Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Do you ever get lonely?" Jesper said.

Across the room in his large armchair, Klaus raised an eyebrow in bemusement.

"I mean, uh, I know you're not totally alone up here, with the people in the workshop and the townsfolk visiting sometimes, and the reindeer of course, and I'm here a lot, obviously, but I'm just, you know...me," he trailed off meekly, his accompanying laughter soft and nervous.

Christmas preparations were complete for the year and they both sat in front of the fire at Klaus's cabin, sipping hot cider–with a little something extra that Klaus had added to their cups with a wink. Jesper tried to ignore the fluttering in his stomach when he winked at him but it was soon replaced by a warm and comfortable heat as he sipped his drink.

Somehow Jesper managed to talk even more when he was tipsy.

"I just meant, y'know, romantically lonely? God, I'm sorry, I don't know why I brought this up. I'm sure your wife was a wonderful woman and it's not like you can just replace someone like that and, uh, clearly you have limited options around here anyway, but I guess I was just thinking about things with me and Alva not working out and got kinda...sentimental," he said quietly, face flushed.

He’d been stumbling over his words around Klaus more frequently, as of late. But adding alcohol to the equation had sealed his fate on this particular evening.

Klaus continued gazing at him pensively, his face an inscrutable mask.

"But you're so amazing," Jesper rambled, gesturing vaguely with one hand, "and the kindest person I've ever met, and so wise, and strong, and I wish there was someone who could give you the kind of companionship you deserve. Assuming that's something you'd, uh, want for yourself, obviously, and if you didn't want it that would, of course, be fine because there's nothing wrong with that," he finished at last, forcing himself to shut up as he gulped down the remaining spiked cider.

He shifted his gaze from his empty cup to Klaus's face.

After a moment Klaus took a deep breath and Jesper’s focus shifted to his mouth, licking his own lips without thinking about it. This was bad. Maybe he should remove himself from this situation before he could make an even bigger ass of himself.

He glanced away from Klaus's face towards the window, where large snowflakes were drifting steadily to the ground below. He stood and began adjusting his postman’s hat, suddenly filled with a growing anxiety in his gut that could not be blamed on his drink.

"Oh darn, would you look at that, it's really starting to come down. I'd better get going unless I want to get stranded in a snowbank and I'm forced to eat my horse for sustenance. Although, admittedly, the horse would probably eat me first. I don't know why I'm rambling about eating horses, I couldn't do it anyway, I'd just let him eat me, I'm that kind of guy," he finished, laughing somewhat hysterically and fidgeting with the buttons on his coat.

Klaus rose from his chair and walked calmly over to stand in front of Jesper, his kind face illuminated by the fire. Patient, sturdy hands rose to pull Jesper's fingers away from his coat buttons. For a moment Jesper's mind went blank as Klaus's large (oh my god , so large) hands settled over the fastenings.

"You're not going to stay very warm with your buttons in the wrong openings," he chuckled softly, unbuttoning them and lining each one up with its respective mate.

Jesper stared at him openly, breath caught in his throat. He had always loved Klaus's deep voice and hearing it so closely while Klaus was touching him was almost too much.

He smelled like fresh pine and woodsmoke and it was heavenly .

I am in way over my head , Jesper thought absentmindedly. A little alcohol and he was acting like a lovesick schoolboy. He knew there was no chance that Klaus would return his feelings, but a small part of him ( the spoiled, selfish part ) still wanted as much of him as he could get. So if he enjoyed these tiny moments more than Klaus knew, well, no harm done. Right?

"Although," Klaus continued softly, meeting his gaze, "you don't need to ride back in this kind of weather. You are more than welcome to stay overnight if conditions ever take a turn."

His hands still rested softly on Jesper's shoulders. Jesper spent slightly longer than necessary processing his words, lost in his gaze.

"It's completely up to you, of course," Klaus added with a small smile, finally moving away from Jesper and turning to add another log to the fireplace.

Jesper continued to stand there ( like an idiot ) for another moment before blurting, " Yes , of course, good idea, very sensible, was only half-joking about the horse eating me."

Klaus turned back toward him with a chuckle.

"Good, good. I worry about you out there in the elements," he said, hand brushing against Jesper's shoulder again as he began to walk past him.

"Let me grab some blankets. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Yes, thank you," Jesper managed to respond in a reasonable time frame. "That would be lovely," he added, more softly.

"Of course," Klaus said, still smiling.

God, his smile.

Jesper was already regretting his acceptance of the offer to stay over. Why did he have to be such a sap? A sap that couldn’t hold his liquor.

It's alright , he reasoned with a sigh, massaging his neck. They'd have a cup of tea, he'd sober up, spend a night on the floor in front of the fireplace trying to pretend that the sheets and blankets weren't full of Klaus's scent, probably have a lovely breakfast, leave Klaus's home (regretfully), ride back to town, finally arrive at his own (empty) house, and then proceed to spend half a day in bed desperately touching himself while muffling his cries into several pillows.

