This morning isn't one of anticipation for these two; the years they've spent together leave for neutral feelings about Valentine's Day. For them, every day is an expression of love and, although they continue the tradition and make it that extra bit special, there isn't a tangible excitement in the air. They haven't bought into the cheesy gift cards and the huge displays of balloons in the local shops, but prefer to lounge in bed until the late hours of the morning.

Dominic smiles as he brushes his hair out of his face, Matthew's sleeping form beside him gravitating to the warmth among the covers. Dom glanced at the clock and slid further down the bed until he was at the edge. He found Matthew's socked feet poking out from under the covers and reached for them, gently peeling the socks away. Yes, he was willing to do this for his love. Ignoring the slight smell-after all, they'd both had a shower the previous night-he took one of Matt's feet into his cupped palms and began to massage it gently. He ran the pads of his fingers along the sole of Matt's foot, sure that he was still asleep due to the lack of giggling and twitching, and dug his thumbs into the heel.

Matthew's back arched then, and Dominic could hear the muffled sound of bones clicking over a barely audible moan. Matthew kept his eyes shut, but he could feel the corners of his mouth pulling up into a soft smile. He rolled over onto his front and mumbled into the pillow. Dom switched feet and Matt wriggled his toes, the two men laughing together.

"Mm, Dom, that's...you don't have to do that," Matt told him, groaning despite himself.

"I want to. I can see how much you love it."

"Not as much as I love you. Come back up here." Dominic crawled back up the bed to lie on his side next to Matthew, brushing dark locks out of his sparkling eyes. They pressed their lips together gently for the first of many times that morning and Dom wrinkled his nose up. Seeing Matt's frown, he explained," Morning breath," with a teasing lilt. Matthew pouted indignantly and slipped out of the bed, padding to the bathroom. Dom heard the sounds of running water as Matt brushed his teeth, and he adjusted the cream covers of the bed, leaning back against the plush pillows and closing his eyes.

The next thing he knew, Matt had pounced on him and attacked his lips again, now refreshingly minty. Dom's head spun as he wrapped his arms around the smaller man.

"Happy Valentine's Day," Matthew murmured between kisses. Dom's lips twitched into a smile.

"Would you be up for going out today?" Matt pulled back, his messy bedhead making his grin of childish glee only look more excited.

"Going out? Where?" Dom tapped the side of his nose.

"Just out." Matt glanced towards the bedroom, where a few streaks of light were breaking into the bedroom, the rays settling on Dominic's skin to give him a sunny glow.

"Not outside out, right?" Dom smirked.

"Not for long." A sigh of relief. The freezing February weather and Matthew didn't mix, no matter how many layers he tried to stuff himself into. He didn't fancy traipsing around in leftover slush for a day, no matter how romantic Dominic was being.

"Then where?" Matt narrowed his eyes, to which Dominic's grin grew.

"You'll have to wait and see!"

"Dominic!" Matthew whined petulantly and Dominic prodded his lips before pulling himself away from the warmth and out of bed. He shrugged his dressing gown on as Matthew watched him, gave him a look that said, 'Follow me' and headed off downstairs. Matthew sighed, knowing he wasn't going to get what he wanted this time around, and reluctantly slid out of the bed one more time.

He could already smell breakfast cooking by the time he got downstairs, despite Dominic only having been there for a few moments. Batter was sizzling in a pan as Dom chopped fresh fruit on the kitchen counter, laying it in organised arrangements on the plates. Matt skipped over to the frying pan and flipped the pancake over before it burnt, Dom giving him a grateful look.

"Pancakes again?" Matt teased. "We only had them two days ago!"

"But we didn't make them ourselves on Tuesday, remember? We bought some ready-made ones from Tesco and just dumped as much golden syrup as we could over them. And you got sick from eating so many." Oh, yes. Matthew did in fact remember that.

"How kind of you to remind me." Matt rolled his eyes. "I guess I could stomach them for another day." Dom slapped his forearm playfully, the pair giggling as Matt slid a golden pancake onto a plate.

"Where are we going again, Dom?" Matt asked, his arm linked in Dom's. The pair were bundled up in coats, but were still wearing their typical sunglasses 'to protect from the brightness of the clouds'.

"I'm not going to fall for that, Matt," Dom laughed. "I haven't told you yet." Matthew sighed, poking his lips out in a pout and hoping to incur Dom's sympathy. The blonde merely smiled at him.

After a few minutes of walking and quiet chatter, the pair arrived at a local cafe that Dom had stumbled upon while shopping a few weeks before. Matt raised an eyebrow as he pushed the door open, a bell tinkling above them to mark their entrance. There were a few people scattered about the shop, some talking together in groups and others enjoying a coffee in the corner by themselves. Dom led Matt over to the counter where a display of cakes was on show underneath the glass and they picked one each, Dom ordering coffees with extra toppings for both of them. Sitting down by the window, Matt leaned back into the comfortable seat and sipped at his coffee, studying Dom's face.

"This place seems really, really nice, Dom," he commented, shrugging off his thick coat as he succumbed to the warmth of the cafe. Gentle music could be heard under the sound of people talking as they drank, soft piano tones intermingled with an orchestra. Matt distinctly recognised the piece but couldn't put a name to it as he scanned the wall behind Dom's head. There was a bookshelf laden with old novels and a few paintings in frames hung on the burgundy walls, a lamp in the corner casting light onto their table.

Matthew absolutely loved it. The smell of roasting coffee in the air made his head slightly woozy and a pleasant warmth settled in his chest. The taste of the milky coffee hit their tongues as they took a drink, whipped cream touching Dom's upper lip. He chuckled and licked it away, Matt smirking at him. Matt closed his eyes and gave a content sigh before leaning forward to try out the muffin he'd ordered.

"I thought you might like it. I came across it one day and just thought it seemed like the sort of place you'd like, y'know? I had to bring you here." Matt smiled softly, reaching over the table to clasp Dom's hand in his own.

"You're right; it's beautiful here. Thank you."

If they'd been watching anybody else, the couple would've deemed it too sickeningly romantic and immediately left. They didn't have much patience for others' displays of affection, but they didn't seem to realise how much they were gazing at each other. Their mutual feelings were almost tangible in the air surrounding them.

"We're definitely coming back here," Matt stated after they finished their drinks, snuggling back into the chair. Dom left his own seat to squish up next to Matthew, wrapping his arm around his shoulders. Matthew nuzzled into the space between Dom's chin and his collar, resting his head there and letting his eye slide closed. Dominic pressed a kiss to Matthew's hand, stroking the other man's shoulders.

"Happy Valentine's Day, love."