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chryblossomjjk · 2 years

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imagine | jjk

⇢ PAIRING: model!jk x reader

⇢ RATING/GENRE: m/18+ | established relationship, smut, fluff

⇢ WC: 7.5k

⇢ WARNINGS: literally everything don’t read this lol. dom jk, bratty sub reader, mentions of relationship issues, alcohol use, degrading, titty sucking, spanking, gentle face smacking w hand and penis, rough sex turned to luv making, fingering, blowjob, face fucking, spitting, brief pussy eating and (here’s the kicker) ass licking, multiple orgasms, unprotected sex (don’t u dare), creampie, snot play (kidding ew kook just wipes reader’s nose they’re in love shh), hotel bathroom sex lets goooo! jk is mean but loves reader so so much, sappy and corny at points

⇢ SUMMARY: jungkook wants nothing more than to spend your anniversary cuddled up in a fancy hotel bathroom, eating takeout and binge watching tv shows. you, on the other hand, have something more exciting in mind.

⇢ NOTES: this is my first time writing fanfic so please be gentle with me. i know the smut is not the best. i really struggled with it, definitely not a natural when it comes to writing sexi time. i kinda love every other part of this BUT the smut which sucks because it's like… 70% smut. i tried my best yall. hopefully it will get better with time! feedback is very much appreciated. i hope you enjoy it i love u bye!!

“I can’t believe she’s still with this fucking guy. He’s such a prick…” Jungkook scoffs, shaking his head a little before shoveling another bite of pad thai into his mouth.

God, he was beautiful. His skin was pink and dewy, eyes glistening as he focused on the k-drama you had been begging him to watch with you all week. Ironically, he was more into it than you were. The show playing on your laptop, which you had very cleverly propped up on the toilet in front of you, only acting as background noise for the true entertainment of the night. Him.

You felt a wave of warmth rush over you as you watched him. That sticky sweet feeling you get when you love someone. Everything felt warm, inside and out. The shimmery water surrounding you, adorn with bubbles and rose petals, was warm and floral scented. The dim light from the candles you had set up gave the hotel bathroom a warm, saturated glow. The takeout he ordered was still hot on the bamboo tray between the two of you. His fingers, wrapped around a pair of chopsticks as he ate the leftovers from your plate, were painted a fiery shade of red.

You smiled to yourself, remembering how easy it had been to manipulate him into getting a manicure with you. “I find it sooo sexy when guys paint their nails,” you had told him on a summer day last week, swirling your tongue around a popsicle before suckling on the tip, looking him dead in the eyes. The very next morning he scheduled a dual appointment at your favorite salon.

Everything felt warm and comfortable.

Feeling you watching him, Jungkook turns his attention to you. The damp ends of his blonde hair were frizzy, sticking out awkwardly around his head like a misshapen halo. He squints his doe eyes when they meet yours. There was eyeliner smudged around the outer corners, leftover from the shoot earlier in the day. He was a mess, but he never looked more angelic.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” he says playfully through a mouthful of noodles. It was an obnoxious habit. Disgusting when others did it, but somehow adorable when he did. “I thought you wanted to watch this.”

“I thought you didn’t, but I’ve seen you tear up at least three times and we’re only on the fourth episode. You’re far too invested, Koo.”

“I am not,” he whines, “and they added too much cilantro, it’s making my eyes water.”

You giggle and reach your foot out, softly kicking his leg underneath the water. He levels you with a faux sniffle and pout, before reaching his tattooed arm out of the bath and grabbing the bottle of red wine on the floor next to him. He had room service deliver it while you were running the bath, knowing you would complain about the price. Even after all these years together, even though he was more than financially capable of doing so, you still felt uncomfortable with him spending money on you. That never seemed to stop him though.

“Here baby, have some more wine,” he coos, pouring the crimson liquid into your glass, filling up his own, and then placing the bottle back in its spot on the ground. His eyes crinkle again as he takes you in. This time it isn’t out of annoyance. It’s one of those smiles that reaches his pupils before it trickles down the rest of his face. “You look so beautiful right now.”

Your hair is in a messy bun. You have no makeup on. You trail your gaze down to your bare breasts, nipples poking out from behind the bubbles. “You’re only saying that because my tits are out.”

He looks down at your chest and hums in agreement, not inconspicuous in the slightest...

You tut your tongue, motioning towards his torso. “I don’t know, your tits are bigger than mine these days.” It was a stretch. But not by much. He had been spending a lot more time at the gym recently, trying to grow his frame in preparation for the more provocative jobs he’s been landing.

Jungkook wasn’t going to let that slide, quickly reaching over and pinching a nipple in retaliation. The audacity. The offending hand retreats before you can swat it away.

“Ow!” You wince, jutting your bottom lip out very dramatically in an attempt to make him feel bad. He didn’t, the little brat. The faint stinging in your poor nipple was nothing compared to what your body normally endured after a night in the sheets with him. It was all welcome though. You both loved to indulge in that side of him once in a while.

He lets out one of those high pitched laughs. The one he makes after does something naughty. More of a squeal than anything else. Your favorite. So cute that you can’t bring yourself to scold him further when he spills a little wine into the bathtub.

“Don’t be a brat. Tonight is not the night.”

Hm. Touché.

As much as you would love to keep going, riling him up to the point where he couldn’t help destroy you, you decide against it… for now, atleast. You know he’s tired. This morning, his angry grumbling and fussing with the covers stirred you awake before sunrise. His photoshoot lasted longer than projected, showing up to your hotel room two hours late with a panicked look on his face. He loved his job, but it undoubtedly took a toll on him.

“I’ll be good. See?” You raise your glass, clinking it with his. “To us!”

“To us,” he agrees sternly, plump lips pulling into a grin as he nods his head with purpose. “Happy anniversary, my love.”

Just like that, it’s been four years. Four years of you. Four years with him.

You can’t help but reflect on your relationship as you sip the alcohol. It burns as it goes down your throat, but tastes so divine when it hits your tongue. Duality.

Although pure and true, your relationship with Jungkook has been far from perfect. The beginning was rocky. You had just started college and were in shambles, uncertain of what you wanted for your future. You weren’t ready for a relationship; too insecure to let him into your heart. Jungkook’s heart had always been big and accessible, however, his ego was even bigger. It came with the territory. He was just breaking into the modeling industry when you first met. He always felt like he had to prove something to the world. A bit arrogant even. These distinct differences between the two of you ignited explosive arguments, leaving you both burned and in tears.

However, even in the darkness of night there is the promise of daylight. And even when the sun sets again in the evening, it leaves behind a paradise of colors, making it known that it will come back in the morning. Underneath all the fire, was a spark. At the end of the day, despite all the bullshit, you loved each other deeply. Eventually, you learned how to manage the differences. You communicated so effectively that you had grown to love those previously unbearable qualities in one another. The relationship aged like fine wine. The flames were no longer scorching, just warm and comfortable.

Here you are, four years later. Spending your anniversary in a bathroom, with subpar takeout, because simply being together was a celebration enough.

“Well, well, well, look who's crying now. Big baby.”

You hadn’t realized you were tearing up. You say nothing.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” His tone takes a drastic turn when he notices the shift in your mood.

“Nothing, I just love you so much.”

He stares at you blankly for a moment, doe eyes larger than normal, expression unreadable. He lifted the tray out of the bath before reaching over and pausing the show playing on your laptop. Wet hand and all. You would’ve yelled at him if you weren’t so emotional.

“Come here,” he whispers. Long fingers wrap around your wrist, tugging you forward until you’re positioned in his lap. Straddling him. You wrap your arms around his neck on instinct.

“I’m sorry I was late today… and I’m sorry I missed your graduation.”

You’re taken back, not really sure of what to make of his seemingly random confession. Jungkook had been invited to New York for a designer brand showcase a month prior. Easily the biggest break in his career thus far. Unfortunately, the dates overlapped with your graduation ceremony. Of course, you had been bummed out, but you would never deprive him of something that monumental. Later that night, you came home to a note on your doorstep and an apartment full of roses.

Little did you know, that very same night, Jungkook had snuck off into the bathroom during the afterparty. A picture of you in your cap and gown that your mother texted him had his vision blurry. He contemplated jumping on the next flight home. He never told you about that though.

“Koo, I understand. Your job is important to-”

“You’re important too, though. The most important.” His arms snaked their way around your waist, constricting you to his body. Face to face. Chest to chest. Nipples to nipples.

“I’m just… I’m so proud of you.” Soft, velvet, palms rub down your back, squeezing when they reach your ass. It was an innocent gesture. He was trying to reassure you. But all you could focus on was how good it felt to be touched by him.

“I love you, you know that?”

You peep a halfhearted ‘mhm’, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. The blonde really suited him. He looked so sexy. You wanted to devour him.

“I wasn’t there for you like I should’ve been in the beginning, so I really try to be there now.” The emotion behind his words was evident. Him dismissing your achievements had been a major point of contention in the early days. He’s changed a lot since then. You want to comfort him, tell him he shouldn’t feel guilty, but the way he shifts in his spot makes his pelvis rub right against your core.

The teenest tiniest moan slips past your lips.

“__, are you even listening to me?”

If you said yes, it would be a lie. His words were like the abandoned k-drama, white noise. You slide your hands to his cheeks, pressing your forehead against him, inhaling his scent. Overwhelmed by him. Maybe it was because you haven’t had sex in over a week, which was almost unheard of in your relationship. Maybe it was because you’ve never felt more loved and validated by anyone like you did him. Whatever it was, it was turning you on. Fast.

“I am baby, I just want-”

“You want what?”

“I want you.”

“Me?” His warm breath fans across your face. When he speaks, it comes out low, deep, and methodical. He licks his lips, making them glowly and pink. The tip of his tongue dragging against your own. His red nails now digging into your skin. Pupils morphing into a deep black. Pure lust. “What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to fuck me.”

You feel a hard smack against your ass, water splashing over the edge of the tub upon impact. You wince, knowing that tomorrow you will have a Jungkook-shaped sore spot on your bottom. You’re in for it now. The anticipation leaves you dripping.

“I told you, not tonight,” Jungkook growls, nuzzling his head into your shoulder. “Why don’t you ever listen, huh?”

Another spank. This time even harder. It makes you grip onto his hair, knuckles paling.

“Why can’t you be good? It’s our anniversary. I wanted to be sweet with you.” He sinks his teeth into your neck, biting down and then sucking. He spanks you again, making you hold onto the edge of the tub to stop yourself from jerking forward. “Now I have to punish you.”

“I like you like this though.” You can’t help the neediness and desperation that’s laced through your voice.

“Of course you do,” he chuckles, sinfully licking over the mark he created. “You’re so dumb. Such a slut. I can’t even talk to you without you getting horny.”

“That’s not true,” you whimper.

“It’s not? Then why are you so wet?” He spreads your cheeks with both hands, middle and ring finger rubbing between your folds, collecting your wetness. He takes a few seconds to barely circle your clit. His touch is light and feathery, teasing. Fuck him and his big hands. He brings them up to your lips, tapping. “Open.”

“But they’re all soapy…”

He hums, knowing you want to be good. He’s willing to compromise. He softly smacks your cheek with an open palm, gripping your chin and moving your head side to side. “What should I do with you then? Hm?”

“I want your fingers,” you say softly, voice coming out muffled from him squeezing your cheeks together.

“Where?”

“Inside of me.”

“Where though?”

You huff and wrap your hand around his wrist and pull him off. Your fingers don’t even touch, tiny in comparison. This was what you wanted, practically begged for. However, it still drove you nuts whenever he made you wait, wanting you to articulate every little detail, get you soaked before he even touched you. “I want them in my pussy… your pussy.” You whimper, guiding his hand down to where you wanted him most. Pressing down, you move his fingers against your clit in tight circles. You moan at the contact. “There.”

He takes the hint, rubbing you just the way you like. Slow and sensual. You can’t help the obscene noise ripping through you.

Jungkook’s fingers dip further down, playing with your entrance, getting them nice and wet, before sneaking in. Moaning loudly, you roll your head back. He always filled you up so good. You can’t help but clench around his fingers, afraid he’ll pull back and leave you stranded.

He curls them, knowing exactly how to touch to have you pooling into his palm. It feels like heaven. Just when you think the gates are opening, his fingers come to a halt.

You shoot him an exasperated look.

“Get yourself off. I know you know how, slut.” Your eyebrows slant and you clench your jaw. He’s a demon. He flashes a crooked bunny smile your way, finding your angry face very adorable. Not intimidating in the slightest. “Go on.”

You place your hands on the sides of the tub, using it as leverage to lift your entire body up. You were going to cum, even if it meant he made you do all the work. Sinking back down, you start fucking yourself on his fingers. Snapping your hips up, before going all the way down to his tattooed knuckles. Your knees digging into the porcelain as you form a steady pace. You know they’re going to hurt afterwards, but it felt too fucking good to stop.

“I told you the manicure was worth it,” you mumble, somehow finding the strength to sass him. It was all part of the game. He loved the fight for dominance, even though you both knew it was something you relinquished willingly.

If asked what his favorite thing about you was, Jungkook would say your witt. He loved when you smart-mouthed him, put him in his place. You could feel his cock plumping at your words, rubbing between your cheeks with every rut of your hips.

“Shut up.” He scoots himself further down until he’s leveled with your bouncing chest, careful not to disrupt your movements. He teases your nipple with the tip of his tongue before catching it into his mouth.

“Fuck, I love it,” you whisper, transitioning to a grind. One of your hands cups the back of his head, holding him close. Your hips rotate, mirroring the swirling of his tongue. Your clit was rubbing against the plush skin of his palm.

The rosy pink bath water ripples, overflowing and splashing. You didn’t care about the mess on the bathroom floor, not when the mess between your thighs was more important.

He moans against you, sending a vibration through your sensitive, overworked, nipple. He takes the hardened bud between his teeth, tugging gently and then moving onto the other.

He starts curling his clean cut fingers with every drag of your leaking cunt, stroking your g-spot expertly, giving you more stimulation. Overstimulating you. “Please, Koo…”

“Already?”

You nod frantically. All the years spent above you, behind you, and below you made him well aware of your signs. He knew you were close. “I want you to cum. Fuck, you’re so wet,” he sighs, just as desperate as you, turned on by your pleasure. Lips still wrapped around your nipple. It makes your clit throb.

He abruptly starts thrusting his fingers into you. Your hips still as you lean your entire weight on him, bracing yourself as you reach the point of no return. He makes you cry for the second time when your orgasm hits, leaving you gasping into his ear. Your thighs tremble uncontrollably. His fingers slow, curling deliciously until he milks out every bit of your orgasm.

You turn onto your side and bury your head into his shoulder as you come down from your high. He leans his cheek against your forehead, rubbing small circles against your lower back. Completely ignoring the flushed, angry cock resting against his lower stomach. Your sweet boy. So sweet that you just couldn’t get enough.

His rough persona was already starting to fade. Not on your watch.

You look down, eyeing his pretty pink tip through the bubbles. Pinker than the water. He has the prettiest dick you’ve ever seen. It makes you salivate.

You trail your manicured nails down his chest, circling his nipple, running over his solid abdomen, and down to his cock. You rub your index finger against the slit and then stroke his head with your fingertip. “I know you’re tired but… I want more. Wanna lick it.”

He huffs out a laugh and then pecks on the top of your head. He wonders how you could be so cute, yet so naughty and dirty? You feel a tap against your ass, signaling for you to get off of him.

You wide-eye him when he stands. Droplets of water were running down his body. One gets caught in the dip of his v-line, trickling until it becomes lost in the dark patch of trimmed hair above his shaft. His thick, toned legs flexing as he steps out of the tub. You’re convinced that no matter how much time passes, you’ll still find him breathtaking.

He mumbles a little ‘be careful’ when he helps you up, watching your feet to make sure they don’t slip. Always looking out for you in small ways. It was a subconscious trait he developed as he grew to love you more than anything or anyone. He tugs you close, looking at you with so much love in his eyes. You crane your neck up, pressing your lips against his. Nothing crazy or sloppy, just a kiss. Kissing Jungkook felt like it always did, warm and comfortable.

“Alright, knees. Now.”

Asshole.

Interrupting your thoughts, yet again. You frown and look at the tile. The wet tile might you add. “But my knees-”

He grabs your hair, wrapping it around his fist and using it to force you down to your knees. The floor feels gross and cold against your shins.

“You do what I tell you, got it?” From your angle, he looks menacing. He’s peering down at you over that big nose, chest puffed out and red from exertion. The veins in his arm popping out under his inked skin as he held you with an iron grip. You have half a mind to cancel his gym membership.

His big, leaking, cock is standing right in front of you. It was almost intimidating.

You answer him with the most miniscule nod.

“Use your words.”

“I’ll listen.”

“Look at me when you talk to me.” He doesn't even give you the chance to react, yanking your hair until your face is tilted upwards.

“I’ll listen,” you peep.

“I go away for a week and you forget everything I taught you? Do I have to train you all over again?” He questions, mocking you.

“Yes, please. I don’t seem to remember,” you challenge, blinking up at him innocently, but so deviously.

“Open,” he commands. You listen, opening wide and sticking your tongue out. He bends at the waist, letting a glob of spit fall from his puckered lips and into your mouth. You swallow immediately, knowing what to do. Obviously well informed of the rules despite your protests.

“Good girl.” Releasing your hair, he brings his fingers to your lips, recalling your refusal to put them in your mouth earlier. “Again.”

He’s just as devious as you are.

You flick your hair over your shoulders dramatically, hoping he’ll pick up on your annoyance. Squinting in defiance, you take his middle and index finger in your mouth, going all the way down to his knuckles, biting a little. You slide your tongue between them, letting them hit the back of your throat before pulling away. They do taste a bit soapy, but you suppose a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

He shoves them back in before you move away entirely, making you choke. “I don’t think you’re ready for me. Gotta stretch you out first, don’t I baby?” He scissors his fingers, testing your gag reflex. Taunting you. You inhale and pinch your eyes shut, wanting to prove him wrong. You even bob your head a little, taking them in deeper. He lets out a shaky breath, clearly affected by your actions, exiting your drooling mouth.

Nimble fingers wrap around his cock, using your spit to slick himself up. He squeezes right under the crown. Both of you watch in awe as a drop of precum oozes out. He shuffles closer to you, jaw going slack as he peers down at you. It looks like he’s contemplating something. Whatever it was, he better get going because if you have to wait even lo-

You gasp as his cock swings into your cheek with a loud thud. The heaviness makes you flinch. He pauses, expecting you to reprimand him. He did just smack you with his dick. To his surprise, you don’t say anything. In fact, you appear to be even more turned on than before, fluttering your lashes at him. Asking for more.

He makes a content noise, continuing to tap the tip against your face, watching as a sticky string of precum forms. “God, you’re so whipped baby. Why do you let me treat you like this?”

It was a rhetorical question, but you answer anyway. “Because I love you.”

“You love me?” He smiles, rigid expression softening for a second, pleased with your answer. “You love my dick. It’s all you think about. I bet when I was away you all you did was sit in bed with a wet pussy. Waiting for me to come home and fuck you.”

You can’t help but wonder if that was a freudian slip. If he was still beating himself up for missing out on your graduation, mentioning it with no context or explanation. It makes your heart hurt, but that was a conversation for tomorrow morning. Tonight, you were going to do whatever you could to distract him.

Wetness touches your bottom lip. He rubs the head of his penis against you, smearing precum on your lips. He coos, mocking your compliance and submission. Sexually humiliating you is one of his favorite activities. You let him, even puckering your lips to sneak in a few kisses here and there. The light touches make him groan. “You gonna let me fuck that mouth, sweetheart?”

“Hm... I dunno.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

No answer.

“Are you going to put it in your mouth or what?” He scoffs, gnawing on his bottom lip. His right brow twitches. His forehead pulls in a bit. The irritated flicks in features already visible.

You shrug nonchalantly. Internally, you were jumping for joy. He’s so fucking easy to manipulate. Right in the palm of your hand like putty, moldable into any shape you want. Any version of him you desire.

His cock is angry too. Flushed and dripping. Needing to be touched. Craving you. Your mouth. Your pussy.

It jumps when you wrap your hand around it. So touch starved. Your pace is devastatingly lethargic, grip loose, not firm the way you know he loves and wants. His foreskin moves with you, rolling back and forth over his begging tip. So needy and wet. You wondered if the people next door could hear the nasty gushy noises his cock made as you jerked it.

You lean forward and lap at his slit. Airy kitten licks that provide barely any sensation to his greedy cock. One after the other. You feel his stare burning into your skin. He’s watching you, nostrils flaring as he grows impatient and agitated. You arch your back, giving him a clear view of your perky ass, before you start shaking and bouncing it. Teasing him.

“Enough, __!” He seethes, fisting your hair and bucking his hips with so much vigor that he stumbles forward. His cock shoves past your lips and down your throat. He catches himself by slamming a hand against the wall-mounted mirror in front of him, leaving a small crack in the middle. The neighbors definitely heard that one, but you were too far gone to care.

The jolt sends you falling back on your butt, landing on the fluffy area rug in front of the sink. Atleast you were comfortable now. You always win one way or another.

Your legs are now laying flat between his, knees knocked together. Trapped between Jungkook and the sleek black wood of the integrated sink behind you. You're pressed against his pelvis, the soft hairs at the base of his cock tickling your nostrils.

Initially, you gag around him. Spit bubbling at the corners of your mouth, dripping down your chin after a few dauntingly long seconds. Your chest heaves as you struggle to adjust to the sudden intrusion. There’s a natural urge to push him away. Your matching red nails digging into his thighs as you try to shove him off of you.

“You’re okay.” He doesn’t let up. Feet firmly planted on either side of you. “Breathe. You can take it.”

With tears streaming down your cheeks, you inhale and exhale through your nose, regaining your composure. Determined to be good for him.

When he touches you, it’s delicate and gentle, pushing your damp hair back. Fingers working their way through a few tangles. He cups your cheek, brushing away your stray tears. “I’m gonna fuck your mouth now, okay?”

You nod, making the tip of his cock rub against the back of your throat. Your mouth is warm and moist, like a sauna that’s sole purpose was to make him nut. The sensation makes him grunt. He brings his opposite hand down, holding your head still before taking a shallow thrust. Only giving you half of his length and then pulling back. Testing the waters.

Glancing up at him with watery eyes, you meet him halfway, hollowing your cheeks. Your throat feels raw but his cock tastes phenomenal. Clean and sugary. Not a day goes by where you don’t thank the stars for blessing you with a man who eats fairly healthy and follows a strict hygiene regimen.

Your nose is running a little. Jungkook notices before you do. His shoulders rise up with laughter, wiping it away with his big thumb. “So gross, baby. So cute.” It was gross, but you weren’t embarrassed, not with him.

Your jaw goes slack as you accept more of his cock, relaxing into the feeling. He picks up the pace, basking in view of his glossy cock dragging against your lips. You’re a vision. So beautiful to him. The disgusting wet noises your throat makes when he pulls away are deafening. He loves the way you gag when he pushes back in.

Jungkook has always been a bit quiet during sex, minus the dirty talk, of course. Never one to make obnoxious, pornographic sounds. He left that to you. You didn’t mind though. You can’t help but hum around him, loud and vulgar, when you hear his low grunts, knowing you’ve earned them.

Your hands rub at his smooth, hairless thighs, feeling the muscles underneath clench and unclench, pulling his skin taut. He made the impromptu decision to get them waxed while his nails were drying under the UV light. ‘For shoots and stuff… It’s in nowadays’ he had snapped at you when you questioned his choice. Your palms make their way behind him, gripping his ass and pulling, wanting more of his cock.

“Mhm, it’s yours, baby. Take it.” He licks his lips and nods, looking at you with hooded lustful eyes, flicking his hair away so he can watch. “Tight little mouth…”

His voice sounded fucked out, so turned on. His head rolls off to the side like he doesn’t have the strength to support it anymore. All of the energy being sucked out of him, literally and figuratively.

His hand cups the back of your head, thrusting every inch of his cock into your mouth. Holding you in place. His nose scrunches up and his brows knit together, cute dimple poking out as he bites the inside of his cheek. You hum, swaying your head from side to side.

“Stop, m’ gonna cum,” he groans, attempting to pull you off. You’re persistent though, clinging onto him, keeping him snug inside of you.

“Ah, no- stop,” he whimpers in a high pitched voice you’ve never heard before. It was so desperate it made you clench around nothing. You feel him twitch in your mouth, hips jerking away like the pleasure is too much. He’s so deep that he can feel your tongue flat against his balls, licking and drooling down them.

You pull off with a pop when you decide he’s had enough.

“Fuck you,” he says through a laugh. He reaches his hands up, running them over his face to calm himself down. “You were going to make me cum before we even fucked.”

There’s a translucent strand of spit connecting his penis to your mouth. You swallow, wiping your chin with the back of your hand. A fit of coughs erupt through your chest. Booming and rough, before fading into a string of mischievous giggles. You feel delirious and light headed. He mumbles something about how well you took him, about how you were so good. You don’t really know. You can’t really focus at the moment.

You press your cheek against Jungkook’s leg, beaming up at him. So infatuated with him. So in love. High off endorphins and serotonin.

“Stop laughing!” He shouts playfully, guiding you to your feet and pressing you against the marble countertop. He kisses your cheek before burrowing his head into your shoulder. “You’re fucking bonkers, babe.”

“Me? You fully broke the mirror!”

“Huh?”

You twist in his arms, giggling madly as you crane your neck awkwardly to look at the mirror behind you. “It’s right…,” you look around, trying to scope out the crack, pressing your fingertip to it when you find it, “here!” There’s already tiny fragments missing, exposing the wooden frame underneath. You leave a smudge on the dewy glass when you pull away.

He deadpans you, jaw dropping open like he’s just received tragic and unexpected news. The modeling definitely upped his acting capabilities, making him animated and theatrical over the most mundane things. You guess it’s somewhat justified in this situation.

Black irises flicker to you, then the mirror, then back to you. His hand clamps over his open mouth. “What the fuck, __?”

“Don’t blame me! You were the one that broke it.” You shout back, very amused by his reaction.

“Yeah, but you should’ve at least said something,” he states like it’s the most obvious and certain thing in the world. His arms are outstretched, palms facing you, looking at you like you’re missing brain cells for not comprehending his thought process. One hand drops against his side in disbelief. The other wraps around his dick, giving it a languid pump.

You roll your eyes. He’s such a boy.

“It’s not even that big of a deal,” you mumble, tucking a loose piece of hair behind his ear. He can’t stand having his hair in his face, constantly stealing your hair ties and losing them on sets, at the gym, and basically where else he goes. The wispy ones at his hairline are sticking to his clammy skin. “What are they gonna do, arrest us?” Now it’s your turn to question his logic, exaggerating your words and moving your neck around like a bobble head.

“No… but we’re going to have to pay for it.”

“Oh, whatever. I’ll pay.”