That was fine. He was an adult and he would deal with his problems the normal way: using copious amounts of masturbation to prevent yourself from doing something incredibly stupid, like ruining the relationship with your closest friend.

Of course, now that he had stopped pretending that the large, older men ( with a strong yet gentle touch ) in his fantasies were anyone other than the obvious person in his life who fit that description, Jesper had been paying more attention to...certain details about Klaus.

Because once he had stopped deluding himself and came to terms with the fact that he had a crush on Klaus, he couldn't stop thinking about it. About him. About them, together. Intimately.

Working closely with the other man for more than a year had given Jesper plenty of insight into Klaus's personality and mannerisms, but this aspect of him was still a mystery. Jesper wondered how he'd react in bed. Was he gentle but dominating? Would he only do it in the missionary position with the lights off? What noises would he make if Jesper knelt in front of him and (slowly and methodically) studied every inch of his cock with his tongue (and god , if it was proportionate in size to the rest of him)– 

He was jolted out of his fantasy by Klaus's steady footfall as he re-entered the room, carrying a tray of tea on one hand and a rather obscene number of linens and blankets under his other arm.

Jesper coughed and subtly tried to adjust his pants as Klaus set the tray onto the table before placing the blankets in a neat pile near the hearth – a safe enough distance from the fire that no errant sparks would catch but close enough that they'd be warm and toasty when Jesper settled down to sleep.

I want to marry him , Jesper thought absently.

"It never fails to impress me when you do that," he said instead, eyes lingering on Klaus's exposed forearms. "I manage to spill half of my tea just walking from my kitchen to the bedroom–and on a fairly regular basis, mind you."

Klaus chucked softly as he handed Jesper his steaming mug.

"And then you spill the other half on the bed, I assume?" he replied with a wink, sinking back into his armchair.

What is with all the winking tonight , Jesper bemoaned internally.

" Excuse me, sir, my bed is a sanctum of cleanliness," Jesper murmured, sipping his tea and letting out a tiny sigh of contentment. One milk, three sugars. Perfect.

"Mmm," Klaus replied noncommittally, a small smirk still lingering at the corner of his mouth.

Jesper's gaze fell upon the hearth and they settled into comfortable silence for a few minutes as they sipped their tea. The fire crackled and Jesper could almost hear the soft snowfall just outside the window.

Who knows , supplied his traitorous (and still slightly inebriated) brain. Maybe the snow won't let up. Maybe you'll be stuck here for a few days. What will you possibly do to pass the time?

Jesper's imagination had plenty of helpful ideas. Most of them involved him and Klaus, and Klaus's bed, or maybe they wouldn't even make it to the bed and Klaus would spread him open and take him apart right there in front of the fireplace– 

"It is something I think about, you know," Klaus began, his voice soft. Jesper impressed himself by not jumping out of his skin. He turned to look at Klaus, gently setting his mug down.

"Sorry?"

"You asked if I was lonely," Klaus replied, hands clasped around his mug as he gazed at the fire. "I think about it sometimes. I have so many more people in my life now, and most of them are friends," he said as his gaze shifted back to Jesper, a warm smile blooming across his face.

Jesper couldn't help but feel the corners of his mouth upturn.

Klaus’s smile faded a bit as he took another sip of tea, his gaze dropping.

"But you're right. I don't have that kind of companionship anymore. I thought after Lydia... I felt I would not be able to find such a thing again, nor did I truly believe I would want to."

Jesper continued watching him, the fire crackling in the silence.

"But lately, I am not sure," Klaus said, more softly. He took a slow sip from his mug.

"Not sure?"

"If I am truly better off being alone," Klaus said.

Jesper felt his stomach fluttering ever so slightly and mentally kicked himself.

"Oh!" Jesper responded with (hopefully believable) enthusiasm. "Well, I was honest when I said the pickings are slim around here but I have heard tell of people seeking romantic partnership exchanging correspondence through the mail and getting to know each other long distance. I'm sure I could find out more, if you're interested," he said with a grin that probably didn't reach his eyes.

"Mmm," Klaus replied again, gaze falling once more upon the fire.

Jesper was secretly pleased at the lukewarm reaction to his suggestion but mostly felt like an idiot for bringing up the topic in the first place. It pained him to hear that his friend actually desired romantic companionship, for multiple reasons.

"It is not really a matter of distance, I think," Klaus continued, voice low and even.

Jesper suspected that the alcohol had mostly worn off but, even so, it still felt like his brain was acting a bit slow.

"Not a matter of distance? I'm not sure if I'd find any of the Ellingboes or Krums up to your standards, if I'm being perfectly honest," Jesper continued, wincing at the thought. "Although, perhaps one of the lovely, talented Sami women has caught your eye?"

"No, no, nothing like that," Klaus said with a sigh, beginning to stand from the chair with his now empty mug in hand.

