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Arthur squinted up at the spices in the cabinet, quietly cursing under his breath as his vision refused to clear. He wished it were a better sight day, but then he always wished that. What would be nicer is if John put the spices back where he got them from and not wherever he felt like it.
He sighed, stirring the stew once more, before calling out to John in the other room. "John? Where did you put the garlic?"
"Top shelf, on the right, between the basil and the rosemary," John immediately responded from the office.
"John," Arthur sighed, "You know I can't reach the top shelf!" He pressed onto his tiptoes, straining to reach any bottle of spice, let alone the correct one. He flinched as he felt a presence at his back; John pressed against him, his hand reaching past his to grab the garlic.
"Here," John's voice rumbled in his ear.
Arthur's breath caught in his throat. He slowly reached out to take it, his fingers brushing John's. He cleared his throat. "Thank you."
His heart pounded in his ears as John's hands dropped to his hips. He added the garlic to the pot in front of him, trying desperately to ignore the brush of his elbows against John's sides. He cleared his throat again, nudging him. John did not take the hint. "John."
"Arthur…" He purred, lips grazing the shell of his ear.
Arthur hummed, doing his best not to get distracted. "Aren't you supposed to be finishing the case paperwork?"
John sighed, wrapping his arms around Arthur's middle and resting his chin on his shoulder. His breath ghosting across Arthur's neck. "Paperwork is boring, Arthur. All the non-boring, delicious things are out here."
"John," Arthur tried his best to sound pestered and not bothered. "You know it's important-"
"-it's finished. I was putting it in the filing cabinet when you called." The timbre of his voice traveled the length of Arthur's spine, words effectively distracting him from his superfluous task. John's claws ghosted over his skin as he reached over to return the garlic to the cupboard. "What is there left to do?"
"It, uh, it just needs to simmer for twenty more minutes or so." Arthur couldn't hide the way his breath was stuttering as John's claws traced patterns over his hips. "John?"
"Yes, Arthur?" John's lips brushed against the sensitive skin on his neck, raising goosebumps.
"What… what are you, trying to accomplish here?" Despite himself, he leaned back into John's touch, craving the closeness it brought. John's hands trailed up his chest, across his arms, and down to his hands; he took the spoon from him and set it on the counter.
"Nothing," John mused, hands gently trailing their way back to Arthur's hips and turning him to face him, "I am simply bored."
Arthur leaned back, bracing himself against the counter, a small, tenuous laugh bubbling its way up his throat. "So you decide to distract me from making dinner?"
"Distract? No." He hummed, placing a kiss on Arthur's temple. "You're free for the next twenty minutes, aren't you?" He trailed his claws up Arthur's stomach and chest, coming to rest at the base of his neck. He delighted in each small gasp and breath it drew from him.
"I still have to make sure it doesn't burn." Arthur weakly protested, tilting his head up at the gentle nudge of John's thumbs, his lips parting as he drew in a shaky breath. Through blurry eyes, he watched John's lips curl into a warm, seductive smile, his fangs gleaming in the low kitchen light. Arthur shivered at the drag of claws against his jaw.
"Arthur," John murmured, leaning close enough for Arthur to clearly see the dazzling gold in his eyes and for his breath to ghost across his lips, "May I kiss you?"
"Yes," Arthur removed his hands from the counter, gripping John's hips and smushing their lips together.
John sighed, sliding his hands under Arthur's thighs and lifting him onto the counter. Arthur gasped, hands sliding up to John's shoulders, pulling him impossibly closer. John hummed, dragging their lips together, again and again, swallowing every noise Arthur made.
Arthur, lungs aching from the lack of oxygen, chased after John's lips, the need for him burning under his skin. Distantly, he thought he heard knocking, but it was so faint he brushed it off as being for the neighbours. John pulled away, trailing kisses over Arthur's cheek and jaw. Arthur heaved air into his lungs as John's deft fingers skirted under the collar of his shirt, pushing his suspenders off his shoulder and undoing the buttons slowly.
"John," Arthur moaned, hooking his legs around John's waist. John grazed his teeth against the sensitive skin on his neck, nipping and kissing his way down the hollow of his throat. Arthur clung to him, burying his fingers in John's hair, tugging gently- mindful of his horns.
John groaned, kissing his way up the other side of Arthur's neck and biting along his jaw. Arthur whimpered, pulling John back up to his lips, kissing them with near bruising force. John sighed, tugging at his lips with his teeth and trailing his hands up his chest. Arthur opened his mouth under the pressure and ran his hands through John's hair, eventually dropping them to his hips. The faint knocking came again, more insistent this time. Arthur wished his neighbours would hurry the fuck up and answer the door.
"John," he sighed into his mouth, fumbling with John's belt, his fingers working far too slowly for his liking.
"Oh, Arthur," John vocalized, hands squeezing Arthur's thighs. "I-"
"Oh Lord!"
Arthur gasped fearfully, pushing John away from him. John stumbled, grumbling and glaring at the person in the kitchen doorway.
"Oscar?" Arthur panicked, blurred eyes unsure if that's who was actually there as he scrambled to button his shirt back up and adjust his suspenders.
"What did you find in-" Noel scampered around the corner, stopping in his tracks when he saw the scene in the kitchen. A grin broke out across his face.
"It's not- I…I promise we weren't-It isn't what it… I can explain!" Arthur pleaded, unfocused eyes near tears.
John huffed and leaned against the wall, pouting. "He always shows up at the worst times." He muttered.
"It's okay, Lad!" Oscar stammered, his face red as he refused to make eye contact. He ignored John. "God loves everyone, Arthur. Love thy neighbour as he says."
Noel's grin grew. "Arthur's loving thy neighbour alright."
Arthur's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach as Oscar turned a disbelieving look on Noel. John chuckled, a deep, humorous rumble. Arthur cast a glare back at him. He wanted to die, properly die; he wanted the earth to open and swallow him whole and never let him go again. He'd never felt so ashamed and embarrassed in his entire life. "Uh, wh-why- why did you-?"
"We knocked, but I guess you were too busy to hear!" Noel cackled, clutching his side.
Oscar elbowed him; it did nothing to quell the laughter. "Sorry, we thought you might be in trouble when you didn't answer and, well, you gave us an emergency key for a reason." Oscar at least had the decency to look sheepish.
"Ri-right, uh-"
"And what did you need here in the first place?" John asked, stepping forward and placing a hand on Arthur's back, glancing at Oscar with annoyance clearly visible in his eyes.
Arthur jumped, glancing over at him, his heart still racing with adrenaline. Though his vision was blurry, he could still see the state of John's clothes, including the belt that was still undone. "Jesus Christ," He muttered, dropping his head into his hands.
"I was on my way to pick up some case files," Noel mused, raising a teasing eyebrow.
"Uh, sorry to interrupt," Oscar frowned, pointed back into the kitchen. "Is there supposed to be smoke coming from-"
"Arthur the stew!" John shouted.
"Fuck!"