Caleb

[nola_northstar]

Seth might spend too much time at Phoenix Effect looking at men. But if you looked at it another way, he was an excellent patron of local business. He was stopping by the coffee shop every day now, in late afternoons and early evenings, sipping smoothies and looking at the other customers.

On this particular afternoon, he was awarded by a very particular gift. When the man turned to face Seth’s vague direction, he raised his drink in a wave and a salute, giving him a smile. It was the kind of flirting someone could ignore if they were straight or married or busy, but it was clear enough, he figured, to capture any interested parties.

Comments

[nola_havok]

"I one thousand percent did not expect to end up on a date today," Caleb laughed softly.

[nola_northstar]

“This really is your lucky day. What’s it like working construction? Do you ever get to have fun, and if so, what do you do for it?”

[nola_havok]

"It's good. It's hard work and it sucks getting up before the sun is up in the winter because I'm only a morning person if I have sun shining directly into my eyes, apparently." His affinity for the sun made a lot more sense since he'd remembered being Alex. "But it's...productive, I guess is a good word for it. You can see the progress and not feel like you're just running on the same hamster wheel every day. I very rarely have fun, but when I do I play touch football in the park or get tricked into being on a date with a hot guy in a coffee shop." It was the opposite of a complaint.

[nola_northstar]

“I’m never a morning person,” Seth said, thoroughly enjoying the conversation. “Not even seasonally. What do you build? Homes? Buildings? Other things? I also never play touch football, but I do get gorgeous men on dates, so all isn’t lost. I’m going to kiss him later, too, so I’m having a great day.”

[nola_havok]

"Mostly homes and small businesses, occasionally interior work for bigger buildings. I mostly do framing, insulation, drywall, that kind of thing. What do you do?" This was so surreal, but for once it was in a good way. Who knew being flirted with by Jean-Paul Beaubier was exactly what he needed right now? (Jean-Paul would probably say that was obvious, if he were aware, which Caleb was now reasonably sure he wasn't.)

[nola_northstar]

“You’re an essential part of the process. You make things with your own hands.” That was impressive. Seth enjoyed thinking Caleb’s hands. “I’m an actor. I am a cog in a wheel of making entertainment, which is much less impressive than creating structures, but I do what I can.” Obviously, Seth still thought acting was impressive.

[nola_havok]

"I have a very hard time imagining you as any sort of cog. Maybe the one turning the crank."

[nola_northstar]

“Is that an invitation?” Seth asked, smiling suggestively.

[nola_havok]

"That...wasn't what I meant," he managed to reply with minimal spluttering. Which wasn't a no, either.

[nola_northstar]

“That isn’t a no,” Seth pointed out, wrapping his ankle around Caleb’s.

[nola_havok]

Hoo boy. "I am very, very out of practice at this--" If he could ever have been considered in practice. "--but I find it very hard to say no to you, and right now I'm really okay with that."

[nola_northstar]

“I’m sure you still have a move or two in your somewhere. Maybe it’s muscle memory. You’ll remember when we get back to my place, which I suggest we do now.” Well, why not? Caleb was hot, Seth was hot, afternoon hookups were excellent.

[nola_havok]

Was he really going to do this? "Only one way to find out." Yeah, he really was.

[nola_northstar]

Well, Seth knew when to get to his feet. “I don’t live far from here,” he told Caleb, running a hand down the side of his face.

[nola_havok]

He didn't know if he was more touch-starved than he'd realized, or if it was just Seth, but that hand on his face was hotter than it had any right to be. "Yeah, good." Caleb was highly motivated to follow.

[nola_northstar]

Seth didn’t walk quickly; they weren’t in a rush. He smiled, quite pleased with himself indeed, as he led the way. “You might need another coffee after this.”

[nola_havok]

"Are you threatening to wear me out?" Caleb would very much like to see him try.

[nola_northstar]

“I like to think of it more as an offer than a threat,” Seth replied, stopping in his tracks and tugging on Caleb’s shirt to pull him close.

[nola_havok]

Caleb stepped in to Seth, one hand resting lightly at Seth's hip. "Then consider your offer accepted."

[nola_northstar]

Oh, this was fun. Seth leaned in very close, as though to kiss Caleb, but instead just said quietly — their lips all but touching — “it’s a lucky day for both of us.”

[nola_havok]

It was exceedingly tempting to close that tiny distance and press their lips together, but Caleb drew it out just a little longer instead. “Only if you get us where we’re going,” he said lowly, taking a step back.

[nola_northstar]

Well, Seth was impressed. “Follow me, duckling,” Seth grinned. And it really wasn’t far to his apartment, and it was painless getting into the building, and it was easy getting Caleb into the apartment proper, and as soon as the door was closed behind them, Seth pulled his shirt over his head.

[nola_havok]

Thank god. He’d been thinking about it since Seth had first mentioned, oh so casually, that he planned on kissing Caleb later, and now he finally could: Caleb framed Seth’s face in his hands and kissed him, slow and hot, no hesitation. Some things you didn’t forget how to do.

[nola_northstar]

No, this was all in perfect working order. Seth hummed with pleasure, pouring himself into that kiss. He hasn’t expected Caleb to make a first move, and it was even hotter that he had; this was a great kiss, better than Seth had expected.

[nola_havok]

It was, perhaps, a little more intense than he'd meant for it to be, but Caleb needed this too much to hold anything back. And any time a thought tried to intrude, a thought that was anything other than how hot Seth was or how good this felt, he just took the kiss further.