Dr. John H. Watson, M.D. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lightconductor) wrote2011-02-17 07:05 pm
lightconductor) wrote2011-02-17 07:05 pm
Dinner and a show.
Continued from here...
Watson was, at least, as good as his word as far as his promise to treat Holmes to dinner went, even if the offer had been made under slightly different circumstances with slightly different goals in mind, slightly different expectations.
Little had changed between them, too, except in an unspoken sense. When they sat together on the sofa they sat closer than they had been, and there were occassional kisses between them, as light and as hesitant as that first night. Whether the excuse was more Holmes's lip or Watson's inexperience was debatable. And if it was the latter, that hurt his pride. He was no blushing virgin, no untried youth. It was the gender of his partner that was new. Surely it could not be so different?
He didn't know the answer to that.
As the week stretched on he was beginning to be just a bit overeager; despite his own unease, his own fears, he was a man of action. He had to wonder if Holmes, being more experienced, was not impatient with him, too.
But he had held onto his riches successfully, and on what had seemed an ideal night he had paid for dinner for the two of them at one of the nicer of their favourite restaurants, and they had gone to a concert afterwards. Both had been splendid. It had been a well-spent evening, despite Watson's dual eagerness and anxiety for what might happen on their return.
Coming home in the hansom afterwards was certainly a far different experience than the ride home from the boxing match. Watson let their shoulders touch, their thighs, surely contact that would look perfectly innocent to an onlooker, although he could not entirely convince himself that they would not immediately be found out and arrested.
Watson was, at least, as good as his word as far as his promise to treat Holmes to dinner went, even if the offer had been made under slightly different circumstances with slightly different goals in mind, slightly different expectations.
Little had changed between them, too, except in an unspoken sense. When they sat together on the sofa they sat closer than they had been, and there were occassional kisses between them, as light and as hesitant as that first night. Whether the excuse was more Holmes's lip or Watson's inexperience was debatable. And if it was the latter, that hurt his pride. He was no blushing virgin, no untried youth. It was the gender of his partner that was new. Surely it could not be so different?
He didn't know the answer to that.
As the week stretched on he was beginning to be just a bit overeager; despite his own unease, his own fears, he was a man of action. He had to wonder if Holmes, being more experienced, was not impatient with him, too.
But he had held onto his riches successfully, and on what had seemed an ideal night he had paid for dinner for the two of them at one of the nicer of their favourite restaurants, and they had gone to a concert afterwards. Both had been splendid. It had been a well-spent evening, despite Watson's dual eagerness and anxiety for what might happen on their return.
Coming home in the hansom afterwards was certainly a far different experience than the ride home from the boxing match. Watson let their shoulders touch, their thighs, surely contact that would look perfectly innocent to an onlooker, although he could not entirely convince himself that they would not immediately be found out and arrested.
no subject
"'Satisfied' and 'thrilled' seem very apt to me," he said, "if I may borrow those words. 'Conflicted,' too. What if we are discovered? Are we really to carry on an illegal affair under the very noses of Scotland Yard? What of Mrs. Hudson?"
These considerations were very real, but even as he said them Watson realised they were an admission that he considered it to be a real option, that he was open to the idea of doing this sort of thing again. To be honest, it was hard to imagine returning to the way things had been between them, after crossing the line they had tonight.
no subject
He doubts that would ease Watson's tensions.
"Thankfully we can rest assured in the knowledge that the Yard is incapable of discovering anything of use." He smiles, hoping his joke will ease the situation. "And as for Mrs. Hudson... we shall have to be particularly careful. An extra set of your clothes in my rooms, always keep dressing gowns at hand. And keep the door locked as much as possible."
He's coming back from his moment of surprise and tension, realizing that divulging hadn't been that bad, after all. He will have to tell Watson these things at some point, so it's good if he starts mentally preparing himself. He resumes his touch against Watson's jaw, unable to keep from touching him any longer.
no subject
"You really wish to do this?" he asked, softly. "To take this risk? With me?" This was the most unexpected romance he had ever embarked on in his life, the most worrying, the most dangerous, the most frightening. And yet... and yet he wanted to. That was the strange part. He wanted to embark upon an illegal affair with Holmes. He wondered just how long he'd been lying to himself. He wondered, too, that he could possibly be worth such a risk.
"I would like to try, at least. I don't know, really, what I'm doing. But I would like to try, with you."
no subject
"I would really like to try," he murmurs, still smiling, and he kisses Watson's forehead before stealing a proper kiss once more. "You, my dear Watson, are a risk I'm more than willing to take. Truthfully... not taking it hardly feels like an option. You've come to mean so much to me." He brings his fingers down Watson's neck to his shoulder, lightly tracing patterns over his skin.
