bluetimeombre

[bluetimeombre]

⋆˚࿔ Aim to please ⋆˚࿔

Joel tried to teach you to shoot but he realises you can't aim for shit. Not proofread, quick little thing

"You ain't even trying!"

"I am!"

"You're missing completely."

You huffed, your gun steady in both hands. There was a frown gracing your lips as your focused- and partly because of Joel's words. You were trying. You hadn't all but begged Joel to teach you to shoot just to be berated and to discover you fucking sucked at it.

"Look, it's easy-" Joel snatched the gun from you and showed you every movement and the best way to hold it. "Point. Aim-" he shot the bottle he'd lined up an hour before and it shattered into a thousand pieces.

To your credit, you didn't flinch.

Joel held the gun out between you, a shift in his hips as he adjusted his stance. He seemed bored. You weren't surprised.

You and Joel had known of each other since he arrived in Jackson. You were a couple months into the town when him and Ellie found themselves settling down.

At first it was small things. He'd slide into the seat next to you at the theatre and you'd always find him in the food hall. Once you'd both had a whiskey at the Tipsy Bison, standing next to each other at the bar without sharing a word.

But you were done cowering on patrol. You were done hiding and needed to defend yourself. You found that if an infected wandered to you slowly enough you could swing your gun around and hope it hit true.

Blind luck just wasn't sustainable.

So you do everything Joel told you- you aimed to please. But the bullet didn't even create a stir in the bottle.

Joel huffed. He forced your arm down, fingers wrapping around your wrist and only brushing the cold steel of the gun. "Is this a joke to you?"

"Yes, Joel. I'm finding it very amusing," you scoffed.

"You see, you aim, you shoot."

"Helpful."

Joel huffed and let you go but his body didn't leave you alone.

You were focused on the bottles, or trying to. Your eyes were pulled into narrow slits. How many were left? Four? Five? The outlines only seemed to blur further as you peered closer.

A soft warm wind caressed the back of your neck.

Your body suddenly lost all the nerve it used to keep calm at the ringing of the gun.

Joel's body pressed against your back, his breathing annoyingly steady as he breathed with you. His hand, slowly, trailed down your arm, fingers taking his time to known every bump in your jacket and try to catch a trace of the skin underneath.

"Arm. Up."

His hand was steady as it gripped your elbow and raised your arm. You'd never thought Joel to be gentle in those moment where you dared to think. When his leg moved to close to yours at the cinema or his fingers brushed yours in the bar. You always understood he moved with purpose.

Joel's foot nudged your feet apart. His leg rested against yours, his entire body caving into your own.

It shouldn't have had tingles through your spine and his breath shouldn't have been your favourite breeze as he kept it steady.

Nothing about it, the way he held you strong, aiming the gun high, should have been as erotic to you as it was.

"Try again," he grumbled. "Slow."

You couldn't have moved fast if you tried.

You adjusted your grip on the gun, your finger teasing the trigger.

Joel's hands encased yours and steadied you, completely moving your target. "That bottle there."

You counted your breath, thought of anything but his body and the curves of it.

"Squeeze the trigger-"

You squeezed and the bullet breezed past the bottle.

You huffed, slouching. "It's not so fucking hard!" you berated yourself loudly.

You expected more from Joel. More groans of irritation of the thud of his boots as he turned away.

When you looked up at him, Joel was already staring down, something like confusion furrowed in between his brows.

His arms were still around you, even as you lowered the gun. This time he didn't try to force you to look up. If anything, it felt like he was holding you and it didn't feel like he hated it.

"Do you need glasses?" he asked.

"Excuse me?"

"You're not aiming," he argued.

"I'm trying to."

In a moment of annoyance, you shrug out his hold and Joel's arms fall back to his sides. The gun sat comfortable in his hand, it didn't seem foreign like it did to you.

"Well there's no use in trying if you can't see." It wasn't harsh, it was just a fact.

You'd created enough distance between yourselves that the edges of Joel Miller were beginning to blur. You'd never needed glasses, not before the world went to hell. You'd never really paid attention to how well you can see. That's why you sat front row to watch a film. Was that why Joel sat with you? Was his eyesight falling him?

Hell, he was older than you it seemed only fair.

Joel returned the gun to a holster at his hip, pushing his jacket back slightly. "C'mere."

He walked over to the bottles and begrudgingly you stood in his place, arms crossed over your chest.

The bottles were only tiny fuzz as Joel stood among them, taller and identifiable.

"If you hold up fingers and ask how many I promise my aim will become remarkably better!" you call to him.

Joel's hand raises and he holds it further back.

You raise your own middle finger in response.

But you realise you can't see how many fingers he's holding up? Three? Four? Only when you squinted and leaned forward enough to earn yourself a headache did you have some sort of idea.

Joel was walking toward you after your failure. "When was the last time you had your eyes checked?"

"What you mean before the world went to shit?" you asked.

Joel's gaze was anything but impressed. "Go to Maria, she'll know."

"And should I go to the glasses shop after I get my highly qualified prescription?" you said. "Even if I knew the chances of getting glasses to help is slim."

Joel's hands were on his hips and the curve of his body drew you in.

Perhaps a small part of you knew asking Joel to help you would lead to time spent, maybe you'd be able to hold a conversation without anyone around to interrupt.

You hadn't thought he'd doctor you.

Joel's jaw clenched and he mumbled to himself before reaching into his pocket inside his jacket. "Here- try."

Joel handed you a pair of tatty and small glasses, along with some folded up map.

You took the glasses and turned them over delicately.

"They're-" Joel cleared this throat. "`Readin' glasses."

You couldn't help but grin. "You have reading glasses?"

Joel still didn't crack a smile. His chest rose and fell with a deep breath. "Try them on."

Careful not to disrupt them, you peeled back the sides and put them on. You thought of them resting on the crook of Joel's nose, the curve behind his ear that disappears into the greying hair. You thought about kissing him and watching them steam- or would he take them off, throwing them carelessly to the side to feel you deeper.

"Now try to read the map."

His voice prompted you out of your silly little fantasies as you looked up at him only to be met with a blurrier than ever Joel.

You could only just get to the map unfolded in front of you but only when you held it up to your face, practically putting yourself into the folds could you tell the street names of Jackson.

"You can't see far, that it?" he prompted.

"I guess not," you huffed, handing back his glasses.

He didn't have to reach for your hand, didn't have to hold you to take his glasses. But he did.

He looked down at them, as if trying to see where you'd touched them. "I'll see what I can do."

"Joel, I just need help shooting," you said. "Not an optometrist."

"You'll get yourself killed if you go out there without glasses," he said with no room for argument. "Surprised you haven't already."

Joel walked away, didn't glance back once as he left you with the bottles you'd failed to shoot down.

For the next couple days you failed to see Joel around. Not because your eyesight was that terrible- you could still recognise people- but because Joel had failed to be around.

You didn't see him at the Tipsy Bison, or at the stables.

You figured it didn't matter. Than just because he'd agreed to show you the ropes of shooting didn't mean you were friends. That he owed you anything.

He probably had forgotten you couldn't see shit.

On the typical night the movie plays in Jackson and the community gathers you challenge yourself with a seat in the middle row.

You sit there, your body curled in on itself with your legs and arms crossed. It felt like homework, trying to analyse how well you could see from your spot even on the make do projector. As the movie started you missed all exposition that would fill you in, compeltley drowning it out.

That was probably why you missed a body taking the seat next to you.

He was close enough to know.

"You're torturin' yourself," he said, getting comfortable.

You stared at him for a beat. "I don't know what you mean."

He smirked, arms crossed over his chest as he looked at you.

There was a challenge in that smirk, wondering which one of you would back away first.

You failed and looked away from him, biting the inside of your mouth as you concentrated on the film and not Joel Miller watching you.

"It's painful to watch," he muttered, shaking his head.

"Then don't watch."

The argument almost seemed to be done. He slouched back in his chair, legs stretched until his foot was pressed next to yours. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled and you noticed every flex of his muscle. He huffed, then sighed.

You gave up squinting at the actors on screen.

"Come on." Joel grabbed your wrist, dragging you out of your seat so forcefully it tipped.

You turned, apologising to the lady sat behind you as Joel dragged you down the isle. "What the hell are you-"

Joel gestured to the front row where luckily two empty seats waited. The cinema never filled up, it seemed you were their most loyal. But Joel wasn't giving you any time to question what he was doing as he held out one arm, his hand falling on the small of your back.

You sat down and could finally follow the people on screen, could understand what was going on.

Your concentration lasted seconds before your attention was caught at the shuffle of the chair next to you.

Joel tucked in his chair, next to you comfortably but didn't change how he sat. Still spread out, still seemingly un-happy to be there.

You looked at him. "Why are you even here if you don't like movies?"

He looked at you. "Who says I don't like movies?"

"Your face," you scoffed.

"Yeah, well-" Joel stretched out, his arm casually hanging off the back of your chair. "Maybe I just don't like people looking in pain when it's supposed to be a god damn comedy."

You rolled your eyes, begrudgingly focusing on the cinema.

Joel's eyes lingered and his arm remained safe behind you.

It had only been a few days since you last saw Joel at the cinema. You weren’t so much avoiding him than you were… avoiding the truth.

You couldn’t see properly. You couldn’t aim, henceforth, you would never survive outside, on patrol.

You’d tried without a gun and bottles. Just chucking a shoe in the basket or a pencil in a pot.

Very few ever made it. In the real world, you’d be dead.

There was a loud knock on your door.

Without thinking you opened it and just didn’t expect the person on the other side.

"Joel?"

You didn’t even know he knew your house.

Joel stood in your porch, hesitating suddenly. His eyes raked over you lazily before he seemed to remember why he had knocked. "Been asking around, seeing what I can do for you."

Dumbfounded, you stood there, a hand on the door. "What?"

"Geez-" he rolled his eyes, reaching into his pocket. "Here."

In his rough hands (you still remembered how it felt when they held you) was a wide pair of glasses.

You stared down at them.

He’d said he’d see, he’d almost seemed concerned when you met at the movies but this. Offering you glasses… it made as well have been some god damn flowers.

"What did you-" you didn’t know what you were thinking. That he made them? Stole them? Were they from a corpse?

"I asked," Joel shrugged, the glasses between his hands. Like it was too soft a thing to admit he quickly spoke again, his voice gruff. "You’re no good to anyone if you can’t see shit. Take ‘em."

They were fragile in your touch and you peeled away the handles slowly.

No matter how or where Joel got these from, he’d cleaned them up. You know he was good with things like that, the workings of things but you didn’t expect him to do it for you.

The hinges didn’t squeak or threaten to pull and the rest of the metal was polished. There wasn’t even a scratch on the lenses.

It was the nicest thing anyone had done.

"I… thank you."

"You ain’t even tried them on yet, don’t thank me," he said.

Leaving the door open for him, you walked over to the the mirror in the hallway and looked in.

God, you were blushing.

Slowly, you slid the bridge of the glasses over your nose and beheld yourself in the mirror. Not so blurred, hazy with the new layer of sight but not blurred.

They fit you well, the frames large and probably from the 70s.

In the mirror, Joel approached. He looked behind you watching as you fit the glasses behind your ears, pulling your hair forward.

"How’d they feel?" He asked.

You shook your head and they slipped down slightly. "Er-"

Joel tutted and pulled tools out his pocket. Tools. A simple small screwdriver and he tutted to himself, something about some Ethan guy being useless.

His fingers, however calloused as you remember them, were gentle as they cupped your chin. He tilted your head up and crouched in his knees to see.

You wondered if he was thinking or if it was just unconscious how he stood, his body against yours, fingers tucking your hair back.

"Jus stay," he mumbled, still cupping your face.

He loved the screwdriver against some joint, focused closely.

All you could do was stare at the reflection of you two. So close, his hands cupping your face, his thumb moving soothingly against your skin.

His brows were pulled together in concentration and his lips were moving with silent words.

My god…

"Ok," he mumbled. Joel straightened the glasses and tucked them into your ears. "Other side."

His hands were on your forearms as he moved behind you, doing it all again on the other side. Still he held you, still he concentrated.

And you were left to stand there, watching his skin meet yours, his body curl into you and watch yourself react. Your pupils widening, body tensing at the touch but relishing it.

You wouldn’t be surprised if your skin reacted in red bursts from where he touched you.

Joel ditched the screwdriver and grasped your cheeks, urging you to look at him and around him. He moved your head side to side and watched as you moved.

The air stirred around you, feeling the heat.

Slowly, Joel straightened and his hands fell to his side.

You averted your blush to the ground. "Er, thank you."

Joel lifted his shoulders a small amount, also looking to the ground, taking up the screwdriver he’d ditched. "Yeah. S’nothing."

"No it really- thank you," you hasted to speak, to get him to stay or to ease the awkwardness you feared blooming. "Maybe now I can shoot a bottle."

Joel hardly glanced at you, only nodded before he was breezing past you to the front door left ajar.

With his feet out on the porch and hand on the door ready to leave, he paused.

"I'll get you another pair."

"No, you don't have to."

Joel huffed like your perpetual disagreement was irritating. It probably was. "I'll get you another. Jus' try shootin."

Try shooting you did. For a week or two after your new glasses you'd tried all by yourself, lining up bottles on the same log Joel had and shooting.

The bottles were clear as day and your aiming had improved. Your recoil could do with improvement but that would come with time and experience.

After all, you were doing it alone.

Ever since Joel had dropped off the glasses for you he hadn't been seen at your side. In fact, he'd hardly been seen at all. Apparently he'd taken up more patrol sessions and was focused on building houses, not looking out for you.

Why would he?

Still, every time before you left the house and caught a glimpse in the mirror you thought to see him. Even when you woke in the morning the glasses were the first thing you reached for and Joel your first thoughts.

Your one distraction? Your soon patrol.

The downfall was that you were patrolling with Joel.

Maria escorted you to the front gates that morning, hands on your shoulders as she led you to your horse.

Joel was already atop his and waiting, eyeing the both of you.

Maria pushed you up. "Now take it easy on her, it's her first time since being able to see."

You chuckled to yourself as you pulled up onto your saddle.

When you looked at him you were hoping to see a smile, or something kind like the way he'd touched you in your house weeks ago.

All Joel did is turn and expect you to follow.

That's how most of the ride went, with Joel a considerable amount of way in front of you, leading. Every so often he'd turn when you and your horse got quiet, to check that's where you still were.

You were always there, watching his back for a sign.

Whilst making your way through the woods, what could have been hours later, you cleared your throat.

"Thank you again, for the glasses," you call to him. His back tenses, enough to tell you he's listening. "Really it's been a big help. I even managed to shoot down all those bottles, you know."

Joel's head clocked to the side enough for you to make out his profile: hardly impressed. "That's the whole point."

It seemed Joel's roughness, his need not to care, came out with revenge.

"Ok well," you rolled your eyes. "I was just saying thanks, I won't say it again."

"Stop talking."

"I'm serious, I won't say it again."

"No, stop!" Joel pulled his horse next to yours even as it fought his instructions.

Your own horse started to pull at the reigns, stamping its hooves.

Joel looked round, alert. Almost afraid.

"Joel?" you asked, trying to find what had scared him so among the trees. "Joel, what is it?"

Then, you heard an ear-splitting shriek.

"Get out of here! Go!" Joel hit the rear of your horse and it took off in a sharp gallop.

You didn't know where you were going. You couldn't even tell if Joel was behind you. All you knew was the sound of a pack of clickers coming for you and you had to get out of there.

You could see three clickers behind you and your brandished your gun, hardly having time to aim, only firing in hopes of one hitting true.

It was not your first encounter with clickers, not in the slightest, but their shrieks and crawling towards you had your heart beating fast and the blood rushing to your ears.

Suddenly, one jumped out in front of your horse and it flew onto it's hind legs.

"Easy! Easy!"

It was too late. Your horse bucked you off and you thudded to the ground.

The gun was still clutched tightly in your grasp like it was an anchor to the world.

Clickers, three running for you.

You had no time to wonder where your horse had got to, whether or not he'd returned to Joel. All you could do was think the clickers were another target- aim- shoot.

As you'd been taught.

The first went down to a bullet in the head, hitting the frost covered ground with a twitch.

The next you shot first in the neck and then the shoulder and then the head. It went down to close to you.

The last got atop you, baring it's teeth as the fungus roared in your face. With one forearm you pushed it back. With your other hand you put the barrel of the gun to its head and aimed.

It fell with a splatter.

The woods went back to being still. Went back to being calm as you laid your head flat in the leaves, catching your breath.

Sweat beaded at your forehead and the gun in hand became slippery from perspiration. Yet, you refused to let go. Afraid if you did, they'd return.

Quick feet had your hands reaching for the gun and aiming high.

Joel fell over you, grabbing your arms as they flayed. "Are you ok? Shit, are you-are you hurt?"

"Joel," you sighed in relief. You could see every aspect of him, every line from his age and every trace of fear in his eyes.

Joel shook you as you went to rest your head back. "Are you hurt, damn it?!"

"I'm ok!" you yelled, your entire body arched up toward him as he held you. "I'm ok!"

Joel's own chest heaved up and down as he searched you, endeavouring to find any sign that you weren't. "Have you- is it your head? Did one of them get you?"

Just as it had calmed you at your house, you grasped his cheek, soothing your thumb over his cheekbone.

"I'm fine."

Joel's breath didn't calm under your touch, it surged and he moved with it, gathering you in his arms and kissing you.

You gasped in shock as your breath was stolen from him, he greedily took it like you were oxygen yourself. His hands grabbed at your arms then fell to your back, clenching at the fabric of your jacket as he worked your mouth open.

Eager. Inviting. That's all the two of you were as you both sort each other.

Joel's hand wound up in your hair, holding the back of your head as he stirred you to the ground, his body covering yours. His big nose brushed your own as he got deeper into your mouth.

Only when your lungs burned with the need to breath did you tilt your head away.

Your eyes slowly fluttered open in search of Joel's lips, red and swollen from kissing you. Instead, you met a cloud of haze.

Joel chuckled softly. The back of his knuckles brushed your cheeks as he tilted the glasses up and into your hair.

Passion tended to get the glasses steamy, as you had plenty of time to discover.

[bluetimeombre]

⋆·˚ ༘The horses back

Your horse hurts you and now him and Arthur have to have a word

“Easy- I gotcha, I gotcha,”

You knew Arthur had you. He’d had you the week you’d been stuck in bed, healing your bruised ribs. When you laid flat on your back, breathing in pain, Arthur stayed with you. He stood, lingering over like a fretted nurse maid.

Whenever John came back from an injury, Arthur only loved to tease him about all that bed rest.

When it came to you, limping into camp, painted in dust and mud, Arthur didn’t let you take one step without him and a week was not enough rest for your injuries.

But if you were gonna be stubborn enough to greet the catalyse of your injuries then he would hold your hand all the way through.

“Careful here,” said Arthur, arm in yours as he kicked away sticks and rocks.

“You gonna build me a path all the way to my own damn horse?” You teased.

“I’d build’ya a path away if I had it my way,” he grumbled in his usual manner.

You rolled your eyes. For all his protesting, he never got bored of telling you how you should still be in bed, how you’re not healed, how your horse- your dearest friend- should be nowhere near you. “Oh, I know you would.”

Arthur huffed as your horse, reigned in and waiting, stood. “C’mon, sweetheart, put me outta my misery. Go back to bed.”

“If I stay in bed another day my legs’ll forget how to walk,”you protest.

Arthur shrugged. “Well that’s fine, I’ll carry you everywhere.”

At first, the doting from Arthur had warmed you, partly healed you but you missed your horse. You missed the world going by and the wind in your hair.

“I could take you out on my horse,” offered Arthur. “Make y’comfy.”

“I’ll be more than comfortable on my horse.”

Arthur scoffed. “The horse that bucked you off and ran at the first chance.”

“It was not the first chance,” you argued. “There’s been more than a dozen and he’s stayed loyal, as loyal as you.”

“I woulda laid down my life,” said Arthur. His arms were steady, his hold directing you to stop in front of him. His calloused fingers brushed the high of your cheek bone as he brushed back strands of hair. “Listen- just don’t rush, okay? Scared me half to death when you came limpin in, d’ya hear?”

You smile softly up at him. He was giving you warnings, you were sure but it was all soft words and caring touches. “And they say you’re all hard and mean.”

Arthur tutted and looked around the camp. “I am,” he insisted. His lips however, sort your cheek and kissed it quickly. “Wait ‘ere, I’ll bring 'im round.”

Only after he’d made sure you were alright did Arthur get to your horse and you waited, sitting on a stool.

Karen and Lenny were hanging there, a deck of cards out between them.

“Good to see you out,” said Lenny.

“Happy to be out.”

Karen snickered. “Thought Arthur would drive himself mad, walkin’ in circles, mutterin’ around. I thought he’d go and sell your horse himself. It was Dutch that told him not to.”

