lars was not confident in the beginning of your relationship. he was insecure about not being the most attractive, he has a bit of pudge on his belly. he wasn’t the most confident guy in town. he was particular about his schedule and how his home was organized. but, most importantly, he couldn’t touch you. what kind of man doesn’t touch his own partner? what kind of man won’t kiss them?
he didn’t dare speak these thoughts out loud. you have always loved loudly. whether that means verbally saying your thoughts, or doing something for someone else. you weren’t afraid to let people know you care, you love them. lars especially admired that about you. the way you give yourself up so effortlessly to those around you. and you never expected anything back! and if you heard lars was doubting himself, oh he’d never hear the end of it. neither would anybody in town.
so imagine his surprise when you said the sweetest words to him unprovoked. constantly.
“hi lars, honey! you look extra handsome today!” a huge smile taking over your face. eyes shining with nothing less than pure adoration- directed right at him! he’d get bashful, head turning to look at the ground, harsh blinks scrunching his face as his cheeks blazed with the warmth of a thousand suns, shoulder coming up just the slightest bit as if to shield himself from the torrent of love coming from you.
“thank you, love bug. you look very nice too.” his voice just above a whisper, shy and unsure.
“lars! i was at the little strip mall, and guess what! they had so many different sweaters in this one store, so i went ahead and got you a couple. what do we think?” you burst through his door, just slightly tamer than a hurricane, practically bouncing on your feet. your own sweater is rumpled from your quick movements, and in your hands are at least four bags from your day in town.
once you settle, and drop the bags onto the couch, your hands are immediately diving into a bigger brown paper bag. a soft, dark green fabric is swiftly pulled out, looking extra warm in the soft lighting of lars’ home. it’s obviously an expensive cashmere sweater, one you picked out just for him.
“doesn’t it look so soft, baby?” you take a step closer to him, head coming up to face him from looking at where your hands fuss with the fabric resting in them. your body stops just shy of him, enough distance to not be touching, but close enough to feel each other’s body heat.
he clears his throat, “uh, yeah. yeah, it looks really soft, honey. but, you didn’t have to buy this for me.”
his hands clench and unclench in fists by his side, unsure what to do with them. he has a shy smile pulling at his lips, turning the mustache you oh-so adore up at the ends.
“oh, don’t be silly! this will look so good on you! try it on, i want to see you in it. please, honey?” your voice is just shy of a beg. the sweater gets pushed into his chest as you corral him to the bathroom so he can change without your prying eyes.
lars finds he has no choice but to try it on. he takes off the current, familiar brown sweater he knows you also love. with the way your hands run over the fabric and stop on his chest as you stretch up to plant a wet kiss on his cheek every time he wears it, he finds he doesn’t need words to know how much you adore it. the kiss burns slightly, but he always lets it slide when he sees your beaming smile and warm cheeks when you pull back- his own cheeks flaming in return.
he pulls the green fabric taught and he examines it. it’s soft alright. it has a slight fuzz to it, and the stitching at the seams are very well done.
when he exits the bathroom, you sit on the couch, head snapping up when you hear the door unlock. your pretty eyes widen as you take in your handsome boyfriend. his eyes drag up to meet yours, soft and a little nervous. hands wringing because he never knows what to do with them, and you find it incredibly charming how awkward he is. the white collar peaks out of the sweater so perfectly, and it hugs him just right. pushing softly into the chub of his belly that you love more than life, and his shoulders look deliciously broad under the warm fabric.
“lars… you look so handsome,” you rise from the couch in pure awe, eyes shining with nothing but love, “you look so good, honey.”
“are you sure? it’s a little tight on my stomach.” he’s shy, you note. the carpet flattens under his freshly shined shoes as he shuffles in place. his hands raised to pull the fabric further down his torso, but you quickly stop him, hands gripping his wrists lightly.
“no, no. it looks perfect. you look perfect, honey. i love your tummy, sweetheart. oh, i could give you a kiss!” gushing at him, you squeeze his sweater covered wrists as your knees bend up and down in what could only be described as cuteness aggression personified.
lars chuckles at your declaration. you want to kiss him? you? kiss lars? wow. you’ve been together a little while, but only ever kissed his cheek after he finally gave you permission. hand holding is far and few between, but he can handle a pinkie here and there. but a kiss? he hasn’t really put too much thought into. will it hurt? and if it does, will it be worth it? he could try…
“you can kiss me, love bug.” you still at the whisper that leaves his mouth, eyes wide, mouth slightly agape. your eyes rake over his face, looking for any sign of doubt. instead, you find the typical shyness you always see on your boyfriend’s face; but you also find a hint of eagerness, excitement. he really wants you to kiss him. and who are you to deny the most handsome and loving man you know a kiss?
your hands run up his arms, stopping at his shoulders, “you’re sure?”
“mhm. i’m sure.” his head nods up and down eagerly.
“okay.. can i touch you, honey?”
your hands slowly slide up, one resting on his neck, the other on his cheek. his eyes scrunch closed, and you wait for him to acclimate. you won’t go further until he says you can. lars appreciates this more than he thinks you’ll ever know. your never ending patience. why you’re with him, he will always question.
once he nods and his eyes stay closed but not scrunched, you lightly pull his face towards you. his hands come up to tentatively land on your hips, squeezing once they find purchase.
the moment your lips connect, you pause. you wait for him to pull away, but he doesn’t. instead, a sharp intake of breath through his nose meets your ears. and suddenly, lars is deepening it. it’s soft, a little wet, and definitely desperate. he finds that he’s wanted this just as much as you have.
and guess what? it doesn’t burn. not like he’s used to. it’s a new feeling for sure, but one he finds isn’t unwelcome. in fact, he wants to do it again and again.
he hums as one of your hands finds purchase in his hair, lightly tugging. his hands pull you closer by the waist, wanting you impossibly close. your head tilts a little to the side as you allow him to pull you closer.
you pull back for air, both of you breathing heavy and eyes closed. his nose nudges yours as he lightly rests his forehead on yours.
“you okay?” your voice is just a breathy whisper, hands settling on his chest as you listen to his heavy breathing.
“y-yeah. i’m okay. i love you.” his hands squeeze your hips again.
“i love you too, lars. so, so much.”
later that night, you’re sat just next to each other on the couch as he watches tv, and you read a book.
“i think it’s safe to say the sweater looks really good on you, yeah?” your eyes lock as you turn to look at him. you smile at him as he smiles at you.
he chuckles, “yeah, i think so.” he waits for you to go back to your book before he presses his lips to your temple.
