Cory was deeply attentive to the subtle ways that Juniper seemed to tense and relax beneath his touch. It seemed to be something internal rippling through the man, and Cory's fingers patiently let it pass, until there was a sense of welcome and openness again, and they continued. It was truly a delight to indulge in this spacious listening, this attentive exploration. No rushing, no extra noise making it difficult to hear the silent language of each other's bodies. Cory could almost cry, though instead he shuddered pleasantly as Juniper's fingers curled in his hair, sending pleasant tingles over Cory's scalp and upper back. Juniper invited their foreheads together, and then answered Cory's own breathy invitation of a tilt with a thrilling hunger, his lips meeting Cory's eagerly and taking Cory's bottom lip between them before pulling away, leaving Cory breathless and tugging, just a little, where his fingers grasped the next button of Juniper's vest.
"I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have imagined this moment," Juniper said, and Cory basked in the warmth of it, letting it wash over his body with a slow and gentle understanding, and the effusive happiness that echoed through in its wake.
He felt just a little chagrinned that what came after all that was a flush of awkwardness, though. He felt that he should answer Juniper, ideally with something that might offer Juniper the same delighted rippling warmth, but he fumbled with the words in his mind; it was difficult to imagine anything he was coming up with landing in the way that he wanted it to. So, surrendering to the awkwardness and abandoning the idea of making Juniper swoon with words the way that Juniper seemed to so effortlessly do to him, Cory allowed himself to sway forward a little and rest his forehead against Juniper's shoulder, his hands resting for a moment with another gentle tug on Juniper's vest. He was happy--effusively, blissfully happy--and he hoped that that would radiate out from him, through the small gap of air between their chests, and the sweet points of contact of their fingers and scalp and forehead and shoulder. He just needed to bask here for a moment, to feel every ounce of this joy in his body.
"I feel so lucky," Cory finally breathed, tugging just a little more firmly at Juniper's vest.
Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Cory's momentary silence kicked a swirl of heady anxiety into Juniper's otherwise pristine bliss, but the artist eventually settled his forehead down against Juniper's shoulder as his fingers tugged Juniper's vest, resting with only two buttons to go. Juniper gently pulled Cory further into the embrace, wondering if he might start crying again. Perhaps Juniper wanted to take his vest off before that happened. Before he could move to do that, however, Cory spoke.
"I feel so lucky," the artist breathed, tugging again on Juniper's vest and pulling the air out of Juniper's lungs. He felt lucky? Perhaps the brownies had had even more of an effect than Juniper had anticipated. Cory had offered to draw Juniper in the nude, and Cory was the one who felt lucky? Well, from the sound of it, Cory wasn't crying--there was a smile and maybe even a laugh of overwhelmed awe in his voice, which relaxed Juniper's muscles again, the swirl of anxiety settling slowly like a dust mote in the sunshine.
Juniper softly and slowly stroked his fingertips up and down what he could reach of Cory's spine, his other hand similarly luxuriating underneath Cory's ponytail. He was so grateful that Cory hadn't been scared away by his confession--and had delighted in it, even. Juniper placed a soft kiss in Cory's hair, swaying slightly and tempted to start humming. Where could they dance like this together? Nowhere yet in existence that Juniper knew of. Soon, he thought. Soon.
For now, they could dance here, under the lights of Cory's art studio, with three of Juniper's vest buttons undone and the promise of more dessert. The appreciation of angles and lines could fill up the whole of the afternoon, if they wanted. How had they both stumbled into this wonder? Juniper thought, marveling. There was a natural closeness in sharing a secret together, Juniper mused. There was another side to the world that only people like them understood, a terrifying, wondrous world of hushed curiosity and patient tenderness. Juniper thought of that first night they met at the lounge, their second meeting at the party as Cory's lips curved around the sweetness of the strawberry, the moment Juniper asked Cory into the curtained room of the museum. They had been patient, and here were the fruits of that harvest, seeds sown, grown, and blowing gently in the space between their bodies. And how much more to come? For a moment, Juniper wondered at their possible futures--Juniper with his arm around Cory in the new lounge for people like them, Cory kissing Juniper's cheek as he made them both dinner, Juniper gently wiping paint from Cory's collarbone--and Juniper shivered with want before he could quite suppress the impulse, pulling himself back fully into the wonder that was the present.