If Arthur had sold your horse you’d walk all the way into the town to get him back. But he knew better.

“Then I’ll have to thank Dutch.”

“Look at him!” Lenny gestured over to Arthur, laughing to himself.

He had your horses reign in the ball of his fist, head low as he assured everything was in place.

Karen laughed. “He’s talkin’ to your horse!”

And he was. As you pushed yourself to your feet slowly and walked over you could hear the low tones of his.

“You hurt her, you’re lucky she’s givin ya a second chance,” you heard him. “If it were me…. I dunno. Guess your a good horse, yeah-“

Arthur pet him and you stood without moving an inch to listen.

“Now listen: if it were my way she’d still be restin’ but I have no jurisdiction. We both care about her, I reckon I love her you know, more than you anyway, so be nice, be gentle, huh?”

A heat bloomed at your cheeks. It was not the first time Arthur admitted he loved you, or adored you, or needed you but every time he did it was like hearing it for the first.

Arthur pulled out some sugar cubes, holding them out in the palm of his hand. Your horse licked them up. “Ah- that a boy.”

“You talking about me?” You walk over, lingering close to Arthur and your horse.

Arthur chuckled, resting his hand on your back. “Jus makin’ sure we’re on the same page, ain’t that right, boy?”

To your surprise, there was a flicker of hesitation as you looked at your horse. A phantom feeling of being thrown off overcame your body as it caved into Arthur.

Maybe he’d take the chance and pull you into him, insist upon it being too much too quick.

Arthur’s hand steadied you, fingers curling into the back of your shirt. “Take your time, m’ right ‘ere.”

Your horse looked at you, head bowed, eyes wide as if begging for you to understand his sorrow. There was a tilt in his head, a want to nudge you but he was unsure of himself.

“Hey boy,” you greeted. You cupped your hands together and waited for him. “You miss me?”

Your horse bowed and settled his head in your hands, breathing softly. It was easy after that, to run your hands down him, to feel the plains of muscle as he moved around.

Quickly, you and your horse were one and the same again.

Arthur watched. He wasn’t jealous as the attention was on the horse, he was perhaps a bit cautious but he watched you smile, wide and beautiful and all he wanted was to help you on.

“C’mon then!”

Arthur led you around the side. His hands were firm on your hips as he helped you up. “Foot here- careful now-“

“I got it.” You hoisted yourself up and only winced through the ache in your ribs, the most they’d been moved in days.

Arthur watched. “You good?”

“Fine,” you mumbled, shuffling in your seat to find comfort.

Arthur fretted. He patted your shins and looked around your horse, making sure everything was in place. He checked with every tighten and every pat.

“Remember what we said now,” said Arthur. For a moment, you thought he was talking to you. But you looked to see him engaging the horse with his attention. “You take care of her, y'hear?”

You rolled your eyes. “Arthur.”

He gave you a soft tilt of his lips. “M’only teasin’” but he levelled a look of seriousness to the horse before walking around to you.

“I’m gonna wait right here,” he said, arms crossed.

“You should rest,” you said. “Now that I’m ok, Dutch is gonna have you working.”

“Right here,” he repeated. “Now don’t be long, alrigh’?”

There was little else to say to discourage him you knew. So you kicked your horse into a trot from camp.

It was slow and gentle and the horse responded to every move you made and wanted to make. Even a week off, he still knew how to ride.

With soft encouragement you and your horse easily made it to the outskirts of camp, where Javier kept watch and nodded at you.

You looked back once and true to his word, Arthur stood there.

Arthur Morgan wasn’t a man who said things he didn’t mean. If he said he was gonna wait there then there he would be on your return.

He’d asked to come with you. He said he’d give you space. Said he just wanted to be close, for his own sanity.

You’d said no, insistant upon proving you could ride again. But you knew you could. Now, all you wanted was Arthur.

You tugged your horse a little of the way back into camp, enough to have Arthur alert.

“What is it?” He called out to you.

“Think I might need some help when I get out there, you know?” You yelled back.

Arthur was grinning, already whistling for his horse by the time you’d turned back to wait at the edge.

The heavy hooves of his beloved horse sounded and quickly Arthur and his horse trotted around you, a smirk under his hat.

“Frettin’ gets you places, don’t it girl?” He proposed as he pat his horse.

“Just didn’t want you frozen there if a big gust of wind came,” you teased back, falling into the easy rhythm of riding and loving him.

He chuckled, his horse circling you once more before he came to halt next to you. Arthur leant into his horse, the reigns tight in his hold. “C’mon girl, let’s show ‘em how it’s done.”

[bluetimeombre]

José Pedro Balmaceda ‘not always gentle,’ ‘big spoon,’ ‘I’m into submission,’ ‘I’m a pleaser,’ Pascal

[bluetimeombre]

⌦ .｡.:*♡ Keep you in my locket

Arthur Morgan meets a strange man, and does something even stranger.

Entering my Arthur Morgan phase. Dw, I still have some Joel miller planned but right now I’m playing red dead so you know I had to do it. All fluff, hope you like

꘎♡. ━━━━━. ♡꘎

"Oh, thank you sir, thank you," said the man as Arthur returned his horse.

"No problem."

He'd only been riding out for a day or so, intent to explore the land more. He'd already seen enough to send him back to camp but he couldn't ignore a man desperate to retrieve his horse.

He could, but if you found out and somehow you would- because you always do- you'd be very upset with him.

When you found out he'd let a man walk home after he was robbed, he had to sleep on the floor of your tent like a dog curled up close to his owner.

"Please, take this," the man pulled a thin golden chain from his pocket, dangling it in front of Arthur. "I'm from Europe, you see. Came here to make my name in America. I'm a jewellery maker. I insist you take it."

Arthur watched the gold glint in the sun. The chain was long and thin, a heart dangling at the end of it, decorated with intricate designs of flowers and swirls and such.

He took it, gently, it seemed expensive, genuine. Could fetch a pretty penny. "All for helpin' ya, sir, but i'm a takin man."

"Give it to her," the man insisted. "Do you have romance in this country."

Arthur stared at it, holding it up like it was some prey to examine.

Sure, he knew romance. Sometimes after a hard day he'd sit you down around the fire, pull of your old worn boots and rub your feet. That was romance right?

Or the way you'd always have a cup of strong coffee for him in the mornings when he doesn't sleep well.

Or how, though he hated it, he let you play with his hair. Sometimes braid it.

"It is a locket," said the man, he was French, Arthur thought. "You can put a portrait inside. Of you. Give it to her and she can carry it next to her heart. Now I must go sir! Thank you!"

Arthur hardly waved a hand goodbye as he still stared and still thought about it.

He liked to give you things, never passed a field of flowers without picking a bouquet for you. Never had he gotten you something quite so extravagant.

Him? Inside?

Arthur could count the pictures he had of him. Two. One of him, Dutch and Hosea when he first joined them. The other of you and Arthur sitting around the campfire, just talking.

It was look of love, Charles called it when he took it. Now it was tucked in his pocket and he looked at it every night and morning.

Look of love, he was a damn puppy dog for you.

He would never sully that picture just to put one of himself in a locket. He could just give it to you as is, maybe you'd want a picture of your horse in there? Or Dutch? Or John or someone else you cared about?

Who was he to hold your heart?

But the very idea had him wanting to throw it into a lake if it wasn't him going to be in there.

Arthur patted his horse with an absent mind, rubbing his thumb over the gold. "What you think, girl?" he showed his horse the locket, waiting for approval. "You think she'll like it?"

Now, how would he fit inside your heart?

꘎♡. ━━━━━. ♡꘎

That night the stars seemed bright and the air was warmer as you lingered at the lake, staring out at the moon that glittered on the surface. You were nursing a cup of coffee, waiting on Arthur's return. It had been two days and he said he wouldn't stay away long.

Your idea of long was an hour. His a week.

"Hey!" Abbigail called, dragging Jack to bed. "Your boy's back!"

You grinned instantly, setting your coffee cup into the rocks at the lake.

Arthur was already making his way down to you, his horse not even hitched at the post before he was jogging over.

"Arthur?" you could tell he was agitated by how rushed he was. Was it a quick stop? A quick peck then a run off again.

He wrapped his arounds your waist, lifting you quickly. "You alrigh'" he sighed into your hair, body relaxing into you.

"Missed you."

"I weren't gone long," he said, setting you down on the stones again. "I-I got you somethin."

"Me? Somethin'?" you mocked his accent and the roughness to his words.

Arthur grunted an acknowledge of your teasing, hand fishing around in his satchel. "Well, I helped this man, he was from France, I think. He gave me somethin."

He was still looking down at his satchel though you could see something in his hand, balled up there and hidden. Yet, he didn't show you.

You looked at him, a waiting smile on your lips but a furrow in your brows. What was it? Your mind dared conjure up several things, some better than others.

The back of Arthur's balled up hand tipped back his hat as he rubbed at his forehead. "If you don't like it, you don't have to keep it."

"Well, I don't know what it is yet," you teased.

Arthur un-curled his fist but kept it low and for his own gaze. You watched as his jaw ticked and a thousand thoughts ran through his mind. "It's nothin- silly really-"

You reached up to tuck the growing strands of his hair back, your fingers trailing along his cheek until he relaxed, leaning into the touch ever so slightly. "Arthur."

He hummed, eyes looking up to you un-sarcastically quiet.

"Can I see?"

He sighed heavily and you were almost tempted to take it back when his fingers uncurled and you caught the golden chain in hand.

Your eyes widened, your heart rose. You held onto his wrist. "Oh, Arthur."

"You like it?" he asked, still un-sure about it.

It felt like giving you his heart all over again.

"It's beautiful." Gently, you picked it up, looking close at the heart and the engravings.

Arthur shrugged of some un-ease as he shifted his weight to one foot, holding onto his belt. He watched you admire it. "Fella was a jewellery maker, said he wanted me to have it."

"And you didn't sell it of, I am so proud of you," you teased.

"Thought of my pretty one at home who would only look prettier wearin' it," he smiled.

A blush crept to your cheeks as you looked at him. "Thank you, Arthur."

You held his shoulder as you reached up to kiss his cheek. Like he was a gentleman and like you were falling in love for the first time. Still, ever little touch between the two of you sent sparks, made him feel alive.

Your fingers went to the locket, ready to unclasp.

Arthur grabbed your wrists like you were handling a gun. That awkward shyness coming back to him. "Don't laugh."

"Laugh?"

Arthur rolled his head back, looking to the lake. "I had to... get somethin' to put in there," he grumbled.

That was how a locket worked, you wanted to tell him but he looked just about ready to crawl out his own skin or jump on his horse and run away.

Had he put a lock of his hair that you loved so much? A tooth of his? A pressed flower?

You peeked inside at the small heart. Your lips pursed into a thin white line.

Don't laugh, don't laugh, don't laugh.

"You wanna laugh, don't ya?" he grunted, shaking his head.

"No," but you answer came out in a cough.

Arthur may have been given the necklace but he wasn't given the opportunity to make it special.

Inside laid a roughly cut and small picture of Arthur. It was small but close up. He'd taken his hat off so you'd always see his hair. You wondered if he asked someone to do it, or if he'd somehow done it all alone himself. His eyes, your favourite colour because they're his, didn't meet the camera but more so looked past it and he seemed shocked and slightly confused to be there.

"Arthur," you tried to keep your voice steady. It wavered.

"Ah- get rid of it!" Arthur threw his arm out to the lake.

"No!" you held it close to your chest like he might snatch it and get rid of it for you. "No, Arthur."

He groaned and turned back to you. "I needed a picture, I hate pictures, you know that. Much rather have took one of ya but, didn't know if... well, I wanted you to have-"

"You," you finished for him, cutting his rambling. "The only person who my heart belongs to."

Arthur hid his bashful gaze under his hat. "Well, I like to hear that."

You had the locket cupped in your hand like it was a dying flame to protect. "I love it. I do. It's sweet. And I love you."

You knew Arthur didn't find those words easy, that love was not something he was accustom to. It never stopped you from telling him and he never had you doubting his care for you.

The holds, the flower, the locket, the small and sometimes big things were enough to tell you how much he loved you.

You held the locket out to him. "Help me with that thing then, would you?"

Once the chain was held between his fingers you scooped up your hair and turned, offering your neck to him.

There was grumbling on his end. Not protests, you could tell, just his own muttering under his breath. Something about 'too dang pretty,' and he was 'too damn lucky.'

You felt the lucky one.

The cold metal dangled down your chest and you closed your eyes, familiarising yourself with the weight and never wanting to feel without it.

Arthur fiddled with the clasp. "This dang thing."

Once he had it and it dangled freely, Arthur bent and kissed over where the clasp met your neck. His hands, rough to the touch but forever careful with you, drew down your arms. His body pressed into yours, an arm curling around your waist and holding your back into him.

He rested his head where your neck met your shoulder. "You never takin' it off?"

You shook your head, his hair tickling against you. "Never."

He hummed, satisfied, squeezing your waist and dragging his lips up your neck, in no rush to be quick with loving you.

Your held onto his arms. "Did Hosea help you with the picture or did you do it by yourself."

Arthur huffed. He pulled back, his hands still rested at your hips but he forced you to turn, holding you there. His thumbs were making small circles, almost of absent mind that he was doing it. "I ain't need Hosea help for takin' a damn' picture. It's only for you. Ain't no one else needa see."

You nodded. "Nobody else."

꘎♡. ━━━━━. ♡꘎

[bluetimeombre]

⋆. 𐙚 ̊ A friend of the families

you and Ellie became close when she moved to Jackson. you and Joel got even closer

[wanted to get this out tonight so it feels rushed but also good. Cause I wanted it out it is not proof read. Dunno how much more Joel I'll be writing as Arthur Morgan is my latest obsession but I may yet prove good at multi tasking]

warning: older Joel, younger reader, (unspecified) oral (both receiving) fingering, kinda mean and teasing Joel. reader is described as female. you and joel just needy.reader is friend of Ellie's. takes place in Jackson, this is a long piece but ends in a quickie. P in V. A possible part two?

⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.

Joel was not accustomed to a teen girl in the house.

He’d lost Sarah before they could reach the ‘no boys’ ‘no drugs’ ‘curfew ten thirty,’ so with Ellie, it was a fresh start. All new.

"Joel, what the hell?"

He’d yet to learn the golden rule about knocking.

You and Ellie were sat on her bed in her garage room, a comic sitting between you two. It was innocent, it was nothing but when Joel saw you it all felt wrong.

It all felt like he was seeing something he shouldn’t.

And you smirked at him.

"S-sorry," he apologised to Ellie and stepped away, gently closing the door behind him.

He lingered- he didn’t mean to but he caught the first glimpse of your voice and halted.

"You didn’t tell me he was hot," he heard you say.

"Ew- that’s gross, because he’s not," said Ellie.

Joel shook his head, banishing every thought and trying to think of anything that wasn’t your smirk. Who were you? And why’d you look at him like he was an appetizer to a meal.

He took himself away. He wasn’t dense enough to know that young girls liked privacy but surely… Joel couldn’t remember seeing you around, but you had to be a couple years older than Ellie.

You were mature in face and in the way you looked at him, daring a tease.

He thought about it, thought about you as he sat in his quiet and lonely house since Ellie had moved to the garage.

Joel had no idea how long he’d been sitting before he heard the back door close quietly.

He looked back and saw you lurking.

"Sorry, Mr Miller," you apologised, hands behind your back as you rocked on your heels. "Ellie said company was fine."

"It is," he insisted, stretching his arm along the sofa. "It is fine."

You still lingered, unable to leave.

Joel’s eyes darted around, dragging up your body. "What’s your- what’s your name?"

You told him and he repeated it, testing the syllables on his tongue.

"You known Ellie long?" He asked, shifting on the sofa to look at you. It was no secret to the town of Jackson that he and Ellie weren’t exactly getting along at the moment. It was maybe a better kept secret with how well Joel had been coping with it.

"Couple months, Jesse was helping with training both of us."

You still stood there, not taking a step closer to him.

Joel hummed in amusement. "I don’t bite, you know."

Your brows rose and that smirk graced your lips again as is his words awoke something in you. "Who’s to say I don’t."

Joel’s eyes flickered to you.

You stood there. Confident, hands clasped behind your back like they couldn’t be trusted in front of you.

Before he could think of something to say, before he could think if he wanted to tempt you to more or remind himself you were Ellie’s friend, you walked around the sofa and toward the door.

"I’ll see you around, Mr Miller."

⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.

"The girl?" Said Tommy. "Maria found her some years back. Helps out a lot, good shooter, good with horses too. She’s a good girl."

Joel had given himself a month to think about you before he asked Tommy and in that month he saw you everywhere.

At the bar, sassing Seth.

At the stables with Ellie.

Eating with Jesse.

You invaded every space.

You’d even been in the garage with Ellie more times than he could count, if he didn’t see you he could hear your laughter.

Sometimes you left through his house, always leaving with a comment and a Mr Miller.

Once you’d dared drag your finger tips across his arm.

A good girl his ass.

"She good for Ellie to be around?" Joel asked.

Tommy chuckled at the accusation. "Nobody better. She’s a good one, Joel."

A good one. Often he’d found his subconscious mind thinking just how good you were. If you’d listen to him in bed or if you’d be the brat you keep giving him glimpses of.

"Why all the questions?" Tommy asked.

The two brothers were out taking their route for patrol. Joel hadn’t been to start talking about you.

He just couldn’t help himself.

"I was wondering if she’s ever patrolled?" He asked. "I could show her."

Tommy chuckled, looking over at Joel, a familiar glint in his eyes. "Yeah Joel, you could teach her."

The rest of patrol drove him crazy. As he moved his horse and did the checks all he could think about was sharing a horse with you, having your body curling into his, arms around you as held the reins.

Who cared if you could ride a horse yourself, he’d teach you to ride his way.

Once him and Tommy rode back through the gates Joel jumped off and headed to the bar. Usually he was tired, aching, just wanted to go home, but he wanted to find you.

It was easy to in the bar.

The people nodded at him, making small greetings as he walked through. He made comfortable conversation but didn’t linger.

You were at the bar, third wheeling a Jesse and Dina who laughed together. You were nursing a beer, wiping the condensation down the glass.

Joel slid himself in next to you, waving for a whiskey.

You gulped down a sip of your beer. "Mr Miller."

Joel turned to you, as if he was surprised to see you there and didn’t know that was your Friday routine.

He knew he should have told you it was Joel but god the way your lips shaped his name.

"Having fun?" He asked, gesturing to the two who chatted behind you.

"Not ideally how I like to spend my Friday nights," you slowly brought the beer to your lips, tasted it.

Joel was a damned man as he watched. "Tommy said you don’t patrol."

"Talking to Tommy about me now?" You teased.

The whiskey was placed in front of him. He took a sip and licked the sharpness of it from his lips. He was old enough to play your games. He could beat you at them to.

"Think it’s about time you learn how," he said.

You cringed. "Why?"

"Bout time you pull your weight," he said, leaning on the counter. His leg was kicked out, close enough to yours.

You peered at him. You weren’t drunk but there was a haze from the beers you’d had. "And you’re the one who decides that are you?"

"I am now," he said. His fingers danced around the rim of his glass and he wasn’t ignorant to how you watched the move of his fingers. "You’ll ride with me."

"I’ll ride with you," you repeated the words. Your tongue darted out to wet your lips and Joel was just a man- just a man being reeled in like a fish on a hook.

He nodded. "If you can keep up."

"I’m sure I’ll manage," you said.

"Joel?" A sudden reminder that you came to the Bison not alone- with Ellie- entered his mind as her voice called from behind him. "What are you doing here?"

Joel backed away from the counter, "just fancied a drink, kiddo."

Ellie stood between the two of you, unknowingly cutting through the tension. "Did something go wrong on patrol?"

"No," he said. "Nothing wrong."

He did the only thing he could, down his whiskey and head for the door.

⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.

"Why is Joel teaching you to patrol?" Asked Ellie.

"Time to earn my keep, he said," you told her, pulling up your hair for the fourth time that morning.

"He’s so annoying." You could see Ellie roll her eyes from her place on her bed. Her arms were folded over as she glared at nothing and imagined Joel.

"He’s not so bad," you told her.

Ellie muttered. "You don’t know him like I do."

No, you didn’t. You didn’t know why Ellie didn’t talk to him. You didn’t know why he looked at you with dark eyes and clenched fists. You weren’t even sure Joel knew half the time.

But you wanted to know. You wanted to know what made Joel tick and wither. You wanted to know the touch of his hands and the drag of his lips.

You wanted to feel the tears of roughness ontop of you, pressing you down, holding you. His lips-

There was a knock at the door as Joel called through.

Ellie pushed herself up, opening the door.

His jacket fitted him, sleeves ripped slightly and work from the years.

You smiled to yourself, turning and fixing yourself. You wanted to impress the man and be able to patrol. It was a hard one to balance.

When you turned to him and Joel froze you imagined you’d done a good job. Until all he did was nod his head and hurry you along.

