A/N: Fair warning, I wouldn't read this one at work.
It had been two days since the snow first fell and Max successfully fended off her nightmare. Despite her apprehension of its return, they had actually been rather pleasant – on Thursday, she and Kate helped Dana put up Christmas decorations around the dorm and today was spent watching schlocky horror movies with Chloe, Warren and Brooke. After their double date, Max had wanted Chloe to stay over but as usual, much to her chagrin, the punk went home so she could do some schoolwork. Her retaliation consisted of several pouting selfie texts as she posed with her textbooks. After getting her fill of information, she peacefully fell asleep – only half worried about what her dreams would entail.
Several explosive knocks berated the door, startling Max awake. Instinctively, she swiped a finger below her nose, content to find that it was dry. She reached beside her and tapped on her phone, bringing an intense white light into the room. The clock read 3:48 AM. She sighed and fell onto her back, closing her eyes once more.
Stupid sleep, come back to me.
Bang, bang, bang came the knocks again. She sat up quickly, flicking the switch to turn on the lanterns above her bed. Groggily, she slid out of bed and headed for the door. Rubbing at one of her eyes, she pulled it open, revealing the silhouette of her girlfriend.
"Chloe? It's like almost four in the morning, what are you..." Her voice trailed off as she got a better sight of the girl, standing slouched over and heaving with tears. "Chloe? What's wrong?"
"Sorry..." She said quietly, taking a small step into the room. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Sorry..." Her voice was small and restricted. Max noticed she wasn't wearing a jacket, just her t-shirt and sweatpants. She glanced down to see she was also barefoot.
"Baby, what's going on?" She reached out for her but the girl fell to her knees, wrapping both arms around Max's waist and pressing her face forcefully into her abdomen.
"Should have been there," she squeaked, her voice tangled with the cloth of Max's shirt. Max gently cupped her cheek, feeling how cold she was. She stepped backward, with the blue haired girl shuffling her knees to keep attached, and quietly closed the door. "I should have been there..." she repeated.
"Chloe, I don't understand," Max said. "Baby? What's wrong?" In any scenario, this sort of thing would obviously worry Max, but something about how detached she seemed added another layer of uneasiness. She slid a hand through the girl's hair. Suddenly, Chloe unleashed an agonized, loud sob and began to cry hard. The brunette felt the grip on her waist tighten considerably, almost knocking the air out of her. "Chloe!" She whispered frantically. "Please talk to me." She felt the girl simply shake her head against her stomach.
What is going on? She came all the way here without getting dressed...she's like a zombie.
"Sorry," Chloe whimpered again, hugging Max even tighter. "I should have been there. I..." She spasmed, releasing another sob. "Oh god, oh my fucking god, that fucking psycho! I'll fucking kill him! I'll..." Her sentence was butchered by her cries. "I'll fucking tear him apart. How dare he touch you like that?!" A dark feeling swarmed into Max's heart as realization struck her.
Oh fuck, no. No! FUCK! Not this!
"Chloe!" Max shrieked, dropping to the floor next to the punk and engulfing her in a hug. "I never wanted you to see that! You...you should have never seen that!"
"I'm so sorry, Max!" Chloe wailed. Max pulled her closely, feeling her own nerve begin to slip away. She could envision the flashes of the camera. Feel the sting in her neck. "It was my fault, my fault, should have been there, should have saved you, should..."
"Shhh, stop," Max hushed, leaving a kiss in the girl's visible blonde roots. "God, I'm so sorry you had to see that. Chloe, it wasn't your fault." She rested her chin on Chloe's head and closed her eyes.
"It was all my fault, Max! All of it!" She bundled her fist tightly and swung at her temple, sending a reverberation through Max's jaw. The brunette quickly grabbed her by the head.
"Stop it! Don't fucking do that! Jesus, Chloe!" She wrapped both arms around her and fell on to her back, pulling Chloe down with her. "Stop it, just stop, please," she begged. She felt a hand slide against her wrist, little finger prods lightly tapping against it.
"Your little wrists," she whined, "your pretty wrists." Chloe tenderly dragged Max's hand to her mouth, spreading a thousand feathery kisses along her wrist. "Tied you up," she choked the words out.
"I...I know, babe, but I'm here now. We're together. That's the mantra, right?" She felt a pressure ebb into her head, spreading out through her mind like an ocean of oil. "Chloe..."
This is the last thing I ever wanted to happen.
"It was my fault," she said again, looking up at Max. The small light provided by her lanterns reflected from Chloe's teary, blue eyes. "Oh god, Max, I dragged you into the whole fucking thing. It was all my fault. I did this!"
"It wasn't," Max said sternly. "It was just...it was just how things happened. Not your fault." She felt a finger drift up her chest, slowly tracing its way to the side of her neck.
"Needle," the girl mumbled before burying her face once again in Max's stomach. She took a large breath and unleashed a muffled, ragged scream. "Fuck! FUCK! I can't believe this! I can't do this!" She continued to violently sob, slamming her first into the carpet in frustration.
"Chloe, stop, please," she begged, gripping the girl's locks. "Please...I'm okay. I'm here now." She reached below her, feeling for the crooks of Chloe's armpits. Once she had a hold, she used every ounce of strength she had to pull the girl higher, shifting herself so they were next to each other on the floor. "Chlo..." She said, staring into the girl's eyes. She brushed some of the hair out of her face.
"I can't stop seeing it," the blue haired girl whispered, her eyes frantically flickering left and right. "I can't stop seeing it... You needed me and I wasn't there!"
"I need you now and you're here," Max responded, stroking the girl's cheek. The dull pain in her head fluctuated, sending flashes of Jefferson's smile ricocheting through her thoughts. "Need you now," she repeated, realizing how true it was. Chloe's lip trembled as she reached for Max's face, chasing away the tears she didn't realize she was creating.
"I want to kill him," she said, her voice barely registering. "I want to...fucking stab him in the fucking chest over and over until he stops breathing. He's evil. He's...just evil!" Her eyes darted to the side. "David was too nice. Gun was too good. He needs to suffer for what he did to you. He hurt you, Max!" She said it as if the brunette was unaware. "He hurt my baby..."
"I'm okay now," Max reiterated, though the feeling in her head begged otherwise. At any moment, she expected to taste blood or hear Chloe gasp or swear. She ran a hand along the blue haired girl's arm. "Baby, you're freezing. You look like your hair." She prayed that she'd get a chuckle, anything to lighten the mood. She didn't.
