A/N: Written for SoMa week 2016 on tumblr for the prompt Types of Kisses.
I. Good Morning Kiss
Pale sunlight streamed in through the curtains. White dust danced above the hardwood floors, circling around in the air as they chased one another. Warm breath slapped against Maka's neck in time with the steady rise of Soul's chest pressed against her.
The distinct sound of a rooster crowing broke through the silence of dawn, alerting everyone on the ranch that it was time to get up. Maka blearily stared at the dust particles. She followed their path as they flew up, dropped toward the ground, and then were picked back up by the air conditioner.
It was another normal, serene morning on the ranch.
A few minutes passed by in which Maka continued to distract herself with the dust. Eventually she furled and unfurled her toes to stretch out her calves and wake her legs up, stretched her back while being careful not to wake her partner, and let out a content moan. The arm around her waist tightened. She stilled, waiting to see if Soul was awake or not. When he loosened his grip and sniffed, she relaxed. He was still asleep.
Her phone then buzzed twice on the nightstand to notify her of a text message. Soul grunted, and she imagined his nose twitching like a bunny's as it always did before he woke up.
While Soul stretched and moaned behind her, Maka grabbed her phone to see who had text her. She sent a quick reply to the person after reading the message before locking and placing it back on the nightstand. Cool lips pressed against her neck as Soul nudged his other arm beneath her side so that he fully hugged her toward him. A small smile graced her face as he molded his body against hers. He tucked a leg between both of hers and nuzzled the space behind her ear.
"Mornin'," came Soul's groggy voice. "Who text you?"
"Wes. He's going into town and wanted to know if we needed anything."
"What'd you tell 'im?"
"No." Maka turned slightly to look at him, her brows furrowed. "We didn't need anything, right?"
"Might need more dog food. Not sure, though. And you ate all the good cereal so there's that."
He whined in protest as she destroyed the perfect molding he had created between them in order to glare at him.
"Excuse me, but no I didn't! You're the one who had the last bowl of Frosted Flakes."
"Mm, it's too early to argue," he cried as he attempted to cuddle up with her again. "But it was you who ate the last bit of Frosted Flakes."
She felt his smug grin against her skin, and she lightly slapped his shoulder. "No it wasn't. You're the one who eats cereal at night, not me. So if we're out, it's because of you."
Soul didn't respond.
Instead he pressed his lips against the crook of her neck, kissed along her jawline, and up toward her lips. She giggled when he threaded his fingers through her hair. A shiver ran down her spine as he did so, and her scalp tingled at the feel of his touch. His mouth curved and molded to match hers, mimicking every move she made. Maka moaned when he gently sucked on her bottom, a comfortable warmth washing over her body as he did so.
One hand laid splayed on his chest while the other trailed up his shoulders to the nape of his neck where they tangled themselves in his hair. She felt him moan against her lips when she did so, and she seized her opportunity to take control. Pressing her mouth firmly against his, she nibbled on his bottom lip, rolling the flesh between her teeth, and released it before going back for another one. He moaned in appreciation when her tongue flicked out to lick between his lips, and she found herself overpowered when he took control once again.
This time around he was more forceful. His lips pressed harder against hers, a fervent desire that he reserved for the nights when they weren't ready to sleep. Hot liquid pooled in her lower abdomen as one hand travelled down her side. He gently brushed along the sliver of exposed skin from her where her shirt rode up, sending goosebumps to prick her skin. When he cupped her rear, she let out a small squeak of surprise. Something hard poked her in the stomach, and her senses were brought back to normal.
"You're not gonna distract me with kisses," she said. She untangled herself from his grip and pushing him back to his side of the bed. "And you're definitely not gonna distract me with other things."
"You're really gonna let cereal get between us?"
"When you accuse me of finishing it when you know I didn't, yes."
The side of his mouth curved up in a small smile as he reached out to pull her toward him which she willingly let him do. He scooted closer toward her, rested his forehead on top of hers, and kissed the tip of her nose. She smiled despite herself because the truth was she wasn't really mad at him for the cereal thing.
