#will ironhead miller x F!Reader

[burstanddecay]

Green Green Dress

Pairing: Will "Ironhead" Miller x named F!Reader (Sunny) Summary: Will thought his night was unfortunate: single during the holidays, left alone at a bar by his brother and facing the prospect of walking home for an hour in the biting cold. However, the first date taking place right behind his seat reaches a level of shitty he never considered to be achievable. Wordcount: 6.7K Contains/Warning: a shitty date, mentions of a life changing accident (to an outside character), general assholery from a man, attempted sexual coercion, a whole lotta fluff. In addition, the perspective shifts between 2nd and 3rd person. This fic mentions characters from Cold Is The Night: you don't have to read that fic to understand this, but this is an accompaniment to that, as Will and Benny are brothers.

He’s not listening in on purpose.

Really.

It’s just that the conversation happening right behind his back is like a car accident that caught on fire after the initial crash.

And then exploded.

All without the guy noticing.

So far, Will has deduced that it’s a blind date (mistake one), the guy thinks very highly of himself (mistake two), and barely lets his date get a word in edgewise (mistake three).

He catches the eye of the bartender, lifting his nearly empty scotch glass to indicate the request for a second, even though he told himself that he was only finishing the one drink before heading home. The plan had been a night of drinks, but Benny left him alone merely a few minutes after Peach arrived.

Those two have been circling around each other, possibly since day one of meeting. Where Ben went, Peach went. The affection between them was palpable, and even though he never told anyone, Will knew Benny carried a folded up letter she wrote close to his heart whenever they were in the field, back when they were still active duty.

He just really hopes they finally figure out the feeling was mutual one of these days.

“Your friend leave you alone?” the bartender asks, appearing in front of him as she places a new glass on a coaster in front of him.

“Brother,” he politely corrects her. “He did.”

A joking tsk slides past her lips as she smiles at him. “And that on Christmas eve.”

Will shrugs in reply. “No harm, no foul. Friend needed him more than I did.”

“The girl that came in? She looked it.”

The remark bristles against him, setting him on edge as he silently eyes the woman in front of him. He feels defensive of Peach: she’s like a sister to him. An extension of Benny, a part of him in a soft sense: tethering his soul to the empirical earth.

He understands the danger of tying your being to another person, but those two were connected in a way that extended past his comprehension. Connected in a way he never was to Stephanie: probably one of the reasons the marriage crashed and burned when it did.

“Oh! I just meant that she looked like she needed a friend. I’ve seen that face before, is all,” the woman in front of him continues, smiling carefully. “Didn’t mean anything by it.”

Then why remark on it, a voice in the back of his head provides. He doesn’t voice the thought, instead pressing his lips together in a half-smile before finishing off his first glass.

He can see the hesitation in her frame, wanting to dig herself out of the awkward moment, but instead she pours him a new scotch, reaches for his old glass and wordlessly moves down the bar, dunking the glass in the sink before moving onto the next customer, ending the conversation between them.

The bar is a cacophony of many things happening all at once: a game of darts on the other end of the bar, some sort of bet on the line as made clear by the loud cheering. There is a group of guy guys—soldiers, their ramrod straight posture tells him, trying to hit on a several women around the bar, couples and small groups chatting as they occupy the tables scattered around. Suddenly, out of nowhere the music is turned down. Loud, unintelligible protests pipe up around him, until the other bartender turns the stereo back up and the chorus of the song burst through the speakers, immediately prompting the other patrons join in, singing the lyrics at the top of their lungs. He chuckles, taking a sip of his new scotch, vouching to himself that he would leave—

He groans at the realisation that hits him.

Benny picked him up earlier. He doesn’t have a car here. He’ll have to walk home. Doable, but not desirable. He lowers the glass, placing it back on the soaked cardboard coaster, rubbing slightly at his jaw as he shifts on the unsteady barstool, trying to figure out the best course of action.

He debates sending Benny a text, but he knows he won’t read it: his body had been taut as he watched Peach rush out of the bar, jaw clenched so tightly that Will almost joked about it, if it hadn’t been for the pained expression in his eyes.

Still, despite the unfortunate situation, not all was lost. He had definitely been in worse situations. He’ll finish his drink, walk home, put on a movie he won’t really watch and head over to Benny’s in the morning for a day of watching Lord of the Rings and eating take out, letting Christmas pass without giving it much attention.

The song ends with a loud cheer and the volume of the stereo system gets turned back down, the bar reverting back to conversations. He catches different topics around him: what gifts people had gotten their kids, what the plans were for tomorrow. The standard things you’d expect around the holidays. Yet there was one conversation is his direct vicinity that stood out to him: the first date happening behind him, that somehow seemed to be hurdling down a cliff even more that it already was.

“Wait, where do you work?” you ask with a frown, trying to figure out if you heard him correctly. You’re pretty sure you are. It’s just fact checking at this point, if he ever let you get a word in.

“Oh, down at Clark and Bennett. Product development. As I was saying though, in college—”

“No, I’m sorry,” you say, frowning heavily as you eye the man sat opposite you. From the moment you walked into the bar, you knew showing up was a mistake: he had seemed perfectly nice on text but gave off nice guy energy that was palpable from the other side of the room, sloppily pressing a kiss to your cheek before you sat down.

That, of course, was to blame on the semester he spent abroad when he was in college, something he managed to tell you before you even sat down. It’s how they do it in France. Rude people though, y’know? Barely speak any English.

You’d almost think it’s because they speak French as their mother tongue instead. You weren’t planning on being the one to tell him that, though.

The complete horror of your current situation didn’t settle in until he named his employer, puzzle pieces clicking into places you really did not want them to.

Clark and Bennett. The same company your oldest brother worked for, before the accident.

You repeat the name, leaning back in your seat. “My brother used to work there.”

“Oh shit, really?” he asks, suddenly eyeing you with renewed interest. His eyes had been raking over your body the entire time, eyeing you like a piece of meat he couldn’t wait to devour. Not that you were going to let him: you have been carefully planning an exit strategy since about two minutes into the one sided conversation.  But this, the reveal of a connection between the two of you, seemed to spur him on. “Who’s your brother? Maybe we worked together.”

“Daniel Jones,” you tell him.

“Wait, does he call you Sunny? You’re Sunny?”

Sunny. Not the name on your passport, but the one people close to you used.

We called you sunshine as a baby because you looked perpetually angry. It was endearing, such a little thing that looked at the world with that much despise.

Sunshine then morphed into Sunny, the name used far more often than your actual name. You knew you were in trouble when it got hurdled down the yard or up the stairs with volume that would put a drill sergeant to shame (a fact you only know thanks to your youngest brother, who came home from basic training, dropping his bags on the floor and promptly proclaiming I swear to God, my drill sergeant was like a kitten compared to mom when she’s angry).

As you grew older, you introduced yourself as Sunny in most casual settings, but at school (and later work) you went by your legal name. A blind date suggested by your co-worker turned friend seemed like a fun idea, something to talk about at the new years eve party this year, but the reality was turning out a little different.

As soon as you were able to leave, you were calling Tiffany to ask her what had possessed her when she thought this would be a good match.

Still, you were at least thankful she had apparently used that name when setting this up, as you bristle at the nickname past the lips of a man who doesn’t deserve to use it.

“My friends and family call me Sunny, yes,” you stiffly reply as the guy—Kyle, you remind yourself, grins lazily, slumping in his chair with one arm propped on the backrest.

“Man, Daniel. Dan the Man. The accident was a real shock, let me tell you that.”

Let me tell you that, as if you weren’t the one biting your fingernails down to stubs as you sat waiting for the results of the CT scan, holding your brother’s hand as you repeatedly called his wife, all while trying to stay calm for his sake even though he definitely could not move his legs.  

You open your mouth to reply, but he cuts you off, continuing his pattern of not letting you speak.

“How is he doing? I think he came to the office once after, but that was it.”

You know he doesn’t mean harm, that no one does when they ask that: the questions usually come from a good place, one of genuine interest. Maybe sometimes from a place that’s looking for sensation, something to relay to friends. You should hear what happened to-

Still, the question is one that gets asked almost weekly, and it was a little tiring to continuously answer, especially when they could call or text Daniel to ask him themselves.

“He’s okay,” you reply, reaching for your drink. “Still in therapy, but he’s looking at getting back into work.”

Kyle nods solemnly. “Word.”

A short silence washes over you as you sip from your drink, the ice cubes hitting your nose. You resist the urge to wipe your nose as you lower the glass, placing it back on its coaster.

“Y’know,” Kyle immediately starts back up, shifting positions and resting his elbows on the table, leaning into your space. You have to stop yourself from scrunching your nose as an overwhelming waft of cheap cologne hits you in the face like brick, leaning as far back as the unyielding backrest of your seat allows. “That accident was like, a real fucking shock to everyone at the office.”

“Right,” you reply slowly.

“No because it’s like… that’s my co-worker, right? Like he was fine one day, and then he suddenly he’s like, paralysed from the hips down. It was really shocking to us. It like, really shook me to the core if I’m being honest. It took a while before we all were like… Chill with it.”

You can’t help the laugh that bubbles up in your chest, slipping past your lips at the absurdity of his statement.

You get it: of course it’s shocking when something like that happens in your direct vicinity, to someone you know.

But you also know that Daniel rarely interacted with the product development team, the times he did talk about them usually overflowing with frustration at the employees running that particular depart.

The accident had been devastating, a blow to your family—your sister in law especially, leaving you to feel helpless as there wasn’t anything you could do but support them, take Dan to his appointments when his wife wasn’t able to take more time off work, help them adapt their house to make it wheelchair friendly.

It was funny, sitting across someone that was so far removed from your family and having him claim something that changed dynamics, even if just for a while as things adjusted over time, for himself.

You’re not even angry about.

It’s so absurd that you can’t help but laugh.

Kyle frowns, tapping the stack of cardboard coaster on the table. “I don’t think it’s that funny.”

You stifle the chuckle lodged somewhere in the back of your throat. “No, you’re right. It isn’t.”

“It was pretty traumatising.”

“You’re telling me.”

He leans back in his seat, lips pressed together tightly as he continues to tap the coasters on the table. “I mean that could’ve been me, y’know? It was some heavy shit.”

This has to be a dream. There is no possible way that, even on this hell hole of a planet, this is actually happening. It can’t be. A person surely can’t be this thick in the head.

Yet there is Kyle, who is looking at you with an expression that rests somewhere between despise and the same hungry look he had earlier, practically tearing your dress away from your body with his eyes.

Subconsciously, you pull at the skirt of said dress, shifting in your seat and supressing the urge to look at your phone in search of an out.

“Anyway, I’m gonna smoke and take a leak,” Kyle says, his chair screeching in protest as he abruptly stands up. “Order me another beer, will ya? I’ll back in a few.” He doesn’t wait for a reply, instead leaving the table and immediately knocking into the shoulder of a man sitting on a bar seat just to the right of you, spilling his drink everywhere.

He doesn’t stop, doesn’t apologise, but just continues knocking into people as he works his way to the exit, leaving you to turn in your seat as you watch in mild horror as he finally pushes past a door, disappearing out of sight.

It takes a moment for the realisation to hit you, but when it does, you scramble off your chair, almost toppling over as you do. The plan is easy: pay for the drinks, rush out and fake a frantic phone call as you rush past Kyle, get in the car and head home. Once home, you’ll put a cosy sweater on and sit down to start your annual reread of The Hobbit, hiding away from the world until the following morning to drag your ass to your youngest brother’s house for a full day of activities. His fiancée had insisted on being the ones to host Christmas this year, and you were more than happy to let her: you just moved into a new place about a month ago and though almost everything was finished, it wasn’t quite there yet. The fuss that comes along with hosting wasn’t something you wanted on top of that, so you are more than happy to stick with the one tradition you uphold for yourself: baking enough cookies to feed a small village. A tradition that garnered family wide attention over the years, requests for specific recipes now pouring in as early as Halloween. The excitement you’re met with as soon as you pass the threshold of whoever’s hosting that year is well worth all the time and effort you have to put into it.

You pause for a brief second: the man Kyle bumped into is sat with his back towards you, his blond head bent down. Even though it’s not your fault, mild guilt builds in your chest as you slide past him, onto the empty seat to his left.

Even seated, you noticed he is built, muscular in a way that is noticeable even through his faded flannel. If it wasn’t for the mild expression on his face as he dabs at his pantleg with an already soaked napkin, you figure he could been seen as intimidating.

“I’m so sorry for my… friend,” you say, turning towards him, the last word accompanied by a pained smile. “Can I replace your drink?”

The guy pauses and looks up, his stark blue eyes locking you into place. “You’re saying sorry for him?” he asks, his voice pleasantly rough.

You helplessly shrug. “Someone has to. It’s a waste of a perfectly good…” you squint, trying to figure out what the remaining liquid in his tumbler is. “Bourbon?”

“Scotch,” he corrects with a smile. “No worries, I should be heading out anyway.”

“Oh. Okay. You sure? It was really rude of him, I’d be more than happy to pay for it regardless.”

You can tell there’s something he wants to say but keeps to himself, hesitantly shifting in his seat.

“Last chance,” you smile, leaning forward in your seat to see if you can spot one of the bartenders. “To get that drink paid for or say whatever it is you wanna say.”

He laughs, the sound sudden and warm. “Nah, it’d be rude,” he says, smile still on his face. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Well, now I’m curious.”

You can’t help but notice that he’s handsome as you shift in your seat, facing him as you do. He exudes a calm and controlled energy that, much like his stature, could be seen as intimidating in different circumstances. The way he’s holding himself does a lot: something tells you that everything about him could scream danger if he needs it to, but the relaxed shoulders and open expression on his face tell you that there’s nothing to worry about. His eyes quickly shoot across your body, the way he does a world of difference compared to how Kyle has been looking at you: this guy looks back up at your face rather than halting at chest height and keeping his gaze there.

“Your friend,” he starts, catching you a little off guard. You didn’t expect him to actually voice his thoughts, but there he went. “It’s a date, right?”

“Blind date,” you correct him. “My friend set us up.”

“I think you need to rethink that friendship.”

There is a short moment when someone fires a gun in the field, where time both seems to speed up and slow down all at once, creating a horrific vacuum where the outcome is uncertain.

Will is the calm, collected one: the voice of reason in a lot of situations, acting when others freeze. In this moment, he’s none of those things. The sentence itself is many things: a blunt, careless remark, a poor shot taken without any thought, ricocheting away from him with zero control as a result.

His breath halts and he freezes in place, eyes on the woman sat in front of him as soon as he realises he actually told her what he thought. It feels like hours, but then she suddenly barks out a laugh, the sound clear and carefree. Her eyes crinkle at the corners as she covers her mouth with one hand, the other on her lap, bunching the green satin fabric of her dress.

“You’re not wrong,” she replies between giggles. “How much of it did you hear?”

“Enough,” he merely replies, unable to help the smile that seems to be stuck on his face. He can’t recall the last time he actually said his thoughts out loud to anyone, but he seems unable to stop as words tumble out of his mouth before he even realises it’s happening. “He really likes to hear himself talk, doesn’t he?”

“Oh my god, you have no idea,” she sighs. “It’s been…” she turns towards the clock on the wall. “Forty-five minutes, and I think he only paused to ask me something once, and then also made that about him.”

He overheard the conversation but missed chunks. Despite that, he can’t even begin to wrap his head around even half the stuff her conversation partner had said. Maybe it was his years of working with the VA but claiming someone’s reality and making it about yourself when they’re the ones dealing with it, seems like an obvious no-go. He tells her as much, and she softly smiles in reply, the expression almost bashful.

“I’m used to it. I don’t know how much of you caught it, but my sister in law has it so much worse. People look straight past her, usually, even though they mean well when they ask about Dan—my brother,” she clarifies the name. He still doesn’t know hers: a piece of information he missed, either not mentioned or drowned out by the impromptu karaoke moment from earlier.

One the bartenders, the same woman from before, walks straight past them, a frustrated noise audible as the woman next to him sags back in her seat at the failed attempt to catch her attention.

“Just because you’re used to it, doesn’t mean it’s okay,” he tells her, finishing the remaining sip of scotch. He looks at her, taking note of the knotted eyebrows, her glittery eyeshadow that sparkles in the shoddy bar lighting as she blinks, processing the words. She looks lovely, but the expression on her face somewhat tugs at his heart. He’s unsure what to say, not wanting to linger on the subject, but dismissing it completely also doesn’t seem right.

“Thank you,” she smiles. “I’m Sunny, by the way.”

She extends her hand towards him, her palm completely disappearing in his hand as he shakes it.

“Will.”

“You’ve been a better conversational partner in the three minutes that I’ve been talking to you than the guy I’m with has been the entire time,” she jokes, turning away from him and leaning forward in her seat, still attempting to catch the attention of a bartender. “But I really wish I could just pay and run, because I cannot deal with this for another hour or so. This being my date,” she clarifies, looking downright horrified as she catches his eye. “Not you. You’re being lovely.”

The compliment burrows in his chest, warm and welcoming. He doesn’t read into it: this isn’t that kind of situation, but it’s welcome nonetheless.

“Sup,” a voice pipes up beside him, a hand sliding onto Sunny’s back. She almost recoils at the touch, cringing as her hands form fists on her lap. Cheap cologne hits Will before he even sees the guy, who then presses himself between the two seats with his back turned towards him. “No luck with the beer? You gotta be direct with these people, sweetheart.”

He snaps his fingers, whistling to get their attention.

In his 40 years on this planet, people still manage to surprise Will, just solely with their disregard for anything that isn’t in their own interest. This is one of those things: if his mom taught him and Benny anything, it was to put out the same amount of respect you wanted in return, be polite to service workers and perhaps most of all, be mindful of what others are telling you, whether it’s verbal or not.

This guy managed to somehow not do any of those things. Even with his back turned, Will can tell that he carries himself with an ego that stretches a mile wide, putting himself above others no matter the circumstances, the kind of person that would turn his back on you in the field for the right price.

Over the man’s shoulder, he catches Sunny’s eyes, a cocktail of panic and helplessness apparent in them as the guy in front him whistles again, snapping his fingers in annoyance.

Kyle’s hand feels like it’s burning straight through your dress, and not in a good way. Though it’s been a while since you last slept anyone, you can clearly recall what is feels like when it’s right: electric, comforting, grounding you to the here and now.

This touch, however, feels like it could instantly decay anything it comes in contact with. You’re somewhat surprised your flesh is still attached to your bones.

His fingers dig tightly into your side as he whistles again, the sound sharp and shrill alongside the snapping, catching the attention of other patrons that look at him with disgusted expressions on their face. You flush in embarrassment, unable to stop yourself. “Please stop that. You’re being rude.”

He pauses, lowering his free hand and frowning at you. “I’m being rude? That bartender is ignoring you. You’re a paying costumer, they should be serving you without it taking hours,” he shouts the last word, leaning onto the bar. You cringe, praying for the ground to swallow you whole, or to come to the sudden discovery that this is, in fact, just a nightmare.

“I think we should just pay,” Kyle continues, his hand sliding down, dangerously close to your butt. “And get out of here. My apartment is close, I could show you what a good time looks like.”

“Oh,” you laugh nervous in reply, leaning away from his touch and scooting as far back as the wobbly barstool allows you to. “Uh, I…”

“C’mon,” he urges. “It’s like, a fifteen minute drive— “

“Actually, I’m just gonna go home if we’re leaving,” you tell him bluntly. If there wasn’t an option for a smoother out, kicking down the door works just as well.

“Really?” he asks incredulously, dropping his hand off your waist. “You’re just gonna bail? God, you prude bitches are all the fucking same these days.”

You let out a surprised laugh, looking at him in disbelief as you struggle to believe this is a reality you’re living.

“It’s not funny,” he snaps. “Literally no one puts out on the first date anymore. It’s not even like you’re that hot. You should be lucky I didn’t leave as soon as soon as you came in.”

“Okay,” you merely reply, watching in amusement as his face turns red and he steps aside.

“If you’d been reasonable, I would’ve paid, but you’re not even gonna blow me?”

“Is… is that a question?” you frown, biting on the inside of your cheek to stop from laughing.

“So that’s a no. Well, I guess that means you’re the one paying today. I hope you have a shitty Christmas.” With those words, he storms away, pushing past others as he makes his way out, leaving you to stare in disbelief until he makes it out the door. Unable to hold it in any longer, you burst into hysterical laughter, clutching your sides as you try to stop the inevitable snort that ends up making it’s way out. You were the one paying anyway: it was your card on the tab.

“Honey, would you like to order an angel shot?” Finally, standing in front of you is one of the bartenders: a young woman, barely 21 by the looks of it, looking at you with a concerned frown, wiping her hands on a towel.

“I’m good,” you tell her sourly. “Little late for that. He left. I just wanna close out my tab.”

“Actually, add hers to mine,” Will says, shifting to grab his wallet out of his back pocket. “I wanna close out, too.”

“You can’t do that,” you sputter in protest, looking between him and the bartender. You didn’t even realise he was still sat there. “Right? Tell him he can’t do that.”

She shrugs. “I don’t care who does, just that it happens.”

“Put it on mine,” he tells her. “Honestly, I overheard most of what went down and it’s the least I can do,” he says as he pulls a few singles out of his wallet and folds them, placing them under his empty glass. “Especially after that display.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know I don’t have to, but I want to,” he shrugs, sliding off his barstool. “Really. See it as an early Christmas present. Pay it forward, if that makes you feel better about taking it.”

You eye the blond as he stands behind his seat, towering over you with none of the possessiveness your sorry excuse of a date seemed to have earlier. He smiles and opens his mouth to say something when he gets interrupted.

“Here you are!” a cheery voice pipes up, holding out two cards and a receipt. “Your cards, and a receipt. I hope y’all have a happy Christmas and see you soon. Have a lovely night.”

You don’t reply, instead sliding off your seat without a word, tucking your credit card back in the cardholder that had fallen to the bottom of your clutch, pulling out your car keys as you do. You look up at Will, who stuffs his hands in his pockets.

“Walk you to your car?”

You nod and he lets you take the lead, his hand lightly coming up to touch between your shoulder blades as you make your way out, eventually pushing past the door into the wintery cold. You shiver, the satin dress your wearing being one of your favourites but absolutely not cold friendly. Your coat is in your car: the hassle to bring it in and keep track of it not being worth the minute of cold as you make your way in or out. You notice Will is also not wearing a coat, something he also seems to realise as you see him supress a rolling shiver at the initial cold.

“Where’d you park?” you ask, an amused smile ghosting on your lips.

“No clue.”

“You don’t know where you parked?”

“Ah, it’s not that,” he sighs. “My brother drove us here, but something came up and he had to leave. He took the car with him.”

“Oh,” you frown. “Nothing serious, I hope?”

“No,” Will breathes. “No, just a friend that needed him there. I told him to go, not thinking it through.” He smiles at you, his mouth ticked up at one corner. “Gonna walk home.”

The sentence that rolls out of your mouth makes you feel like your mother, scolding your brothers and yourself as you raced out into the yard in the dead of winter when you were small.

“Without a coat?”

He laughs, the sound warm and sincere. “Yes, without a coat. Left it in the car. It’s not too bad, though. Definitely went through worse weather without one.”

“Oh, fuck that. It’s like, maybe 40 out. And that’s taken liberally.”

“It’s just 8 miles away from here, I’ll be fine.” The smile is still present on his face, his eyes soft as he looks at you. In the dim light of the parking lot, you see a chain peek from underneath his collar. A familiar sight: you recognise the chain to be the kind that’s attached to dog tags.

You pause for a second as you look at him, really look at him at that discovery. Your gut feeling was something you learned to listen to over the years, whatever it was said usually scarily accurate. It weeded out the creeps in bar in your college days, bad friends, but also brought a sense of comfort when it recognised safe people. As if a big blanket was draped over your shoulders and the universe was telling you it was okay to let those people in.

“Pay it forward,” you eventually say, nodding towards the silver Prius, the keys jingling in your hand as you gesture. “Get in the car, I’m dropping you off.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know I don’t have to, but I want to,” you parrot with a smile. “C’mon. It’ll take me what, maybe 20 minutes to drop you off? It’s nothing.”

“You sure?”

“Just get in, Will.”

Cars always smell like their owners, or their owners habits: Benny’s smells like the spearmint gum he carries everywhere, alongside the sweet vanilla coffee he drinks with zero shame. Stephanie’s used to smell like her sugary sweet perfume, the one that always made his nose itch, until the scent disappeared entirely from her car, replaced by a strong car freshener. It should’ve told him right then and there that the relationship was over, but that was something he denied to himself for a long time.

Sunny’s car smells like the leather jacket she just put on, alongside perfume he caught a whiff of earlier: a green scent, one that reminds him of hiking in the woods after a rainstorm. It’s comforting and seems to suit her: Will prides himself on being able to read people around him, something that was learned out of necessity, but a welcome skill despite that. Short conversations usually tell him more than enough about a person to make an accurate assessment. If it wasn’t their words, their body language would tell on them.

Everything about her told him she was a grounded person: someone that was comfortable in their own skin, that could stand their ground and understands their worth. She wouldn’t take shit from anyone, and he’s well aware that she’s calling the shots right now.

In result, he’s aware of every single goddamn breath he’s taking, the sensation of it being weirdly calming, rather than overwhelming.

He reaches for his seatbelt as she slides into the driver’s seat, now wearing a leather jacket, the engine eerily silent as she starts the car.

Will doesn’t consider himself a country boy in anyway, but electric cars never fail to throw him off. He test drove one a while ago, but missed the steady sound a gasoline engine provides, eventually choosing a truck similar to his old one, just a newer model.

“So,” Sunny starts, turning her head towards him. “Where to?”

“Turn right when you get out of the parking lot,” he instructs. “’s just a straight road from there most of the way.”

“Really?”

He pauses for a second, caught off guard. “I… Yes?”

“No,” she laughs. “No, sorry, I don’t doubt it, it’s just that I live that way, too, and it’s not a very populated area. For me, it’s straight drive for about 15 minutes—”

“Then a left onto Millwood Drive.”

She pauses, the turn indication clicking on and off as she’s stalled in the exit of the parking lot, turning to him as much as she could. “Get the fuck out. Millwood Drive?”

“Yeah.”

“You got new neighbours about a month ago. The place where the fence used to baby blue.”

Not a question. A statement.

He frowns, thinking it over. He’s never been the type of person to keep tabs on his neighbours, picking a place that wasn’t faced towards other houses, but instead looks out onto the woods they were surrounded by, the small neighbourhood so quiet you can hear the water flowing in the creek 100 feet away.

“That’s me. I moved in there.”

“No shit,” he laughs in disbelief at the coincidence. “That’s next door to me. You’re the one that finally replaced that god awful fence?”

“No shit. And yes, I did. Can’t believe someone would live on the edge of a forest and paint the fence baby blue.”  The words come out with disdain, her nose crinkled. “Out of all the colours you can pick.”

“You replace the whole fence, or paint it over?” It’s something he probably should’ve noticed, but the weeks between thanksgiving and Christmas were exceptionally busy at work. It’s wasn’t until earlier in the week that he even noticed the blue fence was gone. He somehow completely missed her moving in, or the old neighbours moving out in the chaos that those weeks brought along with them.

“Well, the plan was painting over, but the posts were rotting near the soil, so I ended up having to replace it. Can’t complain though, the house was pretty well maintained. Was shocked to find genuine hardwood floors under the carpet, which was a nice surprise, so it was just painting everything, or replacing the wallpaper,” she smiles. “I want to redo the kitchen and bathroom at some point, but it’s no hurry.”

“I didn’t even know someone new moved in,” he says, feeling a little shameful at the confession. “I’m sorry for not saying hi.”

She shushes him, waving her hand. “Doesn’t matter, you’re all good. It takes me a while to get settled in new places, so you probably would’ve met a version of me that’s like, less than ideal. Wouldn’t wish that upon anyone.”

“The move far from where you were before?”

“No, actually,” she laughs. “It was just across town this time. I’m not actually from here, we moved down when I was like… 16? But we moved a lot when I was a kid.”

He shifts in his seat, looking at her with interest. There’s several reason why people move a lot, but there is one reason that would bring them to this area specifically.

“Army brat?” he tries.

“You know it.” The wink she gives him makes his heart uncharacteristically skip a beat. “I saw your chain in the parking lot, though.”

His hand comes up to the ball chain hanging around his neck, the tags shifting under his shirt as he adjusts it. “Force of habit. I got out a few years ago. Did some private work after that, they asked us to wear them as well. I just never stopped wearing them after, for whatever reason.”

She shrugs. “No harm in it, right?”

The drive is filled with easy chitchat, going back and forth between what they do for work, talk about the neighbourhood. He feels a pang of excitement when she offhandedly mentions her dog when asking about the best places to go for a hike.

“What kind of dog?” he asks.

“Aussie shepherd. Got him from the shelter, the poor thing was put up for adoption because he was too high energy,” she finger quotes the last few words. “I’ll show you a picture when we get home.”