I hate these fucking time dreams so much.
"You were so scared...I should have been there. You didn't deserve that. It's not fair, Max," Chloe said, her eyes flashing back and forth between Max's nose and her eyes. "You went through so much..."
She's expecting it too...
"To be together," she replied, scooting closer. "Chloe, if that's what had to happen for us to be here then, well..."
"Don't fucking say it, oh my god, please don't," Chloe pleaded as she violently shook her head, sobbing at the mere suggestion. "No, no, no! Nothing is worth that! I'd get fucking shot a million times in the fucking face if it meant I could undo that!"
"Hey," Max barked angrily. "Now you shut up. Jesus, Chloe, why are you so willing to throw your life away? Why do you say things like that?"
"Until you came back, that's what I wanted..." Chloe said quietly, avoiding eye contact. "You have no idea, Max. I was so fucked up. Do you know what it's like to be disappointed to open your eyes every morning? To actually fucking pray to a god you don't believe inthat you'll die in your sleep so you don't have to deal with this fucked up thing called life anymore?" The admission zipped through Max's heart. It was something she had subconsciously wondered about for a while. Maybe she even knew for sure. But that didn't make hearing it any easier. She began to cry heavily, her grip around Chloe tightening into a vice, petrified that the girl would blink out of existence. Chloe cried with her as she rested her head on the carpet. "You know, I actually..." Her face tightened into a pained expression as she gritted her teeth. "Before I knew it was you, there was a small part of me that was disappointed Nathan didn't shoot me. I know I was scared and didn't want him to, but that thought still existed somewhere in my head. I was that bad."
I can't handle this. It's breaking my heart.
"Chloe, please," Max said, though she wasn't sure what she was asking for. The pain extended itself into her stomach, slipping its fingers over her ribs as it tugged.
"But then I saw you!" Chloe said it in awe. "You coming back was a total wake up call. You were the only reason I didn't just...fucking detest my fucking pulse anymore. So, yeah, I would die for you. Without a doubt. Without a second of hesitation."
"Chloe..." Max sat up, her eyes wired and still producing tears. "I don't want you to die for me. I'd never ask that..." She closed her eyes and she saw her, a tattered image of the Other Max wearing a broken, terrible grin as blood poured from her nostrils. She mouthed something, and though it was voiceless, Max understood the message: 'Isn't that what you did?' She let out a small yelp and clutched at her head. "Go away," she accidentally said out loud. Chloe sat up with her, concern brewing in her eyes.
Go away. Go away! Not now! Please!
"Max? What is it?" She reached for the girl's chin.
"Nothing, just..." She shook her head, erasing the image of the Other Max from her mind. Still, the black, heavy feeling spread through her body. "Chloe, I don't want you to die for me. I want you to live with me." Chloe blinked slowly, then moved closer, bringing their lips together in a tragic kiss.
Max leaned into it, bringing both hands to the girl's cheeks. Chloe scooted closer, wrapping her arm around the brunette's waist as her other hand softly settled on the spot of her neck that Jefferson had defiled with the syringe. Max could taste the salt of both of their tears as her lips parted, hungrily pleading for Chloe to advance. She fell onto her back again, the punk hovering above her as their kiss grew in intensity. A uneasy feeling bloomed in her stomach. Fighting it, she latched onto Chloe's shirt and pulled her down on top of her.
"You were going to let her die..." She could hear the Other Max mock.
"I love you so much," Chloe said as she broke the kiss. "Love you so, so fucking much. You mean the world to me." She dove back in, crashing their lips together once again. Max's feet twitched about, sliding against Chloe's frozen feet, still wet from walking through the snow. Her head throbbed, pulsating outward as she winced. "Are you okay?" Chloe asked, backing off. Max sat up, smashing a palm to her temple.
Stop. Stop! STOP!
"I love you too," she replied, ignoring the question. She moved to kiss her again, but the blue haired girl evaded her.
"Max, stop. Are you okay?" The brunette watched, disgusted with herself as Chloe was forced to shuffle her pain to the back of her mind, once again putting Max before herself. She glanced around her, shooting to her feet when she located the tissue box on the desk. "I'm sorry," she said. "Me bringing this up...I probably caused this. I'm sorry." She plucked several tissues out of the box and turned around, recoiling as Max smashed into her, greedily stealing another kiss.
Ignore it. Ignore it.
"Max?" Chloe asked, peeling the smaller girl off of her. "I don't want to make out while you're like this. I want you to be okay." She studied the girl's face, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw no trace of blood.
"Chloe," Max breathed, pulling close to her again. "Chloe, I love you. I love you. I love you." She kissed the punk's forehead, cheeks, nose. "I love you, okay? I really want you to know that." A sharp pain slid through her temple, causing her knees to buckle. "Fuck," she spat.
"Shit," Chloe cursed, wrapping her arm around the girl's shoulder and walking her to her bed. She sat down with her. "What is it, Max?"
"I have to fight it," Max said slowly. "Have to fight it." She reached for Chloe, stroking her cheek with tears in her eyes. "I love you. I love you. That's all that matters. I love you."
"I love you too," Chloe responded, pulling her legs underneath her as she wiped tears from her eyes. "Max, I really do. I love you. We...we went through so much shit, but we're here. We're together. And I'm going to marry you and we're going to grow old together and I love you." Max felt the pain suddenly whimper out of existence, before roaring back again a second later. She stared longingly at the punk.
"Chloe..." She snatched the girl's collar and yanked her forward. "I love you," she said, pressing back into another kiss. Again, the pressure seemed to disperse, recollecting itself after a brief moment.
I'm...I'm winning?
"I love you too," Chloe said as the kiss pulled apart. Max attacked again, straddling the girl and awkwardly pinning her against the wall. She bit her lip, sucking it as she tore a hand through the blue hair. She felt Chloe's hands press against her chest, trying to offer resistance. Quickly, Max grabbed both of her wrists and redirected her hands, thrusting them onto her breasts.
"Woah, woah woah,," Chloe exhaled when Max allowed her to come up for air. "What are you doing?" The brunette glanced around wildly, a teensy smile building in her cheeks.
"I...think I'm winning," she said, hastily pulling one of Chloe's hands under her shirt. She seized for a moment as she felt the girl's fingers graze against her nipple. Once more, the ache in her body seemed to blink out. She let go of a small laugh. "I love you," she rasped, grasping the bottom of Chloe's shirt. Looking confused and worried, but compliant, the punk raised her arms straight up. Max feverishly tore upward, yanking Chloe's shirt off. She threw it to the floor and lurched forward, sucking her collarbone.
