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[fific7]

Souls Adrift

Secret Santa Fic Exchange

Billy Russo x Reader

A/N: This is part of @flightlessangelwings and @the-purity-pen Ben Barnes Secret Santa fic exchange, and is written for @sageswritings - hope you enjoy it!

Happy Holidays!🎅☃️🎄

Summary: This is a oneshot Soulmate story set in my S1 Punisher AU which does not follow canon and features Arrogant!BillyRusso. It’s written from Billy’s POV.

Warnings: Slightly 18+ NSFW due to mentions of sex. Drinking and swearing.

(My video edit)

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Billy Russo shot his cuffs out beyond his jacket sleeves and regarded himself in the mirror. Yeah looking good, Russo. He smoothed his hair back again and as he did so, caught sight of the very faint star outline on his inner right wrist.

He dropped his hand and pulled his cuff down, irritated. Soulmate, huh? Complete and utter bull-shit. Never gonna happen.

Apparently, when you met your soulmate the star outline turned burning bright for a few seconds then settled down, looking more like an actual tattoo, and the two soulmates would have matching colours. Well, it hadn’t happened to him yet, he doubted it ever would and truth be told, he didn’t want it to.

He didn’t want to be tied down to one woman! That just wasn’t his thing. He cleared his throat, thinking that he’d need to get himself out to a bar tonight, find a suitable candidate to be the next recipient of his admirable attentions. Only a temporary recipient of course. He’d either go to her place or maybe a hotel if she didn’t live locally, and he’d be gone before the bedsheets got too warm.

Satisfied, he walked out of his bedroom and through his spacious apartment, ready to face another busy day at Anvil.

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Entering one of his local hangouts that evening, he headed to the bar and leaned on it, waiting until he caught the barman’s eye and then ordering a whisky straight up.

Drink served, he lifted it and took a sip, turning and lounging back against the bar, perusing the women in his vicinity like a panther stalking its prey. His eyes swept over them but no-one caught his immediate attention.

Not tall enough, not small enough, too made up, not made up enough, dressed too provocatively, not dressed provocatively enough. He shook his head, turning back and leaning on the bar, ordered a beer.

Looked like it was going to be a much longer night than he’d anticipated. He sighed. Billy was not a patient man.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

He was just finishing his beer when he became aware of someone next to him. His head swivelled slightly, using his sniper training to look while it seemed like he wasn’t. It was a woman, and his antennae immediately went up. Just his type. Just right.

He leant in towards her as he noticed she hadn’t been able to order yet. “Hey… can I buy you a drink?”

She looked at him, and he felt a stirring in his pants. He looked back into the deep pools of her eyes and knew that he was definitely interested in her. Very interested indeed.

“Thank you for offering, but no thank you,” she replied, giving him a small smile and turning back towards the barman, who was now heading towards her.

Billy’s animal instincts started peaking, a chase! Just what he liked. Well, things that came too easy were boring. He lightly laid his hand on her wrist, “Aww, c’mon, it’s just a drink…” but stopped speaking before he could carry on with one of his smart comebacks. He could feel a burning sensation on his right wrist.

He pulled his sleeve back, the star was burning! He noticed she was doing the same, having pulled up the sleeve of her leather bomber jacket. She too had a burning star outline on her right wrist. He watched as the bright outline died down and looked from his wrist to hers, seeing that both of them now had a sparkling midnight blue star shape on there.

They both looked up at the same time, her eyes as wide as his.

Billy Russo swiftly shoved himself away from the bar and started pushing through the crowd, barging people aside until he got to the door.

He pulled it open and ran right out into the street.

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Opening the door to his apartment he rushed inside and slammed it behind him, heading straight to the bottle of whisky he kept on the kitchen counter.

He sloshed a healthy amount into a tumbler and swigged most of it, before grabbing his phone out of his pocket and hitting “Frankie” on his speed dial.

As soon as he heard the answering growl, he blurted, “I just met my soulmate!!!” There was a loud peal of laughter in response, “That’s freakin’ hilarious, Russo!” “No, it isn’t, Frankie, it really isn’t. I don’t want a fuckin’ soulmate, you know I don’t!” Frank’s voice faded slightly and Billy heard him yelling, “Karen! Russo met his soulmate tonight and he’s panickin’ like a lil bitch!”

Billy scowled as he heard this and yelled back to empty air, “No I’m not! I’m not panickin’ okay?!”

He heard Karen’s voice, “You do sound panicky, Billy, I have to say. Didn’t you want to meet your soulmate? Most people are overjoyed when they do.”

“No! I’m happy as I am.”

“Are you, Billy, are you really? With all those one night stands? No-one to come home to every evening? To speak to, tell them about your day, have them look after you?”

“I…” Billy suddenly felt his voice catch in his throat, “I’ve never ever had that in my life so why would I need that now, huh Karen? I’ve got by just fine without one and I don’t want tied down!”

He heard Karen sigh, “Well, if you say so Billy, but I think you’re making a big mistake.”

Bristling, Billy snapped, “An’ so what if I am?! I’ll do what I damn well please. G’night, Karen,” and cut the call before she could say anything else. His phone rang a second or so later and he knew it was Frank. He answered, knowing that he’d probably been quite rude to Karen, “OK I’m sorry, I know I was snappy, say sorry to Karen for me.”

Frank huffed, “Yeah okay, Russo - she was only tryin’ to help, y’know? And I think you’re makin’ a mistake too, case you’re interested.”

“Look I hear you and Karen and what ya think, Frankie but it’s not for me, okay? I’m just gonna carry on like I was and that’s the end of it.” Frank sighed, “Well, whatever you say Russo, but I think you’re gonna regret this.”

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A couple of days later, Billy and Frank met up with Karen at their favourite local diner for lunch. They were all looking through the menu making their choices, and Frank remarked, “Dunno why you bother looking at the menu, Bill - you always choose the same thing every time,” and turned to Billy with a smirk. But Billy was no longer sitting next to him. Frank did a double take and then looked over at Karen, “Where’d Bill go?!”

Karen grinned and pointed under the table, continuing to look at her menu. Frank looked down and saw Billy crouched on all fours - a bit of a squeeze - under there. “Bill…” started Frank, but Billy hissed “Sssssh!” at him. “Whoooo you avoiding, Billy?” smirked Karen, also looking down at him.

Billy grimaced at her, “Someone I don’t want to bump into again, okay?” Karen looked around and spotted an attractive woman standing over at the counter. “Would that be your soulmate, by any chance, Billy?” He rolled his eyes at her from under the table, whisper-yelling “Yes! It is. Alright? Satisfied?” at her. He saw Karen’s legs start to move out of the booth and he scrambled up off the floor, making it back into his seat just in time to see Karen marching up to his soulmate.

“Awww, shit!” he exclaimed. Frank chuckled, “C’mon Bill, what’d you expect? You know Karen’s not about to let your soulmate get away from you.” Billy started rearranging the cutlery on the tabletop, then decided that he wasn’t going to have this happen. No way was he gonna have this forced on him.

He bolted out of the diner.

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As he’d been half-expecting, there was a peremptory knock at his apartment door a little while later. Frank walked in as soon as Billy opened the door, plunking himself down on the sofa and saying, “Get me a beer, Russo.” Billy huffed but went to the fridge, pulling two bottles out of it and popping the caps, asking, “Where’s Karen?” as he handed one to Frank.

“Still chattin’ to your soulmate,” grinned Frank, “but you already knew that.” Billy nodded, “Guess I did. What’re they talkin’ about?” Frank shot him a look and Billy nodded again, “Okay, okay - me.” Frank took a gulp of his beer and then replied, “Yup.” Billy sat down in the armchair, sighing. “She’s not gonna bring her here, is she?” he asked, apprehensively. “Nope, she wouldn’t go that far, Bill.” Billy blew out a relieved breath, “I don’t want a soulmate, Frankie,” he said firmly, “Karen’s gotta stop this crusade. It’s not gonna work.”

Frank smiled, “Look, Maria was my soulmate and Karen’s never met hers. She’s secretly sad cos of that. I’m fine with the fact we’re not soulmates but she wants a happy ending for someone… and that’s you.” Billy set his beer bottle down on the floor, grumbling, “But I don’t wanna be tied down to just one woman.” “You say you don’t, but that’s cos you never stay with anyone longer’n the time it takes you to screw ‘em.” Billy laughed, “I know, I know… but I just don’t understand why anyone would wanna do that, stick with just one person?”