"Well, that's good," Jesper replied, absentmindedly lifting his arm to pass his own mug to Klaus's outstretched hand. "I mean, I'd like to think that if anyone in this backwater hamlet had gained your affections I would know about it."

Klaus hesitated as he closed his hand around Jesper's mug. Jesper turned his gaze up to Klaus's face with a blink.

Klaus brushed his fingers against Jesper's ever so slightly, holding his gaze. But the moment ended as suddenly as it began and Klaus walked off, presumably to the kitchen.

Jesper remained staring into the space that his friend's face had occupied long after he had left the room, the gears in his brain slowly turning.

Something was off. Jesper had been mostly joking when he started naming off groups of local townsfolk but who was left, then, except– 

Alva. Of course.

What an idiot I am , he thought, his face crestfallen. Alva visited Klaus almost as often as he did, and she was clearly beautiful and intelligent and funny. All the things that attracted Jesper to her, initially.

Once he had stopped deluding himself of the notion that he wasn't in love with his best friend, he had gently ended things with her before they could get messier. She didn't blame him–he was already spending most of his free time working on expansion projects with Klaus, and the school had more children joining every semester. Neither of them really had time for a relationship (or so they told themselves). They were still friends, of course.

Well, Jesper didn't know if Klaus was really her type, but he didn't want their past entanglement to prevent his friend from finding companionship.

Suddenly feeling very tired but wanting to rip the bandage off quickly, so to speak, he padded his way over to the kitchen. He paused at the entrance of the room, gazing at Klaus's back with a soft expression. He stood at the sink, fiddling with the dishes and humming a sweet, if sad, melody. Jesper couldn't bear to see him unhappy.

Might as well get this over with.

He cleared his throat as he entered the room, leaning awkwardly against the table.

"You know, Klaus, I wanted to apologize. It seems like I've been an idiot."

Klaus seemed to pause at Jesper's words, the damp towel he was holding limp in his hands. He turned off the faucet and the room was suddenly filled with silence.

"Oh?" he replied, noncommittal. He remained facing away from Jesper as he idly wiped the towel against a plate in his other hand.

Jesper’s nails dug into the wood of the table as he steeled himself with a deep breath.

"I feel like I've been completely blind when it was so obvious what you wanted, and I've been preventing you from seeking your own happiness in the process," he said, trying to sound upbeat despite the sadness pooling in his chest.

Klaus set the towel and plate down on the countertop and finally turned to face him.

His face was an inscrutable mask once more.

"Jesper, forgive me, but I ask that you speak plainly," Klaus replied, arms crossed over his wide chest.

So much for ripping the bandage off quickly, he bemoaned internally.

"Sorry, it's just–Alva. If you're interested in her, it's totally not a problem! We're just friends now and she's a great woman. Not sure if she's into older men, but I still think you have a shot," he finished with a tired grin.

Klaus remained standing with his arms crossed, expression unchanged except for a slight furrow in his brows.

"Alva," he finally replied, voice even. "You think I'm interested in Alva?"

Jesper's feeble mind was thrown for another loop.

"Well, yes, you said there was–” Jesper scrubbed his face in frustration. “Sorry, do you actually have someone in the..." he gestured vaguely, "general vicinity that you're interested in? Romantically? Did I misinterpret something?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes, I do," Klaus replied evasively, turning once more to open his cupboards and methodically put clean dishes into their proper homes.

His words stung Jesper. He nearly took a step back, as if recoiling from a slap to the face.

"None of my business? I didn't assume it was my business , I just–we're friends, Klaus!" He threw up his hands in exasperation. "Best friends, even, or at least I thought so. Perhaps you don't feel the same way. I guess I just assumed that if you felt that way for someone then you might want to share it with me. Even if you didn't think you had a chance and just wanted to commiserate! Clearly I don't have a winning track record, myself," he said with a small huff.

"I'm not sure if that's wise," Klaus replied softly. He sounded very tired.

Jesper was trying his absolute best not to take this confusing conversation personally.

"Why? I mean–damn. Listen, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. You don't have to share every detail of your life with me. You know I love the sound of my own voice and I really don't expect you to match my enthusiasm for the spoken word. But I am here for you, you know," Jesper finished quietly.

Klaus's head slumped down slightly as he stood facing the sink, hands gripping the edge of the countertop.

"I just can't, Jesper. Please understand."

Jesper sighed and wished for a moment that he had a little more alcohol to soften the pain.

He turned and idly glanced at the clock before plastering another tight smile onto his face, despite the fact that Klaus still faced away from him.

"Alright, alright, I get it! A man deserves his privacy. I'll go make up my bed for the evening and leave you to do your washing and drying and whatever else commoners have to deal with when they can't afford servants," Jesper said.

Klaus let a quiet huff of a laugh escape at that and Jesper's smile widened genuinely for a moment. He would always adore the gratification of making him laugh.

Jesper turned to leave the kitchen with a sigh.

"Look, just know that I think any lady in town would be lucky to have you," he said, gesturing broadly with one arm.

