently shook his head, the gesture slow and indulgent as his mind hazily began to pull together words. He felt an impulse to reach a hand up and stroke Juniper's face, but he felt stilled a little by Juniper's hands in his, and instead his thumbs offered gentle caresses to Juniper's knuckles.
"I would love to draw you nude, Juniper" Cory finally mustered, only after he surrendered to his impulses speaking, his mind altogether unable to plan his words ahead of time. He blushed deeply now, but his eyes remained calmly open to Juniper, if growing a little heavy, and he went on, "Not just for the art. I don't just want to draw your body. I want..." Another impulse arose in his hands, and Cory finally found the boldness to pull one of his hands away from Juniper's to rest it on the man's chest, fingertips curling just subtly against his vest. "I want to embrace the affection and sensuality between us. When I draw you, when I touch you, when I eat food from your hand. There's something absolutely beautiful here, and I want to explore it. Every chance that I can get." Cory slowly applied more pressure on Juniper's chest as he spoke, leaning in subtly closer with each word. He was breathy by the end of it, his eyelids decidedly heavy, his gaze at last falling to Juniper's lips with longing.
"May I kiss you?" he murmured, swallowing and wetting his lips in the wake of it with anticipation, but he waited there for Juniper's response.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Juniper did not need to wait long for Cory's response, though he could hear his heartbeat in his ears. Cory's head shifted slowly, indulgently, from side to side with a soft, awed smile on his face. The movement was so beautiful that it took Juniper a moment to realize it as a form of communication. No, he was not wildly mistaken? Or perhaps, no, Cory could not accept what Juniper was offering? Sparks of anticipation flared in his stomach.
As Cory's thumbs gently stroked across Juniper's knuckles, Cory said, "I would love to draw you nude, Juniper," and Juniper swallowed grimly, his face falling out of hope. It was almost an echo of what Cory had said in the curtained museum room, a reiteration of what they were actually here for.
Except, Cory blushed and went on, his eyes steadily gazing into Juniper's, his eyelids heavy, his fingers lightly and sweetly exploring Juniper's hands. "Not just for the art. I don't just want to draw your body. I want..."
One of Cory's hands lifted out of Juniper's and instead gently planted itself on Juniper's chest, stealing breath from his lungs as Cory's fingertips curled such that he could feel the pressure of them through his clothing. Juniper closed his eyes, trying to take all this in, attempting to convince himself that Cory was being truthful about everything he had said.
Juniper's eyes opened abruptly, his brows pulled together in a gentle plea, meeting Cory's as the artist began speaking again. "I want to embrace the affection and sensuality between us..." Cory leaned closer into Juniper, the pressure applied to his chest growing heavier as though Cory were trying to push the sentiment directly into Juniper's own heart. It was working. "When I draw you, when I touch you, when I eat food from your hand. There's something absolutely beautiful here, and I want to explore it. Every chance that I can get."
Affection and sensuality. Cory had named what was between them, and so beautifully. Affection and sensuality. There was a rush of sensation throughout Juniper's mind as his attention washed through the carefully catalogued memories he had with Cory, finally allowing himself to embrace the mutuality of their interest, each moment now bathed in a delightful pink glow.
Cory's gaze fell lower on Juniper's face, toward his lips, Juniper realized, and he wet them unconsciously, his breathing steadily picking up.
"May I kiss you?" Cory said in a voice just above a whisper as he swallowed, his syllables heavy with invitation and longing. Juniper's body swayed gently forward again, almost attempting to answer for him, as Juniper's eyelids closed, eyes rolling back lightly, lips tingling.
"Yes, Cory," Juniper said, his voice reverberating through his chest and into Cory's hand. "Yes." Though Cory had asked to be the one to act, Juniper himself could hardly help the way he took a gentle step forward, his free hand coming up to caress the place where the edge of Cory's jaw met his neck, just the way he had done briefly the night they stood together under the maples. He intuitively applied subtle pressure there with his thumb as he slowly brought his lips closer to Cory's. He thought of the maple leaf Cory had so lovingly and meticulously drawn on the invitation to his studio, and he allowed that to be washed with the same affection and sensuality as the rest of the memories he had kept nested in a careful stack like pages fallen out of an old book.