“Shut up, no you won’t,” he says sternly, twirling his index finger in a circle. “Turn around before I lose my boner.”

You do as he says, turning around to face the mirror. It’s so blurry that all you can see in it is two silhouettes amongst the condensation. Good. It saves you the embarrassment of looking at yourself. You know you look crazy and disheveled. You can already picture it in your head. Hair tangled, lips swollen, tear stained cheeks, lashes clumped together.

You bend over the counter, upper body pressing into the marble slab. It’s cool and smooth, a stark contrast to the hot, stuffy atmosphere of the bathroom. It sends a piercing shock down your spine when your nipples touch the surface. You turn your head to the side, cheeks squished.

Perking your ass up, you wait patiently for his cock. Your glistening folds are on full display for him, so enticing and sweet. He spreads your ass with both hands, catching a glimpse of your puckering hole. You’re messy there too, arousal from your pussy having trickled down throughout the night. You looked so appetizing. He’s spent countless hours of his life buried in your pussy, lapping up your juices, breathing you in with his nose smushed into your clit. Jungkook would die a happy man knowing he got to experience the taste of you.

“Kook, please hur-,” your words are cut short by a loud cry when you feel his mouth on you instead. Wet muscle tickling your clit before dragging through your entrance. It’s like he’s making out with your pussy, flat tongue dipping into you. His plump lips close after each lick, creating these soft smacking noises that send you into overdrive.

His tongue trails up, circling around your other hole. You squeal.

“I can’t take so much- I can’t ta- just fuck me already,” you cry out. You reach your hand back, searching to ground yourself, wanting to touch him. He intertwines your fingers with his, snickering as he gets back up. A sloppy, open-mouthed kiss is placed on your shoulder. They make a warm stream from the back of your neck to your tailbone. He takes his time, pressing kisses on every part of your skin. The tender moment makes you dizzy.

“I’m sorry baby, you just- I’m so fucked up right now.” He felt jittery and sensitive. Needing you as much as you needed him. “I’ll do anything you want- anything for you.”

You grind your hips back, needy for his cock. “I want you inside me. Fill me up.”

The sound of your voice has him weak. He didn’t need any more convincing, letting go of your hand and bending at the knees to align himself with your aching core. He spits on his cock, spreading it around your hungry core with the head. It wasn’t necessary, but a little extra lubrication never hurt anyone.

He grabs your ass, pulling a cheek aside, wanting to see everything. A front row seat to his favorite show. He knows he’s going to just slide right in with how drenched you were.

He stuffs himself in, catching you off guard with the lack of preparation, giving you his entire length on the first push. The arch of your back sucked his cock in so deep that you felt it in your stomach. You felt so full, so stretched. Like he was made to be inside of you. Your mouth opens wide with a silent scream, clawing at the countertop, needing to cling onto something. Anything. Your fingertips hurt as they press into the marble.

Jungkook’s eyes are locked on the way your pussy just engulfs his cock. It tries to suck him back in when he pulls away, like it doesn’t want him to leave. Like it’s your life force. If he withdraws, your body will surely wither away into a pile of little pink sparkles.

“Can you just-” he grunts, wrapping his colorful arm under your hips and lifting, making your parted thighs come together. “Yeah, like that… so tight like this.”

“Mhm, feels so good like this Koo,” you purr in agreement. The fit is more snug than before. You can feel every ridge of his shaft against your walls. Every vein. It makes your toes curl into the soft shag carpet beneath you.

Chills rush through your limbs when he starts to snap his hips into you. There’s intent behind his thrusts. Pulling all the way back, leaving only the very tip of his cock inside of you. Watching as your cunt clenchs around it. Loving how your arousal turns milky, leaving his dick so wet and creamy. Then, he plunges all the way in. You let out little ‘mmm’ noises when his hips meet yours, breasts jiggling wildly underneath you.

“I’m not gonna last much longer,” Jungkook says through gritted teeth. He slows down for a moment, smushing his pelvis flush against your ass and swiveling his hips in a circle. It’s obvious that he’s trying not to cum.

“Me either, it’s okay,” you tell him, placing your palms flat and pushing your body up. Determined to get him off, you start throwing your ass back, using all your might to work his cock in and out of you. Skin slapping against skin.

“Don’t.” He places one palm on your hip, halting your movements. The other goes to your shoulder, pushing you back down. “Lift your leg up,” he orders, pointing to the ledge of the sink, showing you exactly what he wants you to do.

This was something he did often. Whenever you two had sex, Jungkook put you in all kinds of bendy positions. He loved folding you like a pretzel while he fucked you. In his words, putting you in simple, uncomplicated positions was ‘wasted potential.’ He was hell-bent on putting your flexibility to good use.

Picking your knee up and placing it on the sink makes his cock slip out. You hear a hushed ‘fuck’ escape his lips. He’s quick to guide himself back to your drippy center. He’s so deep you feel like you’re going to vomit. Your eyes roll back, squeezing shut when you feel tears prick at the outer corners. You’ve cried way too much in the past hour…

“Stay still, let me take care of you.” You couldn’t tell if your mind was playing tricks on you. If you’re being honest, his dick usually left you dazed and confused. But his voice sounded broken. Almost like he was on the verge of falling apart.

Without warning, he rests his entire weight on you, smashing his chest to your back. The stretch was uncomfortable, but the warmth radiating off of him was overpowering.

“I want to make you feel good,” he fucking whimpers as his hand snakes between your bodies. He uses his ring and index finger to spread you open, middle finger massaging your clit. He nudges your head to the side, making room for him to nuzzle into your neck. “I want to be good for you- to you. I don’t want to miss anymore, please- don’t leave me. I’m so sorry.”

He’s plowing into you with so much force, trying to emphasize what he means. You know what he means. What was that myth again? Something about being able to feel your soulmate's pain?

You never thought it was possible to feel devastation and euphoria simultaneously, but that’s exactly how you feel at the moment.

You need to see him. You reach your trembling hand to the mirror. The fog melts under your touch. You wipe your hand back and forth until he’s visible. Even streaky and distorted, he's still absolutely gorgeous. “Jungkook, look at me.”

He lifts his head, peeking through blonde curtains to meet your eyes in the reflection. They’re dark and glassy. You see nothing but raw emotion swimming in them. Pure love. His cheeks are tinged red.

“Don’t cry, baby,” you sigh, ignoring your own words as wetness finally spills over your waterline. Crying because he’s touching you just right, bringing you closer and closer to climax, but also because you love him. So fucking much.

The pit in your stomach keeps growing. Your orgasm is approaching rapidly. You shake and convulse under him. You’ve never felt so good.

“I love you,” he groans, confession sounding heavenly in your ears as his thrusts become sloppy and hopeless. “I’m gonna cum.”

“Me too.” You turn your head, nose knocking into his as you tangle your fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. “Kiss me, kiss me, I love you so much,” you plead, voice cracking.

He does. Lips crashing into yours, meshing together perfectly. Tongues twisting together, still tasting like one another. You sob into his mouth, tugging on his thick strands as your orgasm hits you full force. Pleasure is felt in every inch of your body, from your toes to the very tip top of your scalp.

Jungkook cums with you. Cute face scrunching up as he paints your walls in hot white. He gives you everything, thrusting into you until he’s completely empty. Cumming so much that it overflows around his cock and spills down your thigh.

A sequence of serendipitous events that leave you warm and comfortable.

Both of you are sticky with cum, sweat, tears, spit, and probably every other bodily fluid that exists. You should clean up, but neither of you make an effort to move. Too exhausted. Too peaceful.

Closing your eyes, you relish in the feeling of his chest expanding and contracting. Instead of listening to the ticks of the clock on your right, you listen to his breathing. It’s rough and sporadic at first, but as the minutes pass by, it becomes calm and even. You can feel his heartbeat against your back. You’re surrounded by him.

Light touches trail over your shoulders and down your arms until they reach your palms. He laces his fingers with yours, rubbing his thumb against the back of your hand. Bringing the left one to his mouth, he places exactly four kisses against it. The last kiss is longer and more meaningful than the rest. You smile to yourself. Four years ago, you would’ve never imagined that your relationship with Jungkook would look like this. Loving, happy, and healthy.

He turns your hand over, placing it against his cheek. Your sweet boy.

“Do you want to talk about it?” You ask him, voice hoarse. You feel him shake his head. You hum, needing to say one more thing before you drop the issue. “I just want you to know that I love you. You have no reason to feel guilty. I’d rather have you with me mentally and emotionally than physically, you know?”

He nods, placing a wet peck to your temple this time.

“Alright, get out of me. Your dick is limp and you’re sweaty.”

He lets out an airy laugh, mouth still pressed against your skin. Your grimace when he pulls out of you, cum already oozing out. Yuck.

It was alright though. You couldn’t think of a better way to end your anniversary than taking a hot shower with him. You lift yourself off the counter, bones cracking. Legs aching. Worn out and exhausted. You were excited to slip under the crisp white sheets with him, fall asleep with your head on his chest. The perfect pillow. That sounded wonderful.

Your shower was interrupted by a loud banging at the door. Jungkook looked at you confused and wide eyed, hoping out with impeccable speed as he scrambled to put a robe on. You groan, who the fuck would show up to your hotel room at 11:17 p.m.?

Hotel security. That’s who.

There had been a total of eight noise complaints. All coming from the same floor.

They weren’t too happy about the mirror either.

Needless to say, you and Jungkook spent the remainder of your anniversary in a shitty motel.

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ravenromanova · 7 months

Text

I’ll be a good girl, I swear it!

Pairings: Priest Natasha x Semi innocent female reader.

Warnings: SMUT!! DO NOT READ IF YOU’RE UNDERAGE!!! Religion kink, Daddy kink, Praise kink, Kinda mean Natasha, Oral, Fingering, Squirting, Sex in a church, Legal age gap, Innocence kink, strap on. DO NOT READ IF YOU’RE UNDER 18+!!! Happy ending. :)

Summary: When the leader of the church asks you to stay behind for some extra lessons who are you to deny her?

Kinktober masterlist - Main masterlist - Send me requests!!!

You sat in the back of the church with your best friend Kate like you did every sunday listening to Ms.Romanoffs sermon. Your eyes had never left the woman as she spoke the word of god. The way she moved was memorizing and alluring. It’s almost like she knew you were watching her as her moves became slightly more sultry. It was like she was calling to you just from a look.

You had been attending priest Romanoffs services for a couple months now after Kate had informed you how hot she was. At first you had scolded her for being so vulgar and sinful…that was until you saw her for yourself. She was tall, skinny, had legs for days, had the most beautiful green eyes that was accentuated by her red hair. Your breath caught in your throat and your core started throbbing at first sight. So from then on you and Kate had decided to start going to church was more often.

The sermon has gone by just like it always did, speech, songs, prayer, more songs and then gossip after it ended. You and Kate were about to leave when Ms.Romanoff has come up behind you and tapped your shoulder.

“Excuse me miss L/n do you think you could possibly stay after for a bit. There are some things i’d like to discuss with you” The tall woman said and before you could even get a word out Kate responded for you.

“Of course she will Ms.Romanoff” She said as she slightly nudged you before she quickly walked off with a wink. You nervously cleared your throat as you shyly looked up at Natasha who had a devilish smirk across her face.

“Why don’t we go into my office?” She asked with a hint of mischief laced in her voice. You quickly nodded and she leads you to the office with her hand on the snap of your back. It was only then that you smelled her cherry and vanilla perfume and god it smelt divine.

When you entered her office you noticed a large red couch against the wall, along with a black wooden desk accompanied by a red velvet throne like chair. Her office was decorated wall to wall in victorian era crucifixes, paintings and antiques it fit the woman well.

“So-w-what did you want to discuss Ms.Romanoff?” You asked softly as you sit on the black velvet chair across her desk. She smiles devilishly as she sat behind her desk.

“Well i’ve noticed that since you’ve started coming to service you have a hard time paying attention whilst i’m giving the sermon” Her words make you choke on your spit and you try to cover it up with a cough.

“Oh Ms.Romanoff i swear i’m paying attention” You try to speak honestly but you know damn well you’re lying. The older woman shakes her head and tsks at your lie.

“We both know that’s not true y/n don’t lie to me… and especially don’t lie in the house of god “ She says with faux disappointment as she stands up and walks in front of you. “I think i’m going to need to teach you a lesson on how to be a good girl” Her words send a familiar throb to your core. You instinctively rub your thighs together to try to relive some of the throbbing. Natasha noticed your soft thighs moving and your face grew uncomfortable as you failed you help yourself.

You grow speechless s you feel her hands go to your thighs and spread them slightly. “Ms?” The question comes out breathless as you look at the redhead getting on her knees.

“Shhh kotenok just sit back and be a good girl for mommy okay?” Natasha questions you as she begins to pepper kisses on your soft thighs. “Will you be a good girl for mommy?” She questions again starting right into your soul.

“I’ll be a good girl” You nod at her question. “I swear it” You add and that seems to be sufficient for Natasha as she moves up your skirt. Her veiny hands go underneath your skirt to lift it to your hips before she removes your pantie. She groans when she sees you but down on your lip at her actions.

“I’m going to make you feel so good pretty girl” The woman praises before she comes face to face with your wet core. She takes one finger and rubs you from clit to hole gathering your juices to make it easier for get to fuck your. Your breath catches in your throat when she starts to rub your clit on soft motions.

“That feels so good Mommy” You moan as you grip the arm rest of the chair you sat on. She takes that as her sign to continue and adds one finger in slowly.

“Mmph oh my god-“ The moan comes out broken as it passes your lips.

“Dont you dare take the lords name in vein” Natasha reprimands you by slapping your pussy harshly. You squeal as her hand comes into contact with your slightly swollen pussy.

“SHIT! I-i’m sorry mommy, i- i won’t do it again just pl-please touch me” You whimper and grab her hands in attempt to make her touch you again. But instead she pulls away from you despite your pleas to come back. All you can hear is some rustling behind you once she leaves your view.

“It seems like you need to be taught a lesson in manners” She says as she comes up behind you suddenly. All you can feel is her breath on your neck before she bites down and marks you. You hear what sounds like fastening before she comes back in your line of view.

Your eyes go as wide as saucers when you see the faux cock around her hips over her dress pants. There’s no time to process what’s happening before your back hits the soft fabric of the church and she’s on top of you.

“I’m gonna fuck your now okay?” She asks even though she already knows your answer just by your face.

“Yes please.” You plead as you grip her hips and try to pull her closer. The attempt pulls a small chuckle from the redhead as she settles in between your thighs. She takes the strap and gathers your juices on it to lube it up before she ruins you. It may not have been your first time having sex but it sure had been a while and she could tell from how tight you were.

Once she’s happy with how wet the strap is she slowly eases it in before bottoming out.

“Oh s-shit” You groan when she pulls all the way out before thrusting in again. She says a soft pace at first testing the waters and as yours moans grow louder her thrusts become faster and harder.

“You take me so well kotenok” She praises as she wraps your thighs around her waist and fucks into you harder than before. The noises that fill the office are downright sinful and pornographic.

“Oh yes mommy yes” You mewl loud as you feel your orgasm build and the pleasure becomes unreal.

“You gonna cum for me like the good girl i know you are?” You questions rubbing your clit for extra stimulation. And that’s what sends you over the edge ave your back arches and you cum with a scream.

“Oh fuck” You whimper when she takes the strap out. But you don’t mourn the loss for long as she is quick to sink down to your pussy and clean up your mess.

“Taste so good” Her words are muffled as she licks and sucks you clean. Once she has successfully cleaned up your mess she takes your clit into her mouth and starts sucking on it like candy.

“Too sensitive m-mommy please-cant-“ You protest once she adds two fingers into your hole.

“Shut the fuck yup and take what mommy gives you” Natasha reprimands and sets a faster pace hitting your g-spot with extreme force.

“Yes mommy i’m sorry-i’m sorry i’ll take it i’ll be a good girl” You apologize as you feel your second organ build back up. This one is stronger since you’ve already cum once.

“I-i’m cumming mommy fuck i’m cumming” You scream as you grow into her hair and come undone on her tongue. She groans in appreciation before she kicks you clean again and then comes you to kiss you. The kiss is sloppy and sinful but you couldn’t give a fuck if you tried right now. You’d senses are in overload as you taste yourself on her lips and her perfume continues to invade your nose.

She breaks the kiss and then picks up your panties from the floor and putting them back on and lowering your skirt.

“You were such a good girl” She praises once you’re dressed again.

“Thank you Ms” You say blushing even though she just fucked your into oblivion.

“Hmm you’re welcome kotenok” The woman says softly before giving you a kiss on the cheek and helping you stand up.

“Same time next week?” Natasha asks as she opens the door and leads you out to your car through the church hall.

“Of course Ms.Romanoff” You nod before you bid the woman farewell and hop into your car. The car ride home tire head is filled with images of what happened and you get all hot and bothered over again.

When you get back to your shared apartment with Kate she’s sitting on the couch with an eager look on her face.

“Tell me everything!” She squeals when she notices your disheveled stare.

“You’re gonna need to grab a drink for this” And you two spend the rest of the night fangirling over your priest.

The meetings with Ms.Romanoff that follow Jesus definitely wouldn’t approve of.

~The end ~

A/n: Look at me posting back to back :) i will be patting myself on the back for these since i literally wrote and posted this one and the last one all in one go. Enjoy :)

I do not give permission for my work to be copied or translated on other cites

#ravenromanova #natasha romanoff #marvel x reader #natasha x reader #natasha romanova #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x you #natasha romanoff fanfic #natasha romanoff fluff #natasha romanoff imagine #natasha romanoff smut #natasha x you #natalia romanova #kinktober 2023 #marvel smut #natasha romanoff x female reader smut #blackwidow #black widow x reader #black widow x reader smut

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jedifarmerr · 2 months

Text

Untimely - Joel Miller x F!Reader/OFC (AFAB).

Summary: Joel might have a little crush on his business partner, but it’s no big deal - really.

This can be read as either pre-canon or AU. Reader has a nickname, but physical description is a blank slate

Rating: E (18+ no minors)

Warnings/Tags: Joel’s POV, readers dad used to be Joel’s boss, discussion of absent parents (not reader), very minor discussion of parental death (again not reader), Joel is kinda awkward when it comes to dating, workplace relationship but without power dynamics, squint and you’ll find an age gap (no exact age is stated but she does have a college degree), pining and lots of it, denial of feelings and all that good stuff, and smut in general. I’m not gonna tag everything or this would get way too long but consent is clearly stated and does not have any major triggers (to my knowledge, but let me know if you catch something).

Word Count: 23,000. This was supposed to be a short one-shot, but got out of control. Oops. This is separated into two parts on AO3

Note: I’m back!! I know it’s been a hot minute, but I’m very very excited and very very nervous to share what I’ve been working on in my absence. But here it is!

---

The first full week of September, and Austin was deadlocked in a nasty heatwave.

Days like this made Joel wish he’d chosen a job that involved a roof over his head – or maybe just a little shade. Anything would be better than being crushed under the weight of the cruel Texas sun as it poured down through the bare-bone house. Still, Joel hammered his way through it. Even as the sun baked his scalp and covered every inch of his skin in sweat.

Joel flapped his shirt to dry the cotton sticking to his chest like silicone glue. His walk was more so a waddle, which was honestly his fault for wearing jeans. The denim chafed against his thighs while combing the work site for any loose supplies. All he wanted to do was hop into his work truck, blast the air conditioning and leave, but instead he diligently checked between every wooden beam and around every corner. Despite the lack of drywall leaving barely any hiding spots, it was insane how often Tommy forgot a power drill behind a tub of paint or cement.

Or somewhere else incredibly stupid.

Nothing major today, though. Just a few nails that jingled around in his tool belt as he stepped out onto the future front porch, immediately spotting Tommy. Kinda hard to miss with his big ass head poking out the driver side window while puffing on his daily post-work Marlboro.

“The engine was making that funny noise again,” Tommy claimed, his voice echoing across the dirt lawns and unpaved driveways of the brand new subdivision.

Joel walked past the rusty-white hood, but heard nothing other than the usual ancient roar. There was the radio in the cab playing Foolish Games by Jewel – a favorite of Sarah’s.

“Funny noise, huh?” He eyed Tommy with blatant skepticism before slumping into the dusty cloth seat with a thunk. “Well, sounds like it’s fixed now.”

“Oh yeah good as new.” Tommy burned the soul from his cigarette, then chucked the butt out the window. “This thing’s gotta be what - 10? 15 years old?”

“Something like that.” Joel didn’t know off the top of his head. The truck had been a part of the company even longer than him, meaning it had to be somewhere closer to 15 than 10. From what he could recall it’d been a few years off mint condition even when Danny first hired him.

“Then, how the hell is it still running?”

“Danny’s a smart man who didn’t buy a shitty Chevy,” Joel lightheartedly jabbed at his little brother – a self-proclaimed Chevrolet man, but only because of his buddies. “He knew that Ford was better - built tough.”

“Well, ain’t lookin’ too tough now,” Tommy pointed out and Joel shrugged.

As long as the truck got him from one place to the next, he didn’t care if it was taped together by spit and gorilla glue. He knew for a fact Tommy wouldn’t complain either if a new one was coming out of his wallet instead.

Tommy threw the truck into reverse. “I’m telling you now, you’re gonna regret not buying a new one sooner.”

“What are you gonna do?” Joel snorted. “Put some sugar in the gas tank?”

“I don’t have to sabotage this piece of shit - it’ll crap out on its own soon enough,” Tommy said. “Hell, it could even happen today.”

“Better not,” Joel grumbled, but otherwise went quiet. He didn’t know why Tommy had to put that idea in his head. Sarah was waiting for him at the shop. He couldn’t imagine a worse day for the truck to break down.

For a mile or so, Joel sat on the edge of his seat, carefully listening to the bumps and groans – typical for a truck around Sarah’s age. The engine rattled as Tommy merged onto Highway 183, but it always did when accelerating. He swore it did.

Whatever – enough.

There was paperwork to do. Today’s timesheets were in the glovebox, only halfway complete. So, he pulled out the folder and set to work. At least it offered a distraction from the brakes screeching like a horde of bats during rush hour traffic.

“Did you ever hear from the concrete guys?” Tommy turned down an obnoxiously loud ad for a car dealership in town.

Grunting, he curtly nodded. His pen found Harry’s Concrete at the bottom of the sheet and promptly scratched it out with scathing red ink. Just seeing their name triggered a sour taste in his mouth.

He was used to the concrete guys being flaky, but not like this. These last couple months had been like dandruff in the winter. Brutal. Today, the bastards didn’t even have the balls to call until after lunch. No excuse, either.

“Third day in a row,” Tommy just had to say, as if he needed a nudge. “In my opinion - I think it’s time to hire somebody else.”

“Well, you know who to share that opinion with, and it ain’t me,” Joel chided – annoyed. It drove him crazy how often Tommy needed to be reminded of simple things, like what Joel’s role in the business entailed. For God sake – it’d been over a year now since he became a partner in the company.

Joel could initially understand the confusion. After all, Danny had run the business as a one-man show and everyone, including Joel, thought his daughter would fully take over once he retired. Danny had always said that was the plan anyway, and even named the place: Teddy’s Company.

Originally, Joel had thought Teddy was her real name until three years ago when he finally got the chance to meet her. But how was he supposed to know when Danny never called her by anything else? It wasn’t like Joel had known much about her back then either, and what little he did came from Danny’s vague and blue-moon updates.

College is going well.

Her new job’s treating her good.

She moved into a new place, seems to like it.

Short – brief. Some people probably thought Danny was being crusty but that wasn’t the case. No, Danny was never rude or mean, just quiet. A man of few words who on his more mute days could even make Joel look chatty.

Before meeting her, Joel used to wonder what she’d be like. His future boss. There was a mystery around her that made her seem almost mythical, an enigma. She was like Willy Wonka with her name plastered all over the place: on his shirts, the side of the truck, front and center of the shop. But Joel had no idea who she was.

Even with a gun to his head, he couldn’t have picked her out of a crowd. Or even a line-up. The only picture he’d seen of her was in a popsicle frame on Danny’s otherwise bare desk: The two of them at a petting zoo where she couldn’t be older than six.

Without much to go by, Joel had simply assumed that she would look and act, at least somewhat similar to her dad. He’d built Teddy up in his mind as a strong, burly woman who was gruff around the edges. Someone with a sailor’s mouth and stubby fingernails embedded with dirt and grit and grout.

Instead, they were fake and baby pink. She looked like she had never changed a tire in her whole life.

She probably hadn’t, but she was without a doubt smarter than Tommy and him combined. A graduate from some fancy university in California with an equally fancy business degree. Charming with a nice, smooth voice perfect for sales. If she went to a random street corner to sell bags of cow manure she could sucker anyone, even him, into waiting in line to buy one.

She was down-right impressive. Finances, pitches, and permits, she could do it all. However, the other side of the business – the manual labor, a little more dirty.

Joel had not a doubt in his mind that she had the ability to learn it, but did she want to?

Hell no.

For one, she had this irrational fear over being electrocuted. Back before Danny retired and she first started working at the front desk, Joel had walked in on her changing out a lightbulb, and you would’ve thought a snake had popped out of the ceiling. He’d mistaken it for a fear of heights until a few months back when Sarah refused to let him shower during a rainstorm. Sarah had looked hysterical using her lanky-arms to body-block the stairs, warning him that he’d get fried if he went up there.

“Don’t you know dad, lightning can travel through plumbing? Teddy was telling me all about it today.”

Joel didn’t have a clue where that particular fear stemmed from, but her vendetta against attics, now that he could understand. After all, she’d probably still be in California if not for her dad’s accident.

It was never Danny’s plan to retire so early. Despite the appointments and constant physical therapy, it’d still caught Joel by surprise, though not as much as Teddy’s offer to run the business alongside her. Together. 50/50. Sure, it came with this boring paperwork, but a bigger paycheck as well. Only a fool would’ve turned that down.

Besides, promotion or not – he would’ve stayed and worked for her, regardless.

—

Back at the shop, Joel would usually help Tommy unload the truck, but not today.

Instead, Joel tucked the file under his arm, hung his tool belt on the rack, then made his way through the garage. He entered through the back door, letting it slam behind him. The cool air greeted him, tingling his tacky skin and he shivered.

The vents rumbled inside the white hallway walls, echoing around the shop. Along with two voices coming from the lobby. When he heard Teddy’s laugh, he ran a quick hand through his hair, fixing the damp strands away from his forehead.

He rounded the corner and Teddy was at her desk. Everything from her neck down was cut-off by the high-glass counter, making her look like a floating head. A very nice-looking floating head or a nice head to look at or -

Whatever.

She was smiling at him – that same honey-golden smile that welcomed him every morning. The same smile he wished was here to welcome him every evening, as well. But with how late he worked most days, it was a hit or miss. He could never guarantee she would still be here, except on the days with Sarah.

