*Mature Content*

<>

Eighteenth of February: Sunday

The number of times Steven had caught flights to or from Boston's International airport within the last six months was ridiculous.

He hoped it would be the last personal adventuring for a while, but the band had touring exploration to accomplish, and he knew he would be on planes one night to the next to promote their success globally and meet the fans.

For now though, Steven had the woman he loved by his side, and he had one more surprise up his sleeve.

"No Joe to pick us up?" Leah asked, holding onto his arm.

The flight was decent, both of them sleeping for the majority, and it was now mid morning on a Sunday.

"Nope, not this time."

Steven led her past the taxis, towards the long stay where he had left his car. He was mindful to keep his head down, subconsciously gripping the handle of his suitcase tighter when a few people glanced in his direction and took an extra moment to contemplate if they recognised him.

Breaking into fame was still an adjustment, not that he disliked it, and he was hoping to enjoy it more once his personal life was sorted.

"How is he?"

Guilty for the lack of conversation, Steven forced himself to perk up. The interest on Leah's face eased his worries to an extent, but reminding himself they were together, and in this together, was the ice breaker from nerves.

"Joe is hopelessly in love," Steven said, enlightening the subject of his best friend's blossoming relationship.

"Really?"

"Yep. Completely smitten."

As it happened, it was exactly how he felt, but unlike Joe, who was definitely considering proposing to Billie much to the band's disagreement that it was too soon, marriage was not a priority on his mind.

Though, the thought of getting down on one knee in the most perfect setting, and slipping an engagement ring with the finest cut diamonds and a personal engraving on Leah's finger, making his promises in his scuffed speech if he wasn't choked up by tears, gave him possibilities of the future.

"Aww, are you jealous it's not you?"

A few blinks set Steven to the present where he wasn't exchanging vows, but he had heard, and he very much saw the fake sympathy pushing out Leah's bottom lip.

He was more than happy to play along too.

"Oh, we fuck on the side, y'know? Blowjob here and there. Keeps us sexually..." He tried thinking of the word, slowing to a stop in front of his car to find his keys.

"Content?"

Steven made a disapproving face at the suggestion, and continued to take the task of finding the correct description to back up his point seriously.

"No, like...inert," he decided, satisfied with his choice. He pushed the suitcase handle down. "Sexually stable."

The car was loaded up, and Steven's routine of lifting weights, push-ups and pull-ups, was actually paying off for more than just his desire to improve his physical appearance.

It was also a lot easier to hold his daughter by her ankles and dangle her upside down for long periods of time...

"Well, if you ever feel the need to blow off steam, I won't be mad if it's with Joe."

"Please, you sound like the band." Steven grimaced in protest, opening the driver's door. "'Ooh, Joven confirmed!' Every time we hug, or smile at each other."

It was only faint, but Leah was laughing when she joined him in the car.

"That's because you two have a special relationship," she said, continuing to patronise.

Steven wanted to dispute, but nothing would deny the love he had for Joe Fucking Perry. They were two of a kind, and they made great songs when they were together, one of which was being played on the radio when he turned the engine on.

"Hey, it's you!"

"Huh, so it is. Did you buy the record?"

"Yeah," Leah replied, adjusting the volume knob up a notch. He would have preferred for it to stay low, but it was the saxophone solo of Same Old Song and Dance so he couldn't complain too much about hearing his voice. "And I'm so glad you sang with your real voice. Not like when you did Mama Kin, or One Way Street for me."

Steven feigned his hurt.

"You didn't like my ghetto voice? When I seeeng a-like-a theees!"

"Is that what you call it?"

"Keep in ta'mm Ma'a Kin."

"Yeah!" Leah laughed, like she was genuinely shocked he had different singing voices. "The lyrics just merge together."

Steven navigated the parked cars, holding a smile to himself because of the rambling that had begun next to him. He got away with turning the volume down on the radio whilst Leah talked about discovering what the lyrics actually were when she read the album sleeve, then something about being undecided with a favourite song, but that Dream On was edging to her top spot due to the small matter of fact it was released on her birthday.

"...choose the setlists on tour- wait, why're you smiling?"

"You, Leah," Steven said, like it was the easiest thing in the world. "You just make me smile."

<>

Just over an hour south of the airport, and Boston in general, was a historic sea-side town called Duxbury.

When Steven took the exit off the highway a few minutes back, he was giddy with nerves as he focused on remembering the way to the marshy hills a few miles in from the coast. He'd driven there a couple of times recently, but until he was on the definitive road away from the busier centre, he wasn't going to relax.

The entire journey was about music, and Steven gave his backstory about not liking his voice when he was younger, hence the ghetto on a lot of covers, and Leah being in shock that he felt that way. She then asked about touring, to which he provided copious details like he was in a dream, and before he knew it, a barrier of developed trees filled up their surroundings on either side of the road to hide expensive homes.

Home stretch in sight, Steven sat back, chewing his gum that he had popped into his mouth not that long ago.

"Can you close your eyes?" he asked, the strong mint flavour hitting the back of his throat.

"Why?" Leah returned, also having accepted his offer of chewing gum.

Steven should have expected the reluctance, but cruising at forty was taking them closer to the destination, and he had about a minute before he had to slow down and take a turn.

"Please don't ask questions. Just close them?"

It took three attempts, three pleading glances, for the sigh and a successful palm to cover her eyes.

"Fine," Leah conceded. "But I already know you're taking me somewhere different, because I don't recognise where we are."

Steven was silent, deciding it was better not to speak in case he gave something away, and slowed down the car to take the next right turn which happened to be a private road to a cul de sac.

Just a couple of neighbours' homes appeared on the left and right, but it was the driveway at the end that revealed the final structure within the peaceful nature of Duxbury.

Heart pounding away, Steven parked up in front of the double garages of the colonial architectural style home, where the hint of pale blues coloured the front cladding, and decorative shutters bordered the windows.

"Can I open my eyes now?"

"NO! Don't peek!" Steven rushed out in a panic, lurching across to press his hand against Leah's that threatened to slip. "Please, just keep them closed for a bit longer."

"Whyy?"

"Because it's a surprise!"

"A surprise!? Don't you think I've had enough?"

As much as Leah made a point, Steven wanted a reaction that he would remember forever, and he had high hopes this would be the best one yet.

"This is the last one. Promise," he said, reaching into the pocket behind her seat.

"You better," Leah muttered, palm secured over her eyes.

A keyring loop was pinched between his fingers, and Steven managed to clasp it in the safety of his hand before the key rattled and he was thrown more questions.

He didn't speak, and he watched closely for an appearance of angry eyes through the front windscreen when he jogged around to the passenger side, but he should never have doubted himself to have his surprise ruined.

"I don't like this, Steven," Leah said, keeping her eyes shut. He had taken both of her hands in his and was guiding her slowly down the asphalt driveway. "I'm scared you're going to walk me to the edge of a cliff."

