Chapter Eight

*Sexual Content*

"Josie, I'm–"

To Eddie's surprise, his apology was cut short as she captured his mouth with her own this time. He was startled at her urgency, feeling her hands in his hair while her breathing matched the rate of his fast-beating heart. Goosebumps appeared down his body–her touch craving more of him, all whilst he remained terrified but pleased by her actions. Josie's hands continued to explore his hair with unexpected delight. Eddie found himself in utter bliss as her tongue begged for entrance beyond his lips, entering his mouth roughly at first, then soft, deep, and wet. He let her know him, taste him, tease him. When Eddie wished to do the same, she would catch his bottom lip with her teeth, playfully challenging him, throttling his attempts. An embarrassing moan escaped his lungs when he felt her do this; Josie finally let his mouth go free, his bottom lip swollen from her love biting. Eddie never knew a kiss could have been so fucking amazing. His head was still reeling when he finally found reality again, astonished to find her hands exploring his body along with her eyes, which were drunk with only lust.

"If I knew that's how you'd react, I would have kissed you a long time ago…" He had tried to pull them back for a moment.

It wasn't that Eddie wasn't thrilled, because fuck he was, albeit a little confused. Did she desire him the way he desired her? Or was the adrenaline and confusion of the night's events that had her all over him?

Josie leaned in towards Eddie's ear, kissing and blowing the sensitive skin on his neck and earlobe. She could feel his body tense under her touch, which caused a warmth to blossom from between her thighs. Josie giggled, more pleased with his reaction to her than anything else. She unhooked her leg from under her bottom and straddled Eddie. Gentle kisses peppered his jawline, pleasing her immensely when he shivered and groaned against her touch.

"Well, you have me now–so don't question it. Don't waste it." She whispered.

Eddie found that instinct was the only way he could react to her advances, for if he overthought it, he'd fuck something up. "But–"

A thin finger pressed against his lips to silence him. His eyes grew wide in disbelief–his voice completely lost. What was Josie doing? Oh, fuck…oh SHIT.

Josie reached around toward her back, the silence in the room momentarily broken by the snap of her bra coming undone. Eddie gazed at her in frozen awe as the fabric slipped out from the arm of her shirt, hitting the wooden floorboards with a muffled thud. She then proceeded to rock her hips against his growing stiffness, letting out a soft moan of satisfaction at his desire for her.

Holy shit. Was this happening? It wasn't happening. They couldn't be doing this–they shouldn't be doing this. Too much had just happened. This was insane. So insane.

"Jesus, Josie…"

There, she was in control, bringing his hands up to her breasts. Eddie was shaking in his shoes, unsure what to do with himself. Because fuck did he want her, but he didn't want to ruin it. Eddie didn't want her to regret anything or act brashly in the heat of the moment.

"Do you–do you want me to touch you?"

Josie groaned at his lack of participation and bothersome questions. She rested her head against his neck and kissed Eddie gently there. Weighing his concern, her disappointment in him faded as she considered the situation. Eddie had only wanted her consent. That was more than could be said for the only guy she'd been with. Not that Billy ever forced himself on her, but he never asked if his advancements were wanted… it just happened between them. And here Eddie was, just as anxious for her (probably more so) as she was for him–regardless of their reasons for it–asking if she wanted him to touch her.

"Do you want to know what I want?" She purred in his ear, feeling his skin crawl.

She waited.

Eddie, on the other hand, was doing his best to keep his mind from steering off in all directions. Particularly, doing his best to ignore the fact her hips were grinding against his. He attempted to clear his throat and managed, "Ye–yeah, I want to know."

Eddie's heart sank as he noted Josie standing up, turning her back on him. This is what he expected honestly–it made more sense than her throwing herself at him. He'd never been that guy, especially when it came to girls like Josie. Especially Josie. Nearly sighing in defeat, his ears pricked up when he heard her voice through the moonlit darkness.

"Follow me," She was across the room now, heading up the stairs. It took Eddie a moment to remember how to stand up, let alone walk up a flight of stairs after her.

Never in all his life had he recalled feeling so fucking high without the aid of drugs or alcohol. It was pure euphoria what he had just experienced there on Rick's couch with Josie; It had been far beyond anything Munson had ever conjured up from his imagination. Partially because the way she kissed him was mind-blowing, but fuck she had let him feel her boobs. He could feel his arousal begin to grow in his pants again.

