Warning: Smut ahead


A cold shiver ran down your spine, despite standing in the warm kitchen. Outside, the wind was blowing so hard you could hear it, whistling loudly around the house. It had been snowing so heavily all day that the simple thought of leaving the cabin made you shudder. To ignore the unpleasant noises, you turned music on before walked back to the stove.

Delicious smells filled the room as you prepared Steve's favourite meals, waiting for him to finish his work and spend the night with you. He never asked for it, he never expected it, but you knew he loved when you cooked for him. It was one of those things that made him feel at home, and Steve had never felt himself like this since he moved here.

More than a month passed since you came back to Colorado. You had mixed feelings in the beginning, because even though you were happy, you were scared too. Scared of he will change his mind, scared of he will realize he wasn't ready and never will be.

Sometimes it was tough with him. Steve promised he will talk more about his feelings, and he was truly trying, but it didn't always go so smoothly. He got overwhelmed easily. There were days when he wanted to listen to your voice all day, then late nights when he just wanted silence. Long hours when he longed to hold you in his arms, only to struggle with the tiniest touches a few minutes later. He wanted to step outside his comfort zone, but he had been behind those walls for so long it was harder to destroy them than he thought it would be. As if he didn't know his own boundaries anymore. He wanted to please you, and it gave him a little push, but you didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, everything went nicely. You had many dates; real dates in nice restaurants, coffee shops and cinemas. It surprised you he was the one who suggested that you should go out: you knew Steve didn't like to be around too many people and he valued privacy much better.

Soon enough, you both grew to love these dates. Steve was no longer so nervous surrounded by others and he loved every minute he could spend with you. He was a true gentleman—something you could have only seen in cheesy romantic comedies so far. He always opened the door and pulled out the chair for you, walked you to the cottage from the car and kissed you on the porch. He held your hand gently and whispered the sweetest things into your ear.

Even though going to ice skating was nice occasionally, you both preferred to stay in the house in the frosty January weather. Cooking together with Steve could be a lot of fun, because while he wasn't bad at it, trying anything new could easily make his head ache.

Steve, as one of the biggest movie nerds you had ever met, made it his number one mission to show you all of his old favourites. You loved these dates too, when you just cuddled up on the couch with some popcorn or a hot beverage. However, as the time passed, it became rarer that you could finish a whole movie without ending up pressed between the sofa and Steve. What usually started out as innocent kissing grew into a heavy and passionate make-out session very quickly. At first, Steve got flustered easily. He was hesitant and never let his hands stray until you told him he can touch you, and even then, he stayed careful. You let him take control and never pushed him too far. He wanted to take things slow, and you respected his decision.

Dinner was almost ready when you looked at your wristwatch, realizing how late it was already. You frowned a little, but quickly shrugged your worries away. It was always harder to get back from the town during winter: Steve had told you how many times he couldn't even go to work. But as much as you tried to stay calm, you caught yourself glancing on your phone or checking the time in every five minutes. The snow was falling so furiously you knew the roads were already too dangerous.

When the food went cold and you couldn't sit tight anymore, you called Steve—only to hear the voicemail. Locking your phone, you sighed and plopped down on the sofa. The fact that you couldn't even reach him made you more scared than you already were.

To keep your mind occupied, you turned the radio on and listened to the local news, but you quickly realized that it was a bad idea. There were reports of a few minor accidents and a serious one. It sent your pulse racing, and you turned the radio off; you had heard enough.

Suddenly, you really hated Colorado.

When you finally heard three rapid knocks on the door, your heart almost jumped out of your chest. Gasping, you hurried through the house and when you saw Steve, safe and sound, a huge weight lifted off your shoulders.

Steve could see as at least three different emotions washed over your features. "I'm so sorry," he breathed out as he stepped in, quickly closing the door to keep the cold air from filling the room. "I wanted to call you but my phone died."

"I know, I tried to call you," you said, feeling a shiver of relief. "I heard the news."

