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Promises Made

Moving around the kitchen as he checked on the progress of the dinner he was preparing, Arthur was well aware of the eyes that followed him everywhere he went. Eames did that now more than ever, watching him closely for any sign that he was still feeling the effects of his car accident. Given the amount of time he'd spent naked around the other man recently you'd think that Eames would be aware of the fact that he was well on the mend, but the forger was being unusually cautious now. The man hadn't screwed his brains out once since they'd arrived, making slow, gentle love to him instead. Not that that was a bad thing, far from it, but the being treated like glass was wearing on his nerves in a big way.

And he really, really missed being taken up against the shower walls.

"You sure I can't help?"

Looking over his shoulder Arthur shook his head, not surprised to see that Eames had already started nibbling on the appetizers too. "You've been doing most of the cooking, I've got this."

Besides, having to focus on so many things at once was keeping him sane and cool, Arthur silently added to himself. He didn't even want to think about the butterflies that had been having parties in his stomach the last few days. That the time was quickly approaching when everything would come to a head made keeping his calm façade in place that much harder.

In fact, another distraction was needed. "Any more phone calls from Dom today?" His own refusal to acknowledge calls from his former partner had caused Dom to go into a tailspin, assuming that something horrible must have happened to his point man for him not to be answering his phone. Eames had stupidly informed Dom that Arthur was fine and simply ignoring him, leading Dom to pelt Eames with calls to convince him to talk to Arthur on his behalf.

Eames was no longer accepting Dom's calls either.

"No, but I got a couple from Ariadne."

Since he wasn't taking any calls from her either Arthur had no idea what she'd been up to since they'd parted ways at the airport. "Is she with him?"

"Nope, but he's got her doing his dirty work so to speak again."

Taking that to mean that she was now campaigning on Dom's behalf Arthur rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the pasta he was preparing, pleased to see that it would finish at the same time as the sauce cooking in the pot beside it. He loved when things came together like that.

Hearing Eames push his chair back Arthur smiled at the sound of the man's bare feet on their hardwood floors, leaning back when his lover's arms came around him, Eames cuddling him close while he nuzzled his neck.

Arthur couldn't help but smile as he nuzzled back. "Five more minutes. And you know it's not safe to play this close to an oven."

"I'm tired of nibbling on the other stuff though." Eames informed him, nipping at his earlobe teasingly. "I want to nibble on you instead."

"You can nibble me from head to toe later."

"Promise?"

"Promise. Now take the appetizers outside and let me finish up in here without either of us getting scalded, cut or otherwise maimed because you're distracting me."

"Yes, Darling."

Watching him do as he asked Arthur smiled until Eames was out on the patio before turning back to focus on his work and not on the evening to come.

)

The weather was balmy with the perfect breeze an hour later, both men enjoying it after the day's scorching heat. It was only a matter of time before the sun set before them, the candles on the table flickering as they gave off light that was more ambiance than necessary for the moment. The table held the remains of their meal, both men sipping the last of their wine as they enjoyed the view and each other's company in silence.

For his part Eames was wondering what had Arthur acting just a little bit off, something about the man's behavior throwing him ever so slightly. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he couldn't help but think that there was something going on and he didn't like being kept in the dark.

Bad things happened when he and Arthur failed to communicate.

But short of asking Arthur what he was up to Eames didn't see himself coming up with the answer anytime soon. His point man knew how to play things close to the chest and Arthur was definitely doing that.

To keep himself sane Eames did his best to concentrate on the fact that their present situation was very close to being a very romantic one. It wasn't only because Arthur was completely oblivious to the potential they had to work with on top of the underlining currents he was picking up at the moment. As it was he doubted the other man had any intention of lingering out on the patio with him once they'd both finished their drinks.

It did surprise him though when Arthur didn't start carting the dishes and silverware into the house after they'd finished their wine, instead walking towards the stairs that led down to the beach. As he watched the point man slipped out of the sturdy sandals he'd been wearing and then turning to look at him.

"I'm going for a walk along the shore. Come with me."

Curiosity piqued Eames kicking off his own sandals and then headed over to walk down the stairs as well, linking his fingers with Arthur's when the other man offered his hand for that purpose.

Staring down at the fingers intertwined with his own as they started walking towards the surf Eames couldn't shake the feeling that Arthur was up to something. Or leading up to something, something planned which was making the man very nervous. That he was actually picking up on the other man's nerves said a lot since Arthur was not the nervous sort. In fact, he couldn't ever recall the point man ever betraying for a moment that he was nervous in all the years he'd known him. Arthur was usually the voice of reason, and he had no problem speaking up when he thought they were doing something stupid, but he was always as cool as a cucumber no matter what crisis he found himself in.

