A/N: A pillow talk conversation that wouldn't get out of my head. Should be surrounded by smut, but this is the nearest I can get before running and hiding. Takes place post-Always, immediately after Round One... because lets face it, after four years, there's got to be more than one round. Rated for safety. I'll be over there, hiding. Be gentle?
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.
"It's funny," he said, cradling her as she came down from her high, his tone teasing, "I always picked you for a screamer."
"Habit, I guess," she mumbled, resting her head against his shoulder, her hand beginning to wander already, even though her breathing had yet to slow. She peeked up at him from under her eyelashes, not surprised to find him watching her face. Propping herself up on her elbow, she arched an eyebrow at him. "You really want to know?"
"Only if you want to share. I want to know everything about you, Kate," the teasing was gone, tenderness and sincerity taking its place. She brushed her hand up his chest, along his jaw, following the movement with her eyes so she didn't have to look at him, and took a deep breath.
"When I was with Josh," she began, and she felt him freeze beneath her. She looked up into his eyes bravely to find him bracing himself for whatever was to come. She swallowed, and continued. "When I was with Josh, especially towards the end... well, almost every time after the first couple of months... I wasn't able to, uh, finish, shall we say? Not without...aid." She was blushing furiously, and he would have found it incredibly endearing if they weren't discussing his arch-nemesis, Dr. Motorcycle Boy. Reminding himself firmly that her past was a part of her, and that she was with him now anyway, and that any opening she could give him should be encouraged because for once they were actually using those real live word-things, he croaked out a single word.
"Aid?"
She grinned then, and bit her lip, eyes roving his face, watching the various expressions going through his eyes.
"I would close my eyes and imagine it was you," she admitted, obviously remembering the pleasure that came with it. "Worked every time. Well, aside from the first."
He was grinning now, relieved and more than a little vindictively happy. Josh's physical presence couldn't, but just the thought of him could. "Oh?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yeah... turns out saying another guy's name in the midst of everything tends to cut the moment short..."
He nodded, trying hard not to laugh, only imagining how it would have felt had the situation been reversed. He almost felt sorry for his former rival. Almost.
"Yeah, I can see that..."
"We had the biggest fight after that. So once we got past it, I learnt to keep my eyes closed and my mouth shut during..." she trailed off, looking down at him and biting her lip again. In a swift motion, he flipped them both over, pressing her into the mattress deliciously, taking a moment to taste the skin of her neck before propping himself up on his elbows and gaze down at her lovingly, possessively. When he spoke, his voice was low, thrillingly commanding.
"Well this time, I want you with your eyes open and screaming my name as loudly as you can. It's time to break this habit," he said, and proceeded to make it happen.