Steve sighed and shook his head while he took his coat off. "Most of the roads are impassable. I saw two accidents. I thought…" he cut off, because as he turned to you, he could see the fear that still lingered in the depth of your eyes. He wanted to say he almost drifted off the road a couple times, but he changed his mind. "I thought I'll stuck there for a couple more hours."

"But are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Steve reassured you with a soft smile, stepping closer to cup your cheeks and kiss your lips before he pulled you into a comforting hug.

Steve looked extremely tired. If he wasn't so hungry, you were sure he would easily fell asleep in the chair. After he finished eating, he blinked slowly, sleepily, resting his elbows on the table. When you reached out to stroke his cheek, he smiled and kissed your wrist.

"I wanted to talk to you about something."

Biting your lip, you pulled your arm back. You didn't like the sound of this, but tried to hide your worry.

"This snowstorm will only get worse. I can't even go to work until it stops," he said. You knew the roads will be closed—if they weren't already. "So if you… if you want to stay with me for a few days…"

"Oh," you squirmed in your chair. While you would love to be with him, especially in these circumstances, you weren't sure if it was comfortable for him. "I mean… are you sure this is a good idea?"

"I don't know," Steve said with a sheepish smile. "I just don't think you should be alone when it gets worse. Last year I had no electricity and I couldn't leave the house for a week."

He couldn't miss the way your eyes widen. The simple thought of spending days alone, in a dark house, in the middle of nowhere while there's an angry snowstorm out there unnerved you for sure.

"In that case I'd really feel safer with you," you admitted. "But are you sure I won't bother you?"

"Oh, yeah," Steve shook his head. "It'll be a nightmare to be with you."

Chuckling, you gently swatted his shoulder with the back of your hand. "I'm serious. I know you like being alone."

Steve frowned. He still spent a lot of time by himself—sometimes he simply needed it, but he loved spending time with you. He felt guilty for not showing it enough for you to know this. "Listen," he sighed and leaned closer above the table. "Forget about me. I don't want you to be alone now."

You gave him a thankful smile, appreciating that he put you first.

Steve told you it would be better to move tonight, because if the snow keeps falling like this all night, you might won't be able to leave the house tomorrow. You took his advice, and after he helped you to pack up some clothes and other things you will need for a few days, you left your cabin and made your way to his.

The little time you spent outside was more than enough of this weather. The freezing cold wind blew the snow into your face, making it harder to see. When you finally stepped into Steve's house, you were still shivering.

"And I thought Stephen King just exaggerated," you said through gritted teeth, hands hidden in your pockets.

Steve smiled and helped you out of your coat, rubbing your arms up and down to warm you up. "How about I help you sort out your things and then we watch The Shining?"

It was past midnight when you finally fell into bed. While you tried to get comfortable on the hard mattress, Steve climbed out of the shower, reaching for a towel to dry his body. The tile floor was cold under his feet, but a warm sensation washed over him. The scent of your lotion still lingered in the air, your toothbrush on the side of the sink. When he left the bathroom, he was still smiling.

"Steve," you sighed as he lay down next to you. "Your bed is so uncomfortable."

"It's good for your spine," he said, poking your side and making you laugh.

"You sound like an old man."

He opened his arms, inviting, his smile light-hearted but caring. You rolled to him, pressing as close to him as you could while he draped the comforter over the both of you. The wind was still blowing furiously outside and the noise sent a shudder through you. Steve rubbed tender, soothing circles between your shoulder blades, and as you felt your body melting, you let out a soft sound of pleasure. It made him smile and he nuzzled your hair.

"You still love this place?"

With a quiet laugh, you looked up at him. "It's a small price to pay."

As he gazed into your eyes in the dimly lit room, Steve noticed as your features slowly changed, from playful to serious. He was always very attentive and he could never miss the small signs of your body language.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?"

Clutching the front of his sleeping shirt, you shook your head, but you couldn't look away from his cerulean eyes. The feeling was there, maybe stronger than ever before, and you couldn't brush it off. "I think I'm in love with you."