Ellie looked back to you, dead-panned. "See?"

You shrugged and squeezed her arm as you walked out the door. "I’ll see you later."

Ellie hesitated at the door like a mother watching her child leave. "Don’t let him get to you!"

You laughed to yourself and turned to her as you walked away. "Who’s to say I won’t be the one getting to him?"

"Gross- seriously!"

Yes. Seriously. Everyone knew Joel was easy to annoy, often spending most his time grumbling at people rather than talking. His age was catching up to him, his grumpiness evident in every blink of his eyes.

Around you you’d noticed it was different. He was kinder, alert. Maybe he could see your teasing nature. If he did… it sure would make out to be an interesting trip.

Joel waited outside his house for you, eyes low even as you got closer.

It wasn’t until you were standing in front of him that he tutted and went back inside, leaving you there.

You stood, perplexed.

Was he unimpressed? You’d dressed fine- maybe your pants were too tight and framed your hips too well-

Joel marched down the stairs, an old jacket in hand. "Take it off," he demanded.

Your breath caught.

He rolled his eyes (so much like Ellie). "Your coat, won’t do anything to keep you warm. Put this on."

He handed you and old and worn jacket, similar shades to his but lighter.

So he was worried about you. Your stomach flipped.

Slowly you peeled off your little coat. It already wasn’t keeping out the on coming frost but it did things for you that you wanted Joel to appreciate.

As you took it off, he looked away, a cock to his head as he held out the jacket.

"Was this Ellie’s?" You asked. It hung on you slightly, the sleeves far too long as it felt down and down.

There was a faint trace of wood on the collar as you pulled it around you.

"No, it was mine," he said. He looked at you finally.

It was drowning you, him looking at you in the coat that shrunk you down. It wasn’t exactly the effect you wanted.

"Suits you," he said. "Now c’mon."

⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.

Patrol was supposed to be an honour. Something the adults did and boasted for. Something all the kids wanted to aspire to.

You weren’t sure why, it was boring.

It turned out all it really counted for was following the path made by others, looking round every tree and such.

Joel rode behind you on his horse as you rode ahead on yours. The only thing keeping you awake as you calmly trod through the woods was the heat of his gaze on you.

The lure of danger behind you.

Every time you wanted to glance back he snapped. 'Face front'.

You listened though.

"Up here," he took the lead as you were led to an abandoned building. Where they logged patrols.

Your horses remained outside as Joel went in first, gun out. There was one holstered at your hip but as you watched Joel’s hand wrap around the weapon, fingers squeezing you couldn’t think to reach for yours. Only think-

"You’re distracted," Joel huffed. He slouched, not opening the door till he had your attention.

You rose a brow.

"Raiders could be in here and you’re-"

"There was no horse tracks or feet on the ground leading up. The door has no signs of struggle," you said. "It’s fine."

Joel looked at you. "It’s confidence like that that gets you killed, smartass."

You roll your eyes but oblige him, getting out your own gun. "Confidence has got me this far."

"Confidence has got you here with me." He said it as if it wasn’t a dream come true for you.

Inside Joel walked, gun up and you followed, assessing every move he made like he was an enemy to watch.

"Every room needs to be assessed. If there’s anything unusual you report it," he instructed. "Any fires recently put out, any blood. You’ll learn to know these rooms like the back of your hands. Then you-"

"Log it," you finished.

Joel checked the last room while you were already logging in the book, looking at past logs.

J. Miller was scribbled frequently and it wasn’t just your desire manifesting him wherever you went, it was just him.

"You patrol a lot," you said.

"Yeah."

"Nothing better to do with your time?" You asked, looking over your shoulder to him.

Joel stalked closer, his boots thudding on the ground with every step as he assessed the space between the two of you getting smaller and smaller. "No. Not really."

You nodded and leant over, scribbling again.

You didn’t miss the clear of his throat and how he stepped toward the side. "No Ellie on here. You don’t let her patrol?"

"No," he said. "She’s not ready yet."

"But I am?"

"You’re older," said Joel. "More mature."

You stood straight, leaning on the table and looking at him. "Mature. I think that’s a compliment, Mr Miller."

He stared at you a moment longer and you let him, almost becoming breathless with his gaze. Joel wasn’t doing much better.

But he wouldn’t take the first step. For months, since your eyes first caught him you’d waited for something. For a pinch of the desire from him, for a stutter of breath.

And all you got was those eyes.

You stepped from the table and Joel stepped back. "Mr Miller-"

"Don’t-"

You stopped, your hands clasped in front of you.

"I think I know why you wanted me on patrol."

He shook his head, jaw clenched. "You don’t."

You did affect him. You did have that want buried inside of him, had planted it there like a seed, and around you it blossomed in spring.

You had no idea if you’d lunged first or if Joel had grasped out for you but soon enough your arms were around his neck and his curled around your waist and pulled your body into his.

His lips were chapped and bruising as they worked against yours.

Kissing him was like every wet dream. Every dangerous thought. His lips were the desert and you the rain.

His hands were even better, unable to stop the exploration of the new world.

They found themselves traveling under the coat, bunching up the shirt you’d dare wear.

Your tongue fought for entrance to his mouth and he granted it, opening wide for you.

His leg nudged apart yours, sliding in as his hands wandered up and pulled your hair.

His eyes were hooded, body all tense as he tugged at your hair to look at you, your neck stretched back, lips red. "You’re Ellie’s friend."

You nodded as best you could in his hold.

"Tell me to stop."

"No."

When Joel dove in again his hands had moved down to your rear, pulling you into him and his lips found the expanse of your neck.

His teeth nipped, his tongue ran and heat soared through you until you were sweating his his jacket.

You went to tug it off but with something like a growl in your neck, Joel pulled it back. He pulled away enough to see you in.

"It’s mine," he said, his feet shuffling with yours until he had you on the table, sweeping the book of patrol away and sitting you on there.

His hands, rough and firm, gripped your thighs and pried them apart, slinging himself between. "This is wrong."

Both of you knew Ellie would kill if she knew Joel’s hands were finding themselves higher on your thighs and yours were trailing under his checkered shirt.

Once. Just once. That what you and Joel decided in one glance. Once couldn’t hurt.

As your nails dug into his skin, feeling the softness of his stomach and the happy trail teasing you down, Joel worked your belt undone, the buttons popping.

As you felt the pads of his finger dip into your panties, you drew him in, smelling sandlewood in his neck and burying yourself in the scent.

"Oh babygirl," he cooed as his fingers dipped into the dampness. "This for little old me."

You nod, biting into his neck. "You, Joel."

There was a chuckle and a groan as his fingers curled up, your hands gripping his shoulders. "Fuck, the way you say my name, you’re gonna-"

"Joel, you there?" Both of you paused as the static at his hip sounded. "Joel?"

Both of you shifted away, you worked up your trousers as Joel fished out the walkie talkie.

Tommy’s voice crackled over as you both listened. "There’s a storm that’s gonna be coming in, it’s looking bad. Is everything ok over there?"

Joel pinched the bridge of his nose, huffing and doing everything not to look at you. "Yeah, everything’s fine over here."

His voice was clipped.

Your eyes trailed down his body, at his shirt that was now untucked from his trousers and the strain. The strain of his aching cock for your touch that looked so thick and heavy that it had to be painful.

Or maybe it was more painful that your lips weren’t wrapped around him

"Then you two should think about heading back," said Tommy.

Joel looked at you. At you, not at your eyes but at the spot his fingers had just tasted for the first time. "Heading back?"

It was more a question in your direction. Head back, pretend this hasn’t happened, or wait out the storm.

"Yeah. Listen, Ellie’s pretty worried about the two of you out there. She wants you home."

The question was answered. In the way neither of you wanted Ellie to worry, or in the way she could never know about this.

Both of you turned from each other.

What were you doing? There was harmless flirting but what you just did wasn’t harmless. It was… so many filthy things you couldn’t bring yourself to hate the memory of.

Joel quickly said you’d be back soon and slid it back to his waist.

He looked to you, eyes still dark, but a heat rising up his neck. "We should leave."

You nod, tidying yourself and taking yourself from the table, putting the book back in its place.

What had you done? The heat had vanished and cold like the storm came.

"Mr Miller, I didn’t-" you turned, expecting him to be waiting for an apology when in fact he stood close.

"If you’re about to tell me, you didn’t mean for it to get that far, we’re gonna have to stay here, through the storm and you’re gonna have to make it up to me."

It was a warning you were willing to take.

Ellie. Ellie. Ellie.

Joel made sure you understood.

He fingers that had been curling inside of you shortly ago rose to his lips and he ran it over before grabbing the back of your neck and kissing you.

Before you could embrace him, he pulled back. "Ellie can never know."

"Never."

⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳˳.

And she didn’t.

For the next week you hung out with Ellie away from her house and any glimpses of Joel were spent rushing to remember the touch of him.

Ellie was home the wiser.

And Joel, he acted as if he didn’t even know you.

Perhaps it was for the best. You dared the feeling and that was all you got. Maybe you could live without it…

You could get it out your system if you stuffed your own fingers in your pussy and chased the thought of him.

(It was proving very difficult)

Only when Joel was out the house- as Ellie told you- that you waited in her garage for her. She was trailing with Jesse but wanted to show you her latest comic find.

You said you'd wait, and you did. Walking around her space, strumming the strings of a guitar, flicking through pages of comic books and staring at a picture of her and Joel at the stables.

The door creaked open.

"Ellie?"

You knew that voice in your dreams. Knew it like it was your own.

"Not quite."

Joel appeared over the door, looking around the empty room until he found you, lurking at her desk. "Huh," he mumbled. His boots were slow on the floor as he stood there. "Where's Ellie?"

"She's with Jesse, said she wouldn't be long." You picked at the wood of the table.

It had been easy to tease him before, to want him and dip your toes into that.

You hadn't thought that knowing the feel of him could make it worse.

Joel nodded and closed the door behind him, trapping the two of you inside. He still looked around, carelessly kicking his feet as he walked over. "Long? How long ago was that?"

You lifted your shoulders. "Twenty minutes. Maybe more."

He nodded once more and stopped when he was close enough to feel your breath on him. "You've been waiting in here this whole time?"

You nodded.

Something uneasy flickered in his eyes. "You didn't want to see me, huh?"

"I did!" you said, almost too quickly. "I mean, I assumed you'd you know, be busy." With what you didn't know. Had he ever fisted his cock imagining your lips? He was older, probably better controlled.

"I have been busy," he said. "But all I could think about was you. You know what you've done to me?"

You looked up at him. The greys in his beard were prominent, as were the little dark circles under his eyes. "What i've done?"

His hand reached out, cupping your cheek and feeling your skin. He took in a deep breath, a relief of one. "Been thinking about these-" the pad of his thumb brushed against your lips. "This-" his other hand cupped the heat between your thighs.

Your eyes screwed shut. However long you'd thought about it and no matter how much you tell yourself it's filthy to think of him, Ellie's dad practically, in that light, it didn't stop the wetness that laid there.

"It's wrong," said Joel, shaking his head at you like he could read your thoughts. "It ain't right."

Your gaze flickered up to him. Your fingers wrapped around his wrist, the hand that was comfortable between your legs. "So we shouldn't?"

Joel looked at his thumb that dragged across your bottom lip. "We shouldn't."

"Even if I-" your throat bobbed and Joel watched the movement. "Even if I need you? Need you so bad?"

"How bad?"

An invitation.

Without words you moved his hand away and slid it down the band of your jeans and panties until his fingers dragged over your clit and felt the need.

It was wrong. It would be so wrong.

Joel took his hand away and grabbed your wrist, dragging you from the garage.

Your feet were practically tripping over themselves as you fought his grasp. Was he gonna chuck you out? Tell you to never come back? To leave Ellie alone? "Mr Miller? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

Joel pushed open the kitchen door, letting it bang on the wall as he dragged you inside his house. Once in, he kicked the door closed again and led you into the counter.

His lips were just as hungry, just as desperate as the last time. If not, more so.

A groan fought it's way through his throat and he wasted no time in slipping his tongue inside your mouth. It was wet and all tongue and all teeth like he was eating you, hiding you inside of him.

There wasn't time.

Who knew what interruption would come again.

Your fingers fumbled with his belt and Joel helped you throw it aside.

This time, you reached for him, feeling the dent of him through his boxers.

"F-fuck, sweetheart," Joel groaned against your lips. "You- your-"

"I need you," you said, breathless against him. "Please, I need you."

"I know, I know," his head dropped to your shoulder, hands at the bottom of your shirt. "I know you've been teasing me. Damn well testing me for weeks. Fuck, you've wanted this, haven't you baby girl?"

You nodded as your hand moved up and down his length.

"Say yes."

"Yes, Mr Miller."

His teeth bit down on your shoulder through the fabric. "You'd let me? Let me have you?"

"Maybe we just-" your fingers traced the elastic at his boxers. "Need it out our system?"

"Out our system?" he repeated.

Joel pulled his head back and looked at you.

You meat his gaze and didn't falter as your hand snuck down his boxers and grasped his cock, squeezing.

"Sh-shit," Joel stuttered, falling into you and crowding you on the counter. "Touch me like that baby and I won't make it inside of you before I come."

You chuckled and kissed him. Slowly, you dragged your hand up and down, his pre-cum making it easy to have him groaning and kissing you furiously. "Can I- mmh."

"Can you what, baby?" he asked, pulling away only enough for you to hear his words.

"Can I suck your cock? Please, please."

Joel groaned as you thumb swiped over the head of his leaking tip. "Oh fuck, baby, you're so polite. So different now you have my cock in hand."

"Can I?" you asked again. He was heavy in your hand, warm and you feared the embarrassment for what you'd do to feel him on your tongue.

He grinned and pecked your lips. "Who am I to say no?"

In a haze, his hand was in your hair and you were on your knees and his cock was in your mouth.

Joel's hands clenched on the countertop, head thrown back as you took him deep and warm and wet on your first take. "Shit, you're taking me deep."

You moaned around him. It was all fast, all so fast when all you wanted was to feel him, hold him, taste him. You wanted to savour every drop of pre-cum and every word of his.

"So pretty," his hands pushed your hair back into a ponytail but he didn't tug. He didn't force his cock down your throat, he just let you feel and taste. "Such a pretty throat, so nice, so pretty. So nice of you to want me."

Your held the base of him, working what you didn't take as you increased your speed.

His praise to you was one thing, but the way he spoke to himself had your hand travelling to your pussy and circling your clit. 'Old man like me got a young thing like you all hot and bothered... the things I'd do to you... too good for me, baby. Feel too good."

You hollowed your cheeks as you took him down, gagging at the depths.

Joel tugged at your hair and you released him in a mess of need. "You're gonna make me come, sweetheart."

You caught your breath and wiped the mess from your lips. "Want you to, Joel," you said, still holding him and looking as if it was a wonder. "Want to taste you."

"Honey, if this is the only time I do this i'm not coming till i've felt how tight you are."

You groaned.

Joel chuckled, tapping your chin till you looked up at him. "Behaviour like that and you'll-"

Suddenly, the sound of the front door alerted you both.

Joel's eyes widened. "Shit!"

"Hey Joel, have you seen my comic?"

You couldn't move. You were hidden behind the counter but if you crawled out now, red in the cheeks and hair tangled there'd be no question what you were doing.

You shifted but Joel's hand clamped down on you and pushed you down, keeping you in front of his cock.

His still very tempting and leaking cock.

"Ellie, what are you doing here?" he asked. He let go of your hair, but continued soothing it back gently.

"I'm looking for my savage starlight comic, I wanted to show- are you ok?"

You glanced up at Joel. There was a thin layer of sweat over his forehead and the hand that wasn't on you was balled tight.

"You look kinda..." Ellie trailed off.

Cautiously, you started to move your hand up and down, watching the muscle in his jaw twitch.

"F-fine, just a migraine."

"Oh, didn't know you got them," said Ellie.

"Oh yeah," said Joel, seething. "This one's pretty persistent."

Persistent? You could show him persistent.

While you slowly worked him up and down and Ellie kept throwing out ideas where she'd last seen the comic, you licked up his cock like it was a treat and you were starving.

He withered in your touch.

"I haven't- urg- I haven't seen it, kiddo," Joel groaned, head hung. His eyes were squeezed shut, not even daring to glance at you on your knees. "Have you checked your garage?"

"Yes i've- shit, you look terrible. Should I get Tommy?"

"No," said Joel.

You squeezed his cock.

"Fu- yes! Yes! Yes, Ellie go get Tommy. Tell him to bring some, mh, some painkillers, would ya?" he'd practically shouted the words at her, lips pursed and body hunched over.

"Woah, ok, ok, I... will you be alright alone?"

"Yes, yes just please, go get Tommy."

"Ok, Ok, just- just don't move!" the sound of sneakers on the ground quickly told you Ellie was rushing off, so concerned for Joel's health.

"Oh, I won't."

His eyes opened down at you and you froze.

Both of you remained still until you heard the front door slam shut.

You winced, expecting the tug of your chair and the strength of Joel to throw you to your feet and get you out the house.

You didn't expect for Joel to join you on the ground, lying you down on the kitchen floor.

"We ain't got enough damn time," he grunted, lying over you. He had himself propped up with his forearm, panting as he pulled down your pants.

You helped him, wriggling your hips until they were at your knees. "Joel, what are you-"

The words died in a moan as he went in, tongue first, into your pussy.

He licked up the mess he'd created, drooling and kissing along your lips and clit. It was messy. It was quick. He made out with your pussy with as much enthusiasm he did with your lips.

You were a mess on the floor, moaning loud enough you were surprised Ellie didn't hear. Your legs couldn't keep still, wanting to wrap around him but unable to due to your pants.

Joel's hands dug into your thigh. "Squirm anymore and I'll think you don't want it." He glanced up at you.

"I do. I do want it, want it real bad, please," you moan, back arching, offering yourself to him on a silver plate.

Joel kissed your pussy. "That's my girl."

You didn't know if he was talking to you or the heaven between your thighs. Frankly, you didn't care as his tongue swept up inside and he spread your legs to reach you deeper.

His finger slid inside of you easily. "Never known something as warm as you," he mumbled as he rested his head upon you, tongue making circles on your clit. "God, can't wait to feel you warm on my cock."

"Want it," you nod, eyes screwed shut as the familiar feel of pleasure built. "Please, I'm gonna- i'm gonna-"

Joel pulled back, kissing your thigh as he watched your pussy take his fingers, clench around them. "Wanna take my time, really wanna feel you."

Coldness swept in as he took away his fingers but a new heat built as you watched him suck your wetness off and his eyes roll to the back of his head.

There was no time.

Joel loomed back over you, guiding the head of his cock along the walls of your pussy. "No time, can you take me?"

"Y-yes, Mr Miller."

"You want it?"

"Yes."

"Are you gonna take it?"

He pushed the head inside your warmth and almost collapsed atop you. You held onto his back, holding him close. "Shit baby, jus- just need to feel you."

"No time, don't have time!" you whined, your legs constantly moving to be closer.

"Fuck, ok, ok," Joel grabbed your hand, entwining your fingers as he slowly pushed into you more. "Oh, this what you wanted? Wanted it deeper, wanted it quicker?"

You nod, lips pursed to hold your whimper.

"You jus' couldn't wait, huh?" Joel moved in and Joel moved out, your slick and his own coating him as he tried to go faster without hurting you.

He kissed like he needed it and touched like he may never get the chance again. But all he wanted was to love you right, to take his time. To know what made you wither and whimper.

He was torn between keeping watch on your face or watch how your pussy took him deep and well.

"Joel, faster, please!" you begged, hands pulling his shoulders in.

Both of you were still clothed and starting to sweat. If he wasn't fast enough neither of you would get to finish before Ellie returned with his brother and then you'd have an audience.

"Shit, ok, ok," Joel pulled down your jeans more and held your leg toward him. "Gonna fuck you now, baby girl, you're gonna take it."

You nodded along, biting down on your lip. He was deep, deeper than you thought possible.

"Gonna fuck you but we'll do it again, I promise, I promise," he coaxed you, rocking you, gripping your hand like it was his anchor. "You clench me so well baby, yeah, so warm, can't have you once."

"Have me, Joel, have me," you said, eyes shut as you chased your high desperately. How long had it been since Ellie left? Not long enough.

"I will baby girl, I will. Gonna have you in every room-" he thrusted hard and lingered inside, cock twitching, "on every wall," he did it again and groaned loud. It almost sounded like he was in pain. "Would fuck you in every room in Jackson so you'd never stop thinking about me."

You were close, getting so close to the release you'd craved for months.

Your breaths were quick, mixing like a song with the sound of skin on skin and Joel's words.

"So warm, you're so good for me, you're a good girl letting me... letting me use you like this," Joel's hand cupped your cheek. "Open your eyes, look at us."

Your body reacted to him in ways you'd never experienced before.

