The sun peeked up over the water. Kurt was thankful for the sunrise, it brought him peace every morning. A peace he desperately needed on this particular morning after the previous day's events.

Liam had been less than enchanted by Kurt's explanation of how he'd met Blaine at the beach on the day Rachel was singing. He left out the following encounter with Blaine, and figured a little bit of the truth was better than none. Though he'd been pretty wrong about that- none would have probably been better. Liam was currently ignoring Kurt. Kurt couldn't say he minded too much, really, as his boyfriend usually insisted Kurt stay glued to his side. When he wasn't, Liam got upset every time Kurt was half an hour late returning to the man's side.

Unfortunately, Kurt knew better. It was the peace before the storm. When Liam realized the silent-game was getting him nowhere, he'd opt for a full-on fight with yelling and door slamming, and Kurt would hope to God (if he believed in God) that he'd never have a teenage girl, because he knew exactly what was in store for him.

"You were right, it is beautiful."

Kurt looked up at Blaine and took the coffee the man swayed in front of him.

"Yeah. It is, isn't it."

Kurt smiled into his coffee. Normally, he hated when people talked to him during his sunrise. He probably looked like a jerk when he shot glares at the passing joggers, even more so when he refused to return their good-mornings, but Blaine's was company he didn't object to.

Blaine seemed to sense this, and they sat in silence until the sun was up and the sand started up warm beneath them.

"I'm sorry about yesterday."

Laughing lightly, Kurt shook his head. Sure, Blaine's intervention had made things much more difficult with Liam, but he didn't expect the man to apologize,

"It's okay. I'm the one who was making a scene in public anyways."

He could hear Blaine sigh,

"You don't really think that? You're not the one who was making a scene," Blaine frowned, "He's an asshole, you know."

Kurt smiled quietly.

"You deserve better, you know."

His words suprised both of them. Blaine did not intend to be so blunt, and Kurt was not expecting Blaine to, well...be so blunt either, really. And yet Kurt couldn't help but laugh again as Blaine turned hot-red and started burying his bare feet in the sand. Brushing his fingers through his curly gelled locks, Blaine let his torso fall backwards into the sand and he closed his eyes.

It was then that Kurt was able to admire the tanned man unabashedly. The golden sunlight caressed his strong jawline and tickled his long, dark eyelashes. Peeking out from a partially unbuttoned, faded purple shirt was a nicely defined collar bone. Kurt wondered what it tasted like.

He wondered if he'd ever know.

"Lay down," Blaine hummed.

"No way, I'd rather not be washing sand out of my hair for days, thanks."

"Mmmn, common, it's nice."

"I don't think so."

"I do."

"Sorry?" Kurt squeaked before Blaine pulled him down so they were side-by-side.

Kurt tried to pull himself up, but Blaine's grip was strong, and he eventually gave in. His hair was ruined anyway.

"Close your eyes. The sun feels sooo good."

"This is why your skin is fried."

"I resent that, just because I'm tan doesn't mean my skin isn't soft."

Kurt chuckled and let his eyes flutter shut. Blaine was right, it was nice.

Oh. That was nice too.

Blaine had pulled in closer and was brushing his light stubble along Kurt's cheek, "Soft?"

Kurt shied away, partially because it tickled, partially because he knew he shouldn't let Blaine do that.

But it was so nice.

And then his lips brushed past Kurt's earlobe as Blaine whispered,

"You deserve better, you know."

Kurt shuddered as he felt warm air escape Blaine's sigh and cooler air swept back in after it. The heat and prickle of his jaw lingered a few seconds longer, and then Blaine retreated, laying his head in the sand against Kurt's shoulder but not quite resting on it.

Kurt was too funny and too sweet and too beautiful, and Blaine knew he couldn't have him. And though Blaine would probably regret his actions in, oh, maybe another ten seconds, he took this time to memorize the scent of the man beside him instead.

Kurt pouted. It wasn't fair- Blaine couldn't just do that to Kurt and then lay there in the sand, looking oh-so-satisfied with himself with that big goofy grin spread across his face. It wasn't fair because Kurt shouldn't want Blaine's breath back along his neck. It wasn't fair because the man was right there, not more than a couple inches away.

Why shouldn't he? He wanted Blaine and hell, he'd denied himself a lot of things since the incident, since he took Liam back. He wasn't sure if he'd done it out of concern for the Australian man or if he just didn't want the guilt of knowing something happened because of him. And that he could have stopped it.

Kurt tried to shake everything out of his mind. These were his mornings. Blaine had wiggled his adorable little self into his perfect morning and ruined it. Abruptly, he lifted himself onto the elbow that was gently grazing Blaine's and turned to tell the man off.

But honey-amber-hazel-fuck-what-color-are-they-even-eyes shone back at him with such hope that they knocked the wind out of his lungs. And then Blaine bit his cute plump lips. And then he leaned up and dotted a light kiss on the corner of Kurt's mouth, but not so their lips truly met.

Kurt lost it. He shifted over Blaine, and for a moment they just took one another in. Blaine tilted his head in that cute puppy-dog way and smiled at Kurt so tenderly it made his heart race a million miles a second. Kurt pecked the tanned-boy's chin and moved down his neck. He tasted Blaine's collar bone slowly, mmm, it did taste pretty excellent. Much better than he could've imagined. And Blaine smelled like sweet cinnamon and musky spices and sand- Kurt couldn't contain himself so he just giggled into the man's neck.

Kurt's sudden willingness surprised Blaine, but he wasn't about to argue. Kurt's touch was soft, just as he'd thought it would be. His pale pink lips gently ghosted their way along until they reached his pulse point.

Blaine sighed at the light, teasing contact. It was sweet, and though he wanted to continue he couldn't- not until he knew this was what Kurt wanted. He flipped Kurt over and pushed him into the soft sand, slightly calloused fingers dancing at the hem of Kurt's shirt. The two paused, locked in each other's eyes,

"Tell me to stop- tell me to stop and I will," Blaine moved in, hovering over Kurt's lips, "But I meant what I said, Kurt."

Kurt exhaled against Blaine's lips, blinking a few times, unsure whether or not to proceed. His hand decided to take the initiative, because his mind was still reeling, and he tugged Blaine forward by the collar and sealed the distance.

Kurt's real first kiss had been traumatic, his second first kiss was hesitant and insincere, but this- this- felt so right. He deepened the kiss and tugged again until the other man collapsed on top of him, smiling into his lips.