Steve froze. His hand stopped on the middle of your back. You loved him—it felt so good to hear it warmed him from head to toe, but as the moments passed, a cold shiver ran down his spine. He felt hot and cold at the same time, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

He closed his eyes and gently squeezed you closer. He knew he couldn't say it back, not yet. It wasn't because he had doubts—he hadn't any. It was just the way he was: because he never heard it from many people, and even the few who loved him told him very rarely. Steve didn't mind it. He always thought actions were more important than words. But he knew it meant a lot for others.

When he opened his mouth, struggle in his eyes, you placed your fingertips on his lips. "Don't make excuses. I don't want to make you feel like you have to say it back. It's just… I know what I feel and I wanted to say it. I wanted you to know it."

Steve kissed your palm, turned the lights off, then hold you close. He couldn't remember the last time he'd fell asleep so easily.


The vicious snowstorm lasted for nearly a week. The snow and the wind increased day by day, making it feel like the storm will never stop. It was frosty and unpleasant, even watching it from inside. Thankfully, you had a great company to keep your mind busy.

Spending these days together was like having a mini vacation. Steve only took time off from work if he was sick or if the roads were closed, and both happened quite rarely. While he always enjoyed being with you, he knew himself, and he was more than a little scared of spending days and nights together, considering he made it very clear he wanted to take things slow. But somehow, it didn't feel too early or rushed. He didn't have the feeling he wanted to stop and ran away from these feelings, from you. It just felt right.

He would be lying if he said it didn't surprise him that everything went so smoothly. Steve knew he should let himself enjoy the good things without overthinking it, but he couldn't help it. His thoughts wandered every time he was alone for more than five minutes.

"I can practically see your mind race," you said, sitting up on the kitchen counter while Steve washed the dishes. The sweet smell of freshly baked cookies filled the entire house.

Steve turned to you, a little disoriented as you shook him out of his thoughts. He chuckled then, shaking his head. "It's nothing."

"Tell me," you whined. If he was thinking about something so hard, it was never "nothing".

Turning the tap off, Steve sighed. He glanced at you, before he looked around the room, as if trying to find a way to express himself. He wished it was easier, that he could tell all those things he was thinking of, but putting his thoughts into words had never been easy for him. Even the thought of saying something so intimate made him sweat.

His eyes fell on the dining table where all your stuff scattered around: pens, papers, notebooks; and his heart swell. Steve was neat and organized, but the mess you made filled him with that homely feeling again he felt so many times in the past few days.

"I've been thinking… how you find anything when you need it…" he drawled, and you followed his gaze. "In that mess?"

You rolled your eyes. "This is what you've been thinking about? And very easily, by the way."

Steve kept smiling, closing the small distance between you and standing between your legs, his hands resting on your thighs. "Don't lie. You haven't even touched that pile since the first day you came here."

"Don't change the subject."

"I just don't want you to procrastinate because of me," he said, avoiding your eyes. He looked nervous now and he made a motion of taking a step back, but you wrapped your arms around his neck so he wouldn't escape.

"It's so adorable that you think I wouldn't procrastinate if I was alone."

Steve pouted like a child. "And here I thought I was special."

"Not at all," you said seriously, slowly shaking your head, before you both broke into a laugh. Steve pulled you close by your legs, kissing the lightness of the humour away.

After he pulled back, he rested his forehead against yours, lost in the feeling as your fingertips brushed his nape. When he looked at you, he could still see the question lingering in your eyes, but you didn't push him.

And then, suddenly, all the lights went out. You expected it—Steve was even surprised you had electricity in these circumstances. Enough natural light shone through the windows to see, but it was getting late.

Steve lifted you off the counter so suddenly you couldn't stifle a shriek. You quickly wrapped your legs around him, but he held you tightly, yet so easily like you weighed nothing.

"We should find some candles," he said nonchalantly, carrying you out of the kitchen.

"Steve," you giggled. "Put me down."

He stopped and let go of your legs for a moment, enough to make you scream before he caught you.

"Don't do that again!" You yelled, eyes wide, but a tiny smile lifted the corner of your lips.