"Who said it was a lady?" Klaus responded, a slight hint of aggravation bleeding into his voice.

Oh, fuck , was the first thought in Jesper's mind. He had definitely screwed this one up.

Then it hit him.

"Mogens?" Jesper spluttered as he dramatically spun back around, eyes widening in disbelief. "Klaus, for the love of all that is holy, please tell me you do not have feelings for Mogens !" he continued incredulously.

Klaus barked a laugh this time, dragging a hand over his face in clear exasperation.

" Not Mogens. Please drop this, Jesper," he replied shortly, pulling the kitchen curtains closed with more force than seemed necessary for the task.

Jesper's irritation spiked.

"Well, then who in the hell –" he started, before stopping abruptly.

Oh God, it couldn’t be–no, not possible.

But maybe, maybe possible, whispered his traitorous mind. Jesper wasn't sure which option was worse.

"It's not–" Jesper started, heart racing as he paused. It wasn’t often that he was left at a loss for words.

"Because the only other man in town I know of is me and that–that's just ridiculous, obviously," he laughed weakly.

Klaus remained silent.

Jesper was nearing peak internal hysteria.

"I'll see you in the morning," Klaus offered quietly as he turned and walked off toward the bedroom.

Jesper was left alone in the kitchen, once again staring at an empty space that Klaus had occupied.

He felt hopeful for the first time in as long as he could remember, and it was terrifying.

Jesper laid upon a pile of what must have been 10 different quilts and blankets, his head resting on a plump goose down pillow. He had been staring at one particular spot on the ceiling for the past 15 minutes, unable to entertain the thought of sleep despite the fact that he was mentally and emotionally exhausted.

But his mind raced over the conversation he and Klaus had shared no more than an hour ago.

Jesper thought Klaus had tipped a little whiskey into his cup earlier but perhaps it was some type of mushroom concoction and he had hallucinated the entire conversation.

But no , Jesper thought with another jolt of elation and anxiety. He was pretty sure it had actually happened.

Klaus had very much implied that he had romantic feelings for him.

Him. Jesper. The mailman.

He continued staring at the ceiling.

Maybe I can sneak out the window while he's sleeping , Jesper thought. Just avoid him for a week–or month? Better make it a year, let the residual embarrassment wear off and give Klaus time to come to his senses. Yes. Good.

Just as he had begun debating which window would make for an easier getaway, he heard the distinct creak of footsteps from Klaus's bedroom.

Despite the fact that he was not moving, Jesper froze and his eyes flew shut.

He listened as Klaus made his way down the stairs and stopped at the landing.

“Jesper,” he said softly, “you're a terrible liar and clearly not asleep.”

Jesper sighed as his eyes fluttered open and instinctively searched for Klaus's broad form in the light of the dying embers.

“It's true but you don't have to say it,” he mumbled in response.

Jesper thought he saw the corner of Klaus's mouth twitch but he couldn't be sure.

“So...want to talk?” Jesper offered, somewhat sheepishly.

Klaus did not reply but made his way over to the fireplace and sat down in his customary armchair with a sigh.

Jesper thought about getting up but settled for lazily rolling over until he was facing Klaus. He wrapped his arms around the pillow for moral support.

Klaus let out a deep sigh.

“Jesper, I am sorry,” he began quietly.

Jesper didn't think he'd ever met someone who could leave him at a loss for words so easily. It was almost a superpower.

“I was incredibly rude to you this evening,” Klaus continued, “and for that I apologize. I overreacted.”

Jesper’s brow furrowed slightly.

“What? That's–no, look, I was honest about what I said earlier. You don't have to share everything with me. I shouldn't have pried,” Jesper said, sitting up slightly.

“No,” Klaus replied swiftly.

Jesper blinked at him.

“You are my closest friend, Jesper,” he continued, his voice softening. “It has pained me to keep such feelings from you. But I only acted in such a way because I thought...”

The stillness of the night filled the room.

“I was afraid I might lose you, if you were to understand the true nature of my feelings for you,” he finished, voice barely above a whisper.

An ember popped in the fireplace.

Jesper didn’t recall leaving his spot on the floor or walking over to Klaus but soon found himself standing in front of the larger man, who lifted his gaze to meet his own in the dying light. The look on his face twisted something painful in Jesper’s gut.

He opened his mouth to respond, to tell Klaus how much he meant to him, that his feelings were not unrequited, that Klaus deserved so much better–

“Oh, hell,” he whispered instead, leaning forward to brush his mouth softly against Klaus’s.

For a moment he was lost in the sensation. Klaus was still beneath him, and silent bare the slightest gasp of an exhale just before their lips met.

Jesper leaned back, suddenly aware of his actions. His heart threatened to leap out of his throat.

“Oh, hell ,” he repeated and made to turn away. “I’m sorry, I absolutely should not have–”

Klaus grasped one large hand around his wrist. Jesper couldn’t help the tiny noise that escaped his mouth, jerking back to face him but making no effort to pull away.