"M-Max..." Chloe's voice was concerned but the tint of bliss was noticeable. "Are you sure?" Max could feel the disgusting, black feeling receding in her limbs. She began to laugh angelically.
"Oh god, Chloe," she said, drifting kisses along the the girl's neck. "I'm sure. I'm so sure. Hella sure." She leaned back and pulled her shirt off, exposing her chest. She cupped the punk's cheeks, staring deep into her eyes. "I'm winning," she said again. She looked around her slowly, as if taking in the moment. "Chloe, I love you."
"I...love you, Max. What do you mean you're winning?" She shook her head. "What's going on?"
"It's going away," Max breathed, scooting closer to her lover. She kissed Chloe's throat as she massaged the punk's breast with one of her hands, prompting a minute moan. She slid her other hand along the girl's ribs, stopping when she felt the rough patch of scar tissue from the bullet. She broke contact so she could analyze the spot.
The hole to another universe.
"It's...kind of ugly, huh?" Chloe asked with a tone of embarrassment.
"It's beautiful," Max corrected, lowering herself to kiss the scar. "It's beautiful like the rest of you." She pressed her palm against it as she turned her attention back to Chloe's neck. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered between her kisses. She pulled back and stared into Chloe's eyes again. "You know I would keep trying, right? I would never let you go. Ever."
"I...know," she said quietly, nodding weakly as if ashamed to admit it. Max kissed her again, feeling the rattle of the remaining pain in her bones.
I'm glad she knows. She needs to know. I would do anything to keep her.
"Chloe," she said it carefully, taking a deep breath. "I...I want to do it. Now." The punk's jaw slacked open as her brows knitted together.
"N-now? Are you sure?" She pulled both arms up to her chest, as if afraid touching anything would break it. "I don't...I don't want to make your nose bleed!" Max rigorously shook her head.
"You won't," she said confidently. Gently, she grabbed Chloe's hand and situated it around her wrist. She tried to pull away, but Max's grip was steel. "No, stop, look..." She let her hand fade away. The two sat there in silence, with Chloe's hand wrapped around the smaller girl's wrist. The blue haired girl breathed heavily, her eyes aflame with concern. After a small, tense moment, Max giggled. "It's working, see...it's not bad anymore. It's, it's like..."
"Overwrite saved data?" Chloe said, the inflection framing it more as a question.
"Yes," Max confirmed, nodding her head. She took another deep breath. "Are...are you ready?" Chloe stared dumbfounded as she thought over the question, then she smiled.
"Yeah...yeah, I am," she said, releasing her grip on Max's wrist. She slid her arms around Max's neck and pressed their noses together. "Yes, I'm ready. I'm ready. I want to be yours, Max. I love you." She kissed her again lovingly, the world around them burning out of focus. Max smiled into the kiss, opening her mouth as Chloe's tongue prodded forth.
Deep in her mind, it was as though a valve was opened. The shadows coursing through her veins began to recede rapidly, whirling and screaming as they circled a drain. In another moment, they were gone, and all that was left was...her.
Chloe...
Max broke the kiss and giggled with childlike wonder. She rested their foreheads together, smiling with reckless abandon as Chloe mirrored the expression. She nipped at Chloe's nose before reclining back into her sheets. The blue haired girl followed, though she stayed lower as she trailed kisses across Max's chest.
"I love you," Max said, shuddering in surprise as the punk's lips puckered around her nipple.
"And I, you," she responded after teasingly lapping at the pink nub. "I've...waited a long time for this. You're so damned gorgeous, Max." The brunette blushed a little as she smiled.
"You are!" She shot back as Chloe climbed back up to eye level. There was a flurry of quick kisses, the punk dispersing them among the freckles she loved so much. As she kissed her, she slipped a hand slowly along Max's leg, her gaze bursting with adoration.
"Max," she said, her tone serious as her hand crawled up her inner thigh. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"Positive," she breathed nervously. Chloe smiled warmly and nodded. Her hand trailed upward, soft and carefully. Max's breathing quickened as she reached for Chloe's other hand, locking their fingers together. There was a gentle pressure between her legs. "Oooh, Jesus Christ almighty," she sighed, closing her eyes.
Okay, yeah. This is happening. Holy shit.
"Wow," the punk snickered, "I'm barely touching you and you're already breaking commandments." Max let out an excited, sharp giggle as she shook her head.
"Now is so not the time for you to be a smartass." She strengthened her grip on Chloe's hand. The blue haired girl playfully snorted.
"Whatevah, hippie," she whispered with a big smile. Her hand began to move a hair faster, pressing itself tighter between Max's legs. The brunette bit her lip, basking in the feeling. With her free hand, she reached downward, finding Chloe's sweatpants and placing her hand on her butt.
"H..." She took a breath. "Hope these say 'juicy' on the back."
"Uh huh," Chloe responded, laughing quietly. "Now who's a smartass?"
"Me...probably," Max breathed as Chloe's fingers pressed harder.
"You, definitely," she corrected. After a few minutes of teasing Max through her shorts, her hand fell still, causing the girl to look up.
"Hey! Why you stop?" She asked innocently, adding a little pout.
"Stop?" Chloe shook her head, grinning as she shuffled backward to the middle of the bed. "Darlin', I haven't even started." She danced her fingers up Max's thighs and slid them into the waist of her shorts. "Up," she commanded, flashing a devious smirk. Obeying, Max lifted her butt off the bed. Chloe pulled, methodically peeling Max's cotton shorts down. Once off, she tossed them to the floor and reached back between Max's legs. "I really like your undies," she cooed as her fingertips slid along the growing wet spot. "I bet they'd look really good on the floor."
"Dude," Max groaned.
"Sorry, sorry," the punk snickered, briefly burying her face into the girl's leg. "I've just always wanted to say that!"
"Well, I'm soooo freakin' happy I could help out with your bucket list," the smaller girl sneered.
"Oh shush," Chloe laughed. "You fucking love it." She was right, of course. Max did love it. She dipped one finger into Max's underwear and began to pull.
"No, wait," the brunette protested. Chloe yanked her hand away quickly and fell backward onto her ass. She regarded Max with panic, holding her hand against her chest. "No, no," Max said as she sat up. "Sorry! I'm fine, babe. Everything's fine. I just think this should be like...Hammurabi rules."
Is Babylonian law appropriate sex talk? Prob...probably not...