His hand then moved slowly, luxuriating in every soft texture of Cory's skin, to the back of Cory's neck, cradling his head, butterflies catapulting through the whirlwind that was his stomach. Juniper softly let go of Cory's other hand and wrapped his arm affectionately around the back of Cory's waist.
With his lips mere inches from Cory's, his voice only breath, Juniper said again, "Yes, Cory. Yes."
As Cory's thumbs gently stroked across Juniper's knuckles, Cory said, "I would love to draw you nude, Juniper," and Juniper swallowed grimly, his face falling out of hope. It was almost an echo of what Cory had said in the curtained museum room, a reiteration of what they were actually here for.
Except, Cory blushed and went on, his eyes steadily gazing into Juniper's, his eyelids heavy, his fingers lightly and sweetly exploring Juniper's hands. "Not just for the art. I don't just want to draw your body. I want..."
One of Cory's hands lifted out of Juniper's and instead gently planted itself on Juniper's chest, stealing breath from his lungs as Cory's fingertips curled such that he could feel the pressure of them through his clothing. Juniper closed his eyes, trying to take all this in, attempting to convince himself that Cory was being truthful about everything he had said.
Juniper's eyes opened abruptly, his brows pulled together in a gentle plea, meeting Cory's as the artist began speaking again. "I want to embrace the affection and sensuality between us..." Cory leaned closer into Juniper, the pressure applied to his chest growing heavier as though Cory were trying to push the sentiment directly into Juniper's own heart. It was working. "When I draw you, when I touch you, when I eat food from your hand. There's something absolutely beautiful here, and I want to explore it. Every chance that I can get."
Affection and sensuality. Cory had named what was between them, and so beautifully. Affection and sensuality. There was a rush of sensation throughout Juniper's mind as his attention washed through the carefully catalogued memories he had with Cory, finally allowing himself to embrace the mutuality of their interest, each moment now bathed in a delightful pink glow.
Cory's gaze fell lower on Juniper's face, toward his lips, Juniper realized, and he wet them unconsciously, his breathing steadily picking up.
"May I kiss you?" Cory said in a voice just above a whisper as he swallowed, his syllables heavy with invitation and longing. Juniper's body swayed gently forward again, almost attempting to answer for him, as Juniper's eyelids closed, eyes rolling back lightly, lips tingling.
"Yes, Cory," Juniper said, his voice reverberating through his chest and into Cory's hand. "Yes." Though Cory had asked to be the one to act, Juniper himself could hardly help the way he took a gentle step forward, his free hand coming up to caress the place where the edge of Cory's jaw met his neck, just the way he had done briefly the night they stood together under the maples. He intuitively applied subtle pressure there with his thumb as he slowly brought his lips closer to Cory's. He thought of the maple leaf Cory had so lovingly and meticulously drawn on the invitation to his studio, and he allowed that to be washed with the same affection and sensuality as the rest of the memories he had kept nested in a careful stack like pages fallen out of an old book.
His hand then moved slowly, luxuriating in every soft texture of Cory's skin, to the back of Cory's neck, cradling his head, butterflies catapulting through the whirlwind that was his stomach. Juniper softly let go of Cory's other hand and wrapped his arm affectionately around the back of Cory's waist.
With his lips mere inches from Cory's, his voice only breath, Juniper said again, "Yes, Cory. Yes."
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Cory was content to watch Juniper's lips, feeling the gentle sway of the man's body in response to his question. He felt positively serene, even as a pleasant anticipation buzzed beneath his skin.
"Yes, Cory," Juniper said, his voice reverberating through his chest and into Cory's hand. "Yes."