He wanted to run his hands up under Cory's shirt and feel the warmth of his chest, but he refrained. He did not want to ruin or scare away this moment. It was a precious and sacred thing. Juniper didn't want to think about tomorrow, about how they would need to be discreet next they met, about what other people would think if they found out. He simply wanted to hold Cory in his arms like this and sway gently to the music of their shared breath.
"I feel so lucky," the artist breathed, tugging again on Juniper's vest and pulling the air out of Juniper's lungs. He felt lucky? Perhaps the brownies had had even more of an effect than Juniper had anticipated. Cory had offered to draw Juniper in the nude, and Cory was the one who felt lucky? Well, from the sound of it, Cory wasn't crying--there was a smile and maybe even a laugh of overwhelmed awe in his voice, which relaxed Juniper's muscles again, the swirl of anxiety settling slowly like a dust mote in the sunshine.
Juniper softly and slowly stroked his fingertips up and down what he could reach of Cory's spine, his other hand similarly luxuriating underneath Cory's ponytail. He was so grateful that Cory hadn't been scared away by his confession--and had delighted in it, even. Juniper placed a soft kiss in Cory's hair, swaying slightly and tempted to start humming. Where could they dance like this together? Nowhere yet in existence that Juniper knew of. Soon, he thought. Soon.
For now, they could dance here, under the lights of Cory's art studio, with three of Juniper's vest buttons undone and the promise of more dessert. The appreciation of angles and lines could fill up the whole of the afternoon, if they wanted. How had they both stumbled into this wonder? Juniper thought, marveling. There was a natural closeness in sharing a secret together, Juniper mused. There was another side to the world that only people like them understood, a terrifying, wondrous world of hushed curiosity and patient tenderness. Juniper thought of that first night they met at the lounge, their second meeting at the party as Cory's lips curved around the sweetness of the strawberry, the moment Juniper asked Cory into the curtained room of the museum. They had been patient, and here were the fruits of that harvest, seeds sown, grown, and blowing gently in the space between their bodies. And how much more to come? For a moment, Juniper wondered at their possible futures--Juniper with his arm around Cory in the new lounge for people like them, Cory kissing Juniper's cheek as he made them both dinner, Juniper gently wiping paint from Cory's collarbone--and Juniper shivered with want before he could quite suppress the impulse, pulling himself back fully into the wonder that was the present.
He wanted to run his hands up under Cory's shirt and feel the warmth of his chest, but he refrained. He did not want to ruin or scare away this moment. It was a precious and sacred thing. Juniper didn't want to think about tomorrow, about how they would need to be discreet next they met, about what other people would think if they found out. He simply wanted to hold Cory in his arms like this and sway gently to the music of their shared breath.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Juniper welcomed Cory's closeness with a gentle embrace, bringing his free hand to stroke fingertips up and down Cory's spine, his other hand still resting sweetly in Cory's hair. Just when Cory thought he might burst from how bright and radiant the joy in his body was, Juniper placed a kiss in his hair and began to gently sway, pulling Cory into something of a dreamy dance. Cory's hands abandoned Juniper's buttons for a moment in favor of settling on the man's hips, swept up in the subtle motions of each other's bodies and utterly unable to think about buttons. Really, thought was a distant, esoteric thing, hazy amidst the lulling, sweeping serenity of Juniper's fingertips, his shoulder against Cory's forehead, their bodies swaying in tandem through this bliss.
At last the gentle winds of that warm, radiant joy within him crested and swayed Cory to lift his head, so that he could place a kiss on the side of Juniper's neck, his hands gripping a little more firmly at Juniper's hips as if to ground himself with the shape of the man's bones and muscles beneath his fingertips. He pulled back from the kiss only enough to let his breath linger against the man's skin.