"What?" Steven was laughing, as he encouraged a few more steps. "You're being silly."

Leah wasn't impressed, and displeasure was written all over her face, but she didn't have to put up with being in the dark for much longer.

"Just a bit- yep, right there. Perfect."

Content with the position she stood in, Steven let go of her shoulders.

The house was on the right, mini stone walls hugging flower beds, and the mowed front lawn was separated by the steps up to the path that swooped round to the front door.

It was a grand view of the front of their home, and it just so happened to be a beautiful day to reveal it.

"Can I open my eyes now?" Leah asked, gesturing to her face.

Steven was already taking a deep breath, chewing on his lip. He was nervous, doubts circling his mind, but he was ready to give his permission.

"Yeah, you can."

He watched the scrunch of her face relax, the blinks to adjust to the surroundings, and the confusion land on him.

"Welcome to our home," he announced, breaking into a shy smile.

Leah opened her mouth to speak, but nothing partnered the frown, or the weak finger lifted in the direction of the house like she couldn't quite believe what she had heard.

His heart was spurring him on to explain.

"I know we didn't get to see it together, but I couldn't say no to this place- this was only the second house I viewed too!" His nervous laugh didn't make him cringe. Flustered for rambling, but he could cope with that. "I got the keys about two weeks ago, a-and most of my things are still in boxes, but I figured that way we can decide on décor together. Oh, and I haven't stayed a night here because of the tour, but I didn't want to without you anyway."

Steven took her hands, thumbing across her wrists that the rolled sleeves of her hoodie exposed. Tracing the skin and the texture of thin hairs the further he stretched his thumbs.

"This is...this is our home?" Leah refined, the innocent confoundment only making him smile wider.

"Yeah," he confirmed softly. "Our home."

"I-I...how?"

"Well...money, but I'm officially broke for now so furnishing wise-" Steven sucked in a stream of air through his teeth, a hand gravitating to the back of his neck. "-not gonna be much, but the kitchen is all new, and my couch is in there and-"

"You really own this?" Leah gripped onto his open corduroy jacket, keeping them close. "You bought this house?"

"Yes!" Steven said. He tried to make it sound firm, but he just ended up trying not to laugh at the questions. "But I would like to put it in your name too."

"Are you...are you being serious?"

Steven fished out the keys from his pocket and dangled them in front of her face, simultaneously flicking his gum to the other side of his mouth that hadn't really let up with his smile.

"Leah, this is our house. This is where we live. I'm not messin' with you."

Finally, his convincing worked, and Leah fluttered a smile with a shock of air escaping her lips. This was the reaction he had dreamed of, and it was only going to get better once he pointed out all of the features.

"There's a swimming pool over there," Steven said, tipping his head in the direction.

"There's a pool!?"

Excited footsteps were left to follow, and when Leah turned back to him, gushing about the scenery with a huge smile, questioning this and that, Steven nodded a confirmation, and happily provided the details of this chapter in their lives.

The outside exploration ended on the eight steps at the end of the driveway where a decently sized garden with a couple of apple trees, and salt marshes bordered their property.

"-and the view! It doesn't seem real!"

Steven wrapped his arms around Leah's waist, briefly following her gaze to the meanders of the river that emptied out into Duxbury Bay just a couple of miles into the distance, but opting to press a long kiss to her cheek.

"You should see it from upstairs," he mumbled, chin resting against the side of her head.

The hug gave them the warmth the sun lacked, but with Leah leaning back into his chest, and spidering her hands on top of his own until they clasped over her stomach, Steven could feel nothing even close to an unwanted chill.

"When's Liv back?"

"She'll be here in..." Steven flicked his left wrist up, where his watch was partnered by two bracelets he had to shake off. "About an hour, or just over. My parents will want to help unpack a few things, so they'll probably stay for dinner. Is that alright?"

Leah gave a slow nod, but by the mischievous hint of her smile and wandering eyes, she had something else on her mind.

"How many rounds do you think we can get in?"

Steven's breathing hitched for a second. Anticipation swimming low in his stomach, his arms loosened.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Is there a bed?"

"Yeah, that's one of the few-" Steven stopped. His frown morphed into a lustful realisation that he needed to be on his A-game. "Oh, Leah..."

A hand found its way to cup his crotch, a firm squeeze that made Steven clamp the tasteless gum between his teeth.

"Only if you want to," Leah directed, close to his ear.

He should have been embarrassed about the start of a reaction when she let go, but that confidence would be rude to deny.

Without a word, Steven grabbed her wrist, and there was a huge rush to get inside.

Fumbling keys, swearing when he dropped them, because Leah was rubbing him through his jeans and muffling her laughter into his jacket, was not helping him focus.

"Do you like that, Stevie?"

"Yes," he moaned, letting go of the key jammed in the lock to squeeze her hand over his bulge. "Hnn-stop teasing me."

Leah was first in, nipping a kiss on his jaw, and she had a good look in all directions of the interior like she hadn't just given a guy a boner, because Steven hadn't even stepped inside their new home, and he was fighting against one.

He'd undone the button and pulled down the zip to give himself more room, standing on the backs of his shoes to kick them off, but the fact Leah flicked his lip with her fingernail so she could take the gum out of his mouth, meant a kiss was guaranteed to keep them both in the zone.

"I hate you," Steven growled, trapping her against the bannister. He gripped two of the posts either side of her, and ran his tongue up the column of her throat.

"Your dick doesn't think so," Leah countered, scrunching up his jacket low on his back to pull him closer.

It was useless. As soon as their noses were touching, lips a nudge away from each other, he gave up trying to think of reasons why he hated her, because there weren't any.

"Neither do I," Steven muttered, into a long, hard kiss.

They made out in the foyer for ages, moans escaping when desperate hands pushed up clothes to feel skin, but they always ended up being pressed together for the extra flow of heat and an impending release to chase.

"I'm actually gonna finish." Steven broke away, catching a breath of air. "We need to go upstairs."

"Then finish. Don't hold back."

He opened his mouth to protest, but when he was being pulled back by the waistband of his boxers, with a hand slipping behind his neck to guide him down into a kiss, the wrong answer of waiting was swiftly muted and muffled.

He stumbled closer, helping Leah grip his cock properly, and directed the kiss in the needy way he wanted it.

Touches were faster and sloppier, and Steven couldn't find an alternative to hold back when lips were on his neck and jaw, and there were whispers in his ear to cum in her hand. He could teach her pace another time, hopefully until he was begging, but he wasn't going to deny himself the pleasure to bust a quick load.

"Wonderful," Leah commented, waving all of her fingers on her glistening palm.

"You told me to," Steven defended, pulling up his jeans.

"I know."

When he looked up, she was on the first step of the wrap-around stairs, and experimenting with a taste of his cum. He may have been on cool down and wasn't quite ready to get it up again, but the approving noise, and her tongue taking a more confident lick as she ascended up the stairs, was a sight he would love to see again.

