iwritetopassthetime - Tumblr blog

iwritetopassthetime · 3 years ago

Text

reading this was such a wonderful way to spend xmas day and recover from a teensy-weensy hangover.

bradley and smart aleck are my favourites! they’re such a cute couple; even in smart aleck’s moments of doubt bradley is there to be like “no buba you’re swell and I love you🥹❤️”

bradley being hinted as fruity? yes. reference to moonstruck? yes PLEASE. jordan, if we didn’t live on different sides of this planet, I’d come and give you a kiss square on the lips for that one. good communication between two people in a relationship? WHY OH WHY MUST THEY BE SO FUCKING PERFECT AND AFORABLE!!! and soapy tits???? 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼

and after that steamy scene towards the end, i needed to sit down for what was basically a post-coital cigarette. five stars on Google reviews. 10/10. would recommend.

Happy Christmas, Jordan! thank you for gracing us once more with your amazing writing and story-building, you’re a fucking G! ❤️

(christmas) baby please come home

summary: in which lieutenant commander bradshaw and his girlfriend throw a christmas party, complete with a christmas tree, copious amounts of champagne, blended friend groups, and the true meaning of the word home

OR what do you do when your boyfriend gets deployed over christmas and he get you two christmas presents?

pairing: Rooster x Fem!Reader 11.8k

warnings: 18+, explicit language, explicit sexual content

part of @notroosterbradshaw ‘s hello december challenge

masterlist and playlist

It was obvious that you knew how to throw a party.

Furthermore, it was obvious that none of your and Bradley’s friends - baring Max, but only because he had professional help - would ever be able to pull off a party of the same caliber as your Christmas party.

Subconsciously, you wanted your friends to be jealous of you and impressed with how well you and Bradley had pulled things off. It was, admittedly, such a vain and shallow thought - no, desire to want to be the best at this. At throwing parties.

The Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack was currently echoing throughout the downstairs on the Sonos, the twinkling jazz giving off a whimsical, yet sophisticated vibe, the Christmas tree looked stunning in the living room where it was covered in nearly three thousand white lights and countless ornaments, and the food that you and Bradley - but mainly Bradley - had spent all morning and last night preparing was laid out on festive serving dishes, complete with seasonally appropriate plates and napkins, perfectly folded in their napkin rings.

You had scoured San Diego county for the most gorgeous garland possible to serve as the centerpiece on the dining room table, the berries and pine cones in it perfectly matching the plates and napkins and serving dishes. You had vacuumed the hardwood floor twice and washed it once before everyone came over and knew you would do so again once everyone left, if only so you could casually say it’s fine, you can keep your shoes on, we’re washing the floor tomorrow anyway. The candles weren’t overpowering, there was soft lighting all throughout the house, and you’d somehow wrangled a recipe for the cookies Bradley’s mom used to make from Sarah Kazansky and hadn't even burnt them.

Because you wanted people to talk about it - the party. And to say did you see their bathroom? It was so clean, there weren’t any water spots on the faucet. The beef tenderloin appetizers were delicious, they had to have gotten the meat someplace special? No, definitely not Vons, maybe some local butcher in La Jolla? Aren’t they such a sweet couple? Such a good pair.

Because it had to be perfect.

All of it.

Because this was Bradley’s Christmas. His only Christmas that year. Nothing could go amiss. And you wanted everyone to be jealous of it, so much so that tonight would be equal to if not better than how they celebrated the actual holiday with their own families - in their own homes - on Christmas Day.

Because they weren’t going to be spending the holiday on a drafty aircraft carrier in the middle of the Pacific far from home like Bradley was.

And Bradley deserved the entire world and all the happiness he could possibly have. The way his face had lit up when you’d first suggested the party after he’d gotten his orders at the beginning of November would stick with you for months. You’d told him that everything would be perfect, that you would pack enough Christmas spirit and love and gifts and food into one evening that it would take the sting out of being away from home - being away from you - at Christmas. Even if for just one night.

The guests had all arrived, some promptly and some not-so-promptly, with you and Bradley greeting them all, telling them to help themselves to all the food and drinks they wanted. Apparently, Max had a surprise for later that you prayed was not him putting on a Santa suit. But the conversation and drinks were flowing with ease, despite the blending of your two friend groups for the first time.

It was a good party.

But right now, it was your turn to be the jealous one.

You watched, enviously, as one of your work friends leaned against the kitchen island with a glass of prosecco in her hand, while the other gripped Jake Seresin’s bicep. The jealousy wasn’t because of Jake or any attention he may have been giving her, mind you.

(Because no, no - while you may no longer have had an intense hatred for Bradley’s nemesis cum friend, you still didn’t actively seek out his presence and you definitely didn’t want his attention - not for anything other than a great party as he left your - no, Bradley’s house later that night.)

No - you were jealous of her dress. Her gorgeous, deep garnet, midi-length, sleeveless dress. That looked absolutely stunning on her, though a touch too fancy for a Christmas party in South Park. She looked gorgeous, beautiful - statuesque.

You absentmindedly fixed the bow on your wrap dress. Your long sleeved, silk wrap dress - that also did plenty to hide any unwanted lines or bumps around your stomach. And your arms.

Weeks ago, back when the party was but a pipe dream, you’d been eyeing this absolutely adorable, sleeveless, mini-dress for the event. Like your friend’s dress, it probably erred on the side of slightly too fancy for a house party, but it had been so pretty and so perfect and had sat in your cart online for at least two weeks - you just wanted to see if it would go on sale before you finally pulled the trigger.

Until Thanksgiving.

When you saw how unflattering your arms looked in the black cashmere tank you’d brought for dinner. You thanked your past self for having the forethought to pack a cardigan, which didn’t come off until hours later after all your aunts and uncles and cousins had left and you were snuggled up in Bradley’s arms.

Maybe you should try the HIIT classes on your Peloton instead of all those beginner rides you were still doing with Cody? Or get arm weights? The girls who worked out in the front two rows of your pilates class swore by them. They barely needed any input from the instructor - they just knew how to move their bodies that way. Or maybe you could ask your parents for a higher Class Pass subscription for Christmas? It would give you something to focus on while Bradley was gone.

You hadn’t been this self conscious at the gala back in October and that dress was far more daring than anything you’d ever worn before; practically open back and had a risqué slit and a deep v neckline, to say nothing of what you had worn just for Bradley later that night.

So, why now? Why tonight when you were supposed to be enjoying this time with your boyfriend and all your friends before the holidays? Why tonight, when everything else was going so right, were you being bogged down by this insecurity in your own home - no, no, it was Bradley’s home, not yours.

Was it because he was leaving? And you didn’t want one of his last images of you for three months to be your arms in a too tight dress? Because that was so shallow and silly and ridiculous.

But what if it was true? Bradley was so pretty and handsome and charming and sweet, what if there was someone else on that boat that also thought he was pretty and handsome and charming and sweet? And you’d seen all the other aviators and naval personnel at that gala, they were stunning. What if Bradley thought that too - no, no, no. You weren’t going to focus on that for one of your last nights with him.

Bradley loved you, Bradley proved how much he loved you every single day, Bradley catered to your every whim about this party with the biggest smile on his face.

Bradley loved you.

You were just being ridiculous and shallow and over dramatic and spiraling before he left. Bradley loved you, Bradley loved you. He loved you. He - was wrapping his arms around your waist.

“How’s it going?” His voice rumbled in your ear and you leaned back against him.

God, he was so strong and soft and warm and smelled so pretty all the time. You were going to miss him so much. You felt him fiddle with the bow tying your burgundy dress together and ducked your head.

“Good, just came to get a drink.” Which you had been doing - about three minutes ago. “And wanted to make sure everyone in here was all set.”

Bradley hummed and swayed you back and forth in his arms. “Look at you, hostess with the mostess - or however that goes. You want me to make you another drink?”

You nodded. “Please.”

You both had decided to set up the bar in the kitchen, while keeping the food in the dining room and the dessert in the sitting room for later. Hours ago, before you had even hopped in the shower, the bar had been painstakingly set up and organized. Now, it needed some work. You cursed yourself for not checking on it earlier in the evening - you couldn’t believe your guests had been serving themselves from this all night.

The glasses were no longer in neat rows, organized by type, the bowl with the limes was running dangerously low, and the caps to the liquor bottles and the champagne corks were scattered across the table. Without a second thought, you started organizing everything before Bradley could even get you a fresh glass.

You could tell he wanted to say something, but - at least for that moment - he just rubbed your back and then poured you another glass of champagne, making sure to put the bottle back properly. Meanwhile, you scooped up the stray corks and foil and other bottle caps and threw them in the garbage underneath the sink. You had enough time, maybe you could pop those dirty wine glasses in the empty dishwasher? Wait - there was a puddle of condensation underneath an open bottle of champagne. You frowned. Clearly, someone hadn’t put it back in the bucket. Who would do that? Didn’t they know to put it back exactly where -

“- You good?”

Bradley’s voice was so soft and reassuring and you couldn’t believe you’d soon be going without hearing it for months. Unable to wait another second, you wrapped your arms around him in a hug, which he eagerly returned and you nuzzled his chest. Bradley’s shirt for the party was an exceptionally soft flannel in a solid navy color that you’d found on sale. He hated buying himself clothes, even more so spending a lot of money on them, but he always liked whatever you picked out for him.

Maybe you could buy him some new clothes while he was gone? By now, you knew what he liked and didn’t like - right down to the colors and fabric types. He needed some new undershirts - and socks. You nuzzled your face into his chest. He felt so warm and soft and smelled so good. You had to buy a travel sized bottle of his cologne before he left.

“You sure you’re okay, kid?” he asked again.

“Just a little overwhelmed - and kinda tired.” You pulled your head back to look at him, but the two of you still kept your arms around the other.

“Well,” Bradley started, “to be fair, you did do like all the work for this party, think it’s valid to be a little tired, sweetheart.”

“What? No?” You were offended on his behalf. “Bubs, you made all the food and -”

“- Yeah, but you helped with the food and did all the work getting the house ready.”

You cocked your head, considering this. “I mean, I did. Didn’t I?” Bradley chuckled. “Okay, fine - I’m tired. But it’s a good tired, I think?”

“A good tired, huh?” His thumbs were making the most soothing circles on your hips.

“Like a heart full tired? A changing for dinner after a spending a day at the beach tired - no, wait. A post gala eating french fries in bed and watching Moonstruck tired?” An after you fucked me so hard I could barely remember my own name tired.

“You should’ve just led with that last one.” He kissed your temple and ran his hands up and down the silk fabric covering your arms. “Would’ve known exactly what you were talking about then.”

You lightly shoved his chest and then pulled him back in for a hug. “I’m also gonna miss you a lot…”

That was the crux of it. You were going to miss him so much you thought your heart was going to burst. And enjoying all the Christmas festivities tonight - on the second Saturday in December - made it all the more apparent that Bradley wasn’t going to be with you over the holidays. He wouldn’t be with you again until March.

You two had gotten through plenty of training missions, short diplomatic visits, and off-sites - on your end - over the last eight months. But this was Bradley’s first, real deployment.

God, if only Emily Simpson could see you now. You and Bradley had both been so cocky, so confident back in October at the gala about how effortlessly you handled the time spent apart. But you hadn’t been staring down a three month long deployment back then.

Three months was a long time. Six pay cycles, at least twelve trips to the grocery, four off-sites, the entirety of Q1, five nail appointments, twenty four pilates classes, and if he knocked you up that very night, it could be the entirety of a first trimester of pregnancy. Not that you wanted to be pregnant - at least not for a while. Like quite a while. It was just a way to compare time. You didn’t want to be pregnant.

Three months, three months, three months.

And then he’d come home to you. To you and your life together.

That’s why the party had to be perfect. Because it would remind Bradley of home and all he had to look forward to when he came back in three months.

“I’m gonna miss you, too. Never really had someone to miss before on one of these - not like this.”

And then he kissed you - quick, little butterfly kisses that soon turned bolder and more daring, especially considering there were five or so other people milling about the kitchen. Bradley’s tongue licked your bottom lip, eventually coaxing your mouth open. He tasted like the old fashioned you saw him drinking earlier. You slid your arms up his chest to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer and fiddled with the ends of his soft hair.

The sounds of the party disappeared around you - you could no longer hear Frank Sinatra singing Jingle Bells, Jake and Georgie talking in the corner, or Javy getting drinks for him and his girlfriend to your right.

All you could focus on was Bradley. And how warm and soft and strong he felt in your arms and how -

“- Fuck’s sake, Bradshaw. Do you want us to leave or…”

You turned around to face Jake and Georgie, the latter of whom looked beyond embarrassed, and leaned back against Bradley’s chest. Shit - you’d forgotten you had an audience, especially Jake and Javy.

“Sorry…” You felt warm all over at getting caught. Normally, you and Bradley weren’t big on PDA, but you’d been needy lately - both of you had been.

Further down to your right, Javy just chuckled. “Give ‘em a break. You’d be the same if you could hold someone down long enough.” Bradley laughed, while Jake turned beat red.

While him and Javy started chirping at each other, Bradley took your hand and led you out of the kitchen, past all the guests congregating in the dining room and over towards the sitting room.

“Here, I know what’ll cheer you up.”

There were only a couple people in this part of the house - Caroline and Max, Bob and Callie, and Natasha and Rory, the latter of whom had gone with her to the gala back in October. They were a relatively quiet crowd and looked to be captivated by a story Max was telling. But then again, people were always captivated by Max.

“…so I say to Garoppolo, ‘you really wanna get the shit beaten out of you for the second time this week?’ Because a guy who folds in front of the fucking Broncos’ defensive line is not one I think can handle being humiliated like this on - aww, if it isn’t Bradley-Boy and our lovely hostess. Come here and give me a kiss, sweetheart.” You chuckled and started over towards Max. “No, not you, darling. I meant Bradley-Boy.”