"Sorry." Steve didn't sound sorry at all as he continued his way to the living room, grinning as he dropped you down the couch. His hands were still on you, his knee between your thighs as he leaned to kiss you. It was hungry and needy and made your head spin. Unable to stop yourself, your arms slid down his back and wrapped them around his waist, pulling him down. In answer, Steve moaned softly, sending a shudder through your body.

He slowed down then, leaving a few, small kisses on your lips, before he stood up from the sofa. "I'll… the candles."

Sitting up, you gave a nod, fighting back a grin. Steve looked adorable when he got flustered. You adjusted your clothes and took a deep breath before followed him to the bedroom.

He placed candles on the nightstand and a few on the desk. It wasn't completely dark outside yet, but he lit them anyway. Watching him, you felt thankful–and a little embarrassed–because you were sure there weren't any candles at your cabin.

Steve lay down on the bed and you followed him, resting your head on his arm. The candles gave a warm light to the room, the shadows of flickering flames dancing on the walls. For long minutes, neither of you said anything. Maybe he wanted to be alone again, you thought, that's why he was so strange earlier. In the past few days, you both had your alone-time, but maybe it wasn't enough for him. You'd never spent so much time together before.

As if he had just read your mind, Steve reached his free arm out, taking your hand that you rested on your stomach. The way he gently played with your fingers made you smile.

"I know I don't say it enough," Steve said, making you to turn to him. He had an apologetic look in his eyes. "But I love being with you."

You shifted closer to him, softly pecking his lips. "You make me feel it."

Steve smiled. He felt his body relaxing after your honest answer. He pressed his lips to yours, this time slowly, like you had all the time in the world. When the position got uncomfortable, he leaned over you, pressing you back into the mattress. You sank your fingers into his hair and he sighed with pleasure, deepening the kiss.

His hand moved up and down your side, each pass raising your sweater higher. You quivered when you felt his fingers on your bare stomach, brushing lightly before his hand gripped your waist, his thumb rubbing circles into your skin. It got so deep, so passionate soon that you had to pull back to take a deep breath, but Steve couldn't get enough of you. His lips grazed along your jaw, leaving warm, wet kisses down your neck. He found a spot that made you whimper so he focused on that, before he moved lower, pulling the sweater aside over one shoulder.

It took a great deal of self-control to hold yourself back. Steve touched you in all the right places, nibbling and licking the most sensitive spots. His hand was large and strong and felt amazing all over you.

You had been there before, and you knew he could slow down and stop in any minute. You knew that, but his kisses were so intoxicating you could only focus on the moment, on how good he felt. He moved then, and you thought he wanted to stop, but he lay down on his back and pulled you with him so you could straddle his hips. His lips were red and swollen, his eyes darkened and filled with a desire that made you shiver in anticipation.

As you leaned down to capture his lips with yours, his hands firmly on your waist, you felt him getting hard in his sweatpants. You longed to grind against him and you couldn't hold yourself back anymore, causing him to moan into your mouth. His fingers fidgeted with the hem of your sweater so you sat up, pulled it over your head and tossed it aside.

When you kissed him again, Steve's lips moved slowly, almost hesitantly against yours. It made you to pull back.

"Do you want to stop?"

"No. I want you." His answer came almost immediately and from somewhere so deep your entire body trembled into it. "Do you?"

A needy kiss was your answer. He wrapped an arm around you, keeping you close while he sat up. He trailed kisses down your neck, nibbled at the smooth skin, down to your chest. Your fingers lost in his hair, tugging gently while his hands slowly slid up your back, fiddling a little clumsily with the clasp on your bra, before he finally discarded that too.

Steve let his eyes roam for a moment before his mouth was on you again, kissing his way down the valley of your breasts. His lips were soft but his beard ticked, and you couldn't stifle a light-hearted laugh.

"Sorry," Steve mumbled and you could feel him smiling against your skin.

He spent an eternity like this, nibbling and licking your breasts, revelling in the sounds you made. He loved every little whimper and moan and all he wanted was to draw more out of you.

