The thing about Steve was, as Eddie found out soon after they starting dating, was that he was a giver. Eddie had only to mention he wanted something and it would appear as if by magic. Which was great and all, but Eddie didn't need gifts, he only wanted Steve. Getting that through to him proved difficult.
As much as Steve wanted love, it was difficult to make him feel loved. But Eddie tried his hardest and most days, it got through.
So when Steve revealed a fantasy he'd always wanted to try, Eddie was going to make sure it happened.
His chance came months later when Eddie was looking through some brochures Nancy had left him for holiday ideas. There was one advertising cabins out in the middle of nowhere and, although he'd grown up on the edge of the woods, it wasn't something he particularly enjoyed. Eddie was about to throw the brochure aside when he noticed the cabin had a fireplace. It was perfect.
Within an hour, he had booked one, after inquiring if all the cabins had fireplaces. Fortunately they did.
Eddie didn't tell Steve why he'd chosen the cabins, only that it seemed interesting. He wanted it to be a surprise, and it was worth it to see the look of pure amazement on Steve's face when they walked through the door.
"Holy shit," Steve breathed, dropping the bags as his eyes found the fireplace.
"What do you think?" Eddie asked but he didn't need an answer. As he hooked his chin over Steve's shoulder, he could feel his cheeks burning and laughed, squeezing his side. "Later. Let's get settled in first."
Later came a lot sooner than Eddie thought. He'd barely set the bags down in the bedroom when he was spun around and lifted off his feet, barely having time to laugh before he was carried back into the main room and laid out in front of the fireplace.
Steve grinned down at him, stealing a quick kiss. "Wait there. Gotta turn it on first."
It took him a while, distracted by Eddie who couldn't wait and starting pulling off clothes whilst Steve fiddled with the fireplace. Afterwards, spent and sweaty in front of the warm flames, Eddie had to admit, Steve had a point.
"How did you know it would be so…" Eddie waved a hand vaguely and Steve raised an eyebrow.
"Romantic?"
He nodded, smiling when Steve kissed his chest. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Just a feeling. Thank you."
"I should be saying thank you, best orgasm ever."
"That's not what I meant."
"No?"
"No." Steve's eyes fluttered shut as Eddie ran a hand up his warm back, relaxing into the embrace. "When you asked if I had any fantasies, I'm sure this wasn't what you had in mind."
"Not really, kinda thought it'd be a cheer uniform or something."
"I've slept with enough cheerleaders," Steve chuckled. "I always thought it would be nice, like in the movies it always romantic when it happens. I just wanted to feel like that."
"Loved?"
"Yeah."
Even now, after all this time, Steve struggled with opening up about his emotions. Eddie always tried his best to validate them and little by little, Steve was improving.
"Do you feel loved now?"
Steve lifted himself up to look at Eddie properly and his smile was warmer than the firelight dancing across his handsome face. "Yes. I always do when I'm with you."
"Good, because I'm never gonna stop loving you." Eddie meant it and he sealed the words with another kiss, pulling Steve back into his arms.
