Welcome Home

Warning: Love Scene

The first sound of the day was Jason's blaring alarm, a sound Kelsi lamented despite its inevitability. She groaned as he silenced it and eased out of bed, his usual five a.m. alarm conflicting with hers that didn't sound until seven a.m..

"Better get used to it, baby," he whispered in the dark, "that's not going away anytime soon."

She offered a groggy chuckle and pulled the comforter back over her head, shutting out the cool Albuquerque spring morning. The sounds of Jason getting ready for work drifted through the soft sheets that she hid under. They were familiar sounds, his dresser drawers opening and closing, the clink of his belt buckle fastening, teeth being brushed, all part of the usual start to his day. She felt a surge of gratitude for how hardworking Jason was, dedicated to his trade to make sure they were provided for. Thoughts of inadequacies as her part-time job barely brought in half of what he made began to flood her mind until finally the bed dipped beside her. She fought the pull as he tried to lower the blankets from over her head, making a frustrated laugh escape his lips.

"Come out from under there, Kels," he said softly, reaching under the sheets to caress her thigh, "I'd like a kiss before I go if you don't mind."

She sighed softly as his hand inched further up her leg. He didn't always wake her up, but when he did, it was always worth it. "Alright alright," she said as she pulled the covers down, "don't start turning me on before you have to leave. That's just mean."

Jason leaned in with a wicked smile, trailing a few soft kisses from her jaw up to her ear. "Sorry to be so mean, but you know I love you," he whispered. "See you later, Kels, have a good day at work."

"I love you too, Gearhead, go save some cars," she replied before pulling him into a long and deep kiss.

He left with another soft goodbye, the sound of the front door locking following, and she rolled back over to sleep, her mind filled only with sweet memories of his lips on hers.


The afternoon sun slanted through the window of Baum's Music Shop, reflecting off the gleaming wall of guitars on display. Kelsi stretched subtly, her body protesting the night of restless sleep. The transition from part time summer days to the structured routine of a high school teacher was looming large, burrowing into her mind in the dark hours of the night. The morning had passed in a blur of piano lessons and customer interactions. She helped a nervous teenager choose a guitar, assisted an elderly gentleman with sheet music, and rang up a surprisingly steady stream of purchases. The constant noise and activity were unusual, making it difficult to find a moment to catch her breath. As the clock ticked towards the end of her shift, she wrapped up her final tasks and bid the shop farewell for another day.

Struggling up into Jason's Jeep, she was finally on her way home, though she carried a weight of guilt despite the comfortable drive. She still didn't have her own car, relying on his instead. It was a small thing, but it added to the feeling of being unsettled.

Pulling into the driveway of Jason's house, she glanced at her watch. Traffic hadn't been as bad at this hour and it was earlier than she thought. When her muscles reminded her how tense she was, she realized she had enough time for a quick yoga session. Rushing inside, she chose the sunlit living room to set up, pushing aside the coffee table to make room for her mat. As she unrolled it, she felt a bit hesitant. She felt hardly good at yoga, and a little self-conscious about practicing when Jason would be home soon. But she pushed the thought aside, determined to use this opportunity to centre herself.

She began with a few simple stretches, feeling the tension in her muscles slowly release. As she moved into a sun salutation, she focused on her breath, letting it flow in and out of her body. With each movement, she felt a sense of peace and clarity returning. So many things had changed lately, a new place to live, trying to decide what to carry into her new life and what to leave behind, and the ever looming stress of her new job in a few short months. But one thing was constant, the love that surrounded her. From her family, the friends she was reunited with, her familiar desert home, and most of all, Jason. She paused and took a moment to set her intention, focusing on how grateful she was before continuing her poses.


Jason's ears rang as he trudged up the path to his door. A particularly gruelling day of an entire engine disassembly had left him feeling drained, his brain fried and his fingers aching. As he fumbled with his keys, the usual anticipation of returning home felt muted, even though he knew Kelsi would be waiting for him today. He longed for the quiet solace of their home, a sanctuary from the relentless pace of work. The door swung open, and his gaze was immediately drawn to the transformed living room down the hall. The coffee table was pushed aside, a yoga mat unfurled in its place, bathed in the soft glow of a flickering candle.

And there, in the centre of it all, was Kelsi, balanced upside down in a headstand of sorts. Her face was a mask of concentration, her breath slow and steady as she maintained the challenging pose. The sight was breathtaking - her strength, her grace, her unwavering focus. Jason stopped, transfixed, the stresses of the day melting away as he watched her. The thud of the door closing caught her attention, but she didn't falter.

