Disclaimer: These characters are not mine.
ERIC'S BIRTHDAY
The next morning at the hotel in Houston, Tim awoke lying on his side, Shelly curled behind him, her hand draped over his waist. He was groggy, mostly content, and hard. May as well go down in flames, he thought, pulling her arm around his hip snugly for a few deep breaths. "Shels," he panted softly, guiding her willing hand down to stroke and bring him quickly to a climax. When she felt him come, she followed right behind with his help in a blissful, just-roused dream state, sucking hard on his neck to stifle a moan.
"No regrets, and no promises, right Shels…" he sighed, kissing her forehead. She studied his eyes before nodding, her face shaded with longing. They'd talked the night before about how this was serendipitous, nothing serious, but he knew he might've pushed it too far.
It was a final indulgence before getting back to their regular lives as guests with the Taylors. Jackie and Bo moving in with Billy made Tim upset, but he liked living with the Taylors, even if it was getting complicated.
/-/-/-/
The final selection of Kelly's photographs of Tim was impressive. She captured his wild essence, his sexuality, his tragic romanticism. And of course he looked fantastic, buff, groomed, wearing Morley's form-fitting jeans. His shots with Tracy were steamy, especially the one where he was on all fours, about to ravage her.
The execs at Morley were reviewing Tim's portfolio and a few others, and they'd decide what they wanted to include in the upcoming ad campaign. But the creative director, Pablo, was optimistic that Tim would make the cut.
They told Tami and Julie about the shoot, Tracy, and Kelly the photographer. And the ritzy hotel, room service, how it had felt kind of like a vacation, only with good pay. They left out the part about sharing a bed.
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The big excitement for the weekend was Eric's visit home from the university. It happened to be his birthday, so preparations were underway for a celebration. Tami had gotten racks of ribs and asked Tim to clean the grill.
He'd kind of warmed up to the idea of doing some modeling to make money. As he scooped out piles of ashes, he chuckled to himself. How many models clean out grills? How many even eat barbecue? The grate needed scrubbing, so he propped it against a tree and hosed it down before scraping it. Soon he was damp and covered with ashy smears.
Julie came out back bearing lemonade. Her crush on Tim had only grown since their test photo shoot. "Hey Tim. Break time," she said in her sing-songiest voice. Hunk needs his fluids.
"Hey Jules, sure looks good." He drained a glass as Julie watched his adam's apple pulse with each gulp. The tip of her tongue snuck out the corner of her mouth as Tim licked his lips, looking at her with amusement.
"What's your mom got you working on?" Tim asked. "She is a slavedriver when she gets going. Just like your dad."
"Tell me about it. I'm cleaning the house, and then I'm baking my dad a cake. Hey – you wanna help me? Need to decorate it with icing. Would be fun," she said, curling her voice around the last phrase.
He looked at her skeptically, but when she pouted with her full mouth, he melted. God, those lips should be outlawed. "Yeah, why not. Actually, could you gimme a hand for a sec… I need to rinse this off, so if you could hold it, I can do both sides at once," he said, pointing to the lid.
He hosed one side, and then the other. Julie scooched back so the spray wouldn't hit her, but some did, and she shot Tim a dirty look. God she's hot when she's mad, Tim thought, just like Kelly told me I was during the shoot.
"Sorry, Jules. One more rinse." Tim went over it again, and then couldn't resist giving her a spritz. She shrieked, dropping the lid on the ground, shaking her hands. Her shirt was half soaked. How much do I love white tank tops, he thought.
"Okay Riggins, that's it. Wet t-shirt contest!" she yelled. She grabbed the hose and gave him a good dousing. "See how you like that, Mr. Supermodel!"
He plucked his wet shirt away from his body, and shook his head, grinning. "Touche, Taylor!" Watching her, he slowly stripped off his t-shirt and sauntered over to her, extending his hand. "Truce?"
She eyed him warily while taking stock of his dripping naked torso. "Um, sure." As she shook his hand, he grabbed it firmly and he slid his other hand up her slick arm, pulling her in.