Turning the corner at the top of the staircase, Eddie listened carefully. He couldn't see Josie anywhere in the hall, which he didn't like. Dark hallways and dark rooms weren't comforting for him, standing there alone, especially after everything that happened. Eddie slightly panicked when he remembered Chrissy, his mind ever wandering back to the possibility Josie could be next.

"Jos? Josie, where did you go?"

He tried the closest doorway on his left, which he knew led to the master bedroom. And there she was, kneeling on the bed, her boots and pants discarded on the floor. She was staring at him the same way she had been whilst sitting on his lap–every emotion drained from her face save lust.

This was fucking torture. Eddie fucking hated it. Alright… he didn't hate it. He actually couldn't get enough of it. But it was torture nonetheless, and he still wasn't sure she even wanted him for the right reasons. If they should be doing any of this… No. It occurred to him for the second time that this was all happening due to the adrenaline that hadn't left their systems.

"Josie, I'm not so sure this is a good idea–"

"Eddie," She slowly stood from where she'd been at the foot of the bed, freely walking towards him, fully aware his eyes looked her over.

He was staring at her long legs, trailing upward towards her panties, lingering there for a moment longer before finally settling on her breasts, nestled perfectly behind the white fabric of her Hellfire shirt.

"What I want… is you."

Munson cursed himself. Dustin was right. The girl of his dreams was right in front of him, and he was too chickenshit to do anything about it–yet again. He didn't want it to go this way.

"I don't think it's a good idea that we do–well, that we do this."

"You don't want me, then? Why the hell did you kiss me?" She was annoyed. Great.

Eddie didn't blame her. The least he could do was give her an explanation. The real reason.

"Oh fucking trust me, Hopper, I'd love nothing more than you right now. It's just–we just witnessed some pretty out-of-this-world bullshit at the trailer. I'm worried–I mean, what if you're next…" He sighed. "Jos, I kissed you because if anything happens to either of us, I want you to know I've always…well, you know…"

She shrugged her shoulders. "No, Munson, I don't know. You've yet to tell me, and now I feel like a fucking idiot standing here with little to no dignity left."

How could he salvage this situation, if at all? What was it he wanted to tell her exactly? How the fuck was it possible that he'd rehearsed this a thousand times over, and now he'd forgotten what he meant to say? To be fair, her standing there nearly naked didn't help calm Eddie's racing thoughts. He felt like crying again.

"I've always wanted you. From the first time I saw you. I've got… I've got feelings? Ye–yeah, feelings for you Jos. But the thing is," He took a step closer to her, painfully noticing she took a step back. "I don't want to do anything you're gonna regret later–despite how you feel about me now–what you think you feel about me now… I know I'm not Hargrove or Harrington–"

"Steve's just a friend," Josie sucked in a gasp of air.

As much as she was ready to sleep with Eddie, she was completely unprepared for a confession quite like this. How had she never known he had…feelings for her? What kind of feelings?

He waved his hand at her.

"My point is, I'm not them. And you…I mean fuck, look at you!" Again he waved a ringed hand in her direction. "You're… you're fucking beautiful. And my uncle was right, by the way. You've always been and always will be outta my league. I don't doubt that if all of this hadn't happened, you wouldn't have thrown yourself at me… But that's not the point. The point is if something does happen…I just needed you to know that…well that…I really like you, Josie. Like, like you."

There was no way in hell he'd admit his feelings with a word like love. Not there. Not like that.

An awkward silence. Oh, how Josie loathed awkward silences. And this one was all on her because all Eddie had done was pour his heart out and wait for a response. A response she wasn't entirely sure how to give. Josie had never seen Munson that way, she supposed. However, thinking about it, she could have shot herself in the foot for not noticing sooner. All of the signs were there, but Josie didn't look for them. She stole a glance over at him, their eyes locking. It hurt her to see he looked pained.

"I'm not ready for another relationship, Eddie… at least not right now. I mean–"

Eddie grinned in bitter disappointment. Fuck he should have just fucked her…no… No, he did the right thing in telling her.