"Oh hey," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. With impressive control, she gracefully lowered her legs, landing lightly on her feet, her cheeks flushing with a delicate pink. "Sorry, is it 6 already?"

Jason blinked, snapping out of his trance. "No, 5:30, I got out a little early today," he said, his voice a little hoarse as he kicked off his work boots. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's okay," she replied, a shy smile playing on her lips. "I just... I didn't expect you yet, I'll get this all packed up."

He crossed into the room, stopping her before she blew out her candle. "No, please, keep at it. You're amazing," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I had no idea you were that good."

She ducked her head, her blush deepening. "It's great to relax. If you think I'm good, you should see Martha."

"Well, Martha's not here. Good thing too so I can enjoy watching you," he replied, his gaze lingering on her tight yoga pants and tank top. "I'll go shower up, don't let me stop you."

Her eyes met his, a flicker of vulnerability passing over her features. Then, slowly, she smiled. "Okay," she whispered, returning to her mat.

Jason drifted upstairs, letting the grime of the day get washed away in a hot shower and returned to settle onto the couch behind her, his eyes never leaving her as she resumed her poses. The room felt soothed by her motions and the soft ambient music playing from her phone, the slog of the day lifted from his shoulders, replaced by a sense of peace he had been craving all day.

He couldn't help but notice the subtle sensuality of her movements as she flowed from one pose to the next. The way her body bent and stretched, the muscles in her back and legs tensing with each graceful transition, the soft curve of her hip as she twisted into a Warrior pose - it was both mesmerizing and arousing. He shifted on the couch, a warmth spreading through him that had nothing to do with the flickering candle. It was a primal response, an appreciation for the beauty and power of the woman he loved. He cleared his throat, trying to dispel the sudden tightness in his chest. "You know," he said, his voice a little rougher than he intended, "some of those poses... they're pretty distracting."

Kelsi paused, a playful smirk curving her lips. "Oh, really?" she teased, arching her back in a graceful cat-cow stretch. "Which ones?"

Jason swallowed hard, his gaze tracing the line of her spine. "All of them," he admitted, his voice barely a low groan.

She laughed, the sound like music in the candlelit room. "Well, then," she said, rising to her feet and turning towards him, "maybe you should join me. Might not be so distracted if you're struggling to balance."

He reached out, his fingers brushing against her warm skin. "Tempting," he murmured, his eyes darkening. "But if I join you at anything it's going to be either dinner or something between those sheets upstairs."

Kelsi leaned in, her lips brushing his ear. "Maybe later, I'm pretty hungry actually," she replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So how about after yoga, and dinner." She was about to turn back to her mat when he caught her hand and pulled her onto his lap.

"Or maybe now," he breathed as he grasped the back of her neck and pulled her into a deep kiss, the fire between them igniting instantly. Their kiss deepened, a symphony of soft moans and whispered breaths filling the room. Jason's strong arms held Kelsi close, their bodies molding together. Every touch, every taste, every shared breath set off another spark, fuelling the fire that burned brightly between them. But as the flames threatened to rage out of control, a flicker of reason returned. Kelsi pulled back slightly, her chest heaving, her lips swollen.

Jason's gaze held hers, his eyes dark with desire, yet a tender smile played on his lips. "Dinner?" he murmured, his voice husky.

Kelsi nodded, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Dinner sounds good," she echoed, reluctantly disentangling herself from his embrace. As Jason headed to the kitchen, Kelsi gathered her yoga mat, carefully rolling it up and placing it in the corner. She blew out the candle, its warm glow replaced by the soft light in the kitchen. She joined Jason at the counter, finding him chopping vegetables with a newfound focus. "Need some help?" she asked, leaning against the counter.

"Always," he replied, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "But first, another kiss?" Kelsi laughed, stepping closer. "I can never say no to you, Gearhead." Their lips met again, a gentle reminder of the passion that simmered beneath the surface. But this time, the kiss was slower, more tender. As they finally broke apart, Kelsi nudged Jason out of the way with her hip and took over the chopping board, her fingers working in rhythm with his as they prepared their meal. The kitchen filled with the comforting sounds of sizzling vegetables and laughter, a sign of the easy companionship they shared. The aroma of homemade Thai food filled the room, a fragrant blend of lemongrass and ginger as the sauce simmered and the noodles bubbled vigorously on the stove. Tonight, they were more than just lovers; they were partners, sharing a space, a meal, and whatever the future held. They sat beside each other at the island as they often did, the reward of their efforts steaming on their plates.

