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The first polaroid is delivered promptly after the end of their formal duties. Newlyweds Alex and Henry are finally released by the Institution after hours of smiling; greeting more diplomats than they can name; sitting for photo after photo. Now they are free to enjoy their much more informal, much more private wedding reception.
Soon after the couple make their entry, Pez is quick to approach Alex with purpose, going in for a congratulatory hug, and pressing a small laminated something into his hand as they clap them together. Alex looks at him with confusion but Pez gives nothing away, watching Alex eagerly.
Alex slowly looks down at the picture in his palm, and what he sees makes his breath catch.
A black and white image of Henry, wearing only an open shirt and a pair of black lace briefs, tightly fitted. He is posed like a supermodel, looking out into the distance, hands rubbing together in front of him. One leg crosses the other so not too much is on show, but the way the lace hugs Henry’s hip…Alex can only imagine what the front looks like. His cock twinges.
He looks up, pressing the picture to his chest and notes Henry watching him innocently from across the room. He can vaguely register Pez’s laughter.
“You motherfucker,” Alex says and Henry laughs, having read Alex’s lips. Henry winks, before he’s pulled into conversation with someone and Alex is left thinking about turkey gobbling.
………………………
Polaroid number two allows Alex some immediate satisfaction in being able to at least touch Henry as it’s delivered just before their first dance. Nora approaches him with a sly look on her face and Alex immediately has an inkling of what’s to come. It’s confirmed when with one hand she neatens his hair and her other presses flat against his chest, something with edges poking him slightly. He puts his hand over hers, shaking his head with a small smile playing on his lips. Nora stops fussing with his hair, pulling her hand away to allow him to slowly peel the polaroid from his chest and chance a look.
And then a quiet, startled moan.
Nora’s eyes widen wickedly and Alex’s eyes shoot up to hers warningly. She was the only one in earshot of the sound he just made and they were going to keep it that way. She pouts but she’s already laughing and Alex can’t help it when his gaze is pulled back to the polaroid.
Henry is in the same outfit as before but this time he’s turned so Alex can see his ass in those magnificent lace briefs. He’s pulling up the shirt on one side, and his head is thrown to the same direction, his side profile stunning. The lace briefs are not providing much coverage, Alex can see every pert muscle in his husband’s behind, leading down to his strong, horse-riding legs.
Alex’s tongue darts out to wet his suddenly very dry lips, and he tucks the polaroid into his breast pocket, determined to keep all of these photos close to his heart today. “God, why is he so fucking hot,” he tells Nora and she giggles harder. “Like leave something for the rest of us, ya know?”
“He’s all yours, baby,” Nora replies.
There’s a glint in Alex’s eyes as he replies: “I know, baby.”
”Umm, did you just call Nora baby?” A familiar voice sounds behind him and he relaxes into Henry’s hand on his back.
“Jealous, Hen?” Alex teases.
“Confused, more so,” Henry responds. “I thought we’d be at least five years into marriage before you started suggesting a meńage à t-“
”Henry!” Alex is scandalised as Henry’s shit eating grin grows.
“It’s like you’ve swapped,” Nora tells them but she’s laughing.
“Who gave you vodka?” Alex asks Henry.
”Hey, my reaction to vodka isn’t that bad.”
Alex levels with him a look before glancing at Nora. She raises an eyebrow. “If it makes you more like Alex it can’t be good.”
Nora narrowly avoids the hand Alex pushes towards her face.
“And now, I’d like to welcome the newlyweds to the floor for their first dance,” their MC is calling and Alex looks relieved.
“And on that note,” Alex says, holding out his hand to Henry. “Bye Nora,” he says definitively.
”Have fun, boys,” she calls after them as Alex leads his husband to the floor.
“Hi, my love,” Henry greets his husband properly as they reach the centre of the dance floor. He takes one hand in his and wrapping the other around Alex.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Alex chuckles softly. He wraps himself around Henry as they start a slow, loose box step.
