*Mature content*

Thirtieth of June: Lake Sunapee, Trow Rico

"You okay?" Steven asked, turning off the car ignition.

It had been over a three hour drive to New Hampshire with a stop for fuel along the way, but where the start had been full of conversation, I spy, and guessing the songs the fastest on the radio, the final stretch had been uncomfortably quiet.

Liv had fallen asleep in the back some time ago, but Leah had not, and the side of her head resting against the window, body angled away from him to show she wasn't interested in breaking the silence, was something Steven knew exactly the reason behind.

Now that he wasn't driving, the unspoken tension was making his fingers fiddle in his lap.

"I know the last time we were here, things didn't exactly-"

"Can we not?" Leah's eyes pleaded with the request, but faltered at the last second. "I mean, I know what happened and what didn't, but can we just...put it behind us?"

Maybe he shouldn't have brought it up again, but Steven wasn't going to make the same mistake twice by not listening to her.

He nodded, twitching a weak smile.

"Sure."

Leah unclipped herself.

"Key? I'll take some stuff in."

"Uh, yeah..." Steven shook the cobwebs from the bleak scenes of the break-up away, and fished it out of his shorts pocket. "Here."

Their fingers brushed, eyes lingered, and he hoped he hadn't already ruined their trip, especially when he was about to get the chance to cook the dinner he promised almost a year ago.

Leah ducked out of her side, the gentle slam threatening a stitch out of place, but with a glance into the back, Steven focused on the invigorating task of waking up his pride and joy.

Breathing in the fresh air of the lake, and the summer scenery of Trow Rico soothing his nerves, he opened the back door to his dozing toddler.

"Blue, it's time to wake up," Steven said softly, leaning in to unclip her. She had stirred, so he wasn't worried about being on the receiving end of a tantrum. "You know, I heard it's someone's birthday tomorrow. Do you know who that might be?"

He scooped Liv into his arms, and felt the tired shake of her head above his collarbone.

"You don't? Well, I think you do."

"Nuh'don't."

"Hm, I'll give you a clue." Steven opened up her right hand with his thumb, walking slowly up towards the cabin. "The first of July marks the day you were born, so tomorrow you will turn three." He placed his thumb against three of her fingers, encouraging pinkie and thumb down. "But I guess, I can always have your presents instead..."

He heard no response, and the grip to his thumb loosened.

"Liv? Baby, what's wrong?" Steven stopped on the second step, trying to get a glimpse of the hidden face. "Do you not feel well?"

"I'm tiyed," Liv mumbled, rubbing her eyes with her fist.

Rest assured, Steven relaxed, continuing up to the cabin. He checked his watch, secured to his left wrist, although he already knew it must have been near a meal time.

"I think you need some dinner, so how about...fish fingers and mash?"

Liv lifted her head up.

"No, de faces."

"The smiley faces?" Steven asked, hinting at a smile himself. He pushed the wood wedge in place with his foot to stop the front door from slamming. "I suppose I can see what we bought."

"Smiley faces taste nicer."

"But I thought you liked my yummy mash?"

"Sometimes," Liv said, plucking at the neckline of his Yankees logoed vest.

"Sometimes? I see..."

Their conversation petered out, and just before Leah disappeared to the car again, Steven whirled around to call her back.

"Oh, Leah?"

"Yeah?" Her eyebrows were raised in anticipation.

"Please can you grab the bag with the food in?"

She raised her chin, corner of her mouth smug.

"Already done it."

Surprised, Steven looked into the kitchen and found the cool bag was indeed on one of the kitchen surfaces. He couldn't believe he hadn't noticed it, but by the time he turned around to express his thanks, she was already gone.

That single exchange acted as a delay in his brain, like he didn't quite know how to process that Leah had unintentionally done something that a parent would do.

It made Steven smile, even if it was just a coincidence, and he consequently imagined what it would be like to expand their family, as he set down Liv to prepare her dinner.

It wasn't the first time such thoughts had crossed his mind either.

<>

The romantic meal for two that Steven was supposed to have rustled up almost a year ago in the very kitchen he stood in, was finally being made.

Liv had eaten and been bathed, and was currently watching tv as a treat until her bedtime, and because Leah was sitting with her, Steven manned the kitchen with only himself to blame if something went wrong.

Seasoned potato wedges were cooking crispy in the oven, peppercorn sauce was being gently heated in a frying pan, and he was fixing another with olive oil and a couple of lumps of butter for the sauteed green beans to create a buttery, charred texture. The only thing left was the cut of seasoned sirloin steak that he had halved and was about to meet the heat.

"How do you want your meat?" Steven didn't realise the penis reference until he had looked over his shoulder.

He was entertained very easily.

"Oh, definitely well done."

"What?" You weirdo. Medium rare is where it's at."

Leah reluctantly turned around, arm resting on top of the sofa.

"Since when do chef's question orders?"

"This chef does," Steven firmed, jabbing his thumb to his apron covered chest. He then reached for his wine glass and took a sip of red liquid. "But, if you insist."

"I do." Leah returned to watching tv. "Thank you."

Fifteen to twenty minutes later, and a slight rush to get everything out on time, Steven plated up dinner, but not before Leah came over and made him cut her half of the steak so she could check it was cooked to her preference.

Wine glasses were refilled, the apron came off to show his smarter, short sleeved shirt he had changed into, and Leah was already perfectly dressed in denim shorts with a blouse tucked in at one of the sides, and the style rolled to her elbows.

The thin, white material also gave him an outline of her bra straps, and the lack of buttons up to the collar was kindly displaying a section of her tanned skin.

"This looks delicious, Steven."

He didn't really know how to respond without sounding too arrogant so he just sat down at the table, with an appreciative smile that pressed his mouth together.

"So, what are we drinking too?" he asked, taking his wine glass in hand.