"So," Jason began, "first week back is almost over, how are you feeling now that you're out of New York?"

Kelsi's eyes softened with relief. "It's so good! When we were just sitting out on the patio last night, enjoying a drink and we could hear the night critters instead of the drone of the city, it was so nice," she admitted, twirling a forkful of noodles. "Sales is still a challenge for me at the store, but I'm doing better."

Jason smiled. "That great, babe. Always room for improvement right?"

"Absolutely," she said. "What about you? How's that online course?"

"Good," he replied, his tone thoughtful. "The information is getting really intense, but I'm learning a lot. Just when you think you know something, there's more to uncover about an engine."

They chatted animatedly, their conversation weaving through their individual yet entangled lives, and the occasional playful tease.

"Are you sure you don't mind me throwing a party tomorrow?" Kelsi asked.

"Of course not, it'll be fun, why?" Jason asked.

"Well as nice as it'll be to see all our friends, I guess it was my idea and I know this isn't really my house to just make decisions like that. I don't want you to feel like I'm taking over the place, throwing parties that you don't want, since that's what I did right after you gave me a key—"

Jason leaned over and stopped her rambling with a strong kiss. He broke away to see her blushing but relieved face, like she knew why he had done it. "Honey, everything you just said, it makes me think you don't really understand how I feel about us living together." He turned on the stool to face her and drew her hands to his chest. "Kelsi, this isn't my place anymore, it's ours now. You've gotta trust me when I say I love how you're slowly turning this house into a home." He watched her eyes drift around the kitchen and living room, noticing her decorative touches of artwork and greenery that he was referring to. She had spruced up the plain grey decor, bringing some life and style to his utilitarian space.

"I just still feel bad…" she said with a deep breath, "I don't contribute as much with my job, not until I start teaching in the fall."

"Kels, I was doing just fine before you got here and you're no slouch. You work hard too and I don't care how much your paycheque is. We're doing this together, we're splitting everything and it seems to be working just fine."

"There's still the matter of me needing a car, it's going to take a while before I can save up for that," she mumbled, "you can't keep driving the Mach 1, it's so bad on gas."

"I know, I'm keeping my eye out for for you, we'll find something. For now, you just plan that welcome home party for all of our friends. You're so good at throwing parties, I love being there for them."

"Thanks, J, don't worry, I haven't broken the budget on the food, that is the beauty of potluck. Saves more cash for the beer."

They laughed together as they finished up their last bites and cleaned up, stumbling around each other as they packed their lunches and washed the dishes, their new routine of their life together gradually falling into place. They decided to take in a movie tonight, though most of it was spent making out on the couch like a couple of lovesick teenagers. When the credits rolled, Kelsi jumped to her feet and quickly folded the knit throw to lay back over the couch.

"PJ time!" she exclaimed, dashing for the stairs, eager to get into her cozy soft pyjamas.

Jason chuckled, shaking his head. "Why bother?" he muttered to himself as he followed her up to their room where she was already digging out a suit of soft cotton pyjamas in a forest green. He stripped his own clothes and pulled on a pair of light track pants before dropping his wallet and keys into their usual places on his dresser. Kelsi went on ahead of him to the bathroom, the commonplace sounds of her nightly routine drifting to his ears, but it was the sound of her singing softly to herself that drew him to follow. He leaned on the doorway and watched her for a moment, taking in how cute she looked as usual.

"You know," he teased, "I'm pretty sure that's not how you're supposed to brush your teeth."

She shot him a look, rolling her eyes before she spit in the sink. "Well alright, get in here and show me how it's done then," she countered. Side-by-side at the bathroom sink, their reflections looked comfortable, each doing their own thing right alongside the other.

Kelsi carefully applied a leave-in conditioner, her beautiful curls needing more attention than Jason realized. "Don't even think about it," she warned, catching Jason's wandering eyes in the mirror.

"What?" he chuckled after he rinsed, "I was just admiring your technique."

"Uh-huh," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Keep admiring from a distance, mister."

He shook his head and stepped closer. "At least a short distance is still a 'distance'," he joked, making her deliberately slow her process, each stroke of her hands overly meticulous to heighten his impatience. "Geez, hurry up, baby," he whispered, leaning in to nuzzle her neck. "I was hoping you'd show me some of those yoga moves again."

