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As the clerk wraps up the shirt Nico feels a calm sense of satisfaction. Shopping for other people is almost as fun as shopping for himself. Actually, in this case, it was more fun. Flipping through the racks thinking only of Jo, how it would look on him, if he’d like it, when he’d wear it, when he’d take it off…Yeah, it was really fun. He wonders what kind of face Jo will make when he gives it to him.
Nico hears the store clerk saying something, he doesn’t quite catch it, but it’s enough to make him realize that she is trying, unsuccessfully, to usher him to the exit so she can hand him his bag and send him on his way.
“Ah, sorry! Thank you.” Bowing slightly, Nico takes the bag and leaves the store, embarrassed that he was daydreaming like that.
It’s only been a month since Jo confessed his feelings, but it feels longer. Nico has been as open and honest about his attraction to Jo as possible, but there are still times when it seems like Jo doesn’t fully believe him. The first night was great. Nico kissed Jo so many times that both of their lips were chapped and swollen the next day. He figured that would be enough to convince Jo, but after that he seemed to go back to being uncertain and hesitant.
More than once, Nico saw Jo start to reach out to touch him only to pull back at the last second. Sometimes Nico reaches out and pulls Jo’s hand towards him. Other times, he acts like he didn’t see. But what he really wants is for Jo to just go for it.
As for Nico, he’s practically at his limit. He finds himself thinking about Jo all the time now. His lips, his neck, his arms, his back, his ears, every inch of him fascinates Nico. He wants so badly to explore his body, but he doesn’t want to come on too strong, so he’s trying to let Jo lead the way.
Nico sighs as he kicks his shoes off in the entryway and makes his way into the living room.
“Everything okay?” Nico is startled by the sound of Jo’s voice. Scanning the room, he sees him sitting on the floor next to the table, his back resting against the couch, focused on a drawing. He has a blanket draped over his shoulders.
“Yeah, why do you ask?” Nico makes his way over to Jo, fighting the urge to jump on him. He just looks so cute and cozy under that blanket.
“You sighed.” Jo sets his pencil down now and looks at Nico. “So I thought something might be wrong. Sorry, am I being nosy?”
Nico laughs as he flops down on the couch behind Jo, setting the bag on the floor next to him. “It’s fine. You don’t have to be so formal with me, you know?”
Moving to lie down on his side, so that he’s facing Jo’s back, Nico wonders if it would be okay to touch him, just a little. His mouth is dangerously close to the back of Jo’s neck. He smells so good.
“I got you something. It’s in the bag. If you want to, you can open it now.” Nico blows a puff of air on the back of Jo’s neck, unable to resist. Jo practically jumps out of skin, making Nico burst into laughter. Jo is holding the back of his neck, his ears are bright red, and Nico guesses his face probably is red too, but Jo won’t turn around to face him, so he can’t be sure.
Jo rubs the back of his neck for a moment before reaching over to pick up the bag. “What is it?”
“You’ll have to open it to find out.” Nico has his head propped up on his hand now, watching Jo intently. “But let me see your face when you open it at least.”
Jo nods and turns his body towards Nico, causing the blanket to fall off his shoulders and onto the floor. As Nico predicted, Jo’s cheeks are red, making him look even more adorable than usual.
“You didn’t have to. Just because I gave you…you know.” Jo’s voice falters a bit, but he keeps his eyes on Nico.
“I know. But I wanted to. So hurry up and open it.” Nico gives Jo what he hopes is a reassuring smile.
“Ah, sorry. You’re right. Thank you. I will open it then….” Gently (more gently than is necessary really) Jo opens the bag and peeks inside before taking out the shirt. Unfolding it, Jo holds it up to get a proper look. Nico chose a sleeveless white button-up shirt with a collar. Of course, it’s more than that, which Jo sees as he inspects it. The point of each collar is embroidered with the face of a silver wolf. The buttons are metallic silver crescent moons.
“You could wear it with a jacket, or a sweater, or just on its own. Lots of options, I thought you’d like that.” Nico doesn’t say that he chose white because he thinks it makes Jo look like he’s glowing, but that was part of his reasoning too.
“Wow, so cool. Thank you.” Jo has such an earnest expression on his face as he says this, Nico can’t help but smile again. It feels good to know that Jo likes it. “Is it okay if I try it on?”
Nico laughs as he sits up. “Of course, it’s your shirt. Do whatever you want.”
Looking at the shirt again, Jo nods. “Okay.” Setting the shirt in his lap, Jo pulls the sweater he’s wearing up and over his head.
Nico’s eyes widen. He didn’t expect him to change right in front of him. Not that he’s complaining. Especially when he sees that Jo isn’t wearing an undershirt. This is going even better than he imagined. Trying to appear much calmer than he actually is, Nico leans back against the couch and watches Jo carefully fold his sweater and set it on the table. Nico has seen Jo without a shirt plenty of times, but when it’s just the two of them like this…it feels different.
“Damn, your arms are really…they look great. You’ve been working hard, huh?” Nico wants to reach out and squeeze them so badly. But he doesn’t. He promised himself that he’d wait.