"Juniper..." he murmured sweetly, a slow, langurous echo of the way he had turned over those syllables when first he'd heard them, now relishing them with new depth on his tongue. He kissed the man's neck again, and, his body still swaying with whatever gentle tide they floated in together, he slowly drew his fingers back to the remaining buttons on Juniper's vest, and resumed his delicate unclasping, continuing to heed every tiny reaction from Juniper each breath along the way.
At last the gentle winds of that warm, radiant joy within him crested and swayed Cory to lift his head, so that he could place a kiss on the side of Juniper's neck, his hands gripping a little more firmly at Juniper's hips as if to ground himself with the shape of the man's bones and muscles beneath his fingertips. He pulled back from the kiss only enough to let his breath linger against the man's skin.
"Juniper..." he murmured sweetly, a slow, langurous echo of the way he had turned over those syllables when first he'd heard them, now relishing them with new depth on his tongue. He kissed the man's neck again, and, his body still swaying with whatever gentle tide they floated in together, he slowly drew his fingers back to the remaining buttons on Juniper's vest, and resumed his delicate unclasping, continuing to heed every tiny reaction from Juniper each breath along the way.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
As Cory's hands fell gently toward Juniper's hips, Juniper marveled at the ease with which they had slid into a comfortable embrace, a dance, a delight. There was no rush and no urgency, simply a patient understanding that they had earned whatever state of relish they found themselves in. The afternoon could hold it all.
At last, Cory lifted his forehead off from Juniper's and instead brought his lips to Juniper's neck, the warmth causing a cascade of tingling awe throughout the front of Juniper's body. He longed to bathe in the warmth of every inch of Cory's skin, but he contented himself with the thrilling sweetness of Cory's lips and the pressure of Cory's fingers on his hips.
Of course, it couldn't last forever, so Juniper braced himself as Cory's lips left his neck, but the man lingered, murmuring, "Juniper..." Gods above, the feel of Cory's breath in the shape of his name threatened to fill Juniper's chest beyond capacity, his body swaying toward Cory's mildly out of step on account of the magnetism of the moment. How far they had come since that first time Cory had said Juniper's name and how different it sounded now off his lips, rich with the weight of confirmation. Cory kissed Juniper's neck a second time, stealing any chance of Juniper luxuriating indulgently again in the sounds of Cory's name, breath lost.
Somehow, Cory's fingers found their place once more on the buttons of Juniper's vest, and Juniper's mind sluggishly remembered the intention toward nudity. Juniper's nudity. He had half an urge to feel embarrassment at the state his body was in--his thoughts jumping ahead of their own accord--but surely it would almost be an insult if his body hadn't been affected by the smooth curves of Cory's lips against the sensitive skin of his neck?
With both of their confessions hanging so recently in the air, Juniper feared he may have forgotten how to breathe altogether. He wanted to spend the afternoon kissing this man from every angle, admiring every contour and detail. Was it just that Juniper had gone so long without the company of another man? Was it simply that he had found a rarity in someone who would reciprocate? Or was there something about Cory himself that tugged so enormously at Juniper's impulses, begging him to take another look into the man's golden-brown eyes?
Maybe it was wishful thinking, but Juniper wanted this to be as miraculous and wonderful as it felt because it was really beginning to dawn on him. He hadn't been imagining anything. Cory wanted everything about this, slowly and surely.
But... perhaps... was Juniper being naive here? Was this something that Cory did readily with all the models he invited up to his studio? Was Juniper simply the latest installment in a long series of dalliances born under the excuse of art?
Juniper didn't want to think so, but the thought lingered unpleasantly in his mind, paralyzing his movements and stilling their dance even as Cory finished with the last button on his vest.
Bringing the hand in Cory's hair down to cup Cory's jaw, rubbing a thumb over Cory's cheek, Juniper pulled his brows together and said, "I don't... This isn't something I do lightly, Cory, I..." Juniper's breath caught in his throat as he met Cory's eyes. "...am I... one of many for you? I wouldn't fault you for it, I just..." He looked away at the window and then brought his attention back to Cory, somewhat sheepish. "I fear my heart breaks easily, and one day, I might like to find a soft place to land."