The conversation flows easily, as if they’ve known each other for years rather than barely an hour. It’s not long before she pulls into their street, onto her short drive way. As soon as she’s parked, she reaches for her phone, turning it towards him to show him a short video of an Australian shepherd zooming back and forth in a fenced in backyard.

“His name is Pippin,” she tells him with a soft smile. “If you want, we should go on a hike sometime soon. Take him with us, on a trail where he’s allowed.”

“I’d love that.” He does: it’s not an exaggeration. He loves hiking, but usually ends up going alone because none of the guys really enjoy it as much as he does. Benny makes the rare exception, but usually only when he’s dealing with a lot and seeks out nature to ground when the gym fails him. He’s been longing for someone to go with, and the universe presented him with an answer, wrapped in a pretty satin green package that smiles at him with excitement sparkling in her eyes.

She nods, as if confirming it, before getting out of the car, leaving him to follow suit.

Somehow, the air is a little less cold here than it was at the bar, the breeze not as sharp as it had been there.

“Well,” she says, smoothing the bottom of her dress. “Thank you for turning my night around. Have a good night, Will.”

 “Good night, Sunny.” He waits for a moment, until she’s inside, before heading towards his own front door.

He kicks off his shoes next to the door, turning on the light as he makes his way to the kitchen for a glass of water, leaving his flannel across the back of one of the stools at the breakfast bar.

The doorbell catches him off guard, cursing softly to himself as he spills some water down the front of his shirt. He calls out as he makes his way to the door. “You’ve got a key, Benny, use it—”

He’s not met by the face of his brother: instead, it’s Sunny, holding a tin in her outstretched hands. “I made them this afternoon, and I wanted to say a proper thank you.”

“You didn’t have to,” he says, taking the tin from her.

“I know. Merry Christmas, Will.”  

She walks off before he can reply, and he’s left to stare at the tin that has a sticky note attached to the top.

Text me about that hike?

Love, Sunny.

Her phone number is listed underneath her name, and he smiles to himself as he closes the door, cracking open the tin and finding at least a dozen cookies, biting into a random one he pulls out as he puts her phone number in his contact list.

Maybe his night wasn’t too bad, in the end.

[rayslittlekitten]

No More Secrets

“Dad Will” Masterlist

A/N: Heeeey! Look what's back! So, I hadn't touched this arc in a while where Dad!Will did some shit and essentially fucked up his marriage. Well this arc finally made some progress like their marriage. Italics (first half) is a flash back.

Rating: T

Word Count: ~3,400

Pairing: Dad!Will x Wife F!Reader

Plot: You and Will continue to make progress on repairing your marriage.

Contains: hurt/comfort, angst

"How does steak and potatoes sound for dinner tonight?" you asked Will as you sipped on your coffee after finishing your breakfast and watched him from across the table while he was glued to his phone.

"Uhhh....yeah, sure," Will replied. “Whatever you want,” he added after finishing whatever he was doing on his phone.

"Okay. What do you have going on today? You're giving a speech today, right?”

“Yeah and then I’m meeting up with Fish for lunch,” he confirmed, then finished up his own cup of coffee.

“He’s back in town?” you asked, sitting up straight.

“Uh, yeah. Are you done with that?” He asked as he got up from his seat and gestured to your mug.

You took the last sip and handed him your cup. 

“Thank you.” You looked up and smiled at him but he was already halfway across the kitchen headed for the sink.

You'd noticed Will's been a bit distant lately, like something's been occupying his mind, but every time you asked him about it, he would say it's nothing or he just hadn’t been sleeping well. You even asked if he'd been having those nightmares again, but he said no.

You'd also noticed that the sex between you two had been less frequent, almost to a halt. You had tried initiating a few times and he'd been seemingly disinterested or gave an excuse. And even when you were intimate, he seemed to be somewhere else.  

“Oh shit, I gotta go,” Will said as he glanced at his watch.

“Yeah, me too. Let me just grab my purse and we can leave together–” you started as you got up from your seat.

“Sorry, I gotta go now,” he told you as he scrambled to the front door.

“You’ll be home for dinner, right?” you asked.

“Yup! Spaghetti and meatballs!” He replied while halfway out the door. “Have fun at work!”

“Bye! Good luck on your speech!” you waved and quickly spat out as the door behind him closed.

***

You decided to pick up some treats for Will at his favorite bakery and cafe on your lunch break. Maybe that'd help with his mood. It’s across town but you'd decided to take an extra long lunch break. After finally finding parking, you quickly jumped in line as the place was already packed because of lunch time. Thankfully, they always anticipated the crowd. It certainly helped that the counter and dine-in areas were separated in a way to maximize efficiency. After picking out a few things you knew Will indulged in the most and a treat for yourself, you booked it out of there.

After you got into your car, you took a bite of your lemon poppy seed cake and savored it before starting your car to get ready to head back to the office. As you were ready to pull out of the parking spot, you noticed Will coming out of the bakery along with a woman you had never seen before. They stood in front of the bakery, off to the side and exchanged a few words before they embraced in a hug. A hug that lingered while he said a few more things to her. You felt your chest tightening. After they broke apart, they appeared to say their goodbyes and they gave each other a kiss on the cheek and another quick hug before going their separate ways.

You watched as Will made his way to his parked car. As you thought about confronting him then and there, your phone went off, interrupting your thoughts.

***

When you got home, you were surprised to find Will had beat you to it, considering he had been staying out later these days. Even more surprising, he had started dinner.

“Hey! How was work? I know you mentioned spaghetti and meatballs this morning but found these steaks in the fridge so I thought I’d throw them on the grill and roast some potatoes with them,” he said. “Hope that’s okay with you.”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” you told him as you started to settle down.

"So how was lunch with Fish?"

"Huh? Oh, um, it was alright. You know, just catching up and stuff,” he answered, pausing his task for a moment.

"Where'd you guys end up going?" you started walking towards him.

"Uh… he picked this diner by him," he replied.

“Was it any good?”

“It was alright,” he shrugged.

“So… did you have lunch with him before or after you stopped by Astrid’s?” you asked him when you reached him.

“What are you talking about?" He turned to face you.

“Are you seriously going to deny that you were at Astrid’s this afternoon? I saw you with my own eyes,” you told him.

“What were you doing there? Weren't you supposed to be at work?" His body visibly stiffened.

"I stopped by there on my lunch break to get you a brownie because I thought it'd cheer you up!" You told him as you tossed the pastry bag onto the kitchen counter beside him.  "I saw you and some woman getting all cozy, hugging and kissing. Is that why you've been so distant? Is-is that why you won't even touch me anymore?" you asked with disgust.

"No..." Will started, then realized what you were implying. "No, no, no! It's not what you think."

"Then what is it? Because these last few months, it feels like you don't even want to be with me anymore. At least be honest with me if you don't want to do this anymore. I can't figure this out on my own and every time I try to talk to you about it, you dismiss it like everything is all good, but it's not. Or am I just going crazy?" You rattled off.

"No, you're not crazy," Will reassured you, placing his hands on your shoulders.

"Then can you please tell me what's going on?" you pleaded with him. 

Will shifted his weight to his other leg and let out a sigh. At this point, he knew he couldn’t continue keeping you in the dark.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me. Even if you met someone new or-"

"No, no, it's nothing like that," Will shook his head. "The woman I saw today, she's..."

Will paused, looked down at his feet and propped his hands on his waist, bracing for the words that were about to leave his mouth.

"She's my ex-fiance," he finally finished his sentence.

"O-oh..." you simply responded, taken back by that curve ball. This information actually made your stomach drop even more. "Okay."

"And I asked her if we could meet up," Will continued.

You couldn’t help but get more emotional as you anticipated where he was going with this. Your vision started blurring up but you remained silent as he continued.

"No, please don't cry," he said, reaching out for you, but you instinctively took a step back, creating distance. Will felt crushed by your rejection, but he also understood why you did it.

"I honestly didn't expect her to even respond considering how we left things the last time we saw each other, but she agreed to meet up. I just wanted closure with her, to apologize to her for all that I had put her through," he explained.

You let out a shaky breath.

"Why... why didn't you tell me about this?" you asked.

"I...I don't know. Maybe I wasn't sure how you would feel about it," he admitted.

"So instead of talking to me about it, your solution was to avoid me? Is that the reason you’ve been acting so weird? Not just do we not have sex anymore, but we barely even talk. Not unless I initiate. Things we used to enjoy doing, you don't seem to care or want to do anymore. We live together and I hardly ever see you. You're always out with the guys and come home late, which I get you needing and wanting to spend time with your friends, but it's like you don't even want to be here. And when you are home, you're not here!” 

You didn’t want to lash out and wanted to give him the space and chance to explain himself but you were so pent up and riled up from all the speculation after seeing him at the cafe on top of everything that had been going on.

"I'm so sorry," Will apologized. "I know I haven't been the best boyfriend these past few weeks--"

"Months," you corrected him.

"Months," he nodded in agreement.

"Is there anything else? Or is it just this closure you needed with your ex-fiance?" you prodded. "Which, again, I can understand, but I wish you would have at least told me so I’m not left wondering if you don’t care about us anymore."

Will quietly looked down at his shoes again as he rocked on his heels.

"Will, there can't be secrets between us if you want this to work-- IF you want this to work. If you've decided this isn't for you, just say so and-" you rambled on.

"No, of course I want this! I want you," he quickly jumped in, looking straight at you. "I want... us."

You stared at Will, waiting for him to tell you more.

"There... there was also another reason I wanted to meet up with her," he started. "I, uh... I just wanted to make sure I don't make the same mistakes I made with her."

"What... do you mean?" you asked with wrinkled brows.

"I'm so sorry for how I've been treating you these last few months. I've been figuring some things out about myself, figuring what I want and if I'm truly happy where I am with this relationship - our relationship," he started to explain.

"Oh!" A brief chuckle slipped from you, a bit thrown off by his last thought, but you started to frown again, not sure where this is leading up to. "You still could have said something. If you needed space or, or... I don't know,” you shook your head.

"I know. I know. And I am SO sorry I've made you feel unwanted and unloved.  That's the last thing I'd ever want for you."

"Are you happy?" you asked him quietly, afraid of what his answer would be. "With me? With us?"

Will just stared at you, studying your face as he thought about his answer. The fact that he'd taken this long confirmed your fear. After what felt like forever, your shoulders slumped and your frown deepened as you nodded. You swallowed the lump in your throat and dropped your head, staring down at the patterned linoleum tiles, now thinking about where you guys were going to go from here. Do you move out? Does he move out? You sniffled and brought your head back up when you felt the mucus coming down your nose. You were taken back when you saw Will on one knee in front of you holding out a velvet box. You opened your mouth but no words or sounds came out. You're not even breathing.

"I was going to plan this whole romantic thing out, a rehearsed speech and all but I just can't wait anymore. I've been waiting for this moment since the first time I laid eyes on you. And to answer your question, in short, yes. I am happy with where we are in this relationship - beyond happy, but nothing would make me happier than to have the privilege of spending the rest of my life with you. You are the most amazing person I have ever met and I am so grateful to have you in my life. Every morning I wake up feeling like the luckiest person in the world and there are many days, especially these past few months, where I wonder what I did to deserve you. You make me a better person and honestly have surprised myself at what I am capable of and who I've become and that's all because of you. You make me want to do better and I want to continue this adventure with you beside me as my life partner, but I had to make sure that I do everything I can to not fuck this up because I would not be able to forgive myself if I do. That's the real reason why I went to see my ex-fiance."

Will spoke from the heart and soul and he instantly felt the weight lifted from his chest. The weight that he had been heavily bearing these last few months.

At this point, you were completely speechless. 

"And I know I've been a shit boyfriend these last few months. Not that it’s an excuse, but I was scared - not of committing to you, but of me making the same mistakes. Of me fucking all this up and losing you. And clearly I had been unknowingly doing the exact thing I was afraid I’d do. I'm so sorry I pushed you away, but I promise I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you let me."

Tears now streamed down your face.

"I love you so, SO much. Will you marry me?"

He held his breath, waiting for your answer. He hoped that he didn’t mess up his chances too much. 

You looked down at him with blurry eyes and finally nodded.

“Is… is that a yes?” Will cautiously asked.

“Yes!” You confirmed as you nodded again.

He sprung up onto his feet and wrapped his arms tightly around you. You melted against his chest and instantly felt your heart fill to the brim. He gently untangled himself from you to slip the ring onto your finger. It fit a little loose but it was beautiful.

“We can get that adjusted. It was my grandmother’s,” he explained. 

“It’s perfect,” you said while admiring it.

“I love you,” Will pulled you in, pressing his forehead against yours.

"I love you too. Promise me, no more secrets?" you asked as you sniffled and looked up at him. “You’re not completely off the hook yet but let’s not go through that again, please.”

"I promise. No more secrets," Will agreed as he swiped his thumb under your eyes before leaning in to kiss you.

***

You finally allowed Will back into the bedroom. As comfortable as that couch may be, you know it’s doing his back no favors. You also think maybe he’s gone through enough punishment. It’s been a couple of months and he has not complained once. He’s done everything you’ve asked and has been consistent about it so it’s time you show you’re starting to trust him again. This really takes effort from both of you, not just him.

The two of you are on better terms and doing the best to make it as normal as possible for Lucy but your relationship is nowhere near where it used to be. You can’t even recall the last time the two of you were intimate. Not even a kiss or a hug. Sure, Will would be affectionate when you allowed him to: a brush of his hand on yours, a small peck on your cheek or temple, but anything more, you haven’t even thought about it and he hasn’t pushed it either. He knows he needs to earn it.

After settling into your side of the bed with your back to Will, you feel his arm snake around your waist and then pull you against his body. You stiffen for a moment. As much as you have missed your husband’s touch, you haven’t felt it in so long, it almost seems foreign. You allow him to cuddle with you but after a few moments, you feel his lips on your neck and his hand exploring your body.  You immediately sit up.

“I’m sorry, I thought—“

“Will, just because I’m letting you sleep in the same bed again, it doesn’t mean I’m ready to be intimate again.” 

You thought you were ready for things to get back to the way it used to but in this moment, you realize you’re not sure if that’ll ever be possible. You’re still hurt and the fact he thinks he can just ask for sex like nothing happened infuriates you.

“I’m so sorry. I assumed. I’ll back off until you’re ready,” Will says, scooting back to his side, putting some distance between the two of you.

“I just want to make love to my wife,” he adds quietly with sad eyes. “I miss you. And I don’t just mean the sex.”

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t even know if I’ll ever be ready. I’m… I just still get so angry every time I think about you and...” You let out a heavy sigh trying to calm yourself down.

“Hey, you have nothing to be sorry about." Will sits up. "I’m the one who put us in this situation and the fact you’re giving me a chance to fix this, I’m already grateful. I don’t want to lose you and Lucy. I can’t. I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work again."

"I... I don't know. Just thinking the what ifs, and worst case scenarios and losing you— hell, Lucy losing you. How am I supposed to explain to her that her father did something so selfish and stupid?  I want things to be the way they used to be, but I don't know how or when, or even if it'll ever get close to it again." A tear falls down your cheek.

"I know," he nods. 

"And I've spent so much time wondering what else you could’ve lied to me about," you add. “What else are you hiding.”

"I swear on my grandmother's grave, there is nothing else. I've never lied to you about anything else," he assures you. "Aside from the ice cream thing and maybe letting Lucy stay up past her bedtime a few times when I said I wouldn't," he adds with a tight-lipped smile, hoping to lighten up the mood, but your facial expression doesn't budge when you glare at him.

"I'm sorry, not the time for jokes," he says. "But I promise you, I'm not hiding anything else. I haven't hid anything else. You can check my phone, computer, iPad, everything--"

"I don't want to do that,” you cut him off. “I don't want to have to do that. If I do, then I don't want to do this anymore."

"What... what are you saying?" he asks, bracing himself.

"I want to trust you again and I am trying, but I don’t want it to have to come down to me constantly checking up on you. That’s not trust. That’s… “ you try to think of the word you’re looking for, “Babysitting." 

”I… I don't know,” you shake your head and sigh. 

Will watches you as you close your eyes and steady your breathing. You flinch and open your eyes when you feel his hand over yours. 

"I promise this time, no more secrets. And I know my words may not hold any value right now, but I will show you that I am all in."

“Stop making promises if you don’t know you can keep them,” you shake your head. You look back at him with teary eyes as his thumb fingers your wedding ring which you've kept on this entire time throughout this whole mess. “Let’s just take this a day at a time, okay?”

“Okay. I can do that,” he nods, knowing his words definitely don’t mean anything if his actions don’t follow.

"It's getting late and I know you need your beauty sleep for your weekly Monday morning meeting tomorrow. I'm sorry for riling you up and making you cry," he says, and then cautiously reaches over to swipe his thumb under your eyes. 

“And I’m sorry for…” he vaguely gestures his hands towards your body. “I won’t try that again, not unless you’re ready. I’m happy just being beside you. Can I give you a good night kiss?”

You look back at him for a moment, determining if you want one and then nod. He slowly leans in and plants a tender kiss on your cheek.

“Good night. I love you.” He settles himself back into bed and you do the same. 

“Good night,” you finally say before closing your eyes. “I love you, too.”

[madhattervanessa]

Kinktober 2022 - #5

Kinks: Drunk Sex, Infidelity

Words: 1084

Pairing: Will “Ironhead” Miller x F!Reader

Look, I have never before written for this man and that’s half the fun but- damn. Also don’t mind me being late in my own schedule, that’s what I made this relaxed schedule for bc uni is kicking my ass.

Love y’all!

Kinktober 2022

"Will, your girlfriend is literally over there, stop throwing your charms at me. You're drunk. Besides, I'm not looking to get killed by her girl gang."

She’s not his girlfriend. You know that. But you can’t help yourself, you like to fight when you’re drunk.

"Tipsy. I'm just tipsy. I haven't seen you in, what, 2 years?"

You turn to glare at him and of course this close, he is even more handsome. He is still the golden Miller's boy, the charmer of your school and glory child of too many prom king election wins.

But he is also Ironhead and you can see it in his broad shoulders, the stiff military posture that barely slips even when he is drunk and crooning against you; the scruffy beard and beer stench from his mouth don't fool you. The few special ops runs you had done together had been on the forefront of your mind for years.

He grins and you roll your eyes at him, trying and failing to fight off the warm memory of what else had happened half the times you had been alone, amped up by too much adrenaline and bloodlust.

"You're looking real pretty."

"I have a fiancé." You hold up the simplistic ring for his view and nod towards the bartender, motioning him for another drink.

"I know." He leans back against the bar, spreading his arm over in front of you, flexing and showing off so obviously in front of you, you're starting to consider helping his girlfriend beat him up later.

You knock back the last sip of your drink and meet his eyes.

"'S this ranger kid from the national park, yeah?" He takes the hand you had previously shown him and lifts it closer to his face again. His fingers rub over the sleek metal as he intently studies it before that arrogant and smug look slips back towards you.

"How deep is your nose buried in my fucking business, Miller?", you sneer, feeling the alcohol shortcut any thought prior to talking. The tequila and the mojitos are always quick to make your blood boil, quick to act out - Miller knows. And he likes pushing your buttons.

"You know I look out for you."

Your new drink arrives and you shoot Will another look before draining about half of it.

“I do know you, Ironhead. Maybe a little too well.”

“Then why are you sitting all the way over there?”

-

It's wrong.

It feels very right, though.

Your lips are tingly from the alcohol and salted glass rims and you melt into him, pliant under his touch as he guides you into your own apartment like it's his, too. Your lips meet as soon as the door falls closed.

It's almost instinctual at this point - you know each other's bodies better than any girlfriend or boyfriend could, every movement intimately familiar as you shove yourself into his waiting arms.

He groans against your lips and tugs you closer by your belt loops. You almost stumble over the hiking boots in the hallway before he manages to steer the two of you towards the couch.

His movements are sluggish and you taste whiskey when he dips his tongue into your mouth- it takes you both a second to get more coordinated than just tongues bumping into each other but when you feel his tongue tangling with yours it shoots straight down to your core. He spreads a hand over your jaw and when he ends the kiss, he pushes his thumb into your mouth. You envelop it with your lips and when you open your eyes you catch him watching, staring at your mouth as he slowly pulls his thumb out. He rubs the spit slick digit over your bottom lip and you open your mouth only for him to kiss you again with a grunt.

He falls backwards into the generous cushions and you fall with him, bumping your shin against the leg of the couch and then your arm on his elbow before he manages to pull you on top of him.

He pulls your shirt off before he discards his. You struggle with the hooks of your bra for a moment and he reaches up to tug at it, pushing your own hands away - a moment later you hear a loud rip before your bra falls to the ground.

You can’t even look if he really just destroyed your underwear because he manhandles you down to lay underneath him to pull at your pants next.

“Ironhead- slow down”, you mutter but he already has you naked underneath him. He does back off but only to pull at his belt until he is standing there naked, just like you are.

He is breathing heavily, meeting your eyes from where you’re leaning up on your elbows. Your lips part as you take him in: He had never lost that military, lean build, if anything, he has become more bulky. You feel the want in the back of your throat at the sight of him in front of you.

He moves in on you, pulling you towards him by your ankles over the sectional and you wriggle against his grip but go still as his large hands fan out over your calves, sliding up over your thighs.

He kneels between your legs, his lips pressing open mouthed kisses against your sternum and you squirm as he licks over your salty skin, rubbing his cheek against you. His lips find the swell of your breast and he looks up at you, swallowing you whole with his hungry gaze before licking over your nipple.

You let your head fall backwards, straining to push your chest out towards him more as he pulls you further down, one of his arms slung around your back and shoulder, cradling you as he slides his hard cock into your shamefully slick pussy.

“Fuck- Ironhead-”

He lifts his head from your tits and mock bites at the tendon of your neck before kissing you again.

“Say my name.”

You strain, gritting your teeth as he rolls his hip deeper into you. The next bite to your skin is real and you curse him.

“Will- oh my god, Will, don’t stop.”

-

You slip your ring back on in the morning, regarding both the sleeping man on your couch and the simplistic metal a sad look despite the morning sun bathing everything in a dreamy, comforting glow.

This could never happen again.

Ever.

[musings-of-a-rose]

Weighted Blanket

Pairing: Will Miller x f!reader

Word Count: 860+

Rating: Mature - 18+ ONLY!

Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story. 

Notes: Chatting about what a great weighted blanket this man would make and so I dedicate this to @laurfilijames. This was not beta read.

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**Reader is not described

Main Masterlist

Will Miller Masterlist

Today had been the day from hell. You knew it would be, especially since you’d been out for several days being sick. Morning meetings ran long, everyone scrambling to prepare to open, and then the patients? Don’t even get me started. 

When I finally get into my car at the end of the day, I turn on the ac and rest my head against the headrest taking several deep breaths, just listening to the vents pumping cool air into my hot car. I just have to make it home. A shower is waiting for me and Will should be home today.

Will. 

My amazing boyfriend of a year and a half. Will had to go away for work for a few days and was finally coming home. I know a few days isn’t that long but it killed him to leave me when I was sick. And to be honest, I hated not having him there, sick or not. 

His truck is in the parking lot when I pull in and I smile knowing he’s upstairs. I hurry to our apartment and push my key in the lock, quickly shedding my shoes and tossing my bag down on the little side table before heading towards the kitchen, where sounds and a delicious, heavenly smell were emanating from. I lean against the door frame, just taking in the sight of him. Will, standing at the stove with his back to me, casually making my favorite food, his hair still wet from a shower, navy blue shirt stretched thin over his broad back and thick arms, grey sweatpants hung low on his hips. He clicks off the burner and divvy’s the food onto 2 plates before turning, his face lighting up when he sees me.

“Hey, sweetheart. How was work?” When I don’t answer right away, he let’s out a low whistle. “That bad, huh?”

I nod, pushing off the door frame. “Nothing I didn’t anticipate. Still sucked though.”

“You hungry?”

“Starving. But first I need to shower. I feel so gross.”

Will sets the plates down and takes a few large steps towards me. He moves for a hug and damn do I want one, but I’m gross. People actually spit up on me today. So I sigh, stepping back and Will puts his hands up, freezing in place. 

“Must have been really bad.”

“You don’t even want to know.”

He winks and blows a kiss at me, turning back to finish up dinner. The shower was glorious, the hot water and bubbles relaxing me somewhat, and washing away all of the gross from my skin and hair. I don’t linger, my stomach grumbling as I pull on some pajamas and head straight for the kitchen table, where Will had just set down drinks for us. Before I sit, he pulls me to him, pressing a soft kiss to my lips, his hands cradling my face. 

“I missed you, sweetheart.”

“I really missed you too, Will.” He starts to deepen the kiss, but is interrupted by the loudest grumble yet from my traitor of a stomach. He laughs, placing a hand on my tummy. 

“Let’s get some food in you.”

—----

Dinner was delicious, as usual when Will cooks. It’s not just that he follows the recipe to a t, but he has his own personal flair to it. Will’s cooking can make any sour mood turn sweet. Or maybe that’s just me. 

After our bellies are full, we sit on the couch and I curl my body against his, feeling his large arm wrap around me, the warmth from him seeping into my bones. He kisses the top of my head and rests his own there, both of us content to just be with the other. But my day was hard and before long, I feel my eyelids drooping. Will must have noticed because I swear I blinked and somehow ended up in bed, Will pulling the blankets up around me before crawling in next to me. He tries to pull me to him, but it’s not what I need. He crooks his finger under my chin, lifting my head to look at him through sleepy eyes. 

“Do you need Will blanket?” I nod, my eyes barely open. 

Will helps me lay down on my back, making sure my pillow is adjusted before he drapes half his body over mine, linking one of his muscular legs with mine as he tucks himself over me. His arm drapes over my body, rubbing small circles into my opposite arm. I turn my head and realize my nose is in the perfect spot to nuzzle into his hair, so I do it, inhaling the scent of him. The weight of him on me settles my nerves, the last bit of overstimulation and wired emotions leeching from my body the longer I feel his breathing, his body pressing into mine. 

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too.”

It’s so tender and loving, full of care and I think about how much I love this man as he gently lulls me to sleep.

In the morning, he has different plans for me and I’m so glad I got the rest I needed.

—----

General Taglist:

@frankie-catfish-morales @chaoticgeminate @janebby @astoryisaloveaffair @balekanemohafe @greeneyedblondie44 @hoeforthefictional @marvelousmermaid @hauntedmama @giuliarogers @icanbeyourjedi @wretchedmo @sunnshineeexoxo @livingmydreams13 @adventures-of-a-noodle @sara-alonso @theewokingdead @punkerthanpascal @giggly-otter @f0rever15elf @phandoz @dirtytissuebox @gallowsjoker @lovesbiggerthanpride @sarahmilesbendrix @booksarekindaneat @mrsudontknowme @swol-bear @charlispersonallyhell @xoxabs88xox @amneris21 @gooddaykate @alindeluce @avengers-fixation @paintballkid711 @harriedandharassed   @ladykatakuri @marrianena  @practicalghost @withakindheartx @batdarkladyvampir @justanotherkpopstanlol   @mermaidxatxheart @alexxavicry @ichigodjarin @justreblogginfics @sullyosully @kmc1989 @veryprairieberry @mysterious-moonstruck-musings

[pimosworld]

Just say the word

Pairing-Tf boys x reader (one shot)

CW-18+, NSFW, MDNI, established polyamorous relationship, light teasing, edging, voyeurism, orgasm denial, exhibitionism, possessive tf boys, mentions of smut, fingering, soft dom Will, soft dom Santi, soft dom Frankie. Unsuspecting victim ( poor Jack) he’s innocent in this I swear.

Summary- The boys decide to have a little fun at your expense.

WC- 1.7k

A/N- Set in the (story of us) universe but can be read as a stand alone. I feel like I’ve neglected this bunch since I finished the story and I miss them and their delusional little bubble. Please enjoy this ficlet set some time after the story of them ends and their relationship begins.

[Series Masterlist]

Not beta read

It feels weird being back in your normal spots. Nestled away in the corner booth in the dimly lit bar. All five of you crammed in like nothing has changed. Except it has. 

  This thing forming between the five of you for the last several months. No rules, no pressure, just the four of them not being able to let you out of their sight for more than five minutes. It’s intoxicating and overwhelming and you love it. 

  You are situated between Frankie and Santi, Will on the other side of Frankie sharing glances. Knowing tells as you squirm in your seat. Santi’s hand squeezes the plush skin of your thigh while Frankie rubs soothing circles against your knee. It all looks so normal to anyone walking by. They’ve been teasing you all night, switching places as they grab more drinks at the bar or head to the bathroom. 

  Will grins as he watches you fidget, not so subtly rubbing your legs together at the thought of his hands so close to where you needed them most. Not less than ten minutes ago he had you pleading into his ear like you were telling him a secret. His fingers tracing up and down the seam of your panties, wetness pooling against the fabric as you chased his touch. 

  Goosebumps raise on your arms as Santi’s fingers slip just past the string, curling in so precisely, you half to clear your throat to stifle the moan that crawls up the back of your throat. 