"Look, Hopper, you don't have to explain or give an excuse as to why. As I said, I've never been that guy."

"That's not what I meant," Josie's voice was even if not testy.

Maybe it was time for her confessions?

"What I mean is, Billy and my dad? They didn't die in a fire–there wasn't a fire. Some pretty awful shit happened–not exactly like Chrissy, but I have a feeling it's all connected somehow, and I don't–I don't know what's going on or if the thing that killed Billy is back or what. It's just after seeing him die–I'm just not–I don't want to care for someone else like that and lose them. I couldn't do that again."

Eddie looked more confused than before, so Josie did what she did best and changed the subject.

"And you shouldn't fucking talk about yourself like that. If I didn't–I don't know–like you, I wouldn't have kissed you back. I wouldn't be standing here like a goddamn idiot in my underwear, that's for sure. Not gonna lie, Munson–you wounded me."

He meandered toward the bed and fell back onto it, releasing the air in his lungs in a desperate sigh. "Yeah, I fucked up there."

Josie turned to face him, her hand grabbing hold of her arm. She bit the inside of her cheek, weighing her choice of words, carefully.

"Neither of us might be ready for anything, but for what it's worth, any girl would be lucky to have you." She freely spoke her thoughts.

"You know, despite what you might think of yourself or what I think of you–it probably isn't what you'd expect. Back at school in the woods, after Chrissy left…I know I was drunk, but I knew what I wanted. Everyone talking at the school did get to me, but not in the way you thought. Everyone thought we were together and shit, it just got me thinking."

She could feel her cheeks flush. "It's fucking embarrassing, but I thought about what it would be like…and well, now we are kind of stuck together, you know? We have no idea what's going to happen. Might as well make the most of it…"

His brows furrowed as Eddie's head snapped over at her. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged her shoulders, a sly smile pulling at the left corner of her mouth, her face burning hotter.

"I mean–We might not be able to be everything to each other, but it's not a harrowing notion. That is, being in the throes of passion with you, Eddie Munson."

By now, she had plopped down next to him on the bed, reaching for his hand and taking it in her own. Josie swore she could hear his heart beating out of his chest. Did she really have that sort of effect on him?

"And if we did it–what if you can't stand the sight of me after? Or did I do something wrong, and you don't want to talk to me again?"

"Oh my fucking God, Munson–shut up. You're worse than a girl."

The silence was followed by grumbling as he propped himself up on his side, head resting in his hand. Eddie drank in at the sight of the angel lying there next to him. He wouldn't be able to continue to hold out–God, he wanted to fucking touch her–everywhere.

"Do it," she whispered. "Do whatever you think I would li–."

Her voice cascaded into a very surprised yet pleasurable moan. Somewhere in that darkness, Eddie gave way to his temptations, snaking his free hand to that place between her legs, pressing firmly yet gently. He felt himself twitch at her reaction, all while he was still trying to come to terms with the very real fact of what they were about to do.

He played with the fabric of her panties, teasing her the way she had teased him on the couch.

"God damn…" He whispered breathy, working his way up, slowly pulling at her shirt and listening carefully to her reactions, which fuelled him. Every little noise she made was magic, and it gave Eddie so much pleasure knowing he was the cause of it all.

Once he traced her stomach, he sat up and pulled her further onto the bed, resting himself comfortably between her legs. Eddie kissed her mouth, smiling like an idiot. If this was a dream, he never wanted to wake from it.

"What is it?" The question fell from Josie with apprehension.

She was self-conscious, thinking he might have seen something he didn't like.

Eddie gingerly continued to kiss her, carefully running his hand under her shirt before resting against the small bud of her breast, gently pinching and teasing her sensitive flesh. When she jolted and squirmed under him, something primal woke Eddie. He rested his forehead against Josie's, staring deep into those blue eyes of hers. He ignored her question.

"You like that, do you?"

He brought her arms up and slipped the shirt over her head, now able to fully appreciate her bare flesh. Eddie was stunned. "You're so beautiful…"

His mouth fell to her neck, littering small, wet kisses down her chest. His hand gently grasped her throat. Josie continued to squirm until he thrust his hips into hers, leaving little to the imagination of how desperately he wanted her. How difficult it was for him to see her needs met first–because fucking hell, all he wanted was to be inside of her.