Your eyes opened and went to watching his cock plunge in and out.

"Just like that, juuusss like that," Joel grunted. "Fuck, c'mon!"

"Joel, i'm gonna, i'm gonna-" you panted.

He wanted you to hold it, wanted to feel you come with him and watch it seep out of you. "Look at me. Please, baby, look at me."

Once your eyes, wide and wanting met his Joel groaned loud and didn't have a chance to warn you until his cock twitched and he released inside you.

He couldn't form an apology or a word as he felt himself spill inside you, all in you. It drove him insane.

"Joel," you whimper at the feel of him, body tense as he released.

He wasn't having it like this. He didn't care if Ellie and Tommy were outside the door. He was making you cum.

He reached between your bodies, where he didn't move inside of you and used what seed of his that was coming out against your clit, circling it slow enough to drive you mad.

"Come for me," he said, heading in your neck as he sucked a mark there. Let Ellie tease and question you about it, he needed to be able to see this had happened. To look at that mark and know you'd been there.

"Joel, I'm gonna-"

He kept his steady pace but the pressure grew and grew. "Know you wanna, know you wanna finish with me inside of you. Me all messy and hot from what you do to me. You know it's wrong, you know you shouldn't but you wanna."

"Want to, want to-"

Joel slowly moved his cock out of you and replaced his fingers with himself, smearing him all over your clit and rubbing.

You finished with a moan, your most delicious one yet that Joel swallowed up in his mouth, groaning with you as he felt your release fall down him.

As you chased your high Joel kissed you like he should have the first time. Slow, tasting. His lips moved along yours with no sense of urgency and he let you breath.

Only when his lungs burned did he pull back enough to see your red cheeks and gleaming skin.

"Next time," Joel kissed your cheek. "We'll work something out and next time I'm making you come on my tongue on a bed."

You huffed a laugh, your legs finally stopping their shaking as you rested your head back. "Is that a promise?"

Joel kissed you softly.

It was a peaceful moment. If the two of you were anybody else that's how it all would've began.

But you were reminded your roles as the un-mistakable sound of a worried Tommy called out.

[bluetimeombre]

Hi, how are you? I just wanted to say that I absolutely LOVE your masterlist, especially Pedro Pascal and Logan. You are an incredible writer. (Sorry, English is not my language) 🫶🏼🫶🏼

If I could make another one with Joel in love (if possible smut) the strawberry one is my favorite of all time ❤️

Hiiii I’m so glad you enjoy!! The strawberry was like my favourite to write,, I’m so happy you liked!!

Im getting a little lovey and smutty Joel fic out asap!! ;)

[bluetimeombre]

✨WIP✨

I have been in another rut but still have so much I wanna post,,,

J. Miller

Jessie's girl, you and Jesse were the it couple of Jackson. Shame Joel had to throw a spanner into the mix (smut!)

Here regardless of the pain, Joel could never regret what he did to save Ellie that day, but he didn't know if you could say the same. He'd always been holding on and it the darkest times, he doesn't want to let you go (angst!)

Friend of the family, you and Ellie had grown close since she'd come to Jackson and it totally had nothing to do with her smoking hot 'daddy' (smut!)

P. Pascal

Let's start some rumours, baby! Pedro Pascal would call himself a private person. He liked to keep things quiet about his love life, unless of course, he couldn't help himself (cute ig) (maybe slight sebastian stan x reader)

A. Morgan

You'll be going, You've been honing your skills, all of them. Arthur noticed, he just hadn't thought to ask why until he's faced with the reality you won't be here forever (angst)

Ruin it, you go into town, looking for a man, any man, willing to ruin you before your father can sell you off. Shame you didn't go to Arthur immediately (smut) (dutch's daughter)

When you take a cowboys hat, you're drunk and you take arthur's hat and christ he's so in love with you (fluff) (suggestive)

If anyone has ideas along these lines I’m happy to hear and try my best :)

[bluetimeombre]

this is an 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐍 appreciation post!!

[bluetimeombre]

The pipe line between Joel Miller and Arthur Morgan is thin and I am walking it

[bluetimeombre]

do u crosspost on ao3? if not u should bc ur yellow theme on mobile hurts my eyes so bad😭 no hate tho

As soon as I work out how to use Ao3, it's over for the bitches

[bluetimeombre]

☽｡⋆ If you need my love ｡⋆☽

. You were growing up in a house with little love, but luckily Joel Miller was living across the road and he was always there to pick up the pieces.

this is a long one, 8k but i had so much fun writing it, might do a part two. i hope you enjoy!

warnings: smut, fluff, angst. neglectful parents, obsessed Joel, needy Joel, no outbreak au, oral (f! receiving) older joel, younger reader, drinking, p in v sex (unprotected) language

When Joel opened the door to you one cold evening, your arms wrapped around yourself, you drenched in rain, he only sighed.

"Oh honey," he shook his head.

Your teeth were practically chattering. "Nobody's home and I-I don't have a k-key."

A crack of thunder sounded behind you.

Joel looked over his shoulder at your house that was cloaked in darkness. It did look deserted, like nobody had touched it in years. "C'mon in, hun." He held the door open and stirred you inside.

Even if you'd been in the house more times that you could count you still shuffled inside, as if you didn't know where his living room was.

It was a small town in Texas, everyone knew everyone. Everyone knew Joel Miller and his daughter Sarah. Joel knew everyone too. He knew Jimmy a twenty minute drive away, his farm where anyone nice enough could get the best fresh eggs.

There was Bess who ran the bakery. You could get the best fresh bread and every year Joel always got Sarah her birthday cake from her.

There was Dave, coach of Sarah's soccer team. There was Louis next door who always had a issue with his hose leaking all over his garden- even in the drought.

Then, there was you.

You lived across his street with your parents. You who'd moved in ten years ago. A few years Sarah's senior, she'd been over the moon to have another girl to hang out with.

Apparently just hanging out with her dad was becoming a lost trend.

But even though you were a few years older, probably had your own teenage things to be getting on with, you treated Sarah like a best friend.

"You don't have to you know," Joel remembered saying years ago after you'd stayed up late with her, watching movies, only for her to fall asleep with her head on your lap- trapping you.

"It's no bother."

Even Joel had offered to pay you, acting as if you were a babysitter for his kid. You'd denied, almost offended.

You'd insisted you enjoyed it, that his house was nicer than yours.

Joel didn't get it. He was always behind on laundry, hardly had any healthy food- only takeout in the fridge- and dead plants on the windows, compete to your own house.

He'd seen the way you tenderly cared after anything and everyone, it didn't make sense. He assumed you were just sweet, or too shy to say anything different.

He remembered the day he discovered just why you liked his house.

Joel had only gone over with Sarah to talk to you about a sleepover. His brother, Tommy, was taking him out of town, insisting that he needed a 'guys weekend' and that Sarah at fourteen was fine to be left alone. Joel disagreed and he'd only meant to ask if you were around, would be willing to just hang out like you had hundreds of times before.

At the door he lingered, shouts and the shattering of glass sounding behind the door.

"Dad?" Sarah looked up to him un-sure.

Joel was already pushing her down the porch. "Go back to the house."

"What is that?"

"Not our concern."

But it was. It was his concern.

The shouting dulled but there was still a harshness hidden out of sight.

Sarah made her way down the porch, back to the Miller residence and Joel was following on un-sure feet when he heard the door swing open and shut.

Joel looked just as you hurried down the porch steps, keys swinging in your hand. "Woah hey-hey."

You looked aghast, stopping in your tracks when you spot Joel in front of you, hands out and reaching for your forearms.

"Is everythin' alright?" he asked, nodding back to the house.

In the afternoon sun your cheeks turned pink, the colour creeping up to your ears and down your neck. "Yeah, yeah everything's fine." You grinned but it was like a crack in an otherwise well structured wall.

Times like that started to happen more often.

Joel would always find you leaving the house in a hurry, getting in your car and driving off like escaping a crime. Or you'd be on the porch, sitting with a cup of coffee if it was early in the morning or tea late at night. He'd watch from his bedroom window that conveniently over looked your front porch.

Some nights he'd join you, pretending he didn't know why you were hiding out, pretending he didn't hear the shouting.

He'd make up some excuse.

"Neighbourhood watch, you never know who's out here..."

"Was gonna go for a drive, fill the tank if you wanna join..."

"My coffee pots bust, spare a sip?"

It was obvious what he was doing.

Yet you always entertained him.

You were standing like a statue in Joel Miller's living room. Granted- a chattering statue. You'd started shaking sometime an hour ago and you'd yet to stop.

The living room- the entire Miller house- was bathed in a warm orange glow. The tv was on mute, some film that was Joel's favourite Sarah had told you once. Curtis and Viper.

Joel had gone up stairs shortly after he told you to 'make yourself comfortable' but you didn't want to make his couch wet. You were already dripping on his carpet.

Had you woken him? God, what if you had?

What if he'd gone to bed and just assumed you'd wait until your parents get back? If they did.

You wouldn't have knocked and asked if you weren't desperate. But you'd only gone to go grocery shopping, you'd been hardly an hour and neither your mom or dad had mentioned leaving.

You wouldn't be surprised if they'd booked a last minute trip to try to salvage whatever was left of their failing marriage. Or if one had gone to the bar and the other to the arms of another.

Either way, you left the grocery's on the step and your key inside.

You'd called and got nothing from either of them.

You would never have annoyed Joel by knocking as night drew in if you weren't desperate.

Perhaps you could huddle on the porch, eat that chocolate you'd gotten.

You were just forming a plan in your head when Joel Miller practically tripped with how quick he came down the stairs.

"Here-" there was a small pile of clothes in his arms, what looked to be black jogging bottoms and a checked shirt. "I'd offer you some of Sarah's but she's already growing out of everything." He rubbed the back of his neck as you took the clothes.

"You don't have to," you said though you held the clothes close. "I'm sure someone will be home soon."

You really weren't certain anyone would be back for the weekend approaching.

Joel looked at you sternly, his hand on yours that was cold and trembling. "Change."

His eyes raked down the clothes that stuck to you.

He must have thought you looked a mess.

"Shower. You'll probably wanna get warm, c'mon." Joel led you up the stairs, this time slow. His arm was out, ghosting your back as he showed you into his room.

The one room that you'd forbidden yourself into entering.

Joel opened the door like it was just another room of his house, not his room where he spent quiet nights, where he slept among other things.

"Sorry 'bout the mess," he chuckled dryly, kicking away a pile of clothes that looked a lot like trousers and boxers. "Here, my bathroom."

It was cleaner than his room objectively. One or two cheap colognes and a good one littered the counter. A bar of soap and a watch that you remember Sarah showing you she'd got him for his birthday.

"Let me-" Joel slowly peeled the clothes from your arms and nodded down at you. "I'll put these to heat up, you get yourself warm hun. I'll be just down stairs if you need anythin' else."

You nodded and gulped down all your objections to his kindness. "Thank you, Joel. I won't be long."

He smiled at you, a gentle smile. It was the kind you'd never seen before. "Take all the time you need, darlin'. And then some. I imagine it's been quite the night."

You scoffed and averted your gaze.

"I'll be downstairs."

You took your time in the shower. Not because he'd told you to but because you were frozen from cold and from trying to keep every small detail in your mind.

It was not right to think about Joel in his bathroom, bowing his head under the steady warm shower, naked. No matter the circumstance it wasn't right for your mind to wander what Joel looked like naked with droplets of water running down his chest, his sternum and lower.

You blamed it on the lack of sleep.

But you knew as soon as you could get back into your room you'd be dreaming about him again.

By the time you were done with the shower, condensation had covered the mirror and made the walls slick. You wrapped a fuzzy towel around you and tried not to think about other parts of Joel it had touched.

You sat yourself down on the edge of his bed, ignoring the way it dipped. You tried to calm yourself, your nerves and think of a solution. You could hop the fence, break down the back door.

Maybe you could even book a hotel for the night?

You had no doubt Joel would be gracious enough to offer you the sofa, but you didn't want to take over his kindness. You were already there as much as possible with Sarah.

You liked the kid of course, but you also liked the smiles that were always around the house, accompanied by the peace.

A gentle rattle of knuckles on the door broke you from your search of solutions.

"Hey."

Joel slowly opened the door and paused when he spotted you. On the edge of his bed, draped in his towel.

You realised, as you were drying, your hair was dripping. You were getting his bed wet. "Sorry." You got to your feet.

Joel held up his hands. "I jus' wanted to check you were alright. Needed anythin'."

"I'm good, thank you, for all this," you said, clutching your hands in front of you.

"You don't have to thank me, at all," he said, leaning on the door frame. "You saved me from a boring evening alone."

"Sarah?"

"Gone for the weekend. Tommy took her on a fishin' trip."

Your lips tilt up. "You're not a fisher?"

"No," he chuckled. "I'm afraid all that talent went to Tommy."

"Well I'm sure you're good for other things." You hadn't meant the words to hide some sort of hidden comment but as soon as you'd said it all you could think about was his 'other' talents.

Maybe Joel could tell you were being filthy, taking his hospitality for granted. He looked down and grabbed the handle. "Change. I'll be waitin'."

When the door clicked shut behind him you dropped back onto his bed, hiding your face in your hands and groaning.

What were you doing?

By the time you'd peeled the towel from yourself and folded it up, changed into what you assumed were Joel's old clothes (you'd had to roll the waistband of the joggers over several times and roll up the sleeves to) and made your way down stairs the credits were rolling on the movie.

The sofa was hidden under cushions and blankets.

Joel was leant over it, punching the pillows till they seemed fluffy enough. "C'mon, damn you."

You cleared your throat.

Joel whipped around. His lips parted, ready to speak but instead he got an eyeful of you. You in his clothes.

For a second you were delusional enough- and exhausted enough- to believe that he liked seeing you like that. Draped in him. But he was probably realising he liked that shirt and wanted it back immediately.

"You didn't have to do this, really," you said, gesturing to the makeshift bed he was making. "I don't want to put you out."

"You're doin' no such thing, I already told you. I was havin' a borin' evening."

"Well I'm glad me getting locked out and soaked amused you," you teased.

Joel's jaw ticked, his tongue running slowly over his bottom lip as his gaze fell lower. "Yeah," he hummed.

It seemed like an excruciatingly long moment that you let him stare.

Joel realised and cleared his throat. "You must be hungry," he walked by you, leaning away to avoid your touch. "Can't say I've got anythin' much good. Some pizza, maybe."

"I'm ok, thank you though."

Joel glanced back at you. "You've eaten?"

"I had lunch, i'm good."

Joel frowned at you, confused. "Lunch? It's dinner time, we'll order somethin."

"You've done too much-" you protest but Joel was already reaching for the phone and pulling at the draw of take out menu's.

"You like it plain, right?" he asked, already dialling the number and wedging the phone.

You walk to him. "At least let me pay-"

Joel held up his hand. "No, stay," his voice was low and gruff, eyes watching you darkly as you paused in place. "Good girl- hello, Jo? Yeah, it's Joel you son of a bitch."

Joel had sat down with you on the sofa and re-played Curtis and Viper while you ate pizza. He'd insisted you had to watch when you said you'd never seen it before. He'd mumbled something about not living till you had seen it, he wasn't even sure what he'd said to get you to sit and watch it with him.

It had worked.

He should have sent you to his bed, told you to rest because you were giving him challenges after challenges and you moved like you didn't even know it.

When you'd told him to come in when you were only in a towel, sitting on the edge of his bed like you didn't know what to do with the space. Wearing his clothes like you weren't giving him images that he'd keep locked up somewhere deep and dark in his mind for weeks to come.

You'd eaten pizza, asked him about every scene and slowly come out of you cold.

You'd become warm again next to him and it was driving Joel into a hot mess.

When the credits started to roll for the second time that evening Joel could tell you were struggling to keep your eyes open.

"You wanna sleep?" he asked. His arm had stretched out along the sofa, conciously to get closer to you.

You shook off your sleep. "Sorry."

"You needa stop apologising, you know," he teased, finger prodding at your shoulder.

You stretched. "Is it bad if I say sorry?"

Joel chuckled, spreading his legs out. "Right, you take my bed. Sofa's mine."

You woke up at that, all sleep gone from you. "What?"

Joel looked at you again in confusion. "Can't have you takin' the sofa after the day you've had."

You scoffed. "And I can't kick you out of your own bed."

"You ain't kicken me outta anythin', i'm tellin' you."

Joel would never be this kind to anyone else except his own kid. If any other neighbour of his found themselves in this situation he'd never have offered them his own clothes, wouldn't have sat down and watched a movie he'd seen a dozen times before.

But it was you. Joel was good at saying no to you cause you were always unfair to yourself mostly.

You were gorgeous, intelligent, kind and self-dependant. A treat dangled in front of Joel, constantly nibbiling and never taking. If he took he'd never be able to spit you back out your system.

Either you knew what you were doing with your coy smiles, gentle shuffles into him and sweet words and wanted to torture him or you didn't know and that was worse.

He couldn't pretend the idea of you in his bed wasn't driving him mad but he also could see the droop on your eyes and the slug in your body. You needed rest. You needed someone to look out for you.

Joel would kill to be that man.

"Joel, I can't," you protest.

"I'm not takin ' no for an answer, sweetheart," he said.

"The couch is more than fine- the floor even."

Joel shook his head. "C'mon, it's gettin' late. Head up."

He stretched further out, his foot now against yours.

You were watching him, brows pulled together and eyes focusing on him. "No."

Joel's brows rose. He'd perfected the stern look of a father but it didn't seem to be workin' on you. "No?"

"No, I want the sofa."

In a move he didn't anticipate, you threw yourself down, your hair fanning out on the pillow and you pulled the blanket up to your chin, kicking out your legs till they were draped over Joel's lap.

For a moment all he did was stare, his lips parted and a soft breath falling from him. You closed your eyes like you were already drifting off, un-aware the effect your cat-like stretch was having on him. His nerves had been shattering since he saw you wrapped in his towel.

You were giving his patience a good try.

Joel chucked under his breath, calling your name.

Your sly smirk did things to him, especially as you ignored him.

Joel's hand fell upon your shin, trailing up slowly as his body slowly leaned over. He'd never known anyone to have an effect on him like this. Never been so allured and so ... needy like he was a damn teenager again.

All he wanted was to press his body into yours, to kiss your hair and assure you he would look after you, no matter what, no matter where.

Your body stilled as his, heavier and larger, caged you on the sofa.

His arm stretched over your head and your eyes opened, flickering to find his gaze.

"Jus' get comfortable," he'd reached over and flicked the lamp off.

But he didn't move. No, Joel was stubborn.

Once the soft glow of the lamp had gone and he'd turned the tv off the living room was put into darkness.

Joel wedged himself in, his chest to your back, arms wrapped around himself to stop him from teasing with a touch.

"Joel what are you-"

"Shh, i'm tryin to sleep," he grumbled. He tried to push himself into the back of his couch that was falling under both your weights, rolling you into him.

He tucked his head in and closed his eyes as he felt you turn, questioning him. Heck, he was questioning himself. He'd promised some easy down time while Tommy took Sarah out, not this. Not his own battle of temptation.

"If you ain't takin' the bed then i'm not neither," he grumbled.

Your body pulled back and Joel thought he'd done in, over stepped. That the walking in on you in a towel, wearing his clothes, an arm too close around you while the film played had been too much.

Instead he felt a warmth brush over him and your body close to him.

You'd shared his blanket that was too small for the both of you.

In all of Joel's wants to take care of you, perhaps there was a bit of you that wanted to take care of him.

They weren't back.

It was the Saturday and there was still no stirring in the house, no cars outside. Not even a damn text.

You were still draped in Joel's too big clothes for you, staring at the house that was still.

The sun had risen long ago but Joel still slept on the sofa.

Where you'd both slept. You woke with his arm around you, strong and un-yielding as he held you into his chest. It had taken you a near ten minutes to free yourself from his warmth but you'd finally gotten free and his little snores continued.

Only for two minutes did you stare at him, smiling to yourself before realising it was wrong. Wrong to want him so much and wrong to wonder why he'd insisted he share the sofa.

Either he was the most stubborn man you'd ever met.

Or he wanted to be close.

You couldn't decide which was worse.

But now you were faced with small other options.

What did you do now? You couldn't stay with Joel for another day, heck you still only had your clothes that were still damp on a chair in Joel's room.

Maybe you'd go out of town yourself.

Call a friend?

There was a stirring on the sofa.

Joel woke in confusion. Not at the sleeping on the sofa. His fist was clenching at the empty space in front of him and his gaze still blurry with sleep looked for you.

When he spotted you at the window his body visibly relaxed.

And it set your body taunt.

"Morning'." His voice was hoarse, lower register than you'd ever heard.

"Hey," your arms fold over your chest.

Joel was still watching you, throwing an arm behind his head. The blanket slowly fell and his shirt rode up. "You sleep alright? Didn't snore, did I? Sarah says I do sometimes."

