A Reunion of Lips

XXXI

"Scott? What's up? Do you wanna stop?"

Scott blinked down at Mitch. Woah, he hadn't meant to zone out, especially not right now. Oops.

"Uh, no. No, sorry. I just, uh, I had a question?"

He could see Mitch relax a little from how he'd tensed up in concern. "Hmm?"

Scott cringed. This was definitely going to ruin the mood. He gestured vaguely towards Mitch's left arm, raised above his head, tied with a strip of cloth to a bedpost. With his right arm trapped in his sling, Mitch was completely vulnerable to anything Scott did. (Mostly licking his way up the bare skin revealed by Mitch's unbuttoned flannel and leaving hickies along his bare thighs and hips to hear Mitch's garbled begging.)

"Can you just... explain how you're okay with this? I'm sorry, I just got kinda nervous for a second—"

"No no no, it's fine." How did Mitch look so sincere and calm when literally seconds ago he was tugging on his restraint and squirming around?

Scott shifted so he was sitting between Mitch's legs and could run his fingers over Mitch's tattoos and smooth skin while he talked.

"Put yourself in my place, Scotty. Would you let me tie you up if I asked? Would you trust me to do it if you asked?"

Scott nodded. Of course he would. He loved Mitch, knew he was safe with Mitch. Mitch would never do something he knew Scott wouldn't like, and if Scott told him to stop, he would. Mitch wouldn't hurt him.

"I trust you to do this with me. I trust that you'll pay attention to me and you won't try to do something that we didn't agree was okay. You would trust me not to do something I was uncomfortable with to you. Even if you wanted to try something else, you would ask me first. You'd check in on me, like right now. There's a reason we talked about this before we did it," Mitch nodded to his trapped arms.

Scott felt a little calmer as he dragged his hand down the curve of Mitch's ribs, noting the slight shiver.

"Even though I'm not the one in control here, I'm not worried whatsoever about it when you're the one in charge. Especially because I know I technically do have control. Even though I'm not using it."

Scott paused his fingers and glanced up at Mitch, still watching him calmly. "Thanks for explaining that all. I suppose I knew that logically, but I needed to hear you say it, I think. Sorry I ruined the mood, though." Scott chuckled lightly.

"Don't be. Consent is sexy and you have every right to take care of yourself as much as you do for me. That's why I asked if you wanted to stop in the first place. Besides," Mitch grinned, "we can do this whenever we want, fiancé."

Scott felt his face brighten, and watched as Mitch's lit up consequently. Scott had taken half the day off, which they'd spent curled into each other on the floor of the tower balcony talking about the future.

Mitch—perfect, beautiful, wonderful Mitch—had listened to all of Scott's concerns and helped ease his worry. Mitch had looked him dead in the eye and reminded him that he loved him, didn't ever not want him around, didn't care that Scott's job was so time consuming, etc. Of course, Scott had started crying and hugging Mitch when he pinky promised him that he would remind Scott of this whenever he needed until he didn't need reminders anymore. Mitch just laughed and started rubbing his back when he had choked out, "You're marrying an absolute mess." Mitch had pressed a kiss to the side of Scott's head and whispered, "But you're gonna be my mess."

Scott curled himself over Mitch and placed one hand on his jaw to pull his head up gently into a very not gentle kiss. Mitch seemed very into that plan, arching his back to press into Scott and straining against his restricted arms. Scott pulled back just enough to look Mitch in the eye and tap his fingers lightly on his arm. Mitch nodded lightly and Scott reached up to undo the knot.

Scott leaned back to give Mitch some room to get up and shake his arm out. He found Mitch's underwear laying on the floor and tossed it to him, managing to smack him right in the face. Scott snickered at Mitch's heavy sigh as he muttered something about Scott's maturity, or lack thereof.

"Are you busy tonight?"

Scott contented himself with watching Mitch slowly button up his shirt one-handed (he had recently insisted that he was very good at it now and did not need help, thank you very much). "Nah. You got something in mind?"

"Let's see if Kirstie's busy and have a wine night. For old times' sake."

Scott leaned forward to peck Mitch on the nose. "That sounds awesome. We should bring back hanging out on the weekends."

Mitch swung his legs off the side of the bed and started towards the closet. "Hell yes. I demand it. Oh, if we go to Kirstie's tonight, we gotta stop at Starbucks first."

Scott furrowed his brow as he sat back and watched Mitch steal a pair of his pants and start rolling up the ankles in a way that no one pulled off as good as him. "Why?"

Mitch grinned at him. "We gotta find out if my signature drink is better than Kirstie's."