  “Ya ok sweetheart?” Will says and the look you flash is equal parts beautiful and terrifying all at once. 

  Santi kisses your shoulder, such a sweet endearing gesture to juxtapose the absolute filth that is happening below the table. “She’s fine.” A look to Frankie, something unspoken passing between them as the corners of Frankie's eyes crinkle with a smile. 

  You bite the inside of your cheek as his thumb presses against your clit. Dropping your head to your hands to wipe the sweat from your brow. 

  “Just say the word baby and we’ll stop.” Frankie’s voice in your ear luring you into the lion's den. You weren’t going to lament that easily. 

  Your hand drifts below the table, palming at the growing bulge in his pants, you yelp when he smacks your thigh. His palm soothes the spot as you let out a shaky breath. 

  “Hands where I can see them sweetheart.” Will commands. 

  “Fuck you.” 

  “Thirsty?” Ben’s voice cuts through the pounding in your ears. His one hand with a refill pitcher of beer, the other gesturing behind him as he mouths ‘be nice.’

  Following close behind with an empty glass is a familiar face. Not one you don’t want to see on any given day,  but right now you’re struggling to breathe normally. 

  “Fucking Jack.” Frankie bites out and you regard him with a quirked brow. 

  “I thought you liked him.” Your head turned in a whisper and he just lets out a deep sigh. 

  It’s not that he doesn’t like him so much as he knows how much the guy likes you. Judging by the grin etched across his face as he approaches the table. 

  Santiago withdraws his hand and you whine at the loss, disguising it with a cough as Ben shoots you a worried look. 

  Everyone reaching for the cold glasses as Jack slides into the booth next to Ben. You watch Santi from the corner of your eye, slowly taking his fingers in his mouth. The others preoccupied with greetings as he hums at the taste. 

  Your mouth agape at the filthy show of dominance. He takes a sip of his beer, his dark eyes on you as he swallows and you watch the way his throat bobs. 

  “You’ll catch flies that way cariño.” 

  You tamp your mouth shut as heat licks up your spine. 

  Frankie slides you a beer as a peace offering and you let out a breath hoping the torture is over with your new guest at the table. 

  Jack says your name and you probably look a little wide eyed when you say hello. Sounding a little too happy to see him. Completely unaware that whatever tension building right now is not directed at him. 

  “Haven’t seen you guys here in awhile.” He says as he pours himself a beer. 

  “We’ve been…busy.” The boys snicker as Ben hides his smile behind his glass, unbeknownst to Jack. 

  “What have y’all been up to? Any hot dates recently?” 

  The boys stay quiet, shooting each other looks as Frankie’s hand starts inching it’s way up your thigh. 

  He nudges Ben with his elbow. “Oh come on, spill. I know you’ve at least got some.” 

  Ben laughs it off, eyes flicking to you and memories of your date the previous night. He looks shy almost as he rubs the back of his neck. “Maybe I have, maybe I haven’t.” 

  You’re starting to gauge their annoyance at his presence. 

  Frankie doesn’t falter as he pinches the fabric between his fingers and you clamp your thighs shut. Your sandals clicking loudly on the floor. 

  Santiago laughs, motherfucker…with a stupid grin on his face and Will has to bite down on his lip to keep his at bay. 

  “In fact.” Jack starts up again. Pointing at Santiago.  This guy doesn’t quit apparently. “Last time I saw you here you had some hot blonde in your lap.” 

  He drops his head to the table and for his sake he looks apologetic. “I don’t recall.” The redness creeping up his neck and the simmering tension below the surface. 

  Frankie relents when he notices your obvious discomfort. They’ve been edging you all night and now this Jack off had to come and ruin all the fun. 

  “What about you honey? You seeing anyone?”

  Bingo

  His attention on you, a wide smile on his face. He draws his fingers up and down the condensation on his glass and you have the sudden wild thought to pour it on you. Anything to escape this fresh hell. 

  He wasn’t an unattractive man. Tall, broad shoulders and a strong jaw. Gorgeous head of dark brown hair that was always kept neat and combed back. He’s a firefighter so he’s got a great build and he can on occasion make you laugh. 

  Which is perhaps why the rest of the table looks as though they’re three seconds from choking him. 

  Frankie’s hand flexes a little on your thigh, Ben cracks his knuckles and stares straight ahead at Will whose jaw is so clenched you think he might break a few teeth. 

  And Santiago…looks as stoic as you’ve ever seen him. Too calm. 

  “Baby.” Frankie’s voice and the startling use of the pet name brings you back to the present. “He asked you a question.” His head tilted in waiting. 

  You fumble for words you’ve never actually spoken out loud. Not knowing what the right or wrong thing to say is. “I’m…keeping my options open.” 

  That seems to be the right answer for now. Santiago gives you a reassuring squeeze as he resumes drinking his beer. You can feel Frankie relax next to you and Ben’s shoulders aren’t reaching his ears. 

  Will still watches Jack, who obviously can’t take a hint. 

  His tongue dragging along his teeth as he eyes you from across the booth. For the sake of his safety you don’t want to let him finish whatever thoughts he has running through his head at your admission. 

  You slap your hands down on the table. “I’ve had too much to drink.” Signaling to Frankie and Will to slide out so you can relieve yourself, or at the very least get some space between you and Jack. 

  Someone has the nerve to pinch your ass before you exit the booth and curse low under your breath as you retreat to the restrooms. You were absolutely going to kill them when you got home later. 

  —

  The blatant flirting, the casual use of your sacred nickname, the way he’s not so subtly checking out your ass as you walk away. 

  The guys aren’t certain but Jack acts as though he’s not in clear immediate danger. But he’s a firefighter so the regard for his life is skewed toward running at a problem and not away from it. 

  As you round the corner disappearing from view he focuses his attention back on the table. Whistling low under his breath as he shakes his head still oblivious to the rage closing in on him. 

  “I still don’t know how one of you hasn’t snagged that yet.” Jack says offhandedly as he downs the rest of his beer. 

  Ben takes it from him and Santiago flinches, unsure of what the younger man will do as he calmly slides it out of reach. 

  It’s one of those intense moments. In the wild we freeze it in photographs and videos. In the images there’s a predator, perhaps a cheetah staring unblinkingly at a gazelle, who stares back with a look of surprise and terror. 

  “How do you know we haven’t?” Ben’s body turns to face him as he clears his throat. 

  He stutters a little, throwing his hands up in defeat. “Look if I’m moving in on anyone’s territory you just say the word-“ 

  “You are.” Will says without specifying whose. 

  Will stands as you make your way back to the table and Jack stands with him, waving goodbye. Frankie stays seated, not yet able to hide the evidence of his arousal. The whole display not doing anything to compress his excitement. 

  The guys all shift as you slide in, Will taking his seat next to you as Frankie throws his arm over your shoulder and he can see the wheeler turning in the poor man’s head. You never stood a chance.

  “Leaving so soon?” Your sweet voice doing nothing to disguise your obvious guess at what just transpired. 

  “Ugh…ya I’ve got an early day tomorrow.” He offers a tight lipped smile before walking away with his tail tucked. 

  Frankie’s laugh jostles you and you move to slap his arm as he grabs your wrist. “Play nice hermosa.” 

  You huff as you pry it out of his grip. “What did you guys say?” 

  You’re met with mostly silence and their grins at each other and just like that you’re right back where you started the night. Them, teasing you…and you loving it. 

  Will’s hand slowly creeps up your thigh,bunching the fabric of your skirt in his hand as he leans in close. “Now where were we sweetheart?”

Comments and reblogs are much appreciated

Taglist - @luciferiorbxtch @alwaysdjarin @meveispunk @casa-boiardi @evyiione

@littlenosoul @the-fox-den @saturn-rings-writes @romanarose @wandasbitch22

@spngingerbread21 @spookyxsam @summer-may @imonmykneessir @avastrasposts

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@awkwardalie @missladym1981 @soft-persephone @itspdameronthings

[penvisions]

the melting point {{masterlist}}

Fandom: Triple Frontier 

Pairing: Frankie Morales x Baker! Reader (ex EMT! Reader)

Summary: Running from the past to a new city gave you the perfect opportunity to open your own bakery. You're a regular at Brass Knuckles, and the owner is the right type of friendly you need in your life. Along with him, comes his group of friends, one Frankie Morales. You develop a crush on him nearly instantly. Can you manage to get your head above water long enough to tell him he's the most gorgeous man you've ever met?

Word Count: 82k - complete

Warnings: hurt and comfort, light angst, mild violence, one (1) instance of stalking, talk of past gun violence, ptsd, reader has trauma similar to the triple frontier guys, reader is described as having tattoos for plot points, reader is handicapped (expanded on in later chapters), reader has mobility issues, adult content, smut, p in v smut, oral (m and f receiving), the whole gang is here, plus oc inserts 

*these are just general warnings, each chapter has a detailed list for specific content

A/N: this is a self indulgent fic in which my dream of opening a bakery comes true, and hey, if a man built like a wall and had curls for days became a regular, that would be okay too c;

chapter one || chapter two || chapter three || chapter four || chapter five || chapter six

chapter seven || chapter eight || chapter nine || chapter ten

chapter eleven || chapter twelve || chapter thirteen || chapter fourteen 

chapter fifteen || chapter sixteen || chapter seventeen || chapter eighteen

chapter nineteen || chapter twenty

[pedropascalsx]

The Fall Out; The Invitation.

Frankie Morales x F!Reader. 

Summary: You attend an audition for a local band, and all seemingly goes well until it doesn’t.

Warnings: P in V sex, Creampie, Swearing, Some angst, Arguing, Asshole Frankie and Drummer!Benny Miller.

Word Count: 2K.

Chapters: 1 of 6.

A/N: I don’t know what I am doing. I am bad at this. This is mostly flashbacks and throughout the series I will be jumping back and forth. The next chapter will heavily focus on the breakdown of the band/relationships.

[FLASHBACK: TEN YEARS EARLIER].

It was fucking intoxicating, it was four months of unspoken tension and frustrations being hashed out in the most bruising and salacious way. 

Every thrust was fuelled by a different desire, a desire to make you scream his name, a desire to make you his and a desire to stop your smart mouth from spilling anything but moans of pleasure and desperate whimpers of his name. 

His grip was bruising from the very second the tension snapped, he spun you around and pulled down your panties without stopping for breath. He made a snarky comment about how fucking desperate you were for him and the way your thighs were glistening with your wetness meant that for once you couldn’t shut him up with a snide remark of your own. 

Instead you just choked back a moan, ignoring the sharp sting of pain you felt as you sunk your teeth into your bottom lip at a futile attempt to hide the overwhelming feeling of relief that it was finally happening.

He sunk himself into you in one fluid movement and you swore you could see stars. Everything around you disappeared and for a moment you were somewhere else, you weren't in a filthy dressing room at the back of some shady venue that hadn’t seen a vacuum in god knows how long.

And then he spoke. 

“You think I can’t see what you’re doing,” he scolded before ceasing his movements, “Stop biting your lip. I wanna hear how well you take my cock. I can already feel it, so what’s the point in trying to pretend that you’re not fucking gagging for it?” 

The groan that was milliseconds from spilling over your lips was replaced by a moan that you had no chance of suppressing, his cock having speared into that spot inside of you as your lips had parted. 

And from that moment on, you were putty in his hands. All the need to defy him had evaporated and the only thing that you could feel was a stronger need to be consumed by him, to feel the heat of him enveloping you as he relentlessly fucked into you. 

You gave him everything he wanted, you came with a gasp of his name and you let him spill every drop of spend inside of you as he murmured some almost incoherent speech about how you were his and he was going to claim you in every single way.

It was always going to end in tears.

[THE BEGINNING]

“Can I add this to your notice board?” A voice boomed out from across the cafe, as you served a customer their overpriced coffee. 

“Sure,” you replied with a friendly shrug, “Spare pins are placed in the bottom left corner of the board.” 

“Thanks, babe,” the voice called back and before you could get a real glance at him, he was out the door and on his way to cover every spare post or board with copies of the same flyer.

The rest of the day had been so busy you didn’t even think of it again until you were heading out, the hastily made flyer grabbing your attention as you slung your backpack across your shoulder.

You pulled it off the board and studied it for a few moments before shoving it in your backpack, it has been a while since you’d even considered performing in front of people, work and bills getting in the way of the dream you’d had since you were a child, but something about this was calling out to you. 

[THE DAY OF THE AUDITION]

Work was as busy as ever, you had been starting work at four am rather than six because the festive period had seen more visitors popping in before or after doing their Christmas shopping. 

And that had seen the pastries, cakes, tarts and cookies you made for the business selling out quicker than you were used to. 

Work was a helpful distraction, the amount of things you had to freshly bake and prepare meant you didn’t have time to fret or sike yourself out over the audition.

And before you knew it the café was open and filled with hungry and thirsty customers; and your co-worker Callie was bouncing behind the counter to relieve you of your duties. 

“Are you ready for the big audition for the big gig?” she asked with a signature wink, “You’re gonna smash it.” 

“Ooh, the big gig?” you said with a giggle, “Is that what we are calling me potentially hanging out in someone’s garage a couple of times a week?”

“Sounds like superstardom to me,” Callie shot back as she tied her apron around her waist, “Good luck, break a leg or whatever!”

“Yeah, yeah! Thank you babe.”

“Don’t forget to text me how it goes,” she called back as you politely weaved your way past the waiting customers. 

The line of people outside the venue made your nerves tingle, you weren't sure what to expect or just how many people would be interesting but it certainly wasn’t this. There must have been 25 people ahead of you, and that was just waiting outside. 

Instinctively your fingers intertwined with the fingers on your other hand, as you eagerly waited your turn, occasionally fighting the urge to abandon ship and wait for another opportunity to come around.

But the snotty girl in front of you said something to someone else in the queue that made you stand your ground, the anticipation and intrigue outweighing the anxiety and doubt.

She was eavesdropping the conversation in front of her and the sharp scoff she exhaled in judgement immediately caught your attention, “Didn’t you hear? They asked the original lead singer to leave. This is a big fucking deal, they were offered an opening slot that would have been huge for them and he pissed someone off so badly that they withdrew the offer.” 

“Who were they going to open for?” a voice that sounded alarmingly like your own croaked out and the mean girl spun around with a raised eyebrow before looking you up and down and scoffing again. 

“Green Day.”

‘Shit.’ You murmured, and she turned back around before making some unintelligible comment under her breath that made you roll your eyes.

After three agonising hours, it was almost your turn. The pink haired mean girl from the line came crashing out of the room with a smug look splashed across her face and just as you’d made the decision to go home, the door opened again and the same guy from the café was inviting you.

“Hey!” he said with a huge smile, “From the café on main right?” 

“Yeah,” you replied with a shy smile, “It’s nice to meet you.” 

“Come meet the guys,” he said as he ushered you in the room, “I’m Benny by the way. Drums!” 

“Oh, yeah, it figures you’re a drummer,” you reply with a laugh before introducing yourself. 

“Why’s that?” Benny says as he gestures to the microphone before climbing back on stage and calling out, “Because the drummers are always the most handsome guy in the band?”

“Something like that,” you roll your eyes and shrug and simply reply, “Your arms.” 

He laughs before telling the guys your name and telling them where you work and then he introduces them all.

“Okay, so we got Pope over there on bass, my brother Will is on keyboard, I’m obviously on drums and this is Frankie our guitarist.”

As he introduced each guy they waved and smiled from behind their instruments, all until Frankie. Who barely glanced up at you. Too busy fiddling with his instrument to give you the time of day, boredom and frustration clearly painted across his face. 

His incredibly handsome face. You hated how obvious it must have been that you did a double take when you looked at him, your breath hitching as you took him in. You couldn’t ignore his strong nose and jaw and his endearing scruffy patchy beard. He was gorgeous. But he seemed so utterly disinterested that he immediately struck a nerve. 

“So what are you going to sing?” Pope called out from the stage, “You want us to play something or do you have a backing track?”

“Shit,” you hissed, “No I didn’t bring one. I just figured I’d sing it without… is that ok?”

“All good, babe,” Benny yelled back with a reassuring smile, “Whenever you’re ready.” 

Run by Snow Patrol had been the song you ultimately settled on singing for the audition, it had been a firm favourite for years and was always something you felt comfortable performing.

“Holy shit,” Benny spluttered as you finished the song, “Café girl has got some pipes.” 

“That she does,” Will replied with an approving nod.

And before you had a chance to thank them a gravelly voice flooded the room, “She’s not exactly what we’re looking for,” he said as his fingers still fiddled with his guitar, “I mean, yeah, nice voice, but come on.”

“And what exactly are you looking for?” you blurted back, “Another arrogant asshole that’ll blow any more chances that may come your way.”

He sneered at you, before standing up and giving you an obvious once over, “Yeah, she’s…uh, real nice. Clearly she would make a great addition to the band” he spat out to his band mates every word dripping with sarcasm before slipping through a door off the stage.

You couldn’t make sense of how quickly he had gotten under your skin, and immediately you were trying to work out if you wanted to slap or kiss him. Slap him. Definitely slap him… Maybe. 

“Is that good for you?” the voice called out from the stage as you tried to regain some focus.

“What?” you stammered, “Uh, sorry, I didn’t catch what you said?”

Will laughed, “He has that effect on people. Could you leave your number on the sheet over there and we will let you know in a few days.” 

You nodded politely before giving the band an unconvincing smile, before stumbling over and scribbling down your name and number on the sheet. 

‘Well, I definitely won’t be hearing from them.’ you thought to yourself as you slowly walked home, replaying it all back over and over until you felt physically sick.

You sipped the hot chocolate in your mug as some absolutely awful but equally captivating hallmark movie played out on your TV, each scene as predictable as the next making you roll your eyes but somehow still being so alluring that you audibly tutted when your phone started ringing and disturbing it.

UNKNOWN NUMBER.

“Hello,” you sighed into your cell phone, “If this is a spam just do me a favour and hang up for me.” 

“Depends on what you’d refer to as spam, Café girl,” the voice boomed back into your eye with a laugh, “Not disturbing anything important I hope.” 

“Benny?” you asked with an obvious tone of surprise, “I didn’t expect to actually hear from you.” 

“Can hardly offer you the position if I don’t contact you, babe,” he says and you can picture the cocky grin on his face, “What are you doing Tuesday night?” 

Joining a local band with a guitarist that you’ve already had a spat with? ‘What could possibly go wrong?’ you thought to yourself before answering.

“Sounds like you’re about to tell me.”

[PRESENT DAY; TEN YEARS LATER]

The chill in the air made you grip the mug of hot chocolate in your hand a little tighter, you sat comfortably on the balcony off your bedroom and looked out over the lake whilst enjoying the same silence you had for years.

The rude unexpected ringing of your phone making you wince slightly as you glanced down at the screen.

UNKNOWN NUMBER.

Usually you’d just let it ring out, maybe check the voicemail they’d potentially leave a few hours later if you felt like it, but a feeling you hadn’t felt for many years started to bubble up in your stomach, and something was calling out for you to answer.

“Hello,” you quietly murmured into the phone.

“Hello, babe,” a familiar voice boomed back at you, “It’s been a while. What are you doing next month?” 

[laurfilijames]

Pairing: Will 'Ironhead' Miller x female reader

Words: 4.7k

Warnings: Rated E, 18+. Hurricane. Power outage. Oral sex (F receiving). Unprotected intercourse.

Summary: A hurricane rolls in and knocks out the power, allowing Will to make good use of the time waiting it out with you.

A/N: I've had this idea toiling around in my head for a bit, and when we recently lost power at our cottage, I decided to go for it. I have no experience of hurricanes so I apologize if this isn't accurate, though I tried to remain vague. A big thanks to @rhoorl for the Florida hurricane knowledge and to @ramadiiiisme for supporting this idea through to the very end 💗

---

The sight when you reached the top of the stairs stopped you in your tracks, admiring Will standing by the large window of your living room looking out at the wrath of weather outside, his expression content and thoughtful.

You set down the pile of various candles you had collected from every room in the house, smiling despite feeling a tangle of nerves in your stomach at the potential strength of this growing hurricane.

“Should you be standing that close to the window?” you asked, causing Will to smirk and glance over his broad shoulder at you.

“She’s starting to really ramp up out there.”

You sighed in response, dreading the thought of it getting any worse, the rain already accumulating to the point that the drainage systems on the street couldn’t keep up with it.

Will remained in place, staring back out at the palm trees swaying wildly, the bend of their trunks impressive, seeming completely unbothered by the storm and almost calmed by it.

Coming up behind him, you wrapped your arms around his waist and brought your hands up to his chest, feeling him take a slow breath in as he covered one of your hands with his.

“I like watching Mother Nature do her thing,” he explained, his voice soothing and even. “She’s angry, letting it all out.” He squeezed your hand as you rested your cheek on his back, already tired of watching the sheets of rain and extreme wind bully everything in their paths.

“I know what that’s like,” he finished, exhaling another slow breath that you felt fill and deflate out of his lungs.

Will turned and gathered you in his arms, pressing a kiss to your forehead, his somber admission now an afterthought. “So, what did you manage to scrounge up?” he asked, his tone lighter than before.

“Oh, just every candle I’ve ever bought or been given,” you smiled, turning your head to look at the array that was spread out on the kitchen table. “It might look nice when they’re all lit up, but the combination of scents might be a bit offensive.”

Will laughed, his body moving against yours with the motion of it, and you smiled and looked up at him, his blue eyes bright in the dim grey of the storm.

“I just hope the power stays on a bit longer,” you wished out loud, knowing however many candles you made glow wouldn’t be enough to outshine the encroaching dark from the storm let alone the fact that it was creeping later into the night.

“Hmm, yeah, the air conditioner is hardly keeping up as it is,” Will explained, his hand smoothing up your back where it dragged your shirt along with it, the stickiness of your skin and clothes already beginning to feel intolerable.

The lights flickered and the sound of the power surging through the house made both of you part slightly to glance at your surroundings, the warmth from the light of the lamps that were turned on illuminating your belongings for the last time before everything went dark.

Will chuckled while you groaned, his hands rubbing up and down your arms. “Well, sweetheart, it looks like you’ve got a superpower.”

You shot him a glare as you walked over to the table, starting to distribute the candles throughout the kitchen and living room, but not lighting any yet since some light was still coming in from outside.

Will sat on the couch, grinning as he watched you, almost seeming like he was pleased and entertained by the situation.

“How long before you turn on the generator?” you asked, testing your luck even though you knew what the answer was going to be.

He shook his head as he laughed again, “Not until I need to. We might have a ways to go here and I’m not wasting gas in the first few hours of this.”

His eyebrows crept up his forehead as he spoke, his voice stern and amused all at once. “You’re going to have to be patient and trust me.”

You sighed and nodded, flicking the Zippo lighter you held on and off a couple of times before walking into the living room to join him, knowing that out of all the people to have by your side during an emergency, Captain William Miller was the best and most capable one.

He had already spent hours checking the house to make sure everything was secure, gathering supplies like gasoline and food and water, and hauled sandbags all morning with Benny and Frankie that they distributed out to the neighbours, even making a point to check in on some of the elderly ones.

“C’mere,” he purred, beckoning you over to where he sat comfortably, his long legs spread wide with one arm draped over the back of the couch.

He looked at you adoringly as you moved toward him slowly, his smile growing to pull out the creases beside his mouth that couldn’t be kept hidden in his beard, and you matched it with your own sly grin, suddenly forgetting everything that was happening around you as you became pleasantly distracted by the man sitting before you.

You straddled his lap, pulling up the hem of your flowy skirt as you did, seating yourself directly on the bulge in his workout shorts that elicited a low moan from him.

“It’s going to be a long night, sweetheart,” he spoke softly, his eyes flickering over your chest and then up to your lips. “We’re going to have to ride this thing out.”

It was said with such implication that despite the heat, you shivered, goosebumps crawling up your back and down your arms, and you tugged your bottom lip between your teeth as you squirmed on his vast thighs.

“And what are your suggestions for…riding… it out, Captain?”

Will shrugged and smirked, his eyes glowing the same way his skin was from the humidity that hung heavily in the room, his hands groping at your hips.

“I’ve got some ideas.”

You smiled as you cupped his cheeks, loving the way his dark blond facial hair felt against your palms, and pulled him into a kiss while arching your back to get your body closer to his at the same time, both of you breathing out in the relief of your lips meeting.

Will set the pace, starting off with slow rolls of his tongue with yours, his hands carding up and down your body languidly, reminding you that there was no hurry in any of your actions and that you had all the time in the world to do anything you wanted with each other.

You slid your hands down the thick column of his neck to his chest, feeling his pulse hammer against them, landing on his chest where his body heat poured off of him, the cotton of his t-shirt damp and clinging to his form.

It took everything in you to maintain composure, thankful for Will reminding you to slow it down whenever you found yourself moving your hips faster, his hands pressing and digging into your flesh to force you to keep the steady rhythm that he started.

The slick that already saturated your thong teased you the more you ground your aching core against him, feeling his hard cock straining against the material that contained it, the excitement and anticipation of having him buried inside you intensifying by the second.

The skin on your chin and lips were already raw from how long you had been kissing, the steamy makeout session only made better by dry humping each other until you both were on the verge of finishing how you were, your whines and moans growing while your movements decreased to be as light as possible in an attempt to prolong this intoxicating tease.

Will kissed and sucked at your neck and chest, having already exposed more of you by tugging the neckline of your shirt to the side with eager hands, his breath fanning over your sweat-coated skin when he sighed deeply through his nose.

“Fuck me, you’re gonna make me cum in my shorts.”

He huffed out a laugh, but his admission only spurred you on more, grinding harder on him until his humour faded out and was replaced by ferocity, growling as he pressed his lips against yours again, the sweat that saturated his beard transferring onto you.

The storm was still going strong in the background, sheets of rain pummeling the house and striking the window with a sound that mimicked waves crashing the shoreline, the nerves you felt about it shifting into a frenzied arousal that you directed onto the man beneath you.

Your hands struggled to get under his shirt, the material so stuck to his stomach from his sweat that the skin on your palms dragged along his abdomen, the tackiness making it difficult for you to peel it up over his head.

It hit the floor with a slap, the weight of it evidence of how much the heat and you were affecting him, and you smiled against his lips at the sound of his breath hitching as you slid your hands down his chest to land on his solid pecs while your lower half continued to torture him.

You touched him everywhere you could reach, smoothing down his stomach and back up again, cradling the sides of his neck and then over his shoulders, and finally up to his hair where you let your fingers rake through it until you knew you had made it stick up in a spiky mess, deepening your kiss as the sensation made him press harder into your mouth.

The window rattled from the force of the winds, disrupting you enough that you broke your kiss and turned to look at it, the thought of it possibly shattering filling you with worry as you were reminded of your vulnerability.

Will placed his hand on your chin, his thumb smoothing it while his other fingers tucked up under your jawline, guiding your head back to face him where he silently assured you that everything was fine, his eyes reflecting a surety and vow of protection that no amount of reinforcements on the house could ever match. He adjusted the pad of his thumb so it sat on your bottom lip, pulling it down slightly to part it from the upper one, and it surprised you to see how quickly his expression changed, his eyes darkened so much by lust in a matter of seconds that the look in them rivaled the clouds spiraling outside.

He kissed you desperately, his hands falling to your waist where he lifted your shirt upward, only pausing the union of your mouths long enough to remove it from you, your braless chest grazing against his when you leaned into each other again.

Goosebumps broke out across your skin despite the humidity clinging heavily to the air around you, your nipples hardening and feeling incredibly sensitive each time his body brushed against them, your needy moans pouring into his mouth the more his hands roamed over your mostly bare form.

You could hardly handle it anymore, desperate to feel him deep inside you, moving your hips back slightly so you could access him, tearing the front of his shorts down where you reached in for his cock. Will was helpful, lifting his ass off the couch so his shorts could slide down his thighs in order to expose all of himself, his expression serious with brows furrowed and knitted tightly together as he watched you grip him in your hand and began stroking him tip to base, smearing the precum leaking from it all over his silky shaft.

He grabbed your hips, pulling you back to sit directly on top of his groin, guiding your motions as you rocked your covered pussy on his bare cock.

“Fuck, that feels so good,” he hissed, holding your skirt up so he was able to watch you grind along his length, pressing his cock flat against his lower stomach where drips of cum spilled onto the smattering of flaxen pubes.

A slow sigh of approval passed your lips as you continued to languidly ride him, your eyes closing as you lost yourself in the sensation and moaning when you felt Will capture one of your breasts in his mouth and spin his tongue around your nipple.

You could feel him growing more impatient, his lips moving faster along your chest where he eagerly worshiped your tits, his fingers clawing at the thin material of your skirt as if he was ready to rip it to shreds to get at you, and his breathing became more laboured, his chest rising and falling quickly while the exhalations from his nose ghosted against the crests of your breasts.

“I need in there,” he growled, his head shaking to the side a couple of times like there was no way he could handle another second not being inside you, his fingers slipping into the crotch of your saturated panties to pull them to the side before running his index and middle fingers through your slick.

