Inspired by the iconic post.
Rebecca pauses her movement, unsure what she’s hearing. Ted takes her hand, still entwined with his, brings it to his face. Rebecca expects a featherlight kiss—he’s done this move before, tender man—but he nuzzles instead, a muffled version of the confounding phrase tickling her skin. She rolls off Ted to lay alongside him, tangles her legs with his. His brow furrows.
“No, no—never, of course not.” Rebecca releases his hand, immediately threading her newly-freed fingers through the hair on his temples, smoothing an eyebrow with her thumb, until she feels the muscles underneath relax. “I just…I didn’t know you were into horse play.”
The lines on his forehead return, then soften. A smile tugs at the edge of his lips.
“Really? I thought that would’ve been one of the first things you figured out about me. Maybe even the first day we met. Ted Lasso: hates tea, loves horseplay.”
Rebecca opens her mouth, closes it. She snorts. He’s joking. But still—
“Very funny. But seriously Ted, I’m up for nearly anything with you, I thought that much was clear, but you just caught me a little off guard—we usually talk about new kinks outside of the bedroom first.”
“New…kinks? Sorry honey, but I’m not following.”
“‘I’m a horse, I’m a horse, I’m a horse,’” Rebecca supplies. There’s a touch of heat rising in her chest, a creeping awareness she might be, as Ted would say, ’way off base.’
Ted bursts out laughing, chokes, coughs. He sits up, pours a small glass of water from the carafe on the bedside table, and chugs it.
Rebecca watches all of this, but doesn’t move. In a different life, a different relationship, she might pull the duvet up, cover herself in embarrassment. But she knows there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
Ted sets the glass down when he’s done, then moves with lightning speed. Rebecca startles, but relaxes as he settles over her, the weight of him comforting like always. He rests his weight on one elbow, cupping her face gently with his other hand. His eye contact feels intentional; she holds it. He lowers his head to press a kiss to her temple.