Cory drew in a soft breath, grounding himself in preparation, but then, delightfully, Juniper went and made the next move. He took a step toward Cory, bringing them even closer together, and his free hand came up to caress Cory's neck just beneath his jaw, sending shivers down Cory's skin and pulling his soft breath right back out of him in pleasant surprise. Cory's eyelids fluttered, thrill beginning to overtake his serenity as he reveled in Juniper's closeness, his lips approaching Cory's as though Juniper might just close the gap himself. Cory would be content to let him, too busy melting into the caress of Juniper's fingers moving slowly to the back of his neck, his other hand releasing Cory's to wrap around the artist's waist.
"Yes, Cory," Juniper whispered instead, sending tingles over Cory's lips. "Yes."
Cory brought his newly-freed hand up to caress his thumb with a slow, sweet affection over Juniper's jaw and neck, his fingertips playing just lightly in the lower edges of the man's hair to coax him yet closer. Cory's own posture shifted forward as his eyes slid fully shut, and finally he brought their lips softly together.
He didn't feel the need to do anything fancy--it was more than enough to just meet this man's lips with his own, gently pressing his affection into the contact and enjoying the sweet soft texture of this tantalizing skin. His lungs slowly, gently, drew a breath in through his nose over a long moment, and at last when they were filled, Cory took that as his cue to pull back just slightly, just enough to exhale slowly and lightly through his mouth, letting the very outer edges of his lips just lightly trail along Juniper's skin, curious and patient and attentive to how Juniper responded. Cory would be more than happy to press his lips in again if Juniper's lips seemed eager for more contact, or he'd be content to pull away, slowly and gently, if instead the man's lips seemed shy or ready for more space. Cory himself would be quite blissful either way, just happy that they had so beautifully crossed this threshold together.
"Yes, Cory," Juniper said, his voice reverberating through his chest and into Cory's hand. "Yes."
Cory drew in a soft breath, grounding himself in preparation, but then, delightfully, Juniper went and made the next move. He took a step toward Cory, bringing them even closer together, and his free hand came up to caress Cory's neck just beneath his jaw, sending shivers down Cory's skin and pulling his soft breath right back out of him in pleasant surprise. Cory's eyelids fluttered, thrill beginning to overtake his serenity as he reveled in Juniper's closeness, his lips approaching Cory's as though Juniper might just close the gap himself. Cory would be content to let him, too busy melting into the caress of Juniper's fingers moving slowly to the back of his neck, his other hand releasing Cory's to wrap around the artist's waist.
"Yes, Cory," Juniper whispered instead, sending tingles over Cory's lips. "Yes."
Cory brought his newly-freed hand up to caress his thumb with a slow, sweet affection over Juniper's jaw and neck, his fingertips playing just lightly in the lower edges of the man's hair to coax him yet closer. Cory's own posture shifted forward as his eyes slid fully shut, and finally he brought their lips softly together.
He didn't feel the need to do anything fancy--it was more than enough to just meet this man's lips with his own, gently pressing his affection into the contact and enjoying the sweet soft texture of this tantalizing skin. His lungs slowly, gently, drew a breath in through his nose over a long moment, and at last when they were filled, Cory took that as his cue to pull back just slightly, just enough to exhale slowly and lightly through his mouth, letting the very outer edges of his lips just lightly trail along Juniper's skin, curious and patient and attentive to how Juniper responded. Cory would be more than happy to press his lips in again if Juniper's lips seemed eager for more contact, or he'd be content to pull away, slowly and gently, if instead the man's lips seemed shy or ready for more space. Cory himself would be quite blissful either way, just happy that they had so beautifully crossed this threshold together.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Juniper would have believed that Cory's hand was radiating heat for all the sensitivity his own skin felt underneath Cory's gentle pressure. With his hands pushing up under Cory's loose low ponytail and soaking in the warmth of Cory's lower back, Juniper waited, his eyes heavy with want, his heart eager for patience.
Perhaps he could have spent the rest of his life suspended in the moment while he waited for Cory's lips to touch his, a quirk of an anticipatory smile attempting to appear on his face.
Cory's free hand reached up to run his thumb slowly along the ridge of Juniper's jaw, tracing it back until Cory's fingers brushed the ends of Juniper's hair, cut much closer there than the lazy curls atop his head. Cory's fingertips over that sensitive skin sent shivers through the length of Juniper's body, almost pulling Juniper off balance, though he steadied himself with half a step closer to Cory.