Your mouth pooled with saliva as he drove his long digits in and out of you in broad strokes before bringing them up to his mouth to suck them clean, his other hand angling his cock to line up to part your folds while you lifted yourself up on your knees to allow him access to enter you.

You sank onto him slowly, letting him fill you inch by inch until you encased him completely, his blue eyes locked with yours with an appreciation held in them that made your heart beat faster.

Remaining still, you leaned forward and kissed him, your hands holding onto either side of his face, deepening your kiss as you relished in the fullness he provided without moving.

When you parted, Will gave you a soft smile that made you melt, his fingers coming up to trace along the side of your cheek.

“I love you,” he said, the surety in his words clear, although his expression was a thrilling mix of adoration and something waiting to be unleashed, the suspense of experiencing either rough or gentle treatment exhilarating you.

“I love you too, Will,” you breathed, not daring to look away from him.

A strong gale slapped the side of the house, reminding you that the hurricane blasting outside wasn’t to be forgotten, but Will immediately drew your attention back to him, his hands smoothing up your back to hold you against him in a firm, but soft way, his lips pressing onto your shoulder and across your collarbone to your neck, alternating between kisses and nips that told you his control was beginning to falter.

You started moving on him, riding him in careful waves that felt so incredible you weren’t sure how long you could keep it up, knowing that whether you moved slow or fast, you would be reaching your climax in no time.

“That’s it, baby,” he praised, resting his back against the couch to watch you, locking his hands on your hips to force you down hard each time you lifted yourself up and almost off his cock.

He was completely enamoured, looking at you as if anything could be happening outside that window and he wouldn’t care to notice, his eyes dancing over your form in a struggle to choose which part of you he wanted to see the most.

Finding the perfect spot that made you thrum with ecstasy, you rolled your hips and bounced up and down, your swollen clit hitting the base of his cock in a shattering blow each time, your skin tingling from head to toe as your orgasm built.

“You’re right there, aren’t you?” Will asked, his words breathy as he admired you sliding on him.

“Yes, fuck!”

Will thrusted up into you a few times, your cries growing loud enough they almost drowned out the noise of the hurricane, your nails digging into the flesh on his shoulder as you approached your high.

“Hey, hey, hold on,” Will interrupted, though his voice was soothing. “Not yet.”

His eyes were big and bright despite the dark grey that had fully consumed the room, and although you were taken aback by him edging you, you couldn't deny the trust you had in him to look after you.

“Sit down,” he ordered, nodding to the space on the couch beside him as helped move your legs off of his.

Will stood and removed his shorts that sat halfway down his legs, stepping out of them before moving to kneel on the floor in front of you, his thumbs smoothing on your knees in a way that contradicted the way he forcefully pressed on them to encourage you to spread your legs for him.

He kissed his way up the inside of your right thigh, a low growl coming from him as he inhaled deeply when he reached your core, and then moved over to your other thigh, peppering wet kisses slowly away from where you needed him most until you were squirming where you sat.

“Will…” you breathed, shifting your hips to try to bring yourself closer to him.

“Let’s get this off,” he grunted, his patience thinning as your skirt was preventing him from taking everything he wanted.

He reached behind you, his fingers easily finding the zipper and pulled it down, keeping steely eye contact while wiggling it off your hips with the help of you shifting from one cheek to the other until he peeled the flowy fabric off of your body.

The creases on his forehead were pronounced as he continued to look up at you as he tugged at the waist of your thong, sliding it down to expose your dripping cunt that his eyes were now fixed on as he guided the wet piece of cotton to your feet.

Will hooked his arms under your legs, letting them relax on his biceps, his tattooed forearms wrapping around your thighs to hold you securely. He pulled you toward him, bringing you to the edge of the cushion so you were flush with his face, his nose brushing your folds before his tongue swiped through the mess he had already made.

A long moan toppled out of you as you raked your fingers through his hair, lifting your hips slightly to get even more contact with his talented tongue that licked at you slowly and precisely in an effort to wreck you.

He picked you apart minute after agonizing minute, continuously bringing you to the peak only to stop you there each time, the violent storm outside going ignored and nothing compared to the one raging inside you.

As always, Will was completely focused on his mission, working you with the expertise he had come to master over all the hours spent learning your body, knowing the exact amount of pressure placed on the perfect spot that would send you soaring.

Not once did his hands leave their hold on your legs, completely unselfish in his art and not even considering touching himself, his generosity and the thought of his leaking, rigid cock left waiting for attention adding to your demise.

You pleaded over and over, his name like a song with the storm as your instrumental background, desperate for release as you ground against his face, your heels digging into his waist as he in turn dug his mouth harder into your cunt.

He had you where he wanted you, and pushing your tolerance a little further, Will unraveled one of his arms from around your leg and slipped his hand between the sofa and you, fingering you slowly while he sucked at your over-sensitive clit, the precise hook of his fingers making you clench around them like a vice.

And then he stopped.

You cursed loudly, whining and squirming as he sat up and looked at you with a satisfied expression, his face glistening from your pleasure.

A stray branch from a tree flew by and struck the house, drawing both of your attention to the window, but Will was quick to recover where your focus belonged.

He stood, a slight hitch as he straightened his long legs, his body that had been put through so much physical turmoil over his years of service known to cramp up if left idle for too long.

Will gripped at your knee, pushing it toward the back of the couch so your body was forced to spin and lay down, crawling between your spread legs until he was positioned over top of you with his arms braced on either side of your shoulders.

He kissed you intensely, moaning into your mouth as his cock nudged where he had left you aching for relief, savouring you like he had gone without the press of your lips on his for days.

His hand found yours, interlacing your fingers as he brought your arm above your head, laying his body completely on yours so he covered you entirely, protecting you with all he had.

He was heavy, but comforting, his weight assuring and a reminder of his strength and unwavering love for you, and at the same time it came as a warning of the crushing power he could choose to have, like he was a hurricane all in himself and you were in his path of destruction.

Will paused in kissing you as he adjusted his hips, looking down between your bodies to watch his cock easily push through your tight folds, a shaky breath exhaling from his parted lips as his brows knitted tightly together at the sensation of being back in your embrace.

You looked to the side to see out the window as another blast of wind surged against the house, only to have Will squeeze your hand that he still held in his, his voice calm and even.

“Hey, focus on me,” he ordered, his eyes a turbulent blue when you met them. “Look at me.”

You nodded, holding his gaze as he began to move inside you, the feel of him stroking your walls in long, slow drags making it difficult to keep your eyes open.

Your free hand ran along the flexing muscles of his back, clawing at his sweat-coated skin as he found a pace that brought you right back to the point he had left you at more than once, your head tipping back into the couch as you were dragged into the throes of pleasure even more intensely than before.

“You’re safe with me, sweetheart,” Will promised, his voice intoxicating and comforting all at once. “I’ve got you, you can relax…”

He spoke against your neck before moving his mouth back to yours, kissing you gently before probing his tongue in, the tempo of his thrusts deepening now that he knew you were succumbing to everything he was giving you.

He moved on you like the wind moved the rain, pushing and forceful, seeking his own release as he rolled against you with fervor and breathy moans were exchanged between your mouths as you chased your highs together.

Your whole body tensed, convulsing and giving up all control as he fucked you through the shattering orgasm made even more powerful thanks to how he had edged you, feeling yourself release on his shaft that alternated between being buried deep inside you and pulling out almost completely.

Will pressed his mouth hard on yours before breaking the seal of your lips, allowing his laboured breaths and rough grunts to sound out as he fought to follow right behind you, the cadence of your contracting walls coaxing out his end.

You could feel him pulse inside you, filling you to the brim with his thick, hot seed that was always generous in its quantity, his pace remaining steady though his rhythm began to break.

Drops of sweat from his brow landed on your chest, his harsh movements shaking the accumulated moisture off of him, continuing to buck into you erratically until he had nothing left to give.

He crashed against your lips again, transferring even more sweat from his efforts onto your skin, his hand releasing yours where he brought it to your head and smoothed it over your hair, kissing you slowly but purposefully as he gradually let the rolling of his hips fade out.

After a minute, Will pulled out of you, reaching for some tissues out of the box on the side table and handed them to you, taking some for himself for you to both clean up. He stood with a grunt, looking down at you with an extended hand to take the soiled tissues from you, the muscles in his cheeks flinching wildly as he clenched his teeth together.

Will paused for a minute, looking out at the tempest scene, all of his veins raised as blood pumped strongly through them, his muscles accentuated beautifully from his efforts, and you couldn’t help but fall even further in love for him, his face stoic and almost unreadable, but only you knew how much emotion lingered beneath.

He sighed as he moved again, stretching his weary limbs while stalking to the kitchen, and you wondered if he had any idea how much you worshiped him even as he did the simplest of things.

You laid there listening to him rummage around, looking out the window at the ever-present hurricane, the room almost completely dark as night had successfully consumed the sun along with the storm.

Will returned with two glasses of water and set one on the table, passing the other to you.

“Drink up, sweetheart,” he drawled, smirking as he spoke. “The eye hasn't even passed over yet, we’ve got a long night ahead of us.”

The wink he sent you went straight to your core, your anticipation of whatever else he had planned for you enticing you and almost had you hoping this hurricane would last for days.

You returned his smile as you brought the glass to your lips, sipping it as you watched him sit on the couch beside you and grab the lighter off the coffee table, flicking it on so the warm flame illuminated his dewy, gorgeous features in the otherwise dreary dark. He lit the two candles that you had placed there earlier before grabbing his own glass and downing the contents of it, seeing the way his throat moved as he swallowed making you thirsty for more.

He sighed when he finished drinking, running his hand over his face to rid it of the sweat, and looked back over to you still laying where he had left you.

“Can I get you anything else?” he asked, his eyes slowly traveling up your naked form until they landed on yours.

You shook your head ‘no’, giving him a sated smile, thinking how you would happily give up air conditioning and electricity permanently if it meant sharing more moments like this with him.

Will gave a nod and laid down beside you, helping you shift so there was room for him to lay with his front against your back, spooning you comfortably where you both were able to face the window.

His arm draped over your waist and tucked under yours, his hand cupping your breast, and tangling his legs with yours, brought his groin as close to your bum as he could.

He hummed against the back of your neck, his nose brushing your damp skin, and you smiled when you felt he was hard again, his cock pressing between your cheeks.

“You’re going to outlast this hurricane,” you giggled, squirming so your bum rubbed along his shaft, making him growl against your skin.

“Damn right, sweetheart,” he chuckled, his hand running down your stomach and around to your ass, spreading your cheeks apart where he slowly pushed inside your tight walls.

He kissed your neck, the sensation of his beard on your skin making you moan and shiver, his hand returning to your breast where he tugged and pinched at your peaked nipple.

“We're going to need to pace ourselves, here,” he warned in your ear, beginning the slow drag of his cock out of you before slamming it back in, the conflict he felt between wanting to keep you safe and seeking to destroy you playing in his mind.

---

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[darlingdekarios]

bending to the honeysuckles.

rating: explicit. 18+ only. length: 17,216 content: William "Ironhead" Miller x f!reader, reader has a prior drug addiction, drug addiction recovery, drug rehab, mentions of past abuse in a relationship, pining, fluff, Will is a simp, smut [oral, unprotected p in v]

while you insist you don't want a relationship, Will Miller falls for you like it's his destiny to do so. he's willing to meet you where you are while he waits for you to let him love you.

Life had been hell for Frankie Morales since he’d returned from Colombia. While he was able to keep decent control of himself for the first couple of weeks, the things he’d done caught up to him – they always did. He’d retreated into himself, away from his friends and into the confines of his house, numbing his feelings with whatever he could. At first, it was several beers every day, and when that wasn’t enough it was liquor. When the liquor wasn’t enough, he’d remembered what could truly help him – cocaine – and it had all just sort of spiraled from there. 

Three months after his return home Frankie staggered into his birthday dinner with dilated pupils, a running nose and an air of confidence only to be met with an intervention from Pope, Benny, and Ironhead. The reminder of how pathetically few people cared about him stung initially, but he quickly remembered he deserved even less than that. He found himself in a rehabilitation program then, spending the next 90-days of his life with far-too-nice people trying to help him get his shit together. 

As he expected, Santiago had taken up residence in his spare bedroom in Frankie’s absence, deciding to stick around in the states to ensure his best friend actually recovered this time, found a career for himself, and didn’t lose his house. He’d started attending a group session for recovering cocaine addicts the same week, and that was where he’d met you. 

You were at least a decade younger, quiet until you were directly spoken to, and sarcastic and quick when it was your turn to talk. The message deciphered from your introduction of yourself was that you had just moved to take over your grandfather’s company, you were coming up on six years of sobriety, and you did not like to be around people. His second meeting, a week later and your six months of sobriety, you’d approached him at the end of the meeting to propose being his sponsor. 

The two of you had been friends since. Wednesday nights you met for dinner before you made your way to group together, and Sunday nights you had a quick phone call to check-in with one another. As much as it helped Frankie to have someone outside of the Delta Force to understand his situation – that he trusted to understand him – it helped you just the same. You had moved to the area a month ago and finding people tolerable was difficult. He quickly became your closest friend, and he was more than happy to introduce you to the other people in his life. 

When Will had first suggested coming along to group with Frankie to offer some support, it was a surprise when the older man agreed and mentioned you immediately, almost proud to have someone to introduce to the man he looked up to so much. You’d agreed it was fine to skip dinner that week so Frankie could come along with Will, almost relieved for the extra time alone between work and group. It gave you a chance to shower and change into something a little better than your pink work overalls, ready to meet the first additional person in Frankie’s life. 

Frankie walked in much later than he normally would, and while you would normally jokingly call to him from across the room for cutting it close, you lost whatever wit you’d planned on using when your eyes landed on the gorgeous blonde following behind your friend. When Frankie spotted you he raised a hand to wave, which you returned feebly, eyes a little too focused on the newcomer. 

“We’re cutting it close, I know,” Frankie breathed when he approached you, your senses suddenly returning and forcing you to your feet in politeness. “This is Will. Will, this is my friend I’ve been telling you about.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you were late for your own birth, Frankie,” you greeted him with a quick hug, fixing your eyes on Will with a smile as you mentally swooned under the gaze of his blue eyes. “Nice to meet you, Will.”

William Miller did not get distracted.

When he had a responsibility – a job to complete – Will was laser-focused, in-control, and driven. Whether he was in an active combat zone or giving a speech to a group of veterans trying to rejoin society, he was always able to stay on the task at hand until he’d completed it – until he’d excelled at it. Tonight, his task was to support his friend, his brother, Frankie – and tonight was the first time in months he felt he’d truly failed at his task. 

He couldn’t pull his attention away from you for the next two hours. No matter who was talking, even Frankie, Will found his eyes glancing to you, eager to see your reactions and expressions and your body language. On one particularly long-winded monologue from a woman about how she had just tried cocaine for fun, and it ended up ruining her marriage (she cheated on her husband, that’s what really ruined the marriage), you rolled your eyes in Will’s direction while mouthing:

“Are you having fun yet?” Will nearly laughed at the question but opted to respond with a much more situationally appropriate light smile and subtle thumbs up. Your eyes flashed with mischief as you mouthed again. “Liar.”

He couldn’t get you out of his head after that meeting and found himself asking Frankie if he could go with him again the next week, and again, and soon enough he was a regular supporter of the meeting, showing up early to set up snacks and coffee and keeping track of the sign-in sheet. Each time he found himself falling more and more into whatever trap you’d seemingly laid out just for him, and even though he really didn’t get the chance to talk with you much, his interest was sparked enough to want to get to know you more. It was after the fourth meeting he’d joined that he lingered in the parking lot with you even after Frankie had left. 

That was the night he’d begun to understand the depth of his fascination with you. Sitting in his trunk bed drinking bottles of water Will permanently kept in his backseat he marveled in you as you opened up to him and showed him who you were…at least as much as you were willing to share. As much as he hung on your every word, you did the same for him, unable to look away from his face as he spoke and enamored by the things he told you about himself. 

“I like hanging out in parking lots with you, Will Miller,” you’d complimented, eyes sparkling under the full moon’s light. “You’re good company.”

“Yeah, we should do it again sometime,” came his reply before he could stop it. Reaching to scratch the back of his neck, he opted to continue – there was no going back now. “Maybe the parking lot of a restaurant…after dinner?”

You felt your cheeks burn immediately and, even more embarrassing, the smile that spread across your face like the sun breaking through clouds on a stormy day. All too soon, though, the clouds returned, the melancholy filling your voice. “I’d love to say yes but I…can’t. I’m not looking for anything serious right now with…well, everything. And I don’t want to give you the wrong idea.”

While it wasn’t the reason you’d given, on your drive home you had to think about the fact that Will Miller deserved far more than a recovering addict who was just figuring out how to really take care of herself. If you had only seen his thoughts on his own drive, about how long he’d wait until you were ready, you may have turned around and given into him. 

Things settled a bit over the coming weeks. You offered Frankie a job helping you out with jarring the honey and making local deliveries for you, which he’d been happy to accept in the meantime until he could get his license back. It was nice to have him around – he was often the one to remind you to take a moment to hydrate, but he never bothered you while you worked. He even took it upon himself to make some minor repairs to your barn in some of his spare time. Another month had passed faster than you could believe, the time filled with settling into your business and spending time with Frankie and his best friend, Santiago. 

Frankie had offered many times – at least once per week – for you to join them for drinks, or dinner, or at the beach. You’d refused every offer, unwilling to face Will again for fear of your wavering resolve. But this week, a Friday, it was different when Frankie asked you to join them before he headed out in the morning to spend his day making deliveries. The loneliness was finally catching up to you, and you figured some time out with other people would serve you well. Plus, despite the bickering you and Santi often found yourselves in, you knew Frankie surrounded himself with good people, and you could trust spending time with them. You agreed to let him pick you up at 7:30, and he agreed with a nod and a smile. Even if you had a miserable time, at least going would ensure Frankie’s happiness for the night.

By the time Frankie’s shitty truck had pulled into the driveway of the old farmhouse you now found yourself living in, you were moments away from sending a text that said you’d changed your mind, the nerves of your horrible day making you dread an unfamiliar place. As you pulled a jacket on and locked the door behind you a sigh released from your lips before you began to make your way to him. While you were finalizing your mental argument about whether it was too late to cancel you saw Frankie’s face peering out of the driver’s side window, an earnest smile on his lips. He was unrelentingly kind and made the decision you faced easy – there was no way you could cancel on Frankie Morales and sleep at night.

“Hiya, Crankie,” you greeted as you climbed into the front seat, rolling the window down before you’d buckled yourself in. Your use of the nickname you’d bestowed upon Frankie made the man shake his head, a quiet laugh sounding as he began the drive.

“Hi, abejita,” came his usual reply, glancing out of the corner of his eye to take in more of your expression. You’d obviously tried to get in the mood to go out, but the tired expression was one Frankie recognized – you probably just wanted to be alone tonight, and yet you were still seated next to him. “Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Of course he knew – he always did. The two of you had spent the last few months bonding over a similar addiction background, and it was nice to have someone that truly understood you. There were no niceties with you and Frankie, and it was the reason the two of you had become such close friends.

“Oh, you know me, Francisco…’I’ll sleep when I’m dead,’ yada yada yad,” you turned your head toward him, offering a falsely reassuring smile. “What’s your excuse? I swear there’s at least five more greys in your hair.”

“I only counted three this morning,” he matched your taunting, chuckling softly at your joking. 

“Yeah, well, I’ve told you that you need glasses, and this just proves my point,” you joked, rolling your head back the other way to rest it on the cool glass of the window. “I probably shouldn’t even let you drive me around…talk about self-destructive behaviors.” 

He laughed again and the comfortable silence set in, the rest of the drive to he and his friends’ chosen bar passing with light conversation about your days, and both of you agreeing to keep one another to the one drink maximum you’d set. Frankie thanked you for deciding to come with him, and it was a sincere show of appreciation – having someone unbiased and understanding of his situation there to support his recovery was important. And, truthfully – he was helping yours just as much. 

Plus, there was the promise of seeing Will again. While it was annoying, it was also impossible to admit that the mere thought of seeing his pale blue eyes again in the flesh caused your stomach to fill with butterflies. It was ridiculous – you’d meant what you said when he’d asked you out a month ago, you didn’t want to pursue anyone or be pursued right now. That didn’t stop you from thinking about his sparkling blue eyes, or the lines of his smile, or how he’d looked at you like you were the only thing he wanted to look at. You wanted to see him, and could only hope, maybe cruelly, that he wanted to see you as well. 

“What are you over there thinking about, abejita?” Frankie pulled you back to reality with a quiet voice as you pulled into the bar parking lot, glancing over at you briefly. “You didn’t complain about my driving at all.”

You smiled and shook your head, unwilling to admit to Frankie you’d been thinking about one of his best friends – one of his brothers. The question of whether Will had told them about asking you out flashed through your mind, and fortunately Frankie shifting his truck into park gave you a feasible reason to not answer his questioning. “Let’s go do this. And remember, if someone offers you cocaine in the bathroom…just say no.”

Frankie laughed in bewilderment nearly the entire way into the bar, a bright smile still spread across his face when the two of you made your way through the door. The sounds of Metallica from the jukebox confirmed Santiago was there before your eyes even landed on the mess of grey and black atop his head, drifting over to the golden locks of Benny Miller with his girlfriend sat beside him. As you walked toward their table you released a sigh of relief, though at the same time your stomach knotted in disappointment – no Will. 

After your hellos and introduction to Benny’s girlfriend, Frankie excused himself to grab both of you a soda from the bar to start with – it was refreshing to see that this group didn’t even bat an eye at the two of you not ordering alcohol, and you had to mentally commend Frankie for his taste in company. Leaning on the counter height table with an elbow you met Santiago’s lingering gaze. 

“You better not be standing to do what I think you’re going to do,” he warned, his words met with a mischievous smile from you. His arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowing at your body language. 

“Oh, I’m definitely standing to do what you think I’m going to do,” you taunted, sticking out your leg slightly to block him into the booth. “And you are just going to have to deal with it, Santiago.”

His hand twitched toward the glass of dark liquid in front of him, taking a sip as his eyes stayed on yours. You offered another smile, lazily drumming your fingernails on the table beneath you. Benny’s voice interrupted the stare down, both of you turning to look at him. “I’m sorry, what is happening here?”

“I refuse to subject the people of this bar to Santiago’s Greatest Hits playlist all night. I’m picking the next song,” you replied, offering another smile to the man you were blocking in the booth. Benny was the first laugh you heard, but from behind you another laugh rumbled – and Frankie still hadn’t returned from the bar. 

“Nice to see someone keeping Pope in his place,” the older Miller brother commented from behind you, immediately sending a chill up your spine and a rush of heat to your cheeks. Forgetting to leave your leg planted you turned to greet him with a smile, eyes brighter than they should be for someone who’d turned him down a month earlier. He didn’t care to hide the smile he offered you back. “Sorry I’m late. Got a little hung up at work, hope I didn’t miss anything.”

Your willingness to spar faltered, and all you could manage under his gaze was a nod, your bottom lip pulling between your teeth. He turned to greet Benny, who had stood, with a hug before saying a quick hello to Danielle and offering her a gentle hug. Even Santiago got a quick version of a hug. You tried to ignore the jealousy that twisted your stomach. 

“You were just about to miss the musical showdown of the century,” Benny remarked, planting himself back into the booth with an arm around Dani’s shoulders. “Someone is finally standing up to Santiago’s musical monopoly.”

“Just because you people don’t know how to appreciate the American classics,” Santiago began, ready to fling himself into a grandiose monologue before Benny beat you to the punch, entering an argument with the older man about the definition of “classics”. You took that as your sign to exit to the juke box, unnoticed by Santi, but not unnoticed altogether – William had followed closely behind you. 

“Are you my escort for the evening, Mr. Miller?” you questioned, attempting a playful tone to cover the nerves you felt around him. “I don’t think I’d get lost on the way to show up Santiago. There’s too much at stake.”

Another laugh rumbled in his chest – it was nice to make someone laugh as much as you made him. “The buttons on that old thing stick sometimes, and I wanna make sure you can use it.”

You couldn’t help but smile a little slowing down your steps to join at his side and glancing up at him as you walked. He had to mentally remind himself not to wrap an arm around you, no matter how badly he wanted to. “You know, helping me figure out the machine makes you an accomplice. I wonder how Santiago will feel about your mutiny.”

“Probably about the same way he feels about most things.”

“Forlorn and personally affronted?”

He laughed again in response, siding up to the juke box with you. He allowed you a moment to get your bearings on the machine, and though you likely quickly realized his white lie about the buttons sticking, you didn’t call him on it. “I was happy when Fish said you were coming out,” he admitted, leaning on the machine on his side next to you. When you broke concentration to meet his gaze briefly, he had to remind himself to breathe. 

“I almost cancelled. Had a bad day at work and didn’t want to look miserable and stupid,” you replied with a shrug, returning your focus to the juke box and flipping through albums. What Will wanted to do was sit down somewhere quiet with you and talk to you about your day, to listen to whatever complaints you wanted to hurl to a listening ear – but it wasn’t the time or place. He lowered his voice as Santiago’s previous choice finished up. 

“Miserable may be one of the last words I’d use to describe how you look,” he drawled, removing his appreciative glance from you to focus on what album you’d sought out. He felt you glance upward at him and could swear he heard the quick catch of your breath. 

“You’re very distracting,” you joked, eager to break this tension. You pulled your bottom lip between your teeth slightly in an attempt to stifle the smile that was threatening to break under his attention, but it was to no avail – your burning cheeks gave away the fluttering in your stomach enough. “It’s impossible to put Santiago to shame when I can’t focus on this very important song decision.”

He hummed in understanding, nodding his head as he fixed his eyes on you again. Gazing up into the blue pools that waited expectantly you were met with a slightly raised eyebrow. It was infuriating how he managed to look effortlessly flawless. “Should I go back to the table and leave you to it, then?”

“No,” came an embarrassingly immediate reply. “No, just…shut up. Stand there and…keep…looking like a fucking magazine cover, but shut up.”

Will smiled first, a rumbling laughter sounding in his chest. It was impossible not to smile at the laugh you’d pulled from him, eyes taking in the lines of his smile at the corners of his mouth and own eyes. You felt the pull at your heart and had to swallow down the feelings building in your chest, forcing yourself to look back at the juke box – though the smile he’d earned lingered as well. He wanted to reach out to touch you in the short summer dress you’d worn, to hold you closer to him with a hand on your hip – but it wasn’t his place to do so.

Once you’d queued up your song choice you made your way back to the table with Will, glad to see Frankie had returned with a lemonade for you. When you slid into the booth you were delighted to have Will slide up next to you, the warmth continuing to pool from him. As he moved in a little closer, perhaps, than he needed to your song choice began to play over the speakers.

“No way she’s embarrassing you with Donovan right now, Pope!” Benny called, his laughter loud over the music. You smiled a victorious smile across the table at him, eyes bright now that you had confirmation at least one other person at the table agreed with you. 

“She thought really hard about her decision,” Will added, taking a drink of the bottled beer sat in front of him. You nudged him with your elbow lightly adding in a playful eye roll. 

“I took my duty serious,” you explained before turning your attention back to Benny. “At least someone in this group has good taste. Sometimes Frankie’s music is shit, too.”

“Hey now,” the named man intervened, offering a raspy laugh at your call-out. 

“You could try to tell me I’m wrong, but you haven’t reached six months of sobriety yet and your opinions are, understandably, questionable,” you joked, giving him a playful nudge to communicate you were joking if it wasn’t clear. 

“So, you have Frankie working down at the…is it called a bee farm?” Benny questioned, pulling Dani in closer to plant a kiss to the top of her head. In the far end of the booth Santiago rolled his eyes, scoffing out a laugh as Frankie nodded.

“Yeah, I took over the business…about five months ago now. It was my grandfather’s, and he passed away,” you explained, taking a drink of your lemonade and wishing you’d had Frankie get you something stronger to get you through the questioning. “I was looking to move, anyway so it…kind of worked out, though I’m not sure my grandpa would appreciate that phrasing.”

Will loved how easy it was for you to find your place in the group. 

“Where’d you move from?” Dani questioned, sipping on her hard seltzer to savor it. “I don’t hear an accent, really.”

“Middle of nowhere Montana,” you answered, anticipating the next question. Might as well answer it before someone asked. “I’d been in a relationship but…well, it wasn’t a good one. I left him earlier this year and ended up in a rehab program for cocaine addiction. When I got out…I had a couple of months in sanctioned housing, but I needed a change of scenery. It wasn’t long after that the family lawyer called to say the farm and business were passed to me in the will.”

Will caught the way you chose your words carefully as you spoke about your relationship, noticing how your voice had a slight shake to them. The possibilities of your cryptic words tore into him, festering in quiet anger as he ran through what that could mean. It was possible you’d simply been incompatible, perhaps fighting frequently. It was possible he’d broken your heart by being unfaithful. Or, and Will seriously hoped this wasn’t the case, it was possible your ex had been abusive toward you. The thought made him dig his fingers into the table’s edge.