He couldn't wait for the moment she decided to wrap her lips around his cock; he wouldn't refuse her again, that was for sure.

"Which one is...?"

Steven pointed all the way to the left, jogging after her.

"That one."

A few precious seconds of plotting how he wanted to approach the multiple rounds of sex, had given Steven a few ideas, but he wasn't expecting the flame to burn out so soon between them.

"I'm gonna have a quick shower," Leah said, standing with her back to the master bathroom.

Ready to take his jeans off for good, because he had assumed she was just taking a look at the bathroom from how she leaned in, Steven wasn't pleased with the change of plans.

"No no," he chided, walking over from the bed where they should have been. "You're not doing this again."

"Why? Are you hard already?"

Despite not needing to follow the glance down to his dick, it still made him pause.

"Well, no not yet, but you're wasting time, and I thought you wanted multiple rounds."

It seemed to win her over, or remind her of what she had said.

"Fine, but no shower sex." Leah pointed at him firmly. "We'll waste too much water."

Disappointed, Steven followed her into the bathroom, saw the Ikea bag he had abandoned on the floor a few weeks ago, and formulated a counter offer.

"You know I can make you cum in less than a minute, and then you don't have to worry about being environmentally friendly when we're already showering together. C'mon baby, it's a sexy experience with our names written all over it."

Leah washed her hands with the soap in response, which was fair considering he had made quite a mess.

"I'm sure you could, but I have never got my head around how it works in a slippery, confined space," she explained, shaking out her hands since there wasn't a towel available.

"It's cock in pussy in extra moist conditions. Nothin' more to it."

Leah blanked her face, beginning to shrug an arm out of her hoodie.

"You know what I mean."

Steven did understand. The position required skill if they both wanted an orgasm, and it was easier to be on his knees giving her head, or using the shower head to direct the stream of pressurised water into her pussy, both of which he was more than willing to do, but Leah seemed adamant that sex was off limits.

He would try something though, it was in his raunchy nature, and since he hadn't explicitly been told he couldn't shower with her, the invitation remained.

So, he took off his army green corduroy jacket with a black velvet collar and placed it on the marble countertop that surrounded the 'his and her' washbasins, and his unbuttoned jeans followed the same fate. 

Watching Leah undressing in front of him was an added bonus too, and she may have been wearing comfy clothes for the flight, only now exposing her beautiful figure that his hands yearned to map out, but he thought she had looked incredibly cute, especially when he managed to snap a photo of her sleeping on the plane with her hood up.

"Stop smirking."

Once naked, Steven relaxed his smirk that had been stimulated by the view of underwear hugging her arse and the pretty clasp of her bra.

The shower turned on.

"I'm not," he defended, crouching in front of the Ikea bag. He grabbed the necessary products from his washbag, and cradled them in his hands.

When he stood though, Leah was stripped naked, flinging her bra close to his feet. Steven had to curl his toes to try and stop his penis associating everything with sex.

"Are you getting in, or are you just going to stare at me?"

Steven didn't need to answer that. He was in the shower with her in a heartbeat, and putting the products in the alcove.

Leah stood under the stream first, and she was watched in adoration whilst she wet, and slicked back her hair.

"Oi, get your head out of the gutter. We're not having sex."

Steven snapped his eyes up from their wander down her chest, aware of his right hand that had wrapped around his cock to encourage the blood flow in a success to make himself hard again.

"I-I know," he stuttered, taking his hand away. "I know."

She gestured to switch, and switch they did.

Steven let the water run over his body, trying to relax in the heat with rolls of his shoulders, but pushing his wet hair out of his face and pinching the water from his eyes to the sound of a clicking lotion bottle to remind him he wasn't alone, did not make his erection go away.

"Come here," Leah said, evening out the clear, blue tinted body wash in her palms.

He had dreamed of this, but the reality of her hands rubbing over his slick chest and arms, was so much better than his imagination.

It took an extra dollop to do all of his back, in which Leah pressed her tits against him, and she slowed a couple of rubs to wash under his arms on her return to his chest. Steven knew his face had contorted with pleasure and his lips had fallen open with graceful noises when his tight muscles were massaged, and those lingering touches were making him extremely horny.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Steven guessed presumptuously, his primal instinct wanting to trap her against the tiles and fuck her silly.

Ignoring him, Leah washed her hands around him, deliberately standing close enough for his dick to rest against the inside of her hip bone, but he didn't stop her delicate fingertips reaching up to pad along his jawline.

Steven savoured every moment of her lips in the soft kiss she initiated, took the chance to try and push his tongue into her mouth and hold her waist, but she pulled away, shooed him with a crooked smile to stand under the stream again, like she was ready to wash the rest of his horny body.

Having to feel her hands on his legs, or seeing her lower to her knees so her face was in the perfect proximity for a blowjob, was torture. He was losing his mind by the second, and he moaned his desperation when his pubes were scratched, balls were rubbed, and cock thoroughly cleaned like he was having lube applied.

"Leaahh, please." The water streamed down his face and his hair needed re-settling, but Steven was too turned on to care. "Let me feel you."

"Your turn," she said, placing the bottle in his hand.

Rudely ignored, the shower cubicle steaming up nicely, he decided it was only fair to carry forward the same intricacies of washing that had been done to him.

They switched, Leah making sure her body was wet again, and then Steven got to work cleaning her upper half. His hands excessively rubbed her breasts, though she remained composed to the pinches to her nipples, so he switched to a ghost of his knuckles pathing down her stomach and back up.

Leah shifted, smoothing her hair back, blinking the droplets from her black lashes, and he smiled at the loss of her composure.

Her legs were next and Steven dropped to his knees, but he didn't dare look up at the pussy that his cock craved to be rammed inside, because feeling her hand on his shoulder when he lifted up each of her feet in turn to clean, was houndering him harder.

It had been surprisingly silent between them, but Steven had a feeling that was about to change. He massaged the dark hair on her pubic bone that was softer with the slightly longer length, ghosted her clit with his middle finger, and then slid his lotion-covered palm confidently between her legs.

She was wet already, but Steven knew it was more than just warm water being rubbed on his palm. His tongue escaped his lips at the thought, his cock throbbed needily, and he couldn't take the sexual tension anymore.

"Steven!"

Smirking, he curled his middle finger further into her cunt and guided her back to the tiled wall. The warm water hit his left shoulder during the change in their positions, and then proceeded to pester the centre of his back.

The steam swirled and floated the patience away.

"This isn't sex." His wet mouth hovered over her neck as he continued to lazily move his wrist.

"Yes, it is! You're fingering me!"

"Doesn't have the word sex in it."

Leah reached down to peel his hand away, but never quite succeeded.

"Let me return the favour," Steven pursued calmly, trailing his mouth up and over her chin. He even placed his other palm on the tiles next to her head for stability.

"No."

"No?" He pumped his finger, removed it, and then dove right back but with two to stretch her pussy. "So you don't want this?"

