Afterwards

They slept into the early afternoon. Both of them feeling great but also lazy when they woke, they had a lot of cleaning up to do. Their flat was a disaster area with scrabble pieces and clothes everywhere, not to mention their poor couch.

They were starving afterwards and Eames made them an early dinner, wearing his apron and only the apron to Arthur's delight. The brought upon a whole new slew of a sexy round two but both were far too famished to really go too far.

They shared a cigarette on their balcony after they ate, watching the many snow plows below. Cobb called and said that if the weather permitted that they would meet tomorrow morning. Eames couldn't help but notice the disappointment flash in Arthur's eyes, it turning to hard seriousness a second later. He wasn't sure what to make of that.

He succumbed that he lost the second deal and after they showered together he let Arthur shave him and he had to admit that he did look rather good afterwards.

He also succumbed to losing the third deal and confessed as they changed into clean clothes that he devised the evening because he thought Arthur was growing bored. Arthur came up to him at once, adjusting Eames' collar of his shirt, pulling him into a kiss. "Never," he breathed into his skin, smiling.

"Don't ever think that."

They talked about it, Eames knowing it was part of the deal and confessing he thought Arthur was being colder towards him as of late. Arthur confessed he was cold but not intentionally towards him but from a temperature stand point. "You moved in the beginning of May. You haven't lived with me during the winter. I just tend to get crabbier since I hate snow and I'm always feeling cold. That and we've been stuck indoors so much."

Eames just shook his head. "Why don't we go somewhere warmer then?"

Arthur seemed to chew on that, eyebrows furrowed, saying he couldn't believe he didn't think of that. He agreed that was a grand idea after they finished their current job, kissing him to further drive home the point.

Since they still weren't completely plowed out they lounged around, having drinks to keep them warm, eventually watching TV into the later evening. Arthur was lying on the newly cleaned couch with his head in Eames' lap. Eames stroked his face and ears, Arthur batting his hand away playfully.

Arthur turned to him after a while.

"Thank you for yesterday."

Eames wasn't expecting that as it came from absolutely nowhere and very unlike him.

Eames ran a hand over his leg affectionately.

"No need to thank me. I sucked you into my devious schemes."

A slow smile appeared on Arthur's face.

"I loved your devious schemes and I know you won the first deal."

Eames shrugged and yawned not wanting to hide it from him but not really wanting to discuss it.

"I love you."

His words gripped him hard, paralyzing him, his mouth went dry.

They stared at each other for while, Arthur was smiling faintly.

"But I'm not even doing anything," he pathetically whispered after what felt like an eternity.

Arthur's grin widened and he shrugged. "That's why. I think I realized that by just having your company makes me incredibly happy. Why I love you so much. You're just you."

Eames smiled. "And you said you weren't good at expressing yourself," he poked his ribs.

He blushed a little. "Not like you."

"So I don't have to do anything extraordinary and you'll still love me, not get bored of me?"

Arthur rolled his eyes, smiling, turning to face him some more.

"Everything you do is extraordinary."

He was incredibly happy that he said it even though he told himself again and again it didn't matter but it did.

After a lengthy make out session on the couch Eames broke away.

He glanced at his watch noticing it was midnight; time had slipped through their fingers.

"It's getting late luv we should be nodding off. We have to go in early tomorrow."

He started to get up when Arthur put out a hand to stop him.

"Stay up with me"

Eames settled into the couch again and laughed.

"Arthur we have to go in tomorrow. We'll be plowed out completely by then and Cobb called…"

Arthur drew him into a kiss, silencing him.

He released him a short time later. "What? Are you afraid of being too cranky in the morning? I'll make a deal with you."

Arthur reached for his glass of wine taking a drink.

Eames suppressed a grin. Having Arthur think it was his idea was always a little too easy sometimes. This time it would be all up to him.

"Yes, let's make a deal but are we staying up all night?"

Arthur put his glass down throwing him a devilish look.

"Oh, quite possibly. Don't worry I'll be gentle."

Eames knew it was going to be another long night.

He couldn't wait.

A/N: I've loved this story immensely and had a total blast writing it! I hope you enjoyed it as much as me!

I am very tempted to do a sequel, from Arthur's POV so we can see Eames in his eyes. It would be his turn to run amuck, be "in control", and have his "fantasies/kinks" played out with complications of course as Eames is really the one in control or is he? Maybe Arthur knows that Eames is the one pulling the strings? You know nothing is never cut and dry with them!

Please review you guys I need to know if this story is good/sucks/warrants a sequel/etc!