"Don't scare me like that!" The blue haired girl flailed her hands. "I thought I fucked up. What are you talking about?"
"Like an eye for an eye! Or...an article of clothing for an article of clothing? Basically, my pants for yours. My panties for yours. So, um, it's your turn." Max offered her a big, encouraging smile as she shrugged. Chloe squinted, then rolled her eyes as she got off of the bed.
"Fine," she huffed as she faced away. She looked over her shoulder and winked. "Undress me."
"That was the hottest thing I've ever heard," Max muttered in amazement.
I'll take sentences I never thought I'd hear five years ago for a thousand, Alex.
"For now," she responded with a smirk. "Now come on, please baby?" There was a playful whine in her voice as she wiggled her hips.
"Wow, and you topped it that fast," the brunette giggled. "Jesus, okay," she said, her cheeks growing hot as she gripped Chloe's pants by the thighs. She gave a soft tug, but because they were a bit big on the girl, they fell with no resistance. Max gasped as she found herself staring at Chloe's bare backside.
"Heh, gotcha," she snirked. "Commando. I don't play by yo rules." Watching her over her shoulder, she grinned at Max's adorable, dumbfounded look. She bent over just a little. "So? What's goin' on in that sexy head of yours?" Biting her lip, Max eagerly reached out and cupped her ass.
"So...wowsers," she said, bouncing her wrist. "It's like jello." She immediately snorted and began to laugh as she blushed. "Fuck! That was supposed to be in my head!"
Where were you on THAT one, filter!?
"Do you...like jello, at least?" Chloe shot back, perking an eyebrow with a small laugh of her own.
"Very much," Max purred as she squeezed Chloe's cheek.
"Phew, then bullet dodged," the punk chuckled as she turned around. Max felt a spear of arousal at the sight of her girlfriend's completely nude body, illuminated by the dim lighting of the lanterns. Chloe stared quietly with her lips taut, suddenly seeming very vulnerable. She shrugged. "Well," she said as she held her arms out. "This is...uh, this is me."
Woah...it sure is.
"You're beautiful," Max said, her eyes scanning up and down, though they stuttered a half second longer on the girl's lower body. "Just...just perfect."
"I'm, uh..." She laughed nervously, her shoulders hunching as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm all yours. And...really fucking nervous..."
"Baby..." Max opened her arms invitingly. "Why are you nervous?" Chloe moved toward her, allowing herself to be pulled into a hug that placed Max's face directly parallel to the punk's chest.
"No one's..." She began, scrunching her lips with uncertainty. "No one's ever loved me. Especially not while...yanno..."
Oh, Chloe.
"Well, I love you," Max said as she kissed the punk's stomach, desperately trying to avoid staring. "You're so fucking beautiful." She suddenly perked up, raising an eyebrow. "And I'm the one who should be...who IS nervous! I'm a total noob at this!"
"It's also your turn," Chloe reminded as she placed a palm on Max's chest, pushing until she was on her back, her legs dangling over the side of the bed.
"Is it already?" She asked with an anxious giggle.
"Mmn, yeah, pretty sure," Chloe responded in a small, singsongy voice as she lowered herself to her knees. Perching her hands like claws, she allowed each fingertip to just barely make contact with Max's knees. Painfully slow, she dragged her hands up her thighs, sparking shivers and tickles within the brunette's body. She hooked her fingers into the band of Max's underwear and began to pull down. Max muttered an 'oh god' and blushed as she faced the wall. "You're so cute," Chloe laughed.
Chloe bit her lip, her teeth pressing harder with each inch Max's underwear lowered. With a final tug, they were off, sliding down the girl's legs and onto the floor. Max immediately clapped her knees together, throwing her hands downward for extra cover.
"This is embarrassing," she said. "What if I'm gross or something?"
"Do you want to stop?" Chloe asked, resting her chin on one of Max's knees, respectfully awaiting an answer. The question caught Max off guard. Something about the fact that even this late in the game, all she cared about was Max's comfort really struck her. She willed away her self-consciousness, instead growing a goofy smile.
"The fuck is wrong with you?" She asked. The punk opened her mouth in feigned shock. "God no, are you crazy?" Chloe laughed as she shook her head, leaving a soft kiss on each of Max's knees.
"It's been suggested," she responded with her usual, dry sarcasm. Gently, she slid one hand between Max's knees and pulled (really, more like encouraged) her legs open. Her eyes grew wide as she stared in awe, much to Max's dismay.
Well, that's an extremely weird feeling. I feel so...vulnerable.
"Um, hey, everything...okay down there?" She asked nervously.
"Hella," Chloe rasped, her voice getting caught in her throat. "Well, actually...there is a tiny problem." Max glanced at her wildly, horror screaming through her eyes. "Shh, calm down," the punk laughed. "I'm just...kind of torn here. I had a plan. I've literally had this plan for months. But I don't..." She sighed a little frustratedly, swiping some hair out of her face. "I don't think it's going to work anymore?"
"Dude, what are you talking about?" Max asked.
"I, uh..." Chloe began as her hand swept up Max's inner thigh, lustily clutching at the skin. "I was going to do things in order. The 'right' way, I guess. Like the baseball diamond, you know? But now I just really, really want to..."
"I'm so confused," Max squeaked as she brought her bundled hands to her mouth. She watched as Chloe stared at her, a ravenous shimmer expanding in her eyes. The blue haired girl straightened her spine, then pulled Max by the knees until she slid to the very edge of the bed.
"I, uh, I've never done this before, so..." Chloe said with a nervous chuckle. Before Max could even ask, the punk descended between her legs. Even the sensation of Chloe's cheeks brushing along the insides of her legs was enough to make Max gasp, but that was just a small warning for what would follow. Chloe's lips softly pecked at her upper thigh, slowly inching to the left until they found Max's core. Max inhaled sharply and threw her head back, staring at the ceiling in disbelief.
W.O.W.
"Chloe..." she sighed, her voice almost lilting into a tone of disbelief. The rate of kisses increased, pulling Max's insides with want. There was a moment of respite where all she could focus on was Chloe's warm breath colliding against her. And then she felt it – Chloe's tongue sweeping along her wetness. Max moaned as her hand clawed into the sheets beneath her.
"Holy fuck," Chloe whispered, an automatic reaction not meant for Max's ears. Before she could wonder whether that was a positive or negative remark, the punk tightened her grasp on each of the girl's legs and passionately dove back in. The feeling was incredible, unlike anything Max had ever felt before. She moaned again, this time louder as her unoccupied hand flung down, her fingers twisting with the blue hair almost violently. The punk offered a small grunt of approval, though even the vibrations of that noise sung against Max in a heavenly way.