"I-I...no."

Steven knew she was lying. He saw how hard she tried to not close her eyes so they stayed on his, how every time he nudged her lips she denied kissing him back and muted a moan, but he accepted her decision, and pulled out his fingers.

He stepped back under the shower stream, sucking them into his mouth, and traced the underside of his own cock with his other fingers when he tasted her infused arousal on his tongue.

"W-Wait." Leah lifted a hand through her hair, and did not make her glance down his body subtle. "Yes."

Steven raised an eyebrow, lowering his fingers from his lips.

"Yes? You do want me to finger you?"

The struggle of listening to him say such vulgar things was plastered in every detail on her face, from how she pressed her eyes closed, to gravitating a hand towards her pussy where she almost touched herself in front of him.

He absolutely loved it.

"Just say the words," Steven encouraged, pushing the escaping curls flopping down away from his forehead. His mission to trap her against the tiles and fuck her was edging into reality as soon as his hands slid down her waist. "You know I'll make it worth it."

"Please," Leah whined, rubbing her leg up the back of his calf. "You win. Just...fuck me."

Steven smiled victoriously into her collarbone he had sucked with a kiss, already teasing the head of his cock gracefully up to her clit. Her legs were spread for him to do as he pleased, and with shower water hitting his back and making a thin puddle around their feet, he tapped the back of her thighs with his hands.

Leah understood to hold onto his slippery shoulders, and Steven lifted her up, pinning her as comfortably as he could so her back was against the tiles.

He kept his balance steady, arms taut holding her up, and then slackened one wrist to push his cock in place to slide into one of his favourite places in the world.

"Slide down," he said, gently reaching around to disrupt the strong clamp of legs just above his ass.

"But I-I'll fall."

"No, you won't," he assured, fingertips nudging to secure an inch or two inside safety. It was already taking his breath away. "I've got you."

With a lower chance of slipping out, and the first taste of what was to come, Steven lowered his chin and started kissing her chest. His attention rewarded him with his wet hair unstuck from his face, bunched at the back of his neck, and Leah loosening the tiresome squeeze of her legs.

His thickness stretched her pussy, though he was soon tightly clamped in heat, and his hands scooped firmly under her thighs to guide her legs around him so he could hold her steady.

"You okay, baby?" he checked, listening to the beautiful sounds elicited from them both, echoing around the bathroom.

Arms around his neck, Leah gently bumped his forehead. Their torsos were glued together with water droplets littering their skin, deep breaths a fraction out of time, and for some reason, she started to be amused.

"Yeah, but now what?"

"Well, I fuck you," Steven responded, flexing his fingers into her thighs to enable to him to drag his hips back. "Like...this."

Usually, he wouldn't start in this position- it was more of a finale in his eyes- but they were both so turned on, he was confident he could make her cum in about a minute, two tops, and not have an awkward shivering end with sticky, wet hair clinging to their shoulders.

"Ste- oh, Steven..."

Hearing his name chanted in sex was an ego boost, a confirmation that he could use his dick effectively, but with Leah, it made him desperate for him to hear she loved him too.

He wondered when it would be, how long he would have to wait, and he held onto the times where he was certain she had been so close to returning his declaration. Whether it was a flash in her eyes, if she trailed off saying his name, or when she kept stuttering with the 'I's' and 'you's' where love should always be in the middle.

Like now, how their bodies moved in sync with rolling hips, squeezing fingers as encouragement, curling toes with pleasure, and Leah nudging his parted lips that trembled with her name into a kiss, made him want to tell her how much he loved her again, and again, and again.

The water hitting Steven's back was repetitively numb, but that didn't matter when his cock was slowly getting balls deep on each thrust.

He was on the verge of dirty talking his way into her orgasm, but he was too much of a brat to not state the obvious.

"What was that about not having shower sex?"

"Shut uuup," Leah moaned, feeding her fingers through his hair.

Steven didn't shut up at all. In fact, he pushed her back against the tiles, and went porn-like with his moans which matched the faster pace to finish.

He bust his second load of the day, ejaculating freely, and was surprised by the jerks of Leah's hips after he had stilled inside, which sent her over the edge without the need for his thumb he was ready to put in use.

After watching her orgasm wash over her face, Steven guided her legs to the floor, and their beating hearts recovered together standing under the shower stream.

"You ruined it with your exaggerated moaning," Leah said, pushing her hair back.

"I beg to differ."

Steven pulled her in for a kiss by her waist, smiled when she gently held his face and rubbed a knuckle on the stubble under his chin, and then they mutually washed the sex off their bodies.

As for hair washing, they agreed to do each other's, after a promise there wouldn't be another attempt at slick tricks.

"I'm definitely your boyfriend now, yeah?" Steven asked, over his shoulder.

"Yes, shut up."

He curled his lip between his teeth when shampoo was massaged into his hair, but it didn't stop him from reaching a hand behind and slapping her bum to approve of his label.

"Mm, excellent."

There really was no more fun and games, because there were mild concerns about how much hot water was actually left, but washing each other's hair so delicately, white foam sliding down backs and splattering the shower floor, was still a sensually drawn out task, and one they would probably do again.

They finished, air travel completely scrubbed from their skin, and Steven hopped out, yelping at the temperature drop to yank the towels from the Ikea bag.

He did receive a whistle when he bent over, so he wasn't quite so mad being subjected to the cold.

"Thank you," Leah mumbled, into his glistening chest, as he wrapped a towel around her shoulders.

"You're welcome," Steven replied, draping a smaller one over her head. "And for the sex too."

She nudged his shin.

The fan was whirring to help clear the steamy bathroom, window pushed open, and as Steven squeezed out the ends of his own hair and dried his chest, his actions became slower and more distracted because he was more interested in what Leah was doing.

Specifically, how she adjusted the neat tuck of her towel over her breasts.

"Do you have a comb?" she asked, sifting through the contents of his washbag.

"Yeah, there should be one in there."

"Ah, got it." She twiddled it between her fingers, looking up at him with complacency. "I would use mine, but that requires going to the car, and that would waste time."

Steven, undeniably, approved of where this was heading, and unstuck his feet from the floor tiles to stand behind her. The towel dedicated to his hair, he draped on his right shoulder, and his hand moved to ghost a touch on her waist.

He knew Leah could see him through a clear section of the mirror as she combed her hair, aware of his presence, and a glance upwards had their eyes locking, with the possibilities endless in his filthy mind.

"Is that so?" he hummed, gliding kisses along the narrow width of her shoulder.

The comb was set down, and the escaped hairs tangled next to it.

Leah was sliding her palm up the side of his face, angling herself perfectly, and Steven didn't need convincing to capture her lips in a kiss to start with foreplay again.

An idea had sparked, which meant he was going to stay in the bathroom a little longer, and the moment Leah's knuckle or thumb was brushing the bristles under his chin again, he eased with the strong momentum of the kiss that had tested the ties of their towels.

