Title: Perfect
Author: SneetchesToo
Rating: General
Pairing: Ethan/Rox
Summary: Ethan was having a hard time keeping himself together because everything about Rox was perfect.
Author's Note: I know nothing about California or it's geography. I'm not even sure if cabins of this caliber exist there (although, according to a google search, they do). So please don't throw stones at me if this isn't exactly accurate.
—
Ethan had been pleased when Rox had taken what was probably the shortest shower known to man.
He had been anxious to get the hell out of LA for a while.
And he could tell that she had felt the same way.
He had worried about her at first, especially after she had told him that she had no recollection of their conversation from the night before.
But she had seemed okay with the idea after he had re-proposed it. And she had been even more eager to get going after he had shown her a picture of the little place that he had secured them.
It was small. A little one bedroom, one bathroom cabin with a view to die for.
A buddy of his dad's had hooked him up.
He was sure that he would never live it down now that his father knew he was running away with the love of his life for a weekend.
But the smile on Rox's face when they had pulled up to the cabin later that afternoon was worth all the heckling he was sure to receive.
He hadn't seen her look so relaxed and happy in weeks.
He felt his heart soar at the twinkle in her eyes as she walked around the outside of the small cabin. She was grinning from ear to ear by the time she made it back to his side.
"It's beautiful." She had whispered.
"Not as beautiful as you." He didn't know what possessed him to say such a cheesy thing.
But he thought it was true.
"Shut up." She had chuckled at his words though, her eyes softening even more as she reached down to tangle her fingers with his.
If he hadn't been in love with her before, he sure as hell was now.
—
They had gotten settled inside relatively quickly, and she had strolled out onto the deck to check out the view while he put away the groceries they had stopped to buy.
The place had a small kitchen, but it would work for what they needed it for.
And it was at least thirty minutes from the nearest town, so eating out wasn't going to be an option. At least not the first few nights anyway.
He wanted to relax as much as possible.
And that meant doing as little driving as possible.
He made his way toward the sliding door and he stopped and watched her through the glass.
She was leaning over the railing, her eyes focused on something slightly below their location, and he was curious.
Leave it to her to have already found something worth investigating.
"See anything interesting?" He stepped across the threshold and out onto the wooden deck just as she turned toward him and he offered her a smile.
She was truly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
"There's a waterfall." She whispered.
He already knew that. He didn't know, however, that it was visible from their location.
His dad's friend had left that part out.
"Where?" He moved to stand behind her and when she turned back around he couldn't help but block her in, his hands settling on the railing in front of them, his chest pressing gently against her back as he dropped his chin to her shoulder.
"Over there." She pointed to the left and then down some and he let his eyes follow her motions.
Sure enough. There was a waterfall.
It was too far for them to walk to, especially given Rox's condition, but it was surely accessible by vehicle.
"We'll go tomorrow." He whispered. He pressed a kiss against her ear when she nodded her head softly.
She turned around in his arms then, her hands settling against his chest as she eyed him softly.
"Thank you." Her whispered words sent his heart into overdrive.
He didn't know what she was thanking him for.
He hadn't done anything.
"You're welcome." He whispered back.
She ran her hands up his chest then, settling them against his neck as she dragged her fingers through his hair at the base of his skull.
He let out a soft hum as he closed his eyes.
He was supposed to be the one comforting her. Not the other way around.
"I know…" She took a deep breath and he opened his eyes so that he could lock them with hers. "I know I've been… difficult."
He let out a soft chuckle as he dropped his forehead to rest against hers. He moved his left hand to settle on her hip as his right hand moved to her neck.
"It's okay." He pressed a soft kiss against her nose with his words. "I like difficult."
She rolled her eyes at him and he offered her a gentle smile.
He would take her difficult any day.
He got ready to speak when she gently tugged his head downward, her lips crashing against his as she tangled her fingers in his hair.
He couldn't help but smile into the kiss.
She always seemed to know just when to shut him up.
And if she wanted to shut him up like this, well then so be it.
—
They had stayed on the deck and kissed for a few minutes before he had felt her start to slow her motions.
He knew that she had to be tired. That her body had to be giving in to the excitement of the day.
He had suggested she shower and change.
That they would stay in tonight and snuggle in front of the fire with a movie.