She giggled, swatting him playfully. "Go away, you pest. I'm trying to tame this mane."

"I like it wild," he whispered, gently biting her ear as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

A shiver ran down Kelsi's spine, a reminder of the passion that still remained from earlier. She leaned back into his embrace, savouring the warmth of his bare chest. "Alright, alright," she said, turning to face him, "let's go to bed." They padded into the bedroom, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm hue on the walls. Jason slipped under the covers first, reaching out to pull Kelsi close when she slid in beside him. "Scooch those broad, sexy shoulders over," she teased, playfully shoving him, "you always take over the whole bed."

He laughed and pulled her closer. "Never. It's a little cool tonight, we should stay close," he said, his voice regaining its husky tone that he'd abandoned after their electric kiss on the couch. "I want you, baby." He paused as he took a deep breath, a long inhale of her familiar scent. "And I think you want me."

"J, come on," she replied, trying to hide the rising desire in her voice, "we have work tomorrow, and I'm already in my cozy pjs."

He leaned over her and began slipping the buttons open on her shirt. "And when has that ever stopped us?" He leaned down and kissed her lips softly, "oh right, never." She sighed as her shirt fell open and his hand delved into a generous massage of her breast. "I love this, your nipples puckering, it's like they're begging to be kissed." Leaning down, he drew one tight bud into his mouth.

Sliding her fingers through his dark shaggy hair, Kelsi held him close, gasping at the sensation that ran straight to her core. He sucked harder, making her pant as moisture began to gather between her thighs. Smiling at the effect he had on her, he slid his hand behind her soft pyjamas and her panties. At the first thrust of his fingers, her hips arched off the bed and she spun out into a whirling climax, the sucking sensation having already brought her to the edge. He continued to gently caress her as she came down from the high, her body melting with pleasure.

"What are you in the mood for tonight, baby?" she asked breathlessly, hoping she could return the good loving he'd already lavished on her.

"A bit of you, a bit of me," he answered, "a bit of me in you." She giggled along with him and surrendered to his gentle touch again. "After watching you do that hot yoga, seeing how powerful and graceful you looked, I can't explain it, but I just want you so bad tonight."

"You know I'm all yours," she breathed, shallow and ragged as her womb began to contract.

Jason felt her tighten around his fingers, his steady rhythm deepening with each thrust. "Damn, Kels," he moaned, "you're about to snap again, I can feel it. Come again for me, honey."

She writhed and moaned, somewhat frustrated that he was pleasuring her so good but she could hardly return anything. When she'd caved to another climax, her hand immediately went digging into the nightstand drawer, anticipation fuelling her rapid movements.

"J, get that on already," she insisted, ripping the foil packet open before she passed it to him.

He complied with shaking hands, entering her swiftly with one strong stroke. "I'm here, Kels, right where you want me." She gasped, her head rolling to the side as it often did. Jason looked on, wonder filling his eyes even though he'd seen this sight so many times. "Wow, look at that," he whispered, brushing back her hair that had fallen over her cheek.

"What, baby?" she moaned.

He lowered his lips to her neck, covering her skin in soft kisses. She pulled him closer, her hips arching into his as he thrust hard. "I love it when your body responds in ways you can't control. Your eyes fluttering, your head falling to the side like that. It tells me I must be doing something good for you."

She paused to catch her breath and looked square into his eyes. "Baby, you're always so good to me." She gasped when he delved deeper still. "Every time you look at me, every time you— ah! That right there."

"I know you love that," he grinned and pressed as deep and hard as he could until he shuddered with his own release, bringing her over the edge again. He softly whispered her name, letting more sensual compliments drift into her ears that made her moan in contentment.

"Oh J, seriously," she breathed as she rolled her eyes. "You can't possibly mean that."

"Believe it, baby," he said with a sly grin, "you're perfect in every little way." With that, he left to deal with the condom and picked her pyjamas up off the floor. "Want these back?"

She shook her head with a devious smile and motioned for him to snuggle in. They settled into their usual positions, Kelsi nestled against Jason's chest, his arm wrapped securely around her. Their legs intertwined, a tangle of limbs that spoke of a deep connection.

"Hey, J?" Kelsi's voice broke the silence.

"Mmm?" he mumbled sleepily.

"I love these nights with you." she whispered, snuggling closer. "I think I sleep better after you've made love to me."

A smile spread over Jason's lips in silent agreement. "Me too, Kels."