You smile and shake your head.

Joel huffed as he sat himself up. You still weren't moving, body his but mind elsewhere. "Everythin' alright?"

You sighed, looking down at your feet that just about peeked over the joggers. "My parents, they still aren't back."

You couldn't meet Joel's gaze as he huffed in annoyance.

"I'm sorry," you apologised. "I'll be out of your hair as soon as I can. I'll drive around, meet a friend or somethin'. I won't trouble you anymore."

"You ain't troublin' me, honey, not in the damn slightest," he grumbled.

It did nothing to settle your nerves.

You took your bottom lip between your teeth.

Joel must've noticed your hesitation, your worry that you were too much. He was moving across the room before you could register it. "Stay."

"I shouldn't, you've done so much and you were supposed to have a break this weekend. I'm already ruining it," you ramble.

Joel's hands are steady as they settle on your forearms, thumbs soothing you. "Stay."

You eyes flickered up to him. It always shocked you how stern his face could be, the wrinkles dawning at his forehead and the creases when his mouth moved, but his eyes were soft, always calm like warm coffee. "Joel-"

"Whatta do I gotta say to make you stay, huh?" he asked, smirking. "Promise of more shitty movies and even worse food? My sorry-ass company?"

You chuckled. "It wasn't a shitty film," you said. "And your company is the best i've had in months. Sarah exculded."

There was a glimmer of pure joy in Joel's eyes as he laughed. His hands squeezed your arms once before he walked to the kitchen, leaving you to look at your house once more time before following.

"So what do you say I get some coffee goin' and then we can see what groccery's of yours we can salvage?" he said.

You nodded to whatever he said because leaning on the doorway, watching his shirt ride up every time he stretched, you weren't sure you could ever listen to anything he was saying.

Tommy: So, you resting up?

Was he? Was Joel using his weekend to rest.

No, he was using his weekend like a test.

When he woke without you in his arms he was close enough to whining. Whining! It took his body seconds to grow cold without your warmth and for him to wake.

And then it took every ounce of himself not to smile when he heard your parents still weren't back.

First he wanted to yell, wanted to beg your parents home so he could give them a peace of his mind. But he quickly thought about what was presented. You. You and him for a whole un-interrupted day.

Joel thought about the things he could do. Keep you next to him, cook you breakfast- whatever you wanted even if it meant he'd have to break speeding laws to get to the shops.

You in his house, wearing more of his clothes.

After coffee he'd dismissed himself to the bathroom quickly to get filthy thoughts out of his head before they could manifest lower. You in his house, all to himself, desperate for warmth and love. Everything he could give you.

Joel had called Sarah just to distract himself.

No, Joel was not resting up.

You'd spent the day with him cleaning his kitchen, insisting you needed to do something for him.

There was plenty he thought you could do.

Then Joel showered, it was already mid day. He'd stepped out the shower and pushed his face into his towel to dry off when he inhaled and smelt you.

He groaned into the towel, diving in again, almost slobbering at the smell of you on his towel.

It drove him mad.

And it drove him back into a very cold shower.

By the time evening had dawned you insisted to leave the house. Not because his company was boring, but because you wanted to take Joel somewhere.

"I could always break in through a window to get some clothes," you suggested as you gestured to the attire you were still in. "You're in that building way of work. You can repair a window?"

"Can't glue glass back together," he said, leaning over the counter. "I'll see what Sarah's got." Maybe yesterday he'd lied just a bit about her clothes and growing out of. He'd just seen an opportunity to have you draped in him and took it.

He found some of Sarah's things, a bag of clothes that were supposed to be donated last year and left you with them.

When you came back down the stairs Joel's pulse shot.

You'd put those jeans you had on yesterday back on, but they'd been cleaned and dried and now they were snug on your hips and backside. The top you'd picked was from one of Sarah's old favourite band but it was too small on you, tight on the sleeves and showing a healthy slither of your skin.

Fuck.

Suddenly Joel regretted giving you that bag, hated that he'd promised you a night out of his house. He hated everything in him that wanted you.

How could your parents leave you? How could anyone not want to be in your company always.

"Is it ok?" you asked.

Was it ok? Everything was far from ok?

"Let's go, darlin'."

The two of you went in his truck, going to a simple bar for some cheap and good enough burgers and drinks. You were over twenty-one, just, but you'd assured Joel you were a regular at the bar. That it was the hottest place for everyone to go to.

When he walked in and the two of you got a booth, Joel wasn't so happy with the old guys staring at you. Or the younger ones too. As if he wasn't ogling you when you got the chance.

He just liked that you hardly noticed any of them, eyes only on Joel.

You'd gotten burgers and beer, talking about anything and nothing.

Joel did not broach the subject of your parents.

He watched you talk about anything you wanted, watched the way your lips moved with words he could just about make out.

"You staring at me," you laughed, nursing another beer. The burgers were half eaten, fries gone. Your body was turned into Joel's as he curled into you.

"Starin'?" he repeated with cheek. "Am I?"

"You are."

Joel hummed and let himself stare a little longer. You'd already caught him, what was the harm of anymore.

You shied under his gaze, looking away. "I don't have to stay tonight, Joel," you said. "I could get a hotel, easily. We're in town anyway."

He was already shaking his head. "Not happin'."

"You don't have to do this just to be nice."

"Who's to say i'm not gettin' anything out of this?" he said.

Your brows rose as you lifted the bottle to your lips. "Are you?"

The teasing was laid out bare on the table like a meal.

"Maybe," he said, taking a swig of his own. "You're good company."

You smiled, a small pink to your cheeks coming again.

Joel wondered what else could have you blushing like that. If he was to dip his head low and trace whispers in the skin of your neck, would he be graced by your bashful look. Or would you crane your head back for more?

His eyes drifted at the skin of your neck at the thought.

You shuffled, leaning back in your seat, edging him on.

If you knew his thoughts would you take the reigns?

"Gotta take a leak." Joel did not have to piss, he needed to give himself a stern talking to in the mirror, splash some cold water on himself and move on, shake off his want.

You had come to him for solace, not to be the victim of his pervy thoughts.

"Get it together, Joel." One weekend without his brother and kid supervision and he was reverting back to a horny teen.

By the time he'd shook himself out of it and was walking back to the booth, his seat had already been taken by a man probably his age. John. The scoundrel.

"You're very pretty mind," Joel heard him mumble, saw you look down but not smile or thank him for the compliment.

Joel's hand was clapping down on his shoulder. "Everythin' alright here, buddy?"

"Joel, man," John greeted with a grin as if he wasn't taking his seat and his girl. "Where've you been hidin this young little thing? You know, sharin' is carin'."

"Excuse me?" your voice sounded, startled and disgusted.

That was enough for Joel to pull John out the booth.

"We don't care for your business here," said Joel, standing tall on guard over the booth.

"Oh come on-" John tried.

"Out!" he yelled, gaining looks from the people around.

John scoffed, a glare in his dark and cold eyes as he still took time to scan you.

Joel was watching him go, counting his steps and assessing anyone else in the room that might want to speak to you. He'd tell them to beat it to.

It wasn't until he felt your hand on his bicep that he looked at you.

"Hey," he could hear his own voice softer than the growl he'd used with John. His arms rose, hand holding yours. "I'm sorry."

"No don't be, don't be," you said. Your eyes drifted around the bar as his were still down on you. "Can we go back to yours?"

It had been ruined. The night you'd wanted so bad crumbled. Still, Joel couldn't find it in himself to deny he didn't hate hearing you ask to go back to his.

"Course, of course, darlin'. Come on." He led you out the bar, throwing dollars on the table and leaving your half eaten food and half drunk beers.

The night air ran shivers over your skin as he escorted you to his truck, opening the passenger door for you.

You stood there, hair brushed back in the wind and arms crossed over your chest. "Thank you, for back there."

Joel rested his arm over the opened door. "Don't thank me for that. Guy like that shouldn't have been talkin' to you like that."

You nod and gulp. You took a step closer to him as Joel watched. "You've done so much for me, Joel," your voice was low, with no need to speak up. "What can I do for you, please?"

Joel's breath stuttered as he saw you come closer, close enough to touch. Close enough to kiss and grab and hold and- he cleared his throat and looked past your head. It was not a step to take tonight. Maybe ever. "Get in the truck."

The night hadn't gone as planned. Granted, none of the weekend had gone as planned.

Joel's truck pulled up in front of his house slow enough for you to catch the lights on in your house, the car back at front. Someone was home and suddenly that made your weekend all the worse.

You and Joel both got out the truck silently and walked up to his porch but both of you were looking at your house, alive.

"Someone's home."

Joel sighed heavily next to you. "Yeah."

So the weekend would be done. You'd go back to whatever new and tense atmosphere was created. There goes your time with Joel that you hadn't realised could do so much for you.

"Well," you started. "I'll get Sarah's shirt washed and dried for you and get it back. Thanks so much for putting up with me and-"

"Don't go," said Joel.

Your head rose. From the silent way he drove you both back and the way he'd been in the bar, you thought he'd push you back to your house.

Joel's tender gaze shone under the dim porch light. "I know you have shit goin on in that house and I can't stand the thought of that. Can't stand to think you're upset. I want you to stay. For tonight. For always. Just-"

You kissed Joel.

You surged up on your toes, held his cheeks and kissed him.

And his lips felt better than ever imagined. They parted under you and you got your first taste of the man you'd dreamt about. Beer on his tongue, desire on his lips and a thousand wants in the back of his throat.

Joel's arms were strong and urgent as they scooped you up and into his chest, moving until he had you pinned against the wall and his body. He surged you up, feeling into your mouth deeper, pressing his body against yours.

He pulled back, lips kissing under your jaw and trailing down your neck. "Oh baby," he cooed, peppering kisses along the skin.

"Joel," you whined, hands grasping at his shirt and pulling.

He nipped at the skin at the base of your neck and licked over the red he'd created. "Fuck. Say my name again," he muttered. He pulled his head back enough to look at you. "Say it."

"Joel."

He kissed you hard, mouth open and tongue discovering your every angle. His hands wasted no time in falling into your hair.

"Stay tonight," he mumbled against your lips as if he couldn't take himself any further away from you. "Please. Let me show you love. Let me... let me take care of you, baby."

His eyes looked at yours, his head nodding like he could coax that same nod from you. He was still mumbling under his breath, a series of please.

There was nothing in the world that could take you from that moment.

"Yes."

Joel kissed you again, face in yours, tongue finding easy triumph over yours. He kept you into his chest with one arm, the other blindly reaching out to unlock his door.

He threw it open and it banged against the wall.

Joel carried you through the threshold, arms secure around your waist. One hand cupped your ass, dragging over your thigh and encouraging you to wrap a leg around him.

He groaned when he felt the warmth of you on him.

He kicked the door close behind him and was still kissing you, was still stealing your breath when he got to the stairs.

It was slobbery, it was wet. You could only hear the ticking of a clock and the sound of your lips as Joel set you on the stairs.

"Need you," he mumbled, kissing down your neck. "Needed you so long now, you have no idea."

"I do," you moan, throwing your head back, eyes squeezed shut to focus on the heat between your two bodies. "Dreamt about this."

Joel looked up at you. "Yeah? When? When you were in my shower?" his hand dragged down your neck, watching it go. "When you were wrapped in my towel? Wearing my clothes." His hand disappeared under your shirt.

Your breath caught as you felt his rough hands drag up and cup your breast. "Joel," you gasp.

"Wanted to have you so bad, baby," he said, speaking to himself as he tugged up the top. "Smelt you on my towel and had to fist myself thinkin' 'bout you."

You mewl at his words, a needy and pathetic noise.

Joel pulled the top off you and threw it somewhere behind. Your breasts were spilling out of your bra, begging. "Shit."

There was no time for you to speak, to gage yourself as Joel hid himself in your breasts, un-clasping your bra and throwing it aside.

It was needy.

Your hands were in his hair, tugging at the roots. You could feel Joel everywhere, his lips dragging against each boob, jumping between the two as if he couldn't decide where to start. His hands were running all over you, down your hips, between your thighs, desperate to feel it all.

Your breathing was erratic, your mind foggy with only one thing. Joel, Joel, Joel.

"Don't- don't stop," you beg.

"Never, never wanna," his voice was muffled as he cupped your breasts, squeezing them together. His tongue darted out and dragged over the skin, hands squeezing.

Your leg wrapped around his hips again and pushed him into the heat between your legs.

Joel groaned.

He pulled back enough to look at you. His hand cupped your cheek, brushing your hair back. "Please... wanna treat you so good.... want you to feel."

"I do," you nod, empty without his lips.

Joel could tell, pressing a tender kiss to your cheek. At odds with the hardness that he unconsciously thrust between your legs. "Wanna treat you so good.... gonna be so good for you. Wanna show you love... let me take care of you."

You couldn't make words. The promises in mumbles was driving you mad.

Joel's hand was gentle on your neck but there enough to stir your gaze to his. "Say yes, baby. Say yes."

"Yes, Joel, yes," you weren't even sure what he was asking for. To use you, to fuck you, to take care of you? It was all a yes.

"Let me... let me do everything to show you love," said Joel. He pecked your lips. "Let me eat your pretty pussy. Let me make you tremble on my fingers. Want it. Need it."

You gasp at his words as his hands fall to your jeans, popping the button and pulling them down. "Joel, we're- we're on the stairs." Was this about to happen, your parents over the road? Was Joel gonna take you however he wanted on the stairs leading to his bedroom?

"Yeah we are baby," he said, "need you. Can't wait. Fuck, might die if I don't get your pussy on my face."

You moan aloud at the words.

Joel looked up at you, a wicked glint in his eyes. "Stand up for me, baby."

How you got onto your feet, you had no idea. But you stood steps ahead of him, wearing nothing but soaked panties and a breathless expression.

Joel knelt before you, jeans tight and strained at the front but he moved like it wasn't there. Like his own need wasn't driving him mad as his hands cupped the back of your thighs.

His eyes weren't warm coffee but a dark night as he kept his eyes on you, tongue darting out to lick a strip over your panties.

He hummed. "You're wet. You're so wet. Been needing me? Been needing attention?"

"Ye-yes," you gasp, eyes closing.

"God what a pretty sight, coulda had this, honey," said Joel. His finger followed the path his tongue created. He prodded your panties, watching the material dampen under his touch. Joel pushed it and watched your pussy take it.

"Joel!" your hands flayed, unsure were to put them.

Joel kissed over your bundle of nerves hidden from him once more. "Can you take them down for me? Please?"

You nodded and realised he'd asked you to do something.

Quickly, you slid them down your legs, exposing yourself without a second thought while Joel tore his shirt off.

Before you could throw them with the rest of your discarded clothes but Joel was quick to take them from you.

The material bunched in his fist first before he brought it up to his face. You watched in wonder, noting the quick rise and fall of your own chest, as Joel's tongue darted out and got a taste of you on your panties.

It was obscene and almost had you kneeling over.

Joel's gaze flickered back up to you, dropping your panties when he noticed your pussy weeping. His hands pulled at your thighs, groping the skin until he had you spread on his stairs. "Gonna eat you out now, ok, honey? Gonna have you trembling. Need you on my face, all over me... fuck."

Joel went in like a man starved. He practically sat himself under you legs, holding your thighs apart and spreading you open.

Your moan beat in your own ears as you braced yourself on the wall and banister.

His tongue was sloppy as he went up and down your folds, gathering your juice and swallowing it. He moaned into your pussy.

"Gonna-" he kissed over your folds, wet. "Eat you up, yeah?" he was talking to himself, or your pussy.

The pleasure was all yours as it escalated up your body, leaving you in moans and pathetic whines.

Joel took no notice of anything else but his face in between your legs. "Eat you out till you forget your name. Till you only know pleasure and want," his tongue flattened against you and slurped, drinking everything you had for him. He whined into you, lost in need. "Fuck, baby, this so good."

Your breathing was un-stable, loud. "Joel, you're-you're-"

One of his hands fell to his crotch, squeezing the thick indent of himself. "Don't try and speak baby, know you can't. Just feel. Just feel me and cum when you want. Want you to cum on my face, all over me. Know you can... Want..." his voice was lost in moans and making out with your core.

If he went anywhere to your nerves... If he so much as looked at your clit you feared you might make his wishes come true.

Like he knew your thoughts, Joel's large palm sprawled out on your sternum, thumb circling your clit as his tongue fucked up, dipping in and out of your juice.

"Joel- Joel!" you yelled, gripping the banister like it was the only thing tying you to the earth.

Joel groaned, thumb applying pressure. He knew every part of you already, knew buttons to press to get you a squirming mess. "Come, god baby, please come all over my mouth. Let me... need it," he begged.

He pushed his face flush into you, nose nudging your clit even more as he moaned into you.

You were screaming out as you finished, thighs shaking so hard Joel had to hold them as he took what you gave him, all of it, licking up the mess and cleaning your thighs only to smear more of it over his face.

"So good..."

"Baby, your pussy the best thing I ever had..."

"Feel good, honey, I feel so good. So damn happy right now..."

He was still talking to himself by the time your eyes had opened.

You found his hand down his own trousers, the tip of his cock flush and pink and weeping. You leaned over him, desperate for your own touch.

"No, baby, no." Joel grabbed your wrist and stirred your wanting fingers into his mouth.

He sucked on them (just how you wanted to on his cock) he took them like it was his own favourite treat. He was still moaning, hair sticking to his forehead with sweat he'd created from his own need.

"Wanna.... want your cock, Joel," you whined.

Joel looked up to you, taking your fingers from his mouth with a trail of saliva. "I know baby, he wants you too. God, does he want your mouth."

Joel got to his feet, tugging your still shaking body into his. He kissed you, open-mouthed, tongue licking in. "But I wanna take care of you more than anythin'."

It took a while to get to his room. He carried you up, had your body on his and he couldn't have his lips without yours for more than a second before he was chasing after you for more.

It was like being a teen all over again. It was like tasting the first forbidden fruit, it was like a drug that you never wanted to quit.

It was enough to kill you, but have you living in bliss.

Joel flicked his light on in his room and closed the door behind him. "Gonna fuck you now, ok baby?"

His hand cupped your cheek, coaxing you to look at him.

You nodded, head brushing his.

"I'll be gentle, I will, but I need you open, I need you ready," he kissed you. "Need to fuck you into my bed. Want your body indented there. Want to smell you on my sheets for weeks in case."

In case he never got it again.

You cupped his cheek, fingers ablaze from the feel of stubble. You implored him to look at you. "Won't be the last time."

"No?" his eyes lit up like a boy on Christmas.

Your tongue darted out, flicking his lips. "Gonna need you, always."

"Always," Joel repeated.

While distracted, you slid to your knees, dropping down with a thud.

You didn't even bother freeing Joel from his trousers and boxers, you just wet him over it with your mouth. You dragged it up, tasting the denim but feeling the twitch of satisfaction he gave you.

Joel groaned, hands hovering in the air around you as you made quick work. "Baby, no, what did I... fuck... what did I say?"

You moan against the denim, hand on his thigh to steady yourself. "But want you, Joel, want to feel you."

"Arg- you will baby," he grunted, jaw clenching. "Go on then, play a bit."

You smiled and pulled down his jeans and boxers in one. His cock sprang out, beads of pre-cum already trailing down.

He had length but it was the thickness that had you swallowing. The veins that had you reaching out with spit on your hand to work him up and down.

You tried to go slow, you really did, quickly you picked up the pace as Joel moaned.

You kissed his tip and then around it before your tongue licked around him, collecting his pre-cum and savouring the taste. It was so him.

"Oh baby, enough to bring a man to his knees."

You sensed you didn't have much time, darting your head low to engulf his balls in your mouth- or at least one of them. It was heavy on your tongue, warm with him.

As suspected, Joel groaned loudly before dragging you up.

He tossed you down on the bed, stepping out of his pants.

You expected to feel his cock trace your entrance, to be prepared for the burning and passion inside of you.

Joel had gone in with his tongue again fist. He really was on his knees, holding your thighs open and licking up and down, getting your taste again like he'd forgotten it in the time it took to get to his room.

Your hand flew to his hair, tugging at the roots. "Joel!"

"Whatever you want, baby," he mumbled, kissing at your thigh.

"Fuck me! Fuck me, please!"

His tongue left you alone and you felt the bed dip as he crawled over you. Your legs fell flat and wide, accommodating him. He hovered over you enough so you wouldn't feel him. "You want it?"

"I do," your eyes stung, you were close enough to tears.

"Want all of me splitting you open?" he asked, "once you have me baby, that's it. You can't have anyone else."

"Don't want anyone else, just please."

Joel tested himself on top of you, head in the crook of your neck, nipping and licking. "Gonna fill you up, make you feel.... so good!" He broke off in a groan as he led his cock into you. "Shit! You're so ... so tight."

Your nails dug into his shoulder blades as he slowly inched himself in more and more. "Joel..."

He brushed your hair out the way, still over you. "This ok? You feelin' me? Feelin' all of me."