With giggles and jeers, everyone turned towards Bradley, who was definitely blushing. But ever the dutiful host, he trudged over towards Max and planted a sloppy kiss on his forehead.

You had met Max over a year ago via your best friend from college, Caroline. Bradley, on the other hand, had met Max in late March at Mission Beach, right before the two of you had started going out.

Since moving back to California, Bradley had taken up surfing again and relished his weekend mornings out in the chilly Pacific. It had taken a couple weeks for the guys to realize they were both regulars and get past the initial head nod greeting, but after that they got on like a house on fire. Despite Max being a typical nepotism baby, VC-firm-bro type and Bradley the outgoing, naval man, they were each other’s best friend.

And to be perfectly honest, you thought they may have been a little in love with each other.

Who knows, maybe you would have been at Bradley and Max’s holiday party if you hadn’t met him in April.

“All good now, peaches?” Bradley teased and then turned to everyone else in their little group. “Just so you know, the story ends with Jimmy G challenging Maxi-Pad to a closest to the pin contest and Max shanking his tee shot.”

You laughed and wrapped your free arm back around Bradley’s waist. “Was this how you planned to cheer me up?”

“Oh, god. What’d you do now, Rooster?” Natasha teased.

“Can I call you ‘Rooster?’” Max asked, much to Caroline’s delight.

“Absolutely fucking not,” Bradley said and then turned towards Natasha. “And nothing, just trying to do everything so can to make sure my girl has a lovely evening.” Everyone let out various sighs and swoons, except Nat and Max, who feigned gagging. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

He grabbed your free hand again and brought you over to the upright piano in the corner, next to where Callie and Bob were lounging on the loveseat. You desperately hoped Bradley was going to play for you - maybe even some Christmas carols. He had such a natural talent for it, even beyond his usual Hard Deck repertoire of that damn Jerry Lee Lewis song. He could play Debussy, Ravel, Schumann - anything, really. You figured he’d start off with Jingle Bells or something like that, but he surprised you with something new.

Bradley’s fingers twinkled out the opening notes to Linus and Lucy and you, and the others in the sitting room, couldn’t help but laugh. He had been right - this did cheer you up. You had always loved the Peanuts.

Growing up, you’d gone to the Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa too many times to count. It became your favorite place during your parents’ divorce and you always begged your dad to take you whenever you were having a bad day. But then, when the divorce had been finalized and you, your dad and brother eventually moved down to Berkeley, you didn’t get the opportunity to go as often. But your love for the cartoon characters never died and you had the sneaking suspicion that Bradley had learned the song for you - this was the first time you’d ever heard him play it.

You took a hearty sip of your champagne and leaned your arms on the top of the piano, eventually resting your cheek against your fist. Your cheeks hurt from the massive smile stretching across your face as you looked fondly at Bradley. He was concentrating so hard, his tongue was peeking out of his mouth. And his long, graceful fingers were flying across the keys.

You couldn’t imagine how long it took him to learn this if he was already off book. Did you mention his fingers? His hands? God, they were beautiful. Strong and long and corded - was that the right word? You recalled it from those regency romance novels you had hidden on your Kindle. God, you loved him so much. So fucking much. You’d never loved a person this much before - oh, you were going to miss him so much.

“You two are just like Lucy and Schroeder,” Callie cooed, snapping you out of your thoughts and causing Bradley to fumble a couple of notes. He also was blushing, which was sweet.

A couple more people filtered into the sitting room, drawn in by the music, and soon people were throwing out requests for Bradley to play while others chatted in the background. He took Pete’s suggestion of Jingle Bells and soon played a jazzy version of the song.

While Bradley played, the older man came up to you to chat. Penny couldn’t make it to the party, which was admittedly a bit of a disappointment, but she was hoping to stop by later once things wound down a bit at the Hard Deck.

“Hell of a party, kid.” He toasted you with his beer.

“Thanks, I just wanted to do something nice for Bradley.”

“Pretty sure you could’ve gotten a pizza and he would’ve been happy.”

You considered that. “True, but that hardly sounds fun - plus, this way I could get a new outfit.”

Pete smiled and you both glanced over towards the piano for a moment as Bradley got Natasha and Bob to sing along with him. It was nice seeing them all carefree and happy and just lighter. Bradley glanced over his shoulder at you and winked.

“It’s nice seeing him like this,” Pete said. “Hell, last Christmas it was like pulling teeth to get the kid over to Penny’s for Christmas Eve and to see him get a tree and have people over at his place is just - it makes me really happy. Sorry if that’s corny or -”

“- No,” you reassured him, “well, maybe a little. But corny is good sometimes. Especially around the holidays.”

“You guys gonna do gifts tomorrow or…”

You shook your head. “Nah, we’re gonna do them tonight after everyone leaves.”

Pete took a sip of his beer and nodded. “The kid wouldn’t stop talking about your gift, I swear he told everyone on base.”

You felt yourself heat up and glanced over at Bradley again. “Really?” Pete nodded. “I’m nervous now, we promised we were only doing one present, so I hope he likes mine...”

“He will,” Pete sounded certain. “You think you guys will do this at your place every year? Maybe start a new tradition?”

That was a lovely thought. Celebrating Christmas with Bradley for the next x amount of years. Plus, doing this before Christmas would give everyone the opportunity to get together before the actual holidays.

“Oh, I’d love to,” you gushed, “but it’s Bradley’s call. It’s his house - what?”

Pete cut you off with a look. “Come on, by now you know it’s your house as much as Bradley’s…”

Oh, gosh. You hoped so - one day, at least. The two of you barely spent a night apart, baring whenever one of you was away for work. You barely considered your apartment your home anymore. Instead, it was on the couch in Bradley’s living room, watching TV. Or cooking breakfast together on the weekends and watching Sunday Morning at the kitchen table. Laying beside him in bed at night, his big arms wrapped around you, as you whispered how much you loved each other. You had never felt this way before Bradley, like another person was home.

And you wanted to be home all the time.

You could feel the heat creep up your neck, the warmth only amplified by Bradley’s soothing voice singing Let It Snow.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” Pete apologized, “I just wanted you to know that I can see how much you guys care about each other. And he’s my kid - at the end of the day, I just want him to be happy.” He laid a reassuring hand on your shoulder and you ducked your head before nodding.

Back when you had first met him, you had imagined that gaining Pete’s approval was how you would have felt had Bradley’s parents been alive to give it to you. You thought about them often - more often than you’d ever let Bradley think - and especially as of late. Would they have liked you? Would they have gotten along with your parents? From what you’d been told, they would have made amazing grandparents. Maybe Bradley even would have had more siblings? Maybe, maybe, maybe.

“He makes me really happy, too,” you whispered. Pete pulled you in for a hug and then the two of you just watched Bradley playing for a few moments while the party continued along beside you two.

“I’m gonna get another beer, you want anything?” Pete asked.

You just shook your head. “Nah, I’m good for now, but thanks again for coming. It means a lot to both of us.”

“Wouldn’t miss it, just make sure the kid doesn’t drink too much. He always gets a little chatty…” And then Pete set off towards the kitchen, leaving you alone, but only for a moment until you heard Max’s voice in the hallway.

“Caro, darling, will you help me with something outside…” You crept over towards him, curious to see what he was up to and why he needed Caro’s help.

Caroline didn’t even look up from her phone. “I’m not giving you a handjob, darling.”

“Oh, please don’t,” you drawled, alerting them both to your presence, “Mr. Harrington already thinks we’re delinquents, can’t have him thinking we associate with them, too,” you said referring to your - no, Bradley’s neighbor.

Mr. Harrington hadn’t exactly called you and Bradley delinquents - rather, he had called you a fresh young lady after you had unknowingly flipped him off at an intersection in another neighborhood, only to find out that he was the crotchety old man that lived next door to Bradley. He had been waiting for you in the driveway when you’d gotten home a few minutes later, demanding to talk to Bradley about you. But the old man hadn’t stood a chance with you and Bradley had just stood on the porch with a proud smile on his face as you gave the older gentleman a piece of your mind. Since then, he’d just pass silent judgment whenever he saw you outside.

Max held up two fingers. “I’ll be on my best behavior, Scout’s honor.”

“It’s three fingers, dumbass.”

He breezed past you and started towards the door, gesturing for Caroline to follow him. “Good thing I was never a Boy Scout then…”

“Please, Max. Just tell me if you’re going to -”

“- Secrets, secrets are only fun unless you don’t share with anyone -”

“- That’s not even how it goes!”

Max shrugged and grabbed Caroline’s hand, pulling her close to his side. “It’ll be fun, we promise! Plus, maybe Max won’t even come back to the party…”

Oh, he was definitely doing the Santa thing. But at this point, maybe it would be fun and memorable? And maybe you were just drunk enough to let it happen.

“Fine, fine. As long as Max doesn’t come back to the party, you can do whatever you have planned -”

Max cut you off with a sloppy kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, love. Now, Caro! Your assistance, please!”

You waved them off towards the front door and made your way back to the sitting room where Bradley was taking requests for his next song.

His eyes were scanning the room for whom you realized was you and a great, big smile spread across his face. “Nah, I got one already. Just needed my girl in here for this.” You chuckled and walked over towards the piano. “Figured we had to end on a high note, plus I heard a rumor Santa’s coming…”

There were hoots and hollers throughout the room, which didn’t let up even as Bradley played the first notes of the song he apparently needed you for assistance.

“I’ll sing the first few lines, but then you gotta take over, alright, sweetheart?”

You sat next to him on the narrow bench and giggled, not quite knowing what he had up his sleeve, but more than ready to go along for the ride. “You got it, rocketman.”

Bradley pecked you on the lips and then turned to the room as he played.

“I really can’t stay…baby, it’s cold outside…I’ve got to go ‘way…baby, it’s cold outside…”

Oh god.

---------------

Hours later, after all your guests had left, fuller and far drunker than they’d been when they’d arrived, you and Bradley were tidying up the living room. The dishwasher was rumbling in the kitchen, the first of many loads you’d have to do tonight and tomorrow, but it was drowned out by the music still playing on the Sonos. And the extra food had been put away in the fridge.

From your spot across the room where you were fluffing the couch cushions, you glanced over towards Bradley. He sat, leaning against the chaise lounge, and idly sipped from a bottle of champagne that he kept putting down on the floor - though on a coaster, mind you. His hair was perfectly tousled and messy and he had a pleased smile on his face as he stared at the Christmas tree in front of him. His right hand was absentmindedly running up and down his thigh, just begging for you to ride it.

You joined him on the floor and he wordlessly passed the bottle of champagne to you before throwing his arm around your shoulders.

“You did good, kid,” he said suddenly.

A smile lit up your face. “Really?” Brady chuckled at your earnestness. “You’re not just saying that because this is like the first halfway decent party you’ve ever -”

“- Hey! I’ve been to plenty of decent parties! But I think - I think that this might be the best one yet.”

As a reward for his sweetness, you gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You think everyone got along? I only overheard one argument between Caro and Jake.” And it had been over the latest cryptocurrency scandal of all things.

“Yeah, but to be fair, I think trauma bonding over your singing really brought everyone together.”

You were not as bad as Bradley had said - you could carry a tune. You wouldn’t be on the Voice anytime soon, but if you were an SNL cast member, you might be okay. And no one really focused on the actual singing during Baby It’s Cold Outside - it wasn’t exactly the paragon of Christmas songs or social norms.

No, it was just about the perfect duet, in that it was a crowd pleaser, a little slutty, and campy as hell. And as it so happened, you had been feeling a little slutty with all the champagne you had drunk throughout the evening. Plus, with Bradley on the keys and no one else sober enough to make fun of your less than stellar singing skills, you had been a glutton for attention. You had used your champagne coupe as a microphone and had only spilled a couple drops - at first.

“- But baby, it's cold outside -”

“ - This welcome has been -”

“ - How lucky that you dropped in -”

“ - So nice and warm -”

“ - Look out the window at that storm -”

“ - My sister will be suspicious -”

“ - Gosh, your lips look delicious -” Bradley kissed your proffered hand and you shimmied around the piano bench, eventually draping yourself over his shoulders while he continued playing.

Would you regret it in the morning? Probably. Did the song have a weird history? Yes. But it was your goddamn Christmas party! And you had wanted to have fun and fawn over your boyfriend. It had also been a good distraction from what you had correctly assumed was Max planning to crash the party as Santa with a sleigh full of presents for everyone. Max was richer than Croesus; he could afford it.

“Come on, Bradshaw. How’s she been this year? Naughty or nice?”

You shot Bradley a glance, curious as to what his answer would be. But he just smiled wryly and toasted Max with his drink before taking a sip. You closed the distance between the two of you and whispered in his ear, “Clever boy…”

He grabbed your ass, thankfully out of sight of your guests. “My smart girl…”

“Is that what you want me to be tonight?”

Frankly, you had been shocked Bradley hadn’t kicked everyone out then and there.

But now you were cozy and tired in all the best ways and had Bradley to yourself for the rest of the evening. You borrowed your face into his chest and pressed a couple kisses to the column of his neck, suddenly desperate to touch him. It seemed Bradley was of the same mindset and carefully settled you on his lap. Your arms wrapped around his neck, pulling you closer and you shifted your attention to his lips.

Somehow, the two of you wound up laying on the floor at the edge of the Christmas tree. The soft lights made Bradley’s brown eyes appear like pools of chocolate and you flushed. He groaned as you rolled your hips against his lap, already feeling the bulge forming in his jeans. Shit - were you going to fuck underneath the Christmas tree? Like properly fuck on the floor underneath the Christmas tree.

You started grinding against him, desperate to be closer, and then kissed along his neck in the hopes of leaving a reminder of this night for him. You peered up at the Christmas tree, lost in the beauty of the moment, when you suddenly noticed something.

The presents.

The presents under the tree.

The three presents under the tree.