"Steve," you breathed out, weakly tugging at his black t-shirt while his lips were still on you. He took the hint and stopped, yanked his shirt off and threw it somewhere behind your back. While kissing him, your hands slid down his chest, feeling the hard muscles, pushing him until his back hit the headboard. You left a trail of kisses along his jaw, down to his neck that made the goosebumps break out across his skin.

Your fingertips skimmed down, brushing along the waistband of his grey sweats. His pulse quickened, if it was still possible, and you felt his grip tightening on your waist. Sliding your hand inside his pants, you listened as the breath caught in his throat as you took him into your hand. He was rock hard and hot, and it made your insides clenching with need, heat pooling between your legs. Your hips shifted, rocking against his thigh while you stroked his cock slowly. When you looked up at him, his lust filled eyes shot open, his otherwise pale cheeks flushed pink. You pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth before tugged his pants down for better access.

Steve desperately wanted more while savouring every moment at the same time. He kept himself back from bucking his hips up, into your hand, which made him whimpering weakly. If he opened his eyes, he would see the way you chewed your lips, fighting back the moans that wanted to escape by only seeing him like this, so helpless and so aroused. But he squeezed his eyes shut, too busy trying to hold himself back from coming apart so soon.

He couldn't help it. Your fingers were so small and so delicate. Your grip firm, your pace almost agonizingly slow. The way you whispered all those things to him, like how big he was and how hard he felt. When you smeared precum over his throbbing tip and when you used both hands to stroke him. It was all driving him crazy, and he almost lost it when you moved lower and leaned down, taking him into your mouth.

Steve watched you now, because he couldn't keep his eyes off the way you pleasured him with your tongue and your lips. While his left hand gripped the sheets, his right came to your face, moving loose strands of hair out of the way, caressing your cheek. You felt as his whole body shuddered under your touch; his hips carefully moving despite all of his effort while his hand lost in your hair.

He panted your name, gently trying to pull your head back. "I'm close, Y/N, I'm going to—"

The words stuck in his throat as you grasped his wrist and held it down. Steve didn't even try to free his hand; he squeezed his eyes shut and let himself go while you stroked him fast with his tip on your tongue. A groan came from somewhere deep in his chest as he spilled into your mouth, his body tensing for long, never-ending moments before going limp.

Kissing your way up his stomach, you sat between his legs and watched him with a smile. Steve rested his head against the headboard, mouth slightly open. His heart thudded in his chest while he inhaled deeply, slowing his breathing down. His eyes fluttered open when he felt your body leaning against his, as if he just realized it was the reality and not only some kind of dream.

Steve's lips curved in a slow smile, but his movements were quick as he pinned you down to the bed. His kiss was so searing you could feel every inch of your skin tingling with pleasure. You loved the hot and heavy weight of his body on yours.

He pulled back to catch his breath, but left kisses on your cheeks, down your neck and over your chest. He cupped your breasts, gently kneading and caressing, his calloused fingertips playing with your hard nipples. He continued until you were arching and whimpering beneath him, your fingers digging into his biceps.

Steve took his time, like he wanted to worship every inch of you. His lips grazed down and as you shuddered, you felt him smiling against your belly. His pace was languid, until he suddenly kneeled up and pulled your pants and underwear down in one go, making you yelp. He put his hands on your knees, his thumb drawing circles, but waited until you slowly parted them before he moved to lie between your legs.

He trailed tender kisses down your lower abdomen to your inner thighs. You squirmed, wanting more but loving the way he handled you. Every time he touched you, he was so gentle and careful, like he was afraid he would hurt you.

Steve lifted his head, his palm slid up your left thigh. He slid his thumb lightly between your wet folds, drawing a sigh of pleasure from you. His touch, his heavy stare, his hot breath hitting your skin made you shudder.

"Steve," you said a little hesitantly when he kissed the top of your mound. "You don't have to… if you don't want to."

Steve looked up at you with raised eyebrows, because at the moment, he couldn't imagine a better place to be than between your legs. He knew what you meant—that you thought it was too much for him. And it was true: it was a lot, but he didn't want to stop. He felt as he could never get enough of you.