"Would you like to do it?" he asked, because he had let his facial hair grow since Valentine's, and that was four days ago.

"Shave your face?"

Steven waited. Waited for her to work out the reason behind his lip graze.

"Ah," Leah droned. "So I can sit in your lap."

"We wouldn't be wasting time that way."

There was a lot of not-quite-kissing next, mainly because Steven kept leaning forward and Leah, with her hand still on his cheek, lifted her thumb so it rested on his lip to prevent a connection.

The stretch of his mouth showed he was smiling, but then so was she, and he accepted he had tested his luck for now.

The shave was agreed, so Steven pulled over the padded stool that was next to the bathtub, and took a seat next to the washbasin that was being filled with a shallow amount of water.

Leah was opening a new razor from the packet, and because he assumed she was distracted, he started to undo the towel on his waist, fluttering anticipation warm inside.

"No, towel stays on."

Steven's hands paused abruptly, and he groaned when he received firm eyes.

"But that's so-"

The way Leah just...dropped her towel so it pooled at her feet, not only stopped him talking, but the sight of her naked body confirmed he was no longer on sexual cooldown.

"So...?" Leah sat on his lap, shaving cream in hand.

"U-uh." Steven blinked up from the perfectly sculpted chest in front of him, swallowing suddenly "Nothing. Forget I said anything."

He twitched a nervous smile for his standards, and breathed out steadily to help keep his dick down for as long as possible. If it meant closing his eyes, and focusing on every drop of water that slid down his shoulder blades from his uncombed mess of hair, then he would deny himself the privilege of worshipping the woman on his thighs for now.

"You really don't get any hair on your cheeks?" Leah asked curiously, smoothing the cream over his stubble.

"Maybe a stray or two, but no, just here," Steven replied, gesturing to his mouth, but having the need to swallow again when she touched the bump of his Adam's apple.

If she leaned a fraction closer, he would be able to feel her tits on his chest, but instead, he got a fabulous side view when she wet his razor blade in the shallow water.

Leah returned forwards, immediately making him flick his eyes up to her face, and he noticed the concentration that subtly wet her lips.

His chin was guided up, which was probably a good thing before he got lost admiring her dark features and stared at the attractive pink shade of her mouth, and the skin on his throat was pulled down by her delicate fingers.

The ceiling refused his pleas to not get turned on, and the first contact of the blade travelling with the contours up to his chin, had him testing the waters with his hands on her thighs.

His thumbs could easily stretch inwards to locate her clit the further up he went.

"What's your record?" he asked, over the brief sloshing of water.

"My record?"

"Yeah, how many times you've had sex in a row."

"Oh." Leah adjusted her fingers, blade making the same path to the left of where she started. "Uh...two."

Steven snapped his head up.

"Two!?"

"What's wrong with that?" Her innocently widened eyes turned serious to scold. "And don't move so suddenly, I almost cut you."

"Sorry, but surely we've done it back to back?"

"Um, no. No, I don't think so." A downturned mouth, and a shake of her head, partnered the twisting of the razor between her fingers. "But you have almost given me three orgasms in one session."

The shy sort of smile at the end gave him a sprinkle of hope, but Steven was quiet, remembering why they hadn't done it more than twice, and the reminder of what was supposed to be sunshine and rainbows at Sunapee, still had open wounds attached.

Like the nick of a razor to his skin.

"What about you? If that's so shocking."

"Five," he muttered, tilting his head so his shave could continue.

Leah hesitated.

"Five!?"

"Yeah."

Steven tried glancing down the side of his nose in the silence, but fingers pulled at his skin again to get him to resume his previous head position.

"You're something else." Leah dragged the blade slowly, humming a laugh to herself. "You teased the crap out of me on New Years."

The sound of swirling water provided a break, and a thankful subject change Steven could pursue without feeling guilt.

"You thought that was teasing?" He stretched a smirk, clicking his tongue repetitively. "No, no, if I wanted to tease you, I won't let you cum for, I dunno, something like...over an hour, and you would be begging me to let you."

He thought he might have received a reaction out of her, but Leah was too busy concentrating on the shaving task.

"No, that was..." Steven trailed off, forced to look at himself in the mirror. However, all he saw was a gorgeous woman- his girlfriend- naked, straddling his lap, and carefully shaving his face. It was intimate, hot, and the one word he longed to hear from her. "That was..."

The razor blade no longer touched his skin.

"Love?"

Steven's eyes returned forward, and found Leah already looking at him. It might have made his heart flutter, along with a warm sensation spreading out from his chest towards his groin.

"Y-yeah," he stuttered, picturing the perfect end to that night like it was yesterday. "At least, I...I wanted it to be."

He didn't want to blink, or breathe too loudly, in case he missed that reciprocation. His hands had started to fall from her body, because there was a suspense pumping his heart strongly in his chest that desperately needed the relief of knowing she felt it too.

That she loved him, like he so dearly loved her.

"It was," Leah confirmed, taking a few extra seconds swirling the razor in the water. He couldn't quite decipher the intricacies looking at her reflection in the mirror. "It was love, not sex."

Steven couldn't believe his ears, and the shallow breath he took, simply hitched again when her thumb poked under his chin to keep it raised.

His eyes constantly flicked over her face, begging her to meet his gaze to help hold him steady, which was probably why he panicked when the razor was lifted above his mouth.

He'd almost forgotten about the shaving cream on his skin.

"Careful with-"

"I know, your lips are very precious."

That small smile as she spoke made him helplessly weak, and was one of the reasons Steven didn't utter so much of a single word for the entirety of his moustache removal, and the remaining stubble on the front of his chin.

Leah applied his aftershave, rubbing the strong scent into his skin, and once she was finished, Steven touched his face delicately, assessing the clean shave.

He was impressed at how smooth it was, was going to express his compliments whilst he slid his hands up her thighs, something teasing to turn him on with a twitch of life under his towel, but he endured more fussing to his appearance by a comb running through, and detangling his hair instead.

Shivering when the water droplets trickled down his spine, Steven had to refrain from making an audible moan. His bangs returned, rubbed with a towel that had been abandoned on the side, ruffled with her fingers to dry, and the joy Leah got from messing with his hair was something he couldn't quite put into words.

He just knew he could express himself by making love to her.

"Can I kiss you now?" Steven asked, addressing the fingers that were appreciating his smooth face.

Leah delayed a response, pushing out her lips to one side so a cute curved line appeared like she was caught deciding, and produced a delicate hum.

"Please?" he tried again, sitting up straight, palms resting low on her back. That way their chests touched indefinitely, and noses and lips were a skip away from a mutual inhale and a taste of each other.

"Bed," was her answer, and then his wishes were granted.

With one hand on the basin side, and his other arm wrapped around her waist, Steven stood up with a refusal to disconnect their lips.

Towel discarded, he lay his girlfriend down on the untouched bed that had his sheets on, and crawled on top with the talent to keep their mouths connected the whole time.