Leaning forward, Cory's eyes slid shut, closing the distance between them while Juniper stayed still for that moment when Cory well and fully closed this threshold. Juniper's eyes finally fluttered closed as they connected, Cory's lips forming sweet and soft against his, unmoving for the span of an inhale. Pulling away, his exhale a gentle breeze against Juniper's lips, Cory hovered again, patient and attentive.
An opening. An invitation.
A chance to pull away.
Juniper did not. Using the hand on Cory's back to pull the man more fully against him, Juniper closed the distance between them again, the kiss holding the slightest addition of pressure from the additional contact of their bodies.
Please, take me somewhere I can touch you, Juniper heard resounding in his mind as his lips formed against Cory's, the tiniest edge of his teeth coming to graze the skin on the top of Cory's bottom lip as he pulled back, resting his forehead against Cory's. They had done it. They had well and truly done it. They could be exactly who they were here together.
"Cory..." Juniper whispered, the two syllables a love letter onto themselves as Juniper attempted to say the artist's name with the same lilting tone as Cory had first said his.
Perhaps he could have spent the rest of his life suspended in the moment while he waited for Cory's lips to touch his, a quirk of an anticipatory smile attempting to appear on his face.
Cory's free hand reached up to run his thumb slowly along the ridge of Juniper's jaw, tracing it back until Cory's fingers brushed the ends of Juniper's hair, cut much closer there than the lazy curls atop his head. Cory's fingertips over that sensitive skin sent shivers through the length of Juniper's body, almost pulling Juniper off balance, though he steadied himself with half a step closer to Cory.
Leaning forward, Cory's eyes slid shut, closing the distance between them while Juniper stayed still for that moment when Cory well and fully closed this threshold. Juniper's eyes finally fluttered closed as they connected, Cory's lips forming sweet and soft against his, unmoving for the span of an inhale. Pulling away, his exhale a gentle breeze against Juniper's lips, Cory hovered again, patient and attentive.
An opening. An invitation.
A chance to pull away.
Juniper did not. Using the hand on Cory's back to pull the man more fully against him, Juniper closed the distance between them again, the kiss holding the slightest addition of pressure from the additional contact of their bodies.
Please, take me somewhere I can touch you, Juniper heard resounding in his mind as his lips formed against Cory's, the tiniest edge of his teeth coming to graze the skin on the top of Cory's bottom lip as he pulled back, resting his forehead against Cory's. They had done it. They had well and truly done it. They could be exactly who they were here together.
"Cory..." Juniper whispered, the two syllables a love letter onto themselves as Juniper attempted to say the artist's name with the same lilting tone as Cory had first said his.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
It was a thrill and a delight to feel Juniper's hand subtly increase its presure on Cory's back, guiding Cory's body closer to Juniper's as Juniper's lips closed the distance to Cory's again. There was a slow, gentle build to the pressure between them, bodies and lips radiating warmth and affection to one another. It was perfect.
Juniper began to subtly pull back, though Cory felt the man's teeth lightly graze his bottom lip as he did, stealing Cory's breath a moment longer. Juniper rested his forehead against Cory's, which Cory happily leaned into, his hand on the man's chest warmly rubbing up over Juniper's shoulder, subtly pulling them just that much closer.
"Cory..." Juniper whispered, and something about the way that his mouth cradled the syllables sent ecstatic tingles over Cory's scalp and shoulders--or, maybe it was Juniper's fingers in his hair, or maybe both.
"Juniper..." Cory echoed in kind, his hand on Juniper's shoulder pressing into the muscle there, and his other hand sliding its fingers farther into Juniper's hair with a slow caress.
As the tingles finished dancing over Cory's skin, he contemplated leaning back in for another kiss--his neck may have even tilted forward a millimeter that direction--but then he remembered the destination of drawing Juniper nude that he would love to get to. Toward that end, Cory's hands oh-so-slowly caressed down Juniper's chest, approaching the top button on the man's vest with a sweet, patient, and undeniable intention to begin tugging it undone.