Frank rolled his eyes, “Bill - give it a try, at least? You’ll never know unless you do. And the best person to give it a go with’s gotta be your soulmate, right? Just stop runnin’ out on her, at least sit down and talk to her.” Reluctantly, Billy nodded, “Yeah, yeah, okay… just to keep Karen happy though! An’ I’m not promisin’ anything, you hear?”

He spotted a triumphant little smile on Frank’s face, and knew that Karen was going to go all out to make this soulmate bullshit work for him, while Billy was determined not to get entangled in it. He began worrying that he’d got himself into something really messy that he was going to totally regret.

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Karen had literally danced round his apartment, skipping and clapping her hands like a little kid when Billy told her that he would at least meet up with his soulmate. Frank had looked fondly at her and even Billy - not in a happy mood about all of this - had to smile.

She then sat down and told him the few things she’d learned about his soulmate when they’d chatted in the diner… her name, her age, where she worked and the neighbourhood she lived in. Karen had managed to get Billy to admit that he’d spoken to her in the bar that night because he had in fact been hitting on her.

“So you were going after her! That means she’s your type then, doesn’t it? Excellent!” She clapped her hands again, “Well, she seems to be a lovely person, and I just know you’re going to love her!”

Billy sighed in defeat. He knew Karen was already thinking about what hat she’d buy to wear to the wedding.

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Karen had of course texted his soulmate the next day and set up a date for her to meet Billy for lunch as soon as possible. No letting the grass grow with Karen, and he knew she wanted to arrange it before he changed his mind.

Sitting once again in one of the diner booths, Billy squirmed nervously and kept looking over every time the door opened. Was this how you felt on a first date? He’d never been on one so had no clue. He didn’t date, he just bedded and moved on. That’s how it worked in his world and you know what they say… if it ain’t broke…

He continued to feel on edge as the minutes dragged on. She was going to be late, he thought sourly, just great! Billy was a punctuality freak, probably due to his military background. So this was a black mark straight away. And apart from anything else, he really didn’t want to be here. Well, he’d give her another five minutes and then he was gone. He began to feel less nervous. Yeah - that’d be perfect. It would keep Karen happy because he’d actually turned up like he’d promised he would, but if his soulmate couldn’t even be bothered to arrive on time, well he couldn’t be blamed for running out on her again, could he?

Then he heard the door open and looked up to see her walking into the diner. He felt his heart give a little leap. Hey! What was all that about? Just nerves, yeah absolutely just nerves. She caught sight of him and made her way over to him. She wasn’t smiling and neither was he.

“You’re late,” were the first words out of his mouth as she reached his booth. A look of irritation flitted over her face, “What? You deal in nanoseconds, do you? Are you an astrophysicist or something?!” He looked down at his watch and saw that the second hand had moved just 10 seconds past the hour. He felt his face flush with embarrassment. “Sorry,” he mumbled, not making eye contact. “Umm… I didn’t quite catch that?” He looked up and saw that she was still standing in front of him, arms crossed in front of her, looking highly unimpressed. Sunlight suddenly flooded in through the diner window and illuminated her, like a heavenly spotlight.

Billy caught himself thinking that she looked magnificent, like an avenging goddess or something.

Oh hell. Without a doubt, he was getting an erection. Was that inappropriate? Well, he had begun this whole thing by hitting on her in the first place. So it was a given that he found her attractive. He pulled his sweater further down across his lap and indicated the other side of the table, “Look, I’m sorry, okay? Please, sit with me.” Still eyeing him like he was something nasty she’d stepped in, she slid into the booth opposite him. He continued, “I usedta be a Marine.” She nodded, “Yeah, I know. Karen told me. And that’s relevant, why?”

He cleared his throat nervously, “Well, I’m a little OCD about time-keeping, s’all.” A ghost of a smile crossed her lips, “Okay, I’ll accept that as your excuse for greeting me like a parade ground sergeant.” He felt his face flush even more. “I am really sorry, m’nervous about all-a this. Lemme start over…” She nodded so he continued, “I’m Billy. Pleased to meet you.” He extended his hand, they shook and she smiled, giving him her name before adding, “Not sure you are pleased to meet me, though.” He looked at her, confused, “Huh?” “Well you’ve run out the door as if I’ve got the plague - mmm, twice now?”

She’d picked up her menu at that point to choose something to eat as the waitress had arrived at their table. Once they’d ordered and coffees had been poured for each of them, he said, “Look, I… I gotta be honest with you. I don’t want a soulmate.” She’d put sugar in her coffee and stopped mid-stir, looking over at him, amused. “And what makes you think I do?”

Billy felt his mouth dropping open slightly. He’d never even considered this possibility. Had just assumed that she’d want to be with him… because… because… well, women were into that sorta stuff, weren’t they? Look at Karen!

She was still looking at him, now highly amused. “I take it you didn’t think of that, Billy?” It was the first time she’d said his name, and he felt his heart give that little leap again. “I… uhh… I, no… guess I didn’t,” he muttered, hating how lame he sounded.

“Well,” she carried on, brightly, “now that we’ve established that neither us of want to be together, let’s just have a nice lunch and then we never need to see each other again.”

Billy stomach lurched. What?!

“But… but... we…. I…” he heard himself stutter out, but she merely smiled at him then looked up as the waitress put their plates down in front of them.

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An hour later, Billy was walking forlornly back to his apartment alone. They’d parted outside the diner, she wishing him a cheery ‘Goodbye’ before turning on her heel and disappearing into the crowd of passersby.

She’d asked him lots of questions about himself and his company and before he knew it, lunch was over and she’d been taking out her wallet to pay. He’d scrambled to get his own wallet out and insisted that he was paying. She’d politely thanked him, and then just as politely said goodbye to him and walked out of his life.

No exchanging numbers, no addresses given, no suggestions to meet up again.

Billy came to a halt in the middle of the street, causing a couple of people to bump into him. He ignored them as he realised with a start that he was feeling bereft.

Yes… totally bereft. That was the only way to describe it.

Hey, hold on! Since when did he develop a need to have his soulmate in his life?

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Karen stared at Billy. “Why didn’t you ask her to meet up again? You dolt!” Billy was feeling miserable and this wasn’t helping. They’d shown up not long after he got home. He looked from Frank’s disbelieving face to Karen’s annoyed one, and shrugged. “She said we didn’t ever have to meet up again after lunch was over. I’m not gonna ask her after she said that!”

“Get her number? Her address? Then she’d have known you were interested in at least keeping in touch!” “She said she didn’t want a soulmate!” huffed Billy. “Yeah, after you said to her that you didn’t want one! Of course she’s going to say she doesn’t want one either.” Billy shrugged again, “Nah, she meant it. She wasn’t just sayin’ it for effect.” Frank muttered, “Can’t believe you’ve changed your mind, Bill. Think it’s cos she said she’s not interested in you?”

“No!” snarled Billy. “Well, Bill, why is it then?” Billy leaned back in his armchair, “Dunno, do I?”

Karen blew out a breath of air, “Oh, it’s obvious! She’s your soulmate! It’s difficult to ignore that pull.” Billy was just about to snap back asking how she knew that when she didn’t have one herself, but then thought better of it. “But I didn’t want a soulmate!” He realised he’d spoken in the past tense, “Don’t want a soulmate! Doesn’t the universe take that into account?!” “Nope,” said Karen firmly, “it doesn’t.”

She gave him a sly look, “And it’s also obvious that you do want your soulmate - now!” Billy shot her an irritated glance, “Yeah, but I found her - find her - attractive from the get-go so it probably is just something like Frankie said,” he glanced across at her friend, who had a satisfied smirk on his face, before looking back to Karen, “so when she said she’s not interested I just… I just…” “Wanna chase after her and capture her?” smirked Karen. “Yeah… whatever,” said Billy, “Anyhow, it don’t matter any more ‘cause she doesn’t wanna hear from me.”

Karen flourished a scrap of paper at him, “Her number!” she pronounced, triumphantly. “You get in touch with her, Billy Russo, or so help me, I’ll beat you black and blue!”