"I believe I have little choice but to see how much more you could mean."
It's humbling to make such admissions, but coming on the tails of his last one, Holmes seems more capable, having already stripped away a level of privacy. Besides, knowing that saying such a thing would hopefully please Watson makes it far too tempting to pass up.
no subject
"I think I'd like to say the same thing," he said, faintly wondering. "You are important to me, and I cannot do anything but explore these possibilities and see how deep it runs." He smiled, lifting his face to kiss Holmes tenderly. The part of his brain that was horrified at himself for doing such a thing was not gone, but it was somewhat muffled, somewhat quieter.
no subject
"Then we're in agreement. How very convenient." He smiles wider and leans down, kissing one of Watson's cheeks, then the other, and then placing a small kiss to Watson's nose.
"Are you comfortable?" he murmurs, reaching up and smoothing Watson's hair back. They're still laying together half-naked on the sofa, and he's full aware that's a position that may lose its appeal once a heated moment has passed. "I can move if you'd like."
no subject
He ran his fingers through Holmes's hair, his touch very tender, very fond. Good heavens, he was already a loss cause, wasn't he?
no subject
"It is possible for us to simulate this position somewhere more comfortable," he murmurs cautiously, trying to sound and look as innocent as he is. "If you would be accepting of such a thing."
no subject
To be entirely truthful, getting up off the sofa and dressing only to creep up to his own room and his own lonely bed, alone, was not a prospect that had a lot of attraction just then. And really, there was nothing unusual about sharing a bed with a lover, even a very new one. At the same time, it seemed to draw out the lines of this new relationship even more clearly. That made him just slightly uneasy. It was all so new, after all.
There was really only one choice, in Watson's mind.
"If you mean to suggest," he said, equally cautious, "that we both retire for the night, together, well... I think that's a rather good reason to get up from the sofa."
no subject
"Very well." He gives a hopeful smile and softly kisses Watson before he pulls away; instantly he misses the warmth of Watson's body, and not just for physical reasons. He gathers up the clothes he can reach, holding them in one arm in the hope that he may be able to take Watson's hand.
no subject
It was also irresistable.
"Your room?" he asked. "Or mine?" Both had their advantages, he supposed. Both were acceptable by him.
no subject
He steps close to him, wrapping his free arm around Watson's waist and kissing him openly, firmly.
"I am going to have a difficult time refraining from doing that at every available opportunity," he says softly.
no subject
Holmes's room. He was going to sleep in Holmes's bed. That was... strange to think of. Would it be difficult to sleep in a strange room? Well, not strange, per se, but not one he spent a great deal of time in. Still, the climb to his own room seemed impossibly strenuous and long just then, and it was remarkably easy to settle into the embrace of Holmes's arm like this.
Pulling away only enough to make walking possible, he moved towards Holmes's room, wanting to be the one to take the first steps in that direction, because then it was him doing so and not Holmes 'coercing' him. Besides, he was possessed of a full-body exhaustion that made collapsing into a bed a very tempting option.
no subject
Thankfully it isn't a long walk to his room because he doesn't think he could have managed a longer one.
no subject
He could, Watson realised, very easily fall in love with Holmes. He was probably halfway there already, at the least.
Once in the bedroom, Watson was seized with a sudden sense of being utterly out of his depth again, but at least with Holmes so close against him, it was a little less tempting to give into the rather cowardly desire to bolt. He did pull away a little, giving Holmes a look that was suddenly somewhat shy, before beginning to undress fully. He felt awkward doing so, for no really good reason.
no subject
He turns down his bed, stealing glances at Watson all the while, his shyness giving way to a certain quiet excitement at having Watson in his bed. At the possibility of waking up together. He slips into bed, waiting for Watson expectantly.
"If it makes you feel any better, I've had no complaints about this bed. I find the mattress to be very sound," he says with a softly teasing smile.
no subject
This seemed to cross the line between casual affair and something more serious, all by itself.
Watson slipped between the sheets, wondering if he looked as awkward as he felt. He tried to settle himself, uncomfortably aware of the tension in his body. Swallowing his fear as he always had, he turned to Holmes and cautiously slid his arm around him.
no subject
It's very possible, Holmes muses as he lightly traces Watson's spine, that he's falling in love with Watson.
Even Watson's awkwardness is endearing now, if a little saddening, and he tries to soothe away some of his apprehension in gentle, soft touches.
"If you have any complaints about the comfort of the bed, do be sure to inform me of them in the morning."