“You’re late,” Sarah said before he could even say hi.

Joel glanced at the clock above the front door. 5:45. 15 minutes.

“Barely.” Anything less than thirty was a win in his book. It didn’t matter that Teddy chose to stick around and keep Sarah company, he wouldn’t push it. She was his business partner – not a babysitter.

“Still late.” Sarah stepped away from Teddy’s desk with her arms crossed menacingly over her chest. If not for the twitch of her lips, she would’ve appeared deadly serious. The girl never could keep a straight face though for more than a second.

“Let me guess, you’ll forgive me if we can get McDonald’s on the way home?”

Bingo. Sarah tapped on the tip of her nose and Joel huffed a laugh.

“Well, Uncle Tommy drove, but we can ask-”

“We?” Sarah looked at him like he was crazy before shaking her head. “I think I’ll handle this one on my own.”

“What’re you trying to say?” He asked and her lips curved into a half-cocky, half-play smirk that screamed teenage girl. A stage of life he felt rather unprepared for, even more so than diapers and potty training and 6th grade math. The teenage years were bound to be harder than statistics and exponents and long division.

“Come on, dad. When has Uncle Tommy ever said no to this?” She showed off her best puppy dog eyes and alright – yeah, poor Tommy didn’t stand a chance.

But Joel didn’t tell her that. He couldn’t. He was too stunned that the little girl who used to hide behind his legs at the grocery store was the same one who was strutting down the hallway now without even glancing back.

He shook his head in disbelief and looked over at Teddy. “I don’t know where all this confidence of hers has come from recently,” he said, jabbing his thumb in the direction of the now-shut door. “But I’m guessing it has something to do with you.”

“Me?” She fluttered her lashes like she was clueless – definitely something she wasn’t.

“That’s right,” he replied as he approached her desk. Her area always smelled clean and homey like fresh laundry in a field of wildflowers. The last thing he wanted to do was invade her perfumed bubble with the stench of his sweat and that specific twang that came from being outside all day. So, when he caught a strong whiff of her perfume, he stopped and propped his hip against the desk before saying, “I think you’re rubbing off on her.”

“And is that such a bad thing?” She squinted at him and unlike Sarah, she could actually keep a straight face.

“No.” He firmly shook his head. “In fact, I meant that as a compliment.”

In an instant, her flat-line lips split into a wide grin. He smiled in return, stupidly pleased with himself for making her light up like that. His gaze momentarily dropped from her lips to the single button left undone on her shirt. The charcoal gray fabric shined in a way that reminded him of moonlight over Travis Lake. It looked soft and smooth as butter. And not to mention expensive. Joel bet if he touched it, even so carefully, the material would immediately snag under his callouses.

Teddy motioned for the file and when he handed it over, he felt a draft under his armpit from the hole in his shirt. He glanced down at his jeans, covered in dirt and mud and sawdust. Filthy. He felt a twinge of self-consciousness. It was hard not to feel like a mess next to her sometimes when she was always dressed so goddamn professional with her pressed slacks and tucked in shirts. Anyone who saw her would think she worked for some big corpo with a koi pond in the lobby. Not a Morton building with more garage than office space.

“They didn’t show?”

Teddy’s voice jolted his attention back to her face. Her lips were pinched, her cherry red fingernail was bleeding into his own pissed-off pen marks. He mentally cursed himself for being too wrapped up in his own stupid head to warn her about the concrete guys. Good going, idiot.

There was nothing he could do about it now, except frown and shake his head. “They called and said-”

“Let me guess, they’ll be there first thing tomorrow?” She bitterly scoffed, clipping the folder shut. The manila spine crunched under her grip before she abruptly turned away from him to face the wall of cabinets behind her. She never said it out loud that it bothered her, but clearly it did and rightfully so.

Working here this long Joel had witnessed these same people treat her dad with respect only to now try and walk all over her. He found it complete and utter bullshit, but was it a surprise? Sadly, not really. Enough years around construction sites and his tinnitus resembled cat-calls more than a compressor.

Still, he fucking hated it. His left eye flinched watching her file away the folder in silence. The protective lobe in his brain flared as his fingers curled and burned into a fist at his side. God – he wanted to go to Harry’s Concrete and give that bald loser a piece of his mind and maybe a black eye, but he didn’t.

He wouldn’t.

No – instead, he continued to bite his tongue until his mouth flooded with the taste of pennies. He’d become used to the tang of copper in his mouth after the roofers, the plumbers, even the electricians that tried her in the past. The only reason he held himself back was because of her. Because she asked him to let her deal with it, and she was perfectly capable of handling things herself. Better than him at it, in fact.

Teddy slammed the drawer shut, rattling the entire cabinet. “I’m not gonna fire them.”

“Okay,” he said without having to think twice. He didn’t expect her to fire them, honestly. She’d explained to him before that she’d never burn bridges prematurely. The grass was not always greener on the other side, especially not in Texas. Especially not in this line of work.

“Or - I should say I’m not going to fire them yet, anyway.” Her voice was steady – determined. “But one more and it’s over. I’m gonna let Harry know that he’s on his last strike when I call him tomorrow.”

“Give ‘em hell,” he encouraged her. Whatever she said in those calls had, so far, been enough to whip everyone who crossed her into shape. Just once, he wished he could be a fly on the wall to witness her in action. She didn’t look particularly tough, but he imagined her being like an asp caterpillar, fuzzy and harmless until poked.

She didn’t linger on the topic, and instead asked about his day. He did the same. Neither had much to report outside the usual.

“So, how was Sarah today? Did she talk your ear off about the homecoming dance coming up?”

She giggled, gathering up the papers on her desk and stacking them into a neat pile in the corner. “How did you know?”

“Cause she found out Monday, and hasn’t talked about anything else since.”

“Oh and it’s only just begun,” she said with a smirk. “Welcome to your life for the next few weeks, Joel.”

Joel scratched at the spot where his temple was already beginning to throb. Why did they have to announce it so early? It was great seeing Sarah so excited, but she kept asking him about his own first homecoming. He hated lying to her, but he couldn’t very well tell her the only thing he remembered was Rachel Borthwick and how she let him feel her up – the first boobs he ever touched – underneath the gymnasium bleachers. The thought of Sarah being that same age made him want to throw up.

He swallowed the thought before it came out all over her desk. “Were you the same way at her age?”

“Oh yeah. I’m sure if you asked my dad, he’d tell you I was worse.” She snorted, almost seeming embarrassed by her younger self. “For some odd reason, I had it built up in my mind that it’d be like that prom scene from Grease. Minus the broadcast and all that-”

“Wait, your dance wasn’t on the news?” He tried to keep a straight face, but he was just as bad as his daughter.

“Shut up.” She playfully shoved his arm and he rubbed it like it hurt. She rolled her eyes, but continued anyway. “My dad didn’t have the heart to tell me, so it was a pretty huge letdown when they didn’t even play Born to Hand Jive. I think I even requested it.”

“How did you survive?”

“It’s a miracle,” she said, and he huffed out a laugh. Three years later, and she still surprised him with every new story she chose to reveal.

There was a split-second where the only sound in the room came from the buzzy-white fluorescent lights above him. Teddy stole a quick glance towards the hallway, as if checking if Sarah was back. She had still not reappeared and he wondered if Tommy had baited her into helping him unload the truck or maybe just sticking around to talk.

Teddy clicked her fingernails on the counter in front of him. “Real quick, I wanted to ask,” she said before clearing her throat. “Have you and Sarah talked at all about dress shopping?”

Joel shifted back a step, his boots scratching against the cheap, gray carpet. “Dress shopping?” He forced the words from his throat, then shook his head. He looked away, feeling a pit in his stomach that reminded him of Muffins for Mother’s Day in elementary school – Mommy & Me at the daycare.

Again – dress shopping was another one of those things girls usually did with their mom’s, but Lisa wasn’t meant to be a mom. She’d even said so herself in the note she left next to her engagement ring on the day she vanished with their dog. Joel wished his own mom was still around to help fill in when the gaps felt too big for him, but sadly, she had passed away before Sarah turned 4. Since then, it’d only been just Tommy and him.

“The only reason I ask is because,” Teddy started, clutching at the dainty gold chain around her neck, “Well, she sorta asked me to take her.”

“Oh.” Joel didn’t know what else to say. Not that it offended him or anything petty like that. God no – he wasn’t delusional enough to think that he would be Sarah’s first choice when it came to fashion. After all, his idea of dressing up was a flannel and whatever jeans were clean. Teddy made a lot more sense than him.

“I didn’t give her an answer, just so you know. I wanted to check with you first.” Her voice was rushed, slightly pitchy, and he realized this was the first time he’d ever seen her even remotely nervous. She must be just as cautious as him about crossing whatever line was supposed to exist in this…relationship? Dynamic?

Joel smiled at her, softly, hoping to ease her anxiety. “Well, thank you,” he said and she appeared to relax at his calm tone. “I have no problems with you taking her, as long as you wanna do it.”

“Of course, I want to, but are you - are you sure? I mean, you could always come with us if you want. We could all go together?”

The offer was tempting, but he declined. He knew Sarah would enjoy it being just the two of them. It could be girl time or whatever.

Teddy pulled out her planner to check on what dates would work best when Sarah came back in. Once she heard the good news, the victorious grin on her face somehow grew even bigger. The last time he saw her that excited was when he surprised her with tickets to Six Flags for her 11th birthday.

Teddy and her started to discuss which stores to hit and what mall would be best, basically a foreign language to him. He should’ve started on closing duties, but instead he found his gaze drawn to Teddy. How she appeared equally as thrilled as Sarah. He always could tell when she was excited by the way she talked with her hands. That smile was downright infectious and –

He noticed Sarah watching him. Her quizzical eyes were glued to his face. Shit. He was staring. Quick. Joel forced a smile at Sarah that hopefully said nothing-to-see-here. He didn’t stick around to wait for her reaction and instead, fled into his office.

For a few minutes, he pretended to check over files and went down the list of closing duties, completely avoiding them until the only thing left was setting the alarm. Finally, he dared to look in their direction again. When he saw Sarah’s focus was entirely on Teddy, the tension drained from his shoulders.

He thought he was in the clear.

—-

“Dad, do you think Teddy’s pretty?”

Joel’s head whipped up and a sharp, pointy fry was lodged into the back of his throat. It burned and stabbed its way down to his esophagus. For a second, he thought he was going to choke and die at his own dining room table from a McDonald’s fry.

“What?” His voice crackled like sandpaper from holding in a cough.

“She asked if you thought Teddy was pretty?” Tommy repeated, loud and clear with a smug grin that he didn’t even try to hide behind his Big Mac.

Joel’s gaze flickered from one set of brown eyes to the next. He was cornered, his back against the bay window. No way out and no one to blame but himself for this mess. He was, after all, the dummy who got caught.

Joel held up a waiting finger, then slowly sipped on his coke to calm his burning throat. He wiped his mouth with a napkin as he wrapped his head around what to say. Lying was out of the question. It seemed more damning than the truth.

The thing was – there was nothing wrong with finding her attractive. It didn’t have to mean anything. It wasn’t like she was asking if he liked her. Not that he did like her. Well, maybe just a little. Just a teeny, tiny crush but it was nothing really. Stupid, honestly. For the most part, he could ignore it.

Joel cleared his throat and gave a casual shrug. “Uh yeah, she’s uh - she’s pretty.”

Despite his best attempt at cool, Sarah’s lips still flickered. Only the corners, as she continued to bathe her fries in a pool of ketchup.

“Have you ever thought about - maybe asking her out?”

A deep laugh barked in his ears and bounced around the tile floor like spiky ping pong balls. “Come on, Teddy’s way out of his league.” Tommy’s hand collided against his shoulder with a hard thwack. It slightly stung.

But Joel didn’t take it too seriously. Tommy hassling him over Teddy was nothing new. Ever since she started working the front desk, it’d been Tommy’s favorite gag. In a weird way, Joel considered it a good thing that he saw it as one big joke. If Tommy had any idea about his silly crush, he would’ve kept his mouth shut instead of teasing him. Tommy might’ve been a lot of things, but he wasn’t cruel.

Sarah didn’t seem to care whether it was a joke or not and scolded her uncle from across the table. She gave him a hard glare before turning back to Joel. She blinked expectantly, not letting him out of this.

Joel sighed. “Sorry, kiddo, but I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“Because.” He licked his teeth and sucked a stuck piece of meat from between his molars. There was a laundry list of reasons, but he went with the least complicated. “We work together.”

“So? Two teachers at my school are dating, and it’s no big deal. They didn’t even get in trouble.”

“Wait,” Tommy piped in with a mouthful of bun and sauce. “Isn’t she dating someone?”

Joel swallowed down the salty taste in his mouth, bitter like vinegar. He nodded. “Yeah, I think so.”

“You think so?” Sarah looked at him with clear suspicion. “So, she didn’t tell you that.”

“Well…no. But-”

“Then, how do you know?”

Joel crinkled the empty wrapper into a tight ball, then tossed it into the paper bag. “Somebody sent her flowers at work. Nice ones too.” Too grand to fit in her car, so instead they lived and died in the tiny break room directly across from his office.

“When?”

Three months. “I don’t know, not that long ago.”

“Well, how do you know they weren’t from her dad?” Sarah asked, not backing down. “Or maybe her friends sent them?”

Joel shook his head, recalling the stupid plastic holder that had poked out at him like a giant weed among the long stem roses. “The card said Happy Anniversary.”

At that, Sarah sank into the chair like a deflated balloon. She shoved a whole chicken nugget into her mouth – no sauce. Each dry crunch-crunch grated against the silence.

This recent interest in his love life was new. He wondered if it had something to do with her age or maybe all those rom-coms she watched. She’d never cared about him dating or – she did try to set him up once, a few months ago, with her best friend’s recently divorced mom, but when he shot it down she had quickly moved on.

But she didn’t even finish her chicken nuggets. He noticed a faraway look in her eyes – his eyes, one of the only things she inherited from him. She was somewhere deep in her head, in that big brain of hers that definitely didn’t come from him.

She did eventually perk up when Tommy brought up the new season of the Bachelor, but still wasn’t her usual self. So after Tommy left, Joel settled in beside her on the couch to watch Friends. This show was like her pacifier. Sick or just a bad day, one of Joey’s jokes could cheer her up instantly.

Not today, though. A whole episode later, and she’d barely said a word. Barely laughed, which had him really concerned. He got the sense that whatever was bothering her was something bigger than just Teddy.

“You’re quiet tonight.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and snugged her closer. She collapsed into him like a domino. Full cheeks squished against his shirt. She didn’t respond, and he didn’t press. Only can-laughter existed in the space between them.

Laying like this reminded him of when she was a baby. So tiny, a full head of hair even then. She would fall asleep on his bare chest while waiting for Lisa to return home from work. Looking back, the signs had always been there that one day she would run. She’d practically lived at her job after her maternity leave was done. Hell, she didn’t even take the full 6 weeks. Post-partum, the doctor called it, it’ll get better in time. But it didn’t. There was no medication cocktail that could make her want this life – that could make her want to stay.

“Can I ask you something?” Sarah’s eyes didn’t leave Phoebe and Monica.

“Anything,” he murmured against her hair before placing a light kiss to the top of her head. She no longer smelled of Johnson & Johnson or desitin, but coconuts and lime.

“Are you lonely?”

Even with her feathery-soft tone, the words hit him like a sucker punch, square in the jaw. Where the hell did that come from?

“Do I seem lonely?” The words left him like a reflex, automatic. It was the second time tonight she’d caught him off-guard.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged, her shoulders sliding along his t-shirt. “Are you?”

Slowly Sarah lifted her head – her big eyes bore into him and when he could trace every concerned line on her young face, the guilt smothered him like wet mineral wool. It was his job to worry, not hers.

He urgently shook his head. “No. Of course not.”

She silently stared at him, squinting as if somehow it would give her Professor X’s ability to read his mind. Clearly, he did not convince her and so he tried again. Harder.

“Sarah, listen. I am perfectly fine, alright?” He brushed a curly strand of hair from her face, firmly holding her gaze. “If I was lonely, I’d go do something with Uncle Tommy. He’s always asking me to do things after work-”

“Why don’t you?”

Joel couldn’t help but chuckle at her confusion. Of course, she wouldn’t understand. Teenagers always wanted to be out somewhere, doing something with their friends.

“Cause I’m old. And I’m tired. And honestly, I’d rather be home.” With you. The last part never slipped through the gap in his bottom teeth. He never wanted to make Sarah feel guilty for leaving him and living her life.

“You’re such a hermit.” She nudged at his chest, a smile sweeping across her face. Exactly what he’d been missing.

“I prefer homebody,” he corrected, making her burst into a giggling fit. He waited until she went quiet to say, “Either way - you ain’t gotta worry about me, alright?”

Once again, her expression turned very serious. Her eyes darted once, twice, across his face. “Swear?”

“On my life.”

—

Later that night, Joel laid awake in bed fighting to find a comfortable position. Even sprawling out in the middle didn’t work. The sheets were tangled around his legs, his feet – his thoughts equally twisted up from Sarah’s question earlier.

Are you lonely? Was he?

Joel had never considered himself to be lonely. Not really. Or not all the time, at least. For the most part, Sarah and work kept him busy enough that he never gave it much thought.

If he did think about it though, he supposed crawling into bed alone every night could get a little depressing. He was still human, after all. Intimacy was a basic human need. It was just simple biology when he occasionally craved a soft touch or someone to talk with before drifting off to sleep. It’d been a long damn time since he experienced either of those things.

Maybe Sarah was onto something. Maybe it was time for him to get back out there, but oh God. Just thinking about it made him light-headed.

Where would he even start?

His last serious relationship was his only serious relationship. After Lisa left, there was hardly any time for that. Being a single dad, dating wasn’t his top priority.

Sure, he’d managed to squeeze in a few first dates over the years, even less second ones, and he couldn’t for the life of him recall a third. If so, it’d been nothing worth remembering.

Honestly, the only person he’d considered asking out recently was Teddy. It was just a dumb idea that crossed his mind sometime in late spring when too much tree pollen and dust mites must’ve gotten into his head. He’d luckily come to his senses and fast. A few short weeks later, those damn flowers showed up.

If he was being honest, no one else really interested him.

And how could they?

It wasn’t even just about her looks, she was sweet and smart and surprisingly funny. Joking or not, Tommy was right – she was way out of his league and why was he thinking about this right now? Joel cleared his mind with a hard shake of his head. He needed to stop, get some sleep. He didn’t want to know what time it was already. Without looking at the clock, he flipped onto his side, fluffed his pillow, then shut his eyes.

Within seconds, Teddy slithered back into his mind with her perfect smile, the delicious scent of her soap, and those jeans she would undoubtedly wear tomorrow. Casual Friday might actually be the death of him. Denim on her hips was seriously a sin.

Just thinking of her fully-clothed ass made his cock twitch inside his boxers. Somehow that was enough to get him half-hard, the tip snagging over the soft-cotton.

Joel groaned in unison with the bed springs as he flopped onto his back. His palms itched to reach down and squeeze at his cock for a little relief. But he resisted, and forced his mind to somewhere far less pleasant. Broken wires. Wrong-size headers. Clogged drains. A memory of her gripping a PVC pipe invaded his brain and suddenly, it was her small hands wrapped around him instead. How would she look on her knees for him? Would she be able to fit him all in her two hands? If not, would she use her –

“Fuck.” Joel gritted his teeth and fisted at the comforter. Get a grip.

He felt like he was going crazy. Probably from the lack of action outside of his own fist. It was finally catching up with him. Tommy did warn him this would happen and fuck – he hated when Tommy was right.

Joel thought back to the last time he had sex and cringed. Two years ago, but the memory was tattooed in his brain just like the monarch butterfly on the random woman’s lower back. It happened at a sleazy bar where everyone knew Tommy by name. He’d taken too many shots of Wild Turkey, then found himself fucking the woman in a one staller, quick and sloppy, right next to a clogged toilet. Not his proudest moment. He’d go to the grave blaming the whole thing on Tommy, who treated their rare nights out like the bachelor party he was still pissed off that he didn’t get to throw.

The truth was though, even before Joel’s current involuntary celibacy, his sex life had been relatively non-existent.

He hadn’t had sex on a semi-consistent basis since his 20’s. A casual hookup with a lady named Amy, who lived in the same apartment complex as him. No-strings attached. An arrangement born out of pure convenience rather than desire or intense lust. She lived in the apartment below him, and once a week came up after Sarah went to sleep and left before the condom hit the trash can. No surprise it ended once he moved out, and ever since then, it’d been random hookups and one-night stands whenever Tommy and him went out for a night.

Joel sighed and stared up at the moon-stain ceiling of his bedroom, careful not to make any sudden movements in hopes to fight down his erection. While still and quiet might’ve worked to spook a black bear, his boner was sadly proving more resilient.

With every passing minute, the warm tingly feeling in his belly spread like weeds through his body. His fingertips down to his toes. Fully hard, now. It became clear ignoring it was useless. He would just have to get this over with, so he could get some sleep tonight.

Joel forcibly kicked off his blankets, then shoved down his boxers. His cock thwacked against his stomach and the tip was already shiny. He preferred to do this in the shower to avoid a mess, the steady stream of water helping to cover up his dry, cracked hands better than saliva. But something was better than nothing. He spit into his hand until his mouth was dry, then wrapped it around his cock.

Whether in the shower or in his bed, it didn’t matter, Joel always jerked off like it was a chore. Hard and fast strokes where he could barely catch his breath. No need for soft and sensual, just a tight fist to take the edge off. This way, he found it easier to keep his less than friendly thoughts of Teddy at bay.

He tried his best not to think about Teddy while doing this because friends don’t imagine their friends while fucking their fist. And that was all she was, all she would ever be – a friend. If he could he wouldn’t have thought of anyone at all, but he needed someone to imagine to get off.

Instead of Teddy, he pictured a cover model from a 90’s Penthouse Magazine that he’d found in the guest room after Tommy moved out. A pretty brunette with big natural tits, who he didn’t have to work with tomorrow.

His room steadily filled with the wet slap of his hand, the low thrum of the oscillating fan as he pretended the nameless woman was riding him. He was brutally fucking his fist when the woman shape-shifted into Teddy. So abruptly that he could barely register that it was her taking him down to the hilt. Her rolling her hips. Her fingernails scratching over his ribs, his shoulders, his chest with a little smirk even more sinful than her tight jeans.

“Shit,” Joel hissed when he realized, but too late – his hips surged forward as he came. So sudden, so fast, it almost gave him whiplash.

Joel was not usually loud during sex, more of a grunter than anything else, but it had never been so vivid. So real. He could practically feel the wet-heat of her cunt clenching around him. He had to snag his bottom lip between his teeth to keep every needy and desperate sound from bleeding out of his mouth as his cock pulsed and throbbed against his palm. He wouldn’t let himself find out what her name tasted like when he moaned.

Clearly, this was not the first time she’d popped into his mind and he doubted it would be the last. He wouldn’t feel nearly as bad about it either, but there was a fuck-ton of cum on his stomach. Even a little on his chest. Fuck – he came so hard it made him lightheaded.

He let the shame simmer down and once he caught his breath, he carefully dug out a travel-pack of Kleenex from his nightstand. He didn’t even wanna count how many tissues it took to wipe the syrupy-hot evidence from his skin.

He’d be sticking to the shower from now until forever.

—

The days had come and went and over a week later, Joel had not jacked off again. Not in the shower, and definitely not in his bed. But that had nothing to do with Teddy. Seriously. It was just a coincidence.

Work had picked up. The heat wave had died out, giving way to more 80 degree days. Fall was fast approaching, by far their busiest season. There was a brand new neighborhood of bland cookie-cutter slab houses that had him working doubles everyday and judging by today, this week would be the exact same way.

The streets were dark and mainly deserted by the time Joel dropped Tommy off at his apartment complex. Joel glanced at his phone – once again – for any missed calls before heading home. Still nothing. No new voicemails – 0 messages.

The first and last time he heard from Sarah was after Teddy picked her up from school, right before heading into the mall. He’d told Sarah to call him once Teddy dropped her off, but she must’ve forgot. The same way she always forgot to lock the front door. He would be home in less than 5 minutes or else he would’ve called. But he would rather give her a talking-to in person.

For a second, he wondered if she and Teddy were still at the mall, but it was late. Nearly 9.

No one could spend 5 hours there. Hell, he could barely spend more than 2 without going stir-crazy.

The last thing he expected when pulling onto his street was to see Teddy’s car parked in front of his house. The pearly white shell was perfectly lit up underneath a street light.

What was she doing here?

He thought she would drop Sarah off and dip after their shopping trip, but obviously not. Dear God, he hoped she wasn’t waiting on him. Joel whipped into his driveway and hopped out without bothering to grab his tool box in the back.

Inside, the living room was lit up with every lamp turned on, but otherwise empty. It was still tidy from the cleaning he did on Sunday, thankfully. He threw his keys on the console table, shutting the front door with his foot. He heard movement upstairs and headed that way.

“Sarah,” he called out, mainly to give a heads-up and not scare them. “I’m home.”

“Finally,” Sarah said as he stepped into her room. It smelled like that Body Works store at Barton Creek that Sarah loved, but always had him leaving with a headache.

He stayed close to the fresh air and leaned against the door frame. Sarah was perched at her vanity, the counter in front of her completely buried under make-up, nail polish, and a bunch of other crap.

“Teddy’s helping me decide what to wear with my dress.” Sarah swiveled around in her stool to face him.

“Yeah, I see that.” Joel looked over at Teddy, who was standing behind Sarah with an earring pinched in each hand. The smile on her face was genuine. If she was in any real hurry to leave she didn’t show it. “When did y’all get back?”

“I don’t know. 8:15? 8:20? Somewhere around there.” Sarah shared a shrug with Teddy. A little over thirty minutes, not bad. With the mess, he would’ve thought closer to an hour.

“Dinner took a bit longer than I thought it would,” Teddy explained and his brows furrowed.

“Busy night at the food court or something?”

He noticed Sarah and Teddy share a secretive glance, and of course, they didn’t eat at the food court. He should’ve known better than to think Teddy would just take her to Sbarro. But out of every chain restaurant – did she have to pick the damn Cheesecake Factory?

Sarah was raving over the Mac & Cheese balls that definitely cost more than the 10 dollars he sent for baked ziti. Judging by the amount of shopping bags in the corner, Sarah had used her extra spending money on clothes instead of Chicken Costoletta.

He waited until Sarah turned her back to nail Teddy with a knowing look. She swatted it away like a bothersome fly. She could be so damn stubborn sometimes.

Later, he would deal with it. Money was not a topic he liked to discuss in front of Sarah. Besides, there were more important things at the moment.

“So, are you gonna show me this dress of yours?”

Sarah eagerly nodded and bounced over to her bed, picking up the black garment bag. It didn’t even allow him a peek at the color, not even when she hugged it tightly to her chest.