He hated how much this was turning him on.

“Jesper,” Klaus said, his gaze lowered.

“Yes?” he responded, a whisper.

“I’m old enough to deal with my feelings on my own–I don’t need you acting out of pity,” he said, voice low and even.

Jesper had heard quite enough. He barked a laugh, which was apparently not the reaction that Klaus had expected.

“Pity?” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Pity. You think this is pity ? I mean–Christ. This is me we’re talking about: the completely unremarkable spoiled little rich boy turned mediocre failure of a mailman who accidentally tripped his way into doing something good with his life, despite my best efforts!”

Klaus seemed stunned to silence, still loosely holding onto Jesper’s wrist as the younger man gesticulated wildly with his other arm.

“You didn’t have to go along with anything! I barged into your life and dragged you into the mess I made and somehow…” Jesper had to swallow the lump in his throat, suddenly overwhelmed. “Somehow you changed me. And now I have a purpose, a home. And it was all because of you. All of it. Everything I have, I have because of you,” Jesper said, voice shaking.

“So,” he continued, “why do you find it so hard to believe that after all that, that I might–”

Jesper’s watery gaze met Klaus’s.

“Is it so hard to believe that maybe I fell a little bit in love with you, somewhere along the way?” he finished, his voice a whisper.

Chapter Text

Klaus was silent for a few moments. Jesper thought his heart would burst right out of his chest.

Suddenly Klaus gave a small shudder and his grip around Jesper’s wrist tightened just a bit. It was enough to make Jesper gasp out a soft, tiny moan before immediately smacking his free hand over his mouth.

“Jesper,” Klaus said quietly, dark eyes meeting his own in the dim light, “I would very much like to kiss you again.”

“Please,” Jesper moaned, muffled by the hand still covering his mouth.

Klaus gave the slightest huff of a laugh before gently pulling Jesper’s hand away from his face and gazing upon his lips, bitten red with anxiety.

“So beautiful,” Klaus whispered and Jesper felt like the wind had been knocked out of him.

Then Klaus closed the distance between them again and Jesper’s mind temporarily went blank with bliss. He was lost in the sensation of warm lips, the soft brush of beard on his skin, his wrist still clasped in Klaus’s strong grip–

Jesper’s cock was hard and weeping already inside his long underwear and he suddenly gasped for air against Klaus’s mouth, tongue slipping against his bottom lip and causing a deep, reverberating noise to emerge from Klaus’s throat.

It was, quite possibly, the most erotic sound Jesper had ever heard.

Klaus pulled back slightly, taking deep breaths with his eyes closed. His cheeks were rosy.

Jesper wanted to crawl into his lap and never leave.

Klaus’s eyes opened and Jesper wished he had rekindled the fire so he could see the expression on his face more clearly.

“Jesper,” Klaus started.

“Yes?” he replied, still panting slightly, his pulse racing.

“If we–” he started, then paused. “If we…continue this, I want you to know I don’t expect–you’re not obligated to–”

Klaus sighed, his gaze dropping once more.

“I just want to make sure–”

Jesper cut him off with another noise of exasperation, gazing briefly toward the ceiling as if imploring the heavens for assistance, and then he really did crawl into Klaus’s lap.

Klaus inhaled sharply and Jesper swayed a bit as he struggled for balance, leaning forward to steady himself on Klaus’s shoulders. Klaus’s hands swept up to his waist instinctively, anchoring Jesper there with his legs kneeling on either side of Klaus’s strong thighs.

He’s so warm, Jesper thought, dazed.

His lizard brain was going haywire, imploring him to shift just the tiniest bit forward to grind his hard cock against Klaus and show him just how much he wanted this, wanted him, wanted to carefully study every inch of his body until he knew exactly how much Jesper was committed.

Jesper had never been so sure about anything in his entire life.

“I want you,” he blurted out. His hot, shaky breath ghosted against Klaus’s lips and the other man looked at him as if he was desperately torn between giving in or continuing to try and be the voice of reason.

“Please,” Jesper whispered. “I know this isn’t the most… traditional arrangement. But I still want it. I want you. If this doesn’t last, I’m still going to be the annoying mailman who pesters you week in and week out. But–” and he paused as he gave the slightest sway of his hips forward to brush his (painfully) hard cock against Klaus’s muscular midsection, causing them both to shudder. Jesper’s hands clasped desperately onto Klaus’s robe.

“But you have no idea how much I’ve wanted this–wanted you ,” Jesper said, voice cracking. He barely had the sense of mind to be embarrassed, every nerve in his body on edge.

Klaus made another ( gloriously erotic) noise at that and pulled Jesper close to capture his lips in another kiss–but this time it was deep and searing and full of emotion. He wasn’t holding back anymore. Jesper moaned against his mouth and his lips parted, Klaus groaning as he parted his own lips in response, exploring Jesper’s mouth.