Billy’s eyes widened. The way Karen was glaring at him right now, he could honestly believe she’d do it.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

He left it a couple of days. But the scrap of paper felt like it was burning a hole in his inside jacket pocket, so eventually he took it out and flattened it down on his desktop. He stayed looking at it for several minutes, weighing the pros and cons of calling her to and fro in his mind. Should he, shouldn’t he? What was the worst thing that could happen? She could hang up on him. Yes, she could but he could live with that. Couldn’t he?

Squaring his shoulders, he slid his phone out of his pocket and dialled her number.

He cleared his throat as he listened to it ringing out. Then her voicemail clicked in, he heard her voice giving a brief message and he cursed, thankfully before the beep sounded. “Uhhh… hi. This is Billy. Hi. Er, Billy Russo. Your… er.. soulmate, you remember? I know we said we didn’t need to see each other again but uhhh… well I just thought… like, I was thinkin’… that we could maybe meet for a drink every so often. Catch up. Like, y’know, friends. Nothin’ heavy. Nothin’…” He heard another beep, and cursed again. Now he’d have to ring back. Shit! So he did, and rushed through giving her his number and saying to call him if she’d like to meet up.

He cut the call and slid his phone back into his pocket. He was twitchy, nervous, had that ‘heart in his mouth’ feeling. What the fuck was wrong with him? He shook his head and pulled out some of the personnel files he’d been going through before he called her.

At least that’d get Karen off his back. Jeez, she’d been texting him five times a day asking if he’d called her yet.

Anyway, it’s not like he cared if she called him back or not. He’d made the gesture. Now he could move on with his life. He might just go to the bar after work. Yeah. Get back to his normal way of doing things.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Billy looked over the women around him in the bar, and sighed. None of them immediately grabbed his attention. Maybe after a few drinks….

He looked them over again a couple of beers later. Still nothing. No spark. Nada. Then he realised with horror that he was looking for her. Only her. He ran his hands over his face. What the fuck was happening to him? Now he couldn’t even go out and pick up a woman at a bar? He spotted a redhead over in the corner. Would she do? He was about to head over to her to get a closer look when he felt his phone vibrate. It was a text message, not from Karen (thankfully she’d laid off him a little now) but from her.

His hand trembled a tiny bit as he opened his message app. He’d saved her contact details in his phone as Soulmate. Why had he done that? he wondered - it had been done without thinking.

“Hi Billy, really surprised to get your voicemail but yeah we can meet up. Let me know when and where. Bye.”

No emojis or anything but hey, that was fine by him. Billy wasn’t an emoji kind of guy. He realised he was smiling. He caught the redhead’s eye again and she seemed to be giving him a hopeful look, but… no. Billy drained the remainder of his beer and left the bar. He wanted to go home to think about ‘when and where’ in peace before texting her back. Tonight. He would text her back tonight. No use playing hard to get, he decided - that was just a stupid time-wasting game.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Billy opened his message app. He’d poured himself a whisky when he got in, and had sipped it while thinking about ‘when and where’. Now he’d decided. He was going to invite her here. To his apartment. His sanctuary. The holy of holies. He never brought women here. But he felt the need to have her here.

He was still really struggling with how she seemed to be changing what he did, how he thought. Was it the soulmate thing? He truly didn’t know. It could be. He didn’t know, but just look at tonight. He could’ve picked any of the women in that bar and he’d bet his bottom dollar they’d have taken him home or gone to a hotel with him. He hadn’t been interested in any of them. Not one. Now that was not how Billy usually rolled. So what had changed? The only variable was her.

Was it because she’d stated categorically that she wasn’t interested in him? That didn’t happen to him. Whichever women he hit on, they were always interested in Billy. So maybe it was just an ego thing. He shrugged, and began typing the text. Said how he’d like to cook dinner for her at home on Friday night, if that was okay with her. He hit Send and closed the app and his phone. Wonder what she’ll say, he thought and spent the next half an hour picking up his phone every 20 seconds to see if she’d replied. Which he knew she hadn’t of course, but he couldn’t resist checking.

He was at least able to laugh at himself. This is what teenage kids did. He’d missed out on all of that. When he was that age, he’d just bedded girls at school, too. Had never actually dated because he’d been too closed off, too self-absorbed. And too lazy to invest in actual relationships, if he was being totally honest. Why bother, when there were so many easy pickings to be had and then discarded as soon as he’d got what he wanted? Which was never very long after he’d shown interest.

His phone buzzed and he jumped, startled. He grabbed it. Yes, it was her! He opened the message app and read her acceptance of his invitation. Elated, he texted back an enthusiastic reply, saying he could pick her up. She replied, no thanks, she’d make her own way there. He smirked, still resisting him to an extent then. He sent her his address and suggested she come along at about 8 pm, asking if there was anything she didn’t eat. No, she said, she ate pretty much anything. Well, I’ll see you at 8, he texted.

He sat back, a satisfied smile on his face. Now he just had to decide what to cook.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

She placed her cutlery on her empty plate and lifted her wine glass to her lips, taking a sip. “Well, I have to say - that was delicious, Billy.” “Glad you enjoyed it,” Billy replied casually, secretly feeling extremely pleased with himself. He’d made a monkfish and prawn curry with sticky rice. Okay, he’d bought the curry sauce but he’d had to steam the rice, par-cook the fish and seafood before uniting it with the sauce, and he’d managed not to mess it up. He didn’t tell her he’d bought the sauce, of course. He was quite happy to let her think he’d made the entire thing, and had made sure the sauce jar was at the very bottom of the kitchen bin covered with other bits of garbage so she wouldn’t inadvertently see it.

“Your apartment’s quite special too,” she went on, “did you choose the decor?” He lifted her plate along with his and took them over to the sink in the kitchen area, before bringing the bottle of rosè out of the fridge and topping up her glass. “Most of it is was in place when I moved in,” he admitted, “but I had the bedroom redone.” She laughed, “I’ll take your word for that.” He sent a flirtatious look her way, “I was ready to give you the grand tour.” She shook her head, “No need, thanks,” smiling, “you can just describe it to me.” “But it’s so much easier if I show you,” he persisted, smirking when she sighed and agreed to view it.

She picked up her wine glass and followed him out of the living area down the short corridor to his large bedroom. There was one wall of exposed brick with a large picture window, covered by a black venetian blind, two walls painted a muted metallic bronze and one statement wall of bronze and black patterned designer wallpaper. A huge king-size bed took up space in the centre of the room, with a large built-in wardrobe along one of the bronze walls and a full-length mirror set into one of its three doors. A large flat-screen TV was attached to the wall opposite the bed.

“Very masculine, I like it,” she commented. She had taken it all in from the safety of the doorway, while Billy had walked right into the room. He turned and looked back at her, “Come on in, I don’t bite.” “Don’t you? Is this where you bring all your women, Billy?” He smiled, shaking his head, “I don’t bring women here.” She looked surprised, “You don’t?” Then she nodded, “Ahh… I know, you go to their places… or maybe, a hotel?” He felt his face heat up, “Why do you assume that’s what I do?” “Because you’re a player, Billy. You hit on me in the bar that night, remember?”

He padded back over to her, until he was right up close. She gazed up into his eyes as he looked at her intensely. “D’you blame me?” he said, “I’m really attracted to you.” “Thought you said you didn’t want a soulmate?” He smiled, “I didn’t.” He let his hand stray to her cheek, laying it gently on her skin. “But maybe I’ve changed my mind.”

She went to step back from him but his hand slid round to the back of her neck and he pulled her towards him, his lips meeting hers in a long kiss. She didn’t resist so he pulled her even closer to him and let his other hand move to her waist. His kiss became more passionate and she did pull away then, starting to walk back to the living area. “I really doubt you have, Billy,” she said over her shoulder. She headed to the sofa, sitting down and regarding him as he followed her. “It’s obvious you enjoy your single lifestyle. A lot. I’m not about to get tangled up in all that.”