“Well, come on - don’t leave me hanging. I’ve been waiting all night.”

“Dad, you gotta see it on me or else you won’t get the full-effect,” she sassed, a duh implied in her tone. “Go downstairs, you and Teddy can wait-”

“Now, hold on there Sarah. It’s - it’s getting pretty late,” he pointed out, and Sarah’s fraying smile told him that she knew what he was trying to say. He hated disappointing her, but this was the right thing to do. “So Teddy, if you need to go home, don’t feel like you gotta stay.”

Selfishly, Joel wanted her to stay, but why would she? She had already seen the dress, already given up her entire evening for Sarah. This was a free out, and he expected her to take it.

Instead, She crossed her arms over her chest like a defiant child. “No way you’re getting rid of me that easily, Joel,” she said. “I’m sticking around to see your reaction.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, she slid past him, her chest brushing against his arm. She motioned him to follow and he did without question.

She led the way downstairs as if she’d been here before. But the few times she’d come by before to drop off paperwork she never made it past the front porch.

His pulse slightly hiked up seeing her in his living room for the first time. Her gaze scanning the camel-colored walls, the pictures of Sarah throughout the years, his guitar that he rarely found time to play. Above the DVD and CD rack was the only real piece of art in the room – if that’s what people would call the painting of waves he’d found at a garage sale, the same one where he got the mismatched pillows on the couch.

Interior design wasn’t his strong suit, but he was still proud of his home. Proud of himself for buying it on his own, for being able to prove this kind of place for his kid. All of this, from the rug to every decoration and lamp. It was best attempts to make this space feel homey – lived in for Sarah’s sake. She would not be the only kid in class growing up in a bachelor pad.

“So, this is Joel Miller’s house?” Teddy spun around to face him and he found that she looked really good next to his coffee table. “It’s nice. I like it.”

“Yeah?” Joel rubbed the back of his neck, toeing the tile-carpet line that separated the kitchen from the living room.

“Especially the Cowboys decor.” She pointed her thumb at the framed blue star logo that was hung up by the stairs. “Did you know I used to wanna be a cheerleader for them?”

Joel’s mouth went drier than when eating pretzels. He rapidly shook his head, mainly to erase the mental image of her in that skimpy little outfit. It would probably haunt him in his dreams for the rest of his life.

He cleared his throat and took a seat on the couch. “I’m surprised Sarah didn’t give you a tour.”

“Oh, she did.” Teddy plopped down on the couch with him, keeping a friendly distance of a cushion. “But don’t worry, the grand tour didn’t include your bedroom. She said that was off limits.” She puckered her bottom lip, pouting as if actually disappointed.

“Trust me, you’re not missing much.”

“But isn’t that where the magic happens?”

Joel accidentally let out a snort. Magic. Nothing close to magic had ever happened in that room, unless what he did last week counted. “I think you’ve been watching too much Cribs.”

Her lips parted, her eyes lit up with a wild look of amusement. “Does Joel Miller secretly watch MTV?”

“Only against my will.” He jerked his chin towards the stairs. “She loves all that shit.”

“Yeah. She did talk a lot about True Life while at din…ner.” Teddy clipped her lips together, catching her slip.

“Trust me, I didn’t forget.” His tone carried a smug edge, making her huff in annoyance. “So, how ‘bout you tell me how much I owe you for it?”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“Teddy,” he warned. Still, she insistently shook her head, refusing to make things easy for him.

“Sorry, but I can’t let you pay me back,” she said. “It wouldn’t be right.”

“Really? How come?”

She straightened her posture, the brown leather groaning underneath her. “Well, for one - it was my decision to take her there, wasn’t it?”

“So?”

“So, it doesn’t make sense for you to have to pay for something I decided, now does it?”

Joel licked his teeth at her loop-hole logic. She was eyeing him with a very serious expression, as if this wasn’t over 30? 35 bucks? Hell, there was probably enough in his wallet right now to cover it.

If this were anyone else, Joel would’ve already said fuck this and drained his wallet of every nickel and dime, just to be safe. He wouldn’t accept no for an answer because he didn’t need anyone’s help or handout. He made enough money to support not only himself, but his daughter perfectly fine. Thank you.

But this wasn’t just anyone – this was Teddy. Whether it was because she did his payroll or because she was so bullheaded, he didn’t know, but she had a funny way of making him fold.

“Secondly.” She lifted a second finger before he could raise the white flag. “It wouldn’t be right for you to pay me back for your own gift.”

Huh? “Gift?”

She hummed in response. “There might be a little early birthday present waiting for you in the fridge.”

He couldn’t remember the last time someone, other than Sarah, got him a birthday present. Most of the time, not even Tommy did; his presence was the present or whatever bullshit he said. But she’d thought of him. Him. The idea made his chest begin to swell like metal on a blazing summer day. He ducked his head to hide the heat rising in his cheeks.

“You didn’t need to get me any-”

Teddy grasped his arm, instantly turning the rest of his sentence into sawdust. His gaze flickered from her hand on his forearm, to her eyes. She really was beautiful, especially in the warm pool of lamp light in his living room.

“I wanted to,” she assured him with a voice as soft as her touch. Her thumb gently skimmed over his arm hair and he held back a shiver with the clench of his teeth. “It’s just Classic Vanilla Bean Cheesecake. A little boring, but Sarah said that’s your favorite.”

“It is.” His voice cracked like a pre-teen and embaressed, he averted his eyes. How ridiculous. He needed to get a grip. Pull himself together. He was acting like a fucking virgin. Joel swallowed and stiffly nodded. “Thank you.”

She gave his arm a small squeeze before pulling away. The spot where she touched him still tingled, still burned.

“It’s the least I could do, since I’ll be missing it.”

Joel brushed her off with an easy wave of his hand. Other than work, he didn’t have any plans, so she really wasn’t missing anything. “I think you’ll have more fun in Phoenix, anyway.”

“Just don’t let Tommy set the place on fire while I’m gone.”

“Do you have that little faith in me?” he asked – teased. It was only a few days. Leaving Thursday, back in the office by the following.

She lightly nudged his arm, just as a door opened.

“Are you ready?” Sarah called out, and his focus shifted to the bottom of the stairs.

“I was born ready, kiddo. So, come on, let’s see it.” Joel drummed his hands excitedly against his thighs.

Waiting there reminded him of the fashion shows she used to put on for him. She’d wait at the top of the stairs until he popped in the Whitney Houston CD. For the big finale, they would dance around the living room to I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

But Sarah didn’t appear in a bright-pink princess costume, but instead a pretty little purple dress. Her heels were real, not made out of cheap plastic or from the Dollar Tree. His little girl looked so grown up. The realization that she was grown up made the back of his eyes burn.

Joel scrubbed a hand down his slack, scruffy jaw, watching Sarah twist from side-to-side. The shiny material swished around her knees.

“Baby girl, you look - beautiful,” he said without trying to hide the crackle in his voice. “The prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

Sarah giggled, almost bashfully. “That’s exactly what Teddy said.”

“Well, that’s because it’s the truth,” Teddy stated earnestly. Sarah’s entire face lit up and God – she had such a killer smile. He would never get tired of seeing it.

When Sarah pulled back her hair to show Teddy two different pairs of earrings, she immediately went over to get a closer look.

Discussing jewelry and lip gloss, Sarah’s shiny wide eyes clung to her every word as if it was wrapped in gold, as if it held some infinite wisdom. It suddenly hit him that he’d never seen Sarah look at anyone like that. Not her favorite teacher. Not her best friend’s mom. Not even Mrs. Adler who lived next door and used to babysit her after school.

Poor Mrs. Adler, she meant well but Sarah and her could not have been more different. Thinking about it, Teddy was the first woman that Sarah shared anything in common with, who she didn’t have to share with the rest of the class or came second to a friend.

For once, Sarah had some special bond for herself.

His breath caught in his throat watching Teddy fuss with Sarah’s dress. Her eyes barely leaving Sarah’s bright face as she untwisted a strap and smoothed out a few spots in the back. For a second, he imagined her here with them every night – thought about how seamlessly she would fit into their lives.

Holy shit - what the fuck is he doing? Stop it.

Joel forced himself to look away, pruning those thoughts before they grew. The light, liquid warmth in his chest ran cold. It turned into mercury when it settled in his belly.

Luckily, Sarah and Teddy were too preoccupied with finishing details to notice him obsessively picking at his fingernails. He didn’t know what got a hold of him.

This was insane. She was his friend, his business partner, and whatever she was to Sarah that was more important than a stupid crush. No – he would not complicate a good thing with his feelings. Feelings she didn’t reciprocate. For God sake, she was dating someone else. Get over it.

Joel thought it might be a good thing that Teddy would be gone for a few days. More than ever, he needed some distance. Some time to help screw his head back on straight.

—

Too early on Tuesday morning, Joel sleepily fought the coffee machine until dark liquid gurgled and spewed into the pot.

“Have you heard from Teddy at all?” Tommy asked as Joel filled up a to-go cup.

“Oh yeah, hear from her every night before going to sleep.”

“Really?”

Joel shoved the coffee pot back inside its home, and blinked at Tommy. “Of course not. She’s on vacation. Why would she call me?”

He figured she’d brought whoever she was dating on the trip with her. They were probably going to her cousin’s wedding, meeting her college roommates new baby while he was here - in Texas. Alone. When he thought about it like that, it put everything into some much needed perspective.

Joel didn’t give Tommy a chance to respond before barging out and heading to the garage. He still was not used to seeing her empty desk instead of her warm smile, telling him to have a good day.

“So, do you miss her, yet?” Tommy asked while loading up the truck.

“She’s only been gone a few days,” Joel snorted, as if it was a ridiculous question to ask. “Why? Do you miss her?”

“Miss her coffee, that’s for damn sure.” He grimaced at the cup before taking a tentative sip. “Shit sucks. You add too much water.”

“I’d like to see you do any better.” Joel obnoxiously slurped on his drink, then winced. It did kinda taste like dirt. “She does make it better,” he conceded. “It’ll be nice to have her back.”

The distance had been a good thing for him, though. It was much easier for him to think without her dizzying perfume. What happened in his living room had been just a moment of weakness, of panic. Blown completely out of proportion.

The thing was – he’d always had a crush on her. It was nothing new, and he was perfectly happy with just this. With never being anything more than friends – her in his life, that was enough for him.

It had to be.

“Well, speaking of Thursday.” Tommy spoke in a tone that almost always meant he wanted something. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, I gotta leave work early that day.”

“Why? Got an appointment or something?”

Tommy shook his head, then spewed a sob story that lasted nearly the entire drive to the site. His buddy Aaron had just broken up with his cheating girlfriend, and needed help moving out of their apartment. Too bad it wasn’t a different one of Tommy's military buddies or Joel would’ve immediately said no, but Aaron actually wasn’t a douchebag.

“Well, what time would you leave? Cause we gotta finish that block by Friday-”

“She works the night shift, so not until like 3 or 4,” he said, swaying him further. “And Aaron said he’ll pick me up from the site, so you ain’t gotta do anything.”

Joel shrugged, whatever. Fine. They would just have to work late tonight and tomorrow.

—-

So far, Thursday had not gone at all like Joel had anticipated. His reunion with Teddy this morning was disappointingly quick. It wasn’t like he expected her to run into his arms and hug him or anything dramatic like that, but he did think it would be more than just a few minutes of small talk where Tommy dominated most of the conversation with his plans for later.

Which turned out to be total bullshit by the way. 3 to 4 ended up being more like 1:30, ruining his chance to see Teddy this evening. The inspectors would be here tomorrow morning, so the frame had to be finished tonight with or without an extra set of hands.

Now, at 6:30, Joel was just leaving the site. He picked up Wendy’s to make up for his crummy day, only for the burger to be loaded with pickles and onions when he specifically asked for ketchup only. He still scarfed it down, along with a medium dry on the drive back to shop where the only thing that would be waiting for him was an empty office and a fat-ass stack of paperwork. Some supply sheets that could hopefully be knocked out before Sarah needed to be picked up later.

He pulled in through the back entrance and was taking his sweet time unloading the truck. Lowly humming Wedding Bells by the great Hank Williams when the door opened with a screech. The sound echoed around the steel walls of the garage and he jerked, nearly dropping a nail gun on his foot. Somehow, he managed to catch it just before it slid off the rack.

He turned around and - “Teddy?”

“I was wondering what was taking you so long,” she said in a sweet drawl that made his pulse race for an entirely different reason.

He stared at her dumbly, blinking rapidly to make sure this was not just his imagination. She was still here. He wet his throat with a hard swallow. “You surprised me.”

“I can tell.” She giggled and embarrassment swarmed his neck like fire ants. He couldn’t believe she just witnessed him flail around like an idiot. He promptly went back to gathering up the last of the wooden boards and stacking them in the corner. “Did you not see my car out front?”

“I came in off 77th,” he explained, brushing the dust from his hands onto his jeans.

“I could’ve helped.” She leaned against the door, opening it wider as he walked over.

“Nah, I got it,” he said with a casual shake of his head. “Wouldn’t want you to ruin that shirt, anyway.” His eyes dipped over the satiny material, this time a deep maroon.

“It is a great shirt.” She playfully bumped into his side with her shoulder when he stepped inside. The delicious scent of her soap sent an electric jolt up his spine. He matched her steps down the hallway. “What’re you still doing here anyway?”

“Well, there’s the Fox Ridge pitch tomorrow and there’s two more next week. And I have been gone for like a week.” She tucked herself back behind her desk. “Remember?”

Oh yeah, he remembered.

For a few minutes, they caught up on work and talked about homecoming, which was Saturday, and Sarah, who was currently at her friend’s house making posters or whatever for the big game tomorrow. He asked if she enjoyed her trip, which she obviously did from the glow around her. He almost asked about the wedding until he noticed all the files on her desk, the neat stacks of paper labeled with post-it notes that clearly showed she was busy.

He decided not to be selfish and take up anymore of her time and instead went into his office.

“Let me know if you need anything,” she told him before he closed the door. He left it slightly cracked in a way that seemed inviting before taking a seat at his desk. He would’ve just left it wide open if he thought it would be possible to focus. But even the back of her head could be enough to distract him.

Just like the rest of the shop, his office had been recorated by Teddy when Danny retired. He’d actually offered her the office, multiple times, but she refused. She preferred the natural light in the front, and he couldn’t blame her when the one window in here was puny and overlooked the trash cans.

Without her, Joel would’ve left the walls as blank and as white as Danny, the bookshelves just as bare and dusty, and there wouldn’t be a single lamp, let alone two. But he definitely appreciated the lamps this late in the day when the overhead light would burn too loud and bright.

Supposedly, she’d gotten them for free from a friend that was moving. He’d believed the story, at first, until one day she showed up with a giant picture of Yellowstone River, two more of different landscapes. A Golden forest. A mountain range. She’d just stumbled upon them at a Goodwill for the same price as a pizza. And then she’d filled the bookcases that framed his desk with architectural books that would likely never be read and tiny fake plants, which he couldn’t kill. Those she’d claimed were found at a garage sale for the magical price of a gift card to her favorite nearby lunch spot.

She would’ve decorated the office for her dad if he would’ve let her. Danny didn’t care though if she found the space so depressing when it came down to money. But Joel could not find it in him to tell her no when she looked so damn pleased with herself afterwards. She’d done such a nice job that he wished he could use the office more. One day he probably would when Sarah moved out. He had a love-hate relationship with being home alone. The quiet could be peaceful, then other times forlorn.

After finishing up two supply lists for upcoming projects, Joel went to start on a third when his door jarred open with a soft knock. Teddy was hovering around the threshold with a file in one hand.

“Are you busy?”

Joel shook his head, shoving the folder aside then signaling her to come in. She stepped inside, nudging the door shut with her hip. It didn’t latch. No one else was here, otherwise he would’ve pointed it out. But he didn’t know why she shut it in the first place, honestly.

“Sorry to bother you-”

“You’re not bothering me,” he interrupted. “What can I do for you?”

“It’s the Fox Ridge pitch.” She sauntered over to his desk, hips swaying and squeezed into a pair of black jeans. Her shirt was gaping open in the front from the top two buttons being left undone and wasn’t it just one earlier? It was always one, right?

He realized it would’ve been easy to catch a peek of her bra when she bent over to hand him the file, but like a good person – like a good friend – he looked away. His gaze remained firmly fused to her face until she sat down in the chair across from him.

She wanted his thoughts on the pitch, and he agreed to take a look. Based on the first page it looked perfect, and even if it wasn’t, he wouldn’t be much help. After all, she was the brains of the operation where he was just the muscle.

“So, how was the wedding?” Joel flipped onto the next page without looking up. “Your cousin’s right?”

“Good memory.” She hummed, sounding pleasantly surprised. Her nails clicked along the steel arm of the chair. “But yeah, the wedding was… it was nice.”

“Was it?” Joel glanced up at her with a suspiciously quirked brow. “Cause, you ain’t gotta lie to me. I won’t tell.”

She clicked her tongue as if her reluctant tone wasn’t what led him to such a conclusion.

“I’m not lying, it was really nice. A lot of family that I haven’t seen in a while was there. And my cousin has amazing taste, so the wedding was gorgeous. It was small and intimate, but.” She let out a big breath. “It’s just everyone except my dad and I had dates.”

“Did you not bring your-” Too late, the words had poured out before he could think twice and he cursed his stupid, overly curious mind. He had no idea what to say to cover up his lapse, so he just didn’t. It just hung in the air and he turned to the next page without reading the last.

“Bring my what, Joel?” Her voice made it sound more like a challenge than a question. He peered up at her and she looked him directly in the eyes. It was as if she knew what he was going to say. It was as if she wanted him to ask.

Joel screwed the blue pen into his grip. “I thought - I thought you had a boyfriend.”

At that, she reclined back in the chair. She crossed her legs and tilted her head as if to study him. “What made you think I have a boyfriend?” she asked with such wild amusement that it confused him.

Didn’t she? Tommy had seen the card, the flowers as well, so it wasn’t something he just made up in his head. She was or used to be dating someone. Oh – maybe it wasn’t a boyfriend, but a girlfriend. Not that he was about to ask. God no. He’d butted into her personal life enough for one night.

“Well, you know.” Joel scratched the back of his head, then pointed in the direction of the break room. “There were those flowers, remember?”

Her eyes widened – her lips parted. “Yeah, I remember. I just, I guess I didn’t think you would.”

“Well, it ain’t everyday someone gets a garden delivered here.” He meant it as a joke, but it came off rather jealous. He tacked on a chuckle for good measure. She snorted, so it must’ve worked.

“Okay fair. I was dating someone, but that’s over. Been over. We broke up like 4 months ago? So, not long after that, actually.”

Joel grimaced. He could barely focus on her being single when he felt like shit. No one wanted to be reminded of their ex. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She brushed off like it was no big deal.

Still, he remained silent as the grave because what the hell was he supposed to say now?

“I was the one who ended things, just in case that makes you feel better.” Of course she was. No one in their right mind would break up with someone as amazing as her. “But since we’re on the topic and all - what about you, Joel?”

“What about me?” Joel finally met her eyes and her lips twisted into a mischievous smirk that made his stomach swoop.

“Do you have anyone special in your life?”

Joel stiffly shook his head. “Can’t say I do.”

“Anyone not special?” she nudged him, suggestively wiggling her brows.

Again – a shake of his head. “I don’t really date.”

“What a shame.” Her voice was almost husky, breathy. She leaned forward slightly. “I’m sure all the single mom’s at Sarah’s school are devastated.”

Joel batted his hand in the air with an ugly snort.

“What? I’m serious,” she said without twitching. Her eyes momentarily flickered towards his lips, and suddenly, his throat felt like the mostly burnt bagel he had for breakfast. “I bet you have all of them wrapped around your finger.”

“You’re just - you’re just saying that.”

“Am I?” Her voice was silky, even silkier than her shirt. There was a cool confidence radiating from her as her fingernails galloped in a slow rhythm along the arm rest.

She was staring at him, pinning him against his seat. The hair on his thighs lifted and tickled the denim. The energy in the room had shifted, the air between them had bent and blurred into something that Joel could not quite describe. But he could feel it, sense it when it surged and rippled between them and sent an electric shiver up his spine.

She licked her lips and rolled them together until they were shiny with her spit. His heart pounded against his chest like an animal trapped and he wanted to pounce over the desk and taste her spit. He nearly did until he felt a stirring in his jeans.

What the hell was going on? What was he thinking? He needed to get his head screwed back on straight before he did something incredibly stupid.

Joel shot from his chair like a firework. Abrupt and loud and white-hot. He turned away and towards the filing cabinets on the back wall. He didn’t have a plan, but there had to be something in there that he could pretend to need.

She was quicker than his flustered brain and rose to her feet before he could make it past the edge of his desk.

“Joel.”

It stopped him, his feet stuck to the floor like wet cement. She approached him like a frightened deer. Steady. So quiet. Her steps barely scratched against the cheap carpet.

Joel realized now, right now was the time to speak. To say something. Anything. Find an excuse. Stop standing here like a dumb-struck baboon. But there was only one word that managed to leave his lips, a breath -

“Teddy.”

“It’s okay,” she whispered into the shrinking space between them. “I know.”

I know? He had no clue what that was supposed to mean, but before he could ask – she cradled the back of his neck and pressed her lips against his. Joel’s eyes widened and all he could see was the soft planes of her face, her fluttering eyelids, the fan of her raven-stroke lashes.

She was kissing him. Holy shit. She was actually kissing him. When he finally registered that, he closed his eyes and was overcome by the taste of her spit and a hint of Burt’s Bees chapstick, which he found oddly arousing.

For a moment, he was too damn stunned to do anything but move his mouth along hers. Then, he realized his arms were hanging like spaghetti noodles at his side and reached out and clutched onto her waist. His thumbs delicately swirled the fabric of her shirt. So damn smooth, just as he expected.

Joel gulped when she drew back, just far enough to meet his eyes. He had no idea what the fuck this was – let along if it was anything at all. Perhaps, this was it. Just a stolen kiss, late one night in his office.

Joel braced himself for her to yank away, to tell him it was a mistake, that she didn’t know what she was thinking. Let’s forget the whole thing.

But she didn’t.

She just continued to toy with the curly ends of his hair, twirling them around her fingers as her other hand fisted the loose collar of his shirt. He was wedged between her warm-heaving body and his desk. The edge was slightly burrowing into his lower back, but currently he couldn’t care less.

Her gaze dipped to where his jeans were painfully tented. A hot burst of shame ignited behind his earlobes. The flex of his fingers bit into the hollow below her ribs.

“It’s - it’s been a while,” he found himself explaining because there was no good reason, at his age, to be this turned on from just kissing.

“Do you want me to stop?” She slid up against him, sealing herself against his chest. It appeared she knew the answer before he could dumbly shake his head.

This time – his lips met hers somewhere in the middle. Where the first kiss was gentle, testing the waters like the first sip of fresh coffee, this one was deeper. More intense – a whole gulp. Her urgent lips captured his starstruck mouth and right then he knew nothing, no one, would ever compare to this. Not even close.

The way she kissed was like some special art form that only she could master. It felt so damn good to have her fingers molding through his hair with baby scratches over his scalp and the scent of her soap flooding his chest with heat. It consumed him, his body, his mind. The rapid pulse in his ears muted his every coherent thought.

When she gently nibbled on his bottom lip, he moaned – Teddy. She licked her name from his lips, then eagerly tasted it on his tongue as if she couldn’t get enough.

And oh God – her tongue was equally as impressive as her other skills. The tip of it dragged over his top palate, making it tingle like a buzz off tequila. She stroked and swirled and twisted around his tongue as if knotting a cherry stem. No one had ever taken the time to explore him so thoroughly. Frankly, he didn’t know there was that much of his mouth to explore.

Despite her exploration, Joel’s hands were burning into her waist, still holding her at 10 and 2 like a student driver. Like this was a chaperoned middle school dance. Slowly he roamed them down to grip her hips, but no further. He didn’t want to push it. He didn’t want to scare her. He didn’t want to spoil this moment from something stupid like getting too greedy.

Joel was fully okay with her in the driver seat. Even though he was usually in charge, he was happily letting her lead. Well, actually, he didn’t know if he was really letting her or if she just was. He didn’t care either way when she was touching him.

She broke the kiss and her lips swerved to his cheek. His jaw, paying extra attention to the patch in his beard where no hair could grow. His head tipped back when she buried her nose into the crook of his neck and deeply inhaled. After a hard-days work he likely smelled of sweat instead of his soap, but she groaned anyway.

“Have you ever thought about this before?” She breathed against his neck.

“I mean, I-” He choked on his words as her tongue slicked over the thick vein beneath his jaw. “I - I tried not to.”

“But you did.” He could feel her lips split into a grin before she sucked on a spot below his ear. He hoped it would leave a mark. The idea of seeing it tomorrow in the mirror made his cock twitch and throb and it ached.

“Uh-huh,” he whimpered, rather pathetically. It actually sounded like it fucking hurt.

“You know what?” She playfully nipped at the spot that would soon sadly fade. She then met his gaze with a coy grin. I thought about you too.”

“You did?” he croaked.

She hummed in response, her fingers trailing down his chest. His stomach quivered, his breath catching before she stopped just above the band of his jeans and whispered, “But unlike you - I didn’t try to stop.”

Joel growled, unable to form a coherent thought. His brain was too preoccupied trying to process how any of this was happening. It had to be a dream or an optical illusion or some shit. No way it could be real. But her small hand cupped his cock and that certainly felt real.

“Fuck - you feel even bigger than I imagined.” She palmed at his bulge with a light pressure. His knees nearly buckled despite the thick, denim barrier.

Now, he was really wishing he jerked off last night – or anytime in the past week or so. God – he was pent up. It wouldn’t take much for him to break.

“Can I see it?”

Joel’s mouth went half-slack and she blinked at him without flinching.

“Yeah,” he managed to squeak out. Not great, but at least coherent.

She sank to her knees, her eyes never leaving his. Pretty. Pretty. So damn pretty. Those two undone buttons exposed the tops of her breasts, the peek of a plain white bra that he found sexier than he should’ve.

His restless hands found solid ground on the desk behind him. Just in time as she balled the hem of his shirt in her tiny fists and bunched it towards his waist. The office air blew cool over his newly bare skin.

Joel wondered how he compared to the type of guy she usually dated. Did she like meatheads with six packs? Or guys with scrawny arms? Or did she like them somewhere in the middle; someone more like him? His body used to be more solid in his 20’s, but softened with age. He was still strong though, still firm in most spots aside from his stomach.

He caught himself sucking in as her wild eyes wandered over his husk-tan skin and across the dark scatter of hair around his navel. Then, she devoured it, mapping every inch with her wet, hot mouth.

It was a miracle that he managed to stay upright under her attention. Any attention was new. He was not used to any teasing or foreplay or whatever delicious torture this was called.

No.

