Boy in the bubble (Modern Merthur AU) (Discontinued)

Chapter Nineteen

Dinner that night was uneventful. Merlin's cheeks were in a constant rosy blush whether that be from sleep, kissing or the knee Arthur was brushing against his own beneath the table. As he ate the stew laid in front of him his eyes were flicking in Arthur's direction every other moment.

Gaius was first to up and leave the table, having droned on about his day at work and asking mindless questions on how their individual days of school were until long after he'd finished his food. The boys had responded in murmurs of 'fine' and 'good', food still in Merlin's mouth as he spoke.

Once Gaius was gone Merlin span in his chair and pulled Arthur's mouth toward his own, a single hand clasped around his neck, tugging him infinitely closer to the raven haired boy.

"God you're gorgeous." Merlin mewled and a slight chuckle slipped from Arthur's lips, between the mess of lips and trailing saliva.

"I know..." He responded in turn, "and you love me for it."

Merlin didn't know what to reply, didn't know if he even should reply. 'I do' would be the perfect way to respond and get it out for the first time. They had been dating for a month, surely that didn't make it too soon and deep inside himself he knew he did, despite Arthur's torments throughout his time at Camelot high and the difficulty Merlin had had with Arthur in their first few months of studying and the blond discovering himself, Merlin knew that he may love Arthur Pendragon.

"You okay?" Arthur asked, pulling back, a playful smirk  on his gorgeous lips.

Was now the time? Or had the moment passed?

"You zoned out..." Arthur continued when all Merlin did was stare at him with wide eyes and flat lined mouth.

The moment had passed.

"Fine." Merlin said blatantly after only a moment's hesitation.

Arthur smiled, a hint of curiosity hidden beneath it, "You done?" He asked, moving on from the topic and motioning to Merlin's empty bowl of stew.

"No. I have so much left to eat." He said sarcastically and Arthur pulled a tongue at him before dragging him upstairs by the forearm.
Once they were past the kitchen, where Gaius was, Arthur locked his lips onto Merlin's as he pulled him backwards up the stairs, his foot catching a few times on the steps without his vision.

Soon and not to soon enough they were lying in a giggling heap of steamy kisses and panting breaths on Arthur's bed, Merlin with his knees flat on either side of the blond's torso, their lips locked intimately, soft mewls, moans and whimpers coming out in their pants and the pair have never been more glad for Gaius being down stairs and having hard of hearing.

Maybe now was the time. Surely Arthur loves him too. If he'd stayed with him this long and kissed him this often. Or maybe he viewed Merlin as a last resort, or a security blanket of sorts. No. Now wasn't the time to say it.

"You keep getting getting distracted..." Arthur stated, laboured breaths and a heaving chest.

"Then kiss me harder..." Merlin breathed, rejoining their lips, his top lip gliding frantically across Arthur's perfectly defined Cupid's bow, his bottom lip practically engulfing Arthur's. It was messy and wet and hot as fuck, Merlin was addicted, as Arthur slid his tongue in gently.

Then again, maybe now was the time...

"Boys?" Gaius called, knocking briefly before opening the door and Merlin practically flew across the room, landing solidly on his kneecap at the floor on the other side of the bed, licking and wiping at his red, swollen lips.

"What are you doing?" Gaius asked, noticing Merlin's peculiar position.

"Just ... kneeling." Merlin said in response, hiding a wince behind a smile.