He crawled up and lay down next to you, cupping your cheek and rubbing your skin with his thumb. While his hand wandered down, he whispered between loving kisses that how badly he wanted you, all of you. After he kissed your worries away, when he felt your body relaxed under his touch, he moved down again. Steve hooked his arms under your thighs and you let out a soft moan when he ran his tongue through your slick folds.

Just like you did, Steve felt himself weak in the knees, because you smelled and tasted so good, and the sounds you made sent a shiver down his spine. He started out slowly, just tasting and teasing, but the more aroused you got, the more eager he became, too. He was very attentive, noting every little gasp and jolt of your body.

Running your fingers through his hair, you panted his name as he licked and sucked on your clit. You were so worked up you could already feel the first wave of your orgasm approaching. Your hips bucked and your back arched off the bed, but Steve easily held you down. He groaned as one of your hands tightened in his hair, the other scratching his arm that was over your belly.

With your eyes squeezed shut, you chanted his name breathlessly, your thighs clenching around his head before they went too weak and all you could do was let out shaky moans. Your hands fell on the sheets, but Steve didn't give you time to catch your breath. He slowed down, mindful of how sensitive you had become. He rubbed gentle circles around your throbbing pussy, sucking your labia between his lips. You jolted in pleasure when he slid a finger inside you, thrusting in and out ever so slowly.

Your hand came to wrap around his wrist when he added another finger, his thumb brushing your clit. He slid them in and out, delicately, teasing you into a frenzy. You asked him to curl his fingers and he did, pressing deeper until his fingertips touched the spot that made you gasp.

"Oh, Steve. There."

The words came out so desperately Steve couldn't stifle a groan. He dipped his head and sucked on your clit while his fingertips brushed against your most sensitive spots. It didn't take long until you became restless again and he had to press you down, but when he felt you were close, he stopped and pulled his fingers out.

Before you could complain, you felt as Steve kissed his way up your body. When you opened your eyes, he smiled down at you and you cupped his cheeks, pulling him down for a hungry kiss. Tasting yourself on his lips and feeling the tip of his cock brushing against your opening made you quiver with need.

"I want you," you said at the same time Steve reached into the nightstand, his nimble fingers searching while your lips were attached to his neck. He returned to kissing you after he pulled a condom out of the drawer, his free hand caressing your side.

Steve kneeled up between your legs and ran his hands up your thighs, pushing them further apart. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't open the foil package with his nervous fingers. Biting your bottom tip to stifle a smile, you reached for it and tore it open, before handed it back to him. He gave you a thankful, but bashful smile, before rolled it down his length.

He lowered his chest until it was touching yours. You pushed the loose strands of hair out of his face, wrapping your arms around his neck as he slid his tip up and down between your folds.

"Steve..." you whined into his ear and he stopped at your entrance, kissing your lips while he slowly pushed into you.

While Steve was very careful, he was big and met resistance almost immediately. He pulled his head back, searching your face for any sign of doubt or pain, but you only encouraged him to keep going. He gripped the sheets as he slid in slowly, agonizingly so, inch by inch. His forehead fell gently to rest against yours when he was all the way inside you. He closed his eyes, revelling in the feeling of how hot and tight you felt around him.

Steve gave you time to adjust his thickness, kissing the most sensitive spots on your neck. He learned quickly which parts of your body he needed to touch to make you want more and more of him. He didn't move his hips until you wiggled yours, letting him know you were ready.

The first few thrusts were just like the first one: so cautious that soon, you could scream for more. When he felt your hips moving to meet with his, Steve picked up a steady, but slow pace. He switched between trailing kissed down your neck and looking so deep into your eyes it made you dizzy with pleasure.

"Oh, God, you feel so good," Steve breathed out into your ear, making you shudder. You wrapped a leg around his small waist, your fingers tightening in his locks. He took one of your hands out of his hair, pinning it down to the mattress as he intertwined with fingers with yours, desperate to hold on to something.