”You didn’t actually answer why you were calling Nora baby,” Henry says after a moment and Alex laughs, eyes sparkling as he looks at Henry.
”We were just agreeing on how hot you are,” Alex tells him honestly and Henry rolls his eyes but he’s blushing. “She said baby first and I followed suit.”
Henry nods lightly, unbothered as Alex knows he is. “I’m all yours, baby,” Henry says and Alex laughs.
”That’s what Nora said,” he explains and Henry laughs with him.
“I’ve missed you,” Henry sighs after a moment and Alex can’t help but laugh a little bit. It’s their wedding day and yet Alex wholeheartedly agrees. Besides Alex dragging him into a closet for seven minutes just before their reception entrance, this is their first chance all day to really hold each other.
“Me too,” Alex sighs, holding Henry closer, pecking his lips lightly.
Alex notes how Henry’s looking at him…like Alex is the sun, the moon, all of the stars. Like Alex is everything. He knows the look because he’s no doubt wearing the same one shamelessly on his own face. “And I love you,” Henry says softly as Alex rests their foreheads together gently.
“I love you more.”
“That is debatable,” Henry tells him before Alex leans in and steals a soft kiss from his husband.
Alex breathes him in for a moment. “You’re my husband, Hen.”
“I am indeed,” Henry smiles at the simplicity in Alex’s statement. Now that their formal duties are complete, they truly can revel in being legally married. Speaking of... ”Are you enjoying your first wedding gift?”
“First?” Alex asks in confusion. “What do you mean first? It’s our wedding, we get given gifts,” he pulls back marginally to look up at Henry. “We don’t give them.”
Henry shrugs, “technically, yes, but I couldn’t help myself in spoiling you a little.”
“Spoiling me or teasing me to death with how sexy you are?” Alex murmurs into his ear hotly and Henry laughs.
“Who says it can’t be both?”
“Henry,” Alex whines and Henry can’t help but laugh more.
“Wait, you said “enjoying,” like it’s still going on. There are more photos?” Alex’s eyes widen and he lifts his head from its rest on Henry’s shoulder to look up at his husband.
Henry’s smirk is all the confirmation Alex needs before he’s groaning again, dropping his forehead to Henry’s shoulder. “I fucking hate you.”
“You fucking love me,” Henry responds, laughing as he gently keeps them moving in the dance.
“I really do,” Alex responds eventually into Henry’s neck before turning to his ear. “And I can’t wait to be inside you, baby,” he whispers, much much more quietly, meaning every word. The stall of breath satisfies Alex’s need to tease his husband. That is how they stay until the end of their first dance, Alex’s head resting on Henry’s shoulder, Henry’s cheek against Alex’s hair and Henry’s photos safe against Alex’s heart.
…………………………
It’s Henry’s call for deliverance of polaroid number three. Henry’s eyes never stray far from his new husband, who is currently in animated conversation with Zahra across the hall. Henry himself is in conversation with some of his family. It’s late enough in the day for it to be acceptable for his bowtie to be undone and hanging around his neck, the first two buttons of his shirt open. His blazer had been long since abandoned, but Alex had refused to remove his, holding precious cargo as he was in his inside breast pocket. His bowtie is however untied, shirt open at least four buttons.
Henry catches Zahra’s eye and winks, the woman nods in response as she subtly pulls something out of her purse. She reaches out to take hold of Alex’s hand, and Henry can see her hand over the polaroid. He watches in amusement as Alex’s eyes widen in shock. Alex presses the polaroid to his chest without looking, opting instead to direct his attention to Zahra. Henry can only imagine the grilling she’s getting.
They speak for a few moments more before Zahra is walking away and Alex finally looks at the photo and Henry’s cock stirs with interest at the look on Alex’s face. He looks positively debauched and Henry can’t help but feel proud of himself until Alex looks up and his eyes are suddenly trained on Henry.