A breathless sound escaped him when heat rushed to his cock, and although he was only sporting a semi, his sexually wired brain meant he didn't require much more for him to reach his maximum impulse.

It was exactly why he focused on Leah and trailed his mouth down her front, tongue licking, teeth grazing, and spent a while with his palms flat either side of her hips and knees in between her spread legs that wouldn't stay still, to dust his attention on her sensitive skin.

"Where is this?" Steven asked, noticing the smoothness. "I let mine grow."

Leah actually laughed quietly above him, her hands stilling in her wet hair. He couldn't tell if it was her way of showing she was mad at him for delaying sex, or just dismissing the fact he was being serious.

"The world needs more guys like you," she replied, moving her propped up knee out to the side to look down her chest.

It gave him a great view of her pussy, one he delighted himself a taste by dipping his face down, holding his hair out the way, and taking a generous lick through her delicate lips.

"You mean dudes who like ladies?" Steven switched to sit on his bottom, though he deliberately slid a foot under her flat thigh, smoothed a hand on her raised kneecap, and brought his fingers to continue the work his tongue had started.

He made a v-shape with two, which then allowed his middle full roam teasing into her cunt, to spread her arousal.

He was ravenous over how wet she was.

"You know, that's a...h-oh, my- g-great song name."

Thrown into thought, fingers continuing to trace moist flesh, Steven found himself wholeheartedly agreeing.

"Huh, you're right. Yeah, that could be catchy."

Eyes that had drifted out of the window with the music potential, found Leah's body squirming and fighting with a pleasured moan because somehow his middle finger had ended up knuckle deep in her cunt.

"What was I saying?" Steven pulled his finger out, and set his sights above her pubic bone. "Oh, right this-"

His tapping to her abdomen was stopped, because her tummy was scrunching, and her knees were shifting.

"For the love of-" Now that she was sat up, Leah had lost her composure. "I'm going to be living with you, which means I'm going to be lazy from time to time, so please shut up and-"

"Would you stop tellin' me to shut up?"

"Stop being annoying then!"

"I'm being annoying?"

"Oh god, you're annoying all the time! It's just yabber yabber with some...tongue twister, or limerick, a-and you're constantly delaying sex! You make me question my sanity with foreplay!"

Steven was beginning to smile. There was only one justification for all this, and it was the requirement for the big O.

"You're so horny," he mocked childishly, scrunching up his nose so he could nudge it against hers. Right up in her face to annoy. "So...so...horny."

As he spoke, he was encouraging her to lie down, hands and limbs detangling as they shuffled up the bed, and he pressed gentle kisses on her fading pout.

Steven was going to ask about condoms, knowing they were in the car, but that would involve delaying sex and he knew if she wasn't on contraception, she would make him pull out as the bare minimum. Leah wasn't stupid like that, and she would definitely stop him if she didn't want sex. Plus, they had already gone one round in the shower, and they were just getting started.

The feet that entwined with his legs, certainly felt like his initiative to put his erection to good use was appreciated.

"Is that better?" he asked, lazily moving his hips.

"Don't...talk," Leah breathed out, looping her arms under his, so her palms slotted firmly on the backs of each of his shoulders. "Just...fuck."

Steven dipped his smirking lips to suck her neck, sprinkling his affection everywhere he could reach, and made adjustments to his thrusts according to her needs.

The sex blurred into intimate sounds, and the tight knots that kept appearing low down in stomachs, and feeling each other's hot skin with a simple flex of fingers with a slow kiss until breathing became too deep chasing the beautiful end, gave it an element of love that the absent voices didn't.

Pushing his thumb vertically on her clit harsher than he normally would, Steven made Leah cum around his cock, and just feeling the flutters clamp tightly around his quickening thrusts, provided him the peaking sensation that made him twitch with a load that was a reward from constant stimulation.

Steven flopped down on his back, grateful for his damp hair to help cool him off.

Resting a hand on his stomach, he rolled his head to the left, only to meet Leah lying on her side and lazily tracing his tattoo. He saw the straight feather of eyelashes from how she looked down, how she rested her cheek on the back of her hand, and he felt the patterns being drawn on his bicep with a single finger.

It was peace, pure happiness with the late morning sun shining through the slats and making their bodies glow.

"What do you like?" Leah asked, bringing him out of his reverie.

"What do I like?"

Slowly, her wrist relaxed in the gap between them and hazel eyes, a darker brown in colour from the light, lifted.

"Yeah as in, you touch me, but I haven't really...found out what you like."

Steven had an idea where this was going.

"You mean like...you want to explore me?"

"I just...want to make you feel as good as I do," she said, taking the hand from under her cheek to play with his bangs. She wasn't looking at his smile.

"You already do, Leah. I can promise you that."

When it came to sex, Steven loved giving because it deprived himself, and that just turned him on more. He loved a blowjob, receiving both sloppy and talented in his lifetime, a rushed handy before a movie, and where he usually returned the favour, it often ended up being ruined with sex that was too porn like.

It was the difference between lust and love, and Steven wanted to love indefinitely and feel that love reciprocated. He didn't need a hand to count how many times he had fallen, and he always trusted when cupid shot his arrow.

"So, can I...can I maybe try?" Leah asked, like she was just waiting for anxiety to cackle with a victory.

It made Steven want to wrap her up in a hug, tell her that she had absolutely nothing to prove to him, but he couldn't deny another opportunity for a blowjob.

Permission granted as he moved up the bed for comfort, Leah sat up, guided her wet hair to her right shoulder, and folded her legs so her feet pointed towards the empty side of the bed.

Steven saw the nervous swallow in her throat when she glanced down at his naked body patiently waiting for her touch, and she barely met his eyes, deciding what to do first.

"Tell me if I do something wrong," Leah said, testing her fingers on his collarbone.

She was so cute and gentle, Steven couldn't help but smile.

"You won't do something wrong."

"Well, my head says otherwise," she returned, before cupping his cheek and kissing him.

Steven kissed back, not wasting any time to slip his tongue in her mouth. He wanted to show her that she had nothing to be scared of, and his palm drifting over her hip tried to assure her that.

As usual, a kiss so intimately directed flicked a switch in him, so when it ended abruptly, he was caught by surprise. Especially, when lips ended up dragging down his neck with a destination of plucking at a nipple.

Steven pushed his head back because of the tongue that flattened over the sensitive bumps, and he shifted at the hand that swooped low on his tummy.

A line of kisses was placed from one nipple to the other, and Leah's knuckle simultaneously brushing the faint scruff of hair that led down into his pubes was actually making his jaw hang open.

Steven was about to offer a few words of praise, but Leah moved to settle in between his spread knees, which unfortunately meant no more kisses on the corner of his mouth, under his chin, and down his neck. However, it was the breakthrough to hold his cock that stiffened harder at the prospect of being given direct attention.