“So you do want a soulmate,” he smirked, sitting down side on to her and curling one long leg beneath him, “I thought you might”. She shook her head, “No. I don’t. Certainly not one who beds half of Manhattan, anyway.” He picked up his wine glass from the coffee table, smiling as he sipped some wine, “Not any more I don’t.” She gave him a sceptical look and he continued, “The night I texted you. I’ll be honest, I went to a bar to hook up… but I didn’t. I wasn’t interested in any of them.” She smirked, “So…what? You came home alone? Really?” “Really. I got your reply and I left the bar. Alone.”

She laughed, “That must’ve been disappointing for you and your ego.” He shook his head, “No, it wasn’t. I only wanted you.” Again he got a sceptical look from her, so he scooted along the sofa until he was right next to her, putting his wine glass down again. He leant in and kissed her again, before pulling back and gazing at her. “Mmmm,” he hummed, “that’s what I want.” His head tilted down again and he ran his tongue slowly along her bottom lip. “And that,” he said, mouth moving to her neck, biting and licking gently, “…and this.” She sighed, leaning her head back on the sofa.

“I’m not going to get involved with you, Billy. You’re probably just pissed that I said that, and you’re enjoying the chase. To make me submit to you. Well, it’s not going to happen.” He pressed his body against hers as much as he could, making sure his erection was right up against the side of her thigh. “Are you sure about that? I think you want this…” a small thrust of his hard length against her leg, “…as much as I want this.” Billy’s long fingers slid along her thigh until they rested right in the centre of her lap, in the haven of warmth at the apex of her thighs. She’d turned her head to look into his eyes, “I’d be a fool to get involved with you,” she repeated, “soulmate or not.”

He began to slowly stroke her inner thigh, dark eyes gazing into hers, “I’ll prove to you I’ve changed. That I do want my soulmate. You, just you and no-one else.” He saw her lips part ever so slightly, and Billy smiled.

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Billy opened his eyes slowly, stretching and yawning. He took particular pleasure in luxuriously stretching his long legs across his king-size bed. He touched soft skin and smiled fondly as he looked over at his soulmate’s tousled head on the pillow next to him. He gave a soft chuckle, he’d mussed up her hair again when he’d made love to her during the night. She’d grumbled a little when he’d woken her up and said he wanted sex. She didn’t fool him - their appetites were exactly the same. Quite voracious, to be honest. Well, they were soulmates after all so they aligned in many, many ways.

He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, and she shifted slightly but didn’t wake up. Lying back down, he stared up at the ceiling, deep in thought.

Who would’ve thought that Billy Russo - ‘the Panther’ as he liked to think of himself - would have fallen under his soulmate’s spell and settled down so quickly into a monogamous relationship? Without so much as a whimper? He’d not let her go home again after that first night together. He’d had to work really hard every step of the way to get her into his bed that night, but once he’d got her there and when she’d allowed him to sink into that glorious warmth of hers, he knew he’d found his paradise on earth.

He’d lain awake the rest of that night while she slept next to him, realising among other things that he’d never actually made love until that first time with her. It had always just been quick sexual releases - no feelings, just strictly physical reactions involved. He was amazed how fast his feelings for her had literally erupted in him since he’d met her, only a few days ago. Now, he couldn’t imagine being apart from her. He was scared shitless about all of this, but there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.

He’d watched her sleep for hours after that, and asked her as soon as she awoke the next morning to move in with him. She’d looked at him as if he was a crazy person. However she had in fact stayed at his place every night since, and had let her own apartment go within a month. That had been nearly six months ago.

He slipped two long slim fingers over her left hand, which lay raised above her head slightly on the pillow. The gold band on her ring finger was also slim and shone slightly in the dim light. It sat below the large pear-shaped diamond engagement ring and the eternity ring he’d given her yesterday which she also wore. His other hand stroked a lock of wavy hair back off her face, and he placed another kiss on her soft cheek.

He looked at the slightly wider band on his own ring finger. Married! Yeah, who’d have thought it. Him, Billy Russo. Playboy supreme. After only three months, too. That soulmate BS must have something to it after all, he thought, chuckling to himself. She began to stir, and his hand dropped to her shoulder, taking comfort from every physical connection he had with her.

She’d transformed him, he knew. And he’d never been happier in his life, felt more complete. He thought back to that moment he’d felt the star on his wrist burning and was eternally grateful that he’d met his soulmate.

And Karen, well… Karen had been absolutely delighted to be able to buy that hat.

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(My photo edit)

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@blackbirddaredevil23 @omgrachwrites @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead @ourloveisforthelovely @swthxrry @odetostep @supernaturalcat7 @obscurilicious @strawb3rrydr3ss @bruxa0007 @aleksanderwh0r3 @theshadowkingsqueen @bat-luna-cat @carlywhomever @paracosmenthusiast

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[artemiseamoon]

Who We Were

Billy Russo x f reader

A oneshot fic |  Enemies to lovers to enemies to ? AU

Words: 4,156

Warnings: angst, ex-lovers, a shitty break up, billy being billy , sexual undertones 

Part 2

GIF credit to creators 

My SECRET SANTA fic for @fieryhuntress​ | part of  @flightlessangelwings​ and @the-purity-pen​ Ben Barnes Fic exchange 

AN: I hope you’re happy with it!

This office bought back too many memories. Your mind floods with all the times you’ve been in here; the conversations, disagreements, even the sweeter moments come back.

You and Billy never had an easy go of things. You were partly convinced that in a past life, you and Billy were enemies or something. Despite the inability to get along, you remained drawn to each other like magnets. Even the fights were thrilling. There was always an erotic undertone under every clash.

Then one day it happened. He kissed you and from then on, the rules were out the window. To this day, your fiery trist with Billy Russo was hands down the most powerful and erotic affair you ever had in your life. As much as you hated to admit it, he made every lover who came after seem subpar.

But Billy's ego and emotional unavailability, among other things, made it difficult. When the end came it was dramatic, overwhelming, painful. So much so you left Anvil to work for another company. This act itself essentially made you dead to him. Billy didn’t talk to you again, nor you to him.

You spent a year and 5 months away from him. Away from this office, this building, his scent. And now, as Anvil devoured a third security company, you stood in his office.

Anvil acquired your previous employer. As soon as you got the news, a call from an unknown number appeared on your phone. Normally, you wouldn't pick up an unknown number but at that moment, you did.

It was him. Your ghost, Billy Russo. He was brief, saying only to meet him at his office that coming Monday. You had four days to sit on it, four days of confusion, mixed feelings, anger, and a sense of joy.

You despised him for taking the company and putting you out of work, but part of you also wondered if this was just revenge for leaving Anvil. Was this Billy’s messed-up way of trying to get you back?

Either way, you weren't making excuses for Billy or his behavior. You planned to rip him a new one once you saw him. So, you make a choice, you decide to go.

That leads to today, as you stand in his office and stare at his back. Billys has been gazing out the window for what feels like forever now, each passing second only causing the emotions inside of you to intensify.

Through the tall windows, you could see the fog accumulating outside. It was one of those dreary mornings with a rainstorm on the horizon. That unclear misty sky was a good metaphor for the energy in this room right now.

You massage the back of your neck with one hand, pondering if you should have come in the first place. You decide to break the silence and speak,

“Russo, did you call me here to stare at your back all day, or are you going to tell me why I’m here?”

You barely hear the low chuckle your response arouses in him, but you can see the way his shoulders move. With his hands still in his pockets, Billy turns his head to the right, glancing back at you.

“Your old position is open if you want it.” You detect a mix of amusement in his voice. Rolling your eyes to yourself, you walk further into the room and take a seat.

“That was fucked up you know, a lot of people worked there.” You say, keeping your eyes on him.

“I’m only concerned with one. Besides, everyone received severance, you twice as much. ” He comments, before fully turning to look at you.

When those dark deep eyes meet yours, it takes everything in you to fight that hypnotic effect. Sometimes all it took was looking into his eyes, and you were mush, putty, a goner.

Billy continues, “I have another position open, ever sweeter than you last. But it would require you to work with me, closely.”

His voice drops deeper and you curse him under your breath. It still escapes your logical mind how you could hate and desire one person so much. Managing to focus your thoughts again, you reply,

“What potion? I worked here for 3 years, this sounds like bullshit Billy.”

“A lot's changed since you left, “ he stops himself. After a pause, he speaks your name. You feel your strength wavering. The way it sounded on his lips was like magic, a spell, seduction.