Except…

There were only supposed to be two presents under the tree. One from each of you. You had been very clear about that right after Thanksgiving. Had even set a price limit. Fuck. Oh, no. No, no, no. You pulled back and Bradley chased your lips with his own.

“Bubs! We said one present each!”

He shrugged underneath you and kept rubbing his hands in soothing circles on your hips. “It’s nothing - well, it’s not nothing. But it’s just something I’ve been thinking about for a while and I figured this would be a good time.”

“But - but I only got you one!”

Oh god - oh god. You ruined it. You ruined Bradley’s Christmas. You knew you should’ve gotten him that Otis Redding vinyl, too. But a Theragun? What had you been thinking? That was such a dumb gift. So impersonal, so boring, so basic. It was on three different gift guides from the Strategist for fuck’s sake. You figured it would be good for his back while he was deployed, you knew it had been giving him a lot of trouble lately. But now that Bradley had given you two gifts? In two separate boxes?

You didn’t think the ornament you’d gotten him counted as a separate gift. Tacking it onto the box was just something your family had always done.

Clearly noticing the panic on your face, Bradley sat up slightly. “Hey, hey. It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s -”

“- I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to ruin everything. I knew I should’ve had a back up present for you-”

He said your name firmly and you looked up at him. “- You didn’t ruin anything, alright? Hey, why don’t you open it first and then we can talk about it, okay?”

“Okay…”

You reached out for the present like it was going to explode, barely even taking notice of how nicely it had been wrapped. (Granted, you were still you, so you did actually notice, but probably would have fawned over the quaint wrapping paper and grosgrain ribbon a bit more had you not already been wigging out.) Next to you, Bradley bit his lip as he watched you peel through the paper. Why was he so nervous? He always gave you the best presents.

At first, there was nothing but a small gift box. It wasn’t terribly heavy. And it definitely wasn’t jewelry. Mainly because any of the jewelry you actually would have liked was definitely not within the spending limit, which Bradley knew. But also, it just didn’t feel like jewelry. It couldn’t have been an ornament, he wouldn’t have been this nervous.

So, what the fuck was it?

You slid your finger underneath the flap of the box and popped the lid open. But then there was the tissue paper. Goddamnit, Bradley! Why was he so good at wrapping presents! You glanced up at him only to see that he was blushing. Properly blushing. Like pink neck, pink cheeks - hell, even the tips of his ears were pink - blushing.

Unable to take the suspense a moment longer, you dove into the tissue paper to find -

“- A key?” Your fingers gently picked up the offending object, only belatedly noticing that the key fob matched your favorite work tote bag.

Bradley nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been wanting to ask you to move in with me for ages, it’s just we had so much time until it would become an issue, but then I got deployed and I know your lease will just about be up by the time I get back in the spring. So, I figured now would be a good time to ask if you wanted to move in with me? But if you think it’s too soon, I can totally wait. However long it takes for you to be comfortable with it is fine with me - I just want to have my life with you.”

“Bubs…” your voice was thick. “I uhh -”

“- I always want to come home to you - if you’ll have me?”

Oh god, oh god, oh god. You let out a disbelieving laugh. You would have Bradley Bradshaw in any way you could get him. He was your home. God, you loved him so much.

You wiped away a wayward tear. “Bradley, this is - this is so unbelievably perfect. Yes, yes, I will move with you.”

He surged forward to kiss you and you temporarily forgot all your previous worries because Bradley wanted to move in with you. He wanted to share furniture and go grocery shopping for food that would go in the same fridge. He wanted to wake up beside you every single morning and come home to you every single evening and go to sleep beside you every single night. He wanted everything. And that’s what you wanted to give him.

“God, I love you so much.”

You never got tired of hearing him say that. “I love you, too. Sorry I made such a big deal about the presents…”

“No, I’m sorry. I should’ve just put it in with the other gift, I get how it could have thrown you off.”

He was being nice and not pushing it for the moment, which you really appreciated. “Say, why don’t you open your gift from me and then I’ll open your other one?”

You crawled over towards the other two presents under the tree and gave the one that said to; rocketman to Bradley, while you took the other one with your name on it. It was decently sized and relatively light. The thing with Bradley that always made you nervous was that he gave the best presents.

For your birthday, he had not only organized a trip for the two of you out to Catalina Island, but he had also learned how to fucking sail Penny’s boat, so he could be the one to take you there himself. He had been so excited and had looked so cute in his white linen pants and navy blue button down and you swore you had never been more attracted to him.

And then, for your six month anniversary, he had somehow gotten you two into Addison out in Carmel Valley for dinner and then followed that up with a trip to the drive-in to see a special showing of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Though to be fair, neither of you had paid as much attention to the movie as you had been too busy necking each other in the backseat of the Bronco.

In short, he was a prince among men. Well, except when he wasn’t. But that wasn’t often. So, you were excited, but wary to open his gift, knowing nothing could possibly top the house key.

You tore through the wrapping paper to find another box similar to the one from earlier, except this one was heavier. Beneath the tissue paper laid a thick white envelope and an apron in a Liberty pattern. Your smile grew as you opened the envelope and saw that Bradley had gifted you cooking lessons for the next three months.

“Bubs.” You nudged his shoulder. “This is perfect, thank you. The apron is super cute, too.”

Bradley chuckled. “Now you can stop wearing mine and hopefully stop burning risotto -”

“- It was one time!”

“Yeah and you almost burned down your apartment.” You made a face and he made one right back before turning serious. “But I thought it would be nice, something for you to do while I’m gone.”

You kissed his cheek. “I’m excited and I’m gonna make you the best dinner you’ve ever had when you come home to me, alright?”

“It’s a date.”

“Perfect, now open yours!” You pushed the present towards him.

Bradley was one of those people that opened presents like they were going to save the wrapping paper, which meant he did it slowly and purposefully. This normally didn’t bother you, but you were already a little on edge from earlier and had to sit on your hands to stop you from ripping the paper off yourself.

First, he took off the little ornament you had affixed to the package. Harkening back to your first date, you had gotten him a Saturn V Rocket ornament to add to the tree, giving your rocketman something to aspire to.

He shook his head. “I’ll get there one day, sweetheart…” he said fondly. “Now let’s see what we have here.”

The nerves settled in your stomach again and you barely let him unwrap the present before you jumped on him with an explanation.

“Wait, is this one of those -”

“ - It’s a Theragun. I know I make fun of you for having a sore back a lot, but I thought this could help when you’re deployed and I’m not around to tend to your every need,” you teased.

Bradley conceded a nod. “You do give good back massages…” You preened. “But I get these ads on my Instagram all the time, so this is perfect, thank you.”

“I figured it wasn’t something you’d buy for yourself and it’ll come in hand -”

“- I bet it’s a wicked strong vibrator - owww!”

“Bradley!” You giggled. Holy shit, you hadn’t even thought of that. There were like five different speeds on that thing and six different attachments. Fuck. “In that case, maybe I should keep it…”

“You wouldn’t dare.” He slid the box behind his back and you crawled over to steal it away from him.

But before you could wrap your arms around him, Bradley pulled you into his lap and eventually the Theragun was pushed away and the two of you were sprawled out on the floor making out like a bunch of horny teenagers.

Goddamn - you really were gonna fuck underneath the Christmas tree, weren’t you? Now that would be the perfect memory for Bradley to take with him. Festive and fun and spontaneous.

His hands felt sinful as they crept up your thighs. It was like he was mapping out the slowest route to his destination, especially as they cupped your ass and ground your body against his. Suddenly, you let out a hiss as your elbow hit the hardwood floor, but quickly reassured Bradley that you were okay once he stopped to check in with you.

He whispered your name. “I need you so badly.”

“- Fuck, me too. Want you to take me right here -”

“- Owww,” Bradley let out a groan against your lips.

You immediately pulled back, concern lacing your features. “Shit, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just - I don’t think we should do this on the floor?”

“But it’s very spur of the moment?” You glanced around the living room, past the Christmas tree and the wrapping paper from your respective presents. “What about the couch?”

“We just got it dry-cleaned - again.”

You sat further back on his lap and Bradley propped himself up on his elbows. Your wrap dress draped prettily over your bare thighs. “We can put a towel down?”

“Isn’t it upstairs?”

You made a face. “I could go get it? Or we could break out a new one?”

“Then I might as well come upstairs with you -”

“- But I want it to be spontaneous!”

He rolled his hips and you sighed. “We can be spontaneous upstairs…”

“Yeah, but…” You could feel the tears starting to form and your throat closing up.

Bradley tried to get in your line of sight after you ducked your head. “Hey, what is it? It’s alright.”

You sniffled. “I just want you to have some good memories before you leave and be spontaneous - especially since during the party I was pretty stressed and uptight -” The last word came out bitterly, but Bradley didn’t let you finish your sentence.

“- Hey, none of that, alright? I knew you were a little stressed, but just chalked it up to the party. What’s really going on, sweetheart?”

You wanted to tell him. That you were going to miss him and wanted him to be able to think of the two of you doing all these fun and exciting and wonderful things before he left. That you didn’t want him to think of you crying and puffy eyed and sad. That you didn’t want him to think of you having sex in your bed, like any other night, but how you couldn’t even make it upstairs because you needed each other so much, so desperately and had to make due with the living room floor.

Just say you were tired. Just say you were tired.

But when Bradley took your hand and threaded your fingers together and started drawing circles across your palm, the tears came. And came and came and didn’t stop. You rubbed at your eyes with your free hand and repositioned yourself to lay beside him.

“Hey, hey. It’s okay, come here.” Bradley wrapped his arm around your shoulders and let you rest your head on his chest. “Shh, shh, it’s okay, honey.”

Once the tears slightly abated, you took in a deep breath to ground yourself. “I wanted everything to be perfect for you since you’re not going to be home for Christmas and all this stuff went wrong -”

“- Sweetheart, baby, no, no. It didn’t go wrong, everything went really really right.”

“Really?” you whispered.

Bradley chuckled. “Yeah, best Christmas I’ve had since - fuck, I can’t remember when. Come here.” He wrapped his arms around you.

“I know it was dumb to be worried about it - and to let myself get upset over it - but I think I was just so focused on the party and the presents and making everything perfect because I don’t want to think too much about you leaving.” You sniffled. “And I feel like that makes me seem childish or like I can’t handle this - your job, I mean. But I’m really just going to miss you, so fucking much. And I’ve never felt like this before.”

The look in Bradley’s eyes after you unloaded all that made you feel ten times lighter and you regretted not saying anything earlier.

“Sweetheart…” He tucked your hair behind your ear. “It’s definitely not dumb to be worried about stuff like that and I know you can handle all of this - I’m not worried in that respect. I just want you to know how much I appreciated every single thing you’ve done for me these last couple weeks trying to make sure I had a good Christmas. And I know it’s dumb to say, but it’s the goddamn truth - I don’t care what we do for Christmas as long as I get to spend it at home with you, alright?”

Your heart soared and you felt the tears forming again at his words. I don’t care what we do for Christmas as long as I get to spend it at home with you. Because in the end, that was all that really mattered. You just kept your reply simple. “Alright, rocketman.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” You kissed him again. “I love you so much, bubs.”

“Even though I’m old and don’t think we should fuck on the living room floor?”

You chuckled at his attempt to bring some levity into an otherwise heavy conversation. “Yes, Bradley. I love you even though you wouldn’t let me fuck you on the living room floor…”

This time, Bradley pulled you closer, so your body was spread out on top of him and kissed you, licking your bottom lip before opening your mouth up to him. His hands snuck underneath the skirt of your silk dress, skirting the edge of your panties. You sighed. His hands were calloused and a little rough, but they still touched you like you were the most precious thing in the world.

“Hold up, I never said I wouldn’t let you, I just said I don’t think - hey!” Bradley tried to fend off your tickle attack, but could only get a few words out between his giggles. “Stop, you know I’m old!”

Your ridiculously handsome, thirty-six year old, naval aviator boyfriend was giggling on the floor of your house because your were tickling his sides. If only you could show this version of Bradley to the Navy - maybe then they wouldn’t take him away from you at Christmas. Stupid US Military Industrial Complex. Fucking Lockheed Martin.

“Also, are you still upset that I got you two presents? Because if you are, can I just make you come once tonight? Level the field.”

You giggled. “Shut up.” Your kiss cut off any reply he had been about to give and you licked his bottom lip, coaxing open his mouth.

“Uh, uh, uh.” You paused and tilted your head slightly to look Bradley in the eye. “Now, what did Santa ask earlier, huh? You been naughty or nice this year?”

There were two ways in which this could play out - with two different, though ultimately satisfying results. One would play out relatively quickly - and the other would ensure you were occupied all night.

“Nice?”

Bradley clicked his tongue. “Don’t know about that…”

“Why not? Haven’t I been good?” You pouted, completely exaggerated, which Bradley picked up on in an instant.

“Good girls don’t typically have to ask if they’ve been good…”

“Maybe I don’t want to be good tonight…”

Bradley sucked in a breath as you snuck your hand underneath his shirt and teased the waistband of his jeans. His skin was hot to the touch beneath your fingers as you unbuttoned his shirt. You leaned forward to press little butterfly kisses to his neck and gradually made your way down past the little tufts of hair on his chest.

“Please touch me, sweetheart. Please.”

There was a carnal need inside you to mark his skin. To give him proof of your love and need for him, so that he could look at the marks in the mirror until they faded. A kiss across his neck, a soft bite on his shoulder, another on his bicep by his tattoo. You’re mine. Mine, mine, mine. And I want everyone to know.

“God, Bradley. You’re so beautiful,” you whispered against his skin. “So beautiful and all mine.”

Bradley let out a whine as your teeth grazed against the sensitive flesh on his neck. “Fuck, I love you.”

His hands inched up your thighs, getting closer to the throbbing heat between your legs. Maybe it was the festive spirit, the fact that Bradley had asked you to move in with him, or that he was shipping out in 28 hours for three months, but you were pathetically wet already. Desperate and needy and as naughty as he had joked earlier.