"Oh my god," Max whined as she bit her lip. "Chloe, fuck." She began to writhe, occasionally lifting her back off of the bed when a particular note of ecstasy hit her. Without her conscious approval, she lifted her legs and planted her heels against Chloe's shoulder blades, buckling down and pulling the girl into her deeper. In response, the girl released a moan of her own.
"You are fucking delicious," she said as she rested for a moment. Regardless of how into it Max was, the comment still made her blush and spurt out an awkward giggle. "I'm gonna..." Chloe began as she released her grip on one of Max's legs, retracting her arm between them. "I'm gonna try something else. You still with me?"
Always.
"Yes," the brunette responded quietly, though the eagerness in her voice was clear. She had so many things she wanted to say that they sort of just smashed together into that one, precious syllable.
"Good girl," Chloe replied, the silkiness in her voice causing Max to shudder. With an obsessive carefulness, the punk slid one finger inside of Max. The girl yelped as her eyes grew wide, thrusting her head back against the bed with force. She couldn't help but think of all the times she had done this to herself and how different this felt. How much better. The rhythm started slow as Chloe's finger moved, Max bucking with each reinsertion. She glanced down at the girl and found her staring back, the blue in her eyes combusting with a fevered playfulness as she surveyed Max's reactions. The enjoyment worked both ways, though, as the sight of Chloe nibbling on her lip as her face glistened from Max's juices made her stomach flip in ecstasy. Chloe watched her writhe a moment longer before puckering her lips in a kiss, winking, and dipping out of sight. The sensation of Chloe's tongue added along with the rhythmic pumping of her finger, which was soon joined by another.
Max moaned again as Chloe's pace quickened, providing just enough force to make her body rock back and forth. She focused on the ceiling, watching the lanterns on the wall bob in and out of focus as sounds of pleasure relentlessly sprung from her throat. It was one particularly loud groan that made her self-aware of her volume. Frantically, she grabbed a pillow and smashed it over her face. Her hips bucked as Chloe lapped at her sensitive area, the punk's fingers quickly plunging back and forth. Suddenly, the world went white as a warm feeling spiraled from within Max's lower body, blooming up through her stomach until it reached her head. She screamed into the pillow as her legs trembled, feeling as though she'd just been flipped through space and time in an entirely newway.
Holy fuck. Am I blind? What happened? I can taste colors.
"Oh man," Chloe said with a small laugh as she resurfaced from between Max's legs. The brunette watched her quietly, her frenzied eyes peeking over the pillow she still clung to. Her feet continued to twitch as the waves of pleasure receded. The punk swiped a finger across her chin and analyzed it before grinning and cockily sticking it in her mouth. "I fink I fid a goof jof!" She muffled cheerily.
"Did I die?" Max asked with suspicion as she pulled her legs onto the bed. "Is this heaven?"
"Might as well be," Chloe responded. She plucked her shirt off the ground, looking it over for a moment before using it to wipe her face, causing Max to cringe in horror. "What else was I supposed to do!?" She held her hands up in defense.
"I have paper towels and tissues!" She hissed back.
"Man, fuck that," Chloe chuckled as she climbed onto the bed. "Savin' some for later." Max made a sound of disgust.
"I cannot even believe you," she said.
"No?" The punk asked teasingly as she straddled Max. The girl shook her head slowly, entranced as Chloe's breasts hovered in front of her. She dove forward, flicking her tongue across the piercing before wrapping her lips around her nipple. "Fuck," Chloe breathed, buckling for moment. She gently eased her teeth around the pink nub and pulled, forcing the blue haired girl to quiver in delight. Letting go, Max took several pillows and arranged them at the head of her bed, then leaned back into them so that she maintained somewhat of sitting position.
Your turn.
"Come here," she said with her arms open, her voice a bit more demanding than she had meant it.
"Oooh," Chloe giggled excitedly. "Is Max bein' bossy? Yes, master..." The punk crawled toward her, slipping one knee between Max's as she fell into a kiss. It was gentle and passionate, their lips sweeping over each other with tenderness as their tongues met. Chloe pulled away, her eyes half-lidded as she stared at the brunette. "I'm so fucking in love with you." Her eyes widened and darted to the side as she spasmed with laughter. "Aaaaand, as it turns out, I'm so in love with fucking you."
"Would you let me say it back first before you make a joke!?" Max narrowed her eyes, weakly slapping Chloe in the shoulder as she giggled. "I love you too, baby. That was...incredible. And, I, um..." She brought her hand to Chloe's thigh, sighing in amazement as she felt the heat radiating from above. Chloe puckered her lips, exhaling a small burst of breath in anticipation. "God, Chlo. I want you so bad." The punk smirked and leaned close to Max's ear.
"Then fuckin' take me."
Oh. Okay. Yes.
Max nodded, mostly for herself, as Chloe began to nibble on her earlobe. She moved her hand up and into Chloe's warmth, her eyes widening at the slick sensation. The blue haired girl's breathing hitched in Max's ear as she brought both arms around her neck. She began to work her fingers against the girl, struggling to balance the desire to "perform" well, the way she felt on her fingertips, and the soft moans drifting into her ear straight from the punk's lips.
Sensory overload in the best way possible.
Chloe shifted herself tighter against Max's hand and kissed her. She moaned into her mouth, sucking her tongue as Max found a rhythm, picking up her pace as Chloe helped by grinding her hips. The blue haired girl broke from the kiss with an enthusiastic gasp of pleasure, her head rocking back as she slid her hips forward. She brought her hands to Max's hair and raised herself higher, pressing her chest into Max's face. Taking the cue, Max turned her attention to Chloe's breasts, working her tongue along her nipples. Max breathed heavily in synchronization with her girlfriend, using Chloe's new position to her advantage as she inserted a finger.
"Oh shit," Chloe whined, further winding her fingers through Max's hair. From all the times Chloe had joked that Max made her 'melt,' she imagined this is what it actually sounded like – a shrill gasp of pure ecstasy. Chloe ground her hips down hard, stealing Max's digit deep inside her as the brunette tightly grasped her waist with her free hand. She whimpered again as she kissed Max's forehead. For her part, Max managed to follow her lead from before and slipped in another finger, bringing Chloe to an uncharacteristically high pitched squeal. She continued to alternate between Chloe's nipples while she worked her hand beneath her, taking the occasional moment to grunt in pleasure at the punk's hair pulling. Chloe became more frantic with her bucking, her body pleading desperately for Max to match her pace. "I...I..." Chloe began, her voice cracking and sweeping away as she moved her hips.