Billy continues, “Despite our personal shit,” he motions with his finger between his body and yours, “you’re one of the best, tops. I trust you. Things are still changing. I need someone who is almost as good as me at my side.”

His emphasis on almost rubs you the wrong way. Without thinking about it, you reach over to the table and grab a pen, then toss it at him.

Billy catches it, a grin lingers on his lips. “Your aim has always been good. My catch is better.”

Billy walks over to the table and puts the pen back. He sits on the edge and crosses his arms before making eye contact again.

Sighing heavily, you cross your arms. “We don’t even get along. How would that work? And,” you raise your voice a little higher, “my question is not to say I’m interested. So you can stop smirking.”

“Am I smirking?” Billy leans forward teasingly.

Annoyance mixes with desire inside of you, like some sort of volatile cocktail. You conclude, being in a room with Billy was a bad idea. Even after a year and 5 months, you were clearly not over him.  

You stand with intent to leave, but Billy quickly reaches out and grabs your forearm. He doesn't even have to get up from the desk. You glance down at his hand firm around your arm, then at his eyes.

Billy tilts his head to the side, his eyes moving over your body. You watch with hitched breath as he greedily takes you in, down to your feet, and back up before making eye contact.

“Come work for me, you know I’ll take care of you.” Billy moistens his lips and keeps his eyes locked on yours.

Blowing out a breath, you break eye contact and look past him. A crackle of thunder fills the air, you flinch slightly, Billy stays still.

A moment passes like this, you don’t pull away or remove his hand. Billy loosens his grip and gently strokes your skin with his fingertips.

That buzzy warm feeling takes over every part of your body as your heart pounds faster. You didn’t even know what you wanted to do first, slap him in the face or climb on top of him.

When you gather the courage to make eye contact again, you instantly regret it. The fire blazing in Billy's eyes makes you breathless and you know you have to get out of this office before you sign over your soul to the devil, a second time.

Billy inches closer, moving into your space. His eyes linger on your lips a moment before rising upward again.

“I require the best, and you’re it.”

His words make your knees weak. Pulling on the last bit of strength you have, you jerk your arm away and slap him clear across the face before he knows what's happening. To be honest, you even surprise yourself.

But, you go with it, hiding your surprise, “that's for what you did and for being a dick!”

Billy touches his face, the brief sting of pain is quickly replaced by a smoldering lust-filled gaze. Billy stands up, slowly moving his hand from his face, “I like that.”

“I know you do,” you grab your bag and take a step back.

You know you should leave, you should leave right away but you can’t. The part of you choosing chaos was winning and every second that passed with Billy, you were ready to fuck up and pay the cost later.

Straightening out your posture, you speak up, “If, and this is a big if. If I come back I will have terms and I want every single one of them met. Every fucking one.” You point at him.

Billy bites his lower lip, “bossier than I remember. To be clear, that’s not a complaint.”

You feel a smile creeping on your lips but suppress it. Instead, you pull yourself toward the door. “I hate you, you know that right?”

Billy places his hand over his heart. “Without a doubt.”

“Good. I will call you with my answer when I’m ready.” You assert and grab the door handle.

Billy quickly scales the distance between you and stops right behind you, hovering at your back. He takes your hand and puts a manilla envelope inside of it, letting his fingers linger there before taking his hand away.

He smells good. Billy Russo always smelled good but right now he was intoxicating. You blink away the thought and take the packet, placing it under your arm.

As you turn the handle and open the door, Billy whispers into your ear, letting his lips brush your skin,

“As you wish.”

...

In many ways, you were a logical person, but all that went out the window with Billy. All it took was one shared glance, one smile, one gentle touch, and you were willing to ignore your brain and go with your heart.

This very fact influenced your final answer. You made Billy wait a week, enjoying every second you left him on edge. It was like foreplay between the both of you. Billy got what he wanted when he wanted it; making him sweat was perversely fulfilling.  

The meeting went as expected, carefully chosen words, heavy eye contact, the two of you moving around the room like chess pieces. To your surprise, Billy agreed to all your terms. Even signed the paperwork.

(Flashback to the meeting)

You could see it, that hint of a grin at the corners of his mouth. Your eyes landed on his hair, dark as ink and perfectly slicked back. The longer you looked, you could feel that sensation in your hands, what Billy’s silky strands felt like between your fingers.  

You stared so long, a memory replying in your mind, that when Billys raised his head, you didn't notice. You blinked and focused, returning to the present, his handsome face starting up at you.

“There are some questionable things in here.” He tapped the paper with the pen, not breaking eye contact. “But I’ll let you have them.”

“You let me have them or I walk.” You replied quickly. This caused Billy’s shadow to grin to morph into a full smile. It took all your will to remain calm under that gaze, that smile. But you do. “Sign it Russo, I have other things to do.”

Billy sat back in the chair while slowly spinning the pen in his fingers, “Are you this bossy in the bedroom too?”

Against all attempts not to, you laughed. Letting it out, you point to the contract, “ just sign it.”

Billy's eyes light up as he moves closer to the desk. His gaze lingers, studying you. You continued to stare down at him with an expectant look on your face. With a delighted look on his face, Billy signs. 

(flashback over)

You made a promise to yourself, this time around you'd be smarter and resist your urges. No sex, no making out, no lingering touches or hands on your hips. No matter how sinfully sexy Billy Russo was, or how weak his gaze made you feel, you’d keep it together.

On your first day, you even made a point to say that your relationship would be strictly business. Nothing else. In true Billy fashion, he responded as expected. It was like voicing aloud a truth you both knew was temporary. Even in the back of your mind, you could hear that voice whisper, for now, you mean.

Shoving your urges to the deepest depth of your core, you get on with the job. You do it, and you do it well. Often catching Billy’s very proud little nods and grins as you dominated the role the way he knew you would. The flirting never really goes away, much to both of your pleasures.

…

As two weeks turn into a month, you feel proud you’ve stuck to your word, no matter how damn hard it was. Though you’ve always had chemistry, this time around it felt even more intense. Like it was trying to suck the air out of both your lungs. It reminded you of that image on the Devil tarot card. Your chemistry, your past, your longing for each other kept you bound, in chains. In response, you carefully limit your time around Billy and promptly leave after work each time.

But the most surprising thing about all of this was how little you two fought. You and Billy used to fight like cats and dogs. Even when you were messing around. The bickering reduced significantly but didn't go away.

Now, you barely fought. It was slightly disturbing how smoothly you worked together, like a well-oiled machine. And without the clashing, you enjoyed Billy's company, even craved it. You couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he changed in the last year. Perhaps, with this version of Billy you could...

You push the thought out of your mind as soon as it appears. You were you, and Billy was still Billy. Thus, a healthy relationship was likely unrealistic. No matter how much you wished it could be so.

…

2 weeks later 

Your bones feel heavy, weighed down by tiredness. This most recent job was a big one. Some private concerts for big names with too much money. It required you and Billy to go upstate. You were thankful the weather cooperated for two full days, but now not so much.

You already sent the team home before the storm started, leaving only you and Billy behind to tie up loose ends. Once everything was set and done, you realize the few snowflakes hours earlier turned into a full storm.

You already checked out of your hotel rooms and planned to leave right after the meeting. Your client offered up one of their many cabins as gratitude. It was fully stocked, had gas and heat, and was close by. Driving back to the city was near impossible at this point, so you take the cabin.

On the drive up, neither you nor Billy make any conversation. It was a grueling few days and frankly, you were both exhausted. Aside from that, you did notice Billy was quieter than usual since yesterday. In your gut, it felt like he wanted to say something he wouldn’t allow himself to say. You were sure he noticed the ease between you this time around, maybe he was analyzing it too.

Billy at the wheel, he drives the car up a winding path. Snow-covered trees line the way as the headlights shine in the dark. You look forward to the cabin, the warmth. You briefly envision Billy next to you by the fire, cuddled close as he gently caresses your arm. You loved when he did that.

Your sexual connection was out of this world, but when you missed him, you often thought about the smaller things, like caresses, kisses on the side of your head, his fingers interlaced with yours.

When you arrive at the cabin, you both realize it’s more a house than a cabin. But the moment you step inside, you feel comfortable. It may have been the fanciest cabin you've ever seen in your life, but it was warm. Earth tones fill the place and a very impressive fireplace acts as the centerpiece of the living room.