……………………….
“He got you involved?” Alex asks Zahra. “How did he possibly get you to agree to this, Z?”
Zahra sighs. “Do you want the damn polaroid or not?”
“No, no I want it - I want it,” Alex is quick to take the polaroid from her, pressing it to his chest. “But how?” He asks, refusing to look until he has some idea of how Henry swung this.
“Maybe I like him more than you, kid,” Zahra tells him and Alex rolls his eyes.
“Well that’s not true, or do you not remember the day you found out about us?” Whilst equally pissed that morning, Zahra most definitely directed the majority of her later venom at Henry rather than Alex. He should’ve known better - he’s done this his whole life.
“True,” she shrugs. “He is more charming though,” Zahra recalls how Henry later won her over.
“Well, yeah,” Alex replies like it’s obvious. “He’s a fucking prince, Zahra.”
Zahra rolls her eyes at Alex’s language. He raises an eyebrow at her. “You haven’t answered my question.”
Zahra sighs, grumbling “can’t appreciate anything nice done for you, can you?”
Alex continues to level her with a look. She rolls her eyes, conceding. “He gave Shaan three weeks vacation whilst you both are on your honeymoon.”
“Ah, that’ll do it,” Alex teases, smirking at his new husband from across the room. Whilst Henry is in conversation with Bea, Phillip, Martha and Catherine, Alex can practically feel him keeping one eye on him throughout this interaction.
“And now that I conclude on it - you’re both as insufferable as each other,” she adds and Alex laughs.
“Thank you, Zahra,” Alex calls as she starts to walk away.
“Whatever,” she says over her shoulder but Alex doesn’t hear her as he’s finally looking at the polaroid in his hand.
His husband is lying on a bed in this photo, Alex’s bed at the White House, Alex realises from further inspection and wonders again how on earth Henry pulled this off. The photo is a bird's eye view and one of Henry’s hands is wide to his side, the other on his chest. Alex inspects further and can see his fingers are grazing his nipple. His breath catches. He knows how much Henry gets off from Alex paying attention to his nipples. It’s unbelievably hot seeing him do it to himself, even in photo form. One of Henry’s legs are straight and the other wrapped over in the opposite direction. Alex can see the happy trail of hair leading down under the black lace but irritatingly still cannot see the part he wants the most. Henry’s lost the shirt in this photo, just wearing the briefs, and his expression is blissed, his hair mussed, exactly how he looks after Alex has thoroughly fucked him.
Alex tucks the photo away and his eyes hone in on his husband with purpose.
………………………………
Henry sees Alex heading for him and starts to turn away from the group to catch his husband’s advances.
That plan goes out of the window when Catherine happily announces “Alex!” pulling her new son-in-law into a drunken embrace. Henry stifles a laugh as he watches Alex play nice with his family, knowing this is absolutely not why Alex was coming over here. Alex manages to shoot a glare at him even as he lovingly interacts with Catherine and Bea. Even Phillip has been playing nice today and Martha has always been kind to both of them.
Eventually, Alex manages to stand next to Henry, even if the two of them are still part of the group conversation - talking about Martha’s time at university or…something. Henry’s not sure, he stopped listening the second Alex got his hand low on his hip, possessively holding him close.
“Is there something you want to say, sweetheart?” Henry teases under his breath. The glare Alex gives him has Henry stifling another laugh.
“Sorry, I’m going to borrow Henry for just a minute,” Alex tells everyone abruptly and Henry can’t help but laugh openly this time as Alex steers him away. Henry glances back apologetically at his family but they are all looking on at them endearingly so he doesn’t think too long on it. Instead he lets himself be manhandled by his loving husband. Alex is tugging him to a small enclave on the side of the room - they can still be seen by some of the room depending on the angle but it offers them a chunk of privacy, especially in their conversation.
“You are a fucking menace,” Alex turns to him, pointing accusingly at his chest as he pushes into Henry’s space.
