decorating for halloween with bf!rafe
cautions .ᐟ nothing but fluff, suggestive if you squint!
you and rafe had been planning to decorate for halloween all week, though “planning” 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 you’d made earlier. rafe was half sprawled on the couch when you came into the room carrying a plastic tub full of tangled string lights.
“you said you’d help,” 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. “i am helping,” he said, smirking, “supervising counts.”
you rolled your eyes, kneeling to untangle the mess of orange and purple lights, muttering something about how he’s impossible. rafe didn’t answer, just watched, eyes tracing the curve of your back where your oversized sweatshirt slipped off one shoulder.
“you know,” he said finally, voice low and lazy, “you look real cute when you’re bossy.”
“i’m not bossy,” you said without looking up. “i just like things done properly.”
“that’s literally the definition of bossy.” 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.
“these go on the mantel, right?” he asked, pretending to be helpful but really just trying to get close. you shot him a look over your shoulder. “don’t think i don’t see what you’re doing.”
“what am i doing?” he asked innocently, though his fingers were tracing little circles against your side. “you’re distracting me.”
“you’re already distracted, sweetheart.”
you tried to bite back a smile and failed. “fine. if you really wanna help, put the fake cobwebs up.” rafe groaned dramatically. “those things get everywhere.”
“so does glitter,” you pointed out, handing him the bag. “but i still used it for the pumpkins, didn’t i?”
“yeah, and i’m still finding it on my clothes,” 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 wasn’t 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. “looks good,” rafe said, wrapping an arm around your waist. “could almost pass for one of your pinterest boards.”
you laughed. “that’s because i’m a professional.”
“oh yeah?” he murmured, leaning down so his lips brushed the edge of your ear. “and what’s my role in all this, then?”
“moral support,” you teased. “and heavy lifting.”
rafe chuckled and nuzzled your neck. “think i deserve more credit than that.”
“you’ll get credit when you stop eating the candy meant for the trick-or-treaters.”
“they don’t need all of it.”
“rafe-” 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. “what?” he murmured when you turned to face him, trying to look stern. “we’re supposed to be decorating.”
“we are,” he said, smiling. “decorating you right now with my attention.”
you groaned. “that’s the cheesiest thing you’ve ever said.”
“and yet,” he murmured, tugging you closer, “you’re still smiling.” 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. “see? halloween’s fun when you let me help.”
“you helped for like five minutes,” you said, swatting at him.
“best five minutes of the day.”
you shook your head but couldn’t 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. “you know,” he said quietly, “next year, we should carve pumpkins too.”
“you mean i should carve pumpkins while you drink cider and make fun of me?”
“maybe.” he grinned in response. you laughed, resting your head on his shoulder, lights glowing softly around the room.
𝜗᭪ rhea speaks .ᐟ credits to dollywons for the halloween themed divider!