Joel was used to his own calloused hands. Quick, rough fucks with women who called him Joe or Jack or something else entirely because why did it matter if it meant nothing.

But did this mean anything? To him, yes. To her – he had no clue. Dear God – he hoped so, though.

With a smirk she unzipped his jeans and shoved them down by his knees. The wet spot on his boxers was impossible to miss. Of course, he’d worn light gray today instead of something discreet like black.

“It’s been awhile,” he sheepishly reminded her. He didn’t want her to think he was always this big of a mess. Because he wasn’t. Seriously, he really wasn’t.

“It’s alright, just relax.” She leaned forward and mouthed at the stain.

But it was impossible to relax when her nose nudged the underside of his cock, her mouth was so close to the tip that every muscle in his body tightened. He gritted his teeth, his nostrils flaring with the remnants of his dwindling self-control.

She must’ve realized she was ruining him because she pulled back with a wicked grin. She hooked her fingers into the elastic waistband and tugged. His freed cock nearly smacked her in the face. The flush red tip was weeping.

“Shit, you’re thick,” she gasped. Women had told him that before, but he much preferred hearing it from her. The sweet honesty in her voice, the clear surprise. It stroked his ego and filled him with a strange sense of pride as if he’d actually accomplished anything profound, and not just good genetics.

She licked and spit into her palm before stroking his cock with a loose fist from root to tip. Her thumb swiped over the blunt head, smearing his pre-come and making his hips jerk and involuntary spasm.

Joel opened his mouth to apologize, but was quickly silenced by her tongue: warm, wet, the slightly rough texture tracing over the thick vein that ran down his length.

He gripped the desk until his knuckles bleached. She placed her free hand on his hip as if to help steady him before guiding him between her perfect, plush lips. Just the tip, at first. But it still was nearly enough to finish him. He didn’t remember the last time someone put their mouth on him.

Joel desperately wished to witness this moment. He wanted to memorize the glossy gleam in her eyes, the way she looked in front of him and on her knees and how her mouth stretched perfectly around his cock. But it was too much. The weight between his thighs was becoming oppressive. If he watched, he’d shatter. And he’d be horrified if he finished that fast.

So, he focused on the ceiling tiles instead. On the black specks that formed different shapes as she took another inch of him into her feverish mouth.

Already, she had him panting like a dog. Unable to fully catch his breath even when she released his cock with a loud pop. She continued to pleasure him with long strokes of her fist. Her tongue dipped into his leaking slit, lighting up nerve endings that he didn’t know existed. It ripped an ungodly sound from his mouth.

“Oh, you liked that?” she asked, very smug. Then repeated the movement once, twice, before eagerly swallowing his cock again.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” His hand flew to her shoulder and squeezed as she took him deeper – deeper. Holy shit. Where did she learn to do this? This was like pornstar level good.

She had taken him halfway down her throat when he felt a shock run across his spine, a familiar tugging in his balls. His release was building and brewing in his lower belly like a thunderstorm.

But Joel clenched his teeth. No – he could not come. Not yet. He needed to get himself under control before he finished in less than five minutes.

He shut his eyes, but not even the rumble of his eardrums could drown out the loud, lewd squelch of her mouth. It was fucking filthy. The swirl of her expert tongue around his shaft had him unraveling fast like a loose spool of thread.

“Teddy,” he moaned her name as he got close – too damn close.

He tried to tell her to slow down, but the words stuck in his throat. Nothing came out except grunts. Just short groans. Her lips kissed the cusp of her fist, completely engulfing him in her honey-slobber and the softness of her hand.

His hips instinctively bucked, the head of his cock bumping the back of her throat and she gagged. The walls of her inner mouth shuddered and pulsed around him and –

“Shit.” His eyes flew open but before he could warn her – she hollowed her cheeks and sucked.

He groaned her name, low and unrestrained, as the pleasure electrified his spine. It arced down his thighs before he could push her off. For a moment, he lost himself in the high, in the tide of her mouth. His cock twitched and throbbed on her tongue as he came.

Hard.

As if he hadn’t come in months – years.

In a daze, he blinked down at her and saw his cum dripping down her chin, leaking from the corners of her mouth as she continued to twist her fist and suck down the aftershocks. It would’ve been easily the most erotic sight, if it didn’t suddenly hit him how fast he came.

The light-headed euphoria quickly morphed into vertigo. He was horrified, mortified, staring down at her.

He didn’t know what to say, and for once, it seemed like neither did she. She released his cock from her mouth, but otherwise didn’t move. Not even to wipe the come off her face.

She swallowed, and opened her mouth. But a familiar ding tore through the thick, sticky air. The bell above the front door.

“Joel? Teddy?”

No way. It was motherfucking Tommy.

—-

The idiot had forgotten his house keys in Joel’s truck. In the cupholder, nonetheless.

Joel had somehow managed to button his jeans, and hand her a tissue before Tommy busted into his office. She’d pretend to blow her nose to clean the come off her face, riddling him with another level of shame. So embarrassed that he could barely look at her without feeling like he swallowed a handful of nails.

He threw Tommy the car keys to get rid of him, but found out that Aaron had left. Tommy had told him that Joel could just drive him home without even asking. And usually it wouldn’t be a big deal.

But Tommy was so goddamn clueless. He just swung around the door frame, blabbering about how the girlfriend showed up and there was a big blow up in the parking lot and Joel was just waiting for him to notice the smell of sex and sweat or even the cloying embarrassment. Or Teddy’s swollen and suck-plump lips and surely Joel looked like a flushed-beet wreck.

So how did Tommy seem to remain completely oblivious?

When Sarah called a few minutes later, Joel left. Well, first he made sure everything was locked up and she was safely in her car, but otherwise fled like a coward.

The shop had officially disappeared from his rear view mirror and now Joel couldn’t remember if he even told her goodbye. She just gave him the best blow job of his life, and he couldn’t even wave?

“Are you gonna get Sarah or drop me off first?” Tommy asked and Joel snapped at him like a venus fly trap.

“Doesn’t really make sense to go out of my way just to drop you off first, now does it?”

Tommy threw up his hands. “Well, fuck. How am I supposed to know where Sarah’s friend lives?” He hurled himself against the passenger seat and mumbled under his breath, “Asshole.”

Joel winced. He was kinda being an asshole, taking out his anger on Tommy. He wasn’t even mad at Tommy. Annoyed, yes, but not mad. The only person Joel was mad at here was himself.

He was mad at himself for cumming too fast, and even more so for running away afterwards like a scared hound with his soft, spent cock tucked between his legs. Recalling the complete shit show, Joel’s grip coiled around the steering wheel until the leather squealed in protest. He could still feel the ring of her spit drying around him.

Joel sighed and stared out the windshield at the night sky, the truck bouncing along the uneven back road full of potholes. Why did it feel like he just fucked everything up?

“Hey, are you alright?” Tommy’s voice was lower, quiet – concerned.

Joel scratched at his jaw, at the bald patch she’d kissed, before nodding his head.

“Yeah, sorry - I’m just tired.” He’d rather die and be reincarnated into a gnat than tell Tommy about how he just prematurely ejaculated. He’d had enough embarrassment for one night.

“Did I-” Tommy paused and for a moment it seemed like he decided to keep his mouth shut. Until he sighed. “I don’t know, but did I interrupt something between you and Teddy?”

A little too late to start being observant, Tommy.

Joel approached a red light, the truck crawling to a complete stop.

“Come on. What would be going on between us that you could interrupt?” Joel looked over at Tommy and his brows were furrowed. In the pool of orange light from the street lamps that speckled the cab, Joel saw the realization flash across Tommy’s face. The moment everything clicked into place.

Joel abruptly turned away, not in the mood for pity. After what felt like forever, the light finally turned green.

“Joel, I didn’t realize that you-”

“Don’t.” His voice was quiet, stern without being rude. “Just don’t.”

For once, Tommy didn’t demand to have the last word. Instead, he slowly and silently fell back into the seat as if to fade into the shadows. She still had a boyfriend as far as Tommy knew, and Joel would not be informing him otherwise. This way was easier.

The rest of the drive was filled with Willie Nelson’s album Always on My Mind, the rumble of the engine, and the buzzing of Joel’s thoughts.

How was he supposed to face her tomorrow?

—-

On Friday morning, Joel drove to the shop with a terrible pit in his stomach. His eyes felt gritty, and there was a dark shadow of gray underneath from a restless night sleep. He ate a bland piece of toast for breakfast, and even that made him feel sick. When he turned onto the street, he thought it might reappear all over the windshield.

But Teddy was not there. Just a pink post-it note on the full, freshly brewed coffee pot.

Fox Ridge pitch - Wish me luck.

He’d forgotten that it was this early. Joel supposed he’d have to get here on time this evening to see her.

Joel spent the day trying not to go insane. Despite the pounding of his hammer, memories of last night beat against his skull. Anytime he touched his lips, or the spot behind his ear, he could practically feel the ghost of her kisses. They had been desperate, heated. Hadn’t they? It had seemed she’d wanted him, just as much as he’d always wanted her. She’d even admitted to imagining him in some sexual way.

But what about now?

He didn’t have a clue.

Eight hours later, and halfway from a complete tailspin, the truck decided not to start. The engine clicked and clicked and clicked, but never went. Even though he begged for it to start. The concrete guys had tried to jump it with no success. It’d taken everything in him not to sock Tommy in the jaw when he gave him that told-you-so look while calling a tow truck.

The concrete guys were still on their best behavior and gave them a ride to the mechanic shop. It was run by one of Tommy’s highschool friends, Zach, who was nice enough to stick around past 5 on a Friday night.

5:25 and this was a fucking nightmare. He couldn’t imagine a worse day for the truck to die. As if he hadn’t fucked up enough last night when he bolted, the last thing Joel wanted as her thinking that he was avoiding her. The least he could do was extend the same courtesy she had this morning.

So midway through Tommy and Zach examining what was under the hood, he broke away to call her.

Joel slapped his cellphone against the flat of his palm as he headed outside the entrance. With a deep breath he dialed the shop’s number. The ring-ring-ring in his ears made his chest feel like it was about to explode.

“Teddy’s Company, how can I help you?”

“Hey Teddy.” He cleared his throat. “Hey, it’s Joel,” he said, very awkwardly.

“Hey! Hi. What’s up?”

Joel kicked at the loose rocks by his feet. “Well, the truck - uh the truck’s acting up. We had to get a tow, and Tommy and I are - the mechanic’s checking it over right now.”

“Oh shit.”

“Yeah, so I just wanted you to know - I don’t know when we’ll get back to the shop.” Joel lightly hit the center of his head with the circle of his clenched fist. He sounded like an idiot.

“No - yeah. That makes sense.” Silence crackled on the other line and it was unbearable.

Joel scratched his temple, unsure what to say next. He wanted to talk about last night, just to get it over with, but it wasn’t the right time. That was not a conversation to have over the phone. Not like at work was much better, but still.

“Well,” Teddy broke the silence. There was a rustling of something on the other line – papers? Her bag? “Do you need-”

There was a massive boom behind him – Tommy pounded on the glass door and motioned him inside.

“What was that?” she asked and Joel mouthed at Tommy to give him a second.

“Sorry, it’s Tommy. I think the mechanic’s done with the inspection.”

“Okay - well, I was just gonna ask if you guys-”

Tommy banged again – harder. It was Friday, so he probably had a date with his favorite dive bar. Joel glared at him and flipped him off.

“It sounds like you need to go,” she said.

“Sorry.” Joel rubbed the back of his neck and he was gonna kill Tommy. “But uh - have a nice weekend, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah, you too, Joel.”

Once Joel found out the battery just needed to be replaced, Tommy’s pissy mood made a lot more sense. It would be a decently fast and easy fix – at most an hour.

Joel plopped down in a chair in the lobby and mindlessly flipped through a car magazine. He didn’t even register the pictures that swished by, too busy reeling from that awkward phone call.

Had he really told her to have a nice weekend? He wanted to melt into the cracks and scuffs in the black-and-white tiles. Real smooth, Joel. He sucked at this shit.

What was going to happen next?

He couldn’t tell where her head was at from the phone call that somehow didn’t even last as long as him last night. God – she probably thought he had some type of erectile dysfunction and he couldn’t even blame her. There was no excuse for a man at his age to cum that fast from a blow job, nonetheless. He was not a fucking teenager.

The longer he sat there in the empty lobby with the melancholy of Johnny Cash’s voice, the more he began to doubt. It spread and swelled in his lower abdomen like a virus. Syphilis. If it festered for too long, he felt like it might turn him insane.

He didn’t know how he would survive the weekend like this.

—

Saturday was usually his day for relaxing. All his responsibilities could wait until Sunday, but he couldn’t sit still.

Up early, he and Sarah went to the Farmer’s Market and ran errands until lunch time. He deep cleaned the house in the afternoon. The entire main floor was vacuumed and swept, the kitchen counters looked brand new, and even his bed was freshly made with dryer warm sheets. He was determined to keep busy instead of wallowing in his looming conversation with Teddy.

It might’ve worked if Sarah didn’t innocently keep bringing her up. With homecoming tonight, she was apparently in the mood to reminisce, especially after she’d gotten all dolled up.

They were halfway to her friend Ashley’s house and the drive had been filled with Teddy. Their mall trip – the dress – the tiny details Teddy helped pick out.

“I brought my polaroid camera.” Sarah pointed at her overnight bag in the backseat of his truck. “So, you can take a photo of me and show Teddy on Monday.”

“Oh, yeah. She’ll like that.” Joel forced a smile as the hand of his knee flexed, biting into denim.

He couldn’t help but feel a stab of guilt every time Sarah mentioned her. Teddy would never cut Sarah out, he knew that, but things were bound to be different now. It couldn’t go back to what it used to be, not after she’d seen his cock and swallowed his come. The relationship would inevitably change between them.

He just hoped their friendship could be somewhat salvaged. For Sarah’s sake, especially.

Joel was able to push that out of his mind when they arrived at Ashley’s house. The Murphy’s had been nice enough to invite the entire group, including parents, to come over and take photos. He couldn’t imagine fitting 14 teenagers and their moms in his puny backyard where he could barely fit a playset. Luckily, the Murphy’s lived on a big, well-landscaped lot that backed up against a man-made lake, and not directly into a neighbor’s house.

The few other dad’s who showed up were all huddled together under the covered patio with their eyes transfixed on the TV screen. The Longhorns were taking on the Wildcats. Still in the first quarter, so it wasn’t even a good game yet.

Instead of cracking open a beer, Joel joined the mom’s by the rose bushes.

“Oh my God, Joel. Sarah looks beautiful.”

“She’s gorgeous.”

“Stunning.”

They all complimented Joel as if his genes actually put up a fight. Sarah was Lisa’s exact twin. Even more so when her gorgeous thick curls were pulled back into a loose bun with a few loose strands framing her face. The mom’s were right though – Sarah did look beautiful. But then again, she always did; with or without all the glitter and make-up.

Sarah’s date was a scrawny, soccer player with red hair who was her best friend’s boyfriend’s best friend. Eric. Joel could hardly believe his daughter was at an age to even have a date, even if it was just a set up. It made him feel incredibly old when the kid called him sir.

Based on first impressions, Eric seemed nice enough. The kid took a few photos of Joel and Sarah together in front of the Mexican bush sage. The purple flowers were almost an exact match to Sarah’s dress. Joel had hoped that somebody would offer when he’d changed out of his dusty clothes earlier and into a different, slightly nicer white t-shirt and a pair of his best dark wash jeans.

Still, while Joel wouldn’t threaten the kid with a fist or scare the shit out of him with a war story like Tommy would, Joel did give Eric the look – Don’t try anything, bud. When Joel shook his hand, it felt like wet paint.

Good.

Joel thanked the minivan moms for driving, Ashley’s mom for hosting the sleepover afterwards, while snapping enough pictures to fill up two of Sarah’s bulletin boards.

“You look beautiful, baby girl,” he told Sarah one more time before hugging her goodbye.

She promised to be good and handed him the developed Polaroid, specifically for Teddy. He stashed it safely away in the middle console of his truck then drove away.

At home, an empty living room quietly greeted him. Not yet 6 P.M. – the sun continued to shine and slice through the curtains onto the beige carpet. Joel had no idea what to do with the rest of his evening. Football, he supposed. Maybe rent a movie – Ocean’s Eleven or Training Day, something Sarah had no interest in ever seeing.

He whipped up a ham and cheese sandwich and cracked open a beer. Rather than eating alone at the dining room table, he set up on the couch and ate in the company of Longhorn football.

It didn’t take long, not even halfway finished with his sandwich, before a Folgers commercial came on and he thought about Teddy. She never even used Folgers, but just coffee in general made him think of her. At this point, it was actually pathetic how everything reminded him of her.

For a few minutes, Joel debated on calling her and figuring this shit out already. This limbo was killing him. He even pulled out his phone from his back pocket, found her name in his contact list and let it taunt him, his thumb hovering over the call button for longer than he’d like to admit.

But what would he say if she answered?

It had been two days and he still had no clue. He was still trying to figure out how to navigate this whole situation. He wanted to handle it with care but it felt like holding a dandelion puff in his rough calloused hands. Inevitably, it would break and fall apart with something as simple as a gust of wind. Joel carelessly tossed his phone on the coffee table and groaned.

At halftime, he went and cleaned off his empty plate in the sink. Using his hands always helped distract him. Maybe he needed a hobby. He could always play his guitar, finally learn Never Going Back Again. He’d always wanted to try out woodworking since it used to be his dad’s favorite pastime.

Joel was drying off the dish when the doorbell rang.

“Hold on,” he yelled, wiping off his hands with the rag. He didn’t know who that could be, but he’d bet everything in his wallet right now it was Tommy. He knew Sarah would be gone all night, and probably wanted to drag Joel to some bar across town for a wild night out.

Joel was coming around to the idea of spending his night in a smoky, loud bar instead of cooped up in his house when he opened the door. It was definitely not his brother, not even close.

“Teddy.”

She was on his front porch in a pale blue sundress that instantly made his mouth water. The buttery light from the budding sunset sky behind her framed her silhouette.

“Sorry to just stop by.” She smoothed down her dress and tugged at the hem. “But can I come in?”

—-

She didn’t say why she was here when he let her inside, but he supposed she didn’t have to.

It was actually Joel who broke the silence. “Do you want anything to drink?” he asked. His mom would lurch from her grave if he didn’t act like a good host.

“Water,” she said with a small smile. “Tap’s fine.”

It was a good thing she didn’t follow him into the kitchen. His hands were shaking so bad that he nearly dropped the glass on the tile floor.

When he came back into the living room, she was sitting on the couch. He handed her the glass, his fingertips brushing over hers. She politely thanked him before taking a tentative sip. The cushion whined under his weight when he sat. These were the exact same spots from the night she was here with Sarah. This time, however, the empty cushion felt less like a safety net and more like a boulder about to crush him.

He turned off the TV, the newfound silence giving further evidence of what happened the other night.

She clinked the glass onto the coffee table, then clasped her hands stiffly in her lap. On the very edge of her seat, she looked ready to bolt at any moment. “I knew Sarah would be at the dance or, at least dinner.”

“Yeah, dinner. I think the dance starts around 8,” he said and she nodded. He wished he would’ve remembered to bring the Polaroid inside. Maybe it would’ve helped ease the tension.

But no – he needed to quit procrastinating and apologize for how he reacted the other night.

Buck up – do it.

For a moment, Joel searched for what to say, scratching the skin around his neck where it felt thickest.

“Joel,” Teddy said before he could speak. She shifted in her seat and when she opened her mouth, he braced himself for her to call it nothing but a mistake. “I wanted to come by and apologize about the other night.”

His brows furrowed.

“Apologize?”

“Yes, Joel,” she answered, very sternly. He noticed a pained look in her eyes before she stared down at her stark white tennis shoes.

“What? I - what?” He sounded like a bumbling drunk and for once, he wished the right words would just come naturally to him.

She sighed.

“After our phone call yesterday,” she started, only stopping for a split-second to clasp her gold necklace between her fingers. “I feel like I might’ve pushed things too far the other night. I never wanted to make you feel uncomfortable-”

“Uncomfortable? No. Shit.” Joel insistently shook his head. He would personally damn himself to hell if he sat here any longer and let her take any blame for this. Exhaling, he scruffed a hand over his jaw. “Look, I’ll admit - I panicked, but that ain’t on you.”

“How is it not?”

“Cause you did nothing wrong. Fuck. I’m the one who should be apologizing, alright? I acted like a goddamn idiot, Teddy. It’s just-” Joel let out a self-deprecating laugh, bashfully tucking his chin towards his chest. “I don’t usually, ya know - that fast. Just got embarrassed, that's all.”

He absently rubbed at a patch of distressed leather on the arm of the couch.

“Well, I never wanted to make you feel embarrassed.” She scooted closer – closer. Slowly. For what felt like the first time since the night in his office, Joel properly met her eyes. “All I wanted was to make you feel good, Joel.” Her voice was husky, almost seductive. She smirked and his heart banged inside his chest like a caged feral cat.

“You did make me feel good,” he admitted, rather shyly. “Just wish I could’ve made you feel good, too.”

“Who says you can’t?” Her eyes darted across his face, to his lips, to the rise and fall of his chest. She gripped his shoulders for balance before swinging her legs over him. Her knee lightly bumped into the arm of the couch and his hands instantly went to her hips, helping to steady her on his lap.

Joel stared up at her dumbly for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief. His thumbs toyed with the hem of her dress, bunching it up further until he could brush over the bare flesh of her thighs. Goddamn, she was so soft. So pretty.

“What do you want, Joel?”

Everything. “Whatever you’ll give me.”

“No, Joel. What do you want?”

The last two days – hell, the last two years bulldozed into him. Every feeling and thought he’d suppressed and ignored crashing into him like a wrecking ball. He’d spent so long convincing himself this would never happen, but now – everything he ever wanted and never thought he would have was right here. Right in his lap.

And something inside him suddenly snapped.

“You gotta know by now, Teddy. You gotta know.” The words spilled out of his mouth and he hated how it sounded. It didn’t make any sense. Joel shook his head and ran his hands down her thighs to lightly squeeze at the spot above her knees for stability. “Fuck, I ain’t any good at this shit,” he said, in a rare moment of vulnerability.

She cupped his face so delicately like he was made of porcelain. With a small nudge, he met her gaze.

“This is gonna sound very middle school, but do you like me, Joel?” she asked and he snorted.

It did sound juvenile, but he instinctively tugged her closer and nodded his head.

“Good. Cause I like you and I want you, Joel. Only you,” she said. “So what do you say? Wanna give this a shot?”

“You fucking know I do.” His hand slid behind her neck, his thumb traced over the perfect curve of her hair line. “Now, come here.”

When his lips met hers – it was desperate and sweet like cream soda. His mouth crashed against hers with every bottled up dream and fantasy of her mouth, her lips, her tongue. It surged hot and bright through him.

His hand was a firm weight on the small of her back as he pulled her in as close as humanly possible, until only denim and a dainty sundress could separate him from her.

She clutched onto his shirt collar before gently rocking her hips against his growing bulge. He tensed his thigh, catching on her panties. She whimpered, already so sensitive, and he couldn’t wait to learn all the sounds she made.

He couldn’t fuck her on the couch, though. Not properly, at least. Definitely not like he wanted to or how she deserved. Still, he let himself enjoy this for a few minutes. Dry humping like teenagers in her parent’s basement before breaking the kiss with a soft peck to her top lip.

“Would you wanna go upstairs?” He dragged the back of his hand over her thigh, his knuckles hiking up her dress to reveal a little more skin.

“Oooh. Am I finally gonna see Joel Miller’s room?” She gave the tip of his nose a quick kiss before crawling off of him.

She held his hands the entire way upstairs until he led her into his room. “Told you, you weren’t missing much.”

“I don’t know about that.” She glanced at the navy blue walls, at the painting of a grazing deer in what appeared to be somewhere in Montana. It hung above his golden oak headboard. She pointed at the basic beige comforter, three pillows lined up against the frame. “I’m gonna be honest, though, I didn’t take you for the type to make your bed.”

“I did a little cleaning today.” Joel shrugged as she kicked off her shoes by his laundry basket.

“Well, isn’t that convenient?”

Joel managed to only kiss her twice before getting on the bed. He scooted into the middle, using two pillows to prop and cushion his aging lower back. Again, she eagerly climbed over him. She yanked her dress over her head, leaving her in only a lacy black bra with a pair of matching panties that cut high on her hips. The tiny, pink flower on the waistband was just the cherry on top.

She must’ve noticed the look on his face because she giggled as if she was completely innocent. “Do you like it? I wore it for you.”

“Fuck me,” he murmured. “Look at you, you’re gonna fucking kill me.” His hands roamed from her ribs up to paw at her bra and he squeezed just hard enough to watch them pour out over the top. He growled from deep in his chest before shoving his face in between her breasts. He traced the lacy material with his tongue before kissing along his slick trail. “Can I take it off?”

Smirking, she reached behind her and unclipped it for him. The bra joined her dress on the carpet in seconds. He licked his lips and admired her bare skin – the curves of her body in the coppery-golden glow from the sunset spilling in from the window. When he cupped her breasts, he swore they were made for his hands. His thumbs slid across her sensitive peaks, feather-light, but her breath still hitched – her head tip back and even the column of her neck was gorgeous.

He replaced one of his thumbs with his tongue, flicking the tip of it over her nub again and again. Kitten licks that made her clutch the back of his head. The way her fingers rooted into his hair was almost possessive and she held him flush against her chest as he sucked her nipple into his needy mouth.

Her breathing grew ragged and she tried to find friction. She rutted against him, but his hands captured her hips, holding her still before she could graze his cock. Too much dry humping and he’d be actually come in his pants like a teenager.

“Be patient, sweetheart,” he murmured and she whined. He didn’t allow her another chance to complain before his mouth switched to her other breast and adored it with equal attention. It’d been ages since he took his time like this and he lost himself in the feeling of her soft, scented skin on his face.

“Joel,” she moaned. It was desperate and raw and hands down the most erotic sound he’d ever heard in his life. It snapped him from his reverie and he grazed his teeth once more over her spit-swollen bud.

“I know.” He petted her hips before cupping her sex. The lace was soaked and sticky around her cunt.

Her hips bucked into the flat edge of his palm and for a moment, he watched her shamelessly ride his hand. Her brows furrowed – her fingers clutching his shirt for support. He was suddenly aware that he was completely dressed, and he found it strangely erotic. A part of him enjoyed it, maybe a little too much.

“Let me take care of you.” He patted her on the hip before ordering her to lay back. She didn’t need to be told twice.

Joel moved, so she could take his spot in the center of the bed. He tore off his t-shirt and threw it with her clothes. She watched him with glossy, moon eyes as he crawled between her spread open thighs. He captured her lips in a tender kiss before swerving to the swell of her cheek and down the slope of her neck. Gently, he nipped at her collarbone and she wiggled impatiently.