God, please don’t let me be dreaming again–

He began grinding himself forward in earnest against the man beneath him, still lost in the heat of Klaus’s mouth. Due to their size difference and his awkward position he wasn’t able to push himself directly against Klaus’s erection, but it ghosted against the inside of his thigh and he gasped at the sensation.

Klaus responded with another groan as he shuddered, his grip on Jesper’s waist tightening. One large hand slipped down to cup his ass, squeezing gently and pulling him flush against himself.

“Fuck,” Jesper gasped, his hips rutting of their own accord against Klaus’s midsection. The friction was at once delicious and yet not nearly enough. He wanted it all, wanted whatever he could get–

“So needy,” Klaus murmured in a low, gravely tone that made Jesper shudder, his face burning. His head dropped down to rest against Klaus’s shoulder as his arms made their way around his neck, desperate to get as close as possible.

“Please, please, I need–” Jesper babbled against the warm flannel, his brain overloaded as Klaus continued to slowly and methodically grope one side of his ass.

The hand that still held onto Jesper’s waist slipped away, and for a brief moment he mourned its loss, until he realized Klaus’s intentions–he was gently nudging the hem of Jesper’s shirt up to work at the buttons securing his long underwear.

He could definitely get on board with that plan.

Klaus had very nimble hands–Jesper was often transfixed by them when he joined him in the workshop. Lately he had taken to daydreaming about the ways Klaus could ruin him with just a few fingers and that single-minded determination he used to craft every piece he made.

And now here he was, with the man in question trying to get into Jesper’s pants, and he simply did not have the patience to wait for Klaus to unbutton a few simple fastenings one-handed.

“Oh, god–please–” Jesper said as he scrambled to lean back and claw at the accursed fastenings himself, ripping the last of them apart and sending one or two flying across the floor.

Jesper realized Klaus had been staring at him and he blushed in mild mortification; Klaus gave a soft chuckle that was tinged with an underlying heat. His hands had slipped down to rest on either of Jesper’s thighs, inches away from where his cock now jutted free of its confines.

“In a hurry, are we?” Klaus murmured in amusement. Several fingers slipped up to ghost over Jesper’s stomach and he shuddered, his cock jumping.

“ Listen , old man–” he started hoarsely, but cut himself off with a gasp as Klaus’s hand wrapped itself around his cock and his mental faculties suddenly abandoned him. His eyes fluttered closed and his hands flew up to grip Klaus’s robe for support. Klaus began stroking him with the same patient attention he used to carve magic from cured pine.

“Oh, that’s–” Jesper said, breaking into a high-pitched whine as Klaus swiped a thumb over the tip and spread his precome back down to the shaft.

“It’s what?” Klaus replied in that low, gravelly tone that Jesper was quickly growing addicted to. He continued stroking him, maddeningly slow, as if trying to figure out exactly what made him moan and quiver so that he could do it again.

“God,” Jesper croaked, unable to find anything more eloquent to say. He tried to thrust forward into Klaus’s palm but was hindered by the other man’s grip on his waist, lodging him firmly in place.

“If I knew it was this easy to get you to stop talking,” Klaus said, twisting his wrist in such a way that Jesper saw stars, “I might’ve tried this a long time ago.”

“S’better ways to keep my mouth occupied,” he mumbled mindlessly and then cried out when Klaus’s grip on his cock suddenly tightened.

“Fuck, fuck ,” Jesper groaned, brow furrowed. He was gripping onto the flannel robe so tightly that he thought it might tear.

“Jesper, I’m sorry–”

“Oh god, never apologize,” Jesper babbled with his eyes shut, face crushed once more against Klaus’s robe, “never apologize for–for touching me, it’s just so–fuck, just, please don’t stop,” he trailed off pathetically, voice quavering.

His eyes snapped open as he replayed the conversation in his mind.

“Unless you want me to suck you– oh my good fucking Christ –”

Klaus had started stroking him again and this time he was firmer, picking up the pace and leaving Jesper a babbling mess on his lap.

“Is that what you want?” Klaus said in a low tone.

It was just too much.

“You fucking know I do–you–” Jesper rasped, but he could barely breathe.

He was so lost.

“Oh god, m’gonna–” Jesper babbled, a small part of him trying to preserve what tiny bit of his dignity he had left by pulling half-heartedly away from Klaus’s lap as he felt the overwhelming sensation building, about to explode–

But Klaus held him firmly in place, stroking him through the best orgasm of his life.

The noises Jesper made were absolutely pathetic. He collapsed forward onto Klaus, all sense of propriety lost. In the back of his mind he could feel the warm, wet come plastered between his bare stomach and Klaus’s robe but he simply did not care to deal with that at this particular moment in time.

Just let him have this tiny bit of afterglow.

But not too much afterglow.

Once Jesper’s brain seemed to be in roughly working order (and without really thinking about it, anyway), his quivering limbs were sliding down to the floor and pawing apart Klaus’s knees, already biting his lip in anticipation.