“I can feel the heat pouring off you, sweetheart.”

“Can we go - ahhh - can we go upstairs, please?”

He pulled back slightly. “What happened to fucking on the living room floor?” he teased.

“Don’t want to fuck up your old man back anymore - Bradley!” you cried out as he smacked your ass.

“Old man, huh?” His smile was sinful and you were putty in his hands.

You widened your eyes, trying to appear contrite. “Sorry, sir. It won’t happen - Bradley!” He cut you off again, but this time because he was tickling your sides and your giggles made it impossible to speak. “Ta-take me upstairs, bubs - please. Don’t - don’t want you to hold back.”

“Now how could I refuse that?”

Somehow, the two of you made your way upstairs to the bedroom, though with a couple of breaks in between for Bradley to press you up against the walls and on the staircase. You’d have bruises tomorrow, you were sure. But you wanted them to last - to be something to remember this night by for the weeks and months to come.

You landed heavily on the bed, bouncing slightly, and peered up at Bradley. His bare chest was rising and falling steadily with each breath he took as he looked you over, like he was trying to memorize you.

Without breaking eye contact, you rose to your knees and pulled at the pretty little bow tying your wrap dress. Hours ago, you’d felt self conscious about your body in front of everyone else, but at that moment you felt like the most beautiful girl in the world. Bradley’s eyes widened as he took in the way your slowly pushed the silk dress off your shoulders, leaving you only in your burgundy bra and panties. It wasn’t exactly a matching set, but the colors matched and that was enough for the two of you that night.

“God, you’re gorgeous.”

Bradley lunged forward, causing you to fall back against the pillows and you wrapped your legs around his hips with a gleeful cry, which he promptly cut off with his lips.

After spending ample time just kissing you and running his hands up and down your body, Bradley lavished attention on your breasts, licking and biting and sucking on them like a man possessed. Your nipples were peaked to attention, thanks to the slight chill in the bedroom and his thorough ministrations. With one hand, he paid special attention to the skin just below your nipple, rubbing his middle finger along the tender flesh while thumbing at the raised bud. Meanwhile, his other hand kept trekking downward towards your clit.

“Oh god!” you cried out against his lips as he slid his fingers inside and crooked them just right.

“So fucking wet, sweetheart.”

Fuck. You could feel yourself clenching around him, desperate for something more. You were needy for him that night. Needy to have your boyfriend all to yourself. To give yourself to him completely. Your orgasm was well and truly building up inside you, but you wanted to come on his cock first. There would be plenty more opportunities that night to come apart in other ways.

You’d work him all through the night if you had to just to get your fix before he left. The thought made you desperate.

“Bu-bubs, please. I need more - need your cock inside me.” You pulled him closer, grazing your thighs against his throbbing cock.

Bradley groaned. “Such a needy fucking thing, bucking against my fingers like that, huh?” You whined. “But I’m gonna fuck you nice and slow, yeah. Make sure you savor it.”

It sounded fucking sinful the way your cunt was sucking in Bradley’s fingers. He’d begun scissoring them inside you so as to not have to remove them just yet.

More. More. More. You chanted the words mindlessly in your head. Mine. Mine. Mine.

Finally, he pulled out his fingers, shamelessly drying them off on your breasts. “You ready?” You nodded frantically. “Don’t think either of us is gonna last long.”

No, you didn’t think so either. But you didn’t want to prolong this out. You needed to be close to him and to know he was real and good and yours. At least for tonight.

Knowing each other as you did, you raised your hips slightly, allowing Bradley to slip inside you. You both moaned, you loving the stretch and him loving the tight warmth. You wrapped your arm around his neck, bringing his lips closer to yours, but not daring to lean in those final few centimeters to touch, and instead just breathed against each other.

“Fuck,” you rasped against his lips, “I love you.”

“Love you so much.” He snapped his hips against yours and you cried out. “Gonna miss you.”

You ducked your head to swipe your lips across the scar on his neck. “Can’t wait for you to come home to me.”

Home. Home. Home. Bradley wouldn’t just be coming back to San Diego in three months: he would be coming home - to you. And to this great, big, beautiful house he wanted to share with you. And to the life he wanted to share with you.

He groaned your name. “I’ve wanted this for so long. Can’t believe it’s happening.”

Tears pricked your eyes and you bridged the gap to kiss him. “Bubs, I’m so close, please.”

“Tell me how to get you there? I wanna wait for you.”

If he kept saying things like that, you wouldn’t be too far behind. Without breaking eye contact, you brought Bradley’s hand down to your clit and he played with the sensitive nub. You keened against his hand, which was coupled with a particularly deep thrust of his cock. You felt that coil in your belly finally unraveling.

“‘M close, just like that…”

He repeated the action again and again, telling you how gorgeous you were as you took his cock and how much he loved you and needed you and you felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Because for tonight you were.

With a strangled cry of his name, you came and true to his word, Bradley followed shortly after. Fuck. He felt so good. He made you feel so good, so full, so loved.

“Good girl, such a good girl for me.” He peppered kisses up and down your neck and across your cheeks, before settling on your lips. The two of you sat there like that for a few moments, trying to even out your breathing and be as close together as possible.

But eventually Bradley had to pull out and you whimpered at the loss. He settled you back against the pillows and then started cleaning you up with the aforementioned towel in his nightstand. Before he got to your still leaking cunt, he scooped up some of your cum with his fingers and brought it to your lips.

“Open.” You did so without a second thought and cleaned off his fingers, getting high off the taste of the two of you mixed together. “Good girl.”

Then you let yourself get settled underneath the covers. You could go to the bathroom in a few minutes because right now you wanted to be with Bradley. Your bodies were both hot and sticky underneath the white sheets, but you couldn’t think of anywhere else you wanted to be than in his arms.

“I’m gonna miss you so much, bubs.” You cupped his cheek tenderly, like he would disappear at any moment. A nagging little voice at the back of your mind said that he would, in fact, do just that - on Monday morning. But that night he was yours.

Bradley nuzzled your hand, eventually pressing a kiss to your palm. “It’s not too long, just three months.”

“Three months without you.” Kiss. “Without your singing.” Kiss. “Your cooking.” Kiss. “Your smile and your silly little mustache.” Kiss. Kiss. “Three months without you, rocketman.”

Your eyes were swimming with tears, but they were properly dripping down Bradley’s cheeks.

“But we still have tonight.”

You still had tonight. And you’d be within each other’s arms till the morning light.

---------------

Two weeks later, as you sat in your childhood bedroom on Christmas Eve, you were at once hit with the startling realization: this wasn’t your home anymore. It hadn’t been in years, really. Not since you’d officially moved out after college. But that fact had never been so apparent as when you were waiting for the Facetime call to connect to Bradley.

Your home was in San Diego with your friends and your job. Your home was with your boyfriend, snuggled up on the couch watching TV, perusing the aisles of the farmer’s market, watching him surf, and cooking dinner together. Your home was with Bradley.

And you just wanted to be home - you just wanted Bradley.

You had put on a brave face during Christmas Eve celebrations with your family - at least with your extended family. You had sung carols at church, helped Mary and your dad prep and lay out all the traditional Christmas Eve dishes, organized the Yankee Swap with your brother and Lauren, and had a few too many cocktails with your cousins. But as the last of your grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins had left and your dad had turned on NBC for the end of It’s a Wonderful Life, you had lost it.

Properly, honestly, well and truly lost it. As in fat tears streaming down your face, snot clogging your nose, remnants of your mascara rimmed around your eyes lost it.

Goddamn Harry Bailey got to come home in time for Christmas! Harry got to toast to his “big brother George: the richest man in town.” Granted, George had basically just tried to kill himself, so the comparison wasn’t perfect - but still! Congressional Medal of Honor winner, Navy pilot Harry Bailey got to be home for Christmas! Why couldn’t Bradley? Fucking Navy. Fucking stupid US Military Industrial Complex. Fucking Lockheed Martin.

At the sight of your tears, Mary had just opened up her blanket and let you borrow against her side as she rubbed your back like she used to when you were a kid, while your dad had gotten you a cup of Sleepytime Tea. Eventually, once you had calmed down enough and they had said all the right words to soothe your heartache, you had kissed your dad and Mary goodnight - Mary had hugged you a bit tighter than usual - and they both had told you to give Bradley their best during your Facetime call.

They liked Bradley - a lot, actually. Of course, they’d given him a tough time when they first talked on the phone all those months ago, but by the time Bradley officially met them at Thanksgiving, it was like he’d known them for years. He just fit.

He loved to talk to Mary about her history classes at Berkeley and how her students were doing. He had the same sense of humor as your dad and also loved the Patriots despite their recent offensive coordinator troubles.

He just made you lighter and made things lighter. He fit.

And you could only hope that one year he’d be able to come up to Berkeley with you to celebrate for the holidays instead of being all alone on an aircraft carrier somewhere in the Pacific. Fucking Navy. Fucking stupid US Military Industrial Complex. Fucking Lockheed Martin.

Shit! The call was finally connecting. You felt tears in your eyes as you finally got to see your beautiful boy again. Though the picture was a little grainy, Bradley was sitting in what looked like one of the quiet rooms in your office, clad in his green flight suit. And he had the most wonderful smile on his face at the sight of you.

“Hey, sweetheart. Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas, bubs,” you said, hoping your voice didn’t come out as thickly over Facetime as it did in your room.

For what felt like the longest time, but was probably only a few seconds, you stared at each other, just drinking in the other’s face. Bradley already looked tired. This was your first Facetime since he’d left two weeks ago. Normally, you talked over email - which was actually kind of fun.

Early on in your relationship during a one week special detachment, you had unironically sent him a pretty formal email to check in:

Bradley,

Hope you’re settling in well. Let me know when it would be a good time to connect via FaceTime. I can put some time on my calendar whenever you’re free. I’m heading to an off-site in Raleigh on Thursday, so I’ll be on East Coast time.

Miss you and stay safe,

It had even been from your PwC email address, which he never let you forget. But soon quasi-formal emails became your thing. They probably set off a bunch of red flags to the censor team and you had never sent one from your work email again, but it was fun. You’d even thought of a couple code words and phrases to use.

“You have a good night? How’s your dad and Mary? Tell them thanks again for the package.”

Your parents had had the idea to send everything they normally would have put in Bradley’s Christmas stocking to him on the carrier. He had emailed the three of you a picture of the package, received in perfect condition, on his bunk yesterday. You two had decided that he would open it while you were on your FaceTime call. It wasn’t anything particularly special, except for two small gifts you’d snuck in before bringing it to the post office, but you were excited and could tell Bradley was too.

You held your breath as he parsed through the Dr.Jart sheet masks, Churchill cigars, various Christmas themed candies, new electric toothbrush heads, and scratch cards until he got to the bottom of the stack where your two special presents were hidden.

“Now, what’s this?” He shot you a teasing glance as he opened the envelope.

You remained tight lipped, just glad it hadn’t been opened by Naval mail security. Bradley slid the object out of the envelope and you could see his eyes widen, even over Facetime, as he realized what it was before he promptly turned it over and glanced around even though there was no one else in the room with him.

“Shit - how’d you - how’d you take this?” He leaned back in his chair and stared at it, clearly a little in awe.

You felt your cheeks heating up. “Well, I know you have a couple on your phone, but figured an old fashioned one might be nice too - especially if you’re in a tech blackout or whatever it’s called. But do you really like it - seriously, you don’t have -”

“- No, I love it. You’re not getting this back from me.” You giggled. “But you gotta tell me how you managed to get the Polaroid in the shower with you and still get the soapy titties in the picture?”

“Can’t tell you everything, now can I?”

(Caroline had taken them for you. It truly had been a bonding experience and was honestly not half as sexy as Bradley was probably thinking. But you just smiled - more than content to keep that a secret from him.)

“Well, it is very much appreciated. So, thank you, I love it, seriously.”

You tried to peer into the box from halfway across the world. “There should be one more thing in there from me - and you don’t have to use it, but I know something similar always makes me feel like you’re right next to me…”

Bradley gingerly unwrapped the final tissue paper package only to reveal a travel sized bottle of your perfume. You giggled, watching him spritz his wrist and breathe in the scent.

“Fuck…I’ve missed that.”

You rested your cheek against your fist and just watched him. For a minute, it felt like he was right in front of you. It made you want to do something terribly cliche like hold your palm up against the screen and imagine you could feel the heat from his hand as he did the same thing back.

But instead Bradley just smiled at you and asked you all about your Christmas Eve activities.

So, you told him about sneaking outside to smoke with your cousins, drinking too much champagne, eating too much food made from your grandma’s recipes from the old country, getting an actually good gift in the Yankee Swap, and crying over Harry Bailey. And he just listened and smiled and asked questions at all the right parts and kept telling you how much he would have loved to do all that beside you next year.

And then with your remaining five minutes of calltime, Bradley told you all the goings on aboard the ship and how he and Callie and Javy were doing and about the fancy dinner and breakfast planned for tomorrow.

But then the dreaded countdown clock on the side of the screen popped up, signaling you had thirty seconds left. By then, both of you had tears in your eyes as you tried to say goodbye until your next call.

“So, we’ll talk in two weeks, okay? Should be just after New Year’s, but keep emailing me. I love reading them when I get the chance.”

You wiped a stray tear from your eye. “Of course, I’ll give you a full Christmas morning breakdown.”

Bradley chuckled, but seemed to glance at the countdown clock and sobered up. “I love you, I love you so much and I’m so happy I get to come home to you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too. Merry Christmas, bubs. Please come home.”

-----------

a/n: sorry it took me so fucking long to write again, but a girl can only be so self indulgent! merry christmas, this taglist is shit sorry!