"What is it, baby?" Max purred, angling her head to watch the girl's flushed face contort with pleasure.
Holy shit, I'm doing that?
"I love you so much, Max. And...and I need the fucking pillow," she managed to say before snapping her mouth shut. Max reached her hand behind her, then froze as her fingers felt along the material of the pillow. She quickly scanned Chloe up and down, the sight of the bouncing girl absolutely shredding her insides with bliss. "Max," she moaned with a small hint of impatient laughter. "I'm gonna fuckin' scream."
"I...wanna hear," Max said quietly, surprising herself with her boldness. She reached behind Chloe's neck and escorted her onto her shoulder. The punk didn't acknowledge it, instead tilting her head and viciously latching onto Max's neck, pulling another groan out of the brunette. She continued to pump her fingers, finally bringing Chloe to seize as she wrapped her arms around Max, digging her nails into the girl's back. Her moan grew in volume, sliding into Max's ear much to the girl's satisfaction. It escalated into a scream, punctuated by a reasonably loud 'fuck,' followed by Chloe falling limp on top of Max. They stayed like that for a couple of minutes, breathing heavily with no words. A million thoughts ran through Max's mind, and she was content to find they were all positive.
We did it...WE DID IT! And I did good! I think? I made her...
"You're being awfully quiet," Max whispered, finally breaking the silence as she stroked the punk's hair.
"I...fucking love you," she said back, still out of breath.
"I love you too, babe."
"Also, I can't move anything," Chloe said with a little more levity.
"Did...I do okay?" Max asked, the blissful feeling receding just enough for her typical nervousness to resurface.
"I can't. Move. Anything." Chloe repeated in a tone that stressed the point.
"So that's a good, then? Not a bad?" Max snickered as she kissed Chloe on the head. After a bit of grumbling, the punk managed to lift herself up and spin around so she was lying next to Max.
"That's a fucking A+ wowsers, girlfriend," she chuckled, holding up a thumbs up. "How're you feeling?"
"Incredible," she said. "My brain's still playing catch up, but I'm pretty sure we just made love. Like, holy shit."
"I know, right!?" Chloe giggled, turning onto her side as she pulled Max close to her. "And you were absolutely perfect. As to be expected."
"You were too," she said. She found Chloe's hand and looped their fingers together. "We did it, Chloe." She chuckled. "All the dumb cliches were right. That...really was magical. I feel so close to you."
"The entirety of our relationship is magical. Literally and figuratively," Chloe whispered. She eyed Max lovingly, before suddenly snorting and facing away. "Here we fuckin' go," she muttered in annoyance.
"What's that mean?"
"I'm fuckin' crying again," she laughed in disbelief, clapping her hand to her face.
"Oh no! Babe, what's wrong?" Max asked as she sat up.
Couldn't have been THAT bad, right?
"I'm just so fucking happy, dude," she said. "I mean, I don't know," she flitted a hand in the air. "We're in love. Like forreal! That doesn't just blow your flippin' mind with awesomeness on occasion? I never knew it was possible to feel this way. It's so amazing and scary and beautiful and maddening. It just feels like, I don't know, this is why we're alive. Humans in general, I mean. This is what everyone wants and I fucking have it!"
"You are too fucking precious." Max said, her eyes wandering across the room. "Well," she began, climbing over Chloe to get off the bed. "If anyone deserves it, it's you. You deserve all the happiness." She leaned down to give her a peck on the cheek before she scurried away.
"Where you going?" Chloe pouted as she rolled her shoulders backward in a stretch. Max stood by her desk for a moment, before spinning around with her camera in her hands. She slowly stalked back to the punk, hopping on the bed and straddling her. "Uh huh," she said with a smarmy smile. "I totally knew this would be a kink of yours."
"Oh shut up," Max laughed. "That's not what I'm doing. I just...want a photo from tonight. I'll keep it above the shoulders. Chaste, you know?"
"Bummer," she responded with a smirk. Max regarded the lighting in the room, shrugging to herself that it was good enough. She aimed the camera at Chloe's face.
"Hey," she said. The blue haired girl rolled her eyes. "Chloe, you are all that matters to me. I love ya more than anything." Chloe's expression shifted considerably from 'disinterested tease' to 'embarrassingly in love.' Max let out a 'ha!' as she snapped the photo, grinning brilliantly as she lowered the camera.
"That's not fair!" Chloe complained.
"Deal with it, cutie," Max said as she examined the photo. She nibbled her lip in thought. "You know, I could take other pictures! I mean, like..." She looked down at Chloe's body, still glistening with sweat, and she shuddered in delight. "You're naked," she whispered giddily.
All the pictures!
"Have you looked in the mirror recently?" Chloe asked, sweetly stroking her palm across the girl's stomach. Max chuckled for a second before making the mistake of actually looking in the mirror. She let out a small yelp.
"Oh god, I am too!" She rolled off of Chloe and onto the floor with a thud, scrambling for her underwear. "I'm sorry," she muttered to no one in particular. She picked up her panties and scowled when she realized she did not want to put this particular pair back on. As she began to crawl toward her dresser, something heavy fell on top of her and pinned her to the floor. "Chloe! Get off!"
"Why are you in such a hurry to get dressed?" Max could hear the smile as she asked it.
"This is gonna blow your mind," the brunette grunted. "But I'm a little insecure."
"What!?" Chloe offered a fake gasp. "Baby," she said, her voice sinking into sincerity, "you are perfect and have no reason to be insecure. You're beautiful!" She swept a hand along, brushing Max's hair out of the way and exposing the back of her neck so she could kiss it. Then, the pressure on Max's back receded as the punk got off of her and onto her knees. "Can I show you something?"
"Yeah," Max sighed as she got to her knees. Chloe hastened the process by looping her hands under the girl's arms and yanking her to her feet.
"Max," she said, pecking her on the cheek. She turned with the girl in her arms until they both faced the mirror. Max took in a deep breath as she drank in the image – her completely nude, save for the bullet hanging around her neck, with Chloe behind her, her hands sweeping along her body as they brought forth small shivers. Only a few days ago, she had 'fought' Other Max in this mirror. In comparison, it was definitely a good change of pace. "That looks really good to me," Chloe said.
