Teasing Steve with a lollipop during a slow shift at Family Video...
âHow does this place even stay open?â Steve mutters. Heâs standing behind the counter with you, squinting out into the mid-day sun. âZero customers inâŚwhatâs it been? Three hours?â
Itâs one of those afternoon shifts at Family Video.
The ones where every time you glance at the clock on the wall, itâs only been two minutes since the last time you checked, so you spend the whole time in agony trying not to look at it.
It could also have something to do with the fact that you're trying not to notice how attractive your coworker looks in that green vest.
âI donât even know," you reply, picking up a nearby cloth and dragging it across the counter in an attempt to keep your hands busy. "The passage of time slows down here. Like, a black hole."
Thereâs literally nothing left to do. All the returns have been shelved, the store is tidy and organized, but actually, you haven't cleaned under the register...
Youâre shoving at the hunk of metal, attempting to push your rag underneath it when something catches your eye.
There, at the edge of the counter, sits the complimentary candy jar.
You and Steve have been steadily cleaning the thing out during shifts like these all summer. (And then guiltily re-filling it so you'd have something to give the kids who come in every now and then.) However, since you hadn't had a chance to buy more after your recent attack on the thing, you thought it was empty.
But there, at the very bottom, sits one lonely lollipop.
You risk a glance back at Steve, but his eyes are already pinned to the candy. You look at each other, then the jar, then each other again.Â
And you both lunge in unison.Â
His shoulder bumps yours, but your elbow digs into his ribs, forcing a grunt from him. His fingers are longer, so he reaches it first, but you pin his wrist against the cool glass with your own and pry it out of his hand.Â
âGoddamn it,â he mutters when your fingers close around the candy. âItâs a mystery flavor one, too!â
You grin triumphantly and pull out your prize. âNice try. Sucker.â
âYouâre not funny.â He settles back against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest and frowning as you unwrap the lollipop. âTechnically, I touched it first.â
âWell, technically...that doesnât matter.â You brandish the stick, then pop the candy in your mouth. â âCause look whose mouth itâs in.âÂ
And he does. Look at your mouth, that is. You try to ignore the swoop in your stomach as the afternoon light catches in his mussed hair, making it look as soft as warm caramel.
âYou know,â he says slowly, âwe could call it even and justâŚshare.â
You snort. âShare? You canât share a lollipop, are you insane?â
âWhy not?Â
âIt's jussââ You take the sucker out of your mouth to speak clearly. âLikeâŚpurposely swapping spit?â
He shrugs. âWhatâs wrong with swapping spit? You drink out of my water bottle all the time.â Steveâs eyes flick to yours. âItâs not any different than making out.â
Oh.Â
How can he justâŚsay shit like that?
As if kissing your coworker is a perfectly normal thought to have. Of course, it is a frequent thought for you. Okay, more like an all-consuming one, butâwhatever.Â
âAt least tell me what flavor it is," he begs, taking a step towards you.
You hum, squinting up at him and twirling the candy in your mouth teasingly. âKind of like strawberry, but less sour? Too tart for watermelon. I don't know, but itâs soooo good.â
His gaze drops to your lips. âYouâre doing this on purpose.â
âWhat? Flaunting my win?â you say, voice full of false innocence. âI would never!â
He huffs a laugh, then his hand finds the counter behind you with a smack. Your vision fills with broad chest, and he presses you back against the ledge, so close that you have to tip your head up to look at him.Â
âCareful,â he says. âI might have to revoke your water bottle privileges.â
You roll your eyes, then pull the lollipop out again. âFine, Harrington. You want a taste that bad?â
His eyes drop to your lips. âSo bad.â
You hold the candy up between you, but when he reaches for it, you snatch it back at the last second.Â
He swallows hard as you slip it back into your mouth, twirling your tongue around the hard sugar and blinking up at him from under your lashes.Â
When it clicks against your teeth, his eyes darken.
Suddenly, Steve grabs the suckerâs stick and pulls it from your mouth, and youâre not really sure who moves first, but a second laterâŚhis lips are on yours.Â
Your breath hitches as his tongue presses against the seam of your lips, then dips inside, tasting the sweetness there, andâGod, itâs everything you dreamed of.
Steve groans softly, his exhale hot against your cheek as his fingers spread over your lower back to pull you closer, making your vest whisper against his. Your hands fly to his shirt, gripping the fabric for support as the carpet beneath your feet seems to tilt.Â
You could kiss him like this forever, actually. Itâs syrupy sweet, the sugar on your tongue melting with the taste of him and creating this intoxicating, addictiveâ
Just then, the bell over the door chimes.Â
You break apart instantly, chests heaving. Steve chuckles as your hands fly to your flaming cheeks, and you whip around, putting on your best customer service face for whoever just walked in.
The sucker lies forgotten on the countertop. Something for you to clean up later.
 âOh, and by the way,â he whispers over your shoulder before turning back to the register. âItâs cherry.â
I said âexpect this to be drawn and posted some time this monthâ in August, and now here we are in September, but better late than never :) I missed drawing this pretty boys I love them.
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