She had beamed back at him before retreating inside and showering quickly.
She had fallen into bed with a soft huff and he had tucked her in with a kiss.
That had been four hours ago and he had wanted to wake her so that they could be together so badly.
But he knew that she needed her rest.
That she needed to sleep when her body told her too.
That not only would it help her physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
He had just gotten ready to go check on her when she emerged from the bedroom, a soft smile on her face when she caught sight of him.
"Hi." She whispered.
"Hi." He whispered back.
He didn't know why he felt so nervous to see her standing there in front of him in her pajamas.
It's not like he hadn't seen her in them before.
"Sorry I slept so long." She started toward him once more and he offered her a shrug.
"It's okay." He swallowed when she stopped directly in front of him.
There was something about the romantic atmosphere of being alone in a cabin with her that was making it hard to concentrate.
There were so many things that he wanted to do to her.
So many things that he wanted to tell her.
"What's for dinner?" Her question broke him from his thoughts and he shook his head gently.
"Whatever you want." He had bought the items to make dinner for at least two of their three nights here.
He had promised her that he would take her out at least one night. That he would show her the little town nearby.
He remembered visiting there a few times when he was a kid. Before his mom had died of course.
His dad said the town was still the same.
Quiet and wholesome. With some of the best BBQ on the west coast.
He wanted to share something from his past with Rox. Something he had never done with any other woman before her. Not even Leanne.
"Spaghetti?" She had been the one to suggest the pasta dish when they had been in the store earlier and he been helpless to tell her 'no'.
"Sure." He smiled down at her before stepping away and heading toward the kitchen.
She followed him and it made him nervous.
They really needed to put some space between them before he lost his mind.
But she was determined to do everything but.
—
Instead, Rox had helped him cook dinner. And while he had worried at first that it would be a disaster, it had actually been fun.
Distracting, but fun.
He had to shake his head clear multiple times to rid himself of the images of the things he wanted to do to her against those counters.
After they had eaten he had retreated to the bathroom for a cold shower.
A very, very cold shower.
He didn't know why he all of a sudden was obsessed with getting his hands on her.
But it was driving him crazy.
He would never cross that line. Not unless she was 100% okay with it. And even then, he would hesitate.
He knew it was a big deal for her.
He could sense it in her movements, in the way she would pull back when the kisses got too intense. In the way she would shift against him in the bed when he got to close or body parts touched in the wrong spot.
He knew that something from her past was haunting her.
He wanted to squash whatever demon that was.
But he wasn't going to do it without her permission.
After his shower he pulled on his sweat pants and a t-shirt and made his way toward the living room. He could hear the TV playing and he was pleased to find Rox snuggled up on the couch and wide awake.
Part of him was afraid that she would fall asleep on him before they could even really enjoy the evening together.
"Pick a movie out yet?" He moved to start the fire and he was thankful that it was an easy process.
He was too drained to fight with something so trivial.
And he wasn't in the mood to make a fool of himself while doing so.
"I'm not picky." He knew that statement was true. At least when it came to movies anyway. She would watch whatever happened to be on, or whatever he happened to pick.
"Okay." He settled himself into the corner of the couch and it took her mere seconds before she was snuggled against his side.
He watched as she dragged the blanket from behind them down, spreading it out over them both as he gently reclined his seat back, stretching his legs out in front of him.
He scrolled through the guide for a few minutes, finally settling on a Harrison Ford movie he vaguely remembered seeing in theaters with Robert at least a decade ago.
She let out a soft sigh as she snuggled closer and he wrapped his arm around her tightly as he dropped a kiss to her head.
"You good?" He hoped she was content, because she was making herself comfy.
She had let her legs tangle with his under the blanket and her hand was resting against his hip, just above the waistband of his sweatpants.
If she moved it even a few inches higher she would be touching bare skin.
He was surprised that she was putting herself in such a daring position.
"Yeah." She whispered her reply and when he looked down she had her eyes closed.
He guessed that she probably wouldn't make it through the first thirty minutes of the movie before she was asleep.
Not that he minded.
Having her curled up against his side like that was the perfect ending to this perfect day.
He hoped it was a sign for how the rest of this trip was going to go.
*Don't forget to comment.