At last, Cory lifted his forehead off from Juniper's and instead brought his lips to Juniper's neck, the warmth causing a cascade of tingling awe throughout the front of Juniper's body. He longed to bathe in the warmth of every inch of Cory's skin, but he contented himself with the thrilling sweetness of Cory's lips and the pressure of Cory's fingers on his hips.
Of course, it couldn't last forever, so Juniper braced himself as Cory's lips left his neck, but the man lingered, murmuring, "Juniper..." Gods above, the feel of Cory's breath in the shape of his name threatened to fill Juniper's chest beyond capacity, his body swaying toward Cory's mildly out of step on account of the magnetism of the moment. How far they had come since that first time Cory had said Juniper's name and how different it sounded now off his lips, rich with the weight of confirmation. Cory kissed Juniper's neck a second time, stealing any chance of Juniper luxuriating indulgently again in the sounds of Cory's name, breath lost.
Somehow, Cory's fingers found their place once more on the buttons of Juniper's vest, and Juniper's mind sluggishly remembered the intention toward nudity. Juniper's nudity. He had half an urge to feel embarrassment at the state his body was in--his thoughts jumping ahead of their own accord--but surely it would almost be an insult if his body hadn't been affected by the smooth curves of Cory's lips against the sensitive skin of his neck?
With both of their confessions hanging so recently in the air, Juniper feared he may have forgotten how to breathe altogether. He wanted to spend the afternoon kissing this man from every angle, admiring every contour and detail. Was it just that Juniper had gone so long without the company of another man? Was it simply that he had found a rarity in someone who would reciprocate? Or was there something about Cory himself that tugged so enormously at Juniper's impulses, begging him to take another look into the man's golden-brown eyes?
Maybe it was wishful thinking, but Juniper wanted this to be as miraculous and wonderful as it felt because it was really beginning to dawn on him. He hadn't been imagining anything. Cory wanted everything about this, slowly and surely.
But... perhaps... was Juniper being naive here? Was this something that Cory did readily with all the models he invited up to his studio? Was Juniper simply the latest installment in a long series of dalliances born under the excuse of art?
Juniper didn't want to think so, but the thought lingered unpleasantly in his mind, paralyzing his movements and stilling their dance even as Cory finished with the last button on his vest.
Bringing the hand in Cory's hair down to cup Cory's jaw, rubbing a thumb over Cory's cheek, Juniper pulled his brows together and said, "I don't... This isn't something I do lightly, Cory, I..." Juniper's breath caught in his throat as he met Cory's eyes. "...am I... one of many for you? I wouldn't fault you for it, I just..." He looked away at the window and then brought his attention back to Cory, somewhat sheepish. "I fear my heart breaks easily, and one day, I might like to find a soft place to land."
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Cory continued riding the gentle, swaying lilt of the motions of his and Juniper's bodies as he slowly undid the remaining buttons on the man's vest. He felt tension enter the air as the final button slipped through, though, and he paused, drawing his lips and fingers away from Juniper with uncertainty as both their bodies came to a gentle, timid stop. Was Juniper perhaps having second thoughts, with the threshold of the vest now crossed? Thankfully, Juniper did not pull away from Cory; instead, the man cupped Cory's jaw, thumb caressing his cheek, and Cory searched Juniper's face with patience, trying to hold his own nervousness at bay.
"I don't... This isn't something I do lightly, Cory, I... am I... one of many for you? I wouldn't fault you for it, I just..." Cory reached his hands back out to Juniper again, pressing them gently over his chest, eager to provide some comfort now that he was understanding where the man's hesitation was coming from. He kept his eyes on Juniper's face even as the man looked past him to the window, smiling gently when Juniper brought his gaze back. "I fear my heart breaks easily, and one day, I might like to find a soft place to land."
Cory brought one of his hands up from Juniper's chest to cup Juniper's jaw, sweetly echoing Juniper's touch on his own cheek. He drew his brows up earnestly, quiet for a moment as he looked into Juniper's eyes, hoping perhaps to let Juniper take in the earnestness of his expression before he spoke.