"Seeing as how your shirt is only partly wet, I think you could help me dry off here with a little, uh, contact." He drew her into his arms. "Like this," he said, hugging her. "And then I think someone else needs to get out of their wet t-shirt," he rumbled, fingering the spaghetti straps of her tank, slipping them off her shoulders.
"Hey Tim!" they heard Tami shout. "I could use a hand in here, hon."
"Hold that thought," Tim sighed, half to himself, snapping Julie's straps straight, rubbing her shoulders and going inside. Julie bit her lip hard and went to change her wet clothes.
Tami asked him to get the folding table and set it up outside. It was in the garage behind some tools and stuff lying on the floor. As Tim stretched to hang up a tool, Tami quashed the urge to slide her hands around his taut waist.
"The shoot turned out wonderful, by the way," she said, handing him a hammer to put away. "You look… you looked incredible." Incredibly hot. God, he's making me stammer and repeat myself. He grabbed the hammer with one hand, his other hand taking Tami's hand. "You really think so?," he murmured, moving closer. They gazed at one another as Tim laced his fingers through hers.
"Hey, do you guys need my help?" Julie chirped before sticking her head through the door. Tami winked at Tim, releasing his hand as he dropped his head and went to hang up the hammer. "I think we got it hon, but thanks," Tami said quickly, back to business. It's like he casts a spell on me, she thought.
They set up the table out back, and Tim reassembled the grill. He filled it with charcoal and went inside, running into Shelly, carrying Gracie. "Oh, hey Tim, would you be a sweetie and watch Gracie for a few minutes while I shower and change?" She'd taken Gracie out in the baby jogger for a run. "I'd put her in her pen, but she's fussing a bit."
"Sure Shels, long as no other emergency comes up," he said, touching her arm to take Gracie. That boy is such a tease, always walking around half naked, but who am I to complain, she thought. "Thanks, darlin. You're the best." In so many ways… Shels handed Gracie to him, smiling coyly and palming the small of his back.
He placed the baby in the crux of his arm. She looked extremely happy. Tim was glad to sit down for a minute, he'd been doing chores all day. He made noises at Gracie and let her chew his fingers before playing her favorite game of airplane and settling her against the firm, warm cushion of his bicep. Tim shut his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, inhaling her baby scent.
"Well if that isn't the sweetest" and hottest "thing I've ever seen," Tami said. Tim opened his eyes, smiling sleepily at her. "She just adores you, Tim." And so do I, her look said. "I have to go pick up Eric at the airport. I think everything's in order. Call me if you need me…" Tami said, heading to the car, shooting Tim a wistful look.
With coach home soon, I really have to watch it, but how can I resist all these opportunities at every turn, Tim thought. And it's not me instigating most everything. "What do you think, Grace," he cooed. "I just want to make sure all you gals are happy."
He carried Gracie to the kitchen. Julie was mixing the batter for the sheet cake. "This bakes for a half hour, then it has to cool and we can decorate it," she said. "Wanna taste?" She stuck her batter-covered finger at him, and he took it in his mouth, sucking it slowly and giving her fingertip a little kiss. She just stared at him wide-eyed, as Gracie grabbed at her wet digit.
"Mmmm, that is sweet. And so's the batter," he whispered, grabbing Julie's hand and kissing it softly several times. God, every situation suddenly turning into a romantic thing. It's like a soap opera. They heard Shelly coming down the hall.
Shelly, showered and dressed, took the baby from Tim, stroking his arm and biting her lip. "I think I can put her in the playpen now, she's calmed way down. She loves you, hon." I have never gotten so much love in my life, thought Tim. Not a bad feeling, honestly, even if it is getting ridiculous. He went to shower and get changed.
/-/-/-/
When Eric and Tami got home, Julie screamed and ran outside to give her dad a big hug. Shelly and Tim trailed close behind. Eric looked fatigued, but happy to be home. After he'd settled in, he took Tim aside and said, "Son, I have to thank you for everything you've been doing. All the girls seem to appreciate your efforts."