But he still went slow when dragging the tip of his nose from her breasts and along her stomach where he placed a soft kiss above her belly button.

When he settled back on his knees, he saw her chest rising and falling. Her bottom lip was stuck between her teeth and she was fisting the comforter. It was hard to believe she was really here, even as his fingers stroked her thigh. She was actually in his bed in nothing but soaked black panties.

Joel laid down on his stomach, spreading her thighs even wider to make room for his broad shoulders. Face-to-face with her lace covered cunt, he could smell the sweet, primal musk.

He sucked in a breath, suddenly feeling nervous. He enjoyed going down on women, but it had been awhile since he did anything more than just enough to get someone wet enough to take him. And he really wanted this to be good.

It felt like it had to be good, after his last fuck up.

“Joel? Are you okay?” She brushed back a tuft of hair that had fallen flat on his face.

He shut his eyes but there was no hiding when his face was mere inches from her pussy. “It’s just been awhile.”

“Well, we don’t-”

“No. God - I want to.” Joel groaned and dejectedly dropped his head against her thigh. He kissed at a mark above her knee. Her skin felt so warm against the stubble of his cheek. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted this?”

A moan dripped from her lips as he mouthed his way to the dip where her thighs met her hips. His nose nudging along the elastic seam.

“I’m not usually like this, but fuck - I wanna make you feel good.” He sucked at the spot directly above that damn tiny pink rose and her hips lifted off the bed, almost chasing his mouth. “Want you to know I can take care of you.”

“You can - you can,” she practically chanted. “Just God. Please, Joel.”

“Okay, I got you. It’s okay,” he whispered before peeling off her panties. He lifted the flimsy to his nose and inhaled without thinking. She smelled so delicious, musky, like sea salt and jasmine. He lost himself in her womanly scent and stuffed the fabric into his mouth and oh God – the taste. Dully sweet, a citrusy-tang that tingled his tongue. He devoured it.

It wasn’t until her panties were licked clean that he came up for air. His eyes opened to find her staring at him. Her mouth gaping – pupils carbon-black.

With a shy smile, he tossed the panties, now soaked with his spit, behind him. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she panted. “Fuck, that was hot.”

He snorted.

“Well, you taste damn good, sweetheart,” he said, situating himself comfortably between her thighs. Now, there was nothing, not even skimpy lace separating them. She was completely hairless, which was actually a first for him. Joel didn’t have a personal preference, though he did like how easily he could see how turned on she was. Her entire sex was swollen and glossy and perfect. Licking his lips, he peered up at her. “I wanna make you feel good, so let me know if you don’t like something, alright?”

She quickly nodded, her chest hitching with anticipation. She wanted this. She did.

He kissed the top of her mound then experimentally licked her slit, keeping his tongue soft and flat. He deliberately stopped just before her clit, avoiding it. For now. He planned to build her up slowly, steady. Words had never come easy to him, so instead he’d show her what he could not articulate.

Despite his own painful desire, his focus remained solely on her as he lapped at her cunt: He teased and nibbled and sucked on her folds. Letting her little sounds and sighs guide him to find her most sensitive spots. He didn’t know what he’d been so worried about before. Eating pussy was just like riding a bike.

“More,” she pleaded, and how could he deny her after she’d been so patient?

Her back arched when the tip of his nose grazed her clit. He smirked against her cunt, the pit in his belly stoked by how worked up she was. It fueled his confidence and his tongue swiped over her clit. She wound her fingers through his hair and tugged.

Hard.

And Oh – that did something to him. His cock twitched, or at least, tried to. Pack so tightly against the seam of his jeans. Again – he swallowed the urge to hump the sheets for some relief, snubbing his own arousal for hers.

As he toyed with her clit, his fingertips skimmed over her slick, hot-heated sex. The thick bulb of his pointer finger caught on her entrance and she immediately clenched, as if trying to capture him. Greedy little thing.

Still, he peered up at her for permission that she happily granted. He started out with one finger and inched inside her until he could not physically go any further. He cursed under his breath. She was warm and soaked and so tight.

When finally he squeezed in a second finger, her knees slightly bowed. Even though she was wet enough for him to slip in without any resistance, he rocked into her slowly, mindful to let her adjust. He curled his fingers, trying a few different angles before finding that spongy spot.

Immediately, she jerked with a deep, filthy moan.

Got it.

His fingers worked just as relentlessly as his tongue that was circling and swirling and flicking her clit. So responsive. Her walls spasmed around him as he thrusted into her a little harder. A little faster.

“Oh my God.” Her voice was as shaky as her thighs. He could feel her starting to swell under his tongue.

Joel didn’t want to stop, but he needed to see her come apart. When he leaned back on his knees, her hand shot out. She latched onto his forearm with a death grip.

“Wait! Wait! Joel!” Her voice was high-pitched. Frantic. Her cunt clenched furiously around his fingers as if she could not bear to let them go. “I’m almost there. I swear, I’m close.”

She bore down, attempting to fuck his hand as if she needed to prove she was telling the truth. Like he could do nothing but sit here, and she could get herself off. Joel felt something ugly and bitter twinge in his chest. It made him wonder how often she was left high and dry and unsatisfied by the people she fucked.

Well, not anymore. Not with him.

Once his hand lightly pressed on her abdomen, she stopped. Her gaze found his. Her eyes glossy and wild and fucked out. It looked like the only thought in her head was how badly she needed to come.

“Don’t worry, I ain’t done with you, sweetheart,” he assured her as his hand on her stomach moved lower and lower. “Just wanna see you when I make you come for the first time.”

A filthy moan split her lips when he circled her clit with his thumb. The panic on her face was instantly replaced with relief. Pleasure. She looked gorgeous on the verge of an orgasm.

“Does this pretty little pussy feel good?”

“Yes - yes - don’t stop,” she cried out. “I’m so close.”

“I know, sweetheart. I can feel it.” And he could. “I got you.”

She moaned his name as she came undone underneath him. Her arousal was dripping down his knuckles and onto his sheets. He caught himself grinding into the air, desperately wishing it was his cock instead of his fingers making her come.

Her clit pulsed under the pad of his thumb like a beating heart. Insatiable, he sucked the taste of her off his fingers then wiped his mouth.

She drew him down into a sloppy, wet kiss. The painful bulge in his jeans catching on her bare flesh. By some miracle, though he didn’t burst right then and there.

She pawed at his bare shoulders. “I need you,” she murmured against his lips that were still buzzing with her wetness. “Please Joel, I want you.”

“Greedy,” he mumbled, grinning against her cheek. He gave her hip a playful pinch before jumping onto his feet.

Quickly, he shed his jeans along with his pre-come stained boxer briefs. His cock was heavy. The head swollen into a furious shade of red, closer to purple than pink.

The light outside was starting to fade into gauzy, gray dusk. So, Joel flipped on the bedside lamp before pulling out a fresh box of condoms from the nightstand. He tore through the plastic wrapping with his teeth, but slowed down when opening the tin-foil packet.

“How do you want me?” She asked as he securely rolled on the condom.

Up? Down? He didn’t care. “Surprise me.”

She shot him a mischievous smirk before flipping onto her stomach. Rising onto all fours. This woman. He had no idea what she would pick, but his first guess never would’ve been doggy.

He admired the dream-like curve of her spine and she invitingly wiggled her ass. Seemed she was trying to give him a heart attack. Did she know how sexy she was to him? She had to. She had to know what she did to him.

“Is this okay?” she asked, and Joel growled his approval. He climbed in behind her and palmed at the plump flesh of her ass.

She opened herself wider until he could see everything. “Shit, sweetheart,” he hissed, marveling at where her sex glistened with his spit and her orgasm.

Joel had to squeeze at the base of his cock before dragging the tip through her slick folds, all the way up to her puckered hole. Even that felt good. Almost too good. And he wasn’t even inside her, yet.

Once Joel was lined up with her entrance, he noticed how small her cunt looked next to him and didn’t even try to push in. He questioned whether or not he could fit. It was just a fact that he was thick. Even though she was soaked, this would be a tight squeeze.

Fuck. Now, he was really regretting only using two fingers instead of three.

“Joel” she whined, but he still didn’t move.

“I don’t wanna hurt you.”

“No, I can take it - I promise,” she whimpered. “Joel, please.” She tilted back against him, making it impossible to say no.

“Okay. Alright,” he said soothingly, calmly rubbing the arc of her hip. “I’ll go slow.”

And he did. For both his and her sake, he inched into the heat of her cunt. His gaze was welded to the painted deer above the headboard. Watching himself disappear inside her would’ve been too much. The feeling of her pulsing around him was already almost too much for him to handle. Without the condom, this would’ve been over before it could even begin.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck. You’re big,” she choked out, her walls fluttering around him. “I need - I need a second.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Yeah – he needed one too.

There was a long minute where the only sounds in the room were of his harsh breaths, her suppressed whimpers. Then, a slight creak of the bed.

He leaned forward, his chest lightly pressed against her back. His arms caged in around hers, palms flat on the bed to help support his own weight as he draped over her body.

“You feel so good.” His lips brushed over the top of her spine and she shivered. “I know it’s a lot. I want you to know it’s a lot for me too.”

“Oh, Joel,” she mewled as he buried his face into her neck. She smelled and tasted just like salted caramel.

“You’re perfect, sweetheart. So good.” He kissed behind her ear, along the back of her neck. “I’m gonna move now, alright?”

“Please.” The word dripped from her lips – the only answer he needed.

He stayed close to her, his breath puffing against her neck as he fucked into her. Nice and slow and tender, at first. She met his thrusts in perfect sync. Each one allowing him deeper and deeper inside her and he didn’t even know how that was possible. It was as if her pussy was molding to fit him, to take even more of him. It felt very intimate and overwhelming.

He thought if he was staring into her eyes that he might’ve cried. Sex had never felt like this before. Not with Lisa, not even when they accidentally made Sarah. If he was being honest, sex had always felt somewhat impersonal; stilted, distant, like a glory hole in a gas station, just minus the sketchy bathroom wall.

But here, right now with her – this felt sacred. He had no clue how he ever managed to live without this.

“Do you know how long I’ve wanted you?” Joel laid his damp forehead between her shoulder blades and picked up the pace.

“Joel.” She gasped. His name seemed to be the only word she could say. It was as if he had completely consumed her. Her mind. Her body. Her every neuron. He kissed each vertebrae within reach, claiming more of her.

More.

“So damn long,” he answered. “And so fucking bad. Prettiest thing I’ve ever seen and look at you now, sweetheart. Just taking it. So good, just like I knew you would.”

“Oh God, Joel.”

He felt her shake, her arms appeared ready to give out and collapse. He wouldn’t let that happen. So, he widened his stance, the comforter bunching up around his knees. Carefully, but without warning, he fully pulled out and she wailed like it physically hurt.

“I got you.” He shushed her, wrapping his arm around her waist and sealing her to his chest. “Come on, come here.” He guided her upright along with him and she groaned once the weight was off her arms.

She sank back down on his cock instantly, her ass flush against his thighs. He felt even closer to her, somehow, in this position. Her skin was on fire, the sweat making her back stick to him like gum. Her pussy was drenched and dripping down his balls.

He could feel her all over him. Everywhere. It amazed him how he managed to last this long.

Joel gripped her hip, his other hand went to cup her breast. When he gently rocked forward at the perfect angle, she clenched.

“Goddamn.” He squeezed her breast, continuing to hit that same spot. “How are you so tight?”

“It’s you, Joel.” She gasped. “No one - no one has ever been this deep.”

The dormant, possessive part of his brain lit up and he growled. Joel buried himself to the hilt, until he could not claim another inch. No one but him had ever touched her here.

Just him.

Only him.

His.

She was soaking wet, white-hot, and he could feel himself throbbing inside her. Joel wanted to come so badly. The spicy-musk of her skin was swirling in his lower belly with a powerful, burning heat. On the brink of bursting.

“Fuck, I’m not gonna last much longer.” He pinched her nipple as his other hand went down to play with her clit. “I wanna make you come.”

Her only response came in a whine, a frantic nod.

Joel thrusted into her with long, deep strokes that made the bed shake. The headboard hit the wall in a dull, rhythmic thud that filled the room. Just like her trembling, needy moans, his own low groans, and the heady-salt scent of sex.

She threaded her fingers into his hair and haled his mouth toward hers. She kissed him, or more so, tried to. It was more of just lips devouring whatever was within reach: cheeks and chin and the curve of mouths. It wasn’t the best angle, but it didn’t matter.

In this moment, nothing else mattered to him but her.

Despite the tightness in his balls, Joel somehow held back his release. He gritted his teeth, burrowed his face into her neck, and quickly rubbed her clit. The high-pitched sound of his name lingered on her swollen lips as her walls squeezed around him like a fist.

It wasn’t until her cunt was spasming around him that he finally drove forward. He was buried so deep inside her that he practically snarled when he came.

He spilled into the condom, but pretended to be filling her up instead. He would watch his cum drool out of her, only to stuff it all back in with his fingers.

Joel clutched her against him as his hips gave a few final jerks. He would have liked to stay inside her until he went completely soft, but the condom was overflowing. Cum or her slick or more likely a mix of both was soaking into the hair between his thighs. He decided not to test the durability of this specific condom brand. The last time he did that, well – it was obvious how that turned out.

Holding the condom at the base, he slipped out of her and dropped onto his ass with a few pops and cracks. Damn, he really should stretch more.

His eyes fell to where her legs were spread and her sex was still gaping from him – for him. His mouth went dry. He wanted to lean over and quench his thirst, fill her with his tongu-

“What’re you lookin’ at there?” The sound of her lilted voice made his gaze abruptly snap to her face.

He must’ve been blushing because her lips split into a smug grin. Clearly, she knew what caught his attention. But even after two orgasms, she was still a little sassy. Still too damn perceptive for her own good, meanwhile he could barely form a coherent sentence.

She straddled his thighs, careful to avoid his semi-soft cock.

“It’s okay, you can look. I mean, it’s yours now, isn’t it?” Her soft, small voice cut through the post-sex fog in his brain. She was looking so vulnerable, so exposed, completely naked in his lap. Even he was more covered up than her, and all he had covering him was a flimsy, full condom that he had not yet found the energy to get up and throw away.

Isn’t it? Joel got the sense it was not a genuine question, but more of a reiteration – a confirmation. Are we on the same page?

Whatever she meant, he nodded his head.

“It is.” He cradled her cheek. “But only if it comes with the rest of you. I’m a greedy man, sweetheart. I want it all.”

She beamed at him.

“Well, that makes two of us,” she declared while brushing a sweaty tuft of his hair out of his face. “I want everything you come with, Joel. And when I say everything - I mean everything. The whole package.”

She might’ve not said Sarah’s name, but he knew that’s what she meant.

His lips parted, amazed by how easily the words came out of her mouth. That was the first time a woman had ever acknowledged that he came as a two-for-one deal without even a hint of cynicism in their tone. Obviously, Joel realized a kid was a lot to take on. Especially since Lisa wasn’t in the picture at all, but there were some women who made it sound like Sarah was baggage, which was insane. Sarah was the best part of him.

Speechless, Joel kissed her firmly on the mouth. It was warm and sweet and surging through his chest like an electric current. This is what it was supposed to be like. He could feel her lips break into a smile before he pulled away.

“Stay here. Let me get you cleaned up.”

She laid back on the bed without argument, and he disappeared into the bathroom. Joel stuffed the condom into the tin-foil wrapper, then buried it under wads of tissues and empty toilet paper rolls at the bottom of the trash can, just in case Sarah used his bathroom. He didn’t want her to see that.

After cleaning himself up, he returned with a warm, damp washcloth. She looked pleasantly surprised, a little shocked. Wordlessly, she parted her legs with enough space for him to fit.

“Such a gentleman,” she finally said after he gently wiped down her thighs.

“Maybe.” He moved over her tender, swollen folders with even more caution. “Or maybe I just wanted to get a closer look.”

He winked and she giggled.

“You had your face buried down there like twenty minutes ago - don’t think you can get much closer than that.”

True. Joel snorted and tossed the washcloth into his laundry hamper. He went over to his dresser and dug out an old, oversized t-shirt from the bottom of his drawer.

“Caught this at a Longhorns game from one of those t-shirt cannons,” he said when handing her the folded shirt with her panties on top.

“Ooooooh impressive.” She playfully wiggled her brows, just slightly taunting him. He didn’t expect anything less.

His boxers from earlier were still damp, so he put on a fresh pair.

“So, what time are you picking Sarah up?” she asked, seemingly waiting to bring up his kid until he wasn't butt-ass naked.

“Actually, she’s staying at her friend’s house tonight.”

“Well, that’s interesting.”

Joel hummed his response. He was grabbing a pair of sweatpants from the closet when suddenly the home phone on the nightstand lit up, ringing. Only solicitors called that phone, anymore – shit, his cellphone was downstairs.

He would’ve ignored it, but what if it was Sarah?

Joel raced to the phone with his pants still clutched in his hand. Once he saw the caller ID, he groaned.

“It’s Tommy.”

She nodded for him to answer, and so he did. Very reluctantly. “Hello?” Joel swore if Tommy was in jail again, he was going to let him rot there until next week.

“Hey there, Joel.” Definitely not jail – too happy. “What’s going on?”

“Uh,” Joel paused and looked at his bed where Teddy was laying in only his t-shirt and a pair of panties. What a beautiful sight. He couldn’t help but laugh to himself; Tommy wouldn’t believe him even if he told the truth. Joel tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder, so he could put on his pants. “Nothing.”

Teddy grinned at him like they were teenagers lying to their parents.

“Nothing? Huh?” Tommy snorted. “Then what’s Teddy’s car doing in your driveway?”

Oh no.

Joel nearly tripped over his pant leg on his way to the window. The street lights were on, but the sky was still a light enough blue where he could clearly see Tommy standing in the driveway, waving with a classic little brother grin on his face. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I was coming by to drag your ass out and wait - are you fucking shirtless?”

Joel cursed, backing away from the window like it burned him. The cover was blown and he hoped Teddy didn’t mind, but it wasn’t his fault that his brother came over uninvited. He looked at her and she was just smiling, appearing wildly amused.

She shrugged, then yelled. “Hi Tommy.”

Tommy howled in his ear, loud enough that he could hear it through the glass. She immediately burst out laughing, no longer having to hide. Joel shook his head, but he couldn’t even be annoyed or mad. Not right now.

“You dirty dog.”

Fucking Tommy.

#pedro pascal fanfiction #joel miller x f!reader #joel miler x reader #joel miller fanfiction #last of us fanfiction #joel the last of us #joel x reader #joel miller

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gatorbites-imagines · 2 years

Text

Kinktober Day 22

Dick Grayson + Spit/Drool

I can’t believe I’ve written 22 things of smut at this point, how did I get here. Why did I write this? I don’t know. Enjoy.

Kinktober list.

- You and Dick Grayson did not get along, at all. Always butting heads and giving each other stinkeye. You had both been placed on the titans team, him as Robin and you as Green Arrows second sidekick alongside Roy.

- As you grow older your rivalry with Dick goes from petty childhood arguments, to painting each other’s weapons bright pink, putting glitter in the others suits, “misplacing” documents the other needed and alike.

- One thing you both had in common was how your relationships with your mentors kinda went to shit. Though unlike Dick you never really regained any kind of relationship with Oliver outside of a professional one when it came to hero work.

- Roy and you were like brothers since you had both been with Oliver at the same time, and your brother from another mother could just not understand why you despised Dick so much.

- He had listened to you rant about the boy wonder so many times, about how arrogant and cocky he was. He had watched you almost ripping out your hair because of your frustrations with the other man.

- You had left the league when you were younger, shortly after you were dumped by Oliver. You had been so angry you had left fuming and not looked back.

- You still rarely worked with the league years later, still feeling some anger at how they had just allowed Oliver to throw you out like that. None of them had even tried talking to you over all these years.

- It was first when you had started to make a name for yourself as a less than friendly vigilante that any of them searched you out. And that was only because you had nothing against killing and were hanging around the likes of Deathstroke and Lady Shiva.

- Deathstroke and Lady Shiva had become somewhat of mentors to you. You already knew how to use a bow and arrow, so they taught you many other weapons and ways of fighting, though you still preferred the bow.

- When you returned to the hero world you had worn a mask and rarely spoke, and it took Roy recognizing your way of pulling and shooting an arrow to figure out who you were. The two of you hadn’t spoken in a long time but your brotherhood continued on with no problem.

- You still hated Dick Grayson though, an argument breaking out between the two of you not even 15 minutes after you had seen each other again for the first time in years.

- Your rivalry like relationship continued on like before everything, though you had both cut down on the pranks and were just passive aggressive towards each other. Everyone in the league knew not to place Nightwing anywhere near you, as you weren’t part of the league and told them to suck it when they tried to give you orders.

- You had set up shop for a short while in Bludhaven because of a contract to stalk out and slowly take out a list of people over multiple months. It paid enough money that you weren’t gonna question the motive, money was money to you.

- To your extreme annoyance it turned out Dick went to the same gym as you, and he looked like he was gonna start another fight the moment you spotted each other across the gym, but he thought better of it and left you alone.

- It was a 24-hour gym, which was great since you worked out during the night, turns out that’s also what Dick tended to do. Unluckily for you both, no one else seemed to want to work out past midnight meaning you two were alone most of the time.

- Something happened between you both during the workouts, you both checked the other out in more than just a sizing up kind of way. You started to wear looser sleeveless shirts, showing off your muscles. And Dick started wearing shorter and tighter shorts, showing off that famous ass of his.

- Whatever it was that was growing between you, it seemed to boil over one day. It started after Dick showed up in shorts that left nothing to the imagination, and you were working out shirtless, scars from your lifestyle on display.

- You could feel him taking in your torso, like he could feel you looking over his legs and behind. For some reason an argument broke out between you, and soon you were standing chest to chest, faces a few inches apart as you growled at each other.

- Something snapped inside you and soon you had Dick up against a wall, tongue shoved into his mouth and hand gripping his chin to hold him in place as you devoured him.

- You half expected him to deck you across the face and send you flying, but instead he fisted your hair and pulled you closer, his tongue curling against your own until spit was pooling up and dripping down your chins.

- Wrenching away from him, a string of spit followed between the tips of your tongues. Wiping the back of your hand over your mouth you told him you were going to the showers, leaving it up to him to understand what you meant.

- It didn’t take long for you to hear him follow close behind you, the vigilante panting softly from your earlier kissing.

- You reached the changing rooms first and immediately started undressing, throwing your workout clothes carelessly to the side and made your way into a stall, one of those ones with curtains around them.

- Soon Dick followed you inside and you didn’t let him even get a word in before you shoved him chest first against the wall, immediately dropping to your knees behind him as you grabbed his cheeks and pulled them apart.

- Dick moaned and arched his back to press his hips further back, a groan leaving him as you spat a drop of spit on his hole before leaning in to drag your tongue over it. He grew hard quickly as you slobbered all over his hole, spit gathering until it started dripping down onto the floor underneath you.

- You were quick to get fingers inside him and stretch him open, moving faster than you normally would with a partner, but this wasn’t a pleasant night after a date, this was years of frustration having built up until you both snapped.

- Since you had no access to lube you made sure to get as much spit as you could in and around his hole, using it to ease the way for your fingers.

- When Dick was as stretched as you could get him in such a short time you got to your feet and spat into your palm before rubbing it all over your own erection. Grabbing onto his shoulder you pushed him further into the wall as you used your other hand to lead your cock into his hole.

- You both groaned as you pressed inside, the lack of lube making the action burn to a certain degree. Gathering spit in your mouth you spat it down where the two of you were connected to help ease the way more, giving a couple of quick short thrusts to spread the spit.

- When you were fully inside you leant in until your chest was resting against Dicks back and started moving your hips as a fast and rough pace, a wet squelching filling the room alongside the sound of your hips meeting his ass and your noises of pleasure.

- Dicks jaw dropped as he almost screamed when you rammed right against his prostate. You were quick to shove your fingers into his mouth, the other man wrapping his tongue around them as he started sucking on them like they were your cock.

- Spit gathered in his mouth and spilled past, down your hand and wrist and dripping down his chin. Dick was struggling to swallow all the drool in his mouth as you kept fucking him, your pace not letting up as your hips shoved him harder into the wall.

- As you could already feel your orgasm growing close, you removed your hand from Dicks mouth and used the now spit covered appendage to wrap it around the other man’s hardness. Dick let out a throaty moan as you immediately started jerking him off in the same pace as your hips hammered away at him.

- Shoving in as deep as possible you came, making sure to get as much of your cum as you could inside the other man, wanting to paint him with as much as you seed as possible. You never let up your wrists movements and soon Dick came too, white spurting out of him and hitting the wall in front of him.

- You didn’t wait for him to gather himself before pulling out, watching as his hole clenched around nothing and white dribbled out. Rolling your eyes at your rival you gathered more spit in your mouth and spat on his hole, watching as Dick gave a full body jerk and moan at the action.

- Dick gasped as you pat one of your palms against his ass and told him to clean up before leaving, his legs still feeling uneasy as his rival left him there, dripping and dirty. He could hear you use another shower to clean up, and it was only after you seemed to have left to get dressed that he started cleaning himself up.

- As Dick came out of the shower to dry off and get dressed, you shot him a shiteating grin before leaving and he knew he would have to get you back for this. Smirking to himself as he pulled on his boxers, he knew he could barely wait to see you again.

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miguel-ohara-wifey · 3 months

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Hi, I’ve been bingeing your Miguel 18+ works and wondering if you’ve done a breeding kink Miguel yet. I was thinking naybe he wants to start a family with y/n 🫣

Yes I have! But I can do that request all the same! I added some kinks of my own *twirls hair* nothing too out there just MMM I did go kinda crazy with this one just hadn’t gotten a request in a while thank you again 🥺🥺🥺

Mating season

Miguel O’Hara x fem!Reader

Warnings: 18+, breeding kink, baby making, unprotected sex, clothes ripping, missionary, against wall sex, rough dom Miguel, dirty talking, prestablished relationship, floor sex, scratching, porn without plot, oral sex, talk of pregnancy

“I can’t wait-“

Before you can ask what Miguel means he tears into your year old black silk dress. Exposing the left side of your bra and panties to the air of his fancy apartment.

“Miguel-“ you squealed at his actions before he silenced you with his mouth and tongue.

“I’ll buy you a new one-“ he breathed out in between making rags of your dress and kissing you silly.

All further objections or noises from you were now swallowed by his mouth. His tongue like so many times before mapping out under and around your tongue. Painting each of your lips in shared spit as he continues destroying the expensive birthday present he gave you last year.

You don’t know what got him so railed up but you won’t be complaining. As you made quick work of his tie and the buttons of his white shirt. By that time he’s ripped you down to just your bra and underwear. The shreds of whats left of your outfit for the evening litter the floor between your feet. He violently shakes his suit jacket off of himself.