Your soft moans filled the room, music to Steve's ears as you begged him not to stop. You both slipped into a wonderful bliss, bare, sweat soaked skin gliding over one another. Steve reached down with his free hand, pressing his fingers to your sensitive little bud that instantly made your body jolt. You knew he was close when his breaths came in sharp, shallow pants, his head buried in the crook of your neck.

It took every ounce of self-control to hold himself back, rubbing your clit to bring you closer to your orgasm. He almost immediately collapsed on top of you when he felt it: your legs tightening around his waist, your nails digging into his shoulder, your walls fluttering and clenching around him. You were still shaking from head to toe as he reached his high, throbbing and pulsating inside you. Your hips were still moving against each other, your bodies refusing to calm after the intense sensation that still lingered there.

Soon and slowly you both stopped, panting heavily and unable to move anymore. Steve's head fell on your chest and he could feel your heart drumming loudly in your chest. With every breath he took, his entire body trembled like a leaf.

"Steve," you whispered, gently threading your fingers through his hair. "You're a little heavy."

"I'm sorry," he said in a hushed voice and collected his remained strength to lift himself. He slowly pulled out of you and fell onto his back with a deep sigh.

It felt great you could finally breathe normally, but you already missed the warmth of his body. You made a movement to roll over and snuggle up to him, but then you felt as the mattress moved as Steve got out of the bed. Suddenly, your heart sank to the floor, and you turned to your stomach, burying your head into the cold pillow.

But Steve only disappeared for a few seconds before he already returned from the bathroom. You let out a sigh of relief when he lay down close to you, leaving tender kisses on your shoulder. You grinned into the pillow, goosebumps prickling across your skin as he brushed his fingertips down your spine. He peppered kisses all over your lower back and caressed your body with gentle touches. You turned to him when he nuzzled your shoulder, a smile on his lips, his palm sliding up and down your back.

You lost track of time and were not sure how long you lay there, enjoying each other's caring touches. His eyelids got heavier, and he knew he could fall asleep in any minute, and yet, when the words passed his lips, he was wide awake again.

"I want you again."

Steve chuckled weakly before he let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Okay. Give me a minute. Or an hour."

But he didn't need an hour; he barely even needed a minute. He let you push him down on his back and straddle his waist, leaning down to kiss him deeply, but excruciatingly slowly. Soft kisses always pulled content sighs out of him. His hands stroked your back and your sides, fingertips gently brushing your skin. Your lips wandered down along his jaw, quickly finding that spot on his neck that made his body shudder and his hold tighten around you.

You left feather-light touches all the way down from his neck to clavicle, to his chest and to his stomach, slowing down around his lower abdomen. His breath quickened, and he felt as your lips curved into a smile against the sensitive skin of his neck. By the time you took him into your hand, he was getting hard again.

"Still need time?"

Steve groaned with a smile, cupping your cheeks to pull your face up to a hungry kiss.


The wind stopped whistling, the smaller candles burned down, giving place only to silence and darkness. Steve stroked your back soothingly, nuzzled your neck and lifted your hand to kiss your knuckles while you rested quietly in his arms. He usually never showed so much affection, and it made you wonder when he will realize it was getting too much; when he will stop. Deep down, you hoped he won't: you hoped you could both sleep through the night in each other's embrace. You loved the warmth of his body, the delicate touches of his strong hands, the tiny, lazy kisses he left on your skin. It was all so loving.

Only when you could barely keep your eyes open anymore, when you slowly drifted off to sleep, when he didn't caress you anymore, you felt he was squirming. Not much—you could barely notice. But you did, and you knew that was it—he was struggling again.

You slowly rolled off him, back facing him, letting his arms slip off your body. In the silent night, you could hear as a sigh left his lips, before he sat up on the bed and draped the comforter over your naked form.

When Steve woke up in the following morning, still too early for being awake judging by the pale light that steamed in through the curtains, you were still sleeping. Loose strands of your hair covered his arm. With a sleepy smile, he carefully moved them out of the way and inched closer under the covers. He ached to hold you and shivered in content when he could finally slip his arm around you and press his body against yours. It didn't wake you up and Steve could only hope he didn't push you away last night.