And where had that phrase about cucumbers come from, anyway? Given his countrymen's fondness for cucumber sandwiches he should know, shouldn't he?

Okay, you know you're losing your nerve when you start focusing on something that stupid, Eames lectured himself, shaking his head over it.

"What are you thinking?"

"Do you know where the phrase cool as a cucumber comes from?"

An arched eyebrow was the only sign Arthur gave as to his surprise at the out of the blue question. But the point man answered the question before going silent again.

The silence getting to him in no time Eames turned his attention to the water, taking note of the fact that the sun was going to be setting very shortly. A romantic time to go for a walk, or it would be if not for the fact that his lover was wound tighter than a primed spring. He doubted Arthur was even aware of the show Mother Nature was gearing up to show them.

Sand and Arthur weren't friends.

Lips curving as he recalled their first trip here Eames lost himself in the memory of his attempt to make love to his man on the beach. That had not gone over well. They'd been so desperate for each other thanks to their 'playing' in the water that they hadn't cared about anything but getting back to the beach bag they'd brought with them that he'd just happened to stock with lube and condoms just in case. Arthur of course had wanted to go back to the house since he wasn't the outdoor sex type but he'd managed to get the man out of his swim trunks before Arthur's common sense had kicked in.

Unfortunately they'd both forgotten about staying on their towel while they passionately rolled around as they fought for the top position. A playful fight that had come to an abrupt end when Arthur realized that all that rolling around had resulted in him getting sand all over his back and into places he definitely hadn't wanted dirt getting into.

The shower sex that had followed had been a damn good consolation prize though.

Enjoying those memories Eames automatically stopped when Arthur did, pushing aside his thoughts as he turned his attention to the man whose fingers slipped out of his, annoying him so that he reached out and took the hand back, keeping it firmly in his grasp.

"I need that hand, Eames."

"For something more important than holding mine, Darling? I'm crushed."

Arthur seemed a little amused, but he tugged his hand free again, Eames letting him since he didn't want their evening together to end badly. They'd been doing extremely well in the not fighting department and he'd prefer to keep it that way as long as possible.

"So obviously you've figured out that I'm up to something. You have no idea what though, right?"

"Not a clue."

Rather than reassure his point man Eames got the distinct impression that Arthur would have preferred it if he had figured out exactly what he was up to.

"I cooked, set up a fancy table, dining outdoors, walk on the beach at sunset." Arthur checked them off on his fingers, squirming just enough to be obvious to Eames's overly observant gaze. "I was trying to…be romantic in the mushy, cliché sense of the word. I thought about trying it my way but I decided that would probably be too subtle and that you'd…prefer me acting like a bestowed idiot who is oblivious to the fact that one should strive to rise above average, overused gestures."

Lips twitching Eames thought it wise not to mention that he'd thought that Arthur hadn't realized that the dinner and the walk could be considered romantic. He'd just figured the man had felt like dining fancy and walking off their meal afterwards because he was bloody health conscious.

But since he wanted to keep living he just leaned forward and gave Arthur a slow, loving kiss in thanks for the gestures. He knew Arthur considered dumbing down his own intelligence for the sake of someone else to be a huge show of affection, and the point man wasn't big on romance.

And then a thought occurred to him. "So what do you need your hands for again? Hand holding is romantic too, Luv."

Obviously not the right question to ask, Eames decided as he watched all the color leave Arthur's cheeks and then come back in a heated rush. And wasn't that just interesting, especially since the man glanced to check the progress of the sun before turning back to looking at him.

Opening his mouth with the intention of teasing the answer out of the man Eames's words died in his throat as his lover dropped to one knee in front of him, retrieving what looked very much like a jewelry box from his unusually loose slacks.

"Arthur?"

"I screwed up big time and I almost lost you forever because I didn't make it clear how I feel about you. I don't want to risk ever doing that again. I want you to know, even when I forget to say or show it, how I feel about you." Carefully Arthur opened the box's lid to reveal the two rings resting in the satin. "Would you, Tom Eames, do me the honor of becoming both my partner and husband?"

His strength deserting him Eames fell down to his knees, alternating between gaping at the twin rings and Arthur's serious face. Not that this was something his lover would ever joke about but still…he was being proposed to? Arthur was proposing to him?

"This is the part where you say yes or no, Eames."

The need and nerves in those words snapping him out of his daze, Eames focused his gaze, staring into Arthur's eyes as he absorbed the emotion there for several heartbeats before nodding his head.

"Yes, Darling. Hell yes I'll marry you."