"I've been one of someone's many," Cory said softly when the time seemed right. There was perhaps a dash of melancholy in his eyes, but mostly there was peace and understanding. "Back in St Louis. It was an exploration for a particular time and place. Maybe everything is, but..." Cory shook his head gently, sighing with a slight, crooked smile before he digressed. "I have every intention to hold you softly, Juniper. I don't do this lightly, either."
The hand still on Juniper's chest tugged gently on the man's open vest, perhaps subtly emphasizing what precisely he meant by this. His eyes watched Juniper's expression for a moment longer, hopeful and patient, uncertain what Juniper needed from here.
"I don't... This isn't something I do lightly, Cory, I... am I... one of many for you? I wouldn't fault you for it, I just..." Cory reached his hands back out to Juniper again, pressing them gently over his chest, eager to provide some comfort now that he was understanding where the man's hesitation was coming from. He kept his eyes on Juniper's face even as the man looked past him to the window, smiling gently when Juniper brought his gaze back. "I fear my heart breaks easily, and one day, I might like to find a soft place to land."
Cory brought one of his hands up from Juniper's chest to cup Juniper's jaw, sweetly echoing Juniper's touch on his own cheek. He drew his brows up earnestly, quiet for a moment as he looked into Juniper's eyes, hoping perhaps to let Juniper take in the earnestness of his expression before he spoke.
"I've been one of someone's many," Cory said softly when the time seemed right. There was perhaps a dash of melancholy in his eyes, but mostly there was peace and understanding. "Back in St Louis. It was an exploration for a particular time and place. Maybe everything is, but..." Cory shook his head gently, sighing with a slight, crooked smile before he digressed. "I have every intention to hold you softly, Juniper. I don't do this lightly, either."
The hand still on Juniper's chest tugged gently on the man's open vest, perhaps subtly emphasizing what precisely he meant by this. His eyes watched Juniper's expression for a moment longer, hopeful and patient, uncertain what Juniper needed from here.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Juniper's brows remained hopeful even as his body clenched in preparation for bad news. His admission hung heavy in the air, full with the weight of potential in two very different directions. Had he been too forthright in saying that he was prepared to fall in love with this man?
But Cory's hand cupped Juniper's jaw in a mirror of Juniper's gesture, and Cory brought his eyes fearlessly up to meet his gaze, those golden brown pools inviting him deeply into Cory's inner world. Not pity, Juniper hoped, not judgment at his naivety, but... knowing. Recognition, maybe.
"I've been one of someone's many," Cory said quietly in the small distance between them, "Back in St. Louis. It was an exploration for a particular time and place. Maybe everything is, but..." Cory shook his head, finally looking away. He sighed and smiled crookedly, perhaps choosing a different train of thought. "I have every intention to hold you softly, Juniper. I don't do this lightly, either."
As Juniper searched Cory's eyes for more clues into that former version of him, Cory pulled gently on Juniper's open vest in a subtle continuation of what they had begun. A wave of longing moved up Juniper's body and into his lips. And in that moment, he let Cory's tiny motion guide him toward kissing the man, his lips timid, almost grazing against Cory's as the warmth of their breath mingled. He wanted to trust Cory. He wanted to believe everything the man was saying, and really, what evidence did Juniper have to the contrary? There were no flashy paintings of other nude men along the walls, though Juniper supposed Cory might have tastefully hid them away beforehand. But, there was no reason for Cory to be dishonest, not really, and Juniper didn't know Cory well, but he had a difficult time imagining the man telling any kind of lie.
And what was at risk if he was lying? No matter what happened from here, this afternoon would certainly be one that Juniper turned over and over in his mind until it was polished into crystal.
He decided to trust, pressing his lips softly but deliberately into Cory's, letting himself open to the man fully--all the aching loneliness, all the cautious hopefulness, all the sensual potentiality swirling in the soft motions of his lips as they cradled Cory's.
Then, he pulled away only enough to slowly shrug off his vest, stepping back to fold it neatly and place it on the edge of the table furthest from the brownies. Returning, he suddenly felt shy and exposed, that much closer to being nude in front of this man who wanted to draw him.