As he allowed the thoughts to consume him for longer than he’d intended the conversation carried on, Benny beginning to understand why his friends had spent the last few weeks talking up this woman. His thoughts were broken by Santiago slapping his fist to the table quickly. 

“Let’s play a round of darts. Winner picks the next five songs. Loser deals with it,” he offered, reaching upward to run his fingers through his hair. With a shrug you finished your lemonade, offering a mischievous smile once again.

“Let me drag up a chair for you to sit in while we play so your knees don’t give out with all that standing, peepaw,” you joked, pulling a round of laughter from everyone at the table except for Santiago, of course, and none louder than Will. The latter took his cue to stand and let you make your way across the bar with Santiago, bickering back and forth as you went. His gaze lingered far too long to go unnoticed. 

“I know our mom taught us that it’s rude to stare, Will,” Benny chimed in first, throwing back the remainder of the whiskey in his glass. Will returned his attention to the men and woman still at the table, reaching to scratch the back of his head as he searched for an answer. 

“Just trying to hear her give Santiago a piece of her mind,” he attempted a cover, reaching again for his beer and swallowing a large drink. He immediately felt the familiar twist of guilt knot his stomach for his white lie. 

“Bullshit,” came Frankie’s retort, a scoffed laugh pulled from his chest. Admirably, only a water sat in front of him still. Benny nodded his head in agreement, and even Danielle raised her eyebrow at the blonde man’s lie. 

“You’re into her,” Benny concluded, setting his empty glass on the table. There was no point in trying to cover himself, and even if there was…it wasn’t in his nature to lie to his family.

“I’ve been into her since I met her,” Will conceded, directing another longing gaze in your direction. You stood with your arms crossed, the smirk on your lips evident even from the side as you watched Santiago struggle to take the perfect aim – his eyes weren’t what they used to be. He saw your mouth move and the glare Pope shot your way, and he wished he could hear what you’d chosen to taunt him with. “I asked her to dinner. A month ago,” he began, taking another drink. “Said she’d love to say yes, but turned me down anyway. Said she didn’t want anything serious right now.”

The genuine disappointment in his eyes had Frankie and Benny sharing a look – it had been a long time since Will Miller had acted so bent out of shape over a woman. 

“It’s a recovery thing,” Frankie offered some comfort, reaching to pat his back carefully. “She’s afraid if she doesn’t get far enough and the two of you don’t make it, the disappointment will make her relapse. At least…that’s what I’d think.”

“You should have seen her face when she realized you were behind her,” Benny added. “That’s not a woman who wants to turn you down.”

“I’m going to wait for her until she’s ready,” Will sighed, pulling his eyes away from you to look at his brother. “I don’t care if that sounds stupid, or desperate. I’m gonna wait.”

On the other side of the bar, you’d tied with Santiago and split the next five song choices – two from you, one decided together, and two from him. While he made his individual choices after you, you made your way to the bar to order yourself another lemonade to take back to the table. It was while you stood there waiting that a man decided to bother you, standing far too close and making incredibly lewd offers that no one wanted to hear from a stranger. 

“Why don’t you come on back to my table with me and my friends? We’ll show ya a nice time, darlin’,” he drawled, moving closer to run a hand down your arm. “Pretty thing like you needs something stronger than a lemonade, and a strong man to show you a good time.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” you replied, taking a step back which he chased with a step forward. 

“’fraid I don’t take no for an answer, little lady,” he retorted, reaching to grab your arm and pull you closer to him. “You won’t regret it when I have you in my bed later, I can promise you that.”

A large, flattened hand on the back of the man’s neck cut his sentence off before more vulgarities could come through his lips. From behind the man, William Miller kept his icy gaze on your face, searching for any sign of true distress. When he saw the slight quiver to your lip his grasp on the man noticeably tightened, fingers digging into the sides of his neck. 

“Let go of her arm,” he ordered, his tone free of any room for argument. It was a tone you’d not heard yet from him, and one you felt bad for anyone that was on the receiving end. The man’s sweaty hand released your arm, the red mark from his tight hold prompting Will’s jaw to tick briefly, a deep breath releasing from flared nostrils. “I should kick your ass for that, but that would ruin our night. Instead, I’m going to give you the opportunity to apologize.”

His eyes were burning into yours, yet he still didn’t miss the man’s attempt to turn and land a punch on his jaw. Catching the incoming fist with his free hand he pushed the man’s head downward, forcing it to the bar top as he twisted his arm behind him. Shifting his intense eyes to look at the back of the man’s head he shook his head, taking hold of the man’s hair to twist his face to look at you. If he was angry before, he was irate now – but he was controlling himself for your benefit. The man’s nose was unbroken but bleeding, and he spit blood onto the bar as he began to beg. “Look, man, we were just having fun…just let me go and she’s all yours.”

“It doesn’t look like she was having fun,” Will corrected, his grasp unfaltering. “I’ll give you one more chance to apologize to her.”

“I’m…I’m sorry, okay? I’ll leave, just let me go, man,” the man begged, breathing shaky and anxious as he feared the wrath of the man behind him. Will used his remaining grasp to lift the man straight upward again, pushing him toward the door with disdain. 

“You should walk off this mood you’ve got yourself in,” Will began, moving to stand closer to you but keeping his eyes on the staggering man now. As the man made his way toward the door, Will left him with another parting threat. “If I see you back in this bar it won’t be good for you.”

Subconsciously William slipped an arm around your waist, turning you to face him as his other hand reached to lift your arm gently. The handprint around your wrist was now bruising lightly – barely there – but it was too visible for Will. His eyebrows pulled together in frustration, trying to steady his breathing and heart rate so he could ask you if you were okay. You beat him to the punch. 

“Shhh,” you soothed, removing your arm from his hold and placing your hand on his bicep gently. Your eyes met his again, releasing a shaky breath once you realized how close he held you to him. Chests pressed firmly together you could feel the rapid beat to his heart and his fight for a normal breath – he needed to calm down, and Will being calm was far more important to you than a bruise. It’s not like this was the first one in your life. “I’m okay, Will. I’ve had worse from bumping into the coffee table, it’s alright. Breathe with me.”

Storms darkened his eyes, his hands grasping at your sides now as his chest gave a solid heave. Brushing your thumb against his arm you reached your other hand to rest against his cheek. You pulled him backward with you toward the quiet hallway by the bathrooms, offering a gentle smile once you were alone. Drawing in a deep breath as your eyes remained locked on his you gave his arm a light squeeze, encouraging him to pay attention to you – only you, not on following the guy outside and knocking his teeth out. 

He could follow orders, though – that was something that no situation could turn off in him – and he soon began to mirror your deep breaths, hands still clutching you to him. By the time he’d released his fifth deep breath his mind was less clouded with anger, but that didn’t mean it was clear. If anything, it was even more clouded, but now it was clouded with you. You’d never been this close to him. He’d never felt the way his fingers could dig delicately into your skin. He’d never felt your chest pressed to his. 

He’d never been only inches away from claiming your lips with his – and that’s exactly what he did as the adrenaline rushed through him. Grasping your hips tighter he anchored you against him, his lips soft and rough as you stood frozen, a quiet gasp slipping through your lips in shock. The quiet sound brought Will back to his senses, immediately pulling away from the kiss with a shock-laced look of horror on his face. 

“I’m…so sorry,” he began, though he still hadn’t released his hold on your hips, his eyes transfixed on yours. The concern behind his eyes was unmistakable – he was terrified of how badly he’d just messed things up with you – and yet that didn’t stop his cheeks from darkening slightly, or his tongue from running over his bottom lip briefly for another desperate taste of you. “I shouldn’t have – mmph.”

Your hungry lips cut off his words quickly as you grasped at his bicep, the hand you held against his cheek sliding to the back of his head to hold him closer. He returned your kiss like it was something he’d been waiting to do for years, his hands sliding to rest on your lower back and pull you into him completely. A pleasant sigh slipped through your lips as he ran his tongue across the seam, granting him access to explore your mouth. When he’d kissed you breathless, he withdrew from your lips, his own curving into a smile as he bumped his nose against yours lightly. Leaning his forehead to rest against yours he took in a deep breath, savoring the moment he'd fantasized over for weeks.

“I still don’t want anything serious,” you whispered, eyebrows pulling together in frustration at so many things, none of which were Will’s fault, all of which fell on you and your past. ‘Live in the moment!’ a voice screamed in the back of your head, begging you to see that the man in front of you was a direct pathway to happiness. You’d silenced that optimistic part of you long ago. “I’m sorry I just…don’t. I can’t.”

“Sh,” he cooed, sliding one of his hands to rest on the top of your back to hold you closer. He bumped his nose against yours again lightly, pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of your mouth before looking deep into your eyes. “I know. I don’t care.”

Your teeth bit into your bottom lip lightly, a sign you were nervous and uncertain. “It’s not fair to you.”

“I don’t care.”

“I can’t even promise…what this would look like, Will.”

He shushed you again, shaking his head before he rested his forehead against yours again. “I will take whatever you want to give me for as many days as you want to give it.”

He’d followed through on his word throughout the weeks that followed, thankful that he had turned out to be a very patient man. Even with the generally negative outlook on life you maintained, always finding a fault in every situation – you couldn’t find one with Will. Yes, it was adorable that he’d show up at the farm during lunch to see you, wanting nothing more than to simply see you in “work mode” and to kiss you as he ran a thumb across your cheek to wipe the dirt away.

Frankie didn’t mind at all that you’d started up this…whatever it was with Will. He enjoyed the fact that both of you were happy, and he wouldn’t complain about the lunches Will dropped off when he visited. Frankie wasn’t the only one in the group to know about the time you spent with Will, of course – Will didn’t believe in keeping secrets between the four of them. 

You’d joined them for nights out a couple of times since but remained purely friendly with Will while in the view of others. The car rides home were when he would kiss you breathless in your driveway, holding you close, greedy for every moment you offered him. Things had never escalated past heavy kissing and touching, and that was comfortable – you still felt you could quit him any time you needed to, and it was safer that way. 

It was Frankie that had asked you to take a Saturday off with him to spend time with them at the beach before the weather started cooling off a bit for the winter. You weren’t really one for the beach, not having lived anywhere near the ocean or going into the ocean much for most of your life, but Frankie’s pleading brown eyes won you over. It would be cruel to leave Dani alone with the men, anyway. When you’d walked onto the beach with Frankie that Saturday afternoon, Will thought his heart was going to burst from his chest. You and Frankie had elected to keep your presence a surprise, which worked in your favor as he smiled the brightest smile he’d offered you yet as you made your way over to their umbrellas, chairs and towels. 

“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” he greeted, unable to help himself from hugging you. His voice was teasing as he continued. “You know I don’t like secrets.”

“Oh, well I’m full of ‘em,” you smiled, wrapping your arms around him and tilting your head to look into his face. “Like…I actually assassinated JFK, and I helped fake the moon landing. I admit it. All me.”

He smiled at your joke and allowed a soft laugh to leave his chest, shaking his head slightly as he released you before the hug lingered too long for your comfort. “I wish I’d known you were coming; I could’ve grabbed some lemonade for you. I’ve got water in the cooler, though, and I’ve always got a pack of those cashews that you like in in my truck.”

You nudged his arm lightly with your shoulder, cheeks turning red under his thoughtfulness and sweet intentions with you. Before you could thank him, Benny had joined up with you, picking you up in a crushing hug as Danielle said hello from behind. Will had never really envied his brother until he got to witness your effortless acceptance of him, and the way Benny could hug you however he wanted. 

“Benny, Jesus, you’re going to crack one of my ribs, you behemoth,” you laughed, gasping for air through his hug as you attempted to wiggle free. Benny placed you gently back on the ground and offered a wide grin, immediately draping his shoulder back around Dani who rested her head on him gently. “Hope you guys don’t mind Frankie bringing me along. I couldn’t leave Dani alone around all you men all day.”

“And that is so appreciated,” the named woman replied, here signature sincere smile on her face. “I am going to work on catching up with Benny’s annoying natural tanning abilities, if you want to sit with me. You don’t seem much of a ‘get in the ocean’ kinda gal.”

You did sit on the beach for most of the day with the woman, getting to know one another more deeply, your conversations free of the hindrance of men being present as the group of four gallivanted about the shore and in the waves. Every so often, Benny would yell a quick “hi, baby!” from the water, causing Dani to smile, roll her eyes and wave, a small laugh falling from her lips. It was well past 4 p.m. and the seventh time he’d done it when she gave a different reply.

“He’s an idiot!” she yelled back, her voice full of laughter and love for the man she’d spent just less than a year with now. She quieted her voice back before she added to you. “I knew that when I agreed to date him, though. I can’t complain.”

“You’re perfect for one another,” you asserted, watching as Benny smiled and blew her a kiss before returning to the group. Your eyes wandered, briefly, only to confirm Will had stopped in his tracks to gaze at you, too. Danielle wasn’t the only one with attention focused on her today. Several times now Will had reminded you – gently but firmly – to reapply sunscreen and drink water. As the men set to work on building a fire, he had called to you again to remind you about the water, pulling a quiet giggle from Danielle.

“That’s five times for that one, then,” she counted aloud, watching as you grabbed the water from beside you to take a large drink. “Benny and I aren’t the only ones perfect for one another. That man loves you, you know.”

You felt the heat in your cheeks and knew they must be several shades darker. You finished the bottle of water and released a deep breath before you chose your words, not wanting to be taken off-guard and say something stupid. “He doesn’t…love me. We just…we get along well.”

“He loves you, and no amount of self-deprecating denial from you is going to change that,” she remarked, taking another drink of one of several hard seltzers she’d had that day. You knew those things barely contained alcohol, but you also had to wonder if it was contributing to her willingness to be so open. “You should let him.”

“I should let him what?” you questioned, feeling the answer in your stomach before she spoke it. 

“Love you. You should let him love you,” she replied, rolling her eyes with a soft laugh. “He seems pretty good at it.”

As you pulled your bottom lip between your teeth you turned your face away from her, noticing that the other half of this conversation’s topic had found his way back into the water alone. Finally cracking under the pressure you felt to be alone with him for even a minute you decided the ocean couldn’t be that bad, really, and made your way to the chilling water. You really didn’t want to find your way into the ocean, but if it meant time with Will, so be it.

You’d almost made your way to him when something touched your leg, sending you into an immediate panic as you made your way to him, essentially launching yourself into his arms as you screamed his name. William immediately cradled you against him, smiling down at you with an all-too amused smile.

“I’ve got you; I’ve got you,” he cooed, raising a thumbs up to the shore so no one worried after your scream before he brought that arm to hold you as well. “What’s the matter?”

“Something touched my foot,” you whined, unused to being in the ocean like this. The chuckle that rumbled through him shook his chest, his reminders to reapply sunscreen not influencing him – he’d gotten some color on his cheeks and nose. Even in your distraught state, it was impossible to not recognize how handsome he was. 

“Well, there are fish in the ocean, honeybee,” he drawled, his voice full of amusement. His nickname for you caused your stomach to flip in the most annoying way, and you felt yourself curl into him more despite yourself. “What do you want me to do, hmm? How can I fix it?” 

“I want to get out. Carry me out,” you stated, clinging to him. Whether it was him holding you that felt so good or genuine fear keeping you to him, he really couldn’t say. He nodded, but instead of going toward the shore he moved away from it, swimming out with you further. “William! I said OUT!”

“I thought you said you wanted me to take you further out!” he replied, his tone too full of amusement. You moved to wrap your legs around his waist instead, narrowing your eyes at him and setting your face to be serious, eyebrows furrowed. He wanted to lean in to kiss the lines. “Hey, hey, hey…” he cooed, turning his back to the shore and leaning his forehead against yours with a light smile. You could see the light freckles on his cheeks that the sun had brought out throughout the day, his eyes light in the fading sunlight as he gazed longingly at you. No one had ever talked to you as soft as he did. “’m not gonna let anything happen to you. You don’t need to worry about a thing as long as I am right here with you.”

His lips pressed to yours in a gentle, reassuring kiss briefly before he returned to simply leaning his head against yours. You lightly bumped your nose against his, resting your hands on his chest gently. It was impossible not to believe him. “Still not nice, William Miller.”

“I know, I just wanted you alone for a minute,” he conceded, angling his head to press a kiss to the corner of your lips. You couldn’t help but smile under his affections, maintaining that hard exterior proving difficult as his kisses chipped away at it. “I’m sorry, honey. Let me make it up to you?”

You tilted your head and raised an eyebrow in curiosity, slipping one of your hands to his bicep. “How do you plan on doing that? I was pretty distraught.”

“Let me take you home,” he offered, his eyes so sincere it hurt. He pressed a gentle kiss to your lips before he continued further. When you didn’t give him a response, he continued. “I have feelings for you.”

“Well…stop it,” slipped from your lips before you could stop it, your cheeks immediately burning at your own callousness. It was second nature to push people away now…especially Will, who was getting closer than anyone was allowed right now. Instead of being hurt, Will could only smile at your attempt. 

“Yeah?” he questioned, pressing a gentle, lingering kiss to your lips. His words came between kisses as he spoke. “You want me to stop?”

As the kisses grew deeper and you felt the warmth of arousal spreading through your body you had to shake your head, knowing he’d recognize the longing in your eyes and call your bluff if you insisted. He smiled as his hands slipped down from your sides to grasp your ass under the water, pressing you into him firmly as you shook your head and released a defeated sigh. 

“You can take me to your house,” you conceded, running your fingers through his hair as you looked at him through your lashes, devouring him with an unashamedly lascivious look. His eyes lit up even further, finally listening and carrying you closer to the shore so both of you could leave the ocean and get to his truck as soon as possible. As you wrapped yourself in a towel and gathered the items you’d brought with you in a bag you ignored her quiet giggles, unwilling to even consider the conversation Will was having with the men behind you. You supposed you owed Frankie a conversation as well on Monday. Dani called to you to have fun as you walked to Will’s truck. 

When he had you secured in his truck, he leaned to press a kiss against your lips as he buckled you in. He was a safe driver and had incredible reflexes, you reminded yourself of this frequently as he drove back with one hand rested on your thigh, kneading his fingers into the soft flesh occasionally. He pulled into his driveway sooner than he should have – he’d never speed with you in the car again – and immediately had you cradled in his arms again as he carried you into his house.

When he began to make his way up the stairs he finally spoke, trying to cover the happiness in his voice with seriousness. “You’re sure this is what you want?” You responded by reaching your head to plant kisses on his shoulder, trailing them to his neck as best you could as you nodded. As he opened his bedroom door, he gazed down at you finally, not taking another step forward just yet. “Have to hear you say it.”

“Yes, Will,” you confirmed, and those two words melted his resolve. He placed you on his bed carefully before he crawled between your legs, keeping one hand on your hip and cupping your cheek in his hand as he kissed you deeply. You returned his kiss immediately, just as desperate for him as he was for you at this point. His fingers began to work at the ties of your bottoms as he traced the seam of your mouth with his tongue, groaning appreciatively as he slipped his tongue into your mouth. When he was satisfied with the taste he’d received he released your lips, trailing his kisses to your jaw and neck as he removed the bottoms. 

His kisses trailed lower on your neck, Will fighting the urge to suck purple marks into your skin in such an obvious place. Your hands ran up his back to the back of his neck and head, holding him closer as he trailed his kisses to your chest just as he’d worked that tie free as well, removing the fabric from your body and leaving you finally bare for him. He leaned back to run his eyes down you appreciatively, one of his thumbs rubbing gently over one of your nipples slowly. 

“You look so fucking pretty in my bed,” he complimented before leaning forward again, claiming one of your nipples in his mouth with a flick of his tongue. He happily familiarized himself with each of your breasts, earning the most beautiful moans that had ever graced his ears from you as your hips pressed up into his in desperation for friction. When your hot core was met with his obvious erection in his swim trunks you moaned in unison, Will pressing his waist into you further. He released your nipple from his mouth to trail his kisses downward again as he whispered. “Bet you’re gonna taste fucking delicious mixed with salt water…”

His hand that had been holding your hip moved to spread your legs as his lips reached your hip, smiling against the skin before kissing it gently. Experimentally he spread your already soaking folds with a swipe of his fingers, groaning appreciatively as you gasped. “Will…”

“All this for me, baby?” he cooed, lowering his head to swirl his tongue around your clit before sucking the sensitive bundle of nerves lightly. “You always get this wet for me? Is this pretty pussy this wet every time I kiss you?”

You whined your confirmation as he ran his tongue through your folds, an appreciative groan rumbling in his chest as he finally tasted you. His name fell from your lips again and he nodded in encouragement before setting in on his first task of the night, devouring every inch that your hot core had to offer him. For as many times as you’d imagined Will’s head between your thighs, nothing compared to the way he tended to every inch of you, groans and grunts vibrating through his mouth as he fucked his tongue into your velvet entrance. 

He had your legs shaking on either side of his head in no time, his lips curving into a smile as he connected his thumb with your clit, continuing to swirl his tongue inside of you as best he could. When your breathing became erratic and your hands reached to grasp his hair, he knew he had you on the edge, nodding in affirmation when you warned him you were going to come. When euphoria rocked through you with a loud moan your hips arched off the bed, giving him a much better angle to appreciate the nectar he’d earned.

The ceiling above you turned to a white light as pleasure rushed through you, your moan turning to a scream when he didn’t relent at your entrance or clit, continuing to stimulate you through your orgasm. By the time he’d crawled his way back up your body and removed his trunks you had come down somewhat, only enough to be somewhat aware as he rubbed the head of his cock through your folds with a low groan. 

“I can get a condom…” he offered, whatever his full sentence was intended to be cut off as you pressed a lazy, half-aware kiss to his lips as you shook your head, quiet please leaving your lips. Briefly arguing with the responsibility of the decision he was about to make. When you quietly begged him to fuck you again all reason escaped his mind, lining his already throbbing cock at your entrance before thrusting in carefully. Your wet heat welcomed him in like you were meant to do so, the heat of your velvet channel caressing him inch by inch until he was buried in you. He groaned low in appreciation as he pressed his lips to yours in a loving kiss, stilling his movements to give you both a moment to savor the feeling of him filling you. “Better than I could have fucking imagined…”

One of his hands slid carefully up your body to rest on your cheek, pulling you closer as gently as he could to claim your lips in a kiss as he withdrew from you almost completely before thrusting back in, grunting as your walls fluttered around him. As your lips and tongues entered a dance they had done so many times now your bodies came together fully for the first, his cock massaging your walls with each of his well-purposed thrusts. You wrapped your legs around his waist to draw him in closer, holding him against you as close as his thrusts would allow you. He pulled away from the kiss to bump his nose against yours gently before running it along your cheek affectionately, placing a kiss just below his ear when he’d reached the sensitive spot. 

“Like you were made for me,” he whispered in your ear, his thrusts increasing in pace as he neared his finish much sooner than he wanted to. He reached to grasp one of your legs, sliding it so your ankle hooked over his shoulder so he could angle into you deeper. The new depths he reached pulled you closer to the edge, his thumb connecting with your clit again, causing your walls to flutter around him. 

“I’m on the pill,” you offered, feeling a second orgasm approaching you as he rubbed steady circles around your clit and the velvet head of his cock brushed against the coveted spot inside of you, sensing the end approached for him as well as his thrusts became more erratic and desperate. Your quiet suggestion pulled a groan from his chest, his head turning to claim your lips again in a messy kiss. 

“You want me to fill you up, princess? That what you’re asking me for?” he questioned between deep thrusts accompanied by deep breaths, his hand sliding from your cheek to your neck as he pressed soft kisses to your lips. “You tell me that’s what you want and I’ll give it to you. I’ll give you anything you ask for.”

You could only bring yourself to nod as you kissed him deeply, your own orgasm rushing through you as you moaned against his lips. Feeling your walls tighten around him he couldn’t hold his own release back, spilling his seed into you with a groan as he pulled away from your kiss to lean his forehead against yours. He could have told you that he was falling in love with you right then. 

As you both came down from shared euphoria he rolled to his side next to you, wrapping his arms around his waist as he went to hold you against him gently. You listened to your instincts by tucking your face into his neck, breathing in deeply to steady your breaths as Will pressed gentle kisses to the top of your head and whispered quiet praises and thank yous to you. One of your legs slid up between his to cuddle closer, your arms wrapping around his middle as your eyes slid closed. 

You probably could’ve fallen asleep right then, if his words hadn’t woken you from your peaceful lull. “I’ve got extra clothes and…we can shower before you change if you want.”

The sweet suggestion snapped you back to reality, and you forced yourself to let him know you'd have to go home now. In all honesty, it was the last thing that you wanted to do, but you were unwilling to relent just yet on your insistence to not pursue something serious. Will, of course, didn't want to tell you no because he wanted you to feel comfortable with him - he wanted you to know that he would listen to you, and support whatever you felt was best for yourself. That included you leaving him for the night, even when he wanted you more than he had any night before.

Not hearing anything about accepting a ride home from him, insistent on being independent for the night, you sent Frankie a text to grab you on his way back from the beach if he hadn't made it home already. 15 minutes later Frankie was in Will's driveway, a sympathetic look on his face as he waved to the younger man through the windshield as you climbed into the truck.

Will watched silently as the truck backed out of the driveway and you disappeared down the street, mentally vowing to himself that he would willingly spend as long as you needed waiting.

When November’s curtain call came and the evening chill of December rolled in, you’d found your match with William Miller, who was acting by his promise and providing you with consistency, with reverent tenderness. No matter what distance you tried to maintain from him he was just as unrelenting, finding ways through your obstacles day after day. He never pushed, never overstepped, but he was always there, ever willing to cherish you in entirety whenever given the chance. Lately those opportunities had grown, proliferating into prolonged post-coital kisses and embraces that could hardly be passed off as anything less than adoration any longer.

Falling wasn’t enough to describe the feeling – falling was too subtle. A plummeting nosedive, a cascade…an avalanche, a crashing meteor – so consuming it swallowed you until all that was left was Will, his affections blanketing you with unwavering warmth.

“Honeybee!” Will called as he entered through the front door, the sound of him removing his boots and setting them by the door causing you to smile as you crushed candy canes in the kitchen. All your meetings had been reserved for his home but today you’d offered to host him and his friends at your farmhouse for dinner – Christmas Eve dinner.

“In here, Will,” you replied from your place at the counter, taking a deep breath as you started sprinkling the candy canes atop the cupcakes you made for dessert. An immediate advantage to having Will in your home was the sound of the creaking floor beneath his large frame – even without shoes – meant you could hear him coming behind you. “Don’t mess me up, Will. This is serious business.”

A laugh rumbled through him as he delicately wrapped his arms around your waist anyway, resting his chin on your shoulder for a moment before turning inward, burrowing his face in your neck with a deep breath. He pressed a gentle kiss behind your ear, assessed your response, and then repeated the motion when he realized you remained focused on your task, smiling into your skin lightly. When you finished you slid the cupcake stand back further on the counter for safety before turning in his arms, a playful smile lighting your features. It was only now Will noticed what remained of a candy cane in your mouth, his mind spinning already at the thought of what your lips must taste like now.

“Did I mess you up?” he questioned, leaning forward to press his lips to your forehead with a quiet hum of appreciation as your arms found their way around his neck, not before your hands slid over his chest. He opted to forego the ugly sweater party – you knew that was coming – but he did at least wear a red sweater, the color bringing out the coolness of his eyes. Even in the winter he was managing to keep up plenty of color, but not enough to hide the redness to his cheeks as you held his gaze.

Sometimes he couldn’t decide if it was better you could hold his eye contact now or not – he still hadn’t grown used to feeling somewhat embarrassed just under a woman’s gaze. The way you removed the candy from your mouth          with a pop and placed it in the trash behind you certainly didn’t help.

“Nearly, but I’ll let it slide seeing as it’s Christmas and all,” your fingers found their way into his hair, pulling him closer so you could press your lips to his in a gentle kiss. One thing he would never grow accustomed to was the clench in his heart whenever you initiated affection – some of his favorite kisses sparked by you.

“Christmas Eve, honeybee,” he replied when you released him, pressing a kiss to his cheek as best you could from standing on your toes. He tightened his hold on your waist to hold you against him tighter, relishing in your attention and uncaring about the inevitable mess that would transfer from your apron to him.

“Mm, you look handsome in this little red number, Will,” you teased, bringing more color to his cheeks. It was too easy for you now – you loved it.

“I wore it just for you,” he drawled, seeking out another taste of peppermint on your lips with a gentle kiss. The fact that you knew that was true only made your chest swell more.

“Well, you’ll have to wear something else for me, too, since technically…you are out of dress code,” you remarked, eyebrow raised slightly in a manner he knew to be playful. Whatever you had in store he would play along with, as long as it meant this mood you were in would continue, particularly with how the two of you had left things last time – an argument that had been eating at both of you for days.