Somehow, Jo turns even redder. “Your arms too…I like them.” Jo doesn’t look at Nico as he says this. Which Nico is almost grateful for, as he’s unsure if he’d be able to hold back if Jo looked him in the eyes right now.
Jo slips the shirt on and starts to work on the buttons. But he seems to be struggling a bit. So Nico moves forward to the edge of the couch and gives him a hand.
“I guess the buttons are a little tricky, but the moons look cool.” When Nico gets to the top button, he stops, laughing a little.
“What? Does it…look weird?” Jo looks at Nico with a concerned expression.
“No, definitely not. I was just thinking, um, well…this is basically the exact opposite of what I want to be doing right now.” Nico leaves his fingers on the final button, not ready to pull away when he’s so close. He could just reach out a tiny bit and feel Jo’s throat, his collarbone, his chest.
“I don’t understand…you don’t want to be doing this?”
“Ah, no, it’s not what you think!” Nico laughs again, shaking his head. “I mean, I don’t want to dress you. I want to…you know, do the opposite.” Nico meets Jo’s eyes now.
“Oh….” Jo looks like he’s about to say more, but he doesn’t.
“Oh? Is that all?” Nico wants to push, just a little. He slips his finger under the fabric of Jo’s shirt, just barely touching his skin. He feels Jo tense up. “You don’t want me to?”
“You can. If you want. I mean, I also…want that.” Jo continues to hold Nico’s gaze, even if he sounds nervous, he’s obviously sure about what he’s saying. Nico slides the rest of his hand under Jo’s shirt, brushing against his nipple, causing Jo to gasp.
“You like this? Then why won’t you touch me? I’ve been dying to touch you. Even just holding your hand. But you seem afraid of me. Or this. I don’t know what.” Nico searches Jo’s face for an answer.
Jo furrows his eyebrows and bites his bottom lip nervously. “I’m sorry….”
Nico sighs and pushes his hand further down Jo’s shirt, causing two of the buttons to come undone. A very satisfying sensation, and exactly what he was picturing when he bought it.
“Don’t apologize. You don’t have to. I just want to know how you feel. I want to know what you like, and what you want.” He’s trying not to feel frustrated, but he hates the idea of Jo feeling like has to say sorry so much. Resting his hand on Jo’s stomach, he leans forward a little more, close to Jo’s lips. “Do you want to kiss me?”
Jo nods, without hesitation, so Nico moves off the couch, down to the floor, next to Jo.
“Okay then. I’m ready.” Nico closes his eyes, thinking that might make things a little easier on Jo. But after a few moments (a few seconds probably but feels longer) Nico opens his eyes, confused. “Everything okay?”
“Can I…touch you too? Or should I just kiss you? I…want to touch you. If that’s okay.” Jo looks so sincere that Nico isn’t sure if he should laugh or cry or both.
“Yes. Touch me. Kiss me. Do anything you want to me. Please. I’m begging you here.” Nico moves to his knees, to show that he’s prepared to literally beg.
Thankfully, Jo gets the message, and he quickly (and a bit clumsily) moves forward and presses his lips against Nico’s. And then he scoots a little closer, putting one hand on the back of Nico’s neck and the other on his arm. Jo starts to kiss more naturally now, like he’s thinking about it less, finally putting aside all of his doubts.
And that’s how Nico ends up being pushed down by Jo, his back pressed against the floor, his entire body full of wanting. This is what he was craving. Closeness. And the fact that Jo took the lead (after a little encouragement) makes it even better.
Nico reaches up and pushes open Jo’s shirt the rest of the way, wanting to feel as much of him as he can. Jo’s skin is hot, or is it Nico’s hands? Maybe it’s both. He wants more. Pulling his lips away from Jo’s, he leans forward and kisses his neck, causing Jo to shudder. Without thinking, Nico moves his hand to Jo’s pants, wanting to feel if he’s the only one who is hard. Smiling, he sees that he’s not alone. He pushes against Jo with his hand.
Jo moans, and Nico thinks it’s the most beautiful sound he’s ever heard.
The sound of a door closing sends a shock through his entire body, reminding Nico that they are in the living room, in the middle of the day, and that he’s dangerously close to tearing the rest of Jo’s clothes off right here. Jo jerks backward, pulling away from Nico’s touch.
“Shit, sorry. I got carried away.” Nico sits up, sliding out from under Jo.
“Don’t apologize. You don’t need to.” Jo looks at Nico with a serious expression, his lips glistening.
Nico can’t help but laugh a little, hearing Jo repeating his words from just a few moments ago. Catching his breath, Nico looks at Jo as he starts to work on buttoning his shirt back up. Reaching out, Nico grabs both of his wrists to stop him. “Don’t. We’re going to my room. Or yours. I don’t care, whichever one is empty.”
Standing up, Nico pulls Jo up with him, heading straight for his room. No more hesitation from either one of them. As he closes the bedroom door behind them, locking it, Nico thinks this might be his new favorite holiday.