"If I agree that it was me, will you drop it?" he asked.
"You're only saying that 'cause you don't have to work on the ranch today," she grinned.
"So what if I am?" he drawled. "Don't hear you complain'."
"You're ridiculous," she said while wrapping her hands around his neck and pulling him down for a tender kiss. "I'll text Wes to get us some dog food and Frosted Flakes 'cause you ate them both."
She sensed rather than saw his smile drop, and heard the slight panic in his voice as he said, "Please don't imply I ate dog food. Wes'll never let that one go."
"Shoulda thought of that before you said I ate the last of the cereal," she singsonged while rolling over to grab her phone.
"Maaakaaa," Soul whined. "No."
After sending off the text, Maka rolled back over to show it to Soul to reveal that she hadn't implied any correlation between him and dog food.
"You're a butt," he said before kissing her and climbing on top of her.
II. I've Missed You Kiss
Maka anxiously sat in the pickup area of the airport. She crossed and uncrossed her legs about a dozen times as she stared at the doors leading from the terminal. The backlight on her phone shone up at her when she checked the time for the thousandth time to see that only a minute had passed since she had done so previously. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that people around her thought she was a maniac. No one in their right mind was this anxious over seeing someone.
Unless they hadn't seen the person in five months.
Five months had passed since The Bachelor ended. Thus five months had passed since the last time she physically saw Soul. They had their Skype dates and FaceTime calls between that time, but it wasn't the same. It didn't fill the void of having him near her, to cuddle with him while they laid in bed, or listen to him sleep beside her. She knew it was silly and ridiculous, but what she wanted most was to experience the couple part of their relationship. Which was the part of his visit she was most excited about.
The double doors opened suddenly as a wave of people entered the area. Maka flew to her feet. She stood up on her tiptoes to scan the crowd for either the familiar mop of white hair or Soul's cowboy hat. Others who had been waiting ran toward their person, hugging them on impact. A pang of jealousy shot through her heart when a girl jumped into the arms of her boyfriend and kissed him.
"Maka!" came a silky warm voice not far from her.
Turning in the direction it came, she immediately spotted Soul as he pushed his way over to her. A wide grin spread across her face that echoed his own, and her heart felt lighter and heavier at the same time. The familiar butterflies fluttered around her stomach as she met him halfway. Her senses dulled; the chatter of everyone in the pickup area quieted and the people seemed to swarm around them like the great sea. Soul's sanguine eyes glistened, his goofy lopsided smile cuter than she remembered, and his voice huskier than her mind had made it out to be these last few months.
His hand gently caressed her arm. Starting at her elbow, it lightly made it's way down until it reached her own hand and tangled their fingers together. She felt the roughness of them that was reminiscent of someone who did ranch work all day, but soft enough to tell her that he knew how to care for a living being. Caring and strong.
She pulled his arm to the small of her back and placed it there to close the distance between them. Pressing her hands against his chest, she felt the muscles that laid hidden beneath his shirt. They twitched in response to her touch before her hands drifted up to his collar and around his neck, giving her the perfect angle to draw him closer to her. Soft lips melted against hers in a soothing sigh she didn't know was hers or his. Her core tightened when he molded her hips against his, and cool liquid pooled in the pit of her stomach as his other hand touched the space between her backbones.
They stood there completely pressed against each other in the middle of the airport. Neither of them noticed the people that crowded around the circular conveyor belt to grab their luggage. Maka faintly thought of the idea of someone gawking at them or groaning because they were acting like the typical couple in an airport, but it vanished before she dwelled too hard on it. When it came down to it, it didn't matter. She hadn't seen her boyfriend in months, and damn to all who thought ill of them.
Even if that person happened to be her afterward.
Breaking away from him first, Maka watched him – inches apart. His goofy smile became cheesier by the second as he lightly chuckled to himself, the mirth present in his eyes. Soul kissed the top of her head before speaking.
"What was that for?"
Maka shrugged. "Don't know? It kinda happened?"
"Whatever it was, I hope it happens again."
Stepping up on her tiptoes, she chastely kissed him again. "Me too."