Wow, look at us... Never thought you'd see this, huh, Max?
"Uh huh..." Max managed absentmindedly, watching as her reflection reached one arm above her to settle in the punk's hair. She let go of a small moan as she tilted her head, allowing Chloe to bite her neck. She was suddenly very aware of the girl's piercings against her back, soon followed by the pressure of her pelvis. With half-lidded eyes, she followed Chloe's hands as they danced across her hip bones, the feathery touch scattering along her pubic mound before retreating back up her stomach to her breasts.
"Baby," Chloe said quietly, following the small pop of suction from the brunette's neck. There was a small note of pleading in her voice. "You know how I say I wish you could see yourself the way I see you? Well, this is it. Just...look at you." Her breath collided against Max's cheek. The punk's hands continued to slide along her body, carefully caressing every curve and nook. It was entrancing, watching these amazing things happen in the mirror and feeling the correlating touch. But it was when Max's gazed drifted higher and she saw the look in Chloe's eyes, an indescribable combination of love, lust, madness, praise, awe... She actually felt it, the little bolt of recognition in her mind – 'maybe I am beautiful.' And though the revelation meant so much to her, she decided to take the Chloe approach. A small smile spread in her cheeks.
"You always see me naked?" Max asked with a tiny giggle. The punk glared into the mirror, her jaw tightening as her nostrils flared.
"You little bitch," she snickered, snaking her arms around Max's waist and lifting her into the air. The smaller girl squeaked her own laughter as she kicked her feet. "I'm trying to prove a point!"
You did, Chlo. Thank you.
"Put me down, you dork." Max began to laugh harder as she pawed at Chloe's hand.
"No!" She jostled the brunette in her arms. "Not until you admit that you're hella sexy!"
"I'll do the thing," Max warned.
My secret weapon!
"Shut up, you won't," Chloe shot back. Immediately, Max went limp in her arms. "Fffffuck," she hissed as her knees weakened. She spun toward the bed and threw Max onto it. "You are so fucking dead."
"Oh yeah?" Max asked, coaxing the girl along. With a growl, Chloe pounced on top of her, placing her hands on the brunette's shoulders to pin her down.
"Say it," she barked.
"It!" Max cackled. Chloe huffed in frustration, puffing out her bottom lip. As she glanced to the side, her pout morphed into a devious smile. Removing one hand from Max's shoulder, she leaned over and snagged the camera from the sheets.
"How much film you got left?" She asked, her eyebrow arched inquisitively.
"Why?" Max asked, narrowing her eyes at the punk.
This may have just backfired. Figures.
"Iunno!" She shrugged enthusiastically. She looked around the room, popping her lips playfully before gasping, pretending she had been struck by a brilliant idea. "Hey, know what would be really fun?"
"Movement?" Max suggested with a smirk, wiggling her body beneath Chloe.
"Close. Very close, Max. That was a good guess," she replied condescendingly. "But what if, instead of that, I was a thoughtful girlfriend and counted how much film you had left so you didn't have to worry about it?"
"That sounds like a bad id- dude!" Max laughed in disbelief as a flash filled the room. Chloe was pointing the camera at the wall, not even aiming at anything in particular.
"Okay, so that was one," she said, nodding her head as the camera spat out the Polaroid. "So I mean, you had at least one photo left."
"Give me the camera," Max said dryly, reaching into the air. The punk simply stared at her with big, mischievous eyes as she took another picture. "Nooooo," she groaned. With a huff, she held her hand like a claw and attacked Chloe's ribs with tickles. The blue haired girl gasped.
Time to fight dirty.
"Woah, no fair, no fair!" She said, her voice dissolving into unhinged laughter as Max continued to tickle her. She rolled off of the brunette and nestled into the pillow throne at the head of the bed. "Stop dat!" She held the camera high above her as she snapped another photo.
"Give me the camera!" Max snarled, now free and on the offensive. She dove into Chloe, skittering her fingers against the girl's side with one hand as she whiffed for the camera. The punk squealed a small 'no' in her hysterics. The laughter caused her to spasm, kicking both legs out straight and accidentally toppling the brunette over as their legs tangled together. Max growled as she got back to her knees, flashing a smile to the still laughing Chloe as she advanced toward the camera.
"Max, holy shit, I'm going to die," Chloe barely managed to rasp. She slid down the pillows, convulsing as Max tickled her. Again, one of her legs involuntarily kicked to the side, forcing Max to once again shift herself. The brunette ceased her tickles as she lunged for the camera, now low enough for her to grab.
"Ha, got it!" She cheered. "Mad Max wins again!" She turned to Chloe with a shit eating grin, but the blue haired girl stared back up at Max, her eyes wide as a small blush was barely visible in the light. "Chloe? What's wrong?"
"Umm..." The girl replied, whisking her head side to side nervously. Her expression shifted to one of pleasure, nibbling her lip as she regarded the brunette. As her eyes fluttered, she pointed down, her index finger curling and uncurling for effect. Max's eyes trailed down, her heartbeat launching into a sprint as she realized the cause of Chloe's reaction. In the course of wrestling for the camera, they had become so entangled that they were now locked between each others' legs.
"Oh..." Max said, her breathing becoming heavier as she noticed the heat. "Um, do you want me to get off?"
"Do you want to?" Chloe asked, her eyes pleading for a 'no.'
"Not...especially," Max admitted as a small smile bloomed in her cheeks. She looked over the camera in her hands. Admitting defeat with a sigh, she held it out and puckered her lips, lighting up the room with another flash. "Here," she said shyly as she softly twitched the photo around. "Hammurabi rules. S'only fair." She handed it to Chloe.
"You believe me?" She asked, angling the picture toward the lanterns so she could see it.
"Yeah," Max said quietly. "You make me feel beautiful." She shifted her hips slightly, eliciting a small dart of pleasure in both of them. "You, uh, feel nice."
I like this... It's intimate.
"Ditto," Chloe responded. She snickered and covered her face. "Why is this the part that makes me self-conscious? A little while ago, I was treating you like a death row last meal, but this is what makes me all bashful?" She stuck her tongue between her teeth when Max briefly scrunched her nose. "Sorry, I'm kind of champ at ruining the mood, huh?"
"Yes and no," Max said, pulling herself forward to slide against her girlfriend. She grinned as Chloe's eyes momentarily rocked to the back of her head. "You do say a lot of dumb stuff," she laughed, reaching down to stroke the punk's stomach. "But it's also something that's distinctively you. And I love everything about you."
