[Fic] summertime sunshine (The Attic - A. M. Burrage)
- Fandom: The Attic - A. M. Burrage
- Pairing: Stanley Forbes/Derek Wilson
- Tags: AU
- Word-Count: 1106
- Status: Complete
- First Published: 2024-06-25
- Disclaimer: I do not own The Attic by A. M. Burrage and make no profit from this—it is solely a hobby for fun, with no financial compensation.
Summary:
An invitation…
into the prince’s world!
Journalist Derek Wilson has bagged an incredible opportunity… the chance to interview the notoriously private Prince Stanley Forbes of Monrosa! Alone together at his stunning beachside finca, Derek soon discovers there’s more to the royal, than just his crown. But could a fling under the Mediterranean sun lead to a lifetime of love?
Notes:
written for Unconventional Courtship 2024.
summary is adapted from: Summer Fling With A Prince by Katrina Cudmore
Work Text:
There was not, as such, much that Derek found to be odd about this morning. There was certainly no indication that this should be the morn that he met the most beautiful man he'd ever seen; Derek considered himself to be quite a good judge of character and so was not particularly hesitant to say that this man---Stanley Forbes, distantly related to a royal family in some far off land---must be a good man, indeed.
Forbes had opened the door himself, leaning against the frame and smiling at him from below the hot sun, and Derek had momentarily lost the ability to think, so blinded was he by this sight. He knew no words for quite a minute, but was drawn inside by Forbes' gentle smile as the man, technically a prince, led the way.
The beachside house stood tall in the evening sunlight, and Derek allowed himself to be drawn into a long conversation that first day. He could not remember a word of it; all he knew was the sense of warmth that burst to life in his chest and then never left, the swooping sensation as his stomach fluttered when Forbes said, "Join me for dinner? We can continue this conversation afterward," and Derek of course nodded, biting his bottom lip, unable to understand much of anything but the fervent desire not to leave.
So he did not.
They had dinner. It was leftovers from Forbes' lunch and Derek could not possibly care less where it had come from; he knew only that Forbes moaned in pleasure at the first bite, and Derek blushed so fiercely it was a wonder he did not combust right then and there. He ducked his head a little, crossed his ankles under the table, and asked, "You life here alone, Lord, ehem, Prince, Forbes?" and succeeded at dizzying himself. He had not figured out how Forbes was to be addressed, and Forbes had offered no assistance in this that Derek could recollect.
But admittedly, he could recollect hardly anything at this moment.
Certainly not when Forbes smiled a little---it was an extraordinarily gentle smile, and Derek's stomach squeezed tight. "I do," Forbes said, sipping at his red wine elegantly, tilting his head with such poise that it left Derek breathless. He only barely managed to hold in a whimper.
The following day was no better.
Derek arrived first thing in the morning, waking up to the mortifying realization he'd not asked a single one of the interview questions he'd carefully prepared. In fact, he saw as he stared at the notebook he'd taken with him to record Forbes' answers, he'd written nothing at all; merely doodled sketches of Forbes. Oh heavens, he thought, wincing to himself and wetting his lips. He wondered if Forbes knew.
Forbes must not know, for he let Derek in again. He was dressed in a different suit this day; nevertheless, he was handsome, hair coiled and lips pink, the tie accentuating the brightness of his eyes. Derek gulped, and hoped Forbes did not see; by the faint glimmer in Forbes' rapidly darkening eyes, he thought it was folly of him to hope there was anything Forbes did not note.
"I have questions," said Derek and pulled out the note. Today, he simply handed the paper with the questions right to Forbes, bypoassing any need to use his own head. When Frobes grabbed the paper, his finger touched the tip of Derek's, and Derek lost his breath. He stared at the point of contact, eyes wide and lips parting, and he knew not what to say, what to do; he must do something, he thought, but what?
Shivering, he slowly drew his hand back. He glanced up at Forbes; the man was only slightly taller than him, and thinner, and his gaze laid heavy on Derek's hand as he drew it back. Derek clenched it behind his back, licked his lips, and grinned up at Forbes. "See something you like?" he asked, straightening his back and attempting to look suave and handsome. The result did not much matter, he thought, so long as the awkwardness and heaviness of the air dissipated enough for him to breathe.
"I rather like most things I look at," said Forbes in his deep, thoughtful voice. The quiet arrogance it carried suited him, Derek thought, wetting his lips, throat suddenly dry.
"Is that so?" he asked, and it was naught but a whisper, and he swayed somewhat toward Forbes. He caught Forbes looking at his lips, then, and Derek's stomach tightened so quickly he nearly missed the butterflies dancing through his chest cavity. "Even, might I ask, a cemetery?"
"There is a beauty in a cared-for grave, should you not say?" murmured Forbes, and Derek found he must have taken a step forth, or Forbes must have, because otherwise how could he hear so clearly what was but a whisper? But Derek heard it, and he swallowed heavily, throat bobbing.
"Indeed," he whispered, and knew not who moved first, but they kissed. It was soft, a gentle exploration, and then Derek made a noise deep in his throat and Forbes laughed softly against his mouth, and the kiss deepened so quickly it was all Derek could do to grab Frobes' lapels and hang on. He kissed back with everything he had, determined to not be outdone, and at the end it gentled, slowed again, and at last they were merely trading chaste pecks. Derek sighed when Forbes drew back for good, and opened his eyes.
Forbes smiled at him, and Derek could hardly inhale. "Tomorrow?" he asked, and his voice was raspy. I did that, thought Derek, and pride surged through him like the tide. He grinned.
"Tomorrow," he agreed. Then he smirked, pulling a bit on Forbes's lapels again. "I still need my answers, after all," he said, and Forbes hummed.
"Then it is lucky that I have many such answers to provide," Forbes said, and wetted his slightly bruised lips. Derek's grin grew wider, still, and he laughed a bit; could not help it, truth be told.
They did not end up going through many of the questions, that day. But Derek returned the next morning, as promised, and he was greeted in the doorway by a gentle kiss, Forbes' hand behind his head, and his heart skipped a beat. Following Forbes inside the beautiful home, Derek smiled. He knew not what the future held but, here and now, he knew exactly what he desired. And, as he spotted the soft gaze Forbes granted him, he rather thought Forbes might desire the same.