"Well, then," Juniper said, raising his wrist in front of himself and in Cory's line of sight, holding it tenderly before slipping the button smoothly out of the cuff, "I'm all yours." He then did the same with the other sleeve before he tentatively took both of Cory's hands and brought them tenderly to his chest--over his heart but also near the next set of buttons. As he looked back into Cory's eyes, all honesty and softness, Juniper's heart leapt toward Cory's fingertips, eyes shining with raw, tender bravery.
But Cory's hand cupped Juniper's jaw in a mirror of Juniper's gesture, and Cory brought his eyes fearlessly up to meet his gaze, those golden brown pools inviting him deeply into Cory's inner world. Not pity, Juniper hoped, not judgment at his naivety, but... knowing. Recognition, maybe.
"I've been one of someone's many," Cory said quietly in the small distance between them, "Back in St. Louis. It was an exploration for a particular time and place. Maybe everything is, but..." Cory shook his head, finally looking away. He sighed and smiled crookedly, perhaps choosing a different train of thought. "I have every intention to hold you softly, Juniper. I don't do this lightly, either."
As Juniper searched Cory's eyes for more clues into that former version of him, Cory pulled gently on Juniper's open vest in a subtle continuation of what they had begun. A wave of longing moved up Juniper's body and into his lips. And in that moment, he let Cory's tiny motion guide him toward kissing the man, his lips timid, almost grazing against Cory's as the warmth of their breath mingled. He wanted to trust Cory. He wanted to believe everything the man was saying, and really, what evidence did Juniper have to the contrary? There were no flashy paintings of other nude men along the walls, though Juniper supposed Cory might have tastefully hid them away beforehand. But, there was no reason for Cory to be dishonest, not really, and Juniper didn't know Cory well, but he had a difficult time imagining the man telling any kind of lie.
And what was at risk if he was lying? No matter what happened from here, this afternoon would certainly be one that Juniper turned over and over in his mind until it was polished into crystal.
He decided to trust, pressing his lips softly but deliberately into Cory's, letting himself open to the man fully--all the aching loneliness, all the cautious hopefulness, all the sensual potentiality swirling in the soft motions of his lips as they cradled Cory's.
Then, he pulled away only enough to slowly shrug off his vest, stepping back to fold it neatly and place it on the edge of the table furthest from the brownies. Returning, he suddenly felt shy and exposed, that much closer to being nude in front of this man who wanted to draw him.
"Well, then," Juniper said, raising his wrist in front of himself and in Cory's line of sight, holding it tenderly before slipping the button smoothly out of the cuff, "I'm all yours." He then did the same with the other sleeve before he tentatively took both of Cory's hands and brought them tenderly to his chest--over his heart but also near the next set of buttons. As he looked back into Cory's eyes, all honesty and softness, Juniper's heart leapt toward Cory's fingertips, eyes shining with raw, tender bravery.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
It was as though a single, fluid wave rippled from Cory's gentle tug on Juniper's vest through the man's body and crested into a kiss, though Juniper's lips were timid in the final touch, barely grazing as their breaths mingled. Cory didn't mind. He relished the pleasant tingles of the light brushes, the sweet proximity of warm breath. He could hold Juniper's nervousness; he wanted to, and he was grateful for the chance.
At last, Juniper's lips pressed more fully into Cory's, and Cory hummed into the kiss with his own cresting elation, feeling the sensual beauty of Juniper's trust.
Cory was quite pleasantly breathless when Juniper pulled back, and he watched the man's movements like a painting in motion as Juniper elegantly shrugged off his vest, folded it, and placed it on the edge of the table. A graceful confidence had carried through those motions, though Cory detected a subtle pulling-in after, Juniper's shoulders perhaps subconsciously attempting to shield his chest now that the vest was no longer there to serve that function. Even so, the man bravely continued to lean toward openness.
"Well, then," Juniper said, raising his wrist in front of himself and in Cory's line of sight, holding it tenderly before slipping the button smoothly out of the cuff, "I'm all yours."
Warmth splashed all through Cory's body, almost pulling a gentle sway into his stance. He continued to watch enrapt as Juniper undid the button on his other cuff, and felt a fluttery surprise in his chest when the man reached for Cory's hands after. Cory blinked several times as he watched Juniper guide his hands over his chest, taking a moment to steady himself in being a participant rather than an observer once more. He brought his gaze back up to Juniper's, and relished the way the man's eyes shimmered with openness.