"You’ll have to make a decision sooner or later,” he’d stated as he leaned against his truck in the parking lot after one of Benny’s fights, trying to appear much cooler on the outside than he was on the inside where frustration bubbled under his skin. He’d slipped – called you his girlfriend, and it had been too much of a reality check for you to handle. Despite his harshness he reached a hand toward you, beckoning you closer – you did not follow.   A wild animal backed into a corner – hissing and feral and scared. So many questions remained in his mind about why it was so hard for you to accept love, but he’d never push for those answers. You’d give them freely in your own time. The topic at hand remained to be that Will had spent weeks earning your affection, and while he was patient, it had been worn somewhat thin. “We don’t spend the night together…months now and I’ve never woken up next to you,” he continued, eyebrows pulling together as he crossed his arms again. “And if that’s not frustrating enough, I can’t even slip and call you my girlfriend – to my brother – without you getting upset. I’m doing everything I can here, I just need you to give a little back. Anything.”   Your lip had quivered, tears pricking at your eyes. Will hated to see you that way, hated to have caused it – it would gnaw at him in the days that followed, as would all the words that followed, so unimportant now. As much as the argument shredded his heart day after day the same was true for you – perhaps if he knew how guilty you felt because you were still resisting what was right in front of you, he could have gone easier on you.

Even now the guilt festered.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, unwilling to spark any sort of disagreement today. You reached behind you to the counter to grab a Santa hat before lifting it onto his head, smiling a sweet smile before flattening his hands against your lower back to pull you closer. He offered you a smile in return, withholding any fussing about the hat as his eyes met yours again. One of his hands left its position to lift to your cheek, callused fingers lightly dusting across your cheekbones. “I’m sorry about Friday night, honey. I shouldn’t be pushing you like that…I knew what I asked for when I asked for it.”

It was in your nature to lean your head toward his hand, your eyes drifting shut briefly to enjoy the moment. You only met his gaze again when you’d chosen your response, words leaving your lips quiet and sincere. “I’m the one who should be sorry, Will,” you sighed, leaning forward to lay your head on his chest, calmed by the familiar rhythm of his heart. “I do need to make a decision, you were right.”

“Yeah, but I…lost my temper. I raised my voice,” he rested his hand that had been on your cheek on the back of your head, stroking your hair and internally smiling at the streaks of flour leftover from your day in the kitchen. “I should never do that to you, there’s no excuse.”

“Apology accepted,” you whispered, burying your face into his chest to inhale the smell of him – saltwater and oak, subtle and resolute. He leaned to press a kiss to the top of your head, holding you for a moment before the day needed to continue. “Can you help me get the star on the tree and put presents underneath while I set the table? Dinner should be done by the time everyone else shows.”

He nodded, pressing a final kiss to your forehead before releasing you so you could get back to work. “You know at least one of ‘em will be late.”

“I included an extra twenty minutes on the cooking time to accommodate,” you quipped back cheerfully, removing your apron and hanging it on its rightful hook, giving the kitchen one final look over to ensure nothing was forgotten before setting off into the living room, remarking how Will needed to hurry because you had everything planned to the minute.

He’d never been more certain he loved you.

“Why’d you get a tree you couldn’t reach the top of, shortcake?”

You turned to throw him a look, cheeks burning with heat despite the amused smile that broke out across your face. He returned it with one of his own, straightening the Santa hat on his head before walking over to where you stood by the tree. He adored the mood you were in today, and wondered briefly if you were this way every Christmas. Your playful tone had returned. “Size does matter with some things, love. No one wants a wants a tiny tree with no needles.”

It wasn’t the first time that nickname had slipped, yet his chest still tightened. He wrapped his arms around you again, unable to resist pressing a kiss to your forehead as he pulled you in close before lifting you up so you could situate the star atop the tree. Satisfied with the state of the living room you tasked Will with starting the fireplace, putting music on via the record player in the living room, and lighting some candles while you finished cooking.

It was easy being domestic with you.

Everyone’s arrivals staggered from there forward. Benny arrived next, early and eager to spend time with his brother, with an arm slung around Dani, smiling and remarking how fantastic your house was before giving himself a tour. By the way his eyes kept raking over her you could only assume they found a hallway to defile. Dani joined you soon after with a smile and offered to help in the kitchen, which you accepted with some relief.

As Will and Ben broke into a bottle of bourbon and eggnog (Benny had threatened not to come if there was no eggnog available), Santiago showed up – surprisingly not in an ugly sweater after weeks of talking trash about how his was going to put yours to shame. You opted not to even bring it up given the expression on his face – today was clearly not the day to pick at Pope – and instead greeted him with a sweet smile instead. Frankie was last – really to no one’s surprise – and everyone had found a seat at the table as you loaded it up with food.

Santiago had jokingly requested an entire turkey – the largest one you could find – perhaps as a challenge, and you’d agreed to make it without second thought. Frankie was simple and asked for macaroni and cheese, Benny sheepishly requested sweet potatoes and dinner rolls, while Dani was sensible and requested “any kind of vegetable.” Will had shown his sweet tooth by requesting something sweet for dinner, hence the cupcakes you’d finished earlier.

“This looks incredible,” Benny complimented, pulling his eyes away from the food in front of him to look toward where you sat at the head of the table. Frankie and Dani both voiced quick words of agreement while Santi nodded, checking his phone quickly. “You have to give a toast.”

“Oh, no,” you laughed, waving your hand dismissively as you shook your head. Your face burned so badly you felt like all your head had become was a flaming ball. “No one wants to hear me do a toast, seriously. Dig in before it gets cold.”

Ben crossed his arms and Frankie’s face set into concrete resolution. It was the younger Miller who spoke, tone unwavering and serious. You weren’t entirely sure you’d heard him be so serious before…even before his fights. “We’re not eating until a toast is given.”

“Will can give a toast,” slipped from your mouth, nervousness causing the words to spill freely – maybe a little too freely. With a nervous laugh you continued. “He’s basically the man of the house.”

Will’s eyes noticeably widened up at you to your right, his mouth falling open slightly in surprise as his cheeks mirrored the fire in your own. Ben’s head snapped toward Will, giving a light smirk as his brother stood, never pulling his eyes from your face as he lifted his glass from the table.

The toast he gave was short, and yet he still struggled to make it through its entirety. Several times he cleared his throat, feeling the tingle in his tear ducts that threatened to pour with each passing moment, each beat of his heart causing a tightness in his chest.

“And…” he began the final sentence, releasing a shaking breath as he looked around the table. His eyes settled back to you like it was the most natural place in the world for them to be. You reached out to where one of his hands grasped the edge of the table, sliding your hand atop his and giving a gentle squeeze. The simple act spurred him through the rest of his speech. “And here’s to hopefully many more Christmases with all of us together.”

Dinner went smoothly from there, the table’s mood lighthearted and happy as everyone ate, light conversations being passed around – which included stories from both Will and Ben about their Christmases growing up and the trouble they used to get themselves into. Once the table was clear the group relocated into the living room to sit around the tree to complete the Secret Santa gift exchange you’d all planned.

Santi gave Frankie the gift he’d gotten him first – a new fishing pole, a hat (it was the same one he’d always worn, just a new version – you had to wonder how many times he’d been gifted the exact hat), and a pack of new socks. Frankie was enthralled by each of them, saying they’d have to plan a trip soon. As a result Frankie went next, handing Danielle her gift in a bag (he’d tried to wrap it, truly…he gave up when half the roll had been used). Danielle’s face lit up at the various candles and candy inside the bag and waved the spa trip for two pass in your direction with a smile.

Dani gifted Santi with tickets to a concert he’d been complaining for weeks he didn’t secure tickets to, which brought his trademark soft smile to his face as he thanked her profusely. Not before multiple comments were made about how the group hoped there was seating in the venue, so he didn’t have to stand on his shitty knees the entire time, you announced you’d go next since Santi had already handed out his gift. Passing a sizeable box to Ben with a wink and a smile you leaned back against the fireplace, watching as the younger Miller tore into it with excitement.

“You did not get me an original Nintendo 64,” he exclaimed, eyes wide as he pulled the old console out of the box. As Will watched on his chest tightened as you smiled at Ben, the word family seeming to repeat itself in his mind.

“You’ve been complaining about how the new model isn’t the same,” you explained with a shrug, taking a drink of the cider you held in your hand. “I can’t wait to kick your ass in Mario Party.”

“Next weekend, you’re on. Hope you’re not a sore loser,” he smirked, digging through the games that littered the bottom of the box as well. Wrapped up in admiring his gift he almost forgot to pass the envelope he was holding to his own brother with a playful smile. Will laughed – your heart swelled – and as he opened the envelope, he shot his brother a smile. “I know we usually say no gift cards…but you’re impossible to buy for. Figured you could use it on dinner or…somethin’.”

The brothers shared another knowing look and smile before Will reached out to pat his back, mentally noting to give him a proper hug when they weren’t sitting later. Which left Will to give the gift he’d purchased for the only person that remained without…you.

He moved closer to you on the couch, draping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you in close as he slipped his phone from his pocket, glancing down at you first to offer you a smile. “So, you’ve been saying that you miss the snow…”

As his sentence trailed, he turned his phone screen so you could see it, the sight of a small, warm-looking cabin surrounded by snow and pine trees filling your eyes. You turned your head to look up at him, eyebrows furrowed in slight confusion and questioning as your mouth opened briefly. Will beat you to talking.

“Now, obviously…I didn’t buy it, but I did rent it for a weekend…next month when there still should be plenty of snow,” he offered, crystalline eyes transfixed on yours as he spoke. “I thought we could take a nice trip…together, especially since that weekend will be your anniversary of going to rehab. It’s big enough for people to join –“

“Not a single one of us wants to be in that cabin with you two that weekend,” Santiago interrupted, quickly dismissing the thought with a shake of his head.

“…no offense, of course.” Frankie chimed in, elbowing his best friend.

“Oh, full offense intended,” Ben joined in, his words chased by a laugh. “You two in a cold ass log cabin somewhere in the fuckin’ Rockies? Count all of us out.”

Your cheeks burned at their teasing and yet you couldn’t bring yourself to look away from Will, your bottom lip pulling between your teeth briefly as you grasped his hand gently. There were a lot of words that ran through your mind in appreciation – three not-so-little ones squeaking quietly in the back of your mind. You tried to silence them – something you had to do often now. It was getting more and more difficult to do.

Everyone else was ignored, even their taunting. As was so often the case, it was only you and Will.

“Thank you,” you whispered quietly, melting at the gentle curve of his lips. Without thinking you leaned upward to kiss him once quickly and gently, a small action that quickly silenced the group. They knew it happened, but seeing it was far different than hearing about it.

It was thanks enough for Will.

Now the gifts had all been received you excused yourself to gather plates and cupcakes from the kitchen. Once everyone had plates with multiple cupcakes each, it was time to watch a movie – the choice of which was yours.

The movie you chose really didn’t matter – your focus was almost entirely on Will. Taking the loveseat close to the fire, Will had his arms wrapped around you tightly seemingly from the moment you’d sat down, pulling you back against his strong chest to support you while he balanced a plate of cupcakes on his knee. He left no room for you to protest such an obvious display of affection, keeping one arm slung around your shoulder and seemingly pulling you closer and closer by the second.

After everyone had eaten their cupcakes and really settled in, you had to wonder if the other men and woman in the room minded the state you found yourself in with Will. His arm remained around your shoulders, your hand reaching up to lace your fingers with his…which allowed you the ability to press kisses to his fingers with ease. Several times Will turned your head, to press a gentle kiss to your lips, your nose, your forehead…smiling earnestly each time and pulling at your heart.

Halfway through the movie Will leaned to whisper in your ear, his breath hot against the shell. The mint lingering on his to his breath and huskiness in his voice send a chill up your spine – you knew he felt it when a quiet chuckle rumbled through his chest. “Let’s split the other cupcake on the plate.”

You turned your head to flash him an amused look, raising an eyebrow. “That’ll be your third one.”

“We’re splitting it,” he defended with a shrug of his shoulders, his other hand reaching for the aforementioned plate on the table beside the couch. “It doesn’t count.”

“Mm,” you smiled, taking the cupcake to unwrap it before taking a slow bite. When you offered it to him his eyes flashed with a look entirely indecent for company, his voice lower as he held your gaze. A subtle shake to his head confirmed what your mind had already begun to infer. “Gimme a bite.”

You fed him a bite slowly, eyes locked with his as you pulled your bottom lip between your teeth slightly, watching his pink tongue dart out to run along his bottom lip to collect the peppermint icing there. He offered another smile with an appreciative hum

“Would you two get a room?” Benny questioned over the movie, shooting his older brother a playful look. He wasn’t serious, he truly didn’t mind seeing his older brother finally loosen up a bit and be happy – but that didn’t mean he couldn’t give him hell. It was, after all, the responsibility of being a younger sibling.

“They’re all my rooms, Benjamin,” you taunted, shooting the man a bright smile that Will took the moment to cherish. Taking another bite of the cupcake with a smirk on his lips he opted to settle back in then, wrapping his arms around you and resting his chin on the top of your head.

The two of you remained that way for the rest of the movie, his arms clutching you against his chest and rubbing gentle circles on your stomach occasionally. There was nothing stopping him from pressing kisses to the top of your head, either – which he considered fair, given that you were irresistible this close to him.

Santiago cleared out first in a haste, jaw clenching through his goodbyes which he seemed less-than-focused on as he checked his phone’s screen several more times. It was then that you offered a room to anyone who wanted to stay, which was quickly shot down by both Ben and Frankie who shared a knowing look.

“We do not want to be in this house when your…canoodling escalates,” Ben asserted, glancing between his older brother and you, who were now standing a few steps further from Will in an attempt to be less obvious. It was far too late for that.

With a hug and kiss on the cheek from Frankie and a promise to call you tomorrow, Dani gave you a gentle hug which was quickly contrasted by a crushing hug from Ben, who then only had to hug his brother goodbye before the two of you were alone. Will immediately wrapped his arms around you when the front door was shut, pulling you into his chest while releasing a deep breath.

He loved his brothers – but solitude with you was bliss.

“Let’s go clean up that kitchen,” he began, pausing his sentence mid-way through to press a kiss to your forehead. “Get it over with so we don’t have to worry about it, darlin’.”

You’d do almost anything he asked so long as he asked in that molasses thick tone.

You pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, teasing him by pulling away slowly with a light smile on your face before you removed yourself from his arms, making your way to the kitchen with him following. When you began to run the sink to fill it you glanced to watch him lean against the counter to wait, his arms crossed like he was trying to control himself. Following his gaze your eyes landed on the cupcakes that remained (you’d made extra knowing he would be this way), and a smile passed over your features.

“I see you eyeballing those cupcakes, Mister Miller,” you teased, smiling further when he turned to you with red cheeks and a bashful gaze. You leaned across the counter to grab one, taking a slow bite as your eyes stayed on his. He wasn’t quite sure the cupcake was so important anymore. “C’mere and share this one with me before we do the dishes.”

He was good at following orders.

He didn’t need to tell you to feed him bites this time, you gladly taking up the task with adoration pooling in your eyes as you fed him almost the entire cupcake. He offered you a gentle smile as you reached upward to remove icing from the corner of his lips, popping the digit into your mouth with an appreciative hum before handing him the kitchen towel.

“I’ll clean, you dry.”

The rhythm the two of you entered was the same as every other way the two of you seemed to effortlessly fit together these days. Will could reach cabinets you couldn’t which made the task go much faster, and while he found himself quietly humming seasonal songs you soaked in the relaxation the sound brought.

“Today was good, yeah?” Will questioned from beside you, drying off another dish before placing it in its rightful place in the cabinet. “I think that’s the best Christmas this group has managed in years.”

“Benny said he’s going to pay me to make him those cupcakes every week. That Miller sweet tooth is something fierce,” you joked, rinsing out another glass. His cheeks reddened at your teasing. “Did you talk to Santiago? Something was up with him, he looked at his phone at least twenty times an hour, and he was bragging for weeks that his ugly sweater would put me to shame and then he just…didn’t wear one.”

“Mm,” he mused, taking another glass from you to dry it. “Pope is doing a poor job at keeping a secret he thinks he’s doing a great job at. He’s on edge.”

“Doesn’t he know better than to try to keep secrets from you?” you questioned, handing the last dish and turning to fix your attention on him as he dried it. At some point, damn him, he’d rolled the sleeves of his sweater up, and he looked so natural in your home it was starting to make you feel sentimental. Whole. “But today was great. We did a good job.”

“We, like I had hardly anything to do with it,” he hummed, smiling lightly as he put the dish away before leaning on the counter with his hip to face you. “It was practically all you. But…I’ve been telling you we make a good team.”

He reached out his hand gently toward you, pulling you closer to him to press a kiss to your forehead, not expecting a response. Wrapping your arms around his waist you stepped in as close as you could, resting your head on his chest and closing your eyes. He held onto you tightly, shifting to lean his back against the counter to hold you closer. Flashes of the day spent together ran through both of your minds –you’d sat in his lap on the couch in front of everyone – because the living room didn’t have enough seats (lie) – but the feeding him bites of your cupcake was entirely optional.

Will loved you. It was a fact that was growing harder and harder to ignore by the day, the ache in his chest growing every time he heard your name or saw your face.  He didn’t want to say his next words, but he had grown so used to them – so used to this routine now that he accepted when they needed to be said.

“It’s getting late. I should probably head out, before the idiots get out on the road.”

It was a long pause, putting William on edge for a moment as he waited for your words. Even hesitation like this wasn’t normal for you. Your voice was soft, slightly wavering as you tilted your head back to look up at him.

“I don’t remember asking you to leave.”

Will paused, brief confusion flashing on his face before he smiled lightly, clearing his throat as he gave a slight nod. He was truly doing his best not to look overjoyed, though that’s exactly what he felt. “Are you asking me to stay, honeybee?”

“I thought it’d be a good Christmas present.”

“Maybe the best one I’ve ever gotten,” he smiled, leaning closer to brush his lips over yours again. His hands slid lower, pulling you closer to press a kiss to your lips gently. You couldn’t help but smile into the kiss, at his desperation to be close to you now that the two of you were alone, and his poor attempt at hiding how happy he was. His hands slipping lower still he ran his fingers over your thighs, eyes searching your face for a response. You were getting far too good at the poker face you’d developed against him.

“Are you trying to take me up to bed this quickly, Ironhead?” you cooed, looking up at him with a hooded gaze through your lashes. You hoped your face remained straight despite the burn that surged toward your core – feeling a bit proud of yourself again as you noticed him swallow hard. “You’ll miss out on the matching pajamas I picked up for us…”

“I’ve waited all day,” he pointed out, dragging one of his hands upward to push your skirt up, trailing kisses down your neck and chest. You grasped the edge of the counter to steady yourself, his eyes glancing up into yours again as he began to sink to his knees, using one of his hands to lift your leg over his shoulder. “I’m still starving.”

An embarrassingly wanton moan fell from your lips, one of your hands reaching to slide your fingers through his hair as his hand slid up your thigh to push your underwear to the side. “Is this what you thought about all day, Will?”

“You know it is. That little stunt you pulled earlier wasn’t very nice,” he drawled, eyes hungrily running over your already soaked cunt. “Look how wet you are for me, honeybee. You’ve been thinking about me today too, haven’t you? You sweet thing.”

You whimpered as he ran his fingers through your folds, his lips curving upward into a light smile as he taunted you slightly – waiting for you to answer. “Thought about me all day and now you can’t stop talking.”

He chuckled as he leaned forward, running his flattened tongue through your folds with a low groan as you rocked your core against his face, his nose bumping your clit and causing you to moan. He set in on his task then, satiating the hunger he still felt by licking and sucking and kissing every inch of your sex he could, relishing in your fingers tangling into his hair as you threw your head back with a moan. “God, this is a Christmas present…” The muffled laugh he released vibrated through you, the sensation causing you to buck your core into his face with a gasp as you pulled his hair slightly. “Fuck, William, you’re so fucking…so good at that.”

He removed his mouth from fucking his tongue into your entrance to smile up at you crookedly, his lips and facial hair glistening with your arousal. Slipping a finger into your tight channel he turned his head to press a gentle kiss to your inner thigh. “Love when you tell me how good I make you feel.”

He began to thrust his finger into you as he connected his mouth with your clit, giving the sensitive nub a flick with his tongue before sucking it gently. You whined his name quietly, keeping a hold on his hair as you moved your aching core against his face and hand, already desperate for more. He groaned against your skin with a particularly slow swipe of his tongue, adding a second finger to begin to stretch you.

The tips of his fingers massaged against your walls perfectly each time he pushed them back into you, particularly against the perfectly blinding spot behind your clit. You cried out, hands grasping his hair to steady yourself as you rutted against his mouth desperately. His tongue circled around your clit again, one hand slipping behind you to cup your ass and hold you against him closer, his blue eyes still burning up at you.

“Fuck, Will, I…” you began, words trailing off with an uptick in pitch as your thigh began to shake behind his head. Ensuring he tightened his hold on you he nodded, flicking his tongue against your clit with more fervor. Not long after you moaned his name again loudly, your eyes rolling back as heat rushed through you.

He removed his fingers but continued to lap at your folds, groaning appreciatively at the taste of your release coating his tongue. When he’d drank enough of you down he began to kiss up your body again, holding you close by the hips with one hand and undoing his belt and pants with the other as his lips connected with yours again. You tasted yourself on his tongue and – damn it – all of the cupcakes he’d eaten that lingered as well. After pushing his pants and briefs to the floor and kicking them aside.

Before he could lift you to the counter you broke the kiss, trailing your kisses down his neck before sucking a light mark above his collarbone with a smile. His chest rumbled with a groan, his hands slipping to your lower back to hold you closer. Your hands moved to hold his shoulders, applying pressure to encourage him to swap positions with you, smiling as you looked up at him through heavy lashes.

“Where you goin’, honeybee?” he asked, voice heavy as he reached his hands toward you again. Widening your smile you reached to wrap your fingers around his hardened length, eyes flashing with adoration when his hips jolted forward to meet your touch, a low groan sounding in his chest again. As you continued to rub along his length you sank to your knees, not breaking eye contact as you ran your tongue along the slit of his velvet head to taste the precum leaking from him already. His hands immediately grasped behind your head, fingers lacing into your hair. “Fuck.”

You removed your hand, running your nails down his thigh lightly as your tongue traced the thick vein on his cock, a light smile tugging at your lips when he moaned out another profanity. You continued to lick up and down his length and suck only on the head briefly, enjoying the frustrated huff to his breath that grew as you teased him slightly.

His usual sense of self control was obliterated by his need to feel the warmth of your mouth around his length. Before you could pull your lips free of him again he grasped your hair tighter, holding you in place as he slipped more of his length into your mouth. “Do you like teasing me, sweet thing?” You moaned in affirmation around his length, managing to run your tongue around as much of his length as you could manage. He pushed more of his length into your mouth, head falling back briefly before he corrected himself, eyes meeting yours again. “This is what you want? For me to fuck your mouth?”

You moaned again and he took his command, thrusting his length into your mouth greedily and with almost embarrassing speed. He seldom got to enjoy the feeling of your mouth around his length as he’d always opt to bury himself in your tight cunt before he got the chance, but on these occasions when you insisted – when you wanted him to bruise your throat – he was never one to resist. When his velvet head hit the back of your throat and you gagged slightly he huffed out a deep, sustained groan as his cheeks flushed, one of his hands moving from your hair to cup your cheek and stroke it gently.

It only encouraged you further.

You reached your own hand to cup his balls, fondling them gently as he began to thrust repeatedly into your mouth – gentle as he could manage in his clouded mind. “Fuck, baby…” he began, hitting the back of your throat again and holding your hair slightly tighter to keep you in place for a moment. “God, you’re doing so good. You look so pretty. Going to make you feel so fucking good soon.”

You moaned around his length which spurred him to brush your cheek again before he returned to fucking your mouth, some part of his brain keening at the sight of you drooling around his length. He may have been a clean freak, but there were some messy sights when it came to you that he loved.

He continued to praise you while he enjoyed your mouth, lasting for several more thrusts before he removed his cock from your mouth, gently tugging you upward to your feet again. “Let me fuck you right here. I can’t wait for the bedroom.”

There was something so intrinsically commanding – and sexy – about his tone that had you scrambling to allow him to lift you onto the counter, removing your skirt and underwear and tossing them to the pile with his pants as you went. “You’re fucking me in every room in this house, William Miller. This is just the start.”

He used his hand gently to raise one of your legs and hook it over his shoulder, his other hand fisting his cock to smear your remaining spit around his length as he groaned at your words. Leaning forward he lined his cock up with your tight entrance, releasing his length to grab the hand towel on the counter beside you, holding the fabric behind your head gently as he pressed a kiss to your lips gently.

“Don’t want you hitting your head,” he explained before beginning to push his throbbing cock into your velvet walls, groaning deeply as he leaned his forehead against yours with his eyes screwed shut in concentration. You leaned your head back, grateful for the cushion of the towel and his hand rather than the cabinet as you gasped, keening at the feeling of his cock splitting you open again.

When he’d bottomed out in you he stilled for a moment, kissing you again deeply and hungrily as he enjoyed the feeling of being fully wrapped up in you again. When he released you from the kiss he lowered his head to burrow into your neck, breathing in the smell of you deeply as he began to thrust into you carefully, perfectly. Even with you on a counter he knew the perfect angles to enter you, each thrust knocking the head of his cock against either the spongey spot that made you moan or your cervix, which always made you cry out his name.

It was impossible for him to say which he preferred.

After thrusting slowly and carefully for a while, enjoying the steady beat of your heart against his chest and your pulse beneath his lips. He raised his head to kiss you again, picking up the pace as his tongue danced across your bottom lip again, a deep groan sounding in his chest when your walls fluttered around him. He was unwilling to release you from the kiss fully so he muttered against your lips – how beautiful you were, how good you felt, how wonderful you sounded moaning for him, how fucking perfect you were…

He was burrowing into your mind and heart now. You were letting him.

You intentionally clenched your walls around him slightly, wrapping your other leg around his waist to force him deeper into you, pulling what was practically a growl from his chest. His hand on your hip grasped tighter as he gave several deep, pointed, slow thrusts, his forehead falling to lean against yours as he released a shaky breath.

“Wanna fill you up again,” he breathed out desperately, fingertips digging into you roughly as his pace became sloppy. “Can’t stop thinking about seeing my cum leak out of your pretty pussy.”

“Will, fuck…” you moaned again, hands grasping his shoulders to help ground yourself somewhat, feeling the building pressure again and knowing euphoria approached. His hand left your hip to slide lower, his thumb rubbing quick circles around your sensitive bundle of nerves to coax you over the edge.

“You like that? You like hearing me talk about filling you up, my love?”

“Yes, Will, fuck, f-f-fu-fucking love it,” you moaned out, your eager-to-please tone scratching an itch in his brain and causing his pace to increase – he now pounded into you relentlessly, knowing full well you wouldn’t walk well tomorrow. He’d be here to care for you anyway.

“I know ya do,” he groaned, nipping at your bottom lip lightly. “Means you’re mine.

”You could only nod up at him as your lips stayed open, eyelids heavy. He managed a light smile at the sight, losing himself in the fantasy of filling you so often that one day it would really take and that the two of you would fill this big farmhouse with a family – one day, he thought. For now, he could at least enjoy claiming your womb in practice.

Your orgasm washed over you quickly and powerfully, walls tightening down around his cock causing him to stay buried to the hilt as you cried out his name loudly, eyes rolling back. He ground his waist against you best he could with your tight, hot walls spasming around him until his own release came, ropes of his hot seed spilling into you. He kissed you throughout your orgasms, pulling you in closer to his chest to have you as flush against him as possible.

He continued to kiss you repeatedly, gently, reverently, worshipful as both of you came down from your shared high.

“You still want me to stay?” he questioned quietly against your lips when both of you seemed to have your breath returned to normal. You offered a gentle smile, pressing a kiss against his bottom lip – it was lazy, tired. Some of his favorite kisses from you were such – when you had no energy left and you still tried to give it to him.

“Only if you carry me to bed, soldier.”

He smiled – one of his pure and genuine smiles – as he scooped you up into his arms bridal style, holding you closer to his chest as he nodded. Flipping the lights off, Will began to exit the kitchen to make his way to share your bed for the first time, before a final thought ran through his mind. For a moment he questioned if he should voice the thoughts – but he knew you wouldn’t judge him.

“…You want me to grab more of those cupcakes before we go up?”

masterlist.

[rayslittlekitten]

Let It Out

“Dad Will” Masterlist

A/N: So, I kinda want to wrap this arc up and it was tricky in how to navigate this into a direction I wanted to go but I think it mostly turned out the way I wanted.

Rating: E (18+ ONLY)

Word Count: ~2,032

Pairing: Dad!Will x Wife F!Reader

Plot: You and Will have a bit of a breakthrough.

Contains: hurt/comfort, angst, make up/angry quickie sex, face slapping, lots of yelling and shoving, Will taking a lot of shit from his wife

When you get home after a long day at work, happy that it’s Friday so you have the next few days off, you kick off your shoes and start unwinding. You notice that the house seems a bit quiet. Too quiet. 

“Hello? Lucy? Will?”

You make your way through the house and find your husband in the kitchen.