You explore the place as Billy brings things in from the car. The fridge is stocked as promised, and so is the bar. In another reality, this could be a romantic getaway. But right now, as you and Billy existed in this weird untitled place, you couldn’t truly gauge the outcome of this.

The brief interlude of the storm ends as you glance out the window, you watch small flakes fall from the sky and quickly accumulate on the already snow-covered ground.

“It’s not letting up until tomorrow afternoon,” you hear Billy say from somewhere behind you. You turn around and find him in the doorway. “We might be stuck here until Wednesday.”

“Two days in the middle of the middle of the woods with Billy Russo, what a dream.” You grin.

“Smartass.” He smirks and turns, disappearing down the hall.

….

The place has three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and plenty of space. It was too big really. But for a good two hours, you and Billy go your separate ways. Cleaning the day off with hot showers, getting settled in whatever bedroom you chose, exploring the place.

After a while, you return to the living room and wrap yourself in a blanket. You watch the news a little to learn about the storm and switch over to a movie. With the room nice and toasty, you had all you needed, minus a hot drink.

Almost as if on queue, Billy appears with two drinks in hand. He looks cute in his more relaxed clothes, you always loved how he looked both in and out of suits.

“Did you read my mind?”

Billy fully enters the room and places the mug on the side table next to you before sitting himself.

“You hate being cold, I remember.”

You want to kiss him. But you don’t. You wonder how often he thinks about things like this, what you like, what you don’t like. You wonder if your shared memories play in his mind like little films, as they do in yours. You thank him and take the mug into our hands. His obsidian eyes are burning into you, but you steady your own on the tv.

The truth sinks in the bottom of your stomach. You were afraid a second chance could work because you didn't want to get hurt by him again. You didn't. You could not take a second heartbreak and it was safer to hate him. But, with that hate gone, what were you supposed to do now? You no longer had the armor you needed.

Billy finally looks away and you let yourself relax a little more. Something about him was different now. He seemed more available, more open. But at the same time, not really.

You only get a few minutes into the film before Billy grabs the remote and turns it off. This catches you off guard, you turn to face him,

“Why’d you do that?” You ask.

Billys expression is serious but his eyes, his eyes are full of emotion.

“I know I hurt you when we were together. You never talk about it, you didn’t even bring it up. You just left.”

“I was fine.” You lie.

No one hurt you as bad as Billy did. Any other breakup paled in comparison. But you didn’t want to give him any more power over you than he already had, so you downplayed everything, reduced it. Even how you really felt about him.

“No, you weren’t y/n. That was my fault, my selfishness. I’ve owed you an apology for a long time now. I’m sorry.” He takes your hand from under the blanket and covers it with his own.

Emotion sweeps through your body and you stiffen up, but don’t look away.

“I take the blame, It was on me. I regret letting you leave, I regret not trying hard enough.”

Is this Billy? Or a body double? You don’t know and you can barely hold back the storm inside of you anymore. You blink quickly trying to hold the tears off a little longer.

“Are you talking or the bar?” You ask.

Billy moves closer, still holding your hand, “me. All me.”

You make an o sound and can hear the shakiness in your breath. Pulling your eyes away, you find something to look at, anything that's not Billy but you let him keep your hand.

Billy senses you pulling away and trying to suppress your emotions. Acting on instinct, he leans in and kisses you. The moment his lips meet yours your heart stops, your breath stills, you stare at him in shock.

Then the damn breaks, you exhale and kiss him back. Adrenaline rushes through your bodies as Billy pulls you closer to him, nearly in his lap, holding you as close as possible as the kiss builds.

It’s only when somehow, one of you knocks a mug over that you snap out of it. You push yourself back slightly and catch your breath.

Billy parts his lips to speak, struggling with what he’s about to say.

“ I love you, I always have.”

His confession knocks you out of the lust-filled haze of the kiss to the full reality of the moment. Billy liked you, and he got a bit obsessive about things, so you figured he might be obsessed with you. But love? Love never came up in the realm of possibilities.

Your expression must give away the chaos of your thoughts. Billy touches the side of your face, soothing your cheek with his thumb. You can see something you rarely see in his eyes, anxiety, nervousness, vulnerability.

The truth was you loved him too. You fell for him pretty damn fast but you would never tell him. You didn't want to be a statistic, one of the girls who told him and never heard it back. So it was your secret, your tightly bottled-up secret.

Feeling him watching you, you flash a quick smile that doesn't meet your eyes. Billy weaves his finger through yours. It feels good, sending a sweet warm sensation through your body.

“Um,” you start to speak, then stop. Your eyes don’t know where to settle. You pick your hands and study the way your palm fits into his. A mix of words bubble up but they don’t make sense. You don’t know where to start or how to respond.

In the tense silence, as you leave Billy handing, you notice something else mixes with the heaviness in your chest. It’s a heat, a tingling warmth that soon fills your heart and chest.  

You press your lips together, trying to hold back a smile when the words escape, “I love you too.”

Before you can look him in the eyes, Billys' lips claim yours again, his hands come up to cup your face. The union of your lips sends sparks through both your bodies. This felt right. Being in his arms felt right.

When the kiss breaks, Billy doesn't release his tight grip on you. You gaze deeply into the eyes of each other, feeling desire possess your bodies and fill the air around you.

You close your eyes to calm yourself and place your hands over his.

“Billy, “ you have his full attention. You know you have to be honest. You want this, you do. But you need to protect yourself too.

You continue, “I need a little time, to think about all this, process it,” you stroke the length of his neck, “I need that.”

Billy leans into your touch, and when you slide your fingers in his hair, he melts into you. A soft moan leaves his lips. He opens his eyes to look at you with a lowered gaze,

“I owe you at least that.” His tone is soft, comforting. Any tension left in your body leaves you feeling lighter, even a little giddy.

Billy calls your name, “Come here.” He whispers.

Billy draws you into a hug. Smiling, you rest against his chest and close your eyes, listening to his breathing.

What comes next for you and Billy, you didn’t know. But you weren’t enemies anymore, you were something else and even with all the unknowns, the possibility of a future together seemed brighter than ever.

Pt 2

tags ( adding more from the form soon, if there are any, but dinner first! )  if you missed it I have a new list, likely my last cause tags take a lot of work.

Self - add taglist

Billy: @mswarriorbabe80​  @rachlovesactors​ @readsalot73​  @po3ticb3auty​  @b-bae-27​

BILLY RUSSO

The Punisher general: @artsymaddie​ More Billy  

[the-purity-pen]

You're Worth It

Any Male Character x Fem!Reader (no y/n)

Rating: Explicit (Minors DNI)

Warnings: established relationship, fingering

Words: 4.2k

Notes: Since my best friend and I organized the #bbgiftexchange2021 and wouldn't be able to participate, we agreed to write each other a special gift fic. This is mine for her. I wrote this open-ended so that anyone reading can imagine any male character of their choosing. @flightlessangelwings, you are everything to me and I really would not be here, doing what I apparently love to do without your endless encouragement and love and support in all things. And that goes for just life in general too. I love you so much and you should definitely know that you are worth it 💕

Your entire body sagged as you dragged your feet along the hall to your apartment. The day had been exhausting. You had spent all day with clients, and your body was screaming for a nice hot bubble bath and maybe some time with your electric foot massager.

The stress was evident in the way you carried your body and most certainly in your face, so when you unlocked the door to your apartment, you practically dropped everything when you saw the candles everywhere.

Your first instinct was to panic that someone had broken in and was trying to distract you with the candles, but shortly after you closed the door, you saw him. He came through from the bedroom doorway into the living space with a warm smile on his face that made your heart melt even from across the room.

His walk across the space seemed to be in slow motion, but your heart raced all the same as he made his way over to you. Without a word, he took your bags from you and slipped your jacket over your shoulders gently. Then, he moved around you to better help get your things off and away from you before he set them down over by the shoe rack that occupied the wall next to the door.

You watched as he came over and wrapped an arm around you before placing a gentle kiss on your temple. You smiled at him. “What’s all this for?” you asked, watching his face morph into a bigger smile.