Your eyes screwed shut at the initial burn but your own need pulsed and had you begging for more.

"Don't wanna hurt you, my pretty girl," he mumbled.

You shook your head. "Won't. Just move!"

Joel could never say no to you.

His hips rocked slowly, until all of him was sunk in. He was still a moment longer, panting above you.

"Joel, move, please," you begged, holding onto him.

"Baby if I move now i'm coming inside of you and i'm spent," he chuckled. "Trying to make it good. Trying to make it last."

There was earnest in his voice. A true desire that went beyond touching, that went beyond proving he could love you and take care of you.

He wanted you. All of you. Forever.

Your hand cupped him, thumb tracing over his bottom lip as his eyes opened to yours. "It's perfect."

Neither of you blinked. Neither of you dared look away to where he slowly sank in and out of you. You looked at each others eyes, watched every wince and flicker of pleasure. Watched the darkest of desires and the purest of desires flicker with every twitch and move of him.

It grew to more.

Joel's hands went from your neck to your hips to rock you into him, to guide each thrust. Every time he slowly left you he entered you with force, needing to stabilise you.

He wasn't just talking when he said he'd fuck you into the bed.

Soon enough he was bottoming out in you with every thrust and you could only hear the slapping of skin and the words tumbling out his mouth.

"Made for me. My god, where you made for me..."

"Pussy feels just as good as it tastes... can't believe it...."

"Gonna finish inside of you, and you're gonna finish on my cock. This is it. It's us now, ain't nobody ever takin you from me..."

"Yours," you moan, nails scratching down his skin. "Oh, i'm all yours."

"Prove it to me," he all but growled as his thrusts became quick and hard. "Come on my cock and show him how good it feels. He needs it, he wants it. Needs.... wants..."

"Joel I- mmh- want you to come."

"So kind baby," he chuckled. "But I will, god will I. But only once you've come. My cock needs it now, baby, now!"

You didn't think it could get better, that his thrusts could get harder and stir you into a craze but he proved you wrong.

As you mouth hung open in a moan, Joel held your jaw open and had his fingers in there, gathering your saliva before he moved those fingers down your body and onto your clit.

The deftness of his fingers and the quick thrusts had you finishing and pulsing on his cock, screaming his name until the whole damn street could hear.

Your walls were wet, your pussy clenching around Joel until his hips were stuttering with his groans.

"Oh i'm gonna cum.... oh, i'm gonna... fuck- fuck!" his words trailed away into groans from hell as he hit one last thrust, balls against you.

You were still riding your high when you felt his warmth inside you, marking you, becoming you. Both of you climaxed and moaned, every twitch and touch sending trembles through you.

Every little pulse had more of Joel spluttering inside of you until he had nothing left.

He fell on top of you, cock twitching. He kissed your skin, licked away the sweat rolling down your temples until he could find it to move out of you.

Joel rolled onto his side, pulling the covers over you as you both caught your breath.

Once you had enough air in your lungs, you turned to Joel. He was already scanning you like he was ready for round two.

"Thank you," you didn't know why you said it. All you knew was you'd never felt so cared and loved before.

Joel smiled. "You're so welcome, baby. But don't think i'm done takin care of you yet."

[bluetimeombre]

⋆.˚ It’s just a cigarette

Your dad wasn't around so Joel had to step up and be the man. When he catches you with a cigarette between your lips, it was only right he should punish you, right?

Warnings: not proof read reader is a brat, daddy reference, smoking, parent neglect? stripping, spanking, choking, language, oral m recive, fem fingering, p in v, un-protected, praise kink, spit kink, reader kinda has an oral fixation? [SMUT]

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Joel Miller hadn't thought he was quick to anger- until he met you.

You who dared push all his buttons.

You who knew what pissed him off and still did every little thing to have his body shaking, his shoulders tensing.

Whether it was your brisk. "Morning, Miller" when he would get in his truck in the morning, or your eye roll when he told you to help your mother.

It seemed you were put on the earth to make him tense.

After your father passed some years ago Joel had promised to help you and your mother out. He lived across the road and had known your little family for years. It only made sense.

At the time.

Now, as he catches you hiding down one of the dark spots of the street, a cigarette hung lose between your lips, Joel wonders what he was thinking.

"And jus' what the hell do you think you're doin'?" he asked, rounding on you.

You took it from your lips, coughing out the smoke. "Jesus fuck-Joel, you scared the crap out of me."

Joel still wasn't impressed, even less so by your language. "You wanna explain to me what this is?" he demanded, waving his hand around between the two of you.

He watched your eyes wrack down and take him in.

He wouldn't tense. He wouldn't rise to you.

You where apprehensive a moment. "What the fuck does it look like?" you asked.

"Less of the tone," he snapped. "And it looks like you're fuckin' up your lungs, that's what!"

"And you never smoked?" you were smirking. You were amused as you put the stick between your lips again and drew in a sharp breath as the end of it lit orange.

"No I damn well never did." And that was the truth. He did some dumb stuff but he never smoked. That was always Tommy's shit.

You shook your head and blew the smoke at your feet.

Joel watched. You'd stink of it, though clearly you'd been smoking for longer than he'd known. It would get in your hair, stick to your clothes and press into your fingertips. Your breath, usually sweet when you spoke to him close enough for him to catch your scent, would be tainted by nicotine.

"You think this is funny?" he said.

Joel had to pick you up from parties once or twice, had many a time broken old men's jaws for looking at you wrong. He'd stalked behind you when taking you and your mother shopping just to pass glares to anyone who tried it with you.

But he'd never spoken to you this way. Never dared. Because he knew it was sounding rough, knew his voice was like gravel and knew his eyes would be dark.

But he also knew the blood was rushing down low to himself and that he wanted nothing more than to through that cigarette on the floor and take you back to teach you a lesson.

"It's just a cigarette," you shrug with a sigh.

"They're bad for you."

"It's just one."

"One?" he quoted. "You expect me to believe that?"

You stand affronted then, a dawn of anger rising. "I'm not asking you to be here."

"No you're not but I am and watch your manners," he took a step closer, hand on his hip and fingers digging into his belt.

"You can't tell me what to do, you're not my dad!" you argued.

"No but I'm the next best thing you got," he argued. He hadn't realised you were standing so close until he could see the rush of nicotine in your eyes and smell the taste on your mouth.

No, Joel Miller had never smoked, but staring at your lips he wanted to know what it was like through you.

"What would your mama say if she knew you were out here ruining yourself, huh?" he muttered. He wasn't sure if he was looking at the cigarette you were hovering close to your mouth or just staring at your lips.

You scoffed. "Please, she's too busy trying to fine me a new daddy."

Joel's body ran hot at the word. He wasn't your dad, but he was something. He would always be something. Right now, he'd be the only one to teach you a lesson. "New daddy?" he mused. His tongue poked out his cheek as he grunted. "Don't think you need one of them, do you?"

Your shoulders lifted carelessly.

You turned, cigarette upon your lips.

Something in Joel's voice ripped through his throat. His fingers, long and hard, wrapped around your wrist. "Take another puff, I dare you."

Your neck tensed as you took a sharp breath in through your nose. The cigarette was almost burnt down but as you looked at his lips you didn't care.

"Or what? You gonna ground me?"

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦

"Take off your clothes- slowly."

It didn't take long for Joel's patience to snap after your relentless teasing. It also didn't take him long to drag you to his house, lock the door, draw the blinds and sit himself on the edge of his bed.

You stood in front of him, rendered speechless by the quickening events.

It wasn't the first time you'd been to his house, not even his room. You'd been around many times when your mom left you in Joel's care. He'd even shown you his room once and lingered behind you, watching how you took a sweeping glance around the room and how your breath hitched finding his un-made bed.

Joel noticed your gulp now and how you didn't move. He pushed himself up from where'd he'd leant on his elbows. "Take off... your clothes."

"Joel-"

"No. You wanna be a bitch, then learn your damn lesson. Now I don't wanna repeat myself again so do as you're told."

Your fingers shook slightly as you reached for your jumper and tossed it off. The vest you wore under it quickly followed and Joel leant back on his elbows at the first look of your breasts hidden behind your bra. His cock tightened in the jeans he was still stuck in.

Your fingers slid into the waistband of your shorts next and pulled them down until they were at your ankles.

You stepped out of them.

You stood in front of Joel Miller, the man you'd only ever had filthy dreams about, in nothing but your panties and bra.

Joel sat up and palmed his cock through his jeans once. Then, he gestured to you. "And the rest of it."

You look un-easy, arms crossed over your chest but your breasts were still spilling out.

"The rest," he palmed himself again.

You whined, or something like that, and slowly reached around and pulled your bra off.

It slipped down your arms slowly and fell with the rest of it.

Joel's eyes darkened and his cock was thick with a growing urge and need as you tugged down your panties, leaving your thighs clenched together and your body naked in front of him.

It was stuff dreams were made of.

"Now hand them over." Joel put out his hand and waited for you to give him the material.

"What?" you whispered.

Joel's eyes practically rolled from your feigned ignorance and his desperate need to grab you. But no, he had to show you what happened when you didn't listen to him, when you teased him. "You know what I want."

Your eyes were wide but the rest of you understood. He could see your brows raise, your lips part and your thighs clamp as you bent down to pick up your panties.

He should've asked you to turn around and do it.

When the thin and slightly damp panties fell into his palm Joel groaned.

With one hand he palmed his cock through his jeans. With the other he brought your panties to his face and sniffed.

"Oh god," you mumbled, holding yourself.

Joel groaned into your panties. "Fuck." He leant back on the bed, one hand fisting what was yours in front of his face, the other rubbing his cock. "Nothing can take this away from me. No fucking nicotine can take away this fucking scent."

"J-Joel-"

He squeezed himself once more before looking at you, dropping your panties next to his head.

Your fingers were delicately circling your clit.

"What are you doin?" He reached over and grabbed your wrist, tugging you closer with a hard pull. "You think you get to treat yourself after the stunts you’ve been pullin’?"

You gulped, eyes lowered on him. "Joel, please."

He scoffed, a sick smirk on his lips as he took in your naked form. God he wanted you, like a beast he wanted to mount you, fuck you until your body was imprinted in his mattress. He wanted to trace that delicate pattern of you until he knew it by memory.

"Get on your knees," - was his order instead.

He spread his legs to accommodate you as you sunk down slowly.

"Now get the belt. And the zip," he watched your hands, steady, as they un-did his belt and dragged down his zipper.

Joel helped you, shifting his hips and getting his cock free. He groaned at the cold night air of his bedroom greeting his weeping tip. He needed to be patient but having you willing, bare, on your knees... it was taking everything not to end the night sooner.

"Think you know what to do with one of these, huh?"

He glanced down, smirking.

Your hands inched up his knees. "It's big."

He chuckled, his cock twitching under your gaze. "You never seen one like this before?"

You shook your head quickly, throwing your hair in your face.

Joel's hand brushed your cheek and chin before brushing your hair back. It wasn't as soft as he'd have liked but it was a quick push, a need that stirred him.

"But you're gonna take it, aren't ya? You were made to," he looked down at your lips and felt the pre-cum on his cock slide down as the very thought of them, wet and wrapped around him drove him insane.

The sound of spit in your hands had Joel holding himself up and watching. It was obscene, filthy as your hands wrapped around his base and worked him there.

He groaned, arms straining.

"Perfect," he muttered, half speaking to himself, half wondering why he hasn’t been doing this long ago. "Just needed somethin’ to hold, yeah?"

You were so focused on working his cock up and down, your saliva making it easy that you hadn’t even realised what he said.

Joel gently slapped your cheek to get your attention. It wasn’t enough to hurt, but enough for you to clench your thighs and shift to earn yourself some friction. "I was takin’ to you. Or are you so needy for my damn cock you can’t even listen anymore?"

"I am listening."

But Joel continued. "Cause if you’re gonna act like a brat imma have to fuck it outta you," he tutted. "Can’t have you going home to your Ma with a shitty attitude like that."

"Then you better fuck it out of me." You were caught between terrified at the way Joel could handle you, at everything he could do to you. But you needed it, had wanted it for so long. Had spent nights upon nights with your own fingers in your pussy, chasing a high you only wanted from him.

You needed it more than air at that point.

He would be your air.

With resolution in your mind you kitten licked his tip, collecting his pre cum on your tongue.

Joel chucked darkly. "You don’t call the shots here, baby."

With a hand wrapped in your hair, Joel forced his cock all the way down your throat, hardly giving you time to choke before he was forcing you up and down.

He groaned, loudly.

Your throat closed around his cock, taking him in and gagging.

"Shit!" the muscles in his throat stretched as he tried not to regret his choice at having you take him in.

How was he supposed to fuck that attitude out of you when he was losing his damn mind being down your throat?

Joel held your head there before fisting your hair and dragging you back up. He caught his breath as you caught yours, squeezing your eyes shut from the tears.

Even breathless and struck by his cock, you were beautiful. Perhaps even more so.

Joel put his hands behind his head as if he didn't trust them to act of their own accords. "Take me, baby, gowan' now."

Your hand held his base and you took him eagerly but not all the way. You bobbed what you could in your warm and wet mouth, tongue keeping his weeping tip company.

He was grinning up at his bedroom ceiling, thinking of the nights he'd had to fill his laptop screen with stupid porn just to try and forget about you.

But look at you now, hands holding what you couldn't take.

With every try you took him a bit more and a bit more.

"Bet you wish you could touch yourself right about now, don' cha?" he chuckled.

You released him slowly. "Can I?" you gasped.

He considered you. Your cheeks were flushed, your lips swollen. "No."

Your thighs clenched and your eyes pleaded, pulling at your brows.

"You'll get a treat once I think you're sorry enough for putting that death stick between your lips," he said.

"I am- I am sorry."

Joel didn't think you were though. Joel was sure if he hadn't caught you you'd still be out, inhaling the smoke and exhaling. He rose a brow.

You lowered your head to his thigh, resting it there and looking up at him.

Both of you knew the look. It had gotten you out of trouble with him before.

"Ah no, no," said Joel. Your eyes were wide, lip pouting slightly and your cheek was so warm on his thigh, so close to his cock. "You don't get to look at me with those pretty eyes. You chose this, missy."

One hand still wrapped around his cock you moved slowly while your lips drew closer to his balls.

Joel's body stuttered, his breath catching in his throat. "If-if you're good maybe I'll- f-fuck, maybe I'll show you what good girls get."

You licked over his balls slowly before getting back up. Your hand squeezed him and he groaned low. "I can be good."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, m'promise."

You were leaning over him now, hair separating you from the real world. The world where this was wrong. The world where he'd promised your pa to take care of you. He was. But he'd probably have him rolling in his grave if he knew just how well.

Joel tilted his head. "Show me and kiss me."

You did so, eagerly.

It was a different need from sucking his cock. You'd shown some apprehension, your touches had been smooth.

The kiss was anything but.

It was wet, lips moving along each others as you and Joel fought over who led. Your tongue met, your teeth clashed and Joel could taste himself and smoke on your tongue.

He moaned in delight.

Your mouth was on him.

Your body was warming him, hands trailing up under his shirt.

He let you take his shirt off when the two of you separated to breath.

That was all the control you could get.

Joel chucked his shirt aside and pushed you over until you were on your stomach on his bed and he was behind you, on his feet.

His jeans and boxers were left aside and in the dark of his room- illuminated only by a small light- could he see you. The little back dimples, the curve of your ass and the way your back stretched as you tried to roll to see him.

Joel's hand tugged at your ankles, pulling you further down. His hand slithered up your neck and you whined.

"Oh baby, that sounded so pathetic," he chuckled, hands working up and down the smoothness of your skin.

"Fuck you."

"What was that?"

You didn't repeat yourself.

"Oh," Joel groaned as his he took a handful of your ass and massaged it.

Then, the sharp slap of skin echoed in the room.

A sharp gasp sounded from you and your hand fisted his sheets, pulling.

"What did you say?" he asked again.

"I didn't mean it."

He slapped the other cheek and watched it ripple. "That wasn't it. What was it? C'mon."

"I said," you gulped. You dared look over your shoulder, catching him standing over you, naked and beautiful. And he wasn't letting you get a real look. "I said fuck you."

His head cocked to the side. "Such a dirty mouth. The smoking... the language..."

You felt his hands on your ass again and prepared yourself for the alluring heat the slaps gave yet all they did was knead at the plush and redding skin.

"That cause you haven't had a daddy to show ya right from wrong, huh?" his cock was hard against the curve of your ass, his chest hard but soft around his belly as he leaned over you, testing how well you could take his weight. "Cause I can do that, baby girl. I can teach you right from wrong, would ya like that?"

You nodded, lips pursed at the stupid begging you were willing to do. You were struggling to breathe, but not due to his weight, due to the heavy want in you.

"I can tell you that this is wrong-" he tapped his fingers along your lips and let your tongue dart out and wet them. "-but this- this is so right."

Two of his fingers slipped under your stomach and into your wet folds easily like a knife through butter.

"Joel," you gasped, voice lost somewhere between his sheets and his fingers that lingered.

"Oh my," he whispered in your ear. "How long she been like this? So wet and wantin'. Shoulda told me, baby, coulda helped you a long time ago. I'd 'ave been nice too."

"You- you are nice," you tell him, feeling his fingers slowly coax you into relaxation.

His laugh was gruff. "Am I? You're too kind."

His fingers curled up into you. Your head craned back to rest on him, mouth open in a silent moan. His lips found your neck and bit down on the skin until you moaned.

"That's right baby, you can be loud, be as loud as you like," he said as he curled his fingers again.

His fingers worked inside of you, smearing your need all over you folds.

"Soakin' me real good like that."

You thrust you ass back into his cock and had Joel straining, groaning.

"Makin in real hard to teach you a lesson," he bit your earlobe, letting his cock strain heavy on your ass.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted... just wanted..." you gasped out the words, his name falling in a moan as his fingers, drenched in you, started to slowly circle your aching clit.

"You needed attention?" he asked, "to be taught a lesson? Or did you just need something between your lips?"

"Joel, I'm gonna... I'm gonna-" the white hot pressure of your orgasm was building in your stomach in the familiar ache.

"I think you just needed somethin' to suck on, didn't you?"

His fingers left you alone and you were suddenly empty of the need.

Joel slid his fingers around your lips and they were smearing something around them like trying to apply lip gloss.

It took you only a moment before you realised it was your own need he was using.

Your mouth opened in weak protest but Joel only took that as his chance to slide his middle and index fingers into the warmth of your mouth.

"Yeah, I reckon you just needed that, didn't cha?"

It was abhorrent but sexy. It was sweet and salty. It was Joel and it was you. It was dreams coming true and darkest desires being realised.

You moan around his fingers, sending vibrations through the both of you. Your shifted, moving around your hips with his.

Joel rested his head on your shoulder and hummed at the feeling.

You could feel the press of his forehead and the pull of his brows.

"Fuck it."

Suddenly his weight was lifted from you, his fingers gone from your mouth.

Just as you were were ready to voice your concern that he'd backed off, that he was dressing himself and gonna leave both of you on the edge of release- his hands grabbed your hips and pulled you up.

"C'mere- there you go," he was talking to himself as his fingers dug into the love at your hips.

You wished to watch him. To see his hands on your body or the way his cock would slide into your folds. It would come you hoped. At that moment, you'd take the feel of his hand spreading you open and his tip sinking into you.

"Ah- there it goes, just in, just like that," he mumbled. His eyes were trained down to where he was disappearing inside of you.

Your hands gripped his sheets. "Shit!"

Joel groaned. "Tell me if it hurts, baby, tell me to stop."

You were sure you'd do just about anything to have him all the way. "Don't stop!"

With encouragement, Joel dragged your hips closer to him, groaning and grabbing you, words muttered under his breath.

"Ah, shit, just sinkin' in, so wet, so needy,"

"God, your pussy taking me jus' like that. Like I always dreamed,"

"Oh I know you're sorry, can feel it in the way you grip me,"

Joel lingered, basking in the warmth of your pussy.

For you, it wasn't enough.

With a small movement of your hips you had Joel moaning as he fell all the way in.

His balls kissed your ass and his arms strained, hairs and veins and all as he held himself over your body. "You minx. That wasn't playing nice."

"Jus' need you, Joel, please, I'll be good- i'll be a good girl, I promise."

"Ah baby, I know you will. You want it, she wants it, crying out this whole time," he brushed your hair over one shoulder. "I know you wanna be good. So let me teach you how."

Slowly, Joel used the leverage on your body to move himself out before he was slowly moving in again. Every thrust grew quicker, stronger, every grunt of his became louder and you clenched onto the sheets with a strength enough to rip.

From slow to quick, like it could end any moment, the thrusts became un-relenting. His groans and slaps of skin moving around you.

You'd been the one to put your head into the mattress, to mumble your own words.

Joel's hand wrapped in your hair and tugged until your chin was resting on his sheets. "Need to hear you, baby," he panted.