Various words of gratitude tried to dance across Cory's tongue, but none felt quite right, and in the end Cory hoped that his expression was enough to convey how dearly he would cherish this experience. Slowly, his fingers began to move to the first button of Juniper's shirt, his gaze gently flitting its focus between each of Juniper's eyes. His lids fluttered just slightly, a sweet soft gasp of a breath escaping his lips as he pushed the button through, and felt the first line of slackening across the fabric over the man's chest.
At last, Juniper's lips pressed more fully into Cory's, and Cory hummed into the kiss with his own cresting elation, feeling the sensual beauty of Juniper's trust.
Cory was quite pleasantly breathless when Juniper pulled back, and he watched the man's movements like a painting in motion as Juniper elegantly shrugged off his vest, folded it, and placed it on the edge of the table. A graceful confidence had carried through those motions, though Cory detected a subtle pulling-in after, Juniper's shoulders perhaps subconsciously attempting to shield his chest now that the vest was no longer there to serve that function. Even so, the man bravely continued to lean toward openness.
"Well, then," Juniper said, raising his wrist in front of himself and in Cory's line of sight, holding it tenderly before slipping the button smoothly out of the cuff, "I'm all yours."
Warmth splashed all through Cory's body, almost pulling a gentle sway into his stance. He continued to watch enrapt as Juniper undid the button on his other cuff, and felt a fluttery surprise in his chest when the man reached for Cory's hands after. Cory blinked several times as he watched Juniper guide his hands over his chest, taking a moment to steady himself in being a participant rather than an observer once more. He brought his gaze back up to Juniper's, and relished the way the man's eyes shimmered with openness.
Various words of gratitude tried to dance across Cory's tongue, but none felt quite right, and in the end Cory hoped that his expression was enough to convey how dearly he would cherish this experience. Slowly, his fingers began to move to the first button of Juniper's shirt, his gaze gently flitting its focus between each of Juniper's eyes. His lids fluttered just slightly, a sweet soft gasp of a breath escaping his lips as he pushed the button through, and felt the first line of slackening across the fabric over the man's chest.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Still relishing the echoing sensation of the kiss on his lips, Juniper watched Cory's expression--the artist's face open and relaxed as though he wanted Juniper to see every line, every feature. It was easy to stare, to meet his eyes, though his eyes shifted from one of Cory's to the other, hungry to soak in as much as Cory was prepared to offer. In their peripheral vision, Cory's fingers moved up to Juniper's top button, under which lay only his bare chest. Juniper would soon be more nude than he had ever been with another person in New York.
Cory's eyes fluttered, pulling back the fullness of Juniper's attention, and the sound of a soft intake of breath quirked one of Juniper's brows momentarily before he relaxed it. His top button went taut and then loosened the starched fabric across his shoulders, and Juniper took a half step closer to Cory. He broke their gaze and leaned over Cory's shoulder slightly, though not otherwise touching the man. Their breath mingled as Cory's hands found the next button, fingertips sliding gently down Juniper's warm chest.
"May I kiss... your ear...?" Juniper asked softly across Cory's jaw.
Cory's eyes fluttered, pulling back the fullness of Juniper's attention, and the sound of a soft intake of breath quirked one of Juniper's brows momentarily before he relaxed it. His top button went taut and then loosened the starched fabric across his shoulders, and Juniper took a half step closer to Cory. He broke their gaze and leaned over Cory's shoulder slightly, though not otherwise touching the man. Their breath mingled as Cory's hands found the next button, fingertips sliding gently down Juniper's warm chest.
"May I kiss... your ear...?" Juniper asked softly across Cory's jaw.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Cory gasped softly again as Juniper took a step closer, warmth emanating between their bodies. Bravely, Cory moved his hands down to the next button, even as his eyes fell closed under the weight of Juniper leaning in, stirring Cory's heart to thumping.