“I knew today was a busy, full-packed schedule for you at work, so I figured a little romantic evening would be a good way to unwind,” he responded, and when you opened your mouth to protest, just as he knew you would, his finger came over your lips as he shook his head.

“No. You cannot fight it. Yes, I wanted to do this and I know I didn’t have to,” he responded with a soft chuckle, pulling the words right out of your mouth. Your mouth shut as you looked at him with a knowing glance before he was chuckling again and kissing your cheek this time. “Come on,” he offered as he wrapped his arm up around your shoulder to lead you to the bedroom door.

You let him lead you to the bedroom, and once in there, you could see the candle trail had continued, and there were even some rose petals strewn about the room, giving a beautiful ambiance and fragrance to the room. Your eyes took in the sight, and you found yourself a bit breathless at all of the efforts he was going through to make sure you felt relaxed.

“Bubble bath is just about ready,” he told you before pulling away from you to go into the ensuite bathroom. You stood there a bit confused on how he could have timed it all perfectly, but you supposed that was just part of his charm.

You gently walked over to the open bathroom door and could smell the Epsom salts he must have poured into the bath. You peeked your head in just as he turned towards you.

“I think I remembered all the things that you like in your bath,” he said with a slight shrug, pointing to the bottle of oil, the package of salt, and the bubble bath soap all neatly placed on a little wooden tray on the corner of the tub.

You let out a soft huff of a laugh and nodded with a proud smile on your face. You walked over to him and placed your hand on his cheek gently. “You are doing so much more than perfect, my love,” you told him, which made him release a breath with a warm smile as he leaned in to capture your lips in a soft kiss.

“Now, bath time. Then I have something else super relaxing in store for you. I’ve been practicing!” he added with a little wiggle of his brows.

You couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. “You are positively sinful, you know that?” you said as you started the process of stripping your clothes.

His eyes never left you as he watched you bend and twist and accentuate parts of your body that he absolutely adored on you. Even if you constantly told him how you disliked those parts, he’d always counter with how beautiful you really were, and he would spend extra time kissing those parts you doubted.

As you slid into the warm bath, the smells and feel of the water almost immediately put you at ease. Your aching muscles started to relax with the heat of the water, and your mind started to clear just from breathing in the aroma. You can practically feel the stress just wafting away from your body.

With your eyes closed, you didn’t see him move around to the side of the tub, sponge in hand, as he dipped it into the warm water, letting it fall gently over your body. You are startled at first but quickly relax with a smile as you turn your head slowly to look at him.

He looks so incredibly handsome in this lighting, and you feel your heart flutter as it had the first time you had met him. It was as if the years hadn’t even gone by that you were still so young and newly in love. And it was times like the present where he reminded you that the love between you was always going to be this way.

“Have I told you I adore how hard you work?” he said randomly, softly as he watched the water pour over your body from the sponge. Over and over again, like a little quiet ritual between your bodies where he wasn’t actually touching you. It was as if the love was flowing through his fingertips, to the sponge and water, and back to you and your body.

You hummed in response, finding yourself feeling ultra-relaxed at the moment. “You have, but it’s always appreciated to hear it again,” you said as you looked to him and reached up with your wet hand to touch the side of his face again. He was growing a bit more stubble around this time of year, but it suited him, and you liked the slightly rugged look to him.

“Well,” he started before diving into all the details of what made you such a wonderful person. He began with how hard you work to provide for yourself and him. How passionate you were about your job and helping others. How big your heart was for caring so much for other people and how strong your body was for being able to carry out your tasks every day.

You felt your heart relaxed but thrumming at a decent rate at his words. He was also so kind to you. He was forgiving on the days when you’d work late and miss dinner with him. Or the times you had to cover a shift, and even though your body screamed and begged to be home snuggled with him, you had to stay at work. He never got mad at you for that.

What he was, and what he was telling you that he was, was proud. Proud of everything you did and would continue to do. Proud that he got to call you his person. You were his whole life and had been for quite some time. He really didn’t like having to spend time without you, but he understood.

“How are you such a perfect gentleman all the time?” you asked, using your soapy, wet hand to place it on the side of his face and slowly pull him down to kiss you. His lips always felt like home and even more so right then. “I love you,” you told him as you pulled away from the kiss.

“I love you too, sweetheart. Let’s get you out of this tub for the next part of the evening,” he told you as he pushed himself to stand and went over to grab one of your favorite fluffy towels. These towels were usually only put out for special occasions but based on everything that happened since you walked in the door, you guessed this is what he deemed a special occasion.

You hummed in contentedness before finally getting yourself out of the tub. You let him wrap you in the towel gently before he left your side to drain the tub. You finished drying yourself off in the meantime and took to patting some of your hair dry. Just enough to keep it from dripping as you walked towards the bedroom where he had already disappeared into.

You smiled warmly as you saw everything set up once again. It truly felt like a magical spa, and you didn’t really know how he could pull off something like this with relative ease. Maybe he was magic. Or a fairytale prince. Or perhaps he was indeed just that perfect person for you.

He came up to you and wrapped his arms around you, holding you closer to him. His hands slid down to your backside, just resting his hands there as he looked down at you. “Get on the bed on your stomach. Strip the towel first,” he instructed before leaning in to kiss your lips in a brief but passionate kiss. He pulled away, and you just stared after him for a moment.

You let the towel fall and walked over to the bed, laying down gently on your stomach. But of course, not without an extra pop in your hips and a little wiggle as you lay down. He just chuckled under his breath, his eyes watching you with ease. Boy, did he love you.

He moved over to the side of the bed and grabbed the small bottle of massage oil. Your eyes were closed, but you recognized the smell when he opened it. You smiled to yourself as you tucked your arms down to your sides.

“A massage? For me?” you questioned with feigned surprise as he got his hands covered in the oil before placing the closed bottle on the floor at the foot of the bed.

“You work so hard,” he spoke slowly as he climbed onto the bed carefully and straddled your thighs. His warm hands pressed against your back softly and started to move over your skin to allow the oil to spread. “I figured your body would need this.”

He wasn’t a professional by any means, but over the years of various aches and sores, he had learned your weak points and your muscles that tended to be sorer. What you didn’t know was that earlier in the week, he had purposefully looked up proper techniques for some of the massages. He wanted to do it right.

The groan you let out when his hands pressed against your shoulder was almost sinful. He laughed quietly in this throat at the way your body pressed into the bed under his ministrations. He was hitting some knots here and there that you would flinch and cringe. But he consistently checked with you to make sure the pressure was okay and not actually hurting you.

“Pain is part of the healing,” you told him through grunts and gritted teeth when he hit a particularly hard knot next to your spine and shoulder blade. You winced and hissed a bit at the pain, but you told him to keep going. Within a few minutes, the pain subsided as you felt the muscle start to relax.

His hands worked over you effortlessly, and when he felt like he had hit every spot, his hands kept rubbing over your sides, just barely grazing the sides of your breasts. “Is there, um, anywhere else you’d like me to massage?” he asked softly, and you giggled though your eyes were closed still.

“Can’t imagine what you mean,” you said before turning yourself over to lay on your back underneath him. Looking at him, you smirked before taking each of his slippery hands in yours and moving them slowly to your chest.

He let out a slow, quiet groan as his hands worked against your soft flesh under yours. You bit your lower lip and looked up at him with a look that he knew well. His hands for a moment stayed where you put them directly over your nipples but just when you thought he was going to roll those pert peaks in his fingers, he moved to the upper part of your chest.

He used the oil to rub at the muscles in the front of your arm and your chest, and you let out a long groan of relief at the feeling of your muscles finally relaxing. Your arms fell to your side as your eyes closed, your breath becoming more even as he worked over your muscles. But then he was teasing again.

You giggled when his hands lightly grazed over your breasts, and he smirked at watching your nipples stiffen at his slightest touch. You gasped quietly as your back arched, hoping to find more contact with his hands against you. But he slid past them down your sides, where he massaged into the tissue at your hips.

Your hips twitched of their own accord, hoping to encourage his hands to meet at the apex of your thighs, but he knew better. This wasn’t just a tease; it was so much more because he genuinely did want to massage you. You let out a slight frown and whine when his hands traveled back up the sides of your body, narrowly missing your nipples.