And you were in no position to say no.

"Fuck!" you moaned. "Feel so good, Joel."

"You feel so good. Best pussy out there, baby. An' it's all mine now."

You whine. Your walls tighten around him.

Joel grips your ass hard enough to bruise. "Tell me you love it," he grit.

"I love it- I love it."

"Tell me you need it."

"I do, Joel. Needed it so long, jus wanted you. All of you."

"Oh fuck baby- makin' me crazy," he mumbled. "You have me, all of me. Whenever you want it baby."

"Want it... Want it... Want to see you, baby."

For a moment Joel stopped, his cock half inside of you.

Swiftly he took himself out and you both made a noise of disappointment.

"On your back."

You obliged.

Joel shone in sweat, his greying curls at his forehead sticking to him. You could see the further sheen of perspiration as he caged you, resting on his forearms over you.

His hand trailed up your leg slowly, cupping under the back of your knee and stretching it up.

Good thing you were younger and spry more than he as he stretched your leg over his shoulder and guided his cock into you.

Your moan came louder, your eyes watching as he sank in and out of you, building a quick pace of slapping skin and wet need.

"I won't last darlin'," Joel muttered, "you feel so damn good."

Your eyes squeezed shut as the pressure built. Your mouth hung open and Joel saw an open invitation.

Joel's hand cupped your chin and forced you to look up at him. "You need somethin' again, huh?"

His finger dragged down your bottom lip, mouth wider. He looked into your eyes, searched around you for any hesitation.

But you wanted it. You were dirty. You wanted his fingers in your mouth, his cock inside of you, fingers curling in you, tongue on you. There wasn't a part of Joel Miller your body didn't sing for.

Joel looked into your awaiting mouth and spat. Just once, but it was enough.

His hand was so large as it fell comfortable on your neck. Not squeezing- but there with enough pressure to feel you swallow him.

"Fuck baby!" he groaned. "Please cum, want you to cum on my cock. Please."

Un-knowingly his hand squeezed and that was all it took. His begging un-guarded, his hand holding your throat to keep you withering and trembling body down.

You felt your release run out of you- down your thighs and soaking his cock.

Your walls clenched around him and fluttered once- twice- before Joel was pulling out quickly to spill all over your chest.

"Fuck-fuck!" he grunted as his fisted his cock, milking every last drop to fall onto your chest.

You basked in the feel of him, his seed all over you like a mark of what was his. It was primal and had your cunt clenching around nothing.

Joel's eyes were closed as his fist slowed, body moving with the last twitches of his cock. "Fuck," he sighed out, falling down next to you.

You were catching your breath when you felt his hand hall into your hair, fingers gently playing with the strands.

"Did so good, baby," he praised, head turned to the side to see you. "You feelin alright?"

You turned your head and smirked. "Could go for a cigarette right about now."

[bluetimeombre]

₊˚ෆ Stacey’s ( Ellie’s ) mom ,

'dude your mom is hot' was a sentence Ellie got used to hearing between her friends.

Warning, language, SMUT-ish, nothing too explicit, age gap, crushing, dirty talk, oral (f receiving) voyeursim kinda? Lmk if I missed anything

•----------•----------•----------•----------•-----

“ Hey, should we go back to yours? ” it was typical of Dina to ask, to always suggest to Ellie they go back to her house. The one with Miller out front.

But Ellie knew it wasn't Joel she was trying to get a peek at.

Ellie was groaning, her arms out wide as Dina was already grinning, practically skipping to her house. “ Dina- ”

“ C'mon, wanna hear that gee-tar playing of yours, ” she said.

“ Are you serious right now? ” she groaned, following begrudgingly because she'd follow Dina to the end of the earth.

Dina looked back at her with a cheeky grin.

“ I don't even live there anymore! ” Ellie tried to argue.

“ Yeah you do. ”

She shook her head and kicked stones along the path as she followed. She liked her garage that had turned into her room.

But Dina liked the house that smelled like wood and you.

•----------•----------•----------•----------•----

“ Hello! ” Dina walked in like the home was hers. She was there often enough that she knew the doors were always open to her.

Ellie sulked as she walked through the door, wiping her dusty boots on the mat and gently closing it behind her.

“ Is anyone home? ” Dina asked after she got little reply. Her hands were on her hips, gently tugging down her shirt until there was some sort of teasing going on around her chest. She turned to Ellie.

Her cheeks were pink and she tried to find entertainment in the white walls and not Dina's attempts. “ I-I dunno. ”

“ Ellie? ” a voice suddenly called.

You. You walked down the stairs, boots in hand and jacket thrown over your arm. “ Thought I heard you two, ” you greeted with a nod and smile, settling yourself on the last step. “ How you doin' Dina? ”

Dina grinned wide, knocking her boot on your sock clad foot. “ All the better for seeing you. ”

Ellie tutted and looked down.

You peered up at Dina, smirking. “ Always love to see ya, Dina.”

When Ellie's friends- especially Dina and Jesse- wanted to come around more she'd been glad of the attention, to have a life she could share with friends. Then it started to become more instant.

'Hey, whose at home?'

'Hey, I was thinking about guitar lessons, who taught you?'

'You know anyone who can repair my jacket?'

At first, Ellie had thought they were all about Joel. The gruff, older, brother of Tommy, mystery man.

It wasn't until about a month ago, when Joel was stuck out on patrol and Jesse insisted on looking over you that Ellie realised her friends weren't there for Joel. They were there for you.

It was embarrassing for Ellie. And she could never tell if you knew and loved it or really didn't see the effect you had on them. On everyone.

Finally, Ellie noticed how you tied up your boots and stood. “ Where are you going? ”

“ Patrol, ” you said, “Tommy thinks they found raider tracks heading south, want some of us to go look. ”

“ And where's Joel?”

“ Joel's right 'ere. ”

The man trod downstairs, still buttoning up his checked shirt and hiding the dust of greying chest hair. His hair was tussled, no socks on his feet and a thin, small layer of sweat on his forehead.

Ellie took it all in with an embarrassed groan the same time Dina noticed and chuckled.

“ Joel, you dog! ”

He bristled under her comment. “ Dina. ”

You laughed to yourself, throwing your jacket over your shoulders.

Joel's hand had hardly brushed your shoulder before Dina jumped at the opportunity.

“ Here-” she said. “ Let me help you.”

“ Thanks. ”

Joel and Ellie watched as Dina held your jacket out, helping your arms slide down the sleeves and brush her own hands against yours and Dina was all too pleased with herself.

She even smoothed your collar back as you pulled back your hair.

You turned to her, smiling. “ Thanks. ”

Joel was at your back, taking you to the door. “ C'mon, honey, i'll walk you out. ”

Ellie approached Dina's side as they watched Joel's hand dance the lowest part of your back and opening the front door for you.

“ You need gloves? ” Dina asked, calling to you.

Joel looked over his shoulder with a scowl. “ It ain't winter yet, she'll be fine, ” but both girls then noticed how he lowered his lips to your ears and muttered the same question.

Ellie saw how Dina looked at you, watched you as you said your bye's to Joel. She saw how Dina's eyes scanned over you- head to toe- and but down on her lower lip. She slapped her in the arm. “ Cut it out. ”

“ Can't help it ,” she mumbled, shrugging innocently. “ Your mom does something to me.”

“ She's not my mom, ” Ellie grumbled. It was true, you weren't. Maybe you were the closest thing she had to a real one- after all you'd done with Joel to save her you were family. A love of hers. But you were more a sister than a mother. Only slightly older than Ellie but younger than Joel.

Maybe that was why all of her friends wanted you.

You were just that out of reach.

Joel saw the two watching, one happy and the other with a scowl just like his.

The door inched closed just enough for him to kiss you without an audience.

Dina grumbled. “ C'mon man. ”

Joel pulled it back enough to show your head popping around. He didn't seem happy but Dina didn't care.

“ I'll see you soon, Ellie, ” you nodded. You and her never liked goodbye's, just see you later's.

“ Be careful out there, ” she said.

You smiled and looked to her side. “ See you later, Dina.”

Before you could disappear the two girls watched as Joel's finger's wrapped around your forearm. “ Be safe .”

“ I will. ” You promised, pecking his lips again.

Your footsteps sounded down the porch and down the stairs, across gravel.

Joel still lingered at the door, watching you guy, an arm up on the door and sighing, huffing, as if all the noise he made could stop you.

Dina was giddy as she rushed to the door, opening it wider and waving you down. “ Be safe! ” she called.

You glanced back, an amused grin on your lips and furrow between your brows as Ellie dragged her feet over to also watch you go. You offered them all a small wave.

Joel and Dina watched you walk off, Ellie wishing she could hide in a hole from embarrassment.

“ How'd you get a fine woman like that, Old man? ” teased Dina.

Joel didn't turn, even give any sign that he'd heard until he saw your body move around the corner to meet Tommy (one of the only one's he trusted you to patrol with). His eyes were dark and narrow when they turned down to Dina. “ Don't you have a garage to get to ?"

•----------•----------•----------•----------•---

Ellie had a good training session with Jesse. A real good one. An early morning rise, the birds chirping. She'd even managed to take him down one on the mat.

He'd given her a 'looking good' and suggested breakfast at the food hall.

“ Your right hooks got something, ” he said, letting her through the door first and to the stands.

“. You think?” her smile was large though her muscles were sore.

“ Yeah! ”

They'd just got plates and mugs, just gotten their foods when they heard the unmistakable dark chuckle of Joel Miller. Unmistakable cause it was the sound only you could drag out of him.

Jesse's head practically snapped at the sound.

Ellie groaned. “ Seriously. ”

Jesse grinned.

You and Joel were sat at a table to yourself but it may as well have just been you and him in the entire world.

Though people were all around the canteen, smiling and talking, you and Joel faced each other. Your chair was turned to him while his body was focused on you, hand laid out over yours on top of the table, his fingers drawing lazy circles along the back. Your eyes were shining, glittering as you spoke while Joel's... Joel's was nothing shorter than adoration.

Jesse's was too. “ Let's go say hi. ”

He was already walking over to you as Ellie hung her head.

You turned first, noting Jesse's long strides and Ellies little shuffles. You still smiled, though not as wide as you moved your chair back under the table.

Joel's gaze turned dark but he didn't try moving as Jesse and Ellie slid into seats in front of you.

“ Hey,” Jesse greeted. His arms crossed over the table across from you, his breakfast pushed aside and forgotten about. “Hope you don't mind us joining. ”

" Yes, ” said Joel.

You swatted his chest and tutted.

Ellie smiled sheepishly to herself, tucking her head into her chest. She knew the very move she used on Dina.

“ You were training this morning?” you asked.

“ Yeah, Ellie's she's getting real good! ” Jesse boasted, slapping a hand on her shoulder and causing her to jolt.

Ellie glared at him.

You caught the glare. “ Well, she's got a good teacher. ”

Joel glared at you, clearing his throat and shuffling his chair closer to you as Jesse blushed.

“ Thank you, I mean, well, you've probably taught her- um- taught her moves. ”

Your lips moved with amusement. “ The best kind .”

Joel huffed an approval of a laugh.

Ellie caught the way Joel kicked up a leg over his other, his hand large, sliding over your thigh. He only had to tug a little before he had you pulled into his side.

Jesse's blushed was absorbed.

If Ellie could see how her friends reacted to you, then Joel must've caught onto it before her.

“ So, um- ”Jesse tried again, pulling himself into the table. “ I heard you and Tommy got those raiders? ”

You shrug, fingers tracing over the rim of your coffee cup. “ Was only three. Stragglers, I reckon. They were low on supplies. The winter would've got them anyway.”

“ Well you've kept this town safe, again, ” said Jesse. “ You're a hero. ”

Ellie didn't know if she wanted to be swallowed up by the ground or if she wanted Jesse to.

There was a flicker of some uncomfortableness at the compliment.

You looked into your mug and frowned. “ A hero can't get a damn cup of coffee around here-”

“ I'll get it! ” Both Joel and Jesse had said.

Joel glared at him. His strongest yet, even Ellie who'd done nothing wrong but know you, shrunk.

Jesse, to his credit, still tried. “ I can get it. It's no problem. ”

“ I’ll get the damn cup of coffee, ”Joel almost growled at him.

He pushed his chair back.

Before he left the table he made sure Jesse was watching as he rested his hand on the back of your chair and leant down.

He kissed you passionately, the kind of way he made sure never to do in front of Ellie. His knuckles bleached white with how hard he grabbed the back of the chair. The steal of your breath. The tilt of his face and the shove of his tongue into your mouth, quick and effective.

When he pulled away, smirking down at you and getting your empty mug, you were still staring after him, licking your lips from the taste of him.

You watched him go like Ellie and Jesse weren't there, leaning around the table to watch him walk.

Jesse deflated, groaning to himself. He could train, cook, be as buff as he wanted, but he'd never be an older man like Joel Miller.

“ Gross ,” Ellie grumbled, stabbing at her eggs.

•----------•----------•----------•----------•-----

Ellie lead the way, laughing back into the Miller residence.

Weeks had passed and spending time with Dina and Jesse was easier when you and Joel had been so busy. So busy you weren't seen my her friends much.

Joel had been asked by Maria to build faster, to which he always liked to joke about and push her buttons with, while you and Tommy had been busy in keeping tabs on any change in patrol logs. Sure you'd gotten three raiders, but Tommy didn't like chances.

“ So is anyone home?” asked Dina, her voice tinged with hope as the three of them kicked off the snow on their boots.

“ Yeah, like, will Joel be in, or... ” Jesse trailed off, warming his hands with his breath.

“ No, they're not in, Joel had patrol and she's with Benji ,”Ellie told them, opening the door and keeping it open as she walked in. “ It's just us.”

But it was not just them and they discovered as much as they rounded the corner into the kitchen.

"Fuck, bab- Oh my god!"

"Shit-shit!"

"What the fuck!"

All manners of expressions, from pleasure to horror, were shouted across the kitchen.

Jesse hid his face, Dina laughed and Ellie looked damn well near ready to explode.

You were propped up on the kitchen counter, your legs were wide and your dressing robe had been bunched at the waist. Your hand had been grasping at salt-and-pepper hair and Joel's hands had been grasping at your hips and ass, pulling you into his face as he sat on his knees in front of you.

At all the yelling and your quick jump to your feet, he was up, you were hiding him behind you as your robe was pulled back.

“ Ellie, we thought you were out! ” you said.

“ We eat here! ” she argued.

“ Joel was eating something, ” Dina snickered.

“ Dina! ” warned Joel.

It seemed the only one's who could see some funny in the situation was you and Dina, as you couldn't help but laugh off the blush on Jesse's cheeks.

“ Ellie- ” you laughed, hands behind you as you hid Joel (who was definitely almost half hard and stubble covered in you)

“ Seriously !” she was still snapping, her teenager anger coming to the surface. “ Just five minutes of being fucking normal! ”

You were still finding the situation laughable as you stirred yourself and Joel out the kitchen like you were a pair of horny teens. “ We'll just er- go finish- I mean, leave the three of you to it. ”

You and Joel were in the door way from the kitchen when you passed a nod to Ellie's friends. “ Dina. Jesse .”

Then you were gone, Joel's low groans of annoyance at the interruption and your laughs. But even Joel gave a low grumble of something that was similar to laughing at Ellie's eruption.

Normal, like a finally normal family.

•----------•----------•----------•----------•-----

“ Dina, this is ridiculous! ”Jesse seethed as he followed her up the stairs of the Miller house.

“ Oh c'mon,” she whispered, creeping up the stairs. “ You telling me you don't wanna know? “

“ No, I don't! ”

But it was a clear lie.

The two were supposed to be sleeping in Ellie's garage, on a crappy mattress Joel had dragged in for them.

Ellie was sound asleep when they left.

It was only to wonder, to quench a thirst as they convinced themself. They just wanted to see your and Joel's room, wonder what secrets it held. Specifically. what pieces of you were there.

Were clothes of yours strewn about the place, thrown haphazardly around? Were your guns that delicately pulled triggers lying on a cabinet, organised? Were their pictures? Ellie's drawings? Your boots?

Your nightwear?

“ Dina, if Ellie knew... fuck, if Joel knew- ”Jesse panicked.

“ They're not gonna. It's just to see. ”

Ellie had casually mentioned that you and Joel would be out the house as you always babysat Benji for Maria and Tommy on a Friday night so they could go out.

She’d almost promised you and Joel would be gone, without thinking about the consequences.

Dina and Jesse didn’t think as they crouched outside the door that his the secrets of you.

A bit more than secrets.

Jesse put out a hand, stopping Dina from turning the doorknob. “ You hear that? ”

Moaning. Groaning.

Memories of pain sprang to mind before they heard the creak of a bed.

"Oh baby,"

"Yeah-there? Just there, I know what you like mama,"

"J-Joel!"

Jesse’s outstretched hand started to tremble.

No, you and Joel were not babysitting for that evening.

Dina cracked a grin. “ Are they? ”

But Jesse gulped.

They didn’t need to see you or Joel. The thump of the bed on the wall and the gasps and moans were enough for them to imagine Joel on his back, his cock buried deep in you.

Your hands would be atop his chest, or low on his sternum to steady yourself as you bounced on his cock, taking him and retracting him, moaning at the constant fill.

You’d be sweaty- glistening in it. You’d throw your head back, hair cascading down your back as you moan.

"Harder baby," they could hear Joel grit out through his teeth. "C’mon, fucking bounce on it! Make those damn kids hear and think they have a chance!"

Little did he know they were outside the door, ruining themselves with their own imaginations.

Joel cursed, grunting loudly. "You think? You think anyone else can make you this wet? Can make you this needy?"

There was a little noise, a whimper from you that had Jesse clenching his jaw and Dina biting her lip.

"Louder!"

"You, Joel! Only you!"

"Damn right. Now show me, show me this sweet cunt is mine!"

They sounds of skin on skin increased, louder, paired with filthy words and even filthier sounds.

They pictured Joel’s feet planted on the bed, hands digging into the skin of your hips and holding you up to thrust into you, having you a numb mess as you both spilled words.

"Only yours, my sweet little pussy only fits your cock, Joel,"

"Can feel you squeeze me. Shit- it’s so good. Wanna be buried inside of you forever,"

"Don’t think about anyone else- don’t look at anyone else, just you,"

Neither of Dina or Jesse could move as you and Joel reached your limits.

"Say my name, say my name as you let me fill you up! Say my name as you let me make you a mama!"

"Joel!"

It ended in grunts and deep breaths.

As you and Joel calmed down, Dina and Jesse came back to themselves, catching their breaths as if they’d been at activities.

Jesse brushed off his pants and whispered. "I think I’m er, gonna head home. Would you let Ellie know?"

“ Yeah. Yeah, I-I think I’m gonna go wake and tell her now. ”

The two stood at the top of the stairs.

“ Bye. ”

“ Goodnight. ”

They each bid bye, seeing each other rush of with slick between legs and something hard too.

(Little did they realise how Joel had watched them ‘sneak’ from the garage and heard them enter the house. Little did they know you and a Joel had thought how they needed to learn a lesson that what was Joel’s was always Joel’s)

Joel pulled you into his chest, tucking his head between your neck and shoulder, peppering it in kisses. "That’ll show ‘em."

Work is so busy I’m so tired but I loved this!!

[bluetimeombre]

- * Strawberries, part two

Smut, food play, oral (m&f receiving) dirty talk, praise kink, mean-ish Joel, penetration (un-protected) language, younger reader implied. Let me know if I missed anything

part one here!

It took only two weeks for Joel to settle into life in Jackson before he was asking about greenhouses.

Jackson had to have some. They had veg with every meal and apples for kids at schools snack time but the ground was already frozen solid. So how did they do it?

Greenhouses. Small safe havens where a person could grow any veg or fruit of choice.

Joel knew his choice.

Strawberries.

✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°

You withered around on the bed, a hand over your agape mouth and the other twisted in the bed sheets at your head.

"Joel-" you mewled, daring not to glance down.

Joel had been between your thighs for what felt like hours. Hours of excruciating long torture where Joel was allowed to enjoy his dessert.

What heaven laid between your thighs and the punnet of strawberries he’d been caring for for months.

"Shh, baby," he mumbled, pulling back. His lips were wet with you, his stubble shining with your need and strawberries. "Want to enjoy my treat in peace."

You moan. Practically whine.

Joel pulled away and demanded your gaze. He tutted and dragged a finger through your sopping folds. It had been hours.

And he hadn’t let you finish. No, he held it back like it was a prize.

"You’re-you’re being mean," you utter.

"Oh, am I?" He mocked.

He dove into the strawberries, the very fingers he’d not long been curling inside you grabbing at the fruit.

You couldn’t watch the way his lips wrapped around the fruit and dragged it into his mouth. He munched on it loudly.

Every time your hand got dangerously close to the bowl he’d slap it away- hence why you’d took to holding yourself back.