Desiring to go for three rounds of sex, discounting the hand job, Steven would be happy for this to be his final erection for one day. And it was because this one felt like there were more strings attached, like there was a deeper meaning, and he hoped the rubs on her arms, tucking her hair back, and any groans that escaped, had told her he had enjoyed everything she had done to him to make him aroused.

"Why'dya stop?" Steven asked, looking down his chest. The way his knees bent and feet rested on the bed, practically called the attention to his stimulated crotch.

"Is this good?"

"I'm as hard as a fucking rock, so yeah, I'd say so."

Leah shuffled, taking her time to get comfortable between his legs.

"You know I've never done this, right?"

Steven remembered the conversation, pushed past how Sunapee ended for a second time, and focused on the learning task ahead with the crave to taste.

"That's okay. We've all had our firsts."

"I know, but you're not going to get...turned off?"

"No no, absolutely not." Steven was pulsing in her hand that kept loosening and moving to grip further up. "Just try-"

Leah licked the sides to interrupt his planned guidance, and diffused him into a state of bliss.

Pressure registered on his caving stomach, a soft and warm hand that eventually returned to its jerking motion. A droplet of water trickled from the end of her hair- he shivered feeling it travel down the hint of his v-line- but nothing could take away the fact her lips were sucking on the head of his cock, and keeping him dosed in constant pleasure.

"Oh baby, that's so good," Steven praised, feeding his fingers through the sides of her hair, thumb smoothing over the top of her ear and anticipating the dip.

He felt loved, he felt appreciated, and every bit of attention was slowly getting him closer. The kisses to his thighs though, hands trailing up his chest, and cock no longer touching the back of her throat- he could guess the reason behind it.

"Why do you keep turning me onnn?"

Steven laced his fingers behind his head, elbows stuck out either side.

"Is your pussy pounding?"

"Why are you- no, don't smirk, weirdo."

Guilty, Steven wet his lip with his tongue. He even narrowed his eyes accusingly, enjoying being right.

"Is it?"

Leah fought with an answer, was the serious one in their staring contest, but slumped back on his thighs in defeat.

"Yes."

Lustfully glancing down her body, Steven hummed in approval.

"You can sit on my face if you want."

His hands were on a mission, reaching around her hips, and maybe with a plan to sit up and force his palm to cup her pussy to feel how wet she was, but Leah caught them, and locked their fingers together.

"I'd much rather sit on your dick to be honest."

Steven faked a contemplation as he sat up.

"Y'know...that works too."

The longing kiss, the smooth position change so he shuffled back to rest against the pillows, soon had Leah sinking down on his cock to make for another round of sex that he was determined to make into love.

"You're so ticklish," Steven mumbled into her skin, smiling when he felt her shift and tense at his touch. He was hugging her, resting his cheek on her shoulder whilst they were physically connected, and breathed out a laugh when she buried her face in his neck.

"Can't help it," Leah muffled there, making cute whines when his fingers brushed over a sensitive spot down the ridges of her spine.

When she squeezed his bicep in protest, Steven loosened his arms around her waist and sat back. That way he could move his hips upwards, and she could meet him halfway, and tickling could be set aside until afterwards.

Being ridden so beautifully, hearing the moans escape her lips once they started properly; the view he had was going to be ingrained into his memory forever.

Steven tucked away a lock of her hair, thumb swiping over her cheek, comfortable with the rhythm that was edging him closer, but was attacked with nerves that spurred an honesty to confess once again.

His emotions became brittle during sex, but when it was love, they often snapped and he had cried in joy during an orgasm before.

"I love you so much," Steven said, taking a breather to keep the pricking of tears at bay. "I barely forgive myself for what I almost did to you, and I swear-"

"Shh, I forgive you. I- ju-just say it again."

Apart from his soft panting that seemed to hitch, Steven suddenly felt like he was on the brink. If he focused on the snug walls his cock stretched, and how tight and wet she was, he could have easily cum, and he knew it would drain him dry and deplete every piece of his remaining energy.

"Please, say it."

Leah was begging him, clutching onto his shoulders, making him flush with her heat, and the desperation was beating his heart stronger, and faster.

"I...I love you."

The seconds were tantalisingly slow, and not even digging his heels into the bed, could stop him from cumming.

"Fffuck, I love you," Steven groaned, palms splaying on her waist to roll her forwards on his twitching cock. "I really-"

"I love you," Leah rushed out, breathlessly in response. "Steven, I love you."

Eyebrows twitched upwards, lips pleasantly hung, Steven had the overwhelming urge to cry. Leah came around him, a thing of pure beauty being responsible for her pleasure, and burying his face in her neck and wrapping his arms around her middle, was a necessity post love.

He knew his voice would fail him, so he just breathed in his shower gel that had washed her skin, waited for the intermittent pulses to fade out, and when a rogue tear escaped, he let it roll down his cheek with absolutely no shame.

It wasn't just the relief that Leah had returned the passion that had his eyes glazed with tears. It was everything that had led up to this moment, that made those words mean so much to him.

She was hugging him back just as tightly, and she probably knew he was sniffling, hence the smoothing of the back of his hair that was drying out naturally as a bit of a mess.

He didn't give a shit though. He wasn't afraid to cry in front of her.

"Stevie, I need to-" Leah untangled the hug, gently freeing herself from his dick, and then flopped down with a grateful sigh on her back.

Rubbing his damp eyes under her watchful gaze, Steven settled down next to her, arm around her shoulders, and invited her head to rest on his chest. He just had to address one thing, even if he was perfectly happy with the fingers entwining with his, and with the view of spring in Duxbury outside the windows for comfort.

"Was that the sex talking, or you?" he asked, the fingers of his left hand guided to her mouth to be kissed lightly in turn.

"Both?" Leah answered, but she didn't move her head.

They fell into silence for exactly three rises and falls of Steven's chest.

"Say it again."

Leah stopped fiddling with his hand. She lifted her head, and he wasn't surprised to see her frown.

"Why?"

"Cos I wanna hear you say it again."

"I can't just say it for the sake of saying it."

"Please?"

"Wha- no." Her frown deepened. "No, it doesn't-"

"Please?" Steven begged, ignoring her point. He hoped the puppy dog eyes worked, if they were a real thing.

"Fine," Leah conceded, adjusting herself on her elbow. She took a breath. "Steven, I-"

"But you have to say it like you mean it, o-otherwise I won't accept it."

Not expecting an interruption, Leah groaned and rolled off him. The urge to apologise hit him through a wave of guilt, and Steven felt lucky she didn't get off the bed properly and leave him to soak in his idiocy.

"Sorry," he offered, watching her settle onto her stomach, slim shoulders narrow, and collarbones pronounce through her skin.

"Steven."

"Leah," he replied instantly, copying her tone. He saw her composure slip with a smile that she couldn't hide.

The inevitable wait was next, every press of her lips that curved or twitched with a vowel, aimed to toy him with what he wanted to hear. The beautiful, dipped curve to her lower back because she was resting on her forearms- everything about her chosen position to reinforce those heavy feelings, were taking his breath away.