But then he was leaning down and captured your nipple between his lips before sucking it in, and you gasped a moan. Your hand came to the back of his head to keep him there, which he had zero arguments against. He moaned against your skin as he sucked more of your breast into his mouth, his tongue flicking against your hardened nub.

Your voice cracked when you moaned out his name slowly, which only served to make his cock twitch in his still confined pants. His mouth moved slowly over your chest, kissing the skin along the way to the other nipple, where he paid it the same amount of attention. Your mind was already starting to fog in the haze of lust as he continued his slow assault on your senses.

His mouth worked its way up to your neck. The kisses lingered in each spot, his lips soft and warm against your skin that was already cooling from having been wet then dry from the shower. And although your skin was cold, the blood beneath was starting to warm with the electric buzz of lust that he was sending through you.

Your hands came to the sides of his face and guided him to hover over your face so you could kiss him. This kiss was also slow and sensual and deepened within a moment of fiery passion shooting through you. He moaned into your mouth, and you just swallowed down the sounds as you continued to kiss him. Your hips rolled up slowly against him, which prompted another groan from him. You were already wet from his kisses and attachment to your breasts, but you were starting to need more.

“What do you want?” he asked cheekily, a grin splitting his lips, and you pouted at him.

“You,” you said simply, which only made his grin grow wider.

“Pretty sure we’re already dating, so you’ve got me,” he responded with a chuckle. Cheeky bastard making jokes when all you wanted for him to fuck you nice and slow, make love to you.

You leaned up a bit to nip at his lower lip, and he laughed. “Oh, you want to put my hard cock inside of your wet pussy, don’t you?” he muttered as you groaned. When did his hand sneak between you? And when had he found your clit? You were so distracted by the look in his eyes that when his fingers started pressing circles against your clit, you gasped in surprise.

“Is that what you want?” he repeated, and you just nodded. Your head pushed back against the soft bed when his fingers gathered your arousal before he slipped his middle finger between your folds. A second finger soon added to the massaging of your inner walls that he was doing with each push and pull of his hand.

He chuckled darkly as he watched your face. The way your mouth dropped open, the creases in the corners of your eyes as you squinted, the way your nose twitched and flared as you tried to keep your breathing even and calm. He loved all of it, but above all, he loved you.

His fingers kept moving, but you were whining and waning as the pressure wasn’t enough. That’s when his fingers pressed harshly into you. His knuckles hit you as his fingers hit that blinding spot within you, and you cried out. “Oh god!” you cried, your hands slamming against the bed, grasping at the comforter the best you could to ground yourself, keep yourself from feeling like floating away.

His fingers continued that slow drag out only to shove back in, causing you to cry out in pleasure every time. He loved it, but he knew you’d need more soon. This was just the foreplay, the fun before he got to do what he had hoped to get to do all day while setting this all up.

His mouth came to your neck and started to kiss and suckle the skin before biting it, and you yelped. Your hand came to his shoulder, gripping it. When did he get so broad? Had he been working out? Or were you just feeling so full and surrounded by him that he seemed larger?

Your thoughts quickly vanished as he found your jugular and suckled it, trying to mark you as his. You already were, and the thought that he still felt the need to mark you as his in any way that he could make you weak in the knees.

“Please,” you clamored against him, trying to force anything more than a single word from yourself. You wanted to tell him how good it felt and how much he was blinding you with pleasure, but you wanted more, needed more. Your hands grabbed at him to pull his body right against yours as his fingers worked a bit harder, a bit faster within you.

He was hitting something so deep within you that you started to see stars as you moaned out, making him chuckle against your skin. He breathed heavily into your ear as his fingers continued to fill you over and over again. You felt that low burn in your belly, the warning sign that the wave of bliss was going to take you over soon.

“Oh, look at you. Such a mess for me after I relaxed you. Think you can take a third finger?” he asked gruffly into your ear, but before you could gather enough awareness to even nod, he added a third finger, and you cried out from the feeling of being so full.

You were chanting what felt like a prayer mixed with begging. Simple phrases and words spill from your lips like honey. Oh god. More. Fuck. Please. You were a mess. He was right. He had relaxed you and your brain enough to become just pliable putty in his hands which he was highly enjoying.

Your cries became louder and slightly higher pitched. That was your sign to him that you were getting closer. His fingers moved in such a way to make it feel like they were splitting you open in a good way. Faster, harder, hitting that spot within you with more ease as your arousal gathered on his fingers.

“Good girl. Now cum for me. I want to feel you,” he grunted against your ear. Between his filthy words and calling you a good girl, you were done for. Your body arched as you came, your inner muscles squeezing his fingers in a vice-like grip. “Ah, that’s it,” he groans as you cum on his fingers, but his movements don’t let up just yet.

He’s working you right through this orgasm to a second one that’s quickly building and threatening to take over you immediately. Your body is writhing, head turning this way and that, your eyes screwed shut, trying to just live in the pleasure that is blinding and consuming all at once.

Suddenly, you are careening over the edge once more, your body nearly lifted from the bed as you are overtaken by pleasure. A numbness starts to settle in your toes and slowly works its way up your body until your whining, begging him to slow down.

His fingers do slow down then as his face watches you completely blissed out. Your body twitches when he finally removes his fingers, and you’re relieved but immediately miss the feeling of being full all at once.

His lips find your skin with ease, kissing along and up your body until he is once again at your ear to whisper filthy nothings to you. Things about how sexy you look when you cum, how you felt around his fingers when you came, how you soaked his hand and the bed in your cum.

All you could do was to hum in agreement, your body feeling boneless under him. You couldn’t even move your hands to touch him, you were just that blissed out. He had wrecked you to the point of incoherency, and he had only done it with his fingers. A true testament to him knowing your body almost better than you knew it yourself.

His lips found yours, and kissing you slowly, softly until you were able to kiss him back finally. He smirked and chuckled softly. “Are you back?” he asked, his hand coming up to cup the side of your face gently. His thumb stroked your jaw back and forth as a way for him to keep you stimulated enough to wake you from your zoned-out self.

You nodded slowly in response to his question. You had to lick your lips to wet them though, because having your mouth open for all of your moanings and sounds made it relatively dry. “Yeah,” you croaked before clearing your throat. “Yes. I’m back,” you spoke softly as you turned your head, your eyes opening slowly to see him more clearly.

How was the one that looked like he was glowing when you were the one coming down from a double climax? You attributed it to him being a literal angel on Earth. It’s the only way to describe how well he could pull that pleasure out of you.

He kissed your cheek and let his lips linger, your eyes closed and enjoyed the sensation. “That was really an amazing massage,” you told him cheekily, a grin crossing your lips. That alone elicited a laugh from him.

“Ah yes. The traditional massage of the inner pussy,” he stated as if it were some fantastical name for something which only prompted both of you to break out into laughter. You were still laughing when he looked at your face. He loved seeing you so relaxed and happy, and knowing that he was the one who made you that way brought a warmth to his heart that he hadn’t experienced with someone else before.

After some moments of silence that had filled the space, your fingers dancing along his shoulder as he snuggled down against your chest, you finally spoke.

“You should move in,” you blurted out rather quickly.

He lifted his eye, an eyebrow cocked in curiosity as to what you had just told him.

“Really?” he asked, almost in disbelief that things were going to move to that next stage already. However, he shouldn’t have been that surprised since he had been planning to ask you to move in with him for the last few months.

You nodded and pulled your lips between your teeth in hopeful thought that he would say yes.

He grinned and leaned down to capture your lips in one of those soft sweet kisses of his. “I absolutely will move in with you,” he said, giving you one more chaste kiss. “On one condition.”

Your brows furrowed, and your head titled slightly as you looked up at him. Clearly, you were confused on what kind of condition or rule he could have been talking about. But before you could fully ask him what he meant, he moved his body down, capturing your nipple into his mouth, and you breathed out a moan.

“As long as I get to keep doing things like tonight for you at least once a week,” he finished his statement before kissing down your abdomen. You laughed.

“That sounds like an awful lot of work for you,” you spoke but gasped the last word when his mouth kissed over your mound and back up your stomach. He paused there and lifted to look at you.

“You’re worth it,” he said simply, and at that moment, your heart fluttered, your chest felt like it was warming, and you knew you were in love with this man. Whose head moved down to disappear between your thighs for the next hour.