Joel munched on the strawberry and before he was even finished, he held your legs open and found his home. His tongue licked up all the mess you were making, the taste of you just as sweet as the fruit he could still taste.

"So-mmh- so good," his voice was muffled, sending vibrations through your body.

Your body jerked into his mouth.

Joel held you up, spreading your cheeks and fondling the skin as he inched himself closer. His body was just as worked up as yours, his cock stretching out his jeans.

Every time he moved, or shifted to taste you deeper, he had to take time to grind down on the bed. At this rate, it would be moulded into the shape of you lying on your back and his cock in the mattress.

Joel’s tongue swept in between your folds, flicking lightly.

"Mh- fuck!"

He hummed and nodded, intentionally moving his nose on your clit.

Just how you liked it.

"Joel!" You yelled out.

"What did I say?" He pulled away, siting back on his heels.

Your chest heaved as sweat clung to you. You watched Joel as he chewed on another strawberry, humming at the taste.

At first you thought they were a gift for you, then Joel had sat down, stood you up and stripped you carefully.

That’s when you realised it was more a gift for him.

"These are delicious, you should try some," he teased. He closed his eyes and dwelled in the taste, licking his lips.

"Dick," you said.

"No- that’s what you want though? Isn’t it, baby? Your own special treat?"

When his eyes opened and looked down at you curiously, you nodded.

"Tough."

Joel was always a generous lover and you knew he wouldn’t leave you un-satisfied. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t take his time in devouring you.

Joel tugged at your ankles and settled back down in between your thighs. This time, he went in with passion, with no mercy. His tongue sort to know all of you and his nose nudged your clit every other lick.

He didn’t pause for a strawberry, this time, he was far more concerned in getting your taste stuck in his mouth and beard.

He made out with your pussy until you were panting and you didn’t know where to put your hands.

"J-J-Joel!"

He grinned and laughed. He spat between your legs and rubbed it in with his tongue. "Grab on baby, want you to finish."

With nothing else to be said, your hands grabbed onto him, fingers in his hair and pulling as he only carried on.

"I’m gonna- I'm gonna-" your eyes screwed shut as Joel took his tongue to your puffy and sobbing clit, circling it just enough to get you to cum.

And you did. With a loud gasp and a clutch at his hair you finished.

Joel wasn’t wasting a drop. He held your trembling thighs open throughout your come down, gently cleaning you with his tongue.

"That’s it, so good for me, perfect treat. My good little girl."

Once you were spent and lying there catching your breath you felt something cold run up your thighs.

They trembled at the touch.

When you eventually pushed yourself up to your elbows, you saw Joel grinning at you as he dragged a large strawberry over the inside of your thigh. He was focused on the task, cooing when your thighs shook at the contact.

Joel watched you as he slid the strawberry higher, dancing over your hips and over the lowest part of your stomach.

"What are you doing?" you whispered.

His tongue poked the inside of his cheek as he looked to the punnet of strawberries. "Well, I've still got lots left, ain't I? That means you gotta give me some more."

✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°

It had been a week since then and still you could feel the phantom touch of him between your legs. His stubble had left enough marks between your thighs that every time you got in the shower you thought about him.

Every time you saw the colour red you thought of him.

It was agonising.

The worst part was how mad you ached for him. You'd never wanted like that before, but since that night in the woods, sharing the strawberries, he'd opened up something. A desire made from flames.

You didn't even want his mouth on your heat again (though it went without saying you weren't saying no) you wanted him. Him down your throat, his neck muscles straining from how he tried to keep quiet.

His taste mixed with the fruit of temptation.

That's how you ended up finding Tommy who directed you to the green house Joel had took as his.

That's how you wandered in and closed the door behind you.

Joel was tending after his favourite fruit, taking care of it like a child. He looked up when you sauntered in. "What is it?"

You only walked around slowly, dragging your hand through the plants and vines. Some hadn't sprouted yet, many had.

There was already a basket full of the berries.

You pinched one, wondering if he would tell you off like he had before. Instead, Joel only watched as you approached him.

He watched as you took a bite, slurping it up. Perhaps making more noise on perhaps. "Hungry?" he asked.

You hummed and nodded. You held up your fingers, offering the last bit to him.

Joel's fingers were steady and only slightly dirty covered as they grabbed your wrist and led you to feed him. You obliged, letting your fingers linger on his lips.

But you didn't linger long.

Soon enough you were on your knees, his jeans pulled down to his boots and belt tossed behind you.

"Shit- fuck, baby," Joel seethed, hand clutching at your hair like it was a life line.

You were taking him slow, just like he had with you, delivering a taste of his own medicine. Yet he'd taught you things that night, the wonder of two of life's greatest pleasures. Food and Joel Miller.

Your tongue ran up and down his length, going further when he nudged you.

"That's it, right there baby, right there," he muttered. His head was thrown back in bliss, hands in your hair, apparently forgetting you were in a green house with only blurred white windows hiding you from the rest of the world.

You pulled away and took a breath.

But when Joel's hands stirred you back to his cock that was weeping for your attention. You refused, even when he tugged at your hair harder.

"I'm hungry," you said, licking off the pre-cum of his that had marked your lips.

Joel frowned, catching his breath.

Then he spotted you reaching for the basket of strawberries.

He chuckled, taking his hands from your hair to hold onto the table he was leant on. He was in trouble.

You took your time in picking your strawberry and when you'd made your choice you held the base of Joel's cock steady.

He jerked at the first touch of the fruit. It was a new sensation to him as you dragged it up and up, trailing over a vein.

"Christ," he muttered.

You watched him with a smirk yourself as you swirled the tip of the berry around his tip, collecting his seed like it was chocolate.

Joel's body shuddered, his hands tightening on the table.

You continued on, amused at his state.

"Ba-baby," he warned. His tone was dangerous. If you weren't careful there may never be an end.

"What?" you said, falling back on your heels. "Am I being mean?"

Finally, you pulled off the greenery on the strawberry and ate it. It was the perfect balance of your favourite things and the way Joel groaned and moaned at watching you eat you knew you were in the league for playing his game.

Suddenly, something like a growl came from his throat and his hands balled up your hair in a ponytail as he forced you down his cock. You'd only just swallowed the last of the fruit and your hands braced on his thighs as he directed your movements.

"Yeah, you think you can fucking tease me like that, huh? When I grow- ah shit- grow all of this for you? For us?" he seethed. He could hear and feel his cock stretch to the back of your throat, the most lewd sounds keeping you company. "Good girls say thank you."

He released you and you caught your breath, your spit marked gently with pink.

Joel slouched. "Say thank you."

You caught your breath, wiping off the corner of your mouth. "Th-thank you, Joel."

"Good baby, good," he praised. Joel nodded down to your thumb that was smeared in him. You were driving him crazy. "Now don't waste it."

With what was on your thumb you wiped it on a strawberry. Your lips were already parting for it when Joel clicked his fingers.

Your core grew in heat as you watched him take the strawberry covered in him. You moan out loud and use this chance to take his cock back down your mouth, spreading spit on the edge.

"Taste's good, now I know why you like being down there," he said. "Urg- god baby, you're doing so good, so fucking good."

You take him down deeper.

Joel's body stretched as his hands flexed and held you down.

"Shit-shit!" he panted. "God, you're gonna make me cum. Want me to? Down your sweet little throat?"

He rambled as you started to move slowly again. Just like that... give you anything you want baby, just make me cum... wanna see it dripping down you.

You took him down once more, choking and digging your nails into his thighs as he finished in a loud grunt.

Slowly you released him, making sure to lick up and get every last drop in your mouth.

You let him go, his cock hanging limp in front of you. You get to your feet as Joel catches his breath, watching you.

You'd reached for the basket of strawberries but his hand grabbed your wrist, stopping you.

"These are mine, baby, you have to ask nice for your share."

✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡ ✧˖°

Finally... the two of you learnt to share.

In Joel's house, in his sitting room, the fire warming the winter air around you and illuminating the sweat on your bodies and the juice of strawberries.

There were few left in the basket and many remains around you.

You were in Joel's lap, rocking against him and feeling the stretch his cock indented inside of you with every move of your hips.

Your hair was sticking to you from sweat of the fire and how long Joel and you had been torturing each other, sucking at each others skin and tasting each other.

Like fucking animals.

Joel's arms were around you, holding tight and flexing. He was helping you move in his lap. "Baby. Oh, baby. Think you can give me a third?"

Your head tilted back, showing him the expanse of your neck. Your hand reached behind you, holding his thigh. You shook your head.

Joel's lips attached to the base of your throat. "Just one more, one more baby. C'mon."

"Joel," you whine.

You slow down and spend time moving your hips in a circle. If anything it took him deeper.

Joel grunted and cursed, holding you closer. He dipped his head to kiss along the beginning of your breasts. "Squeezin' me like that, feels so good."

You lean into him, hair falling and hiding you both from the world. Although everyone would be asleep. The sun had only just set when Joel and you began. At this rate, it would rise before you finish.

The only noises to be heard were the owls outside, the fire crackling and the sound of your skin on his.

Thank god Ellie had moved into the garage.

Joel kept one arm firmly around you as he blindly reached for a strawberry. "Open."

You did and he fed you the strawberry. In moments of complete, utter frenzy, him feeding you something he knew you loved, something that made you happy felt incredibly sensual.

It drove you closer and closer to the edge.

"Squeezin' me, knew you could gimme a third," he smirked.

"Gonna... gonna give you..." you could hardly fish out the words, but Joel knew.

He helped you move, mumbling sweet nothings into your skin that he'd already littered with bruises. "Get you all the strawberries you want, darlin'. Give you anything, just say the word-" his hips stuttered with yours as you chased your high, his following along. "Would give you- shit! Give you a whole damn strawberry field if you asked."

"Joel, gonna-"

"Go! Go, let go, baby!"

You squeezed him once more as you finished in a loud gasp, slumping into his body.

Joel held you up and against him, the feeling of your sweaty and naked form tipping him over the edge as he came inside of you. He groaned into your mouth, sucking on your bottom lip as he tried to catch his breath. Fingers digging into the flush of your hips and bruising.

Then, it was only the crackle of the fire.

Joel moved slowly, unsure whether he could feel himself be without you yet. He laid himself down and dragged you with him, moving slow enough not to disturb where you both met. His back laid on the rug and you laid atop, legs entwined as you rested your head upon his chest, counting the heartbeats that grew steady.

"You know, i've got no damn strawberries left," he chuckled, kissing you on the top of the head.

You hum. "Better start trading for some seeds then."

And what you wanted, you got.

I had so much fun with this i'm not even sorry

[bluetimeombre]

Woah, the daddy issues really popped off with this one

[bluetimeombre]

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ I've been knowing you ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

You want everything with Pedro, but when faced with it, he laughs off the idea. Based off this request

"I want to see a ring on that finger!"

It had been meant as a joke. You, Pedro, Lux, Javiera and her sons were all around the table in the garden while the sun set orange around you. Nicolas and a few cousins and friends were around too but they were all lost in separate conversations.

You couldn't even remember how you all got to that topic- or if there even was a topic. The words just rang in your head.

So did the laughter.

Pedro's chuckle, head thrown back. You smiled along, giggled with Lux who was at your other side.

Later in the night, while drinks were being drunk and food was being ate, conversations being had when another comment was thrown. This time, by Bruno.

"We need more cousins!"

Maybe it was meant as a joke, a reference to the thirty-four first cousins Pedro and his siblings shared. But when Javiera wiggled her brows and Lux made a noise, you understood there was a serious inquisition under there.

"Oh no, no, no," said Pedro laughing, a dancing finger being waved at them. His other arm was thrown over the back of your chair as he laughed, eyes glittering. "No."

And you'd laughed, because everyone else was laughing and it was funny to think.

Quickly, it became anything but.

No. He'd laughed at the idea. Laughed at the idea of a ring or kids with his curls and your eyes.

You'd never spoken about it really, never referenced a wedding or a boy or a girl. But after three years together was it not even on his mind?

The thoughts came and went quickly and were replaced with more even quicker. The chat around the table went on. There was clinking of cutlery and glasses but there was clicking in your brain like it was all falling into place.

Pedro- who you danced in the kitchen with, walked in parks with Edgar with- didn't see those dances and walks in the future.

You had no idea hearing the words would hurt so much but they had. As if one of the steak knives had been lodged in your heart and twisted.

Pedro's arm was warm around your shoulder as he laughed at a joke his brother made. In instinct, his arm flexed around you, drawing you in as you tried to smile too. Suddenly his hold was too much.

Were you embarrassed? Was that the feeling crawling into your gut.

Here was his family, the people closest to him that you had always thought you counted as- after three years. Were you just another date to the party? A hand for a lonely soul to hold?

What was this?

Lux seemed to notice this, the small things always seeming big to her.

You felt her hand reach over to your knee, squeezing it. It stole your attention as you smiled her way, moving out of Pedro's arms and focusing on her. She accommodated you with a conversation.

But Pedro was still holding you, reaching out to you.

His arm was stretched so his hand could sprawl along your back, his fingers dancing in your skin. Any other time shivers of ecstasy would crawl your skin.

Now, you wanted him off.

Lux again squeezed your knee. "Don't think to much about it," she told you.

"About what?" you feigned ignorance but the pretending was not easy.

While everyone was busy talking, you slipped away from Lux, squeezing her shoulders and assuring her you were fine, totally fine.

Pedro saw you walk away. You hadn't said were you were going, hadn't squeezed his hand or gave him a flirtatious smile to indicate he should follow.

He was confused for a moment.

"Are you not going to ask her to marry you, Tío?" asked his nephew, Bruno.

Pedro looked back at him, a cheeky grin. "Of course I am. I'm not stupid."

He had the box, with the gold band of gems inside. He already had plans. He'd dreamt it all. He'd never shared those dreams with anyone but Lux because she would understand.

She was closer to age with you than he was and sometimes he was so scared about that fact.

He looked to Lux then but she looked at him weary, a crease in her brows.

Pedro looked back. It had been two minutes. You shouldn't be long.

Then, you were long.

Lux looked back to where you'd disappeared but Pedro was already on his feet, padding through the garden and into the house.

"Cariño?" he called out. You weren't in the kitchen. "Mi Cariño? Baby?" he looked around the house but there was not a whisper of you.

A prickle of fear nudged at him that lead him to the bathroom of his big sisters house. There was a shuffle inside-

The pull of tissue-

A sniff.

His knuckles wrapped gently.

"Sorry, just a minute."

"Baby?" he asked, "are you ok in there, huh? Need a hand?" he'd meant it as a joke, a cheeky try at getting into the bathroom with you. When he tried the door, it was locked.

"Just a second!" you called through, almost panicked.

He frowned. Had something happened?

He knew the sound of your voice after you'd cried, or when you were trying not to cry. He'd seen it before after hard days at work but he could coax your troubles out of you.

Had you not been fine down stairs? Had you not been laughing?

Fears flooded him, rendering him from pushing open the door when it swung open and you stood. Beautiful as ever, but changed.

Pedro managed to hold you. "Wo-Woah- hey, hey," he stopped you. "What's going on?"

You looked at him. Your eyes were red and your lips chapped and it was clear you were trying not to cry. "Nothing, nothing." Again you wanted to move but Pedro's hands were gentle as they lured you back into the bathroom.

"Has something happened? Where's your phone?" he wondered if something had been said, or if some news had got to you. But your phone wasn't in hand or around, it was at the table.

You shook out his hold and folded your arms over you. You weren't looking at him.

That little fear turned to stone cold dread at the bottom of his stomach. "Corazón?"

Pedro truly did not know what he had done. "You're worrying me now."

Your back was still to him as you collected yourself. He stood there, still and scared. Abruptly, you turned. It wasn't fair that you looked pretty when you cried as well as all of this. "When you look at me what do you see?"

He didn't think it was a trick question, so he spoke. "Intelligence. Beauty. Wonder. Everything I've ever wanted." He carefully stepped toward you.

"But what about what you want?" you asked, turning to him. "When I look at you I see wrinkles, and wedding anniversaries- silver, gold, all of them."

Pedro took a deep breath. He thought for a moment you'd found out about the box hiding in his coat in your room. Then he realised you hadn't. "Well, so do I.... eventually."

"Do you?"

"Of course I do, is this about my sister said?" he asked.

"It's about what you didn't say."

There was silence as Pedro realised you could walk out the door and not come back.

"Do you not see all that with me? One home instead of sharing each others apartments? I want to marry you but you don't?"

"Of course- of course I do," he walked over to you.

You let his hands warm you, hold you and sit you down on the edge of the bath tub. You felt stupid. You felt weak. You liked to be strong and to have Pedro relay on you, to be the perfect partner that never asked for anything more than love.

But if you were wasting time loving him how could you forgive yourself.

"Honey, you're young," he started with.

You looked up at him. "What?"

Pedro crouched in front of you. He cupped your hands and peppered them with kisses. "You're so young, you have more of a life ahead of you than I do."

You chuckled dryly at that. "You're fifty, not eighty, Pedro."

He smiled to, creases at his eyes. "Sometimes my knees feel it."

"Get up then."

"No, no, I-" he rested his head on where he held your hands. "I need you to listen. I always said I wouldn't go for someone younger, I thought I couldn't. Then you came around and changed my ways of course. I've wanted to marry you since our first date. But I wasn't gonna take that choice from you. I've been waiting. Waiting to ask."

He keeps his head bowed as you raise your gaze. "But I figured you loved me."

Pedro kissed your hands again. He moved and perched next to you on the edge of the tub. "It's quite a scary thing to love. I'm just handing you my heart and hoping it'll be ok," he chuckled. "And I know you would but ... would you believe it, this is the longest relationship I've had."

He'd never told you that. He'd mentioned an ex or two but never to any detail.

"And you're the last person I will ever date. The first and only I want forever. I'm ready to make a life, the whole thing."

You couldn't help but watch him like in a daze as his smile takes over his face.

"Kids. A girl and a boy, like my sister and I- more if it happens. We'd marry once we have kids so they can be at the wedding. We'd have dogs. Probably move out of the city, to the countryside, with a good school," he grinned. His head rested in the crook of your neck, voice low.

"I can't tell you the amount of times I've pictured our wedding, or our house. You and the kids visiting me on set. We'd come back to Chile every summer. They'd be close with their cousins, but their favourite aunt would probably be Lux."

You laughed, a tear sliding down your cheek. "Probably."

He laughed and kissed the space between your neck and shoulder. He pulled away eventually and looked at you. His hand, large and welcoming, held your cheek in hand, brushing back hair. "When I look at you, my love, I see the whole thing. But I was-truthly- always too scared to know if you wanted the same."

You nodded, eagerly. "I want it, Pedro. All you had to do was ask."

His grin split and his chest caved with a sigh of relief. He grabbed your hand and kissed it like you were a princess. "This wasn't exactly the place I imagined this happening."

You looked around the bath room, at the orange lights and little plant Javiera had. "As bathrooms go..." you trail off.

"Anywhere's perfect with you," said Pedro, nudging you with his head of curls.

"Sap."

"You had me worried for a second there, you know." His arm came around your hip, holding you.

You cringed, wiping at your eyes and desperately trying to salvage your makeup. "I'm sorry, ruined you seeing your family."

"Oh no, no, no Cariño," he brushed your hair from your face, leaning closer to you. "You've made me a very happy man."

Pedro kissed you, softly. A whisper of his love and devotion. It lasted until you were tugging at his shirt closer and until his hands were in your hair.

"We should-" you started against his lips. "Mhm, we should probably go before your sisters think they're getting nephews or nieces."

Pedro grinned, dragging his lips down your neck to nip at your earlobe. "Dirty," he helped you up and patted your backside. "You go down, I need to piss."

You made a disgusted noise before lingering at the door. "So everything's ok?" you checked, looking back to him. "I haven't, have I ruined this?"

His look of love was almost enough to tell you no, but you needed to hear it. "You could never. You just better say yes when I ask you to marry me!"

You left him to pee and returned to the table outside where most cousins had sat at.

Lux put a hand on your knee.

"Are you ok?" Javiera asked you when you took your seat.

Apparently Lux wasn't the only one to note his laughter at the questions.

"I'm ok," you shrug, "I'm emotional."

"You're allowed to be," Javiera assured you. "But my hermanito is not dumb."

It explained everything that needed to be.

Quickly, conversation started up again and you were laughing quietly. It had took a lot out of you, the talk and confession but still left you lighter.

You spotted Pedro walking back out, Nicolas under his arm as he patted him on the shoulder and nudged him away. You watched him, expecting a drop of a kiss on your head and for him to take the seat next to you.

Instead, Pedro dropped down in front of you again.

"Your poor knees!" you joked.

Everyone else grew louder.

Lux pulled out her phone. "Dios mío."

Pedro pulled out the box, opened it to a golden band. "Marry me?"

[bluetimeombre]

Need Joel Miller to call me babygirl and tell me everything’s gonna be alright