Another minute or so rolled by with them standing there before a voice over the intercom reminded passengers to collect their baggage. Reluctantly, Maka pushed herself away from Soul. The edge of his mouth exposed his disappoint as it dipped for the briefest of seconds and he composed himself again.
"Probably best if we move this to my apartment?" she asked with a coy smile. "Then maybe we can kiss and do a little more?"
That seemed to lighten his mood.
III. Slow Dance Kiss
Maka raised her glass to eye level and swirled the pink liquid around with the tip of her finger. It was her third mixed drink since they came back home. She didn't feel overly inebriated like she did on girl's night out back in New York. Instead the alcohol in her drinks had left her with a slight buzz. Not enough so that she had a pounding headache the next day, but definitely enough that she was giddier than normal.
"Why do you do that?" Soul asked.
She took a sip of her drink, the warm liquid burning down her throat, and rested the glass on top of her thigh. Her bare feet dangled over the side of the counter she sat on top of, lightly kicking at the air.
"Don't know," she shrugged. "Guess I've seen Liz and Tsu do it so many times that it's rubbed off on me."
To be honest, it had become a habit throughout the years she lived in New York City from nights of hopping from bar to bar. There were too many times when men tried to slip something in girls' drinks for Maka and her friends not to grow more cautious. Usually it was a crushed up pill that the men used. If any of them noticed white dust swirling around in the liquid, they knew what it meant and got the hell out of dodge.
She didn't need to perform the trick now, granted, since she not only made the drink herself but also trusted Soul more than any man in a dingy bar. But old habits were hard to kick.
"What are we having tonight?"
Setting her glass beside her, Maka leaned over the sink to see inside the pot Soul busied himself with. A heavy scent of garlic bread mixed with marinara sauce filled her apartment for their late night dinner together. She knew perfectly well what he was cooking for them – it didn't take a brain surgeon to fit the pieces together – but she was still curious for him to tell her.
"Spaghetti with garlic bread," Soul said. Throwing her a sly look, he added, "And salad if you remembered to make it."
"Course I did. Your plane was an hour late so I had time to do it before I went to pick you up." She pursed her lips and half-heartedly glared. "I forget one time, and you refuse to drop it. Learn to let things go, Evans."
Her foot flicked to the side to kick him, but he caught it her ankle before she could do so. With his other hand, he reached over to tickle the underside of her foot. She twitched and squealed in response, trying to wiggle her foot away from him. When she was successful, she stuck her tongue out that he only laughed at.
"It's more fun teasin' you, though," he said, turning back to the stove.
"You're lucky you're cute or else I'd slap you," she pouted.
She blushed at the comprehension and meaning her words held and turned away from Soul's smug grin. The alcohol had slowly made its way into her system to the point that her mind felt lighter and everything that came out her mouth danced along the edge of truth. A truth she wouldn't dare express if it weren't for the slight buzz.
"You think I'm cute?" he asked.
"Shuddup."
Averting her gaze from his, she took another sip of her drink and muttered, "I'm dating you, aren't I? We've had sex, haven't we? Doesn't take someone with a PhD to figure out that I must think you're cute in some way."
"So I am cute?"
A moment passed in which they only stared at each other. Pink warmth blossomed over her cheeks that she wasn't sure was from the alcohol or Soul's knowing smile. Either way, she felt stuffy sitting on the countertop. She hopped down to make her way over to where her stereo system sat. It was outdated and old – something from the 90's she couldn't let go of – and still had a spot for cassettes. The sad part about it was the fact that she also still owned the square devices.
"I'm gonna put some music on. It's way too quiet, and your smugness is too loud."
"My smugness?"
"Yes. Your smugness."
"How can that be–"
"I don't know," she said, sorting through the old cassettes. "It just is."
Soul didn't respond.
Maka found an old cassette – older than the others – that had smudged out writing on the darkened label that used to be white. She didn't remember where it had come from or whose it belonged to. It might have been her curiosity that drew her to place it in its correct spot and press play. Immediately, the soothing chords of a guitar came out to meet her before the artist began to sing that she recognized. George Strait. You Look So Good in Love. A classic.
