nïsa

Testing the water — having only been dating for a while (which was still a shock to John how on earth you managed), you thought it was time to up the physical attention between the two of you. You're the first to start it, and you go about it as casually as possible at first. // One time while the two of you were walking to a nearby location Sherlock wanted to investigate, you slipped your hand in his. Immediately, he glanced down, "what are you doing?" he asked calmly, continuing to walk as he looked over to you. "Holding your hand," you answered keeping your gaze ahead. Sherlock thought for a moment, "why now?" You met his gaze, "because I want to, because you're my boyfriend, because you'll just shove your hand in your pocket anyway, and. . . I like your touch." Quickly he looked ahead again, simply giving a distant "ah," with a short nod, but soon you felt his fingers tighten a little more around your hand.

↳ taking it further, to actual cuddling, you made an attempt while he was busy reading in his chair by the fire. John was out, but a box of files occupied his chair, so holding your cup of tea and looking around you asked Sherlock if you could sit down, "yes, of course, you're welcome to," he mechanically responded without even so much as a glance to you. With that you ducked under Sherlock's book, causing him to hold both his arms out as you situated yourself sideways on his lap, legs draped over the side of the chair. Resting your head against his shoulder, you kept your cup of tea near and snuggled close against him. "Is this. . . is there something you're trying to tell me?" Sherlock asked. "Nope," you answered taking a sip, "just wanted to be close to you," you look up for a moment, before closing your eyes and relaxing against him. "Oh- well, right," was all he could say with the smell of peppermint tea, your subtle perfume, and your body's warmth so close to him. After a while, he returned to reading, encompassing you in his arms, and eventually you felt him rest his chin against the side of / on top of your head.

His turn — when he starts being more physically affectionate, he's actually wonderful. Sherlock's definitely not baffled by the concept of love and the traits attributed to it, he's observed several people in love and taken note of their actions, he just usually doesn't express it in physical ways, until you. However, he finds it's like a case study, figuring out what you individually like best, and how you like to be treated romantically- more specifically: physically. // One time, without any warning, while you were looking out the window at Baker Street commenting on the weather, cup of tea in hand, Sherlock came up from behind and wrapped his arms around you. Bending a little, he nuzzled against the side of your neck, just under your ear, nose and lips grazing against your skin. You giggled his name out of surprise and tried to balance your tea again. "Ah, here, let me take that for you," he paused for a moment only to grasp your cup by the rim and set it on a stack of books. You tilted your head to give him more access, and started stroking up and down his forearms, which were resting against your stomach. After a moment he straightened up, arms still around you and said, "ohhh, so I did get it right?” Dropping your head back against his chest to look up at him, he continues, "well, I can only assume, but it got a better response than just a normal hug, so-" // "are you experimenting with me?" you ask, attempting to hide a smile. // "Of course," he shrugs, "you did with me, which peppermint tea, nice touch. And I must say you're being a most cooperate subject, but now it's my turn to figure you out." Turning yourself around in his arms, you smile, pushing up onto your tip toes, "Oh, I'm sure you will," you look up through your lashes, "you're the world's greatest detective." He chuckled, kissing your forehead, "consulting detective."

The man is touch starved — Sherlock actually loves physical attention, he's never gotten much of it, but he's 100% not opposed to it. Even the small things like you softly dragging your hand across the back of his shoulders from behind, or the way you stroke your fingertips up and down his wrist when you're waiting and holding his hand, or how before you leave or he leaves, you make sure to quickly kiss just under his jawline, often taking him by surprise. Or how when you're tired, but he's keeping you up, you'll rest your head against him and wrap your arms around his bicep. // One of his favourites is when he's working through a case in his head, and you come up behind him wrapping your arms around his frame and start nuzzling against his back. Other times you'll just walk right into him, face to his chest and hug him. // He loves the feeling of your skin against his, it's a new and quite thrilling experience, your body's warmth being so close to him. Although he might not admit it to you right away he wants you near him at every appropriate opportunity.

↳ with that, on occasion you'll pick up on his mild insecurity, since Sherlock is new to this first-hand. You find he needs assurance to actually believe that you like him in this way, such as when he asks: "so, you just like. . . being close to me?" You stare at him before answering, "yeah." // "For no other reason than. . ." his voice trails off, waiting for your answer: "well, because I love you, because your presence is comforting, it makes me feel safe and warm, and it's nice to feel wanted by someone else. I want you to know that you're wanted as well, for more than just your mind, but it's a nice bonus." You smile and bite in your lower lip. You're amazed at how quickly that flusters him as to what to say next, but you understand that he's never really had someone that just wanted to be around him for no other reason except love.

He really doesn't mind — Sherlock doesn't mind that you like to be close to him, he doesn't find it annoying at all, and only sometimes can it be distracting, but he blames himself if he's distracted, not you. Sometimes you'll ask if he wants you to leave, especially when he's in the middle of something and to somewhat of a shock he'll say "no, of course not, your company rather pleases me, gives me more of a drive-" He pauses there noticing John's smirk, ". . . you know, you're quite like a drug actually." He states, looking over to you. "I'm going to take that as a compliment," you perk your eyebrows and bite your lip smiling. "Do," Sherlock nods, gaze shifting from your eyes to your lips. // It's true that when you're around he tends to solve things quicker, usually because he just wants to show off for you. Plus when he's in the kitchen looking through his microscope and claims he's figured it out, you'll come over, either sit on his leg, or look over his shoulder through the lens to see what he's talking about, Sherlock loves both your proximity and your interest in the case.