Leah seemed perturbed as she tapped her fingers on the bottom of hers.

"I have to choose?"

"Mhm."

"Well, uh..." Her eyes wandered in the direction of the living room, despite her not having a clear view. "How about family? Or is that too basic."

Warmed at the suggestion, Steven raised his glass. He could very much raise a cheers to that.

"To family," he declared.

"To family," Leah returned, and their glasses clinked.

As for the meal it was love at first bite, and they both devoured a fair portion before a true conversation over the praise and tinkering cutlery began.

"Has Liv been here before?"

Steven was nodding as he smoothed sauce onto his chunk of steak.

"Yeah, once, when she was a tiny baby."

"Are you going to make it a tradition to come up here every summer? Like you had?"

"Are we going to make it a tradition," Steven corrected.

"You know that's what I meant."

Chewing, knife and fork in his hands and resting against his plate, Steven swapped the cheeky attitude for an admiration over a retention of facts he must have told her long ago.

It made him itch to bring up the question of starting a family, but he was battered down with nerves if he so happened to meet a pair of hazel eyes for too long.

"Maybe," he said vaguely, swallowing. But a warningly increased heart beat in his chest couldn't stop his mouth moving again. "Leah...would you- I mean do you-"

Interrupted by the hands clawing at his elbow, Steven had no option but to stop mid question and glance down.

"Oh hello! You snuck up on me!"

Placing his napkin on the table, he bent down and picked Liv up so she could sit in his lap. From how she immediately leaned into his chest, sucked her thumb in her mouth, and starey blue eyes tried drooping closed, he figured it was going to be an early night.

It wasn't the romantic dinner he had hoped for, but reality had done him a favour and sprinkled some sense into his head before he unintentionally tripped a wire in his relationship.

"What were you saying?" Leah prompted, taking a sip of wine.

"Hm? Oh, nothing. Don't worry." Steven shook off the embarrassment, because bringing up the subject of kids was probably too soon.

Eating with a toddler on his lap wasn't the most convenient of tasks, but he managed, and didn't say anything stupid for the rest of the meal.

He just frowned profusely when Leah stood up and took both of their plates back into the kitchen behind him.

"Mm-mm." Steven rapidly finished chewing, twisting in his chair. "Just leave everything, love. It can be done tomorrow."

"Yeah-no, that's gross."

Seeing the organisation go ahead, he stood up with Liv in his arms, swigged the rest of his wine, and made himself very clear.

"I'm serious. You don't need to wash up."

Leah ignored him, retrieving both of their glasses from the table, holding out his as if she was asking if he was definitely finished and didn't want another refill.

"C'mon, this isn't-"

"Go and sort out your sleepy girl." Her eyes were stern when he tried to intervene, but her fingertips on his arms were gentle, and her little smile made him weak. "I'll be done by the time you're finished."

Steven conceded with a sigh, and he knew his face was torn with the boyfriend reputation he constantly felt the need to improve.

"Say night night to Leah," he said, sliding a piece of hair away from tired, blue eyes.

"Nuh nye, Leah."

Considering Liv's thumb was in her mouth, it was impressive there was a response in the first place, but Steven knew how big of an influence Leah was in his daughter's life. He just tended to be quiet about it, observing in the background, until the right moment to share presented itself.

"Sweet dreams." Leah kissed her fingers and placed them on Liv's wrist. "I'll see you in the morning."

As Steven predicted, getting Liv to brush her teeth took a lot longer when she was tired and easily irritable, but he kept his voice calm, was patient, and eventually, he was carrying her upstairs to her bedroom.

A single bed with protective slats, he pulled the thin sheet up to her tummy because it was warm.

"I can't believe you're three tomorrow," he whispered, smiling when Liv's curled fingers by her head twitched. "You'll always be my baby blue, no matter how old you are."

He could have stayed there all night, depriving himself of rest to watch his daughter sleep, because he felt a strange peace where the past didn't hurt like it used to. The loss was a part of him now, ingrained into his heart to make him stronger, direct him in parenthood, and he had a lot of people to thank for his founded courage.

Slipping was part of recovery, but it made his scars burn, and gave him the flashbacks he wanted to so desperately wrench out of his head. There was always a lingering fear that he would start to have nightmares again, something along the lines of being abandoned and alone or being shown a reflection of himself with needles in his arms, but they had stayed away at night, and he was convinced it was the wonders of his girlfriend lying in bed with him.

Leah gave him hope, saved him from falling into darkness, and he had a promise about seeking help to fulfil.

"I love you," Steven said quietly, brushing a knuckle on Liv's cheek.

He checked behind him one more time, the night light providing the glowing stars when the summer daylight faded, and pulled the door ajar.

As for the woman on his mind like she so often was, Steven found her in the bathroom in their master suite after following the sound of a running bath.

He took a deep breath past the spot of arguing many months ago, because he wasn't going to let it alter the redemption of this holiday.

"Is she asleep?" Leah asked, disposing of a line of floss.

"Yeah," Steven confirmed, folding his arms. "It was a long drive for her."

He lingered by the door, listening to the fizz of bubbles when the water got shut off, noticed both of their wash bags on the side, but he was confused why only his towel and his sleep shorts were on the rail.

Leah always showered before bed- Steven had fallen into the routine too, still taking the occasional morning shower too, so his questions over her dressed state were lining up when a bubble bath was separating them and a bit of fun.

"Would you like to take a bath?"

Steven, feeling bold by the proposition and ideas springing to mind, stepped closer.

"Are you going to be in that bath?"

"No," Leah chuckled, placing her palms lightly on his chest. "I ran it for you."

He ignored her attempt to push him away and slid his hands around the top of her shorts, thumbs soon slotting into two loops around the back so he was effectively holding her butt.

"I'll only go in, if you go in with me."

"Steven..."

"What?" he protested, grazing the side of her jaw with his smirking mouth. "Stop assuming I want sex."

With his wrists held, Leah removed his hands from their slow massaging mission to pull her into his pelvis, and held them out either side.

"You always want sex," she deadpanned, reading straight through his lie.

"But..." Steven began intuitively, interlocking their fingers. "My dick's not hard?"

"Mm, yet." Leah kissed him in a way that had him leaning in for more, and satisfaction flashed in her smile.

"Okay you're right b-b-but-" Steven quickly switched their positions, blocking her exit. "Please? There's a game I want to play."

"A game?"

"Yeah, well, it is...sorta. Look, can you just get your towel so we can have a bath together? Please?"

A rushed plea. A hefty pause of consideration. Neither of which Steven enjoyed, but his doubts were unnecessary, because he had a knack for persuasion. Always had done. Always would do.

"Okay," Leah agreed. "I'll have a bath with you."

Unfortunately, Steven only managed two buttons on his shirt before he was poking his head out of the bathroom to see his girlfriend, towel and pyjamas on her forearm, answering a phone call.

She was concentrating until she worked out who it was, mouthed sorry to him, held up a single finger, and from the tone of her voice as she turned away, it was probably work.

Steven took it on the chin, held off undressing, unpacked a few things and brushed his teeth to pass the time. It actually worked out in his favour because Leah returned quicker than he predicted, stood behind him, and fed her fingers through his hair.

Scratch, pull, smooth, flatten- he loved it all, and the rarity of a lazy morning together, they would lie in bed plaiting a section of the others.

"Don't ever cut your hair short."

He bent to spit out mouthwash.

"Why? Because you like to tug it whilst you cum?"

A glance at their reflections in the mirror had Steven turning around at the perfect moment to see Leah's shorts drop to her ankles.

"Something like that," she replied, effortlessly casual, fingers unbuttoning her blouse.

The natural sauna effect from the exposed beams created a cosy slant over the bathtub, but Steven was feeling the warmth over what he was seeing, and felt he was severely overdressed.

He stripped and climbed into the bathtub first, scrunchie stretched on his right hand, although it wasn't for him, and sank into the hot, bubbly water with his legs spread to the sides.

Once comfortable, he gestured for Leah to join him, and tied up her hair for her. His remained down, resting on his shoulders because he didn't mind if the ends got wet as the water level was only filled mid way up his chest.

"Who was on the phone?" Steven asked, his arm taking a protective hold of the body relaxing against him.

"Rosie. She forgot I wouldn't be at work. Bless her, I'm helping with her training."

"They do know, right? I haven't just got you fired by whisking you away for a week?"

"Oh yeah, yeah. The boss said it was fine." Leah angled her head on his shoulder. "Luckily, mind you."

"Shush, I organised this at the last minute. I would have told you sooner, if I had known," Steven defended, bouncing his other wrist on the side of the tub.

They settled into a comfortable silence, bubbles floating around his bent knees, and a layer was soon coated on his exposed arm as Leah scooped them up and spread them onto his skin.

"Did you have pets when you were younger?" Steven caught her right hand, and interlocked their fingers together on the edge.

"Yeah, we had a lurcher called Toby for about three years."

"Shit, how come?"

Leah took a breath. A gap in which Steven freed his arm under the water, droplets dripping from his elbow, and traced the side of her hairline with his index finger.

"He was born with heart defects that hadn't been picked up on when we got him as a puppy, and the diagnostics from scans were poor when we eventually found out what was wrong. It wasn't fair to make him suffer."

"Did that...get you into your career?"

Leah squashed the messy updo of her hair to rest her head entirely against his shoulder.

"As an eleven year old? Hard to say, but I guess it must have awakened something in me."

Dipping his lips to the point of her jaw bone, Steven pressed a kiss there. The comfortable flush of heat radiated off his skin, and although the prospect of both of their bodies wet and pressed together appealed to him greatly, he refused to let his mind stray from the innocent intimacy of a bubble bath.

"Anyway, what's this game?"

Steven hummed, reminded of his initial idea.

"Oh, yeah, you have to guess what I draw on your back which uh, sounds really stupid as I'm saying it aloud..."

"Stevieee!"

The sympathy over his name made him whine his embarrassment into the back of her neck, sliding down further into the water with his arms retreating to hug his girlfriend tightly against him.

"It's not stupid," Leah said, but it was deemed to be very much of the sort when he could hear the smile in her voice, and feel the bubbles smoothed onto his cheek.

"Staap it!" Steven laughed, eyes screwed shut, but failing to avoid the bubbles smudged on his face. "Leah, I swear, scooch forwards before you make me declare a bubble war."

One final sculpture of his bubble beard that was cleared off with his wrist immediately, much to Leah's despair, and she obliged.

Hearing her trying to muffle her laughter as she hugged her knees, kept an annoying smile on Steven's face the entire time he scooped water in his palm and washed it down her back to clear her skin.

If he pointed out her tan lines where her bikini straps had been, she might have smacked him, so instead, he silently noted the beauty marks on her shoulder blade that he didn't see very often, and how his hands, thumbs touching, so easily covered the width of her back.

"Ready?"

Leah nodded, side of her face resting on her knees.

With his index finger, Steven drew six slow letters left to right, over the ridge of her spine.

"Your name- Steven."

She was correct, so he chose to draw something goofy next, and took his sweet time with unnecessary details that started to confuse him.

"A...silly face?"

"Yeah, I don't even know. Umm, how about this one?"

Steven went back to writing words, biting his lip as he crossed the final 't'.

Leah sighed, short and despondent.

"You wrote twat, didn't you?"

"God, yes, I love it when you say that."

Imagining the roll of her eyes and the intense disappointment only encouraged him to do something else, so he drew two large round circles, a long u-shape, and finally a t-shape for the tip.

He was trying not to laugh at his childish, yet invisible creation.

"Did you just draw a penis on my back?" Leah looked at him in shock.

"Wow, you're good at this." Steven smirked, relaxing his arms on both edges of the bathtub. He moved his knees inwards so he began to slosh water.

"One more," Leah said, bracing his knees to stop them moving. She turned around again. "Make it a hard one."

Adjusting himself so his back was straighter against the curve of the bathtub, Steven rested a thumb underneath his chin, index finger between his lips, and slid it slowly as he thought.

He cocked his head with an idea, but frowned in disapproval. Leah was keeping his shallowly bent knees against her, pinching the light hairs on his kneecaps between her fingertips, and that was when he realised the answer was quite simple.

Naked, sitting in a bath with him, wet strands of her hair underneath her loose updo that he had tied, scented bubbles on her skin, and patiently waiting for the stupid game he had suggested.

Steven pressed his finger on the left side of her back, hesitated, then drew out a single, vertical line downwards, a four letter word, and finally, a three letter word.

The prolonged wait had his eyes nervously lifting from the trail of his finger, and anticipating the very moment the gorgeous body in front of him twisted to guess what he had written. Sitting against the bathtub didn't give him any stability, because Steven's heart was longing for a phrase that they never overused, unless he was pestering for admittance in a swimming pool.

"I love you," Leah stated, and it wasn't a question, it wasn't dragged out with uncertainty, it was a response to him, and weighted with honest reciprocation.

There was an invitation to sex, and it was there to be taken.

"Sit back," Steven instructed.

A wet palm met his cheek to guide his face, and the kiss was tongue heavy from the get-go.

He snaked his right arm around her middle to hold her close, and groaned, knees shifting in the water, when Leah rested her other arm over his shoulders so one of her tits just grazed his chest.

He wanted to touch her all over, have her ride him whilst watching every contort of pleasure in her face, but there wasn't enough room, and they would probably flood the bathroom floor which was not something he was too enthusiastic about to clean up.

So Steven, with his effortlessly predictable, unpredictable ways, decided to try out some light-hearted teasing.

A hand went under the water to push his cock against his navel and keep it there whilst it hardened, and with the rub up her ribs, Leah understood to sit back against his chest.

He waited for the water to settle, kissed her jaw that strengthened with her head resting against his shoulder, and made sure the back of his left hand was deliberately in the way so she couldn't be flush to his cock.

It was supposed to help him, but he was getting hard from the trail his fingers were making down Leah's tummy to her pubic bone.

Steven didn't mind hair, but a practically bare pussy made him salivate with the idea of his tongue licking away, and it was an obligation for his fingers to rub and pull her clit upwards.

"Steven-"

"Shh, relax."

When his middle finger caught the sensitive nub so precisely in a tantalisingly rhythm under the water, index and ring adding to the fluid motion, the grasp of his wrist slowly loosened for him to continue his teasing.

He grazed a kiss high on her neck, breathed out his praise of how beautiful she looked, and hearing the moan of his name, the constant shifting in the water, and feeling the desperate scrunch of his hair, just made his fingers move slower, not even close to curling into her cunt where she probably desired his attention.

"Oh, Steven...You're such a-"

"-n exceptionally talented, sexy singer who knows how to make his girlfriend cum with his tongue, fingers, and ten inch cock?"

Steven couldn't help himself. The pride he received having her back arch against his chest fuelled his sex ego completely. As for the compliments, he was just reiterating what he had been told with a minor exaggeration here and there.

"Your cock is not ten inches," Leah scoffed.

"Close...enough."

Transitioning the direction of his fingers elicited a different kind of noise, and had her foot raising to rest over the bathtub.

Steven was curling his tongue under her ear lobe, tugged it with his teeth, and finally removed his intruding hand so he could pull her back into his erection. It meant no attention to her pussy, but that was half the tease.

"Stevie, you're so hard."

"For you." He sucked a kiss underneath her ear, tongue flattening on her skin. "Always for you."

Grinding his cock against her lower back, lips parted to vocalise his moans that he kissed into every patch of skin he could, Steven was enjoying himself too much.

"We gotta...get out," Leah said, clutching his hands that had travelled down to secure her hip bones.

"I know. Grab your towel."

Steven let her go, relaxing back into the tub because at least half of his hair was soaking wet anyway, and gave himself a few touches, absorbed in the naked visuals.

"Oi, horny. Get out before I finish myself off."

A squeak and lap of water later, Steven deliberately fell out of the bath, making a huge noise and mess, and ended up flat on his back on the bathmat, staring at Leah upside down.

She chuckled, dropping his towel over his chest.

"Why are you so against me touching myself without your permission?"

"Because..." Steven stood and rubbed his body dry, squeezing the ends of his hair so they wouldn't drip. "I want to feel each one of the orgasms I give you."

Contrasting his pace, Leah was delicately drying her shoulders, the back of her neck, down her chest, and when her gaze dropped to his situation below the waistline, she just laughed quietly out her nose, shaking her head.

"Are you sure it's not because you like being in control?"

Steven answered by dropping her towel to her feet, kissing her hard, and walking her into the bedroom.

He wasn't ashamed that he ended up trapping her against the wall next to the fire place, the same one he had fucked her against last time, the one where he was convinced she almost confessed she loved him, and he refused to get upset over what followed.

This was the present, a time in which Steven kissed Leah whilst pouring his heart out until his lips were swollen and wet, and until he physically couldn't take not being inside of her.

"Baby, I need y-"

Leah pulled him in again by his face, kissing his words away with a foot rubbing up the back of his leg, and crossed arms over his shoulders so her fingers could play with his hair. He gave in, exemplifying the affection for a bit longer, holding her close, and squeezing her ass when his hands ventured behind.

"Do you trust me?"

Steven had to ask, and put himself through the reflection of the last time they were up here.

"Yes, Steven," Leah said, thumbs brushing his cheeks. "You know I do."

He braved looking into her eyes.

"I want you to turn around, and put your hands on the wall."

Leah didn't freak out or flat out refuse his request. She just teased a kiss, smug mouth hovering against his lips.

"I knew it."

Steven watched her turn around after that, positioning herself perfectly for him to take her from behind, and when he finally unfroze his idiot self, he smoothed his palm down her back.

She flinched under his touch, making him twitch a smile, and once his hips were moving, Steven could barely contain his grunts of approval.

He was avidly watching his cock disappear into wet pussy with each thrust, motions already driving him crazy, and considering he just started, all he wanted to do was go faster.

"Holy shit," he whispered to himself, hands splayed and pressing into Leah's skin over her hips. Always protective, but not so gentle this time.

"Steven...m-my knees are...shaking."

Having heard the actual tremble in her voice, Steven stopped immediately. He ached being so unrelieved as he pulled out again, but he had to jolt a foot forward and hold her up before her hands slid down and she collapsed on the floor.

"Shit, sorry," he mumbled, into the side of her neck, relaxing his arms in a hug from behind.

"Why? It means you're just really good at fucking me."

Not quite so worried, Steven let go, lowered to his knees to steal a kiss and a suck of his lips on her pussy from behind, and when hands batted him away, he was laughing like the naughty man he was.

"Last position," he said, sitting on the fluffy rug. "I promise, cos my balls are so tight. They fucking hate me for not busting."

Leah scrunched up her face at his explicit details, but she sat in his lap, and the sex resumed. It wasn't long before she had something to say either.

"Maybe don't tease me in the bath and this wouldn't- oh fuck, this wouldn't have- stop doing that with your hands!"

"Maybe you shouldn't have been so eager to take a bath with me. And what, this?"

"I was not eager- you persuaded me! And yes! Stop touching my bum!"

"Shh." Steven hummed a laugh into a kiss. He didn't stop massaging his hands on her cute cheeks either. "You have a lovely little arse, so I'm going to squeeze to my heart's content."

Leah shifted on his cock, crossing her legs behind him tightly, and if he wanted freedom of movement, he had no option but to lean on a palm behind him.

"That was-" He took a breath, impressed. "-that was fucking smart."

Outplayed, Steven endured a lot of kissing after that, and with gentle movement of his hips along with Leah meeting him halfway, they were in the perfect position for a hug, post orgasms.

"I love you," Steven mumbled, nose squashed in the crook of her neck. His eyes were closed, and if he could move his hands, he would take out the loose tie in Leah's hair and bury himself in her scent even more.

He actually quite enjoyed that she didn't wear perfume often, and the smell of her pillow was something he could never get enough of.

"I love you more."

"Not possible." Steven wrapped his arms around her tighter to prove his adamance.

They made it onto the bed at some point, clumsily and full of laughter, but that was because he was dotting kisses starting from Leah's abdomen, and rubbing the stubble under his chin on her skin.

"You are so ticklish." He placed a kiss between her breasts.

"W-w-wait!" Leah's palm hit his chest, keeping him up. She swallowed, catching an important breath. "I-I want to do something first."

Steven raised his eyebrows.

"And then I can tickle you after?"

"I...yes fine, whatever- oh god, I already know I'm going to regret that."

She would. He was exceptionally good at making her snort and on the verge of pissing herself.

"Alright," he settled. "What do you want to do?"

Leah hesitated, feet flat, knees bent, and then fiddled and twisted her lip with her finger and thumb on her way down from pushing the front of her hair back. Her nails were painted with the same vertical stripe as his.

"You asked me a while ago about my um...my sexual fantasy?"

Pleasantly surprised, Steven continued the subject.

"Yeah, I remember. Have you thought of one?"

"I uh...yeah, I think so."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah?" He sat to one side. "Are you going to tell me what it is?"

Leah sat up with him, lips parted like she was about to say, but he could tell she had already changed her mind.

"Hang on, let me put my pyjamas on."

Disappointed, Steven pouted.

"No, put that lip away." Leah pointed at him sternly.

"I can't! I got too much!"

When the bathroom door was pushed to, he let out a sad whine, and flopped onto his back.

Engrossed in the idea of figuring out Leah's sexual fantasy, Steven was toying with a few ideas, but his enthusiasm drained when he saw the packaging for a cock ring revealed from a suitcase. His cock ring. A gift from his best friend over three months ago, and had since been buried in his wardrobe never to be taken out.

"This isn't technically it, but-"

"Shit, you brought that up here?"

"Yeah, I-I thought it might help with...it."

Steven realised how accusing he must have sounded, and that he had sliced through her confidence, mere seconds into something she had probably been thinking about for a long time.

"No, wait," he sighed apologetically, sitting up. "So, you uh...want me to wear that?"

The sky-blue circular toy made him on edge, so Steven kept his eyes up on his approaching girlfriend who tentatively kneeled on the edge of the bed.

"The ring is an addition, but as for what I want...I want to be in control, completely. You can't touch me, you can't have control over your body, that kinda thing. Is that...too much?"

Steven lost the ability to do a lot of subconscious things for a couple of seconds, because the sexual fantasies he had imagined had not involved him as the submissive one.

"No- no. That's..." He was doing some strange gesticulating with his hand. "I mean, you can do that, yeah."

"And use the ring?"

A growl threatened his breathing.

Steven was so fucking mad at Joe for buying it as a birthday present. But, at least if he tried it he could give the full, graphic review to the band in order for them to stop mocking him over a sex toy.

"Sure," Steven smiled tightly, hoping to convey some sort of encouragement. "Why not?"

Swallowing nervously when his eyes landed on the toy again, he moved up the bed, made himself comfortable with pillows because he was that much of a wuss to let a stupid cock ring get to his head.

He felt vulnerable naked, which was highly unusual for his extroverted nature, and he kept looking back at the window in case he could be seen sitting like a pussy with his hands covering his dick, but there wasn't a convincing gap in the curtains for an excuse to move.

The light was still strong, illuminating around the edges, and the soft hues of yellows with the fading sun under the horizon meant there was no need for electrical light yet.

One of the perks of summer, not so much with how the heat prevented him from retreating under the covers when it felt like he was sweating already.

Leah returned, with something he recognised as lube, and sat facing him with her legs crossed. At least one of them was excited.

"Have you used one before?"

"Yeah." Steven rubbed his shoulder to try and cover up his chest, but he couldn't look at her. He couldn't look at her at all. "Of course I have."

He felt her eyes burning holes into his skin, seeing through his obvious lies, and it made him grow hot in the face. He regretted the shy peak in her direction instantly.

"You haven't?!"

"I...I have!"

"You so haven't."

"I-I yes- n-no but-"

"Oh my god, it all makes sense now!"

Steven wagged his finger at it.

"Can you blame me? It looks intimidating! I mean that thing goes on my cock, and the only thing that should be allowed on there is a condom o-or pussy itself!" In his defensive breather, he tipped his head muttering, "Or ass if you're into that..."

"Are you telling me you're scared of a sex toy?"

"Not scared, just...just unfamiliar?"

With an elegance, Leah put the cock ring and the lube down to one side. It was too close for comfort, but the way she smiled and sucked her bottom lip with her teeth was a distraction he needed.

"Stevie."

"Yeah."

"Look at me."

"I am."

"No, you're not."

Steven flicked his eyes up, keeping the grumbling monotony.

"Yeah, I am."

He didn't feel the assurance when Leah scooped his hands from his lap, thumbs tracing his distal radius bones. In fact, he didn't like being sympathised with at all because he knew he was being stupid.

"If you don't like it, you can just take it off, but I've read good things about them," Leah said, stroking his hair back. It allowed her palm to rest on his cheek, which naturally, he leaned into. "Plus, I think you would look super sexy wearing one."

The last part might have swayed him. The lean forward, and gentle kiss placed on his lips confirmed it.

"I'm only doing this for you," Steven groused, taking his soft cock in hand.

To get an erection took longer than normal, but his struggles became none existent when Leah took him in her mouth and sucked him until he was completely hard.

It didn't turn him off, but watching the lube applied to the inside of the ring filled him with unwanted nerves. Steven had doubts it would fit, but Leah guided it down his cock with surprising ease because the material was flexible, and his fingers jumping closer to help proved to be unnecessary.

"Comfortable?"

Steven grunted, adjusting the firm fit.

"I...yeah. It's snug."

"I think it's supposed to be." Leah was still sitting on her knees, close, and she pressed a button on the side.

"Oh shit, I ffforgot it was a vibrating one."

"Nice?"

"Mmm?" Steven managed, flaring his nostrils, concealing his lips. His knuckles pushed into the bed, making his arms tight, but he couldn't escape the gentle stimulation to his cock and balls. "Mhm?"

"So, no longer than half an hour," Leah said, moving to sit in between his spread legs.

"Half an hour!?" Steven exclaimed, ghosting his fingers around the ring in outrage, but unable to actually touch it. He shifted uncomfortably on the bed. "No, no, absolutely fucking not. Ten minutes, max."

But Leah was already looking down at his cock again, and when he followed in despair, the work of the vibrations were making veins more pronounced, throb with restriction, and a blush colour darkened his tip.

The urge to touch himself was sudden because of the enhancements made by the ring, and Steven fiddled with the sheets he had crumpled up around him to counteract it. He didn't relax his shoulders, neck, or jaw at all, and his body was flushing with heat that radiated from his extremely hard erection.

"You're just going to sit there and- hmph...watch me?"

With her legs calmly crossed, knees resting over both of his, Leah slid her hands up his thighs, face leaning closer and closer towards what was currently making an upwards statement.

"And tell you what to do."

Dark eyes looking up at him. A subtle, yet killer smirk. Enough pressure at the juncture of his thigh and hip bones to make him tremble.

"Oh," Steven said, barely audible.

The kiss she placed on the tip of his cock made him tense, as did the thumb rubbing the entire width of the section below the ring near his balls where the blood had restricted flow down past, and he knew he was probably going to be begging for his release.

"Touch yourself," Leah instructed, sitting back up.

Steven whimpered when his hand eventually gathered the precum that leaked, not quite sure if it was because he was secretly enjoying being the sub, or from the constant vibrations, or both.

He had teased a masturbation show on countless occasions but never actually orgasmed from the work of his own hand in front of her. So, he went slow, wrist jerking, side of his hand hitting the ring with every downward motion, and he was fascinated and glued on every bite of her lip Leah had to offer him.

"You look incredible," she drew out, leaning back on her palms. There was a hint of hard nipples through the creases of her top. "Does it feel good?"

Steven nodded. He didn't trust his voice. He swallowed, flicking his eyes down her chest again, and felt extra tingles on top of the ring's vibrations with how she adjusted the waistband of her shorts with her thumb dipping underneath.

"Faster, and use your other hand too."

Obliging was absolutely no problem at all, and Steven cupped and rubbed his balls, a tenuous buzz in his left palm, and stroked his cock quicker.

He was rock solid, slickness heavily reducing friction, and from the deepening exhales and leaning his head back to look down at his girlfriend through lustful, lidded eyes, he was very compliant to work towards his orgasm.

"Stop."

Not the instruction he wanted, but Steven took his hands away. Throbbing and shiny, yet he registered no complaint, because Leah was on her knees in his face and shoving her hand down her shorts.

His eyes went wide.

"Holy shit, Le-"

A fast snap, and he was moaning the rest of her name on her fingers she pushed into his mouth. His tongue moved, and he soon lapped off her arousal, leaving a pleasantly flavoured aftertaste when he swallowed.

"Just in case you thought your valiant wanking was in vain."

"Fuck me," Steven groaned, sliding a hand down his tense stomach into his pubes. "I wish I could be inside you."

The bed jumped just as he finished speaking, and he was not prepared to see Leah stepping out her shorts. He froze up until she was kneeling over his lap, bare pussy just teasing the tip of his cock, and her hands were on his shoulders.

"W-with this on?" he checked, looking up at her fairly timidly.

"C'mon Stevie, you should know it's not just for guys."

Her smile dissolved into the kiss she initiated, and Steven practically choked on his next breath, hands automatically guiding her hips down as his cock filled her up.

"Are you thicker!?" Leah clawed his shoulders, thumb pushing hard into muscle near his collarbones. "Your dick is definitely going to'mm, send me to h-hospital at...some point."

His feet jolted, and he tried to hold her the best he could, but he just squashed his face into her tits and moaned because he hadn't felt anything like this before.

The ring was shifted a tad upwards, and Leah settled, expressing her approval into his hair.

"Oh my- yes."

Steven got a free pass out of clitoral stimulation when the rubber bumps in a unique shape did the work for him, but he literally felt like he was about to bust with his girlfriend rocking fluidly in his lap.

"Stevie?"

"Yeah?" He hadn't been batted away, so he continued to roam up and down her sides, constantly pulling into him.

"I'm gonna cum, and then you're going to take off the ring and finish yourself off."

Whether this was a perfect representation of Leah's fantasy, Steven was certain they were making something just as powerful, and he reluctantly sat back against the pillows, arms limp by his sides to deprive himself of the control he wasn't supposed to have.

He watched his girlfriend orgasm from the humming vibrations on her clit and with his cock buried deep inside her, and it was possibly one of the hottest scenes he had ever seen, especially the rushed kiss pushed on his lips to muffle her moans.

Assuming he could, Steven kissed back, which meant he couldn't help himself by reaching up to hold her hair, thumbing her cheek as he angled to one side and slipped his tongue in her mouth.

He was desperate for his release by the time the attention was back on him, and once free, he fumbled the ring off. It was a lot more of a snug fit than it had been at the start, and the lack of vibrations left him comfortably numb as his body continued to register them.

"Leahh," he moaned, jerking his cock in his hand. He tried raising his knees, but she pushed them down again.

"Stop."

Steven didn't, and pretended he didn't hear. His breathing was getting shaky, eyes determined to reach the holy end, and all of the muscles around his pelvis were wound tight.

"Stop." Leah lunged forward and tugged his wrist away just when the definitive precum leaked, because one, maybe two more strokes and he'd be cumming.

"No no, no-wuh!" Steven whimpered, dragging up his feet to relieve the pressure in his crotch. Both of his wrists were raised and pinned above his head. "Please, please please. I need to-"

"I know, just...wait...a...little...bit longer," Leah said, in between spreading her attention down his chest, lips kissing, hands sliding down his arms to give his freedom back. "You're so gorgeous, my love. Every single part of you. I...don't tell you that enough."

Met with another kiss, Steven's hand was guided to his cock, a sign he could finish his wank.

He was so thick and hard, tingly from the vibrations no longer present, he was almost blinded with pleasure when his orgasm hit with a couple of fast strokes.

He felt so loved, looking at Leah looking back at him- he always did- and slumped helplessly, chest tightening with tears, because when she complimented him, whether it was during sex, randomly, or when he caught her staring and forced her to say something nice, her words went straight to his heart to secure the fact she was the one for him.

His saviour. His friend. His undoubted lover. She was his person. And he adored the life out of her.

"Are you still scared of the ring?"

Steven ignored the smug tone and sat up for a hug.

"Ew no, no." Leah pushed him back by his chest. "Go and clean your jizz."

"No, lick it off."

"Steevenn!" she protested, scuttling towards the end of the bed. "Please."

Having advanced on all fours, he sighed.

Steven jumped off, but not before gathering a splodge of cum on his finger and waving it in her face. He wouldn't have actually smeared it on her, but he loved winding her up.

It was guaranteed to make him smile, just like how tickling did, which was his exact plan after his quick bathroom trip.

Cleaned up, navy sleep shorts tied low on his hips, bracelet back on his wrist and rings and two of his fingers, Steven returned, feeling overjoyed and refreshed.

"Nooo, I thought you'd forget."

"Forget about one of my favourite things? Tsk. tsk, tsk..."

Steven crawled on top, exposing Leah's midriff, and soon felt her ankles cross on his back.

"You're such a twa-at!"

He hummed into her tummy, blowing air, sticking his tongue inside her belly button, and anything that kept her giggly with snorting laughter that he mimicked back.

When he was out of breath himself, cheeks sore from smiling so hard, and was being nudged dangerously by a flailing knee or foot, Steven stopped.

Leah glared at him, not very convincingly with tears in her eyes, and Steven had the audacity to flop down on his front next to her, shoulders narrow leaning on his forearms, and swing his feet in the air above his bottom.

Apologising profusely did nothing either...until he pinched her cheek with a quack noise and she could no longer keep her composure to not smile at his idiocy.

"Do you not wear rings?" Steven asked, settling on his side to take her hand resting on her torso. He delicately inspected her fingers.

They were still lying on top of the bed, and the thought randomly popped in his mind.

Leah turned her head towards him.

"Nope."

He took a quiet breath, glancing down as his thumb smoothed across hers.

"Would you if I bought you one?"

The shaky silence had him flicking his eyes back up.

"That's..." Leah ghosted a frown, quickly merging into what could only be a nervous smile. He noticed how she stopped trying to squeeze their held hand for a moment. "That's...different."

Initially confused, Steven was about to question further, but then realised he might have inadvertently suggested marriage which explained the blush on her cheeks and the glance at her fourth finger on her left hand that just so happened to be the one he was twisting gently.

"Uh, I-I didn't mean- that's not a hint," he stammered, letting go.

"Good," Leah sighed in relief, and she was retreating to sit up against the headboard. "Because I don't want to get married."

"What?" Steven's interest perked up, blinking incredulously. "Why?"

She shrugged, rubbing her arm.

"Waste of time and money. And I couldn't imagine anything worse than the scene my father would make when he found out."

Steven was ushered into silence. He couldn't deny the way his heart sank hearing any future plans of marriage were not an option. He understood they had been together on and off, but this was the real thing; they lived together now, they were a family, and he couldn't help but imagine being a husband, and possibly a father to more children.

Unfortunately, Steven also understood the deal with her father. As far as he was aware, Leah hadn't spoken to him since the day before they moved, and he was not to be mentioned.

Slowly, Steven sat up, guilty for putting a damper on the mood, but his plans of rectifying it were halted.

He snapped his head towards the door. One second. Two. Three. And then his eyes widened.

"Shit!" he panicked, jumping off the bed.

Out one door and pushing open the other, the sobbing made his face morph in horror.

"Oh, my baby girl! Daddy's here- shh, shh, shh."

He scooped his daughter up, hugging her tightly into his chest with her bunny, Patch, so her cries were muffled into his shoulder, and he soon noticed how hot and sticky she was.

Steven rubbed her back, bouncing her in his arms gently, and walking into the master bedroom with a crying toddler in his arms immediately directed the conversation.

"But she's been sleeping so well."

"I know, I know. I'm going to give her a bath, because she's all sticky."

"Do you need me to do anything?"

Steven was in the bathroom, kneeling down so Liv could stand with his support, and reaching out for the bath mat that had been draped on the towel rail.

"Um yeah, her stuff is downstairs. If you could...yeah, if you could get her body wash and moisturiser that'd be really helpful."

He was distracted, thumbing the tears from his daughter's cheeks, in a vague hope it would ease the sniffling.

"Sure."

Looking over his shoulder, Steven gave a weak smile of thanks that Leah saw before she disappeared.

"Let's take this top off, because you my baby girl are gettin' yourself all hot and bothered."

He had to be the strong one in these situations, but sometimes his lips trembled as he smiled his encouragement, and there was a sting behind his own nose seeing the screwed up face from a nightmare Liv didn't want to tell him details about.

Steven set the bath running, twisting the cold more than normal, and then grabbed a hair band to tie up Liv's hair from the back of her neck. If it wasn't so late he would wash it, but he knew how tired she was, and the sooner she was bathed and back in bed, the better.

Swirling the shallow water, happy with the temperature, Steven shut it off. He was in the middle of trying to take Patch out of Liv's hands when Leah returned.

"I brought some tissues as well," Leah said, setting down a bottle on the bath corner and a Disney character flannel over the edge.

"Thank you." Steven grabbed a handful. "Liv, I'll put Patch up here."

Successful in negotiating, the bunny was secured to sit on the taps after moving the shower head, and he stripped and lowered Liv into the shallow water.

His hands paused on her small torso that no longer trembled with such violent cries, because he had another thought. He looked right towards the abandoned heap of clothes.

"Leah?" He waited for his girlfriend to appear. "Can you stay here for a minute? I need to get some fresh pyjamas."

"I can get them for you?" she offered, hand leaning on the door frame.

"No no, they're um-" Steven pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut because he was struggling to think properly. "-I need to warm up some milk for Liv too, it's just easier if I go."

Leah hesitated, because he knew she could do everything he had listed, but took his spot, kneeling on the bathmat, no questions asked..

"I'll be as quick as I can."

Steven rushed out, and kept up the pace down the stairs to the kitchen.

He warmed a glass of milk in the microwave for about thirty seconds, unable to stand still listening to the hum when he was paranoid of how nightmares were affecting his daughter, and walking back up the stairs slower so he didn't spill was torture.

A clean pair of short sleeved dinosaur pyjamas were found in a drawer, and Steven returned. The moment he set foot into the bathroom though, there was a flash of fear in Leah's eyes.

"Is...everything okay?"

There was too much hesitation, and an unnecessary wait to reply as he emptied his hands.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, Liv just wanted you."

Leah barely looked at him as she used the bath's edge to stand up, knee clicking. Steven had kneeled, resting his palm on his daughter's back, but his eyes were trained upwards on his girlfriend.

"I'll be in bed." Leach pointed into the bedroom, and disappeared without another word.

Frowning, Steven replaced the call of her name with an intake of air through his mouth, looking between Liv, who was kicking out her feet in the water and no longer crying, and the empty door.

Reluctantly, he brushed the strange behaviour off, found the energy to gently bathe Liv, give her the glass of milk and re-dress her, but he had a feeling there was now another secret worming its way into his relationship.

First it was him. Now it was Leah. And in both circumstances, the other knew something was amiss.

It wasn't the right time to confront- it was too late- and there had been too much drama for one day, but Steven really hoped Leah would tell him tomorrow, otherwise the husband and kids talk was going to be put on hold for the foreseeable future.

Because Liv may have been fast asleep, curled into his side the moment he got into bed, but he was wide awake and he was pretty sure, as the lights turned out, Leah was too.

Sunapee was supposed to encourage family bonding, not break them apart, and yet, it was the latter that was building a reputation.

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