Tim dropped his head, chuckled, and thought, If you only knew. "Coach, I'm happy to do whatever I can to help and keep things running smoothly around here."
"And I heard about your potential modeling job – that is something, Tim!" he laughed and shook his head. "Never woulda picked you for a, well, a… model, but hell, God gave you gifts, may as well put 'em to use." What, now coach thinks I'm hot too? Christ…
"Well, we'll see. Still gotta make the final cut. And Shels and Jules were both really helpful on that, I owe em big time," Tim said.
"Tami says you've been doing a lot around the house. I can't tell you how much that means to me. I have such guilt that I'm not here… Well whatever it is you been doing, keep it up, alright?"
Tim dropped his head. If you say so… "I do what Mrs T asks me, and I try to give it my all," he said sincerely. And I should be thanking you… "And I really owe you thanks for letting me stay here. For once, I feel like I belong…" he trailed off, the thought of his brother and Jackie lingering bitterly.
"The team misses you, Coach," Tim said, changing direction. "The new coach is a bastard, pardon me for saying so. I mean we're just getting back into light practices now, but it's gonna be a rough road. Not to make you feel bad about your decision…"
"Hell boy, I probably couldn't feel any worse than I already do. And truth is, it's tough down in Austin. The system is rigid and kind of corporate and cutthroat. And I miss my family. I'm glad to be in Dillon at least for the weekend. Even if I have to endure a birthday party and be reminded that I'm gettin' old!," he laughed, gesturing at the preparations.
"Tim, time to decorate the cake! Woohoo!" Julie shouted, as Tim arched an eyebrow at Eric and grinned. "My skill set is expanding here, anyway!" he laughed, heading into the kitchen. Eric went to wash up and unpack, and talk to Tami before guests started arriving. Shelly was putting Gracie down for a nap.
/-/-/-
Julie was opening the frosting when Tim's long arms encircled her. "Here, lemme, Jules," he said in a low voice, taking the can. He kept a slight distance between their bodies, barely brushing her backside, but she could feel his heat.
"Your turn," he said, offering her his fingertip laden with chocolate frosting. She turned her doe-eyed gaze at him for a moment, cocking a smile, then took his finger in her mouth, pulling on the frosting and licking her lips. He then brushed her cheek and her shoulder with his hand, leaving smudges of frosting.
"Oh, gee, sorry Jules. Here, I got it," he said helpfully. He leaned over and gave her shoulder a wet kiss, licking the frosting. She shuddered, biting her lip. His mouth moved up her neck to her face, dwelling on the chocolate there, his lips cupping her apple cheek before closing over her mouth for a fudgy kiss. "Wait, I still see some frosting on your lips," he said, kissing her slowly and deeply.
He pulled away slowly, pressing his pelvis to hers. "Chocolate's my favorite flavor, you know Jules." She smoothed the back of her trembling hand against her cheek to dry it off. "Now, what are we doing with this?," he said, grinning, as Jules tried to focus on the cake.
They wound up outlining a football in white icing, and writing "Happy Birthday Daddy" on it, after some dispute about whether to call him Eric, Coach, or Daddy. Julie won. "Well, it's kinda lame, but at least it's homemade," she laughed.
At the party, Eric finally looked relaxed, beaming at his family and friends. In a short speech accompanied by champagne all around, he went out of his way to thank Tim for helping out with the domestic stuff. Tim blushed, glancing at Tami, Shels, and Julie, who all dropped their gazes momentarily.
"And for those of you who don't see Tim Riggins every day, the next time you see him," Eric said, "may be from the back cover of a magazine!" Tim looked up, surprised. "They emailed Shelly a little while ago, Tim. Your photo's gonna be one of the featured ads for the campaign. Wanted to surprise you and figured we may as well celebrate that as well tonight!"
That evening, in separate private moments and varying depths of hugs and kisses, Tim received congratulations from all the members of the Taylor household. And then he slept like a baby.
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AN: Apologies for making Tim so easy, but it seemingly can't be helped!