"May I kiss... your ear...?" Juniper asked softly across Cory's jaw. Cory exhaled a quiet shudder, tingles already dancing down the side of his neck at the thought. He remembered how Juniper had caressed his ear under the maple trees--how good it had felt, and how nervous Cory had been about it. But they were safe here, no potential passerby to worry about, no need to be so vigilant. Of course, there were still limits--neighbors to consider--but all in all, Cory could shed his worry, and he was elated for the opportunity.
"Yes," he whispered as his fingers undid the next button of Juniper's shirt.
"May I kiss... your ear...?" Juniper asked softly across Cory's jaw. Cory exhaled a quiet shudder, tingles already dancing down the side of his neck at the thought. He remembered how Juniper had caressed his ear under the maple trees--how good it had felt, and how nervous Cory had been about it. But they were safe here, no potential passerby to worry about, no need to be so vigilant. Of course, there were still limits--neighbors to consider--but all in all, Cory could shed his worry, and he was elated for the opportunity.
"Yes," he whispered as his fingers undid the next button of Juniper's shirt.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
This close, Cory's shuddering breathing was all Juniper could hear as he hovered in the moment before permission. There was a slight delay, but rather than allow anxiety to creep into the cracks in Juniper's resolve, he simply relished what he could feel--Cory's determined fingers moving further down his shirt, the warmth cascading off Cory's body, the mildly musky and heady scent of Cory's neck. Juniper shifted his head slightly as though he were caressing the air as he waited, breath quiet with anticipation.
"Yes," Cory whispered as he undid another button. Juniper could almost taste the chocolate from the brownies on Cory's breath, and suddenly the thought of Cory having ingested Juniper's lovingly baked whim danced all throughout Juniper's nerves, firing in many directions at once and causing a soft moan to spill from Juniper's parted lips.
He allowed the inertia of the moan to guide him closer to Cory, beginning with the place where Cory's jaw met his ear and softly placing his lips there. He then pulled his head away half an inch, aware that Cory could acutely hear the sounds of his breathing and feel them fall across the tiny hairs standing out from his cheek. Then, Juniper kissed behind Cory's ear in a slow trail, each kiss a ghost of the last as Juniper kept his breathing light and even. At last, Juniper kissed the top curve of Cory's ear, the edge of his tongue grazing the skin there.
Turning his head away from Cory's ear, Juniper exhaled heavily and used his jaw and cheekbones to massage into the soft places of Cory's neck and cheek, enjoying the release of facial muscles he hadn't even realized had gotten tired.
There was so much Juniper was letting down here. There was no need to pretend that he wasn't exactly this sensual, sensitive person who loved beauty at every turn. He was here, with a stunning and talented man who was actively removing layer upon layer of clothing and façade, mask and half-truth. They were both here together, as honest as they could possibly be with one another, and the taste flowered blissfully on Juniper's tongue.
"Yes," Cory whispered as he undid another button. Juniper could almost taste the chocolate from the brownies on Cory's breath, and suddenly the thought of Cory having ingested Juniper's lovingly baked whim danced all throughout Juniper's nerves, firing in many directions at once and causing a soft moan to spill from Juniper's parted lips.
He allowed the inertia of the moan to guide him closer to Cory, beginning with the place where Cory's jaw met his ear and softly placing his lips there. He then pulled his head away half an inch, aware that Cory could acutely hear the sounds of his breathing and feel them fall across the tiny hairs standing out from his cheek. Then, Juniper kissed behind Cory's ear in a slow trail, each kiss a ghost of the last as Juniper kept his breathing light and even. At last, Juniper kissed the top curve of Cory's ear, the edge of his tongue grazing the skin there.
Turning his head away from Cory's ear, Juniper exhaled heavily and used his jaw and cheekbones to massage into the soft places of Cory's neck and cheek, enjoying the release of facial muscles he hadn't even realized had gotten tired.
There was so much Juniper was letting down here. There was no need to pretend that he wasn't exactly this sensual, sensitive person who loved beauty at every turn. He was here, with a stunning and talented man who was actively removing layer upon layer of clothing and façade, mask and half-truth. They were both here together, as honest as they could possibly be with one another, and the taste flowered blissfully on Juniper's tongue.