Eames laughter as Arthur threw himself at him was cut off as the point man's lips pressed up against his in a passionate kiss that conveyed all the love Arthur felt for him as well as a lot of relief. And kissing him right back Eames wrapped his arms around his lover, holding him close as he let the joy wash over him in delicious, warming waves.

When air became a necessity they pulled away with great reluctance, settling for quick kisses as their lungs restocked on oxygen.

"Let's see these rings of ours, then."

When Arthur held out the box once more Eames picked out the larger of the two and then handed it to his lover with an expectant look.

Shaking his head Arthur pointed out that it wasn't time for that yet, but the gleam in his brown eyes betrayed him as he set down the jewelry box and then took Eames's left hand in his, sliding the wedding band into place, the fit perfect.

Finding it hard to talk Eames had to clear his throat as he stared down at the symbol he now wore. "Trust you to be able to guess my ring size."

Arthur chuckled. "Actually, the rings incident we had at the market a couple of days ago was me tricking you into letting me find out your ring size. I got lucky yesterday, when I went to the jewelry stores in the area. Yours was already your size and mine is just a little too big. I'll have it sized properly before the ceremony."

Laughing so hard Eames wasn't sure he wouldn't bust a rib, the forger shaking his head as he marveled at the other man's creativity. The ring incident had been Arthur shoving a bunch of rings on his fingers since apparently someone who sometimes dressed like a pimp should have a lot of jewelry in Arthur's opinion. At the time he'd just brushed it off as Arthur being Arthur, but he should have known the man would never encourage him to buy bling.

It took some doing too, to stop laughing, but eventually the fact that he was only one wearing a ring filtered into Eames's subconscious. And that just wouldn't do, Eames thought as he got himself under control, reaching around his lover to retrieve the ring box from its sandy resting place.

Taking out the remaining ring Eames smiled as he accepted the hand Arthur held out to him, sliding the ring onto the correct finger while his heart thumping wildly in his chest like this was the real thing.

In that moment it felt like the real thing and nothing had ever felt so right in his life.

"Till death do us part."

"Not even death." Arthur corrected, his tone making it clear he wasn't to be argued with. "For all eternity."

"All eternity." Eames repeated, liking that a whole lot better too as he leaned in to seal the promise with a kiss.

Keeping his left hand in a fist to insure that the ring wouldn't slide off his finger accidentally, Arthur wrapped his other arm around Eames's neck, shifting closer so that he was straddling the forger's knees. His goal was obviously to get as close as possible and Eames wholeheartedly supported the idea, tangling his fingers in Arthur's hair as he deepened the kiss.

And to show how much he liked the point man's eagerness Eames pulled back and retrieved Arthur's fisted hand, bringing it to his lips so that he could place kisses over the fingers before sliding the ring finger into his mouth, sucking on it while he looked knowingly into his lover's eyes, promising all sorts of things he couldn't wait to follow through on.

The sound of Arthur sighing out his name had Eames stealing one last kiss before suggesting they head back to the house so that he could properly demonstrate how much he loved the fact that they were engaged.

"Not necessary." Reaching into his other pocket Arthur retrieved the other item he'd brought with him, wiggling the tube teasingly between them. "I'm the point man in this relationship after all." Leaning forward he nipped Eames's bottom lip. "It's my job to be prepared."

"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting, Darling?"

"Mhhmm. So lose the shirt but keep the pants on but open." Arthur squeezed his thighs to drive home his point. "Now that we're engaged no one gets to see you naked from the waist down but me."

Having no problem with that Eames quickly slid his shirt up and over his head and undid the front of his pants, making a sound of approval when Arthur's shirt joined his on the sand. "We can put the shirts under you." He offered in between the kisses he pressed against Arthur's throat.

"Yeah, like I'd be able to stay on them the whole time. And besides, I'm planning on making you make it up to me."

Intrigued Eames lifted his head to meet Arthur's gaze. "Oh really, and what do you want badly enough to tolerate the sand, My Soon To Be Hubby?"

"What do I want?" Arthur repeated, a definite purr to his voice as he undid his own pants and started sliding them down to reveal that he'd been going commando. "What I want is 'make me scream myself hoarse' shower sex afterwards, Mr. Eames. And I won't take no for an answer."

Not being an idiot Eames got the message loud and clear. Arthur had reached his limit to being babied. "It's a deal if you say you love me."

Grinning Arthur shifted his weight, taking Eames with him so that he was lying on his back with his lover on top of him. "I love you."

"I love you too." Pause. "And it's a deal."

"Thank God."

And as it turned out, it was a deal they would strike often in the years to come.

)

The End