Josie whimpered when she felt his tongue run circles over her hardened nipples, quivering when Eddie gently blew cool air onto the exposed skin. Her mind teetered on the brink of hysteria as he continued to do this down the length of her abdomen, the rush of warmth blooming between her legs as his tongue licked at her belly button and lingered at her panty line. All the while, hands were seemingly everywhere again, all at once. Cupping her breasts, he trailed her stomach, and finally, two fingers hooked to the fabric at the sides of her hips.

"Wait," she hissed, beggingly. "I want to see you first."

Eddie smirked, "Okay."

His jacket fell from his shoulders with ease, dropping to the floor. He lifted his arms, tugging at the back of his shirt by the neck, and shivered as the fabric pulled over his head and his arms freed. Balling up the shirt, he tossed it toward the pillows against the headboard. Goosebumps danced across his chest.

Josie had never seen Eddie shirtless, though now she was thrilled to be given the opportunity. There was something about his hair, how it rested on his shoulders and his bare chest exposing his tattoos. She sat up then, reaching to place her fingertips against the spider near his collarbone.

Eddie's heart rate increased with her touch, and he couldn't tear his gaze away from her body–what unmitigated perfection. She was everything he could have ever wanted; she was everything he was about to have, if only once in his pathetic life. Matching her movements, Eddie cupped her breasts in his hands, leaning in to capture his lips once more before reaching behind her and grasping her bum, pulling her back down to the bed. Her laughter goaded him, and the same primal lust took hold.

She had never assumed a single touch could make her body tingle and melt. How the hell was it possible? Josie had never felt anything quite like before; the attention Eddie was giving to her body. Each kiss leaves her skin on fire, burning like ice. Her fingers clawed at his jeans in frustration, huffing when he swatted her hands away. The irritation was short-lived, however, as he undid the clasp of his belt, sliding out of his pants. When she attempted to sit up to view him again, Eddie pushed her back down, his fingers delicately hooking themselves around her panties at the hips, pulling them off with ease when she lifted her bum. One final time, he leaned against her, pressing his want and desire against her thigh. She wriggled under him, begging for him. He obliged by plunging his fingers deep inside of her, using his thumb to locate and run circles around her button. Her moans tortured him.

"Jesus, Jos," his eyes now held the same thirst as hers. "You want this? You're positive–"

"I want you , Eddie."

That was enough for him.

Josie closed her eyes, feeling Eddie pull her to the foot of the bed. She anticipated it and waited patiently for his entrance into her. Yet instead, her heart jumped to her throat when she felt his mouth forming a kiss against her mound. That was something new.

"Eddie…wha–"

Her thighs were thrown over his shoulders then, giving way for him to lick at the flesh of her thighs, teasing her into fits of desperate cries for more, which nearly sent Eddie to the brink of unreason. Grinning from ear to ear, he bit the inside of her leg playfully before plunging his tongue between her folds, lapping at the hot, wet, delicious space found there. She was so smooth, so delectable, so….fucking hell.

For Josie, she gave way to a weakness within her she hardly knew. The sensation was boarding on ecstasy and madness. She cried out, her hands in his hair. Attempting to push his face away unsuccessfully, Josie surrendered her body to him. Her legs tightened around his head as the long strokes of his tongue left her shaking–her core tightening, begging for release.

"Don't forget how to breathe on me," Eddie teased her, feeling mighty pleased with himself. "Just relax, I'll get you there."

He waited for her until her body eased itself before continuing his craft. Feeling her coming closer with each stroke, bringing her to an unknown space, Eddie was ready to plunge her into euphoric waters, uncharted. Josie's moans became screams as his name left her lips. Her thighs closed tightly around his head, pulling him deeper, riding her climax to its end. She lay panting, her body limp.

Feeling Eddie crawl back up to her, Josie greeted him with a deep kiss. The taste of her feminine scent on his lips and tongue drove her mad–its sweetness mingled with salt, a tanginess.

"I've never–no one has ever done that before." She admitted, sheepishly.

"I've never done this before," Eddie swallowed hard, desperately searching her eyes, in the hopes she'd not judge him too harshly for it.