Taglist: @sunderlust @seasonsbloom @ticklish-leafy-plant @lass-that-is-gone @katcoquette @daniellef89x @double-j @bradshawswife @hufflepuffprincesse @cloudycluster @sithbelova @mavencalorers @fav-rooster-fics @thebeautifullydamnedone @unordinare @callsignvalley @pricklepearbloom @browneyedboys @cherrycola27 @whatblogisthis216 @agentofkrypton @lcahwriter @kyliesalvatore @noellreadfiction @coyotesamachado @heartsofminds @jocsrecs @notroosterbradshaw @roosterforme @iblogtopassthetime @karateperson @nessrin @frenchtoastix @piceous21 @princessphilly @spideyngwen @mrsjobarnes @calmpunker @softspiderling @feralforfrank @fivsecondsflat @sexualparkour @greenorangevioletgrass @sexygaypalpatine @moonyscardigans @carousallie @liveholland @supernaturaldawning @melancholyy-hill @currentlybradshaw @summ3rlotus @seesaw-jk @roostereads @milestomaverick @some-lovely-day @steadfastconviction @sometimesanalice @jupitercomet @rae-gar-targaryen @oncasette @whisperofsong @call-sign-jinx @howdysebby

#fav bradley bradshaw fics #story reblog #reading recommendations

772 notes · View notes

iwritetopassthetime · 3 years ago

Text

have yourself a marry little christmas

Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x fem!reader

Part of my home to you universe // Masterlist

Wordcount: 11K

Summary: The festive season is in its hight in Bradley and Blossom's new house. The couple is ready to welcome Christmas with family and friends, revive old traditions and create new ones. With nothing but happiness on the horizon, the pair is sure to have a memorable first Christmas.

Warnings: domestic fluff with our favourite pair, Bradley in grey sweats, shameless festive smut, oral sex (m receiving), sub!Bradley if you squint, unprotected p in v sex (wrap it before you tap it!), dirty talk, smidge of daddy kink and breeding kink, creampie, let me know if I've missed anything

6 December, 19 days till Christmas

All week the weather had made everyone in their pompously glittering houses just a little Christmas-y. Of course, the temperatures in Southern California could never drop low enough to merit a knee-high snowfall, or black ice on the roads and pavements, but it was chilly enough to make everyone pull the coats and fuzzy scarves from their closets.

Christmas tunes were drifting slowly through the beautiful, almost fully decorated Mediterranean-style home. So far it was the only house on the block that hadn’t gone all out in terms of lights and decorations. But the light-up snowman on the front lawn and the twinkling lights that spanned the length of the eaves, were decoration enough for the happy couple that had moved in about a month ago.

Upon walking up to the dark wood door in the arched entryway, one would be greeted by a simple, but stylishly handcrafted wreath. The twisted branches and evergreen vines were dusted with false snow which made the red of the holly fruit all the more striking.

Then further inside, in the small entry hall, the accent table where you and Bradley would drop your keys upon entering was cluttered with old Christmas cards and small ornaments to amplify the holiday feeling. The door to the walk-in closet was adorned by another wreath, albeit smaller and even less ostentatious than the first.

It was older, a family heirloom like the many other trinkets that were going up on walls and doors as part of your very first Christmas season as a couple.

Finally, a long pine branch garland paired with tiny warm white lights twisted itself around the bannister to the first floor and guided the way up to where the bedrooms were located.

Immediately to the left from the entry hall, through another arched doorway, was the living room where, it seemed, the beating heart of all this Christmas excitement was steadily thrumming.

Boxes, both old and new, littered the floor and couch, each carton lid sporting a different title in a neat blocky handwriting. Those being the last ones to leave the storage compartment where all of Bradley’s family’s belongings had been kept. Decorations were laying across the available surfaces, ready to be either given a proper place or put back in storage.

And the piece-de-resistance in this room was the yet star-less Christmas tree that was standing in front of the three large windows facing the street, showing off its twinkling lights to any passerby.

The electric flames in the faux fireplace seemingly danced to Michael Bublé’s baritone coming from the festive playlist as a string of colourful lights dangled over it. The cable was still half-tangled between your fingers as you balanced on top of a chair in front of the fireplace, trying to hoist the lights over the painting of the sea you got as a move-in present from Penny and Mav which sat above the mantlepiece.

A roll of masking tape hung between your lips and a pair of scissors were tucked inside the pocket of your leggings. Neither was going be used any time soon as you just couldn’t seem to reach high enough to hook the other end of the cable over the damn frame.

You lifted one leg, feeling the chair wobble a little. ‘Shit.’ You stepped back and scoffed at your unfinished work. Bradley had done most of the things that required the extra inches (that you lacked), but with him in the shower you’d given yourself the task to try and finish setting the lights up.

And obviously, you were failing at that miserably.

‘Hey, hey, hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ You felt Bradley’s hands reach for your hips from behind at the same time as his voice came rushing from the doorway.

He made sure you were stable on top of the chair before you he turned you around to face him. ‘I thought you were going to let me deal with the lights, baby.’

‘Yeah, but I thought I’d manage it,’ you explained, untangling the balled-up string of lights in your hands. ‘Stupid painting isn’t cooperating.’

Bradley chuckled, his hands on your hips gently squeezing your sides. His thumbs slipped beneath the edge of your crop top and rubbed short crescent shapes into your skin. You placed your own hand on his face, cupping his cheeks in your small palms and bringing his face closer to yourself. Still on the chair, you were barely half a head higher than him.

His hair was still a little damp, ends sticking out at all directions after he most likely towelled it dry. His skin was flushed from the heat of his shower. His face had a thin sheen over it with the remnants of the cleanser and facial creams you’d taught him to use. Bradley was not all that vain, but he had seemed to gladly accept any tips on self-care from you. That included everything from skincare to dietary tidbits.

You were this close to getting him to switch entirely to oat milk, but he was still taking his coffee with that powdered creamer that made you gag. After seeing the back of the box and the list of “ingredients”, you were convinced that the creamer was called such for appearances only. The general idea of milk relied solely on it being mentioned in the list of flavourings.

You looked further down at his tight black T-shirt and the pair of grey sweats that although loose still outlined his strong, muscular thighs and… all else.

You smirked to yourself, appreciative of your absolute favourite article of clothing Bradley owned, took a tiny step over the chair seat to move closer to him and wrap your arms around his shoulders.

‘You’re looking nice,’ you comment slyly, your eyes darting between his own and the sweats. ‘Looking, uh… real comfortable.’

‘Yeah…’ Bradley briefly glanced down at his clothes and as far as one could see he hadn’t seemed to grasp the extent of your interest in his choice of clothing. ‘Just threw these on so we could finish decorating, but I’ll put something nice for the date.’

‘No, no, no,’ you hastily interjected.

You drummed your fingers on his shoulders and bit on the plushiest part of your bottom lip, stifling that ever growing smirk. With one finger you trailed a line down from his shoulder to the centre of his chest, just at the middle of his sternum.

‘I’m just,’ you pursed your lips and gave an exaggeratedly pointed look towards his lower half, ‘showing appreciation.’

Bradley threw his head back in laughter. Your hands on his shoulder and chest shook with the force of his chuckle. He took a step forward to fully sever the distance between the two of you and wrapped his hands around the small of your back. You leaned slightly back into his tender but firm hold.

To be entirely honest the slight possessiveness of it always managed to get you all fluttery inside.

‘Well, I guess it’s like with guys and sundresses. Right?’

You nodded, ‘Pretty much. You just… you look delicious in these.’

‘Yeah?’ Bradley chuckled, his eyes darkening at your not so innocent insinuation.

His hands slid down your waist to the underside of your ass, lifting you without so much as a twinge of discomfort from the chair. You felt your pussy flutter as slick began to pool onto your panties. Your legs wrapped themselves around his waist, ankles locked at the small of his back so as to keep you as close to him as you could. Your slit came to rub against the top of Bradley’s abdomen which was a welcome friction, but certainly not the kind you were now growing desperate for.

‘And you wanna know what else…’ Bradley murmured against the shell of your ear and it caused another flutter to go through you and peak at the apex of your thighs. ‘I decided to go commando.’

You whimpered. Was he trying to kill you?

You rolled your hips into his hold, trying to rub against his lower belly and possibly urge him to prove his words by showing you. Bradley, however, seemed to have a different idea because he lowered you down on the ground and reached behind you for the line of Christmas lights that was hanging off of the mantlepiece.

‘Come on, I’ll finish setting up the lights.’

‘Wait, wait, wait!’ You halted him, still incredibly turned on and with your face several degrees warmer. ‘Bradley!’

He turned back to you and leaned down to kiss away the pout from your lips. ‘Let’s finish this first.’

‘We can always finish it tomorrow,’ you wiggled your eyebrows suggestively.

‘Nuh-uh, we need to finish it today.’

Bradley had been adamant that one of the Christmas traditions he wanted to revive from his childhood was decorating on St Nicholas day. His mum had been a somewhat devout Catholic and had kept with certain traditions she felt were important to her.

Many of those traditions and beliefs had been, of course, passed down onto Bradley and you genuinely loved that he wanted to start doing them again with you.

It made you two moving in together and being together all the more significant. He was making you a part of his family traditions, as were you. You were weaving each other’s familial pasts into a present and a future where there was no his or hers. There was only ours, together as one.

It made you love him even more.

‘I’ll put up these lights,’ Bradley began. ‘You can check those boxes over there for the tree topper, it should be with the other ornaments. We��ll put it up together and then we’ll have some time to kill before going to the Christmas market. How’s that sound?’

You pursed your lips, considering his proposition. ‘You better be really, really naked underneath those sweats, Lieutenant.’

Bradley laughed again and kissed your forehead before climbing onto the chair to put up the lights.

You made your way to the small mountain of boxes on the couch, digging through years and years of family Christmases and holidays and looking for anything resembling the ornament you were looking for.

After a few minutes of searching, you caught a glimpse of a white and gold point. You reached for it, turning over other pieces of decoration and memorabilia in the cardboard box to pull out a very beautiful Christmas tree topper.

The little rhinestones reflected the surrounding lights which made the star appear as if it was actually shining. There were some specks of dirt and dust given that it had spent nearly two decades in a storage compartment, so you grabbed a rag from the coffee table to give it a very light scrub.

You wanted to make sure you wouldn’t damage a single stone on the piece.

Feeling Bradley’s hands come up to your waist from behind once more, you looked back at him with a comfortable smile. You noticed the rhythmic twinkling of red, green, yellow and blue over his shoulder and you fully twisted your body around to look at the finished work.

‘Oh, Bradley,’ you said softly, ‘they look fantastic.’

He turned with you and wrapped his arms around you, laying a soft kiss on your temple.

‘They’re all pretty well levelled, right?’

A long line climbed up the wall, then broke into neat half-crescent moons across the top half, surrounded the painting above the fireplace, continued off in those rounded shapes and dropped back down the wall to connect to the power outlet behind the Christmas tree. This way, all cables would be hidden from view and wouldn’t be a tripping hazard.

‘They look fantastic!’

Bradley kissed your temple once more before gently urging you forward towards the Christmas tree. The lights, tinsel and baubles were already set up in a beautiful arrangement that kept up with the fairly minimalist style of your decoration.

Both you and Bradley agreed that an elephantine amount of festive ornamentation inside and outside the house would a) be too much for either of your tastes, and b) would make your electricity bill go through the roof. And neither of you wanted your Christmas to be ruined.

Bradley bent down to loop his arm behind your hips, lifting you easily off of the ground again. You shrieked with laughter as Bradley inched both of you closer to the tree. You reached up and placed the star-shaped topped at the very peak of the fake pine tree.

And your hard work was rewarded by the joyful feeling of finally having completed your festive decorating.

Bradley lowered you back on the ground and wrapped an arm around your waist as the two of you admired the fully decorated tree. Christmas tunes continued to drone in the background. Bradley swayed you left and right, singing softly the words of the song in your ear.

He nipped at the skin below it, making you let out a sound that was something between a giggle and a moan. His hand on your waist curled to bring your body around and press it against his own.

‘Are you still interested to see what’s in my grey sweats?’ He asked you sultrily.

‘Oh, I’m pretty sure I can feel it,’ you replied. You wrapped your arms around his neck and brought him down for a much needed kiss.

The twinkling Christmas lights casted a lovely, romantic glow on the two of you as your bodies moved clumsily in the direction of the couch.

You pushed Bradley down first and eagerly climbed into his lap. Your knee knocked into a cardboard box and accidentally sent it flying down to the ground, it’s contents spilling out onto the large Egyptian rug.

‘Right, we might need to tidy up first,’ you said with no small amount of dejection.

You were more interested in keeping up with your current activities, growing wetter by the second as you felt the hard ridge of Bradley’s cock nestling perfectly against your slit. But you also knew perfectly well neither of you would be comfortable on the couch with how cluttered it was.

‘Quickly.’ Bradley instructed. ‘And then we go back to your exploration.’

You cackled at his evident excitement. You got up from his lap and gave a mock salute, ‘Right away, Lieutenant.’

You bent down to pick up the contents of box you had knocked over while Bradley started to collect the ones on the couch and coffee table, hoisting them into his arms and carrying them off to the bottom floor closet for temporary storage. You picked up pieces of old newspapers the were used to cushion the more delicate ornaments, placing each carefully in the box.

Then you foot knocked against something more solid and you looked down to find the edge of what looked like an album that was bound in dark red leather.

You reached down to grasp its edge and picked it up. It didn’t have anything written on the cover so you tentatively flipped it open to find pictures that were meticulously taped two-a-page. And under every picture there was a brief caption and a date.

The handwriting was beautiful. Each letter and digit was like a work of art by itself. It was definitely a feminine hand; you’d seen Bradley write stuff down numerous times and he was perhaps a few degrees off from having a doctor's penmanship.

The first two pictures were of what looked like a table set up with Christmas dinner, the title and date confirming your conclusion. The next two were different snapshots of some people who you didn’t recognise until you turned the leaf and your eyes landed on a picture of two very familiar women.