“Oh yeah?” Henry smiles, wrapping his arms around Alex properly. “Why’s that, love?”
Alex looks up at him, and Henry knows he’s debating where to start. “First of all, you’re such a fucker for doing this to me on our wedding day.”
“You can’t tell me you’re not enjoying it, dear,” Henry says, pointedly shifting closer so he can feel how Alex is half hard through his trousers. Alex lets out a breathy moan, turning his head away from the room as he presses against Henry for a moment. “But here? With all of our family and friends?”
“Love, remember that I know you. I know the exhibitionism of it all is doing it for you - you can’t fucking lie to me, Alex,” Henry warns, smirking. “Just be grateful I only started at the reception.”
Alex’s eyes widen. “You would have been a dead man,” he says and Henry knows. He knows what Alex can handle. He can handle a level of horny whilst he is around a limited number of people and can touch Henry how and when he likes - that’s their day-to-day if he’s being honest. It’s low stakes and just a bit of fun. He could not have handled this with so many eyes and cameras and pressure on them as there was this morning. And so Henry would never have put him in that situation.
“What a way to start married life,” Henry snorts. Alex whacks his chest lightly in retaliation which makes him laugh more and this time Alex can’t help but join in. “And your second point?” He prompts.
Alex looks confused for a moment before understanding. “Oh, yeah, how about - how the fuck did you swing that at the fucking White House?”
“Well recognised,” Henry pouts. “Here, I thought I’d be so distracting you wouldn’t notice.”
“It’s my fucking room,” Alex says and he pecks the pout off of Henry’s lips. “I was eighteen when we moved in there - how much time do you think an eighteen year old kid who suddenly can’t go out without a security detail will have spent masturbating in there,” he tells Henry seriously and Henry smirks at the insinuation, tilting his head to agree. “You have to know that you - these photos - are my fantasy come to life, baby.”
“Why do you think I picked it as a location,” Henry replies and Alex groans into Henry’s chest. “That and I’m sure some of the East Bedroom’s former occupants were rolling in their grave at how much two men love each other.”
“Fucker,” he tells him again. “You beautiful man.” Henry accepts Alex’s kiss with a smile.
Alex knows they’re not in private but he’s too desperate for some kind of relief, he presses closer under the guise of a hug and his length is brushed up against Henry again, breath stalling for both of them at the contact.
“Christ,” Henry breathes. “Alex, behave.”
“Need you,” he whines in a moment of weakness and Henry melts.
They both take a moment to breathe each other in. “Soon, my love,” Henry murmurs against Alex’s curls.
“You stupid, beautiful, sexy fucking-wait, how did you swing it though?” Alex pulls back to ask again.
“Let’s just say I got very nimble and…creative with a small drone.”
“Wow,” Alex sighs. “So no one else saw you like this,” he confirms contently, leaning forward, his cheek against the other man’s chest.
“I mean I doubt Pez, Nora and Zahra really looked…which was the point,” Henry says. “I’m only for your eyes, Alex.”
“You look so fucking hot,” Alex replies. “So sexy I wanna…” he trails. “Is there more?”
Henry’s fingers stop their gentle trail over Alex’s hair and Alex gets his answer. “My filthy husband,” he replies and Henry laughs.
“Just one,” he tells Alex.
“Bring it on.”
…………………………
The final polaroid is delivered much later, after the dance floor had gotten crazy and then calm again; after they’d cut the cake and everyone had had their fair piece; after Alex and Henry had a lot more drinks in them; after many of their guests had called it a night. In fact, the only reason Alex reckons Henry chose now as the right time is because he had an inkling of Alex’s immediate response to this particular polaroid and is trying to be as non-disruptive as possible.
Alex is by the bar, sipping an intermediate glass of water. Henry’s influence of pacing himself is paying off as he’s remained buzzed all night with the occasional glasses of water between liquor.