“Hey!” Will greets. “Why don’t you settle down? Dinner’s gonna take a little while longer. You want something to drink?”

“Hey. Where’s Lucy?” you ask him as you look around.

“I dropped her off at Benny's. She’s gonna stay over there for the weekend,” he replies.

“Uh… when did we decide that?” you cross your arms while turning your attention to him.

“We didn’t. I made that call.”

“You should have run it by me first. We always make a decision together when it comes to her,” you huff.

“It’s just Benny,” he shrugs. “She’s gonna spend all weekend with Gary and we get to have time and space to ourselves.”

“That’s not the point!”

“Okay, do you want me to go pick Lucy up and bring her home?” he asks calmly.

“For what? She’s already there, probably having the time of her life getting into trouble with Gary. Why would you take that away from her?”

“Okay, do you want a glass of wine while waiting for dinner to be done?“ he offers again, ignoring the snarky question.

“I got it,” you answer while heading over to pour yourself a glass.

The table is already set with a brand new bottle of red in the middle. You pop it open and pour yourself a healthy serving.

“Do you want a cup?” you ask him before taking a big gulp of your own.

“I’ll have some after I’m done, but thank you. How was work?” he asks as he pops something into the oven, changing subjects.

“Very long day,” you simply answer, swirling your cup as you lean back against the table.

“I’m sorry you had a long day. I can give you a foot massage later if you want,” he offers. ”Hope a little wining and dining will help you unwind. We haven’t had a date night in a while.”

“Well, who’s fault is that?” you jab.

Will lets out a heavy sigh.

For the last few months, you’ve admittedly been lashing out at him and he’s been taking all of it without any resistance or push back. There've been some good days but a lot of bad. Each day surprises both you and Will. Turns out things only appeared to be better when you both were apart because you were able to compartmentalize it. Out of sight, out of mind. But you’re both now finding out that there’s a lot more work than you thought that’s needed. 

You hate the person you’ve become towards Will but you don’t know how to let it all go. Despite the fact Will has been putting in effort and showing he’s not just completely committed, but also prioritizing you and Lucy, the betrayal and resentment has festered inside you. He’s kept a simple routine and accounted for every second of his day. If he’s not at home, he’s at work. If he’s not at either, he’s running errands including picking up and dropping Lucy off at school or practice. He’s even put a hold on hanging out with the guys, especially considering they kept the secret close to their chests as well. Around Lucy, you’re civil with Will, but when you’re alone, it can go either way.

“I’m trying to do something nice for you - for us. Can we please try to have a nice time this weekend?” he pleads.

“I can try, but I can’t make any promises,” you shrug.

“Can we please not do this?”

“You think I’m enjoying this? You think I want to feel like this? This, this… ugly feeling inside me? This bitterness and hate?”

“No, and I don’t either,” he shakes his head.

“That you’re not enjoying this or you don’t think I am?” you ask with a curious head tilt.

“Okay, we need to really sit down and figure this out,” he declares. “What do you need from me to make this okay again? For you to fully trust me again?” he asks, stepping closer to you. 

"I don’t know,” you shrug again. “You got us into this mess, you figure it out. I'm still figuring out if I'm more angry at you for lying to me or for you selfishly doing what you did. Was it for the thrill? Was it all your hopes and dreams?"

"No, ma'am." Will shakes his head and drops his eyes down to his feet. He's not sure if those were rhetorical questions or not, but answered anyway. His subordination instincts kicked in.

“Are… are Lucy and I not good enough for you that —“

Will frantically shakes his head. 

“-that you needed to do something that would risk what you already have? With me? With Lucy? Was it worth it?”

“You and Lucy are enough. More than enough. I promise you. I know I made a huge, huge mistake and you don’t even know how much I regret it. You and Lucy are the two most important things to me. I know I royally fucked up. I said I will do whatever it takes even if it means I have to spend the rest of my life making it up to you and Lucy, but I also need to know how I can make this right.”

He knows he deserves everything that you’ve been throwing at him, but it’s wearing him down a bit. He’s been walking on eggshells around you and every time it feels like he’s taking one step forward, you push him two steps back. The guilt still weighs heavy inside him and knows these things take time, but he’s tried nearly everything under the sun to try to fix this and he’s running out of ideas. If there isn’t any progression this weekend, marriage counseling might be the next step.

“Do you regret doing it or regret getting caught?”

“Of course I regret doing it,” he answers. “Even if you never found out.”

When you were still naive about what was going on, Will was more affectionate and needy. At the time, you admittedly enjoyed the extra attention and Lucy clearly did as well, always wanting to be around her father, but once you understood where it came from, it made you question everything he ever did.

“Sometimes I really wish I never found out.” 

For a second, you go back to the moment you accidentally saw the text messages on his phone and your heart breaks all over again. 

“As they say, ignorance is bliss,” you throw him a forced smile and take another sip of your wine. “But instead, here we are, just… I don’t even know what we’re doing anymore. Every time I see your face, I-”

You pause to put your glass of wine down on the table and to take a deep breath, taking a moment to keep your threatening tears at bay.

“I don’t know whether I want to hug you or punch you. I’m happy for Lucy that you’re here, but I’m also scared that at any time, we could lose you just like that,” you snap your fingers. “Because of something so stupid that you did! That’s why I’m so fucking pissed at you! So much so that sometimes I just wanna…ARGH!” A loud guttural noise escapes you as your hands crush the invisible objects you’re holding.

“You wanna take it all out on me? Go right ahead.”

“What?” you ask, confused.

“Get it all out now. Hell, if it makes you feel better, hit me, slap me. I don’t care,” he spreads his arms, offering himself.

“You think that’s going to fix all this?” you scoff.

“I’m just about ready to try anything right now, even if it gets us just a tiny bit closer to repairing this.”

“Is that your fucking solution?”

You push yourself off the edge of the table and shove Will, knocking him off balance a step back and he goes back to the same position he was before, unaffected by your move. 

“If I told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?”

You shove him harder and his reaction is the same.

“If it meant you having absolutely no autonomy, would it be worth it? Huh? Is that the life you want?”

Each time you shove him, he returns to his previous position, stepping back up in front of you, ready for the next move. It frustrates you more that he’s just taking all of it and not giving you anything to work off of, like this is going to absolve him of his actions.

“Are you feeling any better?” he asks.

You slap him across the face and he doesn’t even flinch. You hit him again, this time hard enough to make his head swivel. His jaw ticks and he turns back to face you, taking a step closer. After a few moments, you suddenly grab him by the collar of his t-shirt and pull him in to crush your lips over his. He freezes for a second but finally responds by kissing back, slipping his tongue between your teeth and you welcome it.

“You really want this now?” he asks between kisses.

“Shut up and fuck me,” you breathe out as you fumble with his belt.

“Yes, ma’am.”

He grabs the back of your thighs and hoists you up onto the dining table. His lips return to yours and you continue to devour each other as he helps you with his jeans. As you reach into his boxer to stroke him, he slips his hands underneath your dress and hooks his fingers inside the front of your panties and shoves them aside. A finger slips inside you and you moan into his mouth. You drag the bands of his boxers and jeans down until his hard cock springs free.

Will breaks the kiss and hikes your skirt to your waist. You spread your legs for him and scoot closer to the edge of the table. While holding your underwear to the side, he aligns himself with you and pushes in. You let out a sigh of relief as he fills you up. His mouth slots over yours as he moves in and out of you, grunting and groaning feeling you so wet and snug around him. 

You can’t remember the last time the two of you had sex and this feels almost new to you. It surprisingly doesn’t actually take long for your orgasm to start building up. You wrap your legs around his waist and grab onto his upper arms for a better grip as you thrust with him, rocking the table as you both fuck each other. His lips now occupy your jaw and neck as his hips punch up into you and your thighs tighten their grip, wanting him to go deeper, drawing a mewl out of you.

His triceps flex under your palms and strain against his t-shirt sleeves as he pushes down on the table to get more leverage. The table shakes so hard, your wine glass gets knocked off and shatters, staining the tiles purple. He drives into you harder and faster until you both fall apart. Your limbs wrap themselves tighter, pulling his body right up against yours and his arms mirror yours, holding you close. With your face resting in the crook of his neck, you remain in the same position, holding each other. 

Feeling your body shaking, he finally pulls his head back a bit and you follow suit. While still remaining inside you, he rests his forehead against yours. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispers while holding your face as tears spill down your cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”

You try to shove him away but he firmly envelopes you in his arms.

“Shh, I know, I know,” Will says as he holds you close to his body, soothing your back as you cry into his chest. “I promise I’m not going anywhere.”

[gosmigenergy]

KINKTOBER 2023 / Day Four

OVERSTIMULATION / OVIPOSITION/EGGLAYING / HUMAN URINAL

( Will 'Ironhead' Miller x F!Reader )

Summary: Will offers to give you a massage, what you get is so much more.

Day four of @absurdthirst's Kinktober!

Rating: Explicit 18+

Warnings: Language, sensual massage, a dabble of anal, fingering, squirting, no use of Y/N

Word Count: 2.5k

There was a strong possibility you could die here.

Unlike the other three, Will had specified that he wanted to learn every inch of your body, and the way he said it with his blue eyes piercing into you, you know he wasn’t lying. However you didn’t expect it to come to this.

What had originally started as a massage was now approaching it’s fourth hour.

You almost snatched his hand off when Will offered to give you a massage the next time he had you. The last time you’d had one done professionally was years ago, a birthday present from an aunt who had no idea what to get you but at the time, you worked in retail and she thought it might do you some good before the holidays approached.

This was not like that massage.

When you arrived at his place, he had already set up the bedroom ready. He asked you to go and get undressed and lay yourself on top of the bed.

You did as you were told, greeted by a low light room decorated sporadically with candles. He’d set the temperature to warm the space up so you could happily walk around fully naked without the worry of feeling the chill. The bed was draped in a fleece blanket and you threw your body down to meet the soft, bounding mattress and silky sheets. You sit up, brushing your hair out of your face and tying up the strands into a loose knot.

The door creaks and Will squeezes into the room, carrying a large bottle of water and two glasses.

“Where do you want me?”

He places everything on a set of chest of drawers, “Lay on your front.”

Straightening your legs out, you roll onto your front, making sure to exaggerate the motion of your hips, ass on full show. You glance over your shoulder to see him smiling back at you, head leaning back. It’s not like he hasn’t seen it before.

He comes back to his senses.

Folding your arms, you rest your head, tilted to the right so you can still see him as he wandered the space. He comes to the side of you, leaning at the hip to see your face in the darkened room, the orange glow of a candle catching your eye.

“Comfy?”

You hum a response.

He thumbs through his phone and finds some music, the speaker vibrating gently. Taking off his shirt and jeans, he keeps his boxers on before reaching for a rectangular glass bottle, the liquid inside gold.

“Tried my best to keep it warm.”

He climbs onto the bed and out of your eye line yet you can still feel his weight as he shifts on the mattress.

You press your forehead to your arms, closing your eyes and breathing deep, trying to calm your body and relax your muscles. There has never been a time when a lover had done something like this for you, had never been this intimate. The oil hits your skin, plentiful as Will runs it along your spine like a river.

There’s a brief moment as he tightens the lid back onto the bottle.

His palms spread wide over your back as he sits gently on the backs of your legs. It’s almost like he’s a professional, working into your muscles with precise pressure and motion, deepening the oil into your softening skin. He watches as the glitter shimmers against the movement of your body, the scent of coconut and yuzu delicately wafting into your nostrils.

There’s knots in your shoulders that untangle, a satisfied moan seeping from your lips.

“Holding a lot of tension there,” he speaks softly.

“I blame work.”

He laughs, “I’m just glad it’s not us.”

Sure, juggling four guys was hard but it’s early stages, you’ll manage and right now, you couldn’t possibly complain.

He continued for a while before he shuffled back and ran the heel of his hand over your. Following the curvature of ass, he pushes the muscles around, separating the cheeks to view that tight little asshole. The tiniest drop of oil ran down and over the creases and towards your sex, instinctively he went to stop it with his middle finger.

Your asshole twitched.

“I don’t remember that ever happening in a massage.”

He chuckles in embarrassment and your unable to see his cheeks blush.

“I did say I wanted to know every inch.”

“I guess you did.”

Adding his forefinger, he drags them cautiously over your puckered hole.

“Has anyone ever taken you up the ass?”

“No,” you say nervously.

“Ever wanted to?”

You prop your head up to speak more clearly, brows knotting.

“I’ve never really thought about it. Some of the porn I’ve watched has anal and I’m curious, I just need the right person.”

Will could easily think of the right person, it wasn’t him but his brother would jump at the chance.

“Do you mind if I…”

He circled his fingers.

“Just a little.”

There was no harm in trying, his fingers were oiled up as were you. His other hand rubbed your ass and opened you up.

“Relax, sweetheart,” he whispers.

You try to, you inhale and exhale, making each breath longer. You were pretty relaxed anyway but your muscles could easily work against you. Carefully, he pushed his forefinger, only the tip as you tightened around him.

A pained noise escapes you and he immediately pulled out.

“No good?”

You shake your head, “It felt a little weird.”

“It probably takes some getting used to.”

He clambered off the bed and into his bathroom, washing his hands before returning to you. Resting at your feet, he poured some more oil into his hands and wrapped them around your ankles. He rubs his thumbs and sweeps upwards, following the lines of your legs up to where your thighs meet your ass, listening to the sigh as your head falls forward.

When he finished with your back, Will got you to flip over.

He started with your hands, his thumb kneading into your palms and spreading the pressure over your wrists and up your arms.

You were getting hot under his touch, each accidental graze of his fingers on your breasts building the desire that was brooding in your belly. Your heartbeat was quickening and though you attempted to settle that building emotion, it wouldn’t slow. As his hands ran across your chest, thumbs over the bones of your décolletage, you whimper.

“Everything ok?”

“Yeah,” your teeth sink into your bottom lip.

He leaned into you, his platinum whiskers rough against the skin of your cheek as he talks quietly into your ear.

“I’ll get there, don’t you worry.”

The words fell into your ear and your cunt clenched around nothing, the juices seeping from your opening. 

The smirk on his face as he straightened back up said it all, he knew. He took the bottle again and trailed a tiny stream of oil between your breasts to your belly button. Spreading his palms over your stomach, he rubs over the centre, outward and over your hips, fingers teasing along the line of your pubic hair.

Closing your eyes, you lift your arms over your head, opening your upper half to him.

He responds in kind, dragging his hands to your chest, scooping up the oil as he passes. Drawing circles with his fingertips, he watches as you arch to the sensation, neck stretching and glimmering as fractions of light hit the glitter on your skin. He drops his hands and cups your breast, squeezing gently, pushing them up as his thumbs go over your nipples.

Your breath hitches, a strangled groan as your nipples grow puffy.

Will continues to play with them, squeezing harder, pinching them in between his fingers to hear more of your sweet sounds of pleasure that you struggled to contain.

“So fucking sensitive.”

All you can do is nod enthusiastically, unable to comprehend words.

You shudder when he tweaks at your nipples, pulling until they slip out of his slicked hands.

His eyes flick up and down your frame, your chest heaving as you try to catch your breath. Resting back on his heels, he rolls his shoulders back, a single finger stroking the inside of your one thigh.

“You’re enjoying this aren’t you?”

He raises his eyebrows playfully, his free hand pressing against your other knee and gently opening you wider.

Then he stopped and the wait was torturous. His expression was unreadable but his mind was figuring out the next step before he balanced over you, chest hovering centimetres from your face. He was doing this on purpose, he must be. Reaching for a pillow, he took the plump furnishing and returned to his previous position.

“Ass up.”

You thrust your hips of the bed, “Not getting enough of a view?”

“No,” he tucked the pillow under your ass and let you drop back. “You weren’t quite at the right angle.”

He couldn’t help smiling at your confused expression.

He pushed your legs further apart, your pussy glistening up to him. Twisting his palms to your inner thighs, he ran them up from your ass and passed your folds, just missing your clit. The shiver travels quickly up your spine, the gasp throwing your head back.

He chuckled, “I barely touched you.”

“I know,” you say through gritted teeth.

This is going to be fun, Will thought.

He trailed two fingers down your chest, your belly and over your perfectly trimmed bikini line, separating them to run in between your lips. Gathering your juices in his digits, he pressed a little harder as he moved up and down.

You whine, already feeling the tingle dancing across your nerves.

Your hands flex, nails catching in the sheets as you clamp your lips together, attempting to stop the noises.

Taking your inner lips in his thumb and index finger, he rubs and watches as your toes curl, subtle twitches starting in your legs. He’s never had a girl fall apart like you, it usually took so long, took hard work and more than just his fingers. He kept playing with you, switching from individual fingers to his hand and back again. Grazing your clit once or twice, he saw the pearl swell and brighten in colour.

Your bottom half was shaking uncontrollably.

He hooked two fingers into your entrance.

Instinctively, you snatched his wrist, legs clamping shut and holding him like a bear trap.

“Fuck, Will, stop, stop, stop.”

The wave washed over you, the surge of an orgasm rolling through your hips and you choked a breath. He held himself steady and waited patiently for the sensation to pass, waited for you to come back to him.

You blinked up at the ceiling, muscles loosening and he carefully guided you apart.

“More?”

You nod but feel the pinch of his fingers in your walls, your arousal seeping through them.

“More?”

“Yes,” you squeaked.

Languidly, he pumps in and out of you, ensuring you feel every graze of his fingertips against your squelching cunt. You cover your face with your arms, his constant gaze burning at your skin, chest flushing as the heat rises.

His thumb flexes, pushing the hood of your clit as he circles it in a matching rhythm.

Yet the pleasure was already building.

His free hand comes along your side, trying to soothe you. It’s so light, your body so reactive that it shivers under his touch. The sound of his voice breaks through the fog and you swear you’re seeing stars against the shadow of your limbs.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart. It’s ok, just let it take you.”

You shake your head, “It’s too much.”

“We’re going to work through that. It’s going to be fucking phenomenal if you let me get you there.”

Every instinct was to fight him.

You squirmed, hands clawing the fabric beneath you to stop yourself from slapping his arms and chest, every joint locking. This sensation was different than earlier, it was overwhelming all of your senses, nothing but the sound of pumping blood rushing to your ears, sweat clinging to your skin. It was utterly tantalising yet you were somewhat terrified of the outcome, is this what the old stories have talked about, the ones where people of history have died during orgasm?

His fingers hit the spot and you entered complete bliss.

You’re pretty sure your brain shut down, not fully remembering what happened. The sentences were broken though he sung his praises, you could hear the smile on his lips and liquid. You didn’t question where is was coming from until you realised it was settling under your ass and it was your juices gushing.

You shoot up.

“Oh my god, Will,” you clamp your together and holding your arousal in. “I’m sorry, fuck.”

Will pulled out his hand, slipping seamlessly out of your grip.

“You’re fine, sweetheart,” he leant back, inspecting you.

You were the literal description of a hot mess, hair mussed, skin dewey and oily but a completely euphoric look on your face. Then he cocked his head to one side, eyes searching for something else.

“You’ve never squirted before have you?”

You pierced your lips and shook your head feebly.

“Honestly… I didn’t think I could.”

In all your sexual history, it had never happened, saying that not one lover had even tried to work you that hard, it was usually just a small amount of foreplay and then onto the ‘best’ part. After Frankie the first week and an hour long massage from Will, this outcome shouldn’t have surprised you.

“Not everyone can.”

Your cheeks set on fire.

Shuffling nearer your frame, he wrapped an arm around you, caressing your back. With his free hand, he cupped your chin, bringing your full attention to him.

“Did you enjoy it though?”

“Yeah,” you say in a sigh.

“Yeah? Good.”

He kissed your lips, deepening as you relaxed under his weight. The moment was fleeting however as he rested back on his elbows.

“And to think, I didn’t even use my tongue.”

Your eyes narrowed, “Is that a threat?”

He playfully swatted your pussy and the last of your juices flowed out as you yelped but that’s just where it began.

Will used everything in his arsenal to rip the orgasms from you, his mouth, his tongue, his cock and at some point, he pulled a toy from his magic hat. He brought you to the edge and back before he allowed you to free fall. You whined and moaned, begged and screamed his name until your body couldn’t take it anymore.

You lay heaving, barely able to fill your lungs with enough air as you settle into what you hope is your final comedown. The mattress was engulfing you as your weight sank further and further. Looking up at him bleary eyed, you focus on what you can, the single bead of sweat rolling down his abdomen, the shin of your arousal on his chin.

Yeah, if you were going to die here, you were pretty fucking happy.

[musings-of-a-rose]

Camping Trip

Pairing: Will Miller x f!reader (nickname Autumn)

Word Count: 3400+

Rating: Mature - 18+ ONLY!

Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story. 

Notes: Listen. I don’t know. I just saw the picture in the upper right of my moodboard and came up with this. Ok fine I wrote the first 3 paragraphs in May and the rest now. Will and I are complicated, ok? Shoutout to @mermaidxatxheart for reading and listening to my ramblings as always!

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**Reader is not described

Main Masterlist

Will Miller Masterlist

It had been a rough few months, no doubt about that. Somehow, I survived. Made it to the solo camping trip I had been thinking about for months. It's nothing I haven't done before. Even the trails and campsite are familiar. Still, it had been a few years and I was itching to get away from the city and all the noises it pounds into my head.

I head down the backroads, the pine trees growing thicker the further out I get from the city. At first I pass a lot of cars, mostly traveling into the city. But after a while, when the trees are so tall I can't see over them, so thick I can barely see through them, I'm the only car on the road.

I see the sign for the campsite and turn, heading down the dirt path to the small parking lot about a half mile in from the road. There are a couple of other jeeps and trucks here, one of them belonging to the park ranger who sits inside the small welcome center/general store. I head inside to use the bathroom, the last little "luxury" I give myself before spending a week away from everyone.

"Hi mis- Autumn! Haven't seen you for what...3 years?"

I smile at the man behind the counter, giving him a little wave. "Hey Jay! You're still working here? I thought you'd have retired by now." I grab a couple of bags of the beef jerky they have on sale. It's made by a local farmer and I can only get it here.

Jay chuckles. "Next year. Maybe."

"Don't push yourself too hard, Jay."

"Oh! Mary had her baby! Course she's 3 now."

"Oh really? Damn, 3 already?”

Jay looks at me pointedly. “Well that’s what you get for taking so long to come back and visit.”

Before I can answer, the bell on the entrance door jingles out and Jay glances over my shoulder. “Afternoon, sir! Can I help you with anything?”

“Just a trail map, thanks.” His voice is a little raspy, like he hadn’t used it for a while. I turn to point to the map stand but am momentarily frozen. 

This man is gorgeous.

Tall, short blonde hair, slightly longer up top. Military or ex military judging by the cut and the way he holds himself. But his eyes meet mine, slate blue and what was I saying? 

Jay pinches my arm. “Show him the maps, Autumn.”

I force a small chuckle to Jay, quickly pulling my arm from his pinching fingers and walk towards the blonde man and am hit with the scent of pine, leather, and old spice. Normally I would not be into the latter on a man but the way it mixes with his natural scent is going straight to my head. And other places.

“Here,” I somehow manage to walk past him and grab a map from the spinning holder, turning to hand it to him. The man takes it, his eyes twinkling before he gives me a quick wink.

“Thanks, darlin’.” His eyes quickly flick down my body, or maybe I’m imagining it? 

“You check the weather before coming, sir?”

His eyes are on mine still for another moment before he turns to address Jay. “Yeah I did. This isn’t my first time camping.”

Jay nods. “Military?”

The man chuckles. “Vet. Am I that obvious?”

Jay shrugs. “Not exactly. I just know people. Well, as long as you know what you’re in for. Shouldn’t be too bad but just make sure to stay warm. Not sure how long you’ll be here but if ever a blizzard alert comes up, you come right back here, ok? There’s a small cabin out back that’s open to campers 24/7.”

“Thanks.” The man takes his map, declining Jay’s offer of a bag. He glances back over at me. “See you later, darlin’.”

Fuck. Me. “See you!”

It takes me the usual couple of days to make it to my favorite spot, but I breathe a sigh of relief when I break through the trees, the breathtaking view of the mountains and lake spread out before me. It feels like coming home. 

I get to work setting up my camp, fire and tent good to go, my food hanging from a bag in a tree. I managed to find a place with a good fallen log, perfect for sitting on or against and close enough to the fire so I can keep warm. The wind blows through the nettles of the tall pines around me, the cool, misty breeze coating the exposed skin on my face. I take a deep breath in and out. I really missed being here. 

I do turn on my high powered radio to listen to the weather report twice a day, making sure nothing unexpected is coming. There’s something the weathermen are looking at, but they don’t think it’ll be anything. Still, the temps are sure to drop in a couple of days and there may be a bit of snow. I’m prepared for it, but it’s still good to know. 

A couple days later, I’m about a half mile from camp, walking along the trail near the lake. So far, I’ve seen a couple of deer and a ton of birds. I’m stopped, leaning against a tree trunk to take a quick break when I hear the sound of footsteps on the path ahead. I know I’m not the only one camping, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t instantly on alert. Another couple of seconds of hearing the sound and I know it’s human. From around the curve of the path emerges the man from Jay’s, his pack full and looking heavy. He sounds a little winded and had obviously been walking for a bit. I straighten myself and wave to him.

“Hey! Fancy seeing you here!”

The man glances at me and smiles, the same one from the shop. “Hey…Autumn?”

I nod. I tell him my real name. “But Jay’s been calling me Autumn since I first came to this trail.”

“Let me guess. It was during Autumn?”

I chuckle. “Jay is original.”

He comes closer, but stops several feet away, breathing heavier. “I’m Will.”

“Nice to meet you, Will.”

He nods to me. “Same.”

He still doesn’t move. “I don’t bite, you know.”

He cocks his head, confused, but then seems to piece it together. “Oh. Well, I didn’t want to freak you out by invading your space.”

I’m fairly positive if this man wanted to take me down, he could’ve done that, several feet away with a pack on or no. “Thank you. That’s…unexpected. And kind.”

“Don’t other people do that?”

I shake my head. “Not really.”

“Oh. Well they should.”

I shrug. “Maybe….but Will, you can come closer. It’s alright.”

He raises his eyebrows. “You sure?”

“Yeah, why?”

He remains rooted to the spot. “You don’t think I’ll take advantage of you?”

I snort. “I’m fairly positive you could’ve done that already, Mr. Military. Don’t threaten me with a good time.” What the fuck did I just say?

I swear I see the tips of his ears turn pink as he chuckles, shifting his weight nervously from foot to foot. “A good time it would be.”

He comes closer and I gesture towards my bag which is resting against a log. He takes his own off and sets it beside mine, shrugging and stretching his shoulders a bit. “I really should’ve taken a break before now. Gettin’ old sucks.”

I chuckle, my eyes roaming down his arms, the flannel on his shirt hugging his biceps in all the right ways. 

“You look in great shape to me.” 

His eyes meet mine and we stare at each other for several moments before I blink, shaking my head a little to rid myself of the not at all PG thoughts I was having.

“So…are you trying to make it back to that cabin before the weather moves in?”

Will clears his throat, giving his own head a little shake before crossing his arms across his broad chest. “That was the plan.”

“Have you listened to the weather station today?”

He furrows his brows and I melt. “No, why?”

“The uh..storm? Is moving a little faster than they thought. No way you’ll make it back to Jay’s cabin before it starts to pick up.”

“Shit.” Will sighs, bringing his fingers up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “I really thought I’d be able to make it but my leg was acting up.” 

I can tell he’s not used to this, needing breaks. He seems like the kind of guy that just pushes through the pain. Until it pushes back.

“Come on. You can stay with me.” I push back from the tree and lean down to get my pack, swinging it up on my back. When I look back up at Will, he’s staring at me, eyes wide.

“What?”

“Did you just invite me to your camp?”

I adjust the straps on my shoulders. “Yeah. Let’s get going so that way we aren’t stuck.”

“You trust me?”

I click the last strap into place across my chest before I look at him. “I thought we established that I do.”

He studies me for a long moment, his eyes moving between mine and I swear he glances down at my lips. “You sure you have the space?”

I shrug. “May be a little bit of a squeeze but temps are dropping anyway. We can always find a way to get warm.” What did I just say?

A small smirk spreads across his beautiful face. “I’m sure we can, darlin’.” He leans down and grabs his own pack, situating it on his back before he gestures to me. “Lead the way.”

Talking to Will is easy, comforting almost. He tells me about his time in the army, Delta Force, and his brothers, including his real life brother Benny. A golden retriever of a man if I ever heard of one. He asks me questions about my life and listens intently, actually interested in what I have to say. Before I know it, we’re back at my camp. Will stops for a moment, staring out over the lake at the mountain behind it and whistles. “You found a hell of a view.”

“Thanks. It took me a couple years to find but now it’s like home.”

Will helps me start a fire and get food cooking, laughter and conversation flows just as easily as before and I find myself gravitating towards him, physically. But he also seems to be scooting closer and closer until our legs are nearly touching. Snowflakes start to fall, coming in faster and thicker.