One was Sarah, much younger and with her wild, curly hair styled in a side parting. She was wearing an incredibly ugly Christmas jumper that matched the one the woman next to her wore.

Bradley’s mum.

Carole’s face was split in half by a massive beam that shined through the very picture. Her arm was thrown over Sarah’s shoulder, pulling her in a half hug. The photo just below it was similar — Sarah and Carole being the only two characters present. It seemed as if Carole was saying something to whoever was taking the photo, pointing a finger at them.

‘Oh my god, where did you find this?’

Bradley looked down at the album over your shoulder. His eyes were wide with surprise and the edges of his mouth were pulling into a grin. He lifted his hand and lowered it gently onto the album’s page.

‘It was in the box I knocked over,’ you explained.

‘Christ, I remember that Christmas. Mom had invited the whole gang,’ he explained and flipped over to the next page.

There were four photos of Maverick and a blond man who was taller and bigger than him, but still very much lean. The caption said Maverick and Iceman.

So that was Sarah’s husband, Tom…

‘Look at uncle Ice.’

Bradley’s smile grew, most likely going into that place in his mind where his most treasured memories lay. His eyes began to glisten when he looked at the fourth picture — his mother was squeezed between the two aviators, the three of them frozen in laughter.

You hummed, unable to find anything useful to say. The dates on the pictures suggested it was the Christmas a couple years or so prior to Carole’s passing. It was surely something that brought no small amount of anguish to your boyfriend at the moment.

Then you flipped onto the next page of the album and couldn’t contain the roar of laughter that escaped you.

There were two pictures of Bradley. One of him on his own, the other of him a whole head and a half taller that his dear mother, but that wasn’t what made you laugh. No, Bradley’s hair was short, styled in spikes with what seemed like copious amounts of gel and he… had frosted tips!

You snorted, trying to contain your giggles. Your whole body shook with the force of your laughter.

‘Look at you hair!’

Bradley tried to grab the album from your hands, but you ran away from him and flipped through it for more compromising pictures.

‘Give it here!’

‘No, oh my!’ You laughed harder when you saw a picture that Bradley had obviously taken of himself in a bathroom mirror, proudly showing off the atrocious hairstyle. ‘W-what?!’

‘It was fashionable!’ Bradley defended when he managed to reach you and tackle you in a hug, prying the album from your hands. ‘And I wasn’t the only guy in high school with that haircut, I’ll tell you that.’

Bradley dropped the album onto the coffee table and stood between it and you, his hands holding your upper arms delicately. Tears had sprung in the corners of your eyes, your shoulders still shook and you could barely keep from laughing. When your laughter had turned to steady giggling, you looked up at Bradley, giving you an exaggerated pout.

‘Aw, baby!’ You reached up to hold his face and lifted yourself onto your tippy toes to kiss his protruding bottom lip. ‘I didn’t mean to laugh that hard. I think you actually looked quite, um… charming?’

‘I was actually.’ Bradley softened, a deep blush painting his cheeks that was visible even in the dim lighting of the living room.

‘Did you do it for a girl or…?’

Bradley scratched the back of his head. ‘Rose Jennings. She was the grade above me, I had a crush on her. Her ex boyfriend had the same hairstyle so I thought she’d like me if I did the same.’

There was something so adorably moronic about him adopting a new style — one that even in the nineties through early naughties was a choice — all to impress a girl. One could put it down as simply teenage foolishness, but you thought it was stupidly sweet. To think that this hunk of a man was once a pining young boy, ready to change his entire appearance at the drop of a hat — all for a crush.

Sweet, but very stupidly so.

‘Oh, no. Did Rose Jennings not like it then?’

‘Well, she didn’t date me,’ Bradley admitted almost shyly. ‘But we did almost go to third base under the bleachers.’

‘Woo hoo!’ You fist pumped the air.

‘It was stupid. I never thought you’d find pictures of me from that time.’

You let out a curt giggle and buried your face in his chest to calm down. ‘The idea of it is starting to grow on me. Have you thought of doing your hair like that again?’

‘God, no!’ Bradley’s chest rumbled with the power of his baritone. You lifted your head and looked at him quizzically.

So even he agreed that that had been a choice.

‘Well, you never know. You could bring that style back. I might let you hit home run since Rose Jennings didn’t give you the same curtesy.’

Bradley rolled his eyes playfully. ‘She did give me a half-handjob.’

‘A half-handjob? What’s that, over-the-jeans action?’

Bradley nodded and it was now your turn to give him a pout. This revelation, however, gave you an idea. A brilliant way to combine your previous conversation, your minuscule obsession with his grey sweats, and this new piece of information.

Your mouth filled with saliva when the idea began to form more solidly in your mind’s eye.

‘Let me imagine you like that for a sec.’ You whispered and made a show of closing your eyes whilst rubbing your temples to conjure the image of Bradley with that horrible hairstyle.

You snorted out another bout of laughter, but remained laser focused on your plan. ‘Okay, okay…’

You let your hands rest on his chest and slowly caress his pecks, searching for the peaks of his nipples. The pert buds began to engorge beneath your touch and you swore you could feel the goosebumps sprouting across Bradley’s skin.

Your hands began moving lower and lower, your nails coming to gently scratch against his stomach. You sneaked your hands underneath, feeling your way across his soft stomach.

You remembered how Bradley had complained about losing his six-pack some weeks ago and you had made it your mission to convince him just how much you enjoyed that extra fluff.

Looking up towards his face, you found his eyes fluttering the moments your fingers teased against the waistband of his sweats. You smiled to yourself, feeling Bradley’s hands bury themselves in the short locks of hair at the back of your head.

Deliberately slow and tender, you kissed his neck — right above the small scar he had on there — before letting your teeth sink into the soft flesh, marking him as your own.

Bradley’s head fell onto your shoulder and he let out a litany of whimpered moans. You pressed your lips against his earlobe, whispering. ‘I know I’m not Rose Jennings—’

‘Y-you’re better,’ Bradley rushed, breathless.

‘I know. And I’ll show you just how I would’ve showed my appreciation.’

Taking a tiny step back from him, you gave yourself enough space to kneel down in front of Bradley while keeping your hands on his hips. Your fingers hooked underneath the waistband of his sweats and before you pulled them down, you looked back up towards Bradley to make sure you weren’t doing anything he didn’t like or want.

But seeing his lust-blown eyes, the complete desperation in them, you knew that stopping now would be more of a torture than anything else.

You slowly pulled his sweats down. His half-hard cock sprang free from its confines, slapping against his left upper thigh. The head was a shade of red that was growing in intensity by the second, appearing almost purple the longer you sat there and did nothing more than take him by the base and give him a couple of lazy strokes.

‘H-happy?’ Bradley rasped.

‘Hm?’

He licked his lips. ‘Told you I went commando.’

You smirked, lowering your lips to the head of his cock and giving it a kitten lick that had Bradley shuddering. You licked the tip again, feeling the salty taste of precum gather on your tongue.

The taste of him was addictive!

‘I knew already. Do you think your own girlfriend would miss the fact that you’re wearing grey sweatpants and nothing underneath?’

‘I guess no— Oh! F-fuck, Blossom!’

Bradley gasped, his head falling back, when you finally spared him from the torture and wrapped your lips around his cock. Your hand at the base began to pump him slowly, working his length at the bottom while you mouth lathered him up in saliva and precum at the top.

You lifted your eyes briefly, looking up at Bradley through the thick curtain of your eyelashes. His bottom lip was firmly lodged between his teeth, biting down on it so hard you were positive once you rose up to kiss him you’d feel the distinct coppery taste of blood on your tongue.

Bradley’s eyebrows were furrowed and eyes fluttered shut as his hips rolled once to meet the heat of your open mouth.

You choked back a little at the sudden intrusion, moaning deep in your throat which only seemed to excite Bradley more. One of his hands came down to your head, finding purchase at the back of it to gather your short locks in a firm hold and pull at it briefly.

You loved when he pulled your hair during sex; it had taken both of you some time to figure out how to build your sense of security in the bedroom which included slightly risky things like hair pulling and choking. Bradley had been patient and maybe too careful, but you had a safe word established and practiced plenty and regularly.

Now there was nothing you loved more than having Bradley grab you by the hair when you went down on him, or even grab your throat and squeeze when he was fucking you like a madman.

His fingers were buried in your soft hair, guiding your head up and down his length. You relaxed your throat and opened wider. The head of his cock hit the back of your throat a smidge too hard on one of his thrusts and you gagged around it, drool dripping down your chin which most likely made for a pretty erotic sight because Bradley’s moans were growing louder.

He sounded completely wrecked.

Your free hand came around his thighs to grab at his buttocks and pull him even further into your throat. You bobbed your head faster and the most debauched sounds fell past your lips, gliding down your bottom lip and chin with your drool.

‘Fuck, baby! Yes, yes,’ Bradley babbled. ‘Fuck, I love this mouth, love this mouth so much! God, if you could just— fuck, see yourself right now… ngh, fucking gorgeous. With my cock in your mouth, baby.’

You relished in the incoherent praise and doubled down on your efforts, trying to take more and more of him in your mouth. You felt every engorged vein, every ridge of him against your tongue as you slid his cock in and out of your mouth.

Bradley’s voice rose in octaves and completely overtook the persistent hum of the Christmas playlist. His chin was pressed against his chest as he gazed down at you through half-lidded eyes, but even so you could see his soft brown irises had turned dark with desire.

‘Fuck, my beautiful girl. My gorgeous, gorgeous girl. I love you, I fucking love you, baby.’ He groaned louder when you twisted your hand at the base of his cock as you dragged it up and then down.

You moaned around his length in response, gagging and tearing up at the strain in your throat but you kept at it. The pain was more pleasure than pain. And if it meant seeing Bradley fall completely apart, unable to even keep standing on his own two feet, then you’d take it all.

‘Oh, I’m gonna come,’ Bradley whimpered. ‘Can I come in your mouth, baby? Can I— fuck!’

You lifted your head so only the tip of his cock rested against your tongue. Your saliva-soaked hand kept jerking him closer and closer to completion.

‘Come, Bradley. Come in my mouth.’

His head fell back as a strangled groan ripped out of his chest. His hand in your hair fisted it harder as you worked him through his orgasm, ropes of cum flying into your open mouth and filling it with that familiar salty taste.

Bradley lowered his hand from your hair to your chin and lifted your face so he could see you better. You made a show of showing him your filled mouth and swallowing down his seed with an exaggerated gulp that had him groaning once more.

‘Fuck, Blossom. You little minx.’

You helped him by lifting the waistband of his sweats and covering him back up, the alluring sight of his softening cock being the last thing you see before the grey material covered it again. It allowed for an equally alluring sight of that same cock outlined by the cotton material.

Bradley caressed your chin affectionately, humming in approval when you wiped the remnants of drool from your chin and got up. He helped you by holding your arm and once you were upright once more, he lowered his lips to capture yours in a kiss that had such depth you thought he’d merge himself to you.

‘Was I better than Rose Jennings?’

Bradley huffed, ‘I can’t even remember who that was.’

Your softly murmured good boy was met with a visible shudder on his part. He dipped down for another kiss that rewarded both of you.

‘Come,’ he urged gently when the two of you separated, a line of spit being the only thing still connecting your lips. ‘Let’s get dressed and head to the Christmas market before I fuck you on this couch.’

‘We can do both in succession if you’d like.’

The Uber driver dropped you off at the entrance of the market, wishing you both a merry Christmas. Like a true gentleman, Bradley helped you out of the car and thanked the man once again before gently pushing the door shut. He entwined your gloved fingers with his bare ones as the two of you made your way through the maze of huts.

The alpine-style structures offered the ultimate Christmas atmosphere. They were adorned with small lanterns and plush fake snow. The vendors wore red and white hats with bells at the end that jingled with each of their move. And at the end of the first row, there was a sign directing you to each part of the Christmas market.

‘Oh, we should grab a bite to eat at the bratwurst hut,’ you suggested excitedly. ‘And drink gluhwein. And then we can see about getting some presents for the family.’

Bradley let you lead the way. ‘I’m down for all that. I wanna check out the skating rink, if you’re up for it.’

You considered the proposition for a moment. Ice skating had never been something you were good at, being slightly clumsy in general meant that unstable surfaces were even more of a hinderance to your walking — or even standing — abilities.

‘I’m willing to give it a go,’ you told him. ‘But if I fall and bruise my ass—’

‘I’ll gladly kiss it.’

‘Ew, Bradley!’

He laughed good-naturedly when you slapped his chest. ‘Don’t pretend like you wouldn’t like that.’

You raised a brow and lowered your voice to a whisper. ‘Are we really considering public sex?’

‘We already did that, baby.’ Bradley’s lips pulled in a triumphant smirk as he led you in the direction of the bratwurst hut. ‘Halloween night at the Hard Deck.’

‘That doesn’t count,’ you retorted.

On Halloween, Bradley had wanted to improve your mood after the disappointing start of your house hunting. The two of you had gotten slightly drunk on Margaritas and one too many Jäger bombs. At some point during the night, you had snuck into the men’s toilets and stumbled into a stall to enjoy some risky behaviour.

‘It totally counts,’ Bradley argued as the two of your joined the queue in front of the hut that was maybe a little too heavy on the lederhosen-wearing cartoon sausages. But the sound of crackling meat and smell of spices made up for the gaudy decor.

Mindful of the random people that surrounded you, Bradley lowered his voice too. ‘The guys walked in on us, remember? Bagman even barged in our stall.’

You chuckled, ‘Okay, okay. They didn’t see much thought. I was wearing that long black dress on so we were both pretty covered.’

‘Mmm, you did look really hot as Rhaenyra Targaryen.’ Bradley leaned down to kiss the corner of her jaw and she swatted him away. ‘Bouncing in my lap like a cock-hungry slut.’