If Juniper remained open throughout that approach, then Cory would indulge his lips in another approach of their own, equally as sweet and patient, and lingering in that breathy closeness just before touch, letting Juniper decide when and whether to close that gap once more, while Cory's fingers gently followed through on their intentions.
Juniper began to subtly pull back, though Cory felt the man's teeth lightly graze his bottom lip as he did, stealing Cory's breath a moment longer. Juniper rested his forehead against Cory's, which Cory happily leaned into, his hand on the man's chest warmly rubbing up over Juniper's shoulder, subtly pulling them just that much closer.
"Cory..." Juniper whispered, and something about the way that his mouth cradled the syllables sent ecstatic tingles over Cory's scalp and shoulders--or, maybe it was Juniper's fingers in his hair, or maybe both.
"Juniper..." Cory echoed in kind, his hand on Juniper's shoulder pressing into the muscle there, and his other hand sliding its fingers farther into Juniper's hair with a slow caress.
As the tingles finished dancing over Cory's skin, he contemplated leaning back in for another kiss--his neck may have even tilted forward a millimeter that direction--but then he remembered the destination of drawing Juniper nude that he would love to get to. Toward that end, Cory's hands oh-so-slowly caressed down Juniper's chest, approaching the top button on the man's vest with a sweet, patient, and undeniable intention to begin tugging it undone.
If Juniper remained open throughout that approach, then Cory would indulge his lips in another approach of their own, equally as sweet and patient, and lingering in that breathy closeness just before touch, letting Juniper decide when and whether to close that gap once more, while Cory's fingers gently followed through on their intentions.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
The hand that Cory previously had planted against Juniper's chest slid up over Juniper's shoulder, pulling them even closer together and banishing any doubts Juniper had that Cory absolutely wanted this.
"Juniper..." Cory said in response, sending a radiating tingle of delight from his ears down both sides of Juniper's body at once, the sensations each meeting in his low belly as a halting gasp escaped his throat. So many memories and fantasies culminated in the sound of Cory saying Juniper's name, all here collected between them, making them real. Cory pressed into Juniper's shoulder, almost a massage, and the artist's fingers moved into the length of Juniper's hair, sending cascading trickles of pleasure throughout his scalp in the anticipatory silence between them.
Should they break away and begin the process of drawing? Or could they linger here with another kiss? Cory's impulse seemed to be the latter as he tilted his neck to meet Juniper's lips again, but he stopped himself and instead slowly pulled his hands down until they both lingered on Juniper's chest, the sweetly quiet huff of Cory's breath warming Juniper's throat.
But Cory's hands were not flat against him. No, they were tugging slightly, and Juniper looked down to see them playfully poised to begin undoing his top vest button. More excitement pooled deep in Juniper's belly, causing another shuddering breath and a gentle roll of his eyes as he contemplated where they were headed. If Cory had stopped himself from continuing their kiss in favor of undoing buttons, perhaps the artist, too, had inclinations to direct them toward that end. That was what they had agreed on, was it not? In every prior imagining of this moment, he had assumed he would be the one to undress himself--he hadn't been prepared to so much as hope that Cory would do the honors instead.
Or, perhaps, was Cory taking them in another direction entirely?
Juniper's stomach simultaneously erupted into butterflies and clenched, the resulting turmoil a mildly painful cacophony. He took a deep breath and reassured himself that he wasn't saying yes to anything more than being undressed. Once there, he could reassess the situation. And, really, wouldn't he like to go down that other possible road with Cory? Did he really have it in him to stop the artist from exploring the paths leading to greater affection and sensuality?
There's an art to this as well, Juniper thought with a small smile as Cory gently worked the top button free and his hands so gracefully moved onto the next. We've been this patient already--there's no reason to speed things along now just because we know.