His hands were shaking as they rested on each one of Klaus’s knees, desperate to slide them up his thighs.

“Jesper, you really don’t have to–” Klaus started before Jesper interrupted him with obvious exasperation.

“Klaus, I am asking you for my own personal gratification,” he said, his voice wavering ever so slightly. “Can I please put my mouth on you?

Klaus groaned softly then and it sent another surge of arousal singing through Jesper’s body, still kneeling on the plush rug in front of Klaus’s large arm chair.

Klaus’s palm was resting somewhere between where Jesper’s shoulder ended and his neck began. He could feel the heat radiating off of the other man and for the briefest moment imagined what it would be like–sleeping next to him throughout the entire cold, dark winter.

Which was three quarters of the year in Smeerensberg.

He brought his own hand up to rest over Klaus’s–which was mostly covering his shirt but edging its way up the bare skin on the side of his neck, torturing him blissfully.

“Is that a yes?” Jesper continued quietly, his eyes fluttering closed as a thumb slid over his pulse and made him shudder. He suddenly wondered if Klaus could make him come through these soft, innocent touches alone and the very idea caused his spent cock to twitch.

If your definition of ‘innocent’ included kneeling in front of a much older man while begging to go down on him–

He was pulled out of his thoughts by Klaus’s voice.

“It has been…” Klaus sighed in a low, tender voice, “some time. For me.”

Oh. Right.

Jesper had already kind of assumed that was the case in the back of his mind, of course, but never put much thought into it. He felt a sudden pang of guilt–maybe this scenario wasn’t exactly what Klaus had in mind for what was most likely his first sexual encounter since his wife died, Jesus Christ –

“Y-yeah, of course,” Jesper started to sputter, “I mean obviously it’s too soon for that, I shouldn’t have expected–”

Klaus huffed at him and Jesper paused, meeting his gaze hesitantly. He knew his face must be a flushed mess and started to appreciate the mood lighting.

“I only meant,” Klaus murmured, rubbing his thumb in slow circles over Jesper’s pulse, entrancing him, “that I don’t think I would last very long.”

Jesper almost choked on another hysterical laugh.

“You could come as soon as my tongue hit the tip and it would be the highlight of my stupid, little life,” Jesper said. 

Another soft groan emerged from Klaus’s throat and Jesper started to think he really would come in his pants if Klaus kept making those noises because lord in heaven–

He shuddered as his eyes slipped closed, losing himself in the sensation of Klaus’s thumb as it sensually massaged his neck.

“Well,” Klaus finally murmured, voice all honey and wood smoke in the silence of the room, “I’d never be one to deny you the highlight of your–”

But Jesper cut him off with a broken moan and moved his shaking free hand to stroke Klaus’s thigh reverently.

“Mean it?” he whispered, voice hoarse as his bleary eyes met Klaus’s gaze. His mouth flooded with saliva, heart pounding.

“Of course,” Klaus huffed.

“Thank you,” Jesper heard himself warble, his hands already beginning to paw at the sash of Klaus’s robe.

If this is a dream then please never let it end–

Klaus released him from his grasp and Jesper groaned in frustration at the sudden loss. But he stilled as Klaus moved to loosen the sash and pull the robe open, exposing his long nightshirt. The hem rested just above his knees.

Jesper couldn’t help but notice the tent that was forming in Klaus’s lap, a low noise escaping his throat as he eyed it with hunger.

His hands slipped back to rest over Klaus’s knees and started to push the soft material up his thighs, almost in a trance. Klaus made another gravelly noise and gripped his hands on either side of the armchair for support, gazing down at Jesper's enraptured face.

Jesper finally lifted the edge up over his lap, exposing his… sizable member. He let out another small whine at the sight, his mouth watering in anticipation.

He glanced up to meet Klaus’s gaze once more and the simmering fire he found there was enough to make his own cock leak once more in anticipation.

This has to be a dream, he thought absently. His hand moved to grasp the base of Klaus’s cock, finding it hot and hard under his touch. Klaus gripped the arms of the chair more tightly, causing the wood to creak, and let out a tiny groan in response, his eyes fluttering closed.

They’d barely started and Jesper already knew he was ruined. Even if they never did this again, he knew he would be touching himself to the memory of those noises for the rest of his life.

Suddenly desperate to hear what other noises he could ring out of him, Jesper began slowly pumping up and down the shaft, trying to memorize the way it felt against his palm.

I could do this all day , he thought in a haze. And he could picture it–had pictured it–being on his knees in Klaus’s workshop, tools forgotten as Jesper ran his tongue up a long vein–

And fuck, why wasn’t he doing that right this very second–

He leaned forward, one hand still quivering around Klaus’s cock and the other gripping a fistful of robe, and slid his tongue over the hot tip.

“Hah, Jesper–” Klaus gasped, his body tensing.

“God–” Jesper whispered before popping the head into his mouth and swirling his tongue across the slit.