‘Shush!’ Despite the nippy December wind, you felt your entire face grow hot at his teasing. ‘And it certainly didn’t help that we’d shotgunned that joint beforehand.’

‘Don’t know, made everything a bit more… colourful, didn’t it.’

You looked up at him with a small smirk. There was a certain mischievous glint in his eye that was hardened by the vivid Christmas lights surrounding you. If you knew he’d be in such a mood after the fun you’d had back home, you’d known to give it even more effort. You loved seeing Bradley so relaxed and yes, even his bouts of extreme horniness that always seemed to flourish in inappropriate times and places was a part of him you adored.

‘I’m not sure about the wursts anymore,’ you told him with a joking lilt to your voice. Bradley raised his eyebrows and inquired as to your meaning. ‘Me, gobbling down a sausage. Don’t wanna give you ideas.’

Bradley barked out a laugh which startled the old couple standing in the queue in front of you. He apologised through a fit of giggles that had you hiding your mouth behind your gloved fingers to stifle your own laughter. The elderly woman who had her arm around her husband’s smiled at you both, assuring you it was fine and complimented you on what a charming couple you two make.

The rest of the evening was spent going from hut to hut, trying different festive delicacies and drinks. Two mulled wines each later, you were warm enough to take off your gloves and stuff them in your pocket. Bradley’s own hands offered enough warmth for you as he led you down the busy path, offering to buy you anything you’d like.

The two of you stopped in front of a place that had a wide display handmade Christmas tree toys. The most interesting part of their work was the offer to take a picture in their photo booth that they would then put in a little plastic sphere or heart-shaped bauble.

‘It’s gonna be nice to have something to commemorate our first Christmas together,’ you told Bradley and led him to the photo booth so you two could participate.

Ten minutes later you were moving off to another part of the Christmas market with your bauble packed in a little bag. Bradley carefully pulled you to stand in front of him while he steered both of you in the direction of the ice skating rink some hundred feet away.

While he was paying for your entrance, your phone buzzed in your coat’s pocket and you pulled it out to see a new message had popped up in the Bitchezzz United group chat you had with Phoenix, Frankie and Halo.

QueenNix💁🏻‍♀️: BLOSSOM!!!

QueenNix💁🏻‍♀️: checked in with the shelter today. they’ll keep the little guy until next week. Frankieand I will pick him up and keep him at our place until xmas eve.

You gasped, typing out a quick response.

FlowerPower🌼: That’s perfect! Thank you so much! Keep the receipts for food and anything like that.

baddie with a fattie💋💋: absolutely not babes!

FlowerPower🌼: absolutely yes! Keep the receipts or I’ll ask Amelia to hack into your banking accounts so I can see how much I owe you and give you money instead of xmas presents!

Halo reacted to your message with a laughing emoji. An ellipsis appeared next to Phoenix’s profile picture before her next message appeared.

QueenNix💁🏻‍♀️: ill keep a tab on any expenses but it’s seriously not an issue. we’re excited to see Bradley’s reaction!!!

FlowerPower🌼: thanks, Nix! Im excited as well! Gotta go now, Bradley took me ice skating.

carbs4life🍔🍜🍕: send pics!

QueenNix💁🏻‍♀️: say hi to mr chicken

baddie with a fattie💋💋: trip him up lmao

Before Bradley could see your chat as he made his way back to you, two pairs of skates in hand, you pocketed your phone.

‘The girls say hi,’ you told him as he knelt at your feet to untie your shoe laces.

‘They’re still on for Christmas Eve, right?’ He asked.

You nodded in response while he pulled your shoes one at a time, then helped you into the skates. They were a nice cream colour, fleece lined which warmed up your feet immediately. After he was done with your own, Bradley quickly slipped out of his Timbs and into a pair of much larger black skates.

‘How did they manage to find boat sized shoes for you, I’ll never know.’ You joked. Bradley tickled your sides in retaliation which made you yelp and you clamped your mouth shut.

You watched him with a smile while he fiddled with the shoe laces, very much excited yourself to see the reaction to his Christmas present. You’d managed to get this far with the secret, hiding the fact that you’d been scouring the websites of all breeders and shelters in the state for the perfect puppy. Bradley had told you he’d always dreamed of having a dog and seeing as you had space to fill in your big house, you thought a dog would be a welcome gift.

‘Ready?’ Bradley got up from the bench and offered you his hand.

You beamed at him and nodded, sliding your palm in his own and letting yourself be pulled to your feet.

The pair of you waddled your way to the door and carefully got onto the rink, making sure not to fall over the moment the blades of your skates touched the false ice. But with Bradley’s hand firmly holding yours, you began to abandon your worries and happily slide around the rink with him.

24 December, 0 days till Christmas

The dinner table was extended and covered by a beautiful, red table cloth. There were candles spread around in the few gaps that weren’t filled by plates and bowls of various foods. There was a turkey in the middle of the spread, surrounded by smaller dishes containing stuffing, gravy, Bradley’s potato salad, and a pear and red onion chutney you’d made from scratch. There were bowls of dried fruit and a basket of bread from the nearby bakery. The first bottle of red wine was open and left to decant on a side table, surrounded by a fresh set of merlot glasses you’d gotten as part of your list of move-in must-haves.

The food around the table was perhaps enough to feed an army, but knowing full well that a majority of their guests would be an ever-hungry bunch of Navy guys, it made sense. Payback alone could probably finish the turkey by himself and then ask for another. Bob was the easiest to cook for, because he had the stomach of a chicken and rarely asked for second helpings even if your inner grandma was constantly pushing more things onto his plate because he needed the nourishment.

You’d left Bradley in the kitchen to finish the chocolate mousse while you showered and changed into something nice. That wasn’t too tricky a desert to do and the only thing you asked of him was to whip it until it was an airy consistency. You could say you were confident in his abilities to let him.

Something happened in the shower; you couldn’t tell if it was the festive spirit, the excitement for the night ahead, or simply the fact that you had started to imagine Bradley in his crisp white shirt and dark blue slacks carefully handling a chocolate mousse.

You could peg it to ovulation-related horniness, but the thoughts kept coming to the forefront and the hot water stream just elevated those feelings to another level.

His large hands wrapped around the whisk or wooden spoon, flicking through the mousse with a military precision. His muscles tensing under the material of the shirt with every move. His plush lips pursed in concentration.

By the time you got to your closet in search of an appropriate dress to wear, you’d decided you wanted to add on to his Christmas present in a more personal, more pleasurable way.

Your heels clicked against the wood of the stairs as you descended, making your way to the back and into the kitchen. The skirt of your red dress swished around your thighs and you intentionally swung your hips a little more so that the fabric could flare about you seductively. Your put your left hand behind you, wanting to partially obscure the bunched up lacy fabric in your first.

Your plan seemed to have worked because Bradley’s eyes were immediately on you when you entered the room.

Bradley’s mouth hung open with the wooden spoon he had been using to stir the mousse halfway up. You walked to his side and wrapped your free arm around his middle, making a final check on the mousse. You peeled yourself off of him and dipped a finger in it, tasted, and the sweetness melted on your tongue.

You let out a deep moan before grabbing the spoon from Bradley and scooping some more of the mousse onto it. ‘Oh my god! This is to die for!’

‘Your dress is to die for,’ he commented before taking back the spoon and throwing it in the sink. He pushed the bowl of mousse out of the way before turning you around to face him. You chuckled at the seriousness and determination in his eyes which raked up and down your form, fully taking in your outfit.

The sweetheart neckline offered a nice view of your cleavage which was enhanced by the bra you knew him to harbour strong feelings for. The dress was cinched at the waist before flowing freely down your hips, reaching just shy of your knees.

Bradley’s hands wondered from your shoulders to your sides and waist, fully appreciating your outfit and you in it. You were patiently waiting for him to have his fill before spilling the contents of your hand in his own.

‘You look beautiful, Blossom.’

You smiled up at him. ‘Thank you, baby. Thought I’d finally put this dress on, it’s been in our closet for months.’

‘You should’ve worn it out by now. Torn it to shreds.’

‘Yeah?’

Bradley nodded eagerly. ‘I certainly would’ve helped with that.’

Your eyebrows twitched and a self-satisfied smirk made its way onto your lips.

‘Why don’t we give it a test flight then?’

You lifted your left hands high enough to slip the bunched up lace in his slacks’ pocket. While he was reaching for his surprise, you lifted yourself onto the kitchen island and leaned back on your palms, watching him expectantly.

The moment his fingers touched the lace, you knew you had him. His eyes widened comically and you noted how his pupils dilated at the slow, but sure realisation exactly what he was touching.

He pulled his hand out of his pocket, slowly turning the lace panties that matched your bra between his fingers. He paused for a second, taking the sight of them in, before putting them back in his pocket.

You leaned forward on the counter, smiling innocently at your boyfriend in who’s eyes you could see an ocean of emotion that was spilling over the edges. You swung your legs back and forth and simply waited for him to make the next move. Which he soon enough did.

Bradley’s hand landed softly on your bare knees and climbed higher and higher, reaching underneath the hem of your dress to feel the smooth and soft skin underneath. The moment he reached the tops of your thighs, he felt his way around for any sign of a material obstructing his touch. And when he couldn’t find any, but could touch freely — which he did and caused a soft sigh to tumble past your lips — he grabbed you by the hips and pulled you closer to his body.

You gasped audibly when your naked slit pressed tightly against his covered zipper, underneath of which his cock had begun to swell. You wanted him like this, in this position, no prep, no nothing. Your pussy was so wet and aching for him that you were certain that him sheathing himself within you would bring you to the brink.

‘You know we’ve got guests coming soon.’

He was giving you a way out, but you couldn’t care less if they were right outside your door.

‘Not for another half-hour we don’t.’ You raised a single eyebrow. ‘Think you can finish by then?’

Bradley took your face in his hands, leaned down, and pressed his lips against yours. His kiss was hard and demanding. His tongue invaded your mouth without a second of deliberation.

His hands ran over your curves, pulling you closer and melding your chests together. He lifted your skirt higher while you reached for the fly of his slacks. Your fingers trembled in anticipation and it took you a second to pry two flaps open, nearly tearing the button out of its place.

‘Baby, can I fuck you without a condom,’ Bradley begged against the heat of your open mouth. ‘I wanna feel you, all of you.’

You moaned loudly. Your head dipped back and offered the expanse of your neck to his wanting mouth. His lips trailed wet, open kisses across your skin down to your collar bones. ‘Yes! Oh, yes, please!’

You reached inside the opening in Bradley’s slacks, freeing his cock from his confines. He groaned against your shoulder when your delicate hand wrapped around the base of his length and pressed it up against your soaking cunt.

‘Oh, fuck, baby! You’re so fucking wet for me, beautiful.’ He sighed, tangling one hand in the hair and angling your head to his liking.

His other hand slipped back underneath the skirt of the dress, his thumb pressed against your clit and applied pressure that was barely there to the little bundle of nerves that had you crying out.

‘Is this why you did this? Wore this dress, took your little panties off and presented your hungry pussy to me for the taking. Huh, hoped I’d fuck you like this? Like the good little slut you are?’

‘Yes, Daddy.’

‘Fuck!’

Your hand on his cock guided him in, your walls opening and sucking him in. Bradley bottomed out without wasting another second and stilled; he dropped his forehead against yours and held you like that.

‘Bradley,’ you whimpered and tried rolling your hips into his own. ‘Please, move, Daddy. I need— need you so much. Please.’

‘Give me a sec,’ he murmured in response. ‘I need to last long enough, baby. Can’t give my good girl everything she needs if I shoot my load too soon. And I wanna reward you, show you how much I liked your little surprise.’

‘You like it?’

‘Yeah, beautiful. If this is my Christmas present, I can tell you…’ Bradley thrust into your heat once, deep and slow, and made you see stars, ‘…it is a very good present.’

‘It- It’s no— ah! not your only pre-present,’ you sobbed while his thrusts picked up in pace and force.

He began to fuck into you, your barely covered ass sliding against the marble counter, but Bradley’s large hands kept a firm grip on your hips as he half-guided your body towards his own. Your breaths caught in your throat, eyes rolled back to the back of your head. With shaky hands you gripped his shoulders while your legs fell wide open on their own accordance to allow him more room.

‘My beautiful, beautiful woman. My fucking girl. Mine!’ Bradley growled against the side of your neck, mere inches from your ear.

You keened at the possessiveness and pulled him closer, clawing at the collar of his shirt. If the material wrinkled, you couldn’t care less. You’d strip it off of him yourself and iron it later, or even better — let him wear his wrinkled shirt to dinner and let all your guests know what transpired between the two of you. Right there on the kitchen island. A foot or so away from the chocolate mousse, you’d be serving them for dessert.

Bradley nudged the collar of your dress to the side, baring your shoulder to his hungry mouth, and sucked on your skin like he was trying to consume you. His hips snapped harder against yours with every whimper, every wail of exaltation. His hands wondered around your body, touching anything covered or bare so he could, everything within his grasp.

You felt desired, worshiped, adored. Bradley’s hips rolled against yours, his cock slipping in and out of your soaked cunt with what could only be oxymoronically be described as tender force. Those lustful feelings that had spurred your impromptu seduction melted into a very poignant sensation which softened your touch against his own body.

Everything seemed to take on a fuzzy, pink hue.

You smoothed Bradley’s hair back, kissing his face tenderly and sighing against his flushed skin. His own breaths rang like bells against your ear and before you even thought to ask him to kiss you, his lips were joining with yours.

‘I love you, I love you so much,’ he groaned, almost desperately. ‘I love you.’

You gasped into his open mouth and he swallowed your rushed breath, peppering your lips with his kisses.

‘I know, I know. I love you, Bradley.’

‘Please, come on my cock, baby. You know how much I love it,’ thrust ‘know how much I love when you squeeze me, fucking drench me’ thrust ‘oh, baby, you feel so fucking good!’