Now he’s stripping his chest and abs bare before you. His shoulders alone tower over you, a perfect frame for a beautiful tapestry of skin and muscles. Being his abs and olive colored skin. Finally the insatiable burn he puts on your skin with his isn’t interrupted by clothes. Your fingers instinctively start to draw the lines between his muscles on his body. Your bedroom eyes find one another as he finalizes the tedious work of getting naked. By zipping his fly down and unbuckling his belt. His pants join the ankle deep lake of clothes now in the hallway proceeding your front door.

What made the situation all the more exciting was anyone could walk down of the hallway of your front door. It’s a penthouse so not as many neighbors or potential noise complaints but. A staff member or a delivery person could easily hear the throes of passion between you two. Your screaming of Miguel’s name as he breaks things to get you to come faster. And based on your husbands expression it’s about to get naughtier.

He drops to his knees, the same reverence and adoration mixed in with his brown eyes. As when he got on one knee to propose. It makes your heart skip a beat despite the filth of the situation. You now feel his pearly white teeth drag your panties down to your mid-thighs. Not fully off your body but it gives him room to circle your cunt with his mouth.

He begins with a kiss then starts his work of licking your gummy walls with just his tongue. Your chest heaves up and down as your bra captured most of the sweat already forming on your skin. You can feel his fangs just barely not cutting you. Brushing alongside the hills of your flesh while he fucks you with just his tongue.

A wolf feasting on his willing prey, his claws now extends out from his finger tips. He’s careful not to draw blood from you as he explores the curves of your legs above where his heads positioned. The claws always retract from his bones whenever he’s aroused enough, at first the fact made sex difficult. Now it’s just a fun bonus for you two.

He starts physically but lightly pumping his face against your womanhood. Just to scoop his tastebuds deeper and deeper inside of you. Poking at your G spot, doing laps of every inch of your insides as his tongue can reach. He wants all your juices in his mouth. To have your flavor always one play with his tongue away. He starts purring in between your legs, the sweat now drips down from your forehead.

Chipping away the wall paint behind you with your finger nails. As your husband with his mouth alone makes the coil in your stomach tighten and tighten. Everything below your flesh is on fire and your brain can’t hold a thought even if it had handles. He retracts only to say

“You’re gorgeous….my wife, my queen, my Angel….I wish I had more of you….” Running out of breath, because he’d gather eat your pussy then put oxygen in his lungs. And it pays off as your whines certainly breach past the locked mahogany door. The only barrier between you and the public. Anyone walking but would hear you crying for him to keep going.

It gets you both going more, his routine inspection of the spot past your walls that sends fire throughout your body numbs. You cum in his mouth, getting weak in the knees and legs. Unable to feel any of your muscles as your man gave you one of the best climaxes of your entire relationship. He licks in the middle of your hips like you’re the finest dish he’s ever eaten. He stands up, pushing aside some of your clothes with his feet.

He levitates your tiredness by hoisting each of your thighs into each of his grip. Running your back higher against the wall to support the position. Crossing your forearms against each side of his shoulders you two blowing the hot air from your labored breaths against each other’s faces. Miguel’s lands a kiss on you.

As intimate and slow as your dance on your wedding day. When he breaks away, aligning his large cock against your readied entrance. You request,

“Baby go get a condom…”

He looks up at you, disappointed

“Can we do this without that, just for tonight bebita…”

Post nut clarity kicked in; mentioning wishing he had more of you, getting so eager he fucks you right in this hallway, wanting to not use a condom. How his attitude changed when the waiter at the fancy restaurant assumed you two had kids. It all became so clear. Right as the conclusion reached your mind it landed right in between you and your husband.

“Baby are you trying to get me pregnant?”

He was stunned, his entire body went stiff as the embarrassment of what his answer was reached his face.

“No….yes…”

You two had discussed children when you were in the middle of dating. You both expressed where you were at, and it wasn’t to have kids. You two had so much going on and too little money to invest in having a family. At the time neither you had reason to think anything would change. But they had, and for a while.

Miguel’s higher up in the company now; Greater pay and power to decide how he works. You’re in a good spot with your career as well, pursing what you’re passionate about most. You’re both financially and emotionally secure in your relationship. And content in your individual lives to boot. So now kids being brought back into your minds….

Shame eats away at Miguel’s expression, he didn’t realize that’s what had him so riled up. You can read him better than he can read himself. Before he can even place you down you grab his attention again.

“I’ll stop taking my birth control-“

He leers his head up at you, a mixed bag of emotions clouds his face. But a smile curves under his nose regardless, saying the quiet part out loud.

“I want to have a family with you.”

You roughly message his scalp with your right fingers as you whisper back

“Then put a baby in me-“ you almost ordered

The message was received, he bottoms out all the way into you faster than you can catch up.

“AAH MIGUEL!”

He adjusts your position, he sandwich’s you harder in between himself and the wall. His claws now fully make the paint bleed the color of the dry wall as he braces himself beside your head. His lower body strength now pins you completely against said wall. So his hips can jerk in and out at wild abandon.

Your legs now arching over his large arms, his superhuman stamina and strength pulling off a position most wouldn’t even consider. But he does it on a whim and at your demand without a second thought.

The veins of his dick you become intimately familiar with all over again, with the veins of his muscles popping into view from under his skin. He’s making this a work out, but if it means making you both come as much as he can. He’ll do it.

He doesn’t slow down, he plants his claws deeper into the walls. It’s not uncommon for Miguel to leave you sore but you know at this rate he’ll bruise you. But you barely notice.

The pleasure of the act is unlike anything else, you barely feel when bottom of the tip of his penis isn’t in your G spot. His precum shoving itself in between himself and your walls. Meanwhile the juices of your earlier climax mixed in and start dropping onto the floor. Not to mention he grunts like a dog, what he’s doing to you is loving. Even when he’s fucking you like he doesn’t.

“Jesus Christ-AAH Miguel-mhpf oh god…”

You cried out, his only response was grunting louder and going at the exact same pace. He didn’t hear you objecting, and your pleas to him were only making him hornier. He needs to make sure it takes and that you only feel his cock.

Rearranging your insides, bullying your cunt along the way and all you can do is cry like a bitch in heat. Some part of him hopes this alone doesn’t get you pregnant. So he can make you his over and over and over again.

Your mutual orgasms are fast approaching, you can feel the ghost of over stimulation making its way across your face. His thrusting slows, likely to give himself a break and to make the climax all the more intimate. He closes the already minimal space between your bodies. Huddling his head into your shoulders cloaking your body under his own.

He makes the final three pushing of his hips against yours slower. Panting meekly into your ear, reminding himself this is how he’ll be a father again. You two cum while he’s inside of you, now you can’t feel any part of your body but the breaking of pleasure against his own. You two were positioned against the wall afterword for a few more moments. Panting, sweating, and close still. He finally speaks again

“One more time bebita…just one more.” He’s desperate, his tone is between begging and demanding. You smile at him, cupping the left side of his face with your face reassuring.

“Yes, as many times as it takes…” he smiles so innocently despite being balls deep inside of you still. He exits swiftly, lifting you up just enough to pin you between the fluffy white rug on the wooden hallway floor and himself.

“Don’t have time to take this to bed, gonna have to do it here again.” He loiters over you, wrapping your arms around his neck again to be sure he’s still close. You kiss him giggling against his mouth “of course-“

Seven and a half months later

You slowly creak open the front door of your new home, the palette of light blues and cozy greys wraps itself around your vision like warm blanket. Your face glows in excitement

“It looks even better than what we saw on the photos!”

Miguel drags himself and all your bags behind him as he scuffs through the door. He places them all on the floor beside the door saying.

“Yeah…agreed.”

His sore hands from driving for hours and now carrying all those bags finds his hips. Taking in the sight, you turn to him. Your large belly bump in full view with your large pregnancy robe on. You go in for a hug, he cradles you into his chest as you him against his heart beat.

“I’m so happy.”

He’s always been susceptible to your smile, he mimics it kissing your forehead.

“Good thing we got four floors, that would be a lot of space for just three…”

You cackle, playfully smacking him

“Miguel! This one is your fault, and now you want another!?”

“Okay okay one at a time…”

#18+#Miguel O’Hara #miguel ohara #Spider-Man 2077 #spiderverse #spiderverse 2 #Miguel O’Hara x fem!reader #miguel ohara x fem!reader #requested writing #Drabble

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lady-ashfade · 1 year

Text

The Song Behind Bars.

Six of crows x Fem!reader.

(Reader being…Well, you’ll see.)

Notes: honestly had a very small idea and it turned into this. I’ve been editing this for a while, it’s 5:45 am here…So sorry for the mistakes.

The readers appearance: Purple eyes, purple spots. Other then that you look as you do.

Warnings: Blood, killing, and I mean a lot of killing, gory, kinda bad writing but I was trying sometimes new, the crows being hurt, the reading being held hostage, the reader being powerful as hell. Spelling mistakes.

“Do you remember where the door is?” Kaz asked the smaller boy beside him, his voice hushed a quiet. “Hmm, the one on the left of the bar.” Wylan played with the collor of his shirt, it was itchy and tighter then he had wanted.

But he had to look the part, they all did. Kaz was wasn’t that much different then what he usually dresses like. In fact all of the clothes he had on were in his dresser beside his bed, but he rarely touched them. His vest black and silver, his coat black but the sleeves wived with red silk, matching his button up shirt underneath. And normal black pants, his favorite pair actually.

“What do you think is going to be showed?” Wylan asked curiously. “I don’t care as long as we get the necklace.” Kaz was quick to reply and end the conversation. But wylan wasn’t satisfied but he stay quiet and let his own mind wonder.

Soon they spit up, wylan going straight and into the workers room and kaz to the entrance with all the other visitors. He had been giving a marker to say what number he was. It was a auction, a hard one to get into but their place was already payed for. A man needed this necklace stole, not payed for.

Nina was standing behind the bar, cleaning the cups that were going to be used. The place was packed with the wealthiest people and the killers, a perfect match. But she was there to get them all out, since she had access to the back door, the only way out.

“I must say I look devilishly handsome.” Jesper popped his collor and sat down at the table with kaz. Kaz just rolled his eyes and looked around at room.

He looked up at the railing and saw Inej carefully hiding in the dark, he smirked and looks down before anyone caught him. “This suit fits me so well, the violent feeling- Oh, thank Nina for picking it out.” Jesper went on about himself.

Soon began the showing. Small items of value were first to get the audiences wanting more, some old paintings and weapons. Kaz was keeping his eye out for the necklace but it was never shown. Wylan come over with a tray of drinks in his hands and set glasses down, he smiled at them like he did all the other people and walked off to the next. Kaz looked down at the glass and saw a small note under, smirking he had a peek at it.

“The workers say the showcase is almost over, they are acting suspiciously. We were told to all leave when the sword of bran comes out, I think this whole thing might be a trap. -Nina.”

Glancing back at the bar Nina stared at him with worry in her eyes. She looked over at the door to hint at him to leave, kaz shook his head and looked back at the stage. Jesper asked what was wrong and he was givin the note. He thought it could also be a trap but also wanted to stay, he did love the food.

“Next up, The sword of bran.” The man shouted as he was given a covered blank and set it on the showcase. “The great black sword of Bran Helster himself, he used to kill the golden king.” The speaker man pulled the cover to reveal the big sword. Kaz noticed the men that guarded the stage lean over to talk to one another.

Next was the workers who left their place and the crowd to head in the back, nina and a man behind the bar stayed in place. The man with a black beard beside Nina whispered something to her and placed something in her hand. Nina’s face drop and went into a slight panic, she looked at kaz with worry. “We need to leave.” She mouthed at him.

He was never one to like a failed plan, the price for this job was high. Whatever was going to happen his crew could take it, all they need was that damn necklace. “It’s seeming like a trap.” Jesper keep his voice low and he earned a glare from kaz.

Wylan was no longer where he needed to be, but he couldn’t go back because it would look suspicious. Nina didn’t know what was about to happen or why she needed earplugs. But it wasn’t going to be good.

Once the bidding for the sword was done the man went off to the side and talk to someone. He smiled and walked back as the lights dimmed, and a sound of something being moved was slightly heard. “Now ladies and gentlemen, we come to a close for the night with a big ending.” He clapped his hands together.

“For hundreds of years we have wondered if saints were real, until the sun summoner appeared. What I have today was only a tale in story books, but what we have here is real.” He flashed one last smile before the lights came back on and something big hid under a cover. Kaz leaned up and so did jesper, this was very strange and to big to be what they wanted.

“The Seducer of the sea.” The cover was pulled off to reveal a big cage, one that would hold a bird but it was too big. At it was not a bird who was trapped in it. A woman with a short dress stood in the cage. Gasp throughout the crowd as they looked at her skin, purple spots over her legs. The people in the first row could see the color of her eyes, the same color as the spots.

“She could make sweet music with her voice, one that draws you in and could make anyone fall into her trap.” But that was ironic as she was the one in the trap. Kaz should have known what was coming but he was to focus on the shiny thing wrapped around her neck. She was wearing what they had come for.

“Is that?..” Jesper trailed off and kaz only gave a slight nod. “How are we going to get that?” But Kaz didn’t have a answer. This was not planned for and but he could work around it, he just needed a moment.

“And you might be wondering if I’m telling the truth. How could you tell if she is what we say?” He spoke and moved to the end of the stage. “She is has a song, we have train her well.” And with the he hopped out of sight. The men below put their hands up to their ears. Nina hated it but she did as she was told and put in the earplugs before the girl could sing. She had to stay out of it so she could get out the others.

The girl opened her mouth and a beautiful voice came out, it was so intoxicating. Kaz tried to cover his ears but it didn’t work because he already wanted more. Jesper was count up in her voice and stared at her, eyes going blank until kaz was too. That’s when something else was heard, screams like torture souls tried to break them. It was to loud for everyone.

Whatever was happening was having more of a affected on them. Blood started to leak out of the crowds ears and eyes, it was crushing everything from the inside. “Shit.” Lucky it wasn’t as bad for kaz and Jesper yet, since they sat in the back but Nina had to acted fast. She looked over to the man beside her and hit him in the face as hard as she could. He fall into the floor and she apologized and took off his plugs and ran to her friends. She place on in each ear, but she only had two.

She heard shouting behind her and looked back as the guards jump on the stage. The crowd of people fell from the seats from blood lose and the eyes in their heads popping. Blood started to leak from Jesper eyes and kazs ears bled more. “Saints, I’m sorry.” She said and stuck her finger into their uncover ears to try block out the noise.

On stage they pointed their guns at the girl who turned to them, her voice stopped and she looked at them. She smirked at them as if they had no real power over her. A roaring scream came out of her lungs and pointed her powers at them, only them and enough to get passed the earplugs. Within seconds they had dropped to the floor with bursts eyes.

Nina shook her friends and tried to wake them up, she looked to to see if Inej was still alive but she saw no one. She prayed she wasn’t dead and on the floor. Huffing she raised her hands up to kazs cheeks and strike it, hoping to wake him up. “Wake up!” She shouted. Kaz slowly opened his eyes and took a second to realize what had happen. Wylan poked his head out of the door and saw the people on the floor and a unconscious Jesper, he ran quickly over. Not caring for anything else.

“Jesper.” Wylan grabbed ahold of his boyfriends arm and shook him as tears picked up in his eyes. “Jesper! Wake up.” He wiped off the blood off his cheeks and eyes. He was still alive, his chest falling and his heartbeat still beating for Nina to hear. Kaz groaned when he sat up, his head hurt like something was crushing his skull. And his ears were ringing and wouldn’t stop.

“Hands up!” The group turned to the sound of men. They stared down the barrels of guns that were pointed at them, more guards have shown up. “Look, we have no clue what’s happening.” Nina push towards them back but backed up as they shouted at her. There was no way to get out, no where to run. If they tried to make a run for it they would be shot, kaz knew that. Jesper was out and it would be hard to carry him back.

Humming caught all of their ears and guns were no longer pointed at them but behind them. They a looked at the girl how had a sharp look, her hips swaying as she stared at the armed men. She looked mad. She sang again and the men tried to fight it but couldn’t move their fingers to pull the triggers. The crows covered their ears to keep her out of their heads but they soon realized it wasn’t affecting them. Nina threw jespers arm over her shoulder and wylan followed her.

Kaz looked at the necklace the mystery woman had on. “Kaz, let’s go.” Nina broke him out of his his trance. “We need that necklaces.” Even as he almost died, he still had his eyes on the price. Nina huffed at him and went to yell at him but the sounds of bones cracking stopped her. The guards necks twisted and fell on the ground, the woman hands up and smirked at the lifeless bodies below her. The crows hearts stop when she looked over at the team.

“Where am I?” She asked calmly, no aggression in her voice like she didn’t just slaughter many. “Ketterdam.” Kaz replied because he was not afraid as the others, but he was wary. The woman hummed in response and looked at the unconscious man. “He’ll live.” They wanted to smack her, they already knew that. Wylan wanted to yell at her because this was her fault but he stood no chance.

She looked away from them and walked away not interested in them anymore. They were no threat to her and she considered them innocent. Her mind started to run and her stomach began to turn. Killer. Killer. Killer. Her inner voice scream as she tries not to look at the blood on the ground. She did what she had to do to get away. She opened the door to leave, as soon as it was open and before she could react, she was hit with something and her mind blacked out.

Her body feel back onto the floor and Inej steps over her body, nose having a small bleed but that was it. “Hope I wasn’t to late.” She looked over at her friends and their face washed with relief that she was still alive. “You’re okay.” Nina shouted. Inej nodded and then she saw Jesper. Inej rushed over and looked concerned, “He’ll live.” Wylan said. Kaz walked over with a tight grip on his cane to keep himself up.

He looked down at the girl below him. He remembered the stories of the women who lived out in the waters, killing the men on bouts. Their looks just as beautiful as their songs, but a ugliness inside. She was clearly beautiful, and he had seen the darkest and witness her song. She was a siren but she had no tail, and gills. He leaned down despite the pain and grabbed ahold of the necklace.

“Fuck.” He shouted as a pain shot through him, it was shocking and felt horrible. He let go of the necklace as soon as he grabbed ahold of it. Kaz tried picking it up with his cane but just it traveled through it.

“We need to leave.” Inej came beside him. Kaz looked at her and to the others who carried Jesper, already heading to the door.

“She comes with us.”

#six of crows #the six of crows #the six of crows x reader #six of crows x reader #shadow and bone x reader #kaz brekke #kaz brekker x reader #wylan van eck #wylan van eck x reader #jesper fahey #jesper fahey x reader #inej x reader #inej ghafa x reader #inej ghafa #nina zenik #nina zenik x reader #matthias helvar #Matthias helvar x reader

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misty-zzz · 3 months

Text

Chapter 9

Finally writing block had let me go, off to its next victim 🤷

It’s a tad bit of a shorter chapter, but I think it’s a nice one :)

The Wubbox offered its gifts. Shiney clear stones, filled with potential. Dragong steals them right as he lays eyes on the valuables. He shut his eyes, but his concentration was halted by Auglur. They motioned some towards Dragong, he immediately remembers what he’s supposed to do. Not for the gems. He places the three gems on the goopy ground, and clears his throat.

“Thank you… for these supplies…” his eyes scatter around, avoiding any sort of eye contact. Auglur pushes him foward. “And, uhm- these will be a great help for me, and… I am appreciative of it.” He smiles quite awkwardly. Auglur eyes hint in a faint smile. Can’t tell too much of emotion in a floating eyeball flower. Tootoo smiles back, “It’s our pleasure!” She says.

“Anyways, back to this, I’ve finally remembered what I had to do.” Dragong crushes the crystals under his weight. He continued until it was fine dust — but it was just what he needed. He gathers the pile of dust up, and spits right into his palm. This is what magic is like for the monsters. A tad bit strange, but what’s needed.

Fiddlement seemed a tad bit disgusting by the now ball of spit and fine dust. Dragong carefully shapes the mixture into a round fire emblem, somehow able to with his cymbal hands. “Magic for us is weird. I’m not sure how our ancestors found out about this.” Dragong finished the reshaping of the mixture. So he does as he remembers, and places it on top of his forehead.

The orange sludge seeps into his skin and scales, his eyes are shut, and there was a faint glow of red radiating from him. His eyes peel back open. His magic was back, at least for fire balls.

“Did it work?! Fiddlement eagerly tilted forward. Dragong moves over to an area with no one. He draws out the same symbol mid air.

The symbol makes a light carve in the air, quickly becoming a cloud of fire. It shoots out, blasting the wall of the workshop. Gunks of the wall goop fly in every direction. “I did it!” Dragong’s wings burst up. “Oh how I missed magic!” He grins with his sharp teeth.

There were a couple of more explosions from Dragong. Eventually they decided the time had to come. Dragong was going to leave the hole. He’ll miss the triple element ethereals, sadly they aren’t able to join along.

“Don’t tell them about us.” Auglur plead the four. “I don’t want us to be found out by the mythicals. Especially after all I’ve heard from Dragong.” She sighs. “I promise, only we will know.” Tootoo assured her.

“Maybe I’ll come back here every once in a while.” Dragong thought out loud.

They headed off to the outside. Finally Dragong will smell some fresh air. For someone who had been trapped in a cave for so long, he really was a bundle of energy. He bounces on the walls, exploding everything in his path. The only area Wubbox forced Dragong to stop was the areas with the cave paintings.

Along this area, Dragong had a moment to slow down. “Sorry about that, way earlier.” He starts apologizing for seemingly nothing. “For what?” Fiddlement questioned. “That thing with auglur, how she made me say thank you and that stuff.” Dragong grumbled. “We’ve been working on our manners, I guess.” He went on “We knew that eventually we would have to see other monsters eventually. And we didn’t want them to see us as rude or anything.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with that!” Tootoo exclaimed. “I’d rather have someone be kind than to be mean when I first meet them!”

“I guess I just kinda saw it as awkward.” Dragong drags along the dirt path.

With a few back rides on Dragong, and a whole lot of walking. They had done it. Now Dragong will reintroduce himself. A new era for him!

He takes his last breath of cave air, and his first in a while of ethereal air. But everything besides the air was ethereal. A group of monsters stood a couple of feet away.

“A little tweedle told me that someone was going inside that cave.” Laughed the small, stout, orange monster. “Is that-”

“The mythicals!” Dragong cuts off Tootoo. “Why in the name of galvana are you here?” Dragong snapped. He hated that Buzzinga. “For you, of course. Eventually you would wake up, we knew it wasn’t permanent.” The edges of his mouth curl. Something bad was about to happen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some silly notes::::

GUYSSSSS AAAAAHHAHAHAH

I’m SO excited to write the next chapter, FIGHTING AND ARGUING, LETSSS GOOOO!!!!

Also I kinda want to write a part 2 to fate of the stars, but then there’s another one shot in my mind too. Augahagah. I think I’ll write part 2 when all the adult celestials are released. Okay I think I’m going to go insane. 💃🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼💃🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼

#msm #my singing monsters #broken titan au #msm broken titan #msm au #au #fanfic #fanfiction

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perpetualimaginings · 1 year

Note

How about bamon: things get awkward after their divorce and they have to spend one of the kids birthday together for the kids but they still are kinda irritated with each other? Lol I just found you I’ve read all your fics on archiveofourown!

I'm responding to this so very late, I apologise!! Such a fun prompt - thank you so much 🖤 Am very tempted to expand on it as a one shot...

"Who is that ?" Dylan's mom spits the curly straw out of her mouth, spraying cola (and Malibu) onto Bonnie's arm. She's oggling the dark haired man swaggering into the party hall - black jeans and matching tee accessorised with the silver aviators Bonnie once thought were sexy as hell. Past tense.

"My ex husband," she grits out, and marches over to him.

"What are you doing here?"

Damon grins down at her, revelling in her annoyance already. "Diego wanted me to come."

"You could have texted."

He shrugs. "I did. I texted Maeve."

Bonnie fights back an audible groan, "I meant me, not our eleven year old." She gestures at the rather fancy box of chocolates in his hand, "Are those for Diego because you know he can't have-"

"They're for you," he holds them out to her, "For organising all of this." He notices the banner Bonnie had painted, hanging along the opposite wall. "I see your art skills haven't improved."

"Better than yours ever were," she retorts, scratching at the plastic film around the box. It does not go unnoticed by him.

"Wait until you see the card I designed for-"

"DAD!" Diego interrupts the almost familiar flow of banter. She's relieved, only the tiniest bit disappointed.

"Hey big man!" Damon laughs, as her, their, now eight year old barrels into him. "Wow, nice face paint."

"You need some too!" Diego, the dinosaur, commands.

"No, no, I don't think-"

And Bonnie can't resist saying: "Daddy would have to take his sunglasses off for that."

And Damon can't resist pushing them off his face, into his har...and winking.

His eyes are still the same startling shade of blue they've always been. In fact, the age folding at the seams only makes them bluer.

Diego drags him away towards the face paint table, yabbering to the poor teen she hired that Dad HAS to be a tiger. When Damon catches her eye and quirks a challenging brow, her eyes flicker upwards, on instinct. When she glances back at him, he's smirking.

Bonnie pops a chocolate in her mouth and decides it's time to prepare the cake.

You're totally watching my ass, she thinks, smirking too.

#bamon #bamon fanfic #bamily #bamon shippers club #bamon one shot #perpetualimaginings prompt

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leossmoonn · 2 years

Text

Second Worst Kisser

masterlist

pairing - eddie munson x fem!reader

type - angst, fluff

note / request - requested by anon with these prompts "don't you dare look at me that way. not now, after every vile thing we've done to each other." and "well, well, well. look who's running back into my arms. i told you that i'm irresistible, didn't i?" Hope you enjoy this!

summary - there’s more to pranking each other than you thought

warnings / includes - mild language, suggestive, make out sesh, fighting, bullying, playing pranks on each other, enemies to lovers lowk ;). this takes place pre chrissy dying and you’re 19 and a senior in high school :D

————

*gif isn’t mine*

“Oh, you cannot be serious,” you seethe as you see your locker covered in red spray paint.

“At least he can spell,” Chrissy says, trying to lighten the mood.

Your hands ball into fists. “Yeah, well he’s not going to be able to anymore.”

You stomp over to Eddie and his Hellfire club friends. You can’t help but scoff to yourself as they’re wearing those stupid Hellfire shirts they always wear. You wonder if they ever shower.

“Hey, Munson!” you exclaim. Eddie perks up, a shit-eating grin lighting up his face. “Good morning to you, too, princess.”

“The hell did you do to my locker?” you ask.

“Oh, that?” he takes a glance at the bold words written on the metal. He shrugs at you, “just was repaying you.”

“Excuse me?” you scoff. “All I did was put bugs in your locker. I didn’t call you “Hawkins’ Worst Kisser.”

Eddie sighs, “well, if the shoe fits, princess.”