Her eyes closed as she started to slowly sway to the song as memories of being cooped up in her grandpa's truck on road trips came back. It had been his cassette she put in that had somehow found itself in her collection somehow. She had despised the music in her youth, but now it it was everything she needed. Maybe in some weird twist of fate she had been meant to end up with Soul, the ranch boy, this entire time because she hadn't much favored him in the beginning either.
Tying her hair up in a ponytail, she felt warm hands grip her hips and soft lips pressed against the nape of her neck.
"Would you like to dance?" Soul asked.
"I thought you didn't like country music."
"Always had a soft spot for George Strait."
Not bothering to conceal the smile on her face, Maka slowly turned around. Soul's arms wrapped themselves around her hips at the same time her own did the same around his neck. They swayed in time to the music high school dance style, but without the cheese factor. Even in her buzzed state, Maka couldn't find it in herself to comment on how lame the act was because deep down it felt romantic and sweet.
Every now and then her toes hit the front of his boots, and it sent her to giggle at the action. Soul's breath warmed her face as his lips brushed against hers; the kiss soft and gentle that reflected the song. She was thrown back to their time on The Bachelor show in that moment. The distinct scent of plywood and stale alcohol were thankfully absent along with the other couples dancing around them.
It was only the two of them.
In her small apartment in New York City.
"And I had my chances," Soul sang in the same tone as George, "but I set you free. And now I wonder why I couldn't see. You look so good in love. You want him, that's easy to see."
"Is this how all our dancing is gonna be? With you singing?" she giggled.
"You don't like it?" he said in hushed tones.
"It's so cheesy." She pulled him down to chastely press a kiss on his lips. "But I like it."
The song switched. It was another slow dance one by the same artist:Carrying Your Love With Me. Soul's voice was low and husky as he sang the main chorus against her lips. He gently kissed her in between the words, a ghost feeling that sent chills down her spine and a cool liquid to pool in her lower abdomen. She dropped her arms so that she hugged him and pressed her ear against his chest. Tingles danced across her scalp at the sound his steady heartbeat that echoed her own.
As the song slowly died, Maka sniffed a heavy, burnt smell in the apartment.
"Soul," she began, opening her eyes, "did you turn down the heat for the sauce?"
"Shit," he all but whispered.
Soul untangled himself from her arms to make a mad dash toward the kitchen. She giggled to herself as she watched him remove the pot from the stove top and turn down the heat, cursing under his breath as he did so.
"I hope you know that I like my food to be warm, not burnt," she teased.
"I'm tryin'."
He opened the oven to take out the garlic bread and tossed the tray in anger. Walking over to him, she peered over his shoulder to see the ends of them darkened and laughed. More to herself than anything else. The glare he gave her was half-heartedly done, but the slight pout endearing. Kissing the edge of his mouth, she smiled and wound her arms around his middle.
"Maybe we can cut the ends of and eat around the burnt part?"
"I really wanted to be a gentleman tonight and make you dinner."
"You didn't ruin it, though. We can work around it. You didn't burn the sauce, right?"
"Don't think so."
"Then it's fine."
There was a small pause. "Ruined the romance of tonight."
Maka leaned up to kiss the shell of his ear. "No you didn't. It's still a nice date. I'm enjoying it."
"If you say so." He still didn't sound convinced, though.
The timer for the noodles dinged, and Maka didn't waste any time as she stepped around him to take them off the fire.
"Well, the noodles are saved. Pour some of the sauce on top, add my salad, cut around the burnt ends of the bread, and we can still have a romantic dinner," she cheerfully said. "And then we can cuddle on the couch and watch some TV. Maybe kiss a little?"
"Maybe in bed instead of the couch?"
It was her turn to pout and glare.
She broke off a piece of the burnt bread and tossed it at him. "You're such a pervert."
His arms wrapped around her waist before he kissed her cheek. "Yea, but you still think I'm cute."
With a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth, she said, "Keep telling yourself that, and maybe one day it'll be true."