Your legs wrapped around his waist and pulled him even closer.

‘Come in me, Bradley. Give it to me, fill me up. Please, please, ple— AH!’

Your wail of pleasure and surprise came at the exact moment Bradley’s cock made one final plunge in your depths. The sensation threw you over the edge and you came shuddering, clutching Bradley against you. You felt him twitch inside you, shoot his hot seed into your quivering cunt and come to a halt.

Full. You felt full and satiated. Like a cat that had a bowl-full of cream and was lounging in a sun spot.

Bradley stayed buried inside you longer than he usually did. You caressed his face, his neck, loathe to let him go. This felt too good and too special to end so soon.

‘Marry me.’

You pulled your face back and looked up at him. Your eyes were wide and mouth agape. All thoughts save but one left your mind with your breath which had stilled in your throat. Your hands came up to hold his face and Bradley’s own rose to cover yours. There was a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze when he licked his lips to speak again.

‘Marry me.’

You blinked dumbly. ‘What?’

Bradley bit his lip and you wanted to kick yourself for how uncoordinated you’d become in the wake of his proposal.

‘This was going to be half of my Christmas present for you. I- I thought… never mind.’

He began to pull away, his softening cock slipping out of you. You gripped his jaw a little tighter and made him stop, staring deeply into his eyes. He couldn’t think you were rejecting him, could he?

Oh, you silly, silly man!

‘Ask me.’ You said firmly.

Bradley’s features twisted in hesitation before he licked his lips to say once more, ‘Marry me.’

You gasped, bottom lip trembling and eyes filling with tears. ‘Yes. Yes, yes, yes!’

‘Yes?’ He repeated, astonished.

‘Yes!’ You exclaimed. ‘God, Bradley, yes! I will marry you, I will be your wife!’

Bradley grinned broadly, holding your face in his hands and watching you as if you’d made him the happiest he’d ever been. You sincerely hoped you had, because he’d made you the happiest you had ever been.

And all with but a single request.

‘I- I have an actual present, too.’

‘I couldn’t care less about that.’

‘But it’s really nice,’ Bradley assured you. ‘It can double as an engagement present as well. But if you want a separate one, I’ll get it. I’ll give you everything, Blossom. I love you.’

‘I love you, Bradley.’ You sobbed. Tears of joy dropped onto your cheeks as you pulled him back in to pepper his face with kisses, making Bradley chuckle.

‘You really had me there for a second. Thought you were going to reject me.’

You shook your head. ‘Could never. I love you and I want to marry you, have wanted it for such a long time. I just never thought it’d happen right after you fucked me on the kitchen island.’

Bradley laughed and pressed his forehead to yours as the two of your stopped your furious kissing to catch your breath. ‘I had a much more romantic proposal in mind. At the dinner table with our friends, but the post nut clarity—’

‘Thank god, for post nut clarity!’

Bradley kissed you again and seemed to savour the kiss with an unquenchable thirst. He then looked at you again, nothing but joy in his eyes. He held up a finger for you to hold for a moment, pulled free of you with a grunt, tucked his now placid cock in his slacks and told you to wait for him there.

‘Can I have my panties?’ You asked as he made his way out of the kitchen.

He smirked. ‘Oh, no. These are staying with me tonight, baby.’

You patiently sat on the kitchen island, your thighs clenched together to keep Bradley’s seed inside. You felt high, higher than anything could ever get you. You kept thinking over the whole proposal, delving deeper and deeper into that pool of absolute, unadulterated joy you felt.

He wants to marry you.

Bradley will be your husband, you will be his wife.

Not more than five minutes later, he was back in the kitchen and jogged over to you. In his hand he had a small blue box that he swiftly unlidded to reveal two beautiful rings nestled inside. Both were very simple, without many embellishments, but to you they were as grand as diamonds and rubies.

‘They belonged to my mom and dad. Maverick gave them to me the day you got the job. I would’ve proposed then, but knew it was too early and I wanted my proposal to you to be special. If you don’t like them, we can go and get newer ones—’

You kissed him to stop his worried rambling, holding his face in your hands and smoothing your thumbs over his reddened cheeks. You then gazed down lovingly at the two golden bands before taking the larger one and holding it in your hand whilst giving your now fiancé an expectant look.

‘I love them. Don’t think about changing them, they mean a lot to you and so they do to me.’

Bradley nodded and took the smaller ring from the box, reaching for your left hand and slipping it onto the appropriate finger. You waited for him to feel the power of this moment before you gently clasped his own left hand and slipped the other ring on.

You looked up at Bradley and he looked down at you, both of you entirely lost in your shared joy. He leaned down to kiss your lips for what was probably the hundredth time that evening, but did it truly matter — you were happy beyond all explanation.

Just then the doorbell rang, singling the arrival of your guests.

Bradley hastily fixed the collar of his shirt which, surprisingly, didn’t look as rumpled as you thought it’d be. He then helped you off of the kitchen island, telling you to go greet whoever was at the door while he finished setting up the table.

You couldn’t leave his side before stealing another kiss, and then another, and another. But the insistent ringing of the bell had you running off to get the door.

‘Hey, Blossom!’ Hangman greeted you cheerfully, his hand clasped around the neck of a red wine bottle.

Coyote was standing right over his shoulder and followed him into the hallway. He gave you a brief hug before moving out of the way for Payback and Fanboy to walk in as well. It was, perhaps, the first time you’d seen any of them in anything other than uniforms or casual clothing — the four of them wearing suits, but still keeping with their casual nature by wearing trainers. Apart from Hangman, of course, he was always making sure he looked as if he’d jumped out of a GQ magazine spread.

It was a succession of hugs, exchanges of Merry Christmas’s and polite compliments on your outfit which made you look away sheepishly, knowing just how downright inappropriate the intention behind your dress (and lack of underwear) had been.

‘Damn, this place looks nice!’ Coyote exclaimed when you showed the guys the way to the dining room. ‘Where’s Bradley?’

‘Over here, man.’

Bradley came out of the kitchen, carrying the board of cheeses and cured meats you’d fixed up earlier. You smiled when you caught the soft twinkling of the ring on his finger. The guys exchanged quick festive greetings with him and began chatting as if there’d been no time between seeing each other last and now.

Payback turned to you for a moment. ‘Don’t wanna be a bother, but wanted to ask—’

‘Don’t worry, Bradley and I made sure to make all foods halal and kosher. Sarah’s coming too, so we were extra careful with the ingredients.’

‘Aw, thanks, bud!’

‘Don’t mention it! We’re glad you all agreed to spend Christmas Eve with us. It feels really nice to fill the house with people,’ you gushed.

‘I bet!’ Fanboy joined the conversation, standing on Payback’s side. ‘Still can’t believe your guys’ luck! The house looks amazing!’

The doorbell rang again.

‘Bradley? Baby, mind pouring the guys some drinks, I’ll go see who’s at the door.’

‘It’s probably Mav. He texted that he, Penny, Sarah, and Amelia were a close.’

True to his word, once you opened your door you were greeted by the four of of them, arms full with present bags and boxes. Amelia was first to rush forward and bundle you in a bear hug, followed by a much calmer Penny who kissed your cheeks and praised the wreath on the front door.

‘Thank you! Bradley and I made it,’ you said proudly. But once you lifted your hand to push your hair out of your forehead, Penny seemed to catch sight of the ring on your left hand and let out a gasp. Then came Sarah who gently took your hand so the two women could examine the delicate band on your ring finger.

‘Oh, sweetie! Is this…?’

You grinned. ‘As of ten minutes, yes. The other guys haven’t noticed yet.’

Amelia was ecstatic and ran off to find the group of aviators and rub in their noses their inability to notice this very important fact. You laughed when you heard the boom of cheers coming from the kitchen, bringing your attention back to Penny, Sarah and Mav who gave you their congratulations.

‘What are we celebrating?’ Came Frankie’s voice from the open doorway. She, in her usual fashion, was dressed to the nines in a sparkling green dress which meticulously hugged her curves and matched her glittery eyeshadow. Halo and Bob came in after her, both of them dressed very sharply, but anyone would pale after Frankie’s dazzling entrance.

‘Phoenix is in the car with the puppy. Want us to bring him in now?’ Frankie whispered to you once you’d directed the others to the kitchen.

Just then Phoenix herself appeared at the doorstep and in her hands was a little black fur ball with a large red bow wrapped loosely around its neck.

You couldn’t contain the aw that escaped your lips once you finally saw the puppy you’d chosen as Bradley’s present. The cane corso started to wagging his tail, sniffing the air about you and trying to get out of Phoenix’s arms. She handed him to you and the little guy couldn’t sit still until he could lift himself high enough to lick at your chin.

‘Oh, you are just precious!’

‘We’ve got his documents from the shelter,’ Phoenix explained and lifted the small bag that was handing from her elbow. ‘We brought his food, he’ll be good for the next month at least. Frankie overspent on that and treats.’

‘It’s ‘cause he gave me these eyes. Oh, babes, he gives you those eyes and you can’t not give him a treat!’

You chuckled, smoothing the puppy’s sleek black coat back which meant that your two best friends were the next to learn of the recent developments, both gasping audibly when they saw the ring on your finger.

‘Okay, come in now both of you, we should go take this little man to Daddy.’ You said after another series of squeals, screeches, shouted congratulations, and more face licking from the puppy in your arms.

Frankie gave you her typical lopsided smirk. ‘Is that how you got him to propose? Called him Daddy?’

You jokingly slapped her ass when she walked in front of you. ‘Shush you!’

‘Oh, Daddy! Give me a ring, I’ll be a good girl!’ She gave an exaggerated moan and a sigh, throwing a hand over her forehead and leaning against the living room doorframe in an overdramatic fashion. ‘Okay, okay, let’s go take the little guy to Bradley!’

The three of you, grinning from ear to ear in anticipation, hurried off to the dining room, greeted by the sight of all the guests either sitting at the table and enjoying an aperitif. Bradley was standing near the door to the kitchen, talking to Bob and Maverick, when he caught sight of you and your eyes widened at the contents of your arms.

‘Oh my god!’

‘Merry Christmas, baby!’

‘Oh my god! Is that for us?’

Bradley crossed the distance between the two of you and reached out for the puppy that was now more interested in this new human that in you. Bradley picked him up and hugged him to his chest. Everyone around the room gushed over the adorable puppy.

‘It’s for you mostly,’ you explained to him. ‘Frankie and Phoenix put in me in touch with a shelter in San Fransisco after I said I was looking for a puppy. Apparently, someone found this little guy tossed out on the street as a newborn.’

‘Yeah, some dickhead,’ Frankie supplied.

‘Aw, buddy,’ Bradley gushed, screeching the puppy behind the ears which the he seemed to adore. ‘Guys, I need a cool name.’

‘Thor.’

‘No, Zeus.’

‘I think Cerberus is a badass name for… what is he, a doberman?’

‘Cane corso,’ you explained, already thinking over the name Cerberus.

It was a fitting name for a dog like this, would be in complete contrast to how sweet he was, but in the end the decision was all Bradley’s.

‘Well, Cerberus is a badass name,’ Bradley agreed and groaned when the little guy licked his cheeks. ‘Oh, we’re gonna be best fucking friends, buddy.’

You patted him on the shoulder. ‘Alright, let’s sit down and eat, because I don’t want our efforts to go to waste.’

Payback barked out a laugh and pointed at the turkey. ‘No way, we’re leaving this place before obliterating this.’

‘Wait, is this a Christmas and an engagement dinner then?’ Phoenix asked when she took up the chair next to yours.

You shared a brief look with Bradley who simply smiled and gave you a shrug. ‘I guess it is.’

Maverick grabbed his wine glass and lifted it proudly in the air. ‘To Bradley and Blossom then.’

Everyone followed suit with the toast before taking a long sip to your health and happiness. Bradley, still holding little Cerberus in his arms, leaned down to give you a quick kiss on the lips. You placed your hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes, finding that serenity you felt reflected back to you.

‘Merry Christmas, baby.’ Bradley whispered to you as he raised his lips to your forehead, leaving a delicate peck upon your warm skin.

‘Merry Christmas to you, too.’ Your mouth twitched in a smile. ‘Fiancé.’

Bradley sighed contentedly. ‘I’m really starting to enjoy the sound of that. Be even better when I’m promoted to husband.’

‘Keep being your usual self and I’ll promote you sooner rather than later,’ you promised him.

‘I’ll hold you to that.’

You giggled and leaned back in your chair, taking the offered bowl of salad that Phoenix held. You spared a quick glance in Bradley’s direction still in disbelief that someone could make you so happy.

But there he was, you wonderful man, your fiancé with a puppy in his arms and an engagement ring on his left hand that promised you happiness and love.

What a perfect Christmas…

Happy holidays to you all! Sorry I couldn't post this earlier, I'd planned to make it into two parts, but I was sick then something not very nice happened to me at work so that's why it was delayed. Hope you're all having fun today, however you're spending it (if you're not celebrating Christmas)! 🌸

(taglist is still open, click here and fill out this Google Form)

home to you tags: @gretagerwigsmuse @jupitercomet @youlightmeupfinn @craftymoonchaos @the-winter-marvel33 @agent-jbarnes @blahehblah @katieshook02 @amysteryspot @daisyhollyxox @marantha @piceous21 @mak-32 @twoosinrooster @adoringsebstan @everyoneslovechild @shityoudidntaskfor @alluringshawn @marsontoast @lemur46 @taytaylala12 @benhardysdrumstick @strangeangelflapsuitcase @eugene-emt-roe @shanimallina87 @beachesandboats @ishipit1420 @machsachds @wishfulhope (crossed over names are people I wasn't able to tag, sorry)

#home to you #christmas special #bradley bradshaw x female reader #bradley bradshaw x reader #rooster x reader #top gun maverick

207 notes · View notes