wecanresthere

[wecanresthere]

The ice jingled against the glass, your straw probing the shards in search of the last drops of your drink. You pushed the glass away from you, watching it slide gently across the table. You settled back against the booth, surveying the busy bar. The faces were a blur, your fourth drink of the night beginning to catch up with you but you’d know his face when you found it. If you found it. He only said he’d try and swing by, it wasn’t a promise. You leaned into the conversation next to you, half listening, laughing along where it fit. 

When you had decided to distract yourself with another drink, one appeared in front of you as if conjured from the thought. The condensation dripped down the glass and the familiar scent hit you. You took a second to breathe him in, the cologne reserved for evenings and nights out. It lived next to his regular aftershave on the glass shelf in his bathroom, above his blue toothbrush. The booth dipped as he sat down, arm reaching behind you to rest along the back. 

“You know my order?” You looked up at him, his head already turned to you. 

“Of course I do.” He nudged your shoulder with his own before looking away. More people had gathered around the booth and the bar seemed to have shrunk, bodies filling every gap. Your body relaxed with the comfort of him against you, even if it was small. Even if you couldn’t acknowledge it. The night stretched on, it was easier to get swept up in conversation but the occasional touch of his fingers against your bare shoulder brought you back. Your skin prickled and your heart ached every time. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him, too scared of someone seeing, too scared of knowing the look on your own face would give you away. You settled for watching his hand on the table in front of you, gently wrapped around the whiskey tumbler. 

You gave a gentle push of your thigh against his. Testing. He laughed at a joke, his head thrown back. You laughed along and when no one was looking took the chance to truly look at him. You felt his laughter throughout your whole body. He caught your eye for what was likely a millisecond but it felt like an eternity. You’d taught yourself to cut every look short. They were the small things that were easy to linger and you felt the rip inside you each time you had to look away. 

He reshuffled when his laughter subsided, running both his hands through his hair. Then like fire you felt it, his hand on your thigh. Your stomach knotted with the rise of adrenaline and alcohol and you longed for the quiet comfort of him. You wished the heat on your leg would catch, a roaring fire engulfing you both into a place you didn’t have to hide. 

[wecanresthere]

Prompt by @prompts-and-circumstance

He was fishing for compliments, and I wouldn't give them to him. Even if he did deserve a few for saving my life. A few.

“I wasn’t expecting him to have so many teeth, good thing I had the blade with me.” He spoke from the armchair opposite me. Leant back with exhaustion, one ankle resting on his knee. 

“Mhmm, you want pepperoni or just cheese?” I held the pizza menu in my hands, an excuse for something to look at. I knew the face he was making without seeing it. Brows scrunched together, lips parted, waiting patiently for me to give him what he wanted. Holding back my own  smirk was hard, but it was all part of the fun. 

The armchair creaked as he stood and within seconds I felt his presence, his dirty and bloody jeans inches from my face. Fingers soft but firm on my chin, he turned my head to look up at him. There was a trickle of dried blood from his temple to his ear, his hair was dusty with dirt and cobwebs, and his eyes were darker, adrenaline not yet worn off. He was every bit as handsome as usual and of course I couldn’t let him know that. 

“Y’know, a thank you would be nice.” His voice was deep and slow, almost gravelly. 

“Oh, it would? And what would that be for?” I blinked up at him. He dropped his hands but our eyes stayed on each other. 

“For not letting that thing tear you to shreds.” 

I stood up, letting the menu fall on the table without a second glance. “You do realise you were the one that dragged us in there in the first place?” 

He smiled that deliciously evil grin, the one he knew I couldn’t resist. “I live for the danger.” He pulled me into him, our chests flushed together. His eyes flicked down, my chest heaving with my quickened breath. He let out a soft exhale, the laugh not quite making it to his throat. 

I waited for his next move, feeling a twang of disappointment as he pushed me away from him, gentle and constrained. “Pepperoni is good,” he spoke, turning his back to me. He pulled his shirt over his head, his muscular back flecked with scratches, tossing it aside like nothing as the bathroom door shut behind him. 

[wecanresthere]

His hands are steady and his body looks warm. Navy t-shirt draping over his torso, you refrain from reaching out and touching him. You know the line but it screams out to be crossed. His eyes take you out of your head, no thought can burn while his eyes are on yours. Your fingers touch when he hands you the glass and you both know it’s intentional. Any excuse for innocent touch while dancing with the line.

[wecanresthere]

A cowboy. A quiet sunset. Plenty unspoken.

You stretch your arms, feeling the warm air against your skin. His truck is the only other car parked outside of the big, wooden barn so you know you’ve arrived at the right place. The sun is just beginning to descend, not yet touching the top of the trees. You scan around the ranch for a sign of him. Turning the corner you catch his oh-so-familiar frame, tightening the stirrups on one of the horses. 

He turns at the sound of your footsteps and without thinking your face cracks into a big grin as you take him in.

“Hey, angel. You found it.” His voice is like butter, melting into your ears. Dark stetson perched on top of his head, jeans dusty pulled over his boots. A true cowboy. You’ve never seen this side of him before. He pulls you in, hand finding your waist and lips pressing a soft kiss to your temple. The brim of his hat gently knocks against your head and he adjusts it as he leans back out. 

You let out a soft sigh, happy to be back in his arms. The horse next to you blows out his nose, requesting both your attention. 

“This here is Teddy. He’ll be real nice to you. We can take it as slow as you want.”

You watch as he strokes Teddy’s muzzle with his free hand, his other still anchored to your waist. You can’t ignore the twang in your stomach, the unmistakable nerves running through your veins. “I’m a little nervous.” You admit, knowing he won’t make fun of you. 

He takes your hand in his, warm and slightly rough, you squeeze it in your own. 

“I know, darlin’. You’ll be alright, I’ll keep you safe. Come on, I want to make the most of this sunset.” He drags over the block and helps you up on Teddy, his hands helping and guiding, not letting you fall. 

He mounts his own horse with ease, his practice and familiarity showing through. He chuckles as you jump when the horse starts to walk, you let out a laugh yourself, letting yourself settle into the moment. The horses walk side by side. His face is half in shadow, half in golden rays of the setting sun. You’ve never gotten over his beauty. The strong jaw flecked with stubble. The way his eyes glow when the light catches them just right. 

You come to the edge of the ranch, before the ground takes a drop downwards. The view of the valley is enough to take your breath away, but the setting steals it completely. You spot the blanket on the floor, held down by a few rocks in the corners. Sharing a moment like this with him is more than you could ask for. 

“Come on, sweet girl. This is just for you.”

He jumps down from his own horse effortlessly. Holding his hand out to help you down. You both laugh as you struggle, not making it look as easy as he did. In the end he grabs your waist with both hands, “I got you.” And you know he does. 

As the sun takes its final bow, turning the sky shades of pink and purple, your body relaxes completely. You feel his chest against your back, strong and warm. His lips trace your ear. His hands settle on your stomach.  

“This is perfect.” You whisper. You lean your head back against his shoulder, your nose brushing the underside of his jaw, letting his stubble lightly scratch your skin.