"Steven." She got his attention, and he was directed to the truth in her eyes. "I love you."

A blush dusting her cheeks partnered the three words, and Steven bettered her shy smile with a tackle of kisses.

"Have I told you I love you too? Because I-"

"Yes!" Leah laughed, holding his face. "I know you love me."

Looking into the shiny affection in her eyes, Steven placed a long kiss on her lips which could have turned to something more, if a gasp, and a push to his shoulders didn't force him away.

"Our suitcases!" Leah panicked. "Clothes- the time!?"

Realisation hit him that they were definitely close to an hour, if not surpassed. His watch was still in the bathroom so he didn't know for sure, but they were cutting his parents' and daughter's arrival very fine.

"Fuuuuck," Steven dragged out in frustration, flopping on his back.

"I'll get them."

"Nope, I'll get them." He sprang right back up, not allowing Leah to move, and smiled as he spoke against her lips. "You are staying right here."

One kiss later, and Steven was jumping off the bed, rushing into the bathroom. He found his boxers and put them on inside out, saw the time on his watch that was getting close to midday, swore again, and aggressively scrabbled for his car keys in his jacket pocket.

His fast pace took a single breather whilst he got distracted with Leah again, and he may have accidentally retreated to the bed to kiss her again, only for a laugh and a slap of his bottom to get a wriggle on.

Steven tumbled down the stairs, heard his girlfriend yell her concern about him being careful, and he deliberately jumped the final three steps to ignore the advice.

He ran out the house, basically naked, and Steven was appreciative that there was no gravel to sink into his bare feet, because he hadn't bothered with shoes.

He hauled both suitcases out, slung an extra bag over his shoulder, but just as he locked up and took the handles that were going significantly slow his pace back to the house, the hairs on the back of his neck rose.

Heat washed from him, colours from his surroundings drained into inky black with flickering lights, and he felt something hard, circular, and cold press into the top of his spine, right in the groove of his vertebrae to stiffen out his posture.

Frozen in fear, Steven's fingers uncurled from the suitcase handles, uselessly returning to his sides.

"I betcha fucked 'er real good, didn't you Steve?"

A safety catch clicked, and the gritty voice made him stop breathing. It was the same one that cropped up at the beginning of the month in a nightmare, then in a flashback to being stabbed, and most recently taunting him before he went on stage for the penultimate concert of the first half of the tour.

Steven snapped around, eyes blown wide, fingers instinctively pressing into his spine, but there was no one there waiting for him, because it wasn't real.

Matty wasn't here with his giant build shrouded in a smart suit, and there was no gun being aimed at point blank range.

It was just Steven and his mind playing evil tricks on him. He was safe because he had been promised, and no one would come back and threaten his life again.

Stumbling back to the edge of his car, Steven clutched his chest, because his heart was pounding like a freight train clattering over tracks, and sucked in a few deep breaths before his vision went dizzy.

Maybe he should have expected some sort of PTSD to affect him in the long run, after all, he had been through trauma hell, but until he was certain and there was some regularity or triggers, he didn't want to tell anyone, especially Leah.

The last thing he needed to do after they had just moved into a new home, and about to start their life together on a positive note, was to have her worry about something she didn't even know the extent of.

When Steven was sure he could stand up again, and he was lucky there was no car pulling up on the drive to catch him in his fractured state, he took the suitcases and carried them slowly back up to the house.

He was cold and shivering as he leaned back on the front door to close it behind him.

"There you are! I was wondering what was taking you so long, and I had to put on my hoodie because I- Steven? What's wrong? What happened?"

Knocked from his daze, Steven looked up.

"Hm?"

"I said- Gosh, you have goosebumps all over you!"

He was blinking down at the hands running over his torso, and inspecting his arms where all the hairs stuck up.

"Steven?"

Drowned in concern from pinched eyebrows, helpless hazel eyes, he had to lie. He promised he wouldn't, but it was his defence mechanism when he didn't want people he loved worrying about him.

He started to shrug, nervously flicking his fingers by the side of his head.

"Yeah, I...I just suddenly felt uh, sick. I dunno, maybe I'm coming down with something from the plane. Airports. Lots of people. Bound to catch a cold."

Coughing would make it too obvious, so Steven had to hope he had bought himself a ticket to a different subject.

"Then we should take these upstairs and put some clothes on, especially if you're feeling...cold."

Leah didn't buy it- he knew it- and he trudged up the stairs with the sounds of suitcase wheels bumping on the steps.

This time, he was in no mood to keep his clothes off, and he picked the first things that were available to him, and excused himself to the bathroom.

He pissed, mentally raged at himself, slapped his face, and silently stared at his reflection in the mirror until he was close to punching the glass.

Leah was waiting for him in the bedroom, pacing in black jeans, a sweater, and her hair was tied up with a clip at the back, and the moment he slowed timidly to a stop in front of her, he knew he was in for an earful.

"I'm not mad at you for lying," she started, and the statement already confused the situation. "Even though I probably should be, and I'm also not going to pester you about what really happened at the car."

The space was not for him to intervene, it was to listen, and that was precisely what he did.

"Steven, you and I...we both went through hell. We made it, somehow- in fact, I don't really know how sometimes, but scars? They are inevitable, both the visible ones and the ones we can't necessarily see. What I'm trying to say is...it's okay not to be perfectly healed- I'm definitely not, far from it in fact, and I expect you're not too, but I think together we can maybe muddle our way through together, like we've done so far."

Steven couldn't quite believe what he was hearing, but it was overpowering the guilt plaguing his fragile mind, and indirect forgiveness had him wrapping her up in a tight hug.

He should never have doubted her understanding.

"I'm so sorry for lying," he said, dipping his chin over her shoulder. "I've already fucked up."

"No, Steven. No you haven't." Securing her hands on his shoulders, Leah pulled away with a deep frown to oppose his point. "But will you promise me something?"

He nodded, about to agree to anything she proposed to him, in order to win her trust back.

"Can you tell me when it gets worse and not push me away?"

"Yes," Steven answered, not even needing to think. He was ignoring his initial plans to keep her in the dark, and clawing onto every piece of forgiveness he may not have deserved but had been gifted anyway. "I promise. I swear, cross my heart, I'll tell you. I-"

There was a knock at the door, interrupting their moment of promises. Steven only returned his eyes to his love when hands were planted on his neck, and thumbs stretched to tap along his smooth jawline.

"I love you," Leah said, delivering it with a note of seriousness attached. It felt weighted with a promise in itself.

"I love you," Steven echoed, kissing her. "Always."

There were smiles that understood, showing their trust was still intact.

Leah reached for his hand, and it confirmed he had found the perfect woman in his life, not as a replacement, but as the person who believed there was a worthy chance in him.

She had helped him find himself again, and for that, he was forever in her debt.

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