The deep, guttural noise that reverberated from Klaus’s chest drew an answering moan from Jesper, his tongue still lapping the tip. He began stroking the base, attempting to draw the length further into his mouth as Klaus made small but increasingly desperate noises above him. He got a little over halfway before the head hit the back of his throat and he (regrettably) had to surface for air.

Jesper gasped as the head popped out of his mouth. He drew deep, shaky breaths as he nuzzled the tip against his cheek, not wanting to let it go.

“You’re so big,” he bemoaned absently, placing open-mouthed kisses up and down the length before he dove back forward for another attempt.

God, I want it in my throat–

“Jesper, you can’t–” Klaus groaned, one hand finally loosening its vice-like grip on the chair arm and replacing it with Jesper’s hair, albeit gripping with much less intensity.

Jesper moaned in surprise and arousal as Klaus pulled him away from his cock, a delicate strand of saliva caught between his bottom lip and the head.

“Wa’s wrong?” Jesper slurred as he blinked up at Klaus, whose hand was still clutched in his hair.

Klaus stared down at Jesper as he caught his breath, his grip softening until his hand was simply resting on Jesper’s head.

In the back of his mind Jesper knew he must look like a fucking mess: hair askew, face flushed and sweaty, pupils blown, lips plump and wet from sucking–

Cock-drunk, is what I look like, he thought in a daze.

Not that he was embarrassed, of course. If anything he wanted to get back to work and earn the reward he so desperately desired—

“Nothing,” Klaus breathed after a moment. “Nothing’s wrong, I just–”

He took another moment to gaze down at Jesper and drew a deep, shuddering breath.

“I think I underestimated, ah,” Klaus trailed off, head dropping back with a sigh against the armchair.

Even in Jesper’s sex-addled brain, he still managed to put two and two together.

He slid a hand up to cover the one Klaus was still resting on his head. He slowly drew it down over his temple to cup the palm against his cheek, sighing against it and placing more soft, open-mouthed kisses against the calluses. God, he loved his hands.

Klaus watched him with a greedy hunger in his eyes that made Jesper shiver with anticipation.

“Didn’t think I’d be so good at sucking cock?” Jesper murmured with a slight smirk, his eyes lidded. He turned his head to suck on the tip of Klaus’s thumb, maintaining eye contact as he slipped the digit against his tongue.

Klaus growled and Jesper’s cock gave another desperate pulse in response, dripping onto the ornate rug.

Jesper let the thumb pop out of his lips and gave the pad one more brief lick.

“Like I said,” his voice hoarse, “highlight of my life–”

Klaus made a pained noise then, his shaking palm nudging Jesper’s head back towards his cock.

Jesper didn’t need any further encouragement. In a moment he was back to worshiping him, worshiping his cock , trying to memorize every minute detail until it was seared into his brain.

He was completely and utterly lost.

He sank down once more, as far as he could go, feeling the tip finally slide into his throat, his accompanying moan reverberating around Klaus.

“Jesper,” Klaus said, shuddering. God, did he sound wrecked.

Me, that’s me, I’m wrecking him, Jesper thought vaguely with a shiver, surfacing just a bit before sliding back down, desperate for more–

Klaus made a sudden pained noise and tried once more to pull Jesper back up by his hair (which was quickly becoming Jesper’s Favorite Thing, holy fuck). But Jesper resisted and let out a small whine of frustration, not ready to let go–

“Oh, god–Jesper!” Klaus cried as he shuddered through his orgasm, one hand still gripping Jesper’s hair as his mouth was suddenly flooded with come. He swallowed like a man dying of thirst and continued languidly dragging his tongue over the tip as if to coax even more into his waiting mouth.

“J-Jesper, that’s–it’s too much,” Klaus gasped, his own voice growing hoarse as he finally succeeded at dragging Jesper’s mouth away from his cock (regrettably).

Jesper found his head resting on Klaus’s warm, strong thigh (still shaking a bit with aftershocks coursing through his system) as he caught his breath, still licking his lips like he was trying to get another taste. Klaus’s hand still rested on his head, absentmindedly stroking the nap of his neck.

Alright, I can die happy now , he thought hazily.

“Are you alright?” Klaus said in a soft voice.

Jesper attempted to laugh again but what emerged from his throat was more of a raspy mix of a moan and soft incoherent giggling.

He finally cracked his eyes open and found Klaus’s softening member inches from his face, at which point he gave another broken moan-cough-laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation.

Before he knew what was happening he had dragged his head over to nuzzle Klaus’s cock, insatiable, wanting to get lost in the scent of come mixed with his natural musk and sweat.

Klaus gave a tiny pained groan but his shaky hand didn’t immediately pull Jesper away. Jesper was making delirious noises as he mouthed at the shaft and gave it little kitten licks–

“Jesper, really,” Klaus started, his voice incredulous enough to make Jesper start giggling softly again as he finally relented.

“Highlight of m’life,” Jesper mumbled against his thigh with a dopey smile.