He smiles as he feels Henry’s hands wrap around him from behind, leaning back into his husband’s touch. “Hi husband,” Alex says contently, turning his face slightly. Henry presses a kiss to his temple.
“Hi husband,” he replies happily.
Alex laughs at what he hears in Henry’s voice, “are you drunk, sweetheart?”
Henry pouts a little bit. “No,” he says petulantly.
And then he pauses, holding Alex tighter. “Maybe tipsy.”
Alex lets out a laugh, handing Henry his water to drink and he takes a sip submissively. The irony of how they’ve swapped does not go amiss on Alex. In reality they’re probably similar levels of buzzed, just showing it in different ways.
“What time is it?” Henry asks. “Actually don’t answer that - I don’t want to know if it’s no longer our wedding day.”
Alex chuckles, turning them and pulling Henry’s arms around him tighter as they face the rest of the room, Henry’s back to the wall, Alex’s back to Henry’s chest.
Alex watches Nora, June, Pez and Bea talking animatedly on one side of the room. He watches as his dad slides up to scare June before Oscar Diaz is pulled into their conversation as well.
He watches Philip and Martha, amused as they gently encourage a happily inebriated Catherine to make her way upstairs to her room.
He watches his mother and Leo just as they leave, having made their rounds of goodnights already. Alex is watching his family - old and new; pleased at how he and Henry made this happen, pulled these people together. They’re all here to celebrate the two of them.
So distracted by these thoughts, it takes Alex a moment to register the laminated photograph Henry is pressing against his bare chest, above where his buttons are undone. Blood rushes south as he realises what’s happening.
“The final one,” he breathes and Henry nods against his hair.
Alex gently covers Henry’s hand to take the polaroid and Henry’s hold is possessive on Alex’s hip as Alex looks at the final photo. Henry is on the bed again, but this photo finally gives Alex what he wants. Henry’s legs and arms are spread on the bed and it seems the photo was taken just as he’s thrusting his hips up, eyes closed and mouth open like he’s moaning. Alex can see the perfect outline of Henry’s cock, hard and ready and leaking inside the lace briefs - providing barely any coverage. Alex’s mouth waters.
“You are so fucking slutty,” Alex lets out, not able to peel his eyes from the photo, barely registering Henry’s stall of breath, the tightening of his hand on Alex’s hip.
Alex turns in Henry’s arms, surging to press his lips to Henry’s. It’s hot and open-mouthed and messy, Henry pulling Alex closer with hands low on his waist, Alex’s hands entrapping Henry’s face. “Fuck, baby,” Alex murmurs against Henry’s mouth. “Tell me you’re wearing those briefs now.”
“That,” Henry replies and Alex groans. “And…something else,” he adds and Alex pulls back marginally to look confused. “Maybe we’ll call that gift number two - something to…keep me ready for you.”
Alex goes weak at the insinuation, wondering just how much of the day Henry has had something inside of him.
“You are going to be the death of me,” Alex presses his lips back to Henry, pulling him closer and well beyond caring as to where they are. He takes Henry’s face in his hands, sliding into his mussed hair, and Henry’s hands travel as low as they can whilst covered by Alex’s blazer. It’s getting too much for where they are but the only thing that breaks the newlyweds apart is a cheerful catcall from Nora, followed by the rest of them.
“Get a room,” Bea calls, and Oscar is nodding vehemently, whilst Nora, Pez and June are too drunk to do anything but cheer them on.
“We have one,” Alex replies sassily.
“Then I would recommend you use it, boys,” she replies just as Oscar says “Use it,” and they get the message.
“Gladly,” Henry says, fuelled by liquor to be so bold in front of his new father-in-law. “Husband, shall we?” He entangles himself from Alex, holding his blazer over one arm to conveniently cover his half hard cock. He holds his other hand out to Alex.
Alex takes it with a smirk, lacing their fingers together, and the two men bid goodnight to the remaining crowd before leaving the room hand in hand.