You groan, “stop calling me that!”

He smirks, “don’t pretend you don’t like it.” You glare at him, gritting your teeth. “I don’t.”

He leans close to you and you can smell the weed from his lips. “Then how come you haven’t punched me, like you said you would?”

Your blink rapidly as you realize he’s so close to you. Your eyes flicker to his lips, letting your guard down for a split second before sending him a death glare again.

“Because I’m not violent. Unlike you and your cult,” you state.

“Really? Because last week you almost hit me with your car,” he says.

“But I didn’t, now did I?” you hum. “Now I’m wishing I did, though.”

“Do it then. I’d like to see you try,” he smiles.

Your eyes break from his for a split second, glancing at his lips. He notices this, his smile growing wider. You let out an infuriated huff and step back, releasing your hands from their fists.

“You better clean my locker, Munson.”

“Or what, princess?” he asks, wondering what empty threat you’re going to propose next.

“Or I’m going to light your guitar on fire,” you threaten.

Eddie knows he should be scared, but honestly, he isn’t. Your threats have always been, and always will be, just threats. Although your body is shaking from anger and you’re glaring at him so hard you might be able to make him explode if you try hard enough, he can see that in your eyes, you’re lying. There’s a playful sparkle that twinkles in your pupils, and he can see the corners of your lips twitch upwards.

He just plays it cool, knowing that if you wanted to hurt him, you would have done so already.

“Love to see that happen, princess,” he remarks. “See you in class!” he waves mockingly.

You roll your eyes and spin on your heel, walking back to Chrissy, and to Jason who must have met up with her when you were talking to Eddie.

“You okay?” Chrissy asks. “Yeah,” you sigh. You look at your locker. “I can’t believe he said this. I thought he agreed to leave it in junior high.”

“He’s a freak,” Jason spits. You frown at him. “He’s not. He’s just annoying.”

“Yeah, if that’s what you want to call him,” Jason chuckles. He wraps his arm around Chrissy. “He’s a freak, right, babe?”

Chrissy purses her lips in thought. “I mean, he’s had a hard life. I don’t think we should —”

“You’re so sweet, it hurts,” Jason interrupts her.

You roll your eyes at him. “Chrissy is right. I mean, I’ve had a hard life. Am I a freak?”

“Nope, but the fact you’re defending him kinda makes you one,” Jason states.

“Jason, shut up!” Chrissy glares at him. “I guess it kills to not be an asshole,” you flash Jason a fake smile.

He opens his mouth to talk back, but Chrissy stops him. “Let’s go to class, yeah? I’ll see you later, Y/n.”

“See ya,” you say, glaring daggers at Jason.

Chrissy looks behind her, mouthing an “I’m sorry”. You give her an understanding smile, turning around to walk to your class.

Unfortunately, you have Eddie in almost every single class. You still have no idea how Eddie can be in AP Physics when the only “science” he talks about is the little board game he plays.

“No, I’m telling you, it’s simple mathematics.” you hear him say to one of his D&D playmates. They’re younger than him. Freshman, you think.

“Better quit the cult while you’re at it, boys. Otherwise, you’re gonna turn out like that,” you point to Eddie.

“Handsome and hilarious? Why, thank you, Y/n,” Eddie hums.

“I mean annoying and lame,” you correct him.

“Hey, you’re “Hawkins’ Worst Kisser, right?” the kid with curly hair and baseball cap asks.

You shoot a glare at Eddie before turning to him again. “If that’s what people are referring to me as then sure.”

“Oh, this is her?” the black-haired kid whispers to Eddie.

You furrow your brows as Eddie says something you cannot hear. His eyes jump from you to the kid, his cheeks glowing pink.

“Nice to meet you,” the kid in the baseball cap smiles. “I’m Dustin. You know, Eddie is a great guy. He —”

“Save it, Dustin,” you cut him off. “I already know how great of a guy Eddie is. He reminds me every day.”

“I’m sure,” Dustin nods. “Hey, you should come to a Hellfire meeting! We play D&D, which is Dungeons and Dragons, if you didn’t know. We also have great snacks and listen to awesome music. You look like you’d really enjoy it.”

“Henderson!” Eddie exclaims. “Leave the lady alone. She’s already been terrorized enough today.”

“Actually,” you contradict, “I enjoy talking to him. He is healing me from all the pain you have caused me.”

Eddie scoffs, “well, whoop-de-do.”

You turn back to Dustin. “I’m afraid I’ll have to decline your offer as being so close to Eddie literally takes seconds off of my lifespan, but thank you. You seem like a nice kid. Don’t get mixed in with the wrong crowd, though.”

“Oh, trust me, I steer clear from them,” Dustin beams.

You smile a little, glancing over to Eddie who is still talking to the other kid. “Seems like it.”

You meet up with Chrissy after school ends. You’re her ride home and she has cheer practice, so you usually end up staying at school until 6 pm.

“Fancy seeing you here.”

You look up from your math homework, smiling in surprise as you see Steve. You get up and walk down the bleachers. “I could say the same thing about you, graduate.”

Steve shrugs with a smile. “I have nothing better to do in this deadbeat town. Except for visiting my favorite senior.”

“Don’t let Robin hear you,” you joke. You walk up and hug him, melting into his comforting warmth.

You and Steve were friends the last year of his high school year. You two weren’t the best of friends, you never hung out outside of school, but you two had a multitude of classes together. You two got partnered for a project once and that ended up being the first of many.

“How’s your year going?” Steve asks as he pulls away.

“Great! I can’t believe it’s almost over,” you say. “Better enjoy it while it lasts,” Steve says.

You shrug, “I’m happy to be getting out of this place.”

“Yeah, but then all you’ll be doing is working and wondering if you should apply to your dream colleges or not,” Steve snorts.

You offer a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Well, you’re making enough money to go to those colleges someday.”

“I guess,” he sighs. “Well, I’m going to get a job soon,” you say.

His eyes widen in excitement. “Please come and work at Family Video. It’s so dead in there.”

You giggle, “I thought Robin kept company.”

“She can get kind of annoying sometimes,” Steve smirks. “And it’ll be like old times again! The three of us against the world!”

“Ah, yes, against the world of stacking movies,” you laugh. “I’ll definitely consider it. I mean, I already was.”

“Awesome!” Steve grins.

“Y/n?” Chrissy’s voice echos from across the gym. You turn around, smiling and waving. “Hey, Chris!”

You turn back to Steve. “Well, I have to go. But it was nice seeing you. I feel like we haven’t talked in forever.”

“Well, spring break is right around the corner. Let’s hang out, then, yeah?” Steve suggests.

You smile and nod. “Totally. Bye, Steve!”

“Bye, Y/n.”

You two hug one last time before you walk off to Chrissy.

“Hey, how was practice?” you ask. “You were there, didn’t you see?” she giggles.

“You forget that I do all of my homework and studying during your practice,” you smirk.

“Well, it went really well. Donna was finally able to stick her landing on the triple flip,” Chrissy says.

“Oh, awesome! I don’t know how you guys do all of that. I can barely touch my toes,” I snort.

“All it takes is practice. If you work hard enough, you’ll be able to achieve it,” she grins.

You can’t help but smile. Her smile is contagious, as well as her positive attitude.

You two walk out to the parking lot, being met with Eddie as soon as you step foot out of the school. You scoff, rolling your eyes. “Like stalking girls, Munson?”

“Only the nice ones,” he flashes a smile to Chrissy. You make a gagging noise. “Gross. Aren’t you supposed to be in your trailer playing that kid’s game?”

“It is not a kid’s game. It is a game of skill, vigilance, and imagination.”

“Okay, whatever you say,” you remark. “You seem so interested in it. You should take Dustin’s offer,” he says.

“In your wildest dreams.”

“You definitely are in my dreams.”

Heat slithers up your neck and to your cheeks. “I have to drive Chrissy home, so if you don’t mind, leave us alone.”

“Alright, if that’s what you want,” he sighs, feigning despair.

“Thank you,” you say, continuing to walk.

“I left a present in your car!” Eddie exclaims behind you two.

“I wonder what the present is,” Chrissy says. “Maybe it’s a body,” you joke.

Chrissy frowns. “I thought you didn’t buy into that crap.”

“It was just a joke, Chris. I don’t.”

“Good. I know he’s not popular and he hasn’t graduated yet, but he’s still a person, too. He deserves respect.”

You smile at your best friend, swinging your arm around her shoulders. “I have no idea how Jason won you over. You are everything good in this world, Chrissy.”

She laughs a little and shrugs. “What can I say? He’s stolen my heart.”

“Unfortunately,” you remark. You unlock your car and throw your backpack into the backseat. You and Chrissy climb into the front of your car.

“I don’t see the present,” Chrissy says as she looks around.

“It might be a bomb under my car. Who knows,” you shrug. You start your car, half-expecting it to explode. But something else happens.

“Snake!” Chrissy shrieks. Your eyes widen and you jump in your seat, looking at your floor to see a green snake slithering through your car.

“Shit, shit, shit!” you panic, unbuckling your seat. You and Chrissy jump out of your car and slam the doors shut. In the distance, Eddie and his goons are laughing.

You turn to them and give them the finger with both hands. “I’m going to get you back, Munson!”

He laughs even harder now. “I can’t wait for that, princess!”

You and Chrissy call Steve to help exterminate the snake, which he also calls the two boys that hang out with Eddie.

“Woah, you know these nerds, too?” you ask.

“Yep. And if it matters, which it totally does, I was friends with them first.”

“Yep, since we were little kids! He’s our babysitter,” Dustin says.

“I am not the babysitter!” Steve glares at him. “I’m just a cool older brother.”

Dustin snorts, “sure, Steve. Keep telling yourself that.”

You smile at Dustin, growing to like him more and more. You still have no idea why he is friends with Eddie, especially when he seems nothing like him. But according to his other friend, Mike, they’ve been playing D&D since they were 10 with their friend who moved to California, and the other friend who joined the popularity group. You guess that they just needed another group to play with, and they found comfort in Hellfire.

Maybe Eddie isn’t that horrible then.

“How did he get a snake into your car?” Steve asks.

“Beats me. I thought he was afraid of creepy craw-lees,” you say.

“He got some of his friends to do it,” Mike says.

You and Steve share a surprised look.

“Really?” you laugh. “Why would he go through all that trouble to ask his friends to prank me?”

Steve then looks at Dustin and Mike, the three of the boys sharing a look. You glare at them with confusion, prompting your hands on your hips.

“What aren’t you guys telling me?” you ask.

They all shrug simultaneously.

“Well, it’s out now, so you should be good to drive home,” Steve says.

“Did you check for eggs?” you ask. “Yes, and there are none to be found,” he says.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! I’m sure. Don’t worry,” he laughs. “Alright, but if I get killed by a snake it’s your fault,” you point at him.

“Actually, it’s going to be Eddie’s fault. But sure, blame me,” he shrugs.

You smile a little, giving him a side-hug. “I’ll call you if I find anything else, yeah?”

“Of course. Always happy to help,” he pats your back.

“Ready to go, Chris?” you turn to the blonde. “Yep,” she nods. “Thanks for your help again, Steve.”

“Of course. And it was nice to finally meet you. Y/n talks a lot about you.”

You smile, “only because she’s my best friend.” Chrissy giggles, “it was nice meeting you, too. See you around.”

“Yep,” he nods. “See ya!”

You two climb into your car again, checking for snake remains one last time before you drive off.

“She likes Eddie too, right?” Dustin asks. Steve snorts and nods. “Oh, definitely.”

The next day, Eddie wakes up to a rude awakening. As he turns the alarm off, he’s met with a blow horn to the ears.

“Holy fu — are you kidding me!” he yells.

“Eddie, is everything okay?” his uncle asks. “Yeah, I just… my alarm is broken!” he shouts back.

Eddie gets up, throwing his alarm from across the room. The blow horn finally stopped once the clock split apart.

He threw his blankets off of him, getting up and stomping to the kitchen where his uncle is.

“Hey, um, was there a girl here? Yesterday, by any chance?” Eddie asks.

“Yes,” he nods. “She came while you were at your friend’s.”

“What did she say?” Eddie asks. “She said she was dropping off your science homework. Did you skip class again?” Wayne asks.

“No. I was… just in the bathroom when the teacher handed out the worksheets. How long was she in my room?”

“I’m not sure, Eddie. What is this about?”

“Nothing. Next time don’t let her in, though.”

“Eddie, that would be rude of me. Plus, I’m glad to hear you have friends that are girls.”

“She’s not my friend,” Eddie mutters. He rakes a hand through his tangled hear, walking into the bathroom. He stares at himself in the mirror, narrowing his eyes slightly as he forms a plan in his head. The perfect plan to get you back.

“Hey, Y/n!” you hear Dustin behind you.

You whip your head around, surprised to see him. “Hey, kid. What’s up?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to eat lunch with us,” he says.

“Thanks, but I already have a group that I eat with,” you say.

“You really want to sit next to Jason and smell his hair gel?”

“I’m immune to it since I’m friends with Steve.”

Dustin sighs, “right. Well, we’re more fun.”

“Maybe so,” you admit, “but I like sitting with Chrissy. She’s my best friend.”

“Then have her sit with us!” he suggests. You laugh incredulously. “Jason will kill all of us.”

Dustin shrugs, thinning back to all the monsters he’s dealt with the last three years. “We’re not worried about him.”

“You sure?”

Dustin nods confidently. “I’m sure.”

When lunch rolls around, you and Chrissy are making your way to Eddie’s table. Until Jason interferes.

“Chris, you can’t be serious,” Jason laughs sourly. She glares at him. “I’m not going to sit with them forever. Just for today. Y/n wants to.”

“Then let her do it by herself. You’ve never sat somewhere else,” Jason says.

“Well, I will today,” Chrissy says, taking another step forward, but Jason grabs her arm and gently pulls her back. “Seriously, Chrissy. They could hurt you with their devil mind tricks or whatever. I’m… I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Chrissy smiles at him sweetly. “Jace, you’re so sweet, but don’t worry. They don’t have powers, and they aren’t evil. You’re listening to your friends too much.”

“Look at them! They’re crazy!” Jason points to Eddie’s table.

They’re huddled around a piece of paper, whispering to each other, their eyes wide and jumping around.

“Please, just for one day?” Chrissy pouts. Jason takes a few moments before sighing in defeat. “Fine. You know I can’t resist you.”

Chrissy smiles and kisses his cheek. “Thanks, baby. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Chris,” he pecks her forehead. You roll your eyes, smiling in relief once she walks towards you. But as you’re about to sit with Dustin, Jason calls you back to him as well.

“Make it fast, jackass,” you say. “I know you and Chrissy have been friends forever, but don’t think I won’t tear you two apart if you get Chrissy hurt,” Jason seethes.

You look him up and down like he’s a joke. “I still don’t understand why Chrissy is with you. I love her, but she is clouded by love and obviously can’t see that you are a raging asshole who peaked three years ago.”

“Wow, that’s big talk for someone who is always two-faced,” Jason spits.

You scoff, “excuse me? The hell does that mean?”

“It means that while you’re complaining about Munson, trying screwing up his life, fighting with him, you actually don’t hate him.”

“And how do you know?”

“Because you won’t admit that he’s a freak.” Jason’s up in your face now. “You call him everything but what he truly is.”

You roll your eyes, stepping back from him. “That doesn’t prove shit, dumbass. Maybe you should step down from being a detective because you obviously suck at it.” you spin around on your heel, but Jason grabs your wrist, yanking you close to him.

“Call him a freak then,” he says, practically breathing down your neck.

“Why do I have to?” you ask. “So you prove to me, to yourself, that you hate him as much as you say you do,” he explains.

“I do hate him.”

“Then say what he is.”

You look at Eddie who is now talking to Chrissy. He’s making her laugh by having two french fries in his mouth, pretending he’s a walrus.

You did hate Eddie. You hated him so much that you dreamed about breaking his precious guitar and ripping up his beloved board game and shaving all of his hair. But even then, you couldn’t admit he’s a freak. Sure, he’s weird. He hasn’t been able to graduated high school in two years. He plays a mythical board game made for 11 year olds with 11 year olds. But none of that is enough for you to call him a freak. He’s his own person, and you admire that — just a little.

You turn to Jason. “You’re the freak.” you then push him away, finally being able to sit down.

“Everything okay?” Chrissy asks. “Just peachy. Your boyfriend is a keeper, you know,” you remark, sarcasm dripping from your lips.

“It seems like Chrissy really knows how to pick ‘em,” Eddie remarks.

You turn to him. “What does that mean?”

“Well, thanks to you, my ears are ringing.”

You don’t try to hide your smile. “Oh, how come?”

“Someone put a blow horn on my alarm.”

“Oh, no! I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

“Drop the act, princess. You know what you did.”

You shrug and take a drink of your chocolate milk. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Eddie.”

He glares at you, making you smile even more. “Well, I hope you enjoy the present I left in your house as well.”

Your smile diminishes, which only causes him to smile. “What? How the hell did you even get into my house? Both of my parents are at work by seven and I leave at eight.”

“I have my ways,” he shrugs.

“I swear, if there’s a broken window, I’m going to —”

“Kill me? Burn my guitar? Dunk me in a toilet? Yeah, I’ve heard it all before, and almost seen all of it. Gotta get a new threat, princess.”

“For the last time! Stop calling me that!”

“Guys!” Dustin exclaims. “I’m trying to focus!”

You all look at him who is trying to make a plan for the next D&D meeting. You roll your eyes, looking back at Eddie.

“If you went into my room, you’re done.”

“You went into mine!”

“Yeah, but knowing you, you probably went through my stuff.”

“I did no such thing. But I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out later.”

“Screw you, Munson,” you spit. “Oh, you wish,” he smirks.

You open your mouth to retort, but your heart is leaping up your throat. You quickly close your mouth so you don’t look like an idiot. You hate being flustered, especially by him, and it seems like that has been happening too much for your liking.

“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” Eddie hums. “Nope. I’ve just decided that talking to an nuisance like you isn’t worth it,” you state.

You get up from the table to throw your trash away.

“You love me, don’t deny it!” Eddie grins. You glare at him, your heart suddenly racing. “You wish.”

You dread the hours leading up to going back home. You do your usual routine, wait for Chrissy at her cheer practice, then hurry home.

“Good luck. Hopefully he didn’t do anything too bad,” Chrissy smiles.

“That’s the hope,” you sigh. “Bye, Chris. Love ya.”

“Love you, too,” she smiles, making her way to her house. You wait until she goes inside to go back to your house.

You push through your front door, searching every nook and cranny in your house, but you find nothing. You sigh in relief, sitting down on your bed. Obviously, he was bluffing. There was no way he could have gotten inside your house. But as you open your closet door to change into more comfortable clothes, you’re met with a rush of cold water. You gasp, looking up immediately and seeing a clear bucket on the top of your closet door.

Now your floor and you are soaking wet. You quickly strip out of your clothes, putting on a whole new set of underwear. You walk into your kitchen, opening the fridge door only to see a group of worms slithering over your leftovers. You scream angrily, slamming the door shut. You stomp over to your phone, about to dial Eddie’s number but it seems as though he had written all over your phone and burned the keys.

“Freaking Munson!” you scream.

You grab your keys, jacket, and a baseball bat. You drive down to the trailer park, finding Eddie’s trailer.

“Yo, Munson! Open up!” you bang on his door.

He swings the door open, revealing himself shirtless and in a pair of black jeans with a chain hanging down his belt loop and pocket.

You’re honestly taken aback. He has moles decorating his pale skin. His chest is slightly toned, you can see muscles lining around his stomach. A trail of dark, thick hair starts under his belly button and past his belt.

A big smirk shines on his face. “Well, well, well. Look who's running back into my arms. I told you that I'm irresistible, didn't I?”

You snap out of your daze, feeling completely embarrassed. You push past him and enter his trailer, holding up your bat. “You are everything but that.”

“Oh, really? I beg to differ.”

“How did you even get into my house?”

“Your family keeps a key under a rock. It’s not rocket science.”

You clench your jaw, your hands tightening around your bat until your knuckles have no color. “You went into my home and destroyed my stuff.”

“Not very different from what you did.”

“No,” you laugh sourly. “All I did was a little prank. Now because of you, I have to buy a new house phone and I’m going to have to buy new groceries that we just bought two days ago. I don’t give a shit that you poured water all over me, or even put a snake in my car, but you don’t come into my home and destroy my shit. Things that belong to my family.”

Now it’s Eddie’s turn to feel taken aback. He always thought that there was no way he could go far. One time you even put spikes under his car wheels. And although he was blazing, he knew he deserved it for what he did to you. He thought that this was a little game you two were playing because you two “hated” each other. But now he doesn’t think you were playing along.

“Y/n, I’m so —”

“What, sorry?” you scorn. “That’s bullshit and we both know it.”

“Y/n, no,” he shakes his head. “I really mean it. I am sorry.”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” you huff. You look into his eyes, your heart sinking. He looks so guilty now. He doesn’t have that twinkle in his eye like he usually does, or the smile lines that show when he’s trying to hide his happiness. Now he just looks like a lost puppy with those big brown eyes and his bottom lip pulled out into a pout.

You step back and shake your head, trying to convince yourself to not give in. “Don’t you dare look at me that way. Not now, after every vile thing we've done to each other.”

“Y/n,” he says breathily. He takes a step towards you, reaching out his hand to gently to grab your wrist. His fingers glide over your skin, causing chills to rush up your spine. You don’t fight him, but you still stare him down, fighting him with your eyes. “I’m so sorry. I know I’ve gone too far. I’ll repay for the phone. I’ll help you with your fridge. I’ll even clean the wet stains on your carpet for you.”

“No,” you refuse. “I don’t want your help. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

He lets out an unbelieving laugh. “Isn’t that the truth.”

“Yes,” you nod, “it is.” “It’s not. You and I both know it’s not,” he says.

“You know nothing.”

“I think I do, princess.” he leans in close to your face until you can feel his warm breath fan your lips. “I think that you like me, but you’re too afraid to admit it because you might lose your rank with the big dogs.”

Your throat goes dry. It’s like he’s inside your head now. Jason’s words from earlier that day echo through your head. It’s no secret that you’re easier on Eddie than everybody else, but did that really mean you liked him? Yes, he’s handsome. With his curly hair, free-spirited attitude, wide and crazy eyes that he has at all times. And that smirk of his — ugh — you’d be lying if you said it didn’t make you melt. When he also calls you ‘princess’, your stomach flips.

Your look into his eyes, becoming lost in them. Maybe you did like him. Maybe pulling pranks on him was a way for you to be close to him. Maybe all those bad things you say you want to do to him are just a way for you to hide your feelings, and to deny them to yourself. Maybe… just maybe…

Before you’re able to think, Eddie’s lips are on yours. Your eyes widen in surprise and you freeze.

Oh, you most definitely do like him.

But before you can reciprocate, he pulls away, fear flashing in his eyes.

“Was that… did that… are you…”

You nod as an answer, dropping your baseball bat and grabbing the chain on his jeans and pulling him flush against you. You smash your lips together in a fervent kiss, spit mixing and teeth clashing within a few seconds.

Eddie puts his hands onto your waist, his hands molding with your curvature. He walks backwards, your back slamming against his trailer wall. One of your hands snakes to the back of his back, your palm flattening on the small of his back. Your other hand graciously feeling over his body.

Your nails skim over his happy trail, causing him to shiver against you. Your fingers trace his toned muscles, gliding up to his shoulders and into his mane. Your rake your fingers through his hair. It’s surprisingly soft. You thought it would be course and tangled, but your fingers weaved through like a brush.

His own hands wander around your body. After months of thinking about you, he’s eager to make his dreams come to life. Your lips are soft and mold into his perfectly. Your body fits against his like a puzzle piece. And you kiss him like your life depends on it, which he could definitely get used to.

His lips trail down your neck as his hands trail up your body. Your shoulders and upper chest are exposed from the tank top you’re wearing. He touches every inch of your skin, making you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. His fingertips draw your spine, tracing the sliver of skin that’s between your shirt and shorts.

He dips his fingers under your shirt, inching higher and higher, lighting your skin on fire. You breath heavily against him, holding his face close to your neck as he continues to kiss, lick, and suck. There will surely be a few purple and red marks on your skin later.

As fingers near your tits, your back arches in anticipation, but he stops. His fingers slip out of your shirt and he pulls away.

You chest huffs up and down, your eyes searching his face. “W-Why did you stop?”

He flashes his signature smirk. “I thought you said you hated me and you didn’t want anything to do with me.”

You look down in embarrassment. “W-Well, that was before I realized that I don’t hate you.”

He smiles, “thought so.”

“Well, I don’t hate you that much,” you add, a smile growing on your face, peering up at him.

“Wow,” he gaps. You furrow your brows. “What?”

“I think this is the first time you’ve actually smiled at me.”

“Oh, that’s such a lie.”

“Nu-uh,” he shakes his head. “Well, maybe if you weren’t such a jackass I would smile like this more,” you remark.

He laughs a little, bitting his bottom lip as he stares at you with a twinkle in his eye.

“Hey,” you warn, “what did I say about looking about me like that.”

“Can’t help it. I’m happy.”

“Yeah?” you ask. He nods, “most definitely.”

You wrap your arms around his neck, locking your hands together. “Well, I bet you’ll be happy to see the prank I have for you tomorrow.”

His brows raise as he places his hands on your waist. “Oh, yeah? How long has it been cooking?”

“Just a couple minutes.” you have a mischievous smile on your face. One that makes Eddie terrified but also excited.

“It’s bad, isn’t it?”

You shrug, leaning up to kiss his cheek. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

The next day Eddie is met with a message on his locker. “Hawkins’ Second Worst Kisser” with a little heart. A smile lights up his face as walks up to his locker, a little laugh leaving his lips as he reads over the words again. He opens his locker, a mountain of paper miché demogorgons falling on top of him, only to reveal another message inside of his locker.

My place at 7. Dress in cool clothes, we’re having a picnic. Y/n <3

Eddie takes the note out of his locker, holding it close to his chest. He then shuts his locker, spotting you from across the room. You’re talking to Robin, one of Steve’s other friends. You notice Eddie who is behind Robin.

You give him a little smile and wave. Eddie gestures to the demogorgons, giving you a thumbs up. You giggle a little, giving him a wink before turning back to Robin.

“Hey, what’s all this?” Dustin asks as he walks up to Eddie.

“Y/n pulled a prank on me,” Eddie explains. He picks up a demogorgon off the ground, holding it up to Dustin. “I didn’t know she could make this stuff. She failed art in the seventh grade.”

“Oh, yeah, she can’t make shit,” Dustin snorts. “Hey, how do you know?” Eddie asks.

“I helped her, duh. Nobody but me can make demogorgons look this.”

Eddie laughs and nods, seeing the one that be picked up at a lipstick on it, exactly the same shade as yours. He pecks the lipstick stain, his heart fluttering at the thought of your date.

————

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