She scrunched her nose at him, trying to understand his meaning. When Josie had, her eyes went wide. "You're a–a–"

"Yeah," His voice held an edge of embarrassment. "Not that shocking. I'm the town freak, remember? Girls aren't lining themselves up to be with me."

Offering him a smile, Josie kissed his cheek, driving his hand back towards her womanhood. "I never would have guessed."

Eddie rolled his eyes, gingerly, playfully, dipping his fingers inside her wet core before brushing against her sensitive bud. He caught her sigh in his mouth, smiling against her shaking. It was his turn now.

Josie watched Eddie nervously, his hand stroking his shaft; he slowly positioned himself at her entrance, staring down at her. Josie's legs spread open for him, her gorgeous body beneath him panting–he noticed one of her curls caught on a hardened nipple. Eyes danced, begging for him. Fingers gripped the bedding, waiting for him.

"Josie…" He whispered her name, entering her slowly–deliberately.

Hot…smooth…wet…

"Holy shit."

Eddie pushed deeper, his mind exploding, rising and falling with the cosmos. Feeling her rock her hips against his body helped him find his rhythm, fully thrusting inside of her at a steady pace. He couldn't hold on much longer, it was just too good.

"Jo–Jos–" His breaths were ragged.

A familiar tingle coursed through her body as her hips rose to meet his thrusts, which were becoming hard, uncoordinated, and desperate.

"Me too, Eddie," She called for him, his breathing laboured as she focused on how he filled her and stretched her core. "Together, Eddie—"

Munson was running, diving, falling, flying…

He found a spot within her that made both of their toes curl with pleasure, and in two strokes, he felt her tightening around his cock, which sent him over the edge. Eddie squeezed her bottom as his seed poured inside of her. A booming echoed off the walls of the rooms–Eddie's pleasure made audible, which was beyond tantalizing to Josie's ears. He collapsed next to her.

"Did you…?" He was breathless, as was she.

"Yes… and for you? How was it?"

He laughed. "Best I've ever had."

They both lost themselves in laughter, pulling the blankets down and tucking themselves in the bed, now riding off the last of the adrenaline and sexual high.

For the last hour or so, she'd taken him on a journey only experienced in his dreams. What a fucking day it had been. What an awful, wretched, mind-numbing day. Yet, somehow, they managed to find some happiness in the wake of death and destruction. She may not be with him, but they had each other, and that wasn't about to change any time soon. They'd see whatever the hell this was till the very end. That much was certain.

"Eddie…Eddie, what's wrong?" She tried to pry herself from his grasp and began to panic when it only tightened around her. "Munson!?"

She broke free, pulling him away from her body and searching his own for any inclination of his state of being. When their eyes met, her heart became caught in her throat.

He was frowning at her, his brown eyes lit with passion and fear, mingling against his saddened face. It was those eyes that betrayed his expression. Eddie cupped her small face in his hands and swallowed hard. Although partially unsuccessful, he did his damn hardest not to cry as he gazed longingly into her blue eyes. There was no denying the bewilderment within Josie–Eddie could see she was as painfully unaware as she'd ever been when it came to him. His heart broke when he thought of the possibility of losing Josie without her ever knowing how he felt, which, in the end, drove his courage over the edge. When he spoke, his voice wavered and cracked.

"You have no idea, Josie Hopper," He began in a whisper, his calloused thumb brushing at the soft skin of her cheek. "What you do to me."

The way she was staring at him had his hands shaking now.

"This was never supposed to happen this way." He shifted his weight, unable to sit still.

"...Eddie?"

Fuck he loved when she said his name. He smiled and gave a stifled chuckle. He just had to say it, fucking flat out. "This is so fucking stupid," he muttered to himself under his breath. "Jesus H Christ…"

Eddie closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his hands now gently holding Josie's face. He knew nothing on earth or otherwise, that would stop him from protecting her: She was his Lúthien, and he'd walk into Mordor for her if she asked it of him.

He opened his eyes then and gave no chance for Josie to say a word. Eddie Munson closed the gap between them as quickly as he could, with the most tender gentleness in the world.

"I won't let anything happen to you, okay?"

Josie's voice squeezed out quietly. "Ditto."

A/N: Hope everyone is enjoying the story. Thanks for reading. Cheers. Xx