Cozy at home — Once Sherlock is comfortable with you, and you've been dating for a good while, he's not worried about what anyone says or thinks. On occasion, when he has his hands particularly full or he’s playing the violin, you’ll sit between his knees on the ground in front of him. With that Sherlock will place his hands, pressed together, on top of your head while he thinks or he'll rest his chin on top of your head and drape his arms over your shoulders. He mutters out loud about theories he has, which makes you laugh and kiss his hand / wrist. // He’s started to hold your shoulders and give you a quick, but surprisingly passionate kiss before he heads off on an investigation without you, typically because he's way too happy about the case. When he gets excited about telling you and John the information on a case, he’s started taking your hands in his as he explains. When you just stare at him confused and trying to follow his train of thought, he kisses your forehead.

Melodramatic — when your lap or hands are busy, he gets super needy and jealous asking “what’s more important than me? What’re you doing?” If you don’t answer his fast enough, he’ll scoop whatever it was that you were doing right out of your hands and replace whatever was in your lap with himself. “I was working on something that had a deadline,” you fake a smile down at him. “Yes, well someone’s life may be on the line,” he crossed his arms over his chest. "And I will help by?" Your voice trails off. "I don't know, you're like a lucky charm it seems," he shakes his head, closing his eyes. "Thanks," you say rolling your eyes, "I think that you just want some attention," you smirk to yourself. "What a deduction," Sherlock sighs. You chuckle at his sarcasm, "but I'm right." / "Didn't say that," he quickly adds. / "Didn't have to."

After long days — after many sleepless days and running around England, Sherlock finally came back through the door. Immediately you put your book down and looked at him from one end of the couch, silently asking if he needed anything. Sherlock simply took off his coat, before making his way over to you, lying fully down, spread across the couch, he hugged you tightly around the waist and nuzzled against your stomach, before shifting to have his head in your lap, while he stared at the ceiling. // You began running your hands through his hair, softly fluffing it when you got to the tips, before starting over again. At this you noticed Sherlock close his eyes, relax, and hum a little bit. Sometimes, you’ll undo a few buttons on his shirt, and slip your hand underneath, gently massaging his chest / collarbone or ghosting your free hand up and down his neck. (You’ve found this both relaxes him and brings a hint of a smirk to his face).

Mentally tired — when he’s mentally tired, he’s the best cuddler, he’s less attentive to “collected” behaviour. Sometimes he’ll not get back until the ridiculous hours of the morning, when you’ve been asleep for hours. Sherlock will come in and slowly start mindlessly undressing to join you in bed. // “how’d the case go?” You ask, having heard him. “Cracked. Solved. Closed,” he says in a groggy voice, “details in the morning." // “It is morning, Love,” you say gently. “Hmm?. . . Afternoon then?” he slips beside you, tossing the covers over his shoulder lazily. “Do you need anything?” You ask noticing his extremely tired body language. “No,” he reaches a hand to your waist, pulling you close and breathing against your neck, sighing deeply against your skin, “not anymore.”

When John brought him back tipsy — you found out quickly that Sherlock is a handsy, needy individual when he’s tipsy or drunk, which is hilarious for anyone who knows him. After John made sure they got home and you made sure John was alright in his room, Sherlock was so clingy for the rest of the night. You stood next to the couch where he was sitting, and offered him some coffee, to which he leaned forward against your thigh and caressed your pyjama shorts, “are these new? Yes, they’re definitely new, recently bought, out with a friend. . . they're sooo soft.” Wrapping his arms around your thigh he kept you close, pressing his cheek to your hip, while you attempted to talk him into taking something for the inevitable headache he’d have. Before too long, you set down the coffee and in that moment Sherlock pulled you onto his lap, arms locking around your waist as he nuzzles against the base of your neck. However it's not long before Sherlock falls asleep, and brings you down with him. // When you wake up, Sherlock’s arms are still around you with his head resting on top of your chest. You cuddled him best you could until he woke up. With a grumble, Sherlock was up, and you were rubbing his back while he lay between your legs; he didn't complain and in fact he stayed there until John came staggering in with a fierce headache.

When he figures it out — the moment he figures out what you like, he is superior at it! // You find yourself waking up to the sensation of his hands running down your back, your leg lazily tossed over his hip, and Sherlock kissing at the side of your neck softly. // You find him wrapping you up in a hug whenever you come home from a long day. // You find he pulls you closer in bed at night, when he's home. // You find he lays his head in your lap whenever he's trying to solve a problem more often. // Doesn't mind you sitting in his lap so long as you don't mind one of his hands being up your shirt somehow, resting against your back or stomach. // You find him hugging you from behind and not letting go for a good while. || He winds up actually loving to give you physical attention, because he’s the only one in the world who can make you smile like that, giggle like that, and feel as loved as you do. He’s also the only one who gets to touch you in the way he does and you’re the only one he lets get as close to him as you are.

↳ naturally he's seen it as a case to be solved, and as usual he goes above and beyond in his discoveries, which means along the way to finding out your cuddly preferences, he's also found out your favourite / most prominent erogenous zones.

Bonus:

He gets jealous — he doesn’t admit it, but to your great shock Sherlock actually gets super jealous about other people and their physical relationship with you. Of course, John is exempt, because he trusts John, so you hugging him and being a little playful with him doesn’t bother Sherlock. It’s when you are around other people who get super friendly that he has an issue. For example, when Anderson was a little too delighted to make your acquaintance, Sherlock noticed some indicators and before Anderson could even reach for a handshake, Sherlock strategically placed himself between the two of you and made sure to keep you next to, or at the least behind him or John the entire time.