"Everything?" She asked.
"Uh huh!" Max nodded, allowing her hand to travel to Chloe's breast. She ground her hips forward gently, exhaling a small moan. The blue haired girl watched on with a smirk, before her eyes began working around in thought.
"Um, hey," she said, resting her hand on top of Max's. "How do you feel? Like really?"
She's not just referring to physically, I suppose...
"Different," she replied. "Better." The punk pressed her elbows into the bed, raising herself into a sitting position while keeping locked together with Max. The movement made them both shiver.
"No nosebleed?" She asked, bringing a thumb beneath the brunette's nose.
"No nosebleed," Max repeated in the affirmative, winding her arms around Chloe. She kissed her on the cheek as she moved her hips, sighing when it felt right. It wasn't an extreme feeling like she had experienced earlier, but a subtle, comfortable one. Chloe exhaled a small amount of pain.
"I hated seeing you like that," the blue haired girl whispered, kissing Max's upper lip. "Broke my heart."
"I know, Chlo," Max responded in her own whisper. "It was so, so terrible. All I...all I wanted was to be with you. I was so scared." She dipped her face into the crook of Chloe's neck, sniffling as she finally allowed herself to relive the memory. To confront it.
"You're such a little warrior," Chloe chuckled, kissing Max on the temple. "I love you so, so much. And I promise, I will never let anyone hurt your ever again."
"I love you too." The brunette snuggled in closer. "And likewise on the protecting thing." She rested their foreheads together, smiling at the girl's intense, scanning eyes. Chloe wrapped her arms around her and pulled her as closely as she could, the soft clink of their bullet necklaces making her smirk. She kissed her sweetly as Max wobbled her hips, pulling tiny sparks of pleasure from both of them.
"I read online that this didn't feel good," she said, her tone slanted in snarky suspicion. "It feels good to me."
Hold up, what?
"You...read online?" Max asked, raising her eyebrows as her face contorted into a grin. The punk scrunched her lips.
"Well, that's an embarrassing slip of the tongue," she said dryly. "I just wanted to, like...make you feel good when we did things. Treat you right. You know! Cause I love you and..." She huffed exasperatedly. "Fine, I researched how to have sex with you!" She furrowed her brow with a pout, grumpily staring at Max.
She makes me feel like a queen.
"That's actually incredibly sweet of you," Max said, unleashing a flurry of kisses.
"S'whatever," she grumbled.
"I think it feels good too." Max snickered as she lurched forward enthusiastically. "Makes me feel close to you. And that's really all I want."
"Me too, sweetness." Chloe shook her head with a light laugh. "Jesus, just thinking about how long ago we met... We were practically babies! We've had a long, hella strange journey."
"Well, it's still just starting, yeah?" Max asked, bringing her hands to Chloe's cheeks. The question seemed to strike a nerve in the girl. Her eyes fluttered to to the ceiling as she thought it over, a smile growing as she did so.
"Absolutely," she said, swishing their noses together. "I'm never leaving you, Max."
Best answer. Best girl.
Max nodded as she brought their lips together, her hands still resting on her girlfriend's cheeks. Chloe pulled her against her tighter, dreamily sighing as the brunette coerced her tongue through her lips. The punk rolled her pelvis forward, inhaling the petite moan escaping from Max's lips. They stayed like that, safely wound around each other as they spoke through movement and kisses.
"Woah," Chloe finally said after some time. "Do you hear that?" Max cocked her head to the side and listened, grinning when she noticed the soft singing of birds.
"Dude, it's so early," Max laughed, bonking her head against the punk's. She turned to look at the window, the black from not long ago now mellowed into a medium blue.
"We can sleep in," Chloe suggested. "I can't remember the last time I actually slept in like, really late. That sounds so fun to me." She scowled. "Are we old? What's happening?"
"You're older than me, cradle robber," Max joked, pecking the girl on the nose.
"I don't think you're in a position to be sassy," Chloe said. "And I mean that literally." She winked as she dipped a hand beneath her.
"Oh my god!" Max burst into laughter. "You are so bad."
"Hells to the yeah, I am," the punk shot back, reclining back into the pillow mountain. She blinked her eyes slowly as she unleashed a loud yawn.
"Sleepy?" Max asked as she nuzzled into the girl's cheek.
"A little," she admitted. "We're going to be sore when we wake up," she added with a snicker.
"That's okay," Max said, tugging the blankets from under Chloe. "I already know I'm going to have a damned Jupiter spot on my neck. Not to mention the scratches on my back, Logan." She perked an eyebrow at the girl.
"Yeeeeah," she cringed. "Sorry about that. You're not bleeding. That...badly, anyway."
"Don't sweat it, cutie. I take it as a compliment." With a somber sigh, she removed herself from between the punk's legs, prompting a small chuckle from the girl. She crawled beside her and pulled the blankets over them. "This has been the best night of my life," she whispered.
"C'mere," Chloe said sweetly, encasing the smaller girl in a hug. "I am so happy. You make me so happy. I love you, Max."
"I love you," she responded, feeling perfectly warm and snug inside. They shared a kiss, though Chloe was already half asleep. Max laughed quietly. "Goodnight, baby." She settled into the blue haired girl, relishing the contact of their bare bodies together. She briefly peeked at the window, smiling as the fresh sunlight spilled into the dark room.
A/N2: As Max would say...wowsers.
I feel like there's a lot to say about this chapter. When I first decided to write this story, there was a small list of "big" events I had planned and this was one of the first. I always knew Chloe would dream of the Dark Room and that it would be the impetus for their first time. I'd like to think a running theme through the story is that, when faced with issues, the girls are able to rely on each other and overcome them. This is probably the biggest example of that.
But man, oh man. I think, from a technical level, this will probably be THE most challenging chapter I have to write. It's important to me that when you guys read these NSFW scenes, they still feel distinctly like they belong in THIS story with this particular iteration of the characters, and not like they can be extracted as a oneshot. In the same way, I struggled with the balance of 'details.' You know what I'm talking about. It's not that I necessarily want this chapter to be steamy smut, but that after all this time the whole 'tasteful fade to black' thing just didn't seem appropriate. Actually, you might notice this is the ONLY chapter so far without a scene break. And it's also the longest! At any rate, I hope (fuckin PRAY) I found a reasonable balance - sweet and romantic AND fun without seeming too smutty or even, going in the other direction, sterile.
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, it took a lot of work. But y'all are worth it. Thanks so much for reading, guys. :)