He trusted Cory. He trusted Cory to keep to what they had agreed to--Cory had asked before kissing him, after all. And, he trusted Cory's hands to keep to their slow, indulgent exploration the way they had the entire time they had spent together, from the party to the museum to now. Yes, Juniper could simply let himself relish in this moment and every tiny movement of Cory's fingers. Juniper gently tightened his fingers around and through Cory's hair just enough to remind the artist that they were there, and he pressed his forehead against Cory's encouragingly. Yes, continue, he thought.
But then Cory's jaw tilted again, lips reaching for his while Cory's hands worked the second button free, and Juniper closed the breathy gap Cory left between them all at once with a rush of longing, allowing himself to feel all the desire that had accumulated over these past few weeks as he pressed his hunger into Cory's lips, taking Cory's bottom lip between his own before pulling away again gently to catch his breath and tuck the raw, tender edges of his desire back into the more manageable location of his chest. Tears sprang into Juniper's eyes, though not enough to fall.
Juniper risked another confession, his face still too close to Cory's to see anything more than the artist's hands working against his clothing. "I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have imagined this moment."
"Juniper..." Cory said in response, sending a radiating tingle of delight from his ears down both sides of Juniper's body at once, the sensations each meeting in his low belly as a halting gasp escaped his throat. So many memories and fantasies culminated in the sound of Cory saying Juniper's name, all here collected between them, making them real. Cory pressed into Juniper's shoulder, almost a massage, and the artist's fingers moved into the length of Juniper's hair, sending cascading trickles of pleasure throughout his scalp in the anticipatory silence between them.
Should they break away and begin the process of drawing? Or could they linger here with another kiss? Cory's impulse seemed to be the latter as he tilted his neck to meet Juniper's lips again, but he stopped himself and instead slowly pulled his hands down until they both lingered on Juniper's chest, the sweetly quiet huff of Cory's breath warming Juniper's throat.
But Cory's hands were not flat against him. No, they were tugging slightly, and Juniper looked down to see them playfully poised to begin undoing his top vest button. More excitement pooled deep in Juniper's belly, causing another shuddering breath and a gentle roll of his eyes as he contemplated where they were headed. If Cory had stopped himself from continuing their kiss in favor of undoing buttons, perhaps the artist, too, had inclinations to direct them toward that end. That was what they had agreed on, was it not? In every prior imagining of this moment, he had assumed he would be the one to undress himself--he hadn't been prepared to so much as hope that Cory would do the honors instead.
Or, perhaps, was Cory taking them in another direction entirely?
Juniper's stomach simultaneously erupted into butterflies and clenched, the resulting turmoil a mildly painful cacophony. He took a deep breath and reassured himself that he wasn't saying yes to anything more than being undressed. Once there, he could reassess the situation. And, really, wouldn't he like to go down that other possible road with Cory? Did he really have it in him to stop the artist from exploring the paths leading to greater affection and sensuality?
There's an art to this as well, Juniper thought with a small smile as Cory gently worked the top button free and his hands so gracefully moved onto the next. We've been this patient already--there's no reason to speed things along now just because we know.
He trusted Cory. He trusted Cory to keep to what they had agreed to--Cory had asked before kissing him, after all. And, he trusted Cory's hands to keep to their slow, indulgent exploration the way they had the entire time they had spent together, from the party to the museum to now. Yes, Juniper could simply let himself relish in this moment and every tiny movement of Cory's fingers. Juniper gently tightened his fingers around and through Cory's hair just enough to remind the artist that they were there, and he pressed his forehead against Cory's encouragingly. Yes, continue, he thought.
But then Cory's jaw tilted again, lips reaching for his while Cory's hands worked the second button free, and Juniper closed the breathy gap Cory left between them all at once with a rush of longing, allowing himself to feel all the desire that had accumulated over these past few weeks as he pressed his hunger into Cory's lips, taking Cory's bottom lip between his own before pulling away again gently to catch his breath and tuck the raw, tender edges of his desire back into the more manageable location of his chest. Tears sprang into Juniper's eyes, though not enough to fall.
Juniper risked another confession, his face still too close to Cory's to see anything more than the artist's hands working against his clothing. "I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have imagined this moment."