Memorial Day (Sean)

[Joshua Bernstein]

The corners of Josh's mouth quirked into a grin at that suggestion. "Oh, could you? I don't know, I'm a tough nut to crack."

This was one of the aspects he so enjoyed about their relationship; affectionate banter had always been a hallmark of their friendship, and now that they were reconciled they could be much naughtier without worrying about boundaries.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean also enjoyed this aspect of their relationship more than words could express fully. He bantered with Greg, but it had always been less intimate, and, although he had developed banter patterns with some of his past paramours, he had never found the same rhythm as with Josh. Even before their reconciliation, they had still bantered with one another, finding each rhythm and gentle teasing and general one-upmanship. The telepath enjoyed every moment of it.

His fingers moved slowly up from Josh’s ankle to his calf, though his eyes never broke their gaze with the younger man’s. “I think I could,” he replied, his own tone and expression carefully controlled.

He knew he could, in fact. Josh was an intelligent, passionate, often stubborn man, but the telepath had years of experience behind him, and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if he touched his partner just so, Josh would say whatever Sean wanted him to.

He never abused that knowledge or those skills, never took advantage of the younger man beyond what was expected of him during bedroom role play. He never wanted to.

Leaning in so that they were nose to nose, he asked, “Do you want me to demonstrate?”

[Joshua Bernstein]

When Sean leaned forward, Josh leaned forward as well, capturing the other man's mouth in a kiss. When he pulled back he was grinning.

"Maybe you should."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean had expected one of them to initiate the kiss, and he couldn’t say that he was disappointed that Josh had done so. Instead, he leaned into the kiss, parting his lips slightly so they could deepen it. However, as neither of them possessed super-human lung capacity, eventually they had to break for air, and Josh pulled back first. The other man grinned into his face, and the telepath’s expression mirrored his partner’s.

“I think I will.”

He lifted his hands from Josh’s leg, not finished with his task, but now he had another, more pressing one ahead of him. He rubbed them together to try to rid himself of the worst of the sticky lotion, before leaning in to wrap one arm around partner’s shoulders. Slowly, exaggeratedly, he turned his head so that he could nibble Josh’s earlobe, since that had always been a surefire way to turn the younger man into a quivering mass of jelly.

You should be careful, he projected to the other man, unable to speak since his mouth was occupied, but that had never been a problem. I’m confident that I’ll rise to the occasion.

Another less than appropriate entendre, but what was the harm between lovers?

[Joshua Bernstein]

Sure enough, the attention to his ear sent Josh into shivers, and he folded immediately. "What...what do you want?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

In truth, Sean had lost whatever interest he’d had in the answer to his initial question, given that he had only asked it in an attempt to further their banter. As with the vast majority of times that he found himself alone with his partner, he had been more interested in the flirtation for the sake of flirtation or, if they were in a place where moving from flirtation to something more physical wouldn’t create problems, then as an appetizer before the main course.

Since they were on the water, they couldn’t move beyond flirtation, necking, and making out, but he didn’t mind. His boundaries were the ones that dictated the lack of public sex since, if Josh were left to his own devices, the telepath had no doubt they would have stripped five minutes ago.

Still, he had won, had proven his point, and that meant he could claim his prize.

Not lifting his head, since Sean was enjoying the nibbling just as much as Josh was (both the sensations he felt from giving as well as what he perceived from his partner), he continued to use telepathy to communicate. I think I asked you a question about what you were looking most forward to.

He turned slightly so he could press a kiss to the younger man’s neck. Or you can just pledge your devotion, he teased. He could be magnanimous in victory.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Only once Sean had ceased attacking his ear and instead moved to kissing his cheek did Josh answer, because it was only now that he could coherently formulate a reply.

Solemnly he placed a hand over his heart. "I pledge my eternal loyalty and undying devotion to you, beloved," He swore before turning so that the lips against his cheek brushed against his own lips.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean’s lips curled into a smile against Josh’s cheek; he felt deep amusement both at how predictable his partner was, and how happy the younger man was to play along with whatever direction their banter took, just as both men were always willing to escalate when they were in a place where they could.

Such as right now, out on the boat, alone together on the water, with only the fish for company.

Before he could respond, he felt his lips swept up in a kiss, and he deepened it accordingly.

No matter. Having his mouth obstructed hadn’t prevented him from having a conversation or speaking his mind over the past forty-six years, and he wouldn’t let it do so now.

I accept your pledge, Joshua Oren Bernstein, he projected to his partner. Sean drew out Josh’s full name, since that seemed the most appropriate course of action; the Queen knighted people using their full names, after all, and the other man’s use of “beloved,” didn’t mesh well with their usual nicknames.

The telepath scooted closer on the bench and reached out with his hands, using one to ground itself on Josh’s shoulder, while he slipped the other around the attorney’s back in a loose embrace.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh leaned into Sean's embrace, not bothered by the fact that they'd cut applying sunscreen a bit short; they'd applied enough before coming out. Instead, he wanted to focus on Sean, on the feeling of his partner's familiar lips and on the feeling of warm hands steadying him, and on the deep abiding affection he felt well up within him. When he was younger he would have felt primarily a sort of desperate need overwhelming everything else, but now that he was older his desire was tempered by knowing Sean's boundaries and familiarity. Familiarity bred contempt some said, but Josh found that rather it bred comfort and security.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

They had plenty of time to finish reapplying sunscreen later, when they actually required a fresh coat of protection. For now, they still had a couple of hours from their first application, which meant that they could turn their attention to more pressing – more desirable – matters. Such as their kiss, and Sean’s hands on Josh’s body, and the few inches that separated them on the bench. Of the clear sky above them and the serenity of the warm breeze around them and the gentle rhythm of the waves beneath them.

I love you, he projected to his partner, wanting in this moment for the other man to know the true depths of his feelings. These moments were the only times in his life that he desired another power – specifically empathy – not because he disliked his powers (he had come to love them and couldn’t fathom life without them), but with empathy, he could show Josh how very much he loved the younger man.

Unable to do that, he had to settle for what he could do: kiss Josh, project words of love, allow his fingers to caress the other man’s flesh. Pretend in these moments that they were almost merged, two halves of one whole.

[Joshua Bernstein]

I love you, too.

Josh thought as hard as he could, as if the kiss and the embrace weren't enough. Here, on this boat, rocking on the placid waters of the lake, the only thing that mattered was that Sean knew.

I love you, too.