“We should probably get the sleeping bags set up before it gets hard to see,” Will suggests, his breath puffing out in tendrils in front of him. 

“Good idea.”

Will gets the outside of our little camp ready as the sun starts to dip and night comes. We manage to get in the tent before the snow really starts to come down. It’s a little bigger than a one room tent, but we’re still pretty snug in here now that there’s two of us. And he’s so fucking broad. I shift my sleeping bag over a bit more and Will slides his down next to mine. He looks between our bags and then up at me, his eyebrows pulled together in slight concern.

“What is it?” I ask nervously.

“It’s…nevermind.”

I punch his arm and have to choke back a scream at how firm it is. “Just tell me.”

He chuckles while he dramatically rubs his arm. “Ouch,” he smirks as I roll my eyes. “But we should zip our bags together. For warmth. It’s about to get pretty cold.”

“William Miller. Are you asking to get in my sleeping bag with me?”

He shifts nervously, his ear tips turning red. “No! I uh, that’s not… I mean, it’s basic survival. I didn’t mean.. I don’t want you to think-”

I laugh then, cutting him off. “Chill out, Will. I know how you meant it. You’re a nice guy. I just like watching you blush.”

He rubs at his face. “You’re dangerous.”

“How dare you, good sir. I am a lady.”

He snorts and I swear under his breath he says “I bet you are.”

We get the bags zipped together and slide down in them, trying to leave as much space as we could between us. After several minutes of us shuffling around awkwardly, Will chuckles.

“You wanna be the big spoon or the little one?”

My laughter rings out in the tent joining his, tears streaming down my face at this brilliant tension breaker. “I’ll be little,” I choke out. I turn around, facing my back towards him. I feel him scoot closer and heat instantly rushes through my body, pooling between my thighs. Can he hear how my heart is about to beat from my chest?

“Is this ok?” Will’s breath fans out over my neck, goosebumps erupting in it’s wake. 

“Uh..I uh…y-yeah. All good. Is it uh, close enough? For survival, I mean.”

Will clears his throat. “Uh, well I mean. We should probably be, uh, closer. To stay warm. For survival, of course.”

“Well if it’s for survival, scoot as close as you want.”

He makes a choking sound but shifts closer, his body molding to mine. I can feel his hand hovering, unsure of where to place it. I reach back and take it, gently placing it on my hip, trying to ignore the heat that immediately ignites, flowing down between my legs. The wind blows outside, the tent rustling with it. I shift my hips a little and Will’s grip on my hip tightens, his fingers digging into my skin. And I can feel something else pressing against my ass and I swallow hard.

“You’re going to have to stop moving around, darlin’. Please.” He chokes out the last word, sounding restrained. 

I take a deep breath. “What if I don’t want to?”

His grip tightens even more and I know I’ll bruise if he keeps it up. And I don’t care if I do. 

“I’m trying really hard to be respectful, Autumn.”

I glance over my shoulder at him. “Don’t be respectful then.”

A quiet growl emanates from him. “What are you saying?”

I make sure I have his gaze. “Be disrespectful. If it’s permission you want, you have it.” 

He watches me for a long moment before I feel him shift, his arm that’s not gripping my hip sliding under my neck. He twists his wrist, sliding it down to unbutton my shirt, his hand finding it’s way down my shirt and under my bra, gently swiping his fingers over my nipple. But at the same time, his other hand slowly moves from my hip, pulling my leg up and over his own, his hand gently teasing my skin as he pushes it under my pantline and between my legs, another groan when he feels how wet I am. I gasp as he nips at my shoulder. 

“You’re so fuckin’ wet, Autumn.”

I try to respond, but instead a moan escapes me as his fingers start to play with me, gentle circles with alternating pressure as all my blood rushes between my legs, that fire igniting rather quickly. 

“Will, I’m gonna…” I’m not entirely sure what I say as I come, my leg twitching as my body soars, pleasure radiating out from between my thighs, spreading throughout me.

“Feeling warm?” Will speaks deeply in my ear, nibbling a little on my ear lobe.

I nod, my head flying already. “You didn’t even take my clothes off.”

He chuckles against my neck. “I told you I was respectful.”

Surprising even myself, I reach behind me and grab him over his pants. He grunts but pushes against my hand, no doubt relieving some of the pressure. I turn my head towards him, my lips barely brushing his. “Please, Will.”

His eyes are like a storm at sea, blue and wild, darkening. “Tell me.”

I take his hand and push it between my legs where I was growing wetter by the second as I push my hips back, grinding on him. He grunts in my ear. “You gotta stop doing that or I won’t be able to hold myself.”

My hand, still over his, pushes his fingers towards my entrance, his thick fingers circling me, heat and anticipation swirling around me. “D-don’t hold yourself back. Fuck me, Will. Please,” I’m not above begging at this point, his finger continuing to edge me along. But then he’s pulling his hand out of my pants, trying to sit up but struggling because we’re in a sleeping bag. 

“Take off your clothes before I rip them off.”

That command went straight through me, my fingers moving quickly to take off all my clothes, tossing them out of the sleeping bag. Will does the same on his own, starting his own neater pile outside of the sleeping bag. I lay back down, assuming he’ll want the same position. His fingers skim across my side, watching the goosebumps pimple up. But then he pushes my hip down, turning me on my back as he slides over my body, my legs opening as wide as I can to give him space. He’s heavy, fuck he’s so much bigger than I thought as he presses against my clit, hot and pulsing. His eyes find mine, a dark twinkle in them as he leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. I part them and he slides his tongue inside, the kiss quickly heating up as he starts to move his hips. He slides himself over me, back and forth across my clit, swallowing my moans. My fingers dig at his back, silently begging him for more. The pressure is so intense, so much, that if he doesn’t fuck me now, I may just pop. Or go insane. 

Then Will gently takes my wrists, pinning them on either side of my head. His hips shift and with a confident stride, he pushes into me, my head pressing back into the pillow as I feel the pleasant burn, my body stretching to accept him, all of him. He pulls his hips back and pushes in, this time with a little more force and I feel a jolt through my body as he hits some spot at the back of me. I whine as Will continues to fuck me, slowly but forcefully, heat coursing through me. And then, I snap, crying out his name as I squeeze around him, my entire body lighting up and carrying me away from myself, my release made more intense by being pinned under him, unable to move away from the intense pleasure. 

Will’s breaths are heavy, panting out with restraint, like he’s holding himself back. He kisses me again, hard, nipping at my bottom lip before pulling back and out, but before I have a chance to feel too empty, he somehow flips me on my belly, my boobs pressing into the sleeping bag as he arcs my hips up just enough for him to slide in easily, my body greedily taking him in. He lays on top of me, his arms over mine as he laces his fingers with my hands. The weight of him both on and in me sends heat right back between my legs. He bites at my neck and shoulder as he fucks into me, deeper and harder with every thrust until I’m coming again, screaming his name into my pillow as I feel his hips sputter, Will whining in my ear as he spills inside of me. His body slumps against mine, both of us trying to catch our breath. Eventually, he slides off of me and to my side, turning me and pulling me to his chest. He nuzzles in my hair, wrapping his arms around me again, one massive hand holding a boob.

“Warm enough?” Will whispers in my ear.

“Mmm..” I respond. “You didn’t tell me you could fuck, Will.”

He chuckles and kisses my neck. “I’m restricted by this sleeping bag, darlin’. I did the best I could.”

The whine that escapes me is loud. “I’d love to see that.”

“Well when I’m done with you after this camping trip darlin’, you’re going to need some time to recover. And then I plan on showing you exactly how my fucking is.”

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[pimosworld]

Santa’s a home wrecker

Pairing-Triple Frontier boys x f!reader

Summary- A little kiss leads to a Christmas morning misunderstanding.

CW-18+, Fluff, so much fluff, Kissing Santa, Pregnancy hormones, tf boys being great parents, polyamorous relationship, navigating a mixed family.

WK-1.6K

A/N- Set in the story of us universe but obviously in the future. We jumped way ahead here folks but I hope you love this fluffy snippet into their future lives.

Not beta read

[Series Masterlist][Main Masterlist]

It’s a little easier now since they let you sleep on the end, but it’s still a chore to roll out of bed with your heavily pregnant belly in tow. You sit on the edge for a moment trying to soothe yourself as the kicks come in quick succession. 

  You try as quietly as you can to make your way out of the bedroom, stealing a glance at Ben’s large form sprawled across Frankie in the most uncomfortable way. 

  You're wrapped up in your fluffy red robe, an early Christmas gift from the boys that you’ve been living in for the last month or so while you grow out of everything else you own. 

  The house is quiet and warm as you shuffle down the hallway and smells like cinnamon apples from the pies you made for Christmas Day. 

  A peek into the spare bedroom shows you a glimpse into most of your nights when it's Santiago’s turn to put the kids down for bed. 

  He’s snoring in the chair that sits between Camila and little Santiago’s beds. Both children slumbering away as they dream about the most exciting day of the year. 

  Some rustling is coming from the living room and you round the corner to a site that will never cease to make you smile. The boys take turns being Santa every year and they never do anything halfway. Your arms are crossed as you lean against the wall staring at the rich, dark red velvet material bent over in front of the tree. Deliberately placing gifts from the giant red bag in various spots. 

  You let out a low whistle as you make your way towards the bearded man. “Santa has a nice ass.” 

  He chuckles and stands gesturing with his arms for you to come to him. It’s a bit of a struggle now to be held but he still makes you feel all warm and fuzzy as you sway in the living room in front of the lowlights of the tree. You humm as he rubs your belly, somehow the kicking stops as if the baby taking up home inside knows whose hands are caressing you. 

  “How’s mama doing?” He asks as he kisses your neck, the fluff from his beard tickling you slightly. 

  “I’m tired…someone keeps kicking me.” You sigh into his touch as he drops to his knees, his fingers kneading that spot in your back that he knows pains you throughout the day. 

  “Hey little guy.” He speaks so softly in some adorable voice he’s made up. 

  “He’s a big guy, Will…a very big guy.” You know well enough having been told ad nauseum Miller babies are big.

  “Hey big guy…I need you to give your momma a rest so she can enjoy tomorrow okay?” He holds his ear to your belly and nods. When he looks up at you all you can make out is those piercing blue eyes nestled between the red hat and white beard. “He said okay.” 

  A small tear escapes as he kisses your belly and stands again. You can’t even blame it on the hormones. 

  “Go lay down, I’ll bring you some tea when I finish here.” One last kiss to your lips and he’s shooing you away so he can complete his Santa duties and enjoy his peanut butter cookies special request. 

  ****

  Frankie stacks the pancakes high on the plate next to the stove, as he moves on to the eggs and bacon. 

  Ben hasn’t said a word just eyeing the food as you enjoy your morning tea, surprised the kids haven’t graced you with their presence yet. 

  Santi’s creaking bones enter the kitchen before he’s seen as he cracks his back in the hallway. Frankie laughs from the stove as he flips the bacon perfectly somehow never burning it. 

  “Laugh it up hermano.” He leans down and kisses your forehead before heading over to the fresh coffee pot. 

  “I’m not the one that keeps falling asleep in the chair.” 

  You hear the sound of hurried footsteps down the hallway as Camila quickly emerges into the kitchen beaming from ear to ear. She barrels into Frankie hugging him from behind as he reaches around and ruffles her long black curls. “Buenos Días papá.” 

  “Buenos Días mi amor.” 

  Frankie kisses her forehead and she makes her way over to you and Santi to say her good mornings and receive hugs and kisses. 

  She climbs into Ben’s lap forgoing an open seat as she waits for breakfast to finish. The way the two of them could eat you were worried about welcoming another Miller into the household for lack of food resources. 

  “Good Morning daddy.” She wraps her little arms around him and it’s a feeling he’ll never get used to. 

  “Good morning honey.” She stole your nickname early on when she could look so sweet at them and instantly get her way. 

  There was a rule from the beginning that there would be no distinction unless medically necessary between the fathers. They were all fathers and that’s all that mattered. 

  “Sweetie, where's Santiago?” She looks slightly uncomfortable as she leans in and whispers something in Ben’s ear. 

  “He’s not coming?” Ben looks over to you as Santi looks to Frankie now done cooking breakfast. 

  She leans in again whispering something as Ben’s eyes widen. He has to bite his cheek to keep from laughing at the situation that he knows will need to be handled swiftly. 

  “He doesn’t want to open presents from a home wrecker.” 

  You’re grateful you hadn’t taken a sip of your tea or it would’ve been all over your new robe. 

  Frankie flicks off the stove and heads over to the table. “How do you even know that word, young lady?”  

  Ben leans in whispering something in her ear and she relaxes slightly. 

  “Well…ugh.” She’s in the hot seat by way of Santi much like her father often does to other people. You lay your hand on hers and wince slightly cursing this baby for picking the most opportune moments to make himself known. 

  “Camila it’s okay, you can tell me…you’re not in trouble.” 

  “Tia Marí said Tio John kissed a homewrecker and that’s why they’re not together anymore.” It comes out all rushed and flustered and you're trying not to giggle at her panicked confession. 

  Frankie points at Santi while he still looks on confused. “Your sister is off babysitting duty for a while.”

  Santi scrubs his hand down his face. “I'm still not following.” 

  Ben places his hands over her ears so she can’t hear. “Will was Santa last night.” He grits out as she giggles.

Santiago must have woken up and seen you kissing “Santa”.

  “Daddy I can’t hear anything.” He starts tickling her as she squeals in delight. 

  “Good because if you did, you wouldn’t get any presents.” They continue their giggles as you let out a long sigh. 

  “We’re gonna eat breakfast while you two go handle that.” Frankie starts serving up plates as Ben and Camila clap in excitement. 

  ****

  Santiago is face down in the blankets when you enter his room. He was a deep sleeper so it was pretty obvious when he was pretending. His little breaths are coming in shallow like he just ran here and plopped himself down. 

  You have a seat on the edge as Santi sits in the chair beside him. 

  Santi rubs his back hoping to calm him a little before he speaks. “Hey bud, you want to tell me what’s wrong?” 

  Inaudible mumbles come from the pillow and you bite down on your tongue at the mirror image. Payback for all the time Santi made someone chase him for a simple misunderstanding coming back ten fold. 

  “I didn’t hear you mijo, que pasó.” He slowly rolls him over as Santiago rubs his red eyes. 

  “I…don’t want…I don’t want.” He’s sniffling and Santi tries to calm him so he can catch his breath. 

  “Deep breaths bud.” 

  He shakily inhales and wipes his little hands on the blanket. “I don’t want Santa to break up our home.” 

  You could kill Maria for almost ruining Christmas morning, but you know one day you’ll get to tell this hilarious story to your children when they’re all grown up. You let Santiago take the reins even though you did kiss Santa. This was not your mess to clean up. 

  “Santiago, no one is breaking up our home. I love your mama very much.” Santiago crawls over to you as you wrap him up in your arms, kissing his unruly brown locks. 

  “You promise?” Your heart breaks a little as those little puppy dog eyes look up at you. 

  “Yes we promise.” He exhales as he relaxes in your arms and you look up at Santi incredulously. 

  “Santa is my friend…he’s allowed to kiss your mama.” Santiago looks up at his dad with pure shock written all over his face. 

  “WHAT!” He balks at him as you burst into a fit of laughter. 

  “HO, HO,HO…” The boisterous sound echoes down the hallway from the living room. 

  Santiago scrambles off your lap as you fall back with an oomph. Your belly won’t allow anymore movements like that so you succumb to the comfort of his tiny car bed, as his father chases after him. 

  ****

  Camila is standing in front of the tree as Santa hands her the first gift. 

  “Well hello little boy, would you like a gift from Santa?” 

  He runs up to him with his hands on his hips as he pokes him in the surprisingly hard belly. “Next time just drop off the gifts and go.” 

  Will looks up confused by his son's words as Frankie and Benny are losing it in the kitchen. 

  Santi stands there in the same stance. 

  “Don’t worry I’ll explain later.” 

Comments and reblogs are much appreciated

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[penvisions]

the melting point {chapter 1}

Pairing: Frankie Morales x Baker! Reader (ex EMT! Reader)

Summary: Running from the past to a new city gave you the perfect opportunity to open your own bakery. You're a regular at Brass Knuckles, and the owner is the right type of friendly you need in your life. Along with him, comes his group of friends, one Frankie Morales. You develop a crush on him nearly instantly. Can you manage to get your head above water long enough to tell him he's the most gorgeous man you've ever met?  

Word Count: 2.1k

Warnings: cigarettes, self depreciation (reader is uncomfortable in their body)

ao3 link || series masterlist || main masterlist 

Your legs were feeling tight and heavy, the soft thud of your feet hitting the treadmill reverberating up to your hips and began to cause a twinge. Sweat was dripping down between your shoulders, underneath your chest, down the sides of your face from your hairline. The shorts you were wearing had ridden up to expose the entirety of your legs, keeping anything important from view with the help of your oversized band tee. With a huff of annoyance at needing to stop you reached out and hit the button with a red square on the face of the machine. You allowed yourself to slow down, the cool down initiated to where you could walk at a measly 1.5 miles an hour as opposed to the 4.0 miles you had been running at for the last hour. You took the chance to reach out and greedily gulp from the water bottle you had brought with you before swapping it out for the towel and began wiping at your face.

You looked around the gym, taking in the way the late sun was hitting the interior. It was nearly sundown, nearly time for dinner. Your watch tilled, letting you know it was 7 on the dot. You had two more minutes of cool down time, but you know the gym closed right at 7. You were about to hit the stop button but a voice called out to you.

“You’re okay! Finish your cool down, just make sure to clean the machine when you’re done.” Benny, the owner of the place called from where he was at the front desk, bidding the only other person who had been in here the last two hours a good day.

“Oh, thank you! I really appreciate it, I had such a late start today.”

“I know, normally you’re here like clockwork.” He didn’t bother with locking the door, as a white pick up truck with two figures had just pulled up in the nearly empty parking lot. “I trust ya, you haven’t been the least bit intrusive the entire time you’ve been coming here!”

You tried to focus but the two men who entered the building were loud with jokes and banter, Benny feeding off their energy the second they were inside. The machine beeped and you felt the tread begin to slow down and then stop. You picked your towel back up and held it to your face for a moment. When you pulled it back you felt eyes on you and you looked over to the front where the guys were still gathered. Big, brown eyes met your own and you tried to focus on the face that they helped to make up but it was a little hard without your glasses. The man ducked his gaze, bringing a hand up to rub the back of his neck as he turned his attention back to his companions.

You turned and stepped off the machine, your hip twinging again and causing you to scramble to grab the handrail along the side of the machine. Hand were suddenly hovering around you, voices calling out to you. You shook your head and waved them off. Not sure how all three men had managed to get across the room so fast.

“I’m good, I’m good.” You stood at your full height, which wasn’t much to be honest, but you felt more confident when your hip just duly ached instead of spiked. “Faulty hip is all. Didn’t mean to startle y’all.”

“You gotta be more careful, manté.” Benny lightly scolded, using the shorted version of the nickname he had deemed yours after finding out you ran a bakery. It had been the address you put down for your application to join the gym. He had been confused but politely reminded you that you needed to use a home address on your application, not a business. When you told him you owned the building and lived on the second floor of the bakery he had lit up like a kid at Christmas. He’d been calling you butter in Spanish ever since, but had shortened it to ‘manté’ a few months ago on a whim.

You reached up to take your hair out of its tie, the long copper locks softly curling to the middle of your back. You just offered a smile to the men hovering so close to you, not put off by them in the slightest, having seen Benny everyday for nearly six months and his friend Santiago intermittently within that time frame.

“We’re celebrating tonight, manté, you wanna join us?” The older man asked, his salt and pepper hair curling beautifully atop his head, his jaw was ticking as he waited for an answer. “Fish here just got back into town and he’s the man of the hour.”

You thought about it, they had offered in the beginning, since you were always the last one in the gym come closing time. The third man was shuffling on his feet, the furthest away from your little group and looking a little uncomfortable. You had gone out with them once, but the brooding figure of Tom had put you off and you hadn’t gone out with them since. It had just been a couple friendly beers across the street at the dive bar, but when he had showed up and demanded who you were and which one of them out of the Miller brothers and Santiago you were fucking, you had quickly thanked them for the evening and left.

They had tried to invite you out again after that with apologies and promises that Tom wouldn’t be there, but you always used the excuse of needing to get home and try out a new recipe. You looked between the two men, wanting to say yes because they were genuinely good people and have always been nice to you, but you didn’t want to intrude on what was obviously an important night.

“How about a-“

“Raincheck. Gotcha.” Santiago turned with a little more haughtiness than you anticipated, but you stopped him with a hand on his broad shoulder. You didn’t like seeing the smile falter on his handsome face. You really did want to expand your social circle, it had been a lonely six months since relocating to the area. You had your bakery, and you had your friendly neighbor, and the sister of one of your oldest friends but you didn’t have anyone to just hang out with. You weren’t the biggest on social things but even you recognized that you needed to get out more.

“I was going to say, how about a quick run home to shower and change and then I’ll meet up with you? But if you wanna say no on my account, Santi, then by all means. Adios.”

He turned around so fast and engulfed you in the biggest bear hug, lifting you off the ground with the force of it. His arms were strong around you, comforting in a way you hadn’t felt in a long time. You melted a little despite yourself, suddenly self-conscious of how sweaty you were, how you were barely in anything other than a big shirt and workout shorts. You must look an absolute mess, not that you coming in straight from the bakery in flour stained work clothes and frizzy hair was any better.

You patted his arms, prompting him to put you down.

“You could just tag along like that, none of us would complain, would we, Benny?” He tossed a wolfish grin over to the younger man. He reached out once he put you down to tug at the hem of your tee with a large hand, his fingers tangling in the fabric. The flush on your face from running felt hotter all of a sudden, though you were sure it was from the action and not the man itself. “You look mighty good, right now.”

“Santi, please.” You pinned him with a deadpan look, not worried about him actually doing anything or meaning his words. It was all harmless flirting that you had grown accustomed to from the man. “I just worked out for like two hours, I gotta shower.”

A few minutes later you had retrieved your bag from the women’s locker room and bathroom combination, the small duffle bag thrown over your shoulder. You had on a pair of tortoiseshell rounded glassed perched on your nose and your phone in your hand. You bid Santiago and Benny farewell where they were standing around the ring set up at the back of the large workout room.

“See y’all in an hour or so!”

“Text me when you leave, mante!”

You startled when you went to push open the front door to the gym at the same time Frankie was pulling it from the outside. He must’ve stepped out and was now coming back in. He smelled faintly of cigarettes, and you itched to reach for one from your own bag. You looked up at him, the sun silhouetting him in front of you, his shoulders were broad and his chest was wide right in front of your face. You felt heat creep up your cheeks but blamed it on the post workout glow.

“Oh! I’m so sorry,” You gushed as you stepped back to let him into the building.

“Didn’t mean to startle you, apologies.” He shuffled to the side, his feet stepping carefully over your own. “I also…didn’t mean to stare at you earlier, you pinned me with a pretty harsh look but I was just spacing out, honest.”

Your brow furrowed as you tried to think back on the last 20 minutes you’ve known him and couldn’t figure out what he was talking about. You remember looking around the empty gym and feeling brown eyes on your form. You hadn’t glared at him, you had just been trying to see…

“Oh! Oh no, I was totally not like death glaring at you, I’m so sorry.” You reached a hand out to tap your glasses. “I don’t have contacts and I was trying to see across the room, all I could make out were your brown eyes but I didn’t recognize you. You’re back in town, Santi said?”

He seemed to relax a little at your explanation, taking in the way your cheeks flushed and you spoke fast to alleviate any awkwardness. He moved a hand out to push your water back into its little pocket on your bag where it was jutting out, the movement bringing him close enough to smell your lingering perfume from the day over your sweat.

“I’m Frankie,” He held his hand out in front of his chest in an offer to shake. You slipped your smaller hand in his and your grip was stronger than he anticipated as he felt you pump your clasped hands once before letting go. Warmth spread up his arm from the contact. “Just got back from a flying course, touching up on some basics.”

“Oh, that must’ve been exciting still, and thank you. For your service.” You smiled at him, it was soft and genuine. “The boys have mentioned you before, I thanked them too, but they got bashful at the attention. First and only time I’d ever seen them shut up.”

Frankie just stared at you, not sure how he felt about your words. He always felt awkward when people did that but to be honest it doesn’t happen a lot these days. People were so afraid of being offensive to the point of ignorance. But it was…nice to hear you say that.

“Thank you, you’re too kind.”

“Nonsense, you guys deserve to hear that. It’s a lot to have been through, I can only begin to imagine, but it was still something to be commended, you all put your lives on the line.” You shuffled, aware of how much of a mess you were standing in front of this clean, handsome man with his curls tucked underneath a baseball cap and his basic but flattering outfit of jeans and a tee. You turned from him and pushed open the door, calling out over your shoulder. “I’ll see y’all in a bit.”

next chapter 

[winniethewife]

I walked with you once upon a dream

(William "Ironhead" Miller x F!reader)

Words: 539

A/N: For the Triple Frontier Write-a-Thon.

Will’s phone was ringing, the caller Id flashing that it was the woman he had been dating for just a few weeks. He was hesitant to call her his girlfriend, they hadn’t really talked about it yet. He reaches for his phone and slides to answer.

“Hello?”

“Hi! Will! Thank god you answered. I hate to bother you, but my car broke down on my way home from work and I need help. I don-” he could hear the tell tale whimper of tears in her voice and acted instinctively, interrupting her with a gently soothing voice. “Just send me your location, I’ll be right there.” He says with a reassuring tone, he could hear her sigh with relief on the other end of the line,

“Thank you so much. I owe you one.” She sounds significantly calmer when he hangs up the phone. When he gets her location he’s surprised because she shows up not so far from a suburban neighborhood. He thought she would be somewhere near town, but he realizes, he has no idea what she does for a living. As he gets into his car he ponders the possibilities. Is she a house cleaner? A Nanny? Door to door sales-woman? Will feels a little embarrassed, he hadn’t even asked her what she did for a living. He tried to rack his brain for anything that she might have said, not coming up with a single thing she had said. He pulls up behind her on the side of the road and gets out of his car. As he walks up to her door he was wracking his brain for a way to ask her what she does when he sees what she’s wearing. A full on ball gown, and a tiara. Will does a double take, this was not what he was expecting at all. She rolls down her window.

“Hey, thanks so much, I didn’t know who else to call.” She says with a smile.

“No problem…princess.” He says with a slight laugh before looking her over. “I will admit, I’m a little surprised to see you…dressed like that.”

“Oh, god. I forgot I hadn’t told you. I work for a party princess company.” She says as if that will explain everything to him. He looks at her puzzled.

“And that is?” he asks as he leans on her car looking at her.

“I get hired to dress as a princess and show up to kids birthday parties.” She explains. “Sometimes other events too, but mostly parties, hence Party princess,”

“Ah, I didn’t even know that was a thing you could do…” Will smiles and rubs the back of his head sheepishly. After getting under the hood and figuring out that this was not something he could fix on the side of the road they called roadside assistance and as they waited for the tow truck to some he asked her several questions about her job and she happily answered them. After the tow truck came Will drove her home. As he pulled up in front of her place she leans over and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you…prince charming.” She says with a cheeky smile. He chuckles slightly.

“Anything for my damsel in distress.”

~

Masterlist

Tag: @triplefrontier-anniversary @romanarose

[ladyxskywalker]

comfort

will 'ironhead' miller (triple frontier) x f!reader/ofc

safe, loved, & protected - that's all you both ever wanted to feel ... or feeling safe in each other's arms after a long time of being apart

I'm reposting some things back to tumblr, old links are prob broken, or I can't find anything, either way - hope you enjoy 💌 xo

He touched her face.

Then she touched his .

A slow glide in the dark of night that felt soothing as they laid in bed; curious, and most importantly together again.

He looked at her like he loved her with all his heart.

Then, she looked at him as though for a second she couldn't believe it.

But he wanted her to - deeply, so they kept caressing and smiling until the tips of their noses began to brush the other's.

Then, their lips; padding forward in their careful in between - testing things, tiredly .

In her mind, she thought, “I'd wanted this forever. I even wished for it. I cried when I was at my lowest.”

He kept kissing her, the flat of a strong palm, cradling her back, bringing her further to him, as if sensing this.

She felt him sigh; his breath, soft and warm. Wordlessly hinting at being relieved to have found her.

A weightlessness for both of them; turning away from sadness. Their entwined bodies, following the lead of every unexplained emotion…

And so she kept reaching for it; selfish in the best, and most loving of ways. Leaning her head onto the curve of his shoulder where he had welcomed her there; happily .

In the joyful silence, with their hands joined together, both of them thought, “I like this sort of thing; right here ”.

And then rest became them, because it was finally okay to close their eyes and sleep .

Drifting along better than they ever could when they were apart.

... ❤️

thanks so much for reading 🌼 I wrote this a while ago, based on real life happy memories & moments with my other half. you can imagine this with anyone you like. the possibilities are endless. 💫