25y/o, she/her, French-Algerian, I write sometimes but I always fangirl, I may be cringe but I am free, a Miguel O'Hara apologist, Queer friendly and sex positive space 🌙🍉 Anti AI. My AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Thefangirlfever
Most of these fanfictions are Across the Spider-Verse related and revolve around the character of Miguel O'hara. I will update this masterlist as much as possible.
SFW fanfiction:
The Nightmare: Miguel has a nightmare and reader comforts him (angst)
The Monster : Miguel is hurt after a fight and he needs some help, something he usually refuses, because he is ashamed of his features. (angst)
In this lifetime: When Miguel had jumped into an other dimension to replace his variant, he had not expected life to be so different… (angst, romance, fluff)
NSFW fanfiction: (MDNI)
Trapped in a web : Miguel and reader are two spider-people in a relationship. They both know this relationship is impossible since they don’t belong in the same universe, but that doesn’t stop them from loving each other.
Workaholic : You and Miguel are both Spider people and you might be more attracted to one another than you acknowledge it. Things take an interesting turn during one night in his office...
Trick or Treat : One of your friends throw a Halloween Party and you meet a seducing masked guest. You both end up doing the monster (s)mash.
Four walls : You and Miguel are dating while working in the same company. What could go wrong when you are both needy, frustrated and find each other alone in an elevator?
A new beginning : Miguel and you are married for more than a year and life has been kinda hectic with all your work. One day he comes home and after seeing Peter B. Parker with Mayday all day, Miguel has only one thing in his mind… Getting you pregnant.
The unknown destination : Miguel found himself lost in the multiverse. He ends up in an alternative dimension filled with strange flowers.
Good morning : Since you and Miguel had been married, he’s been rocking a dad bod, not that it bothers you…
Control freak : Miguel is a control freak but there might be one place where he lets you take control…
Let me keep you warm : What would happen if the two of you spend the night in a cabin during a snow storm?
180 Degrees : A very self-indulgent piece of smut involving Miguel...and Peter.
The first time : Reader and Miguel have their first time together. (FTM Miguel)
Merry Christmas : You usually despise coming back home for the Holidays. You either get unwanted comments or questions about your job, you appearance, your love life… But this year, things are different. Your boyfriend is here with you and he is going to make you feel good.
Miguel O'hara! firefighter: the cute firefighter you're dating hid from you that he took part to a steamy photoshoot for a firefighter's calendar.
Headcanons:
Halloween headcanons: SFW, fluff
Boyfriend Miguel helps you relax after your finals: fluff and smut
Miguel O'Hara and bimbo's girlfriend: SFW, a bit suggestive, fluff
Miguel O'hara! firefighter: the cute firefighter you're dating hid from you that he took part to a steamy photoshoot for a firefighter's calendar.
Dad bod! Miguel imagine: smut, suggestive
Series:
The Nanny serie: part 1 (fluff, domestic fluff and angst), part 2 (smut, suggestive), part 3 (fluff, suggestive), part 4 (smut)
DBF! Miguel:
part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4
part 5
part 6
headcanon 1,
headcanon 2
headcanon 3
Smut headcanon
Stress Relief: (18+, NSFW)
Part 1: Sometimes the best way to relax is a good drink, a bath, your favorite toy...and your boyfriend...
Part 2: When your boyfriend has to travel for his job, you both have to find an other way to relieve all the tension…
Part 3: a date night with Miguel turns heated when you bring out a special board-game...
Into deep waters, NSFW, Jacob Holland (18+)
The bet, Very suggestive, Logan/ Wolverine (18+)
The Honeymoon, NSFW, Logan/ Wolverine (18+)
5.00 AM, SFW, Logan/ Wolverine, angst
Flame on, SFW, fluff: Balcony scene with Johnny Storm.
Just a little something, NSFW, 18+: Steven Grant and his first time
OC x Steven Grant fanfics:
Let's have a break, NSFW, 18+: fun time in a supply closet
It's getting hot in here, NSFW, 18+: the heatwave doesn't stop people to have fun.
Steven Grant x OC fluff: at a picnic.
Morning Dew: morning sex with chubby Steven Grant.
If you call me back, NSFW, 18+: Victor Frankenstein deals with unresolved tension after a long day of work.
I often feