decorating for halloween with bf!rafe
cautions .α nothing but fluff, suggestive if you squint!
you and rafe had been planning to decorate for halloween all week, though βplanningβ mostly meant you showing him pinterest boards full of cozy orange lights and little ceramic pumpkins, and him pretending not to care while secretly bookmarking everything in his head.
it was saturday afternoon, sun already dipping low, and the cameron house smelled like cinnamon candles and the caramel popcorn youβd made earlier. rafe was half sprawled on the couch when you came into the room carrying a plastic tub full of tangled string lights.
βyou said youβd help,β you reminded him, setting the tub down with a thud that made him lift his head lazily, one arm thrown over the back of the couch. βi am helping,β he said, smirking, βsupervising counts.β
you rolled your eyes, kneeling to untangle the mess of orange and purple lights, muttering something about how heβs impossible. rafe didnβt answer, just watched, eyes tracing the curve of your back where your oversized sweatshirt slipped off one shoulder.
βyou know,β he said finally, voice low and lazy, βyou look real cute when youβre bossy.β
βiβm not bossy,β you said without looking up. βi just like things done properly.β
βthatβs literally the definition of bossy.β he was grinning now, and you could hear it in his voice. you tried to ignore him, but then he got up, came to kneel behind you. you felt the warmth of his body before you saw him, his hand brushing your hip as he reached for the lights.
βthese go on the mantel, right?β he asked, pretending to be helpful but really just trying to get close. you shot him a look over your shoulder. βdonβt think i donβt see what youβre doing.β
βwhat am i doing?β he asked innocently, though his fingers were tracing little circles against your side. βyouβre distracting me.β
βyouβre already distracted, sweetheart.β
you tried to bite back a smile and failed. βfine. if you really wanna help, put the fake cobwebs up.β rafe groaned dramatically. βthose things get everywhere.β
βso does glitter,β you pointed out, handing him the bag. βbut i still used it for the pumpkins, didnβt i?β
βyeah, and iβm still finding it on my clothes,β he said, but he took the cobwebs anyway, stretching them between the corners of the mantel while you plugged in the lights. they flickered to life, soft and orange, throwing a warm glow across the room. you both stood back to look at it. it wasnβt perfect, the lights were a little uneven, one of the fake spiders had fallen onto the floor, but it felt like home. cozy and messy and full of tiny bits of care. βlooks good,β rafe said, wrapping an arm around your waist. βcould almost pass for one of your pinterest boards.β
you laughed. βthatβs because iβm a professional.β
βoh yeah?β he murmured, leaning down so his lips brushed the edge of your ear. βand whatβs my role in all this, then?β
βmoral support,β you teased. βand heavy lifting.β
rafe chuckled and nuzzled your neck. βthink i deserve more credit than that.β
βyouβll get credit when you stop eating the candy meant for the trick-or-treaters.β
βthey donβt need all of it.β
βrafe-β but you were laughing too hard to finish. he kissed your shoulder, then the side of your neck, the kind of lazy affection that always made your knees go soft. βwhat?β he murmured when you turned to face him, trying to look stern. βweβre supposed to be decorating.β
βwe are,β he said, smiling. βdecorating you right now with my attention.β
you groaned. βthatβs the cheesiest thing youβve ever said.β
βand yet,β he murmured, tugging you closer, βyouβre still smiling.β he kissed you then, soft and unhurried, the lights flickering behind you. when you finally pulled away, breathless and laughing, rafe brushed his thumb over your cheek. βsee? halloweenβs fun when you let me help.β
βyou helped for like five minutes,β you said, swatting at him.
βbest five minutes of the day.β
you shook your head but couldnβt stop smiling. later, when you were curled up together on the couch, a bowl of popcorn between you and a bad horror movie playing, rafe leaned close again. βyou know,β he said quietly, βnext year, we should carve pumpkins too.β
βyou mean i should carve pumpkins while you drink cider and make fun of me?β
βmaybe.β he grinned in response. you laughed, resting your head on his shoulder, lights glowing softly around the room.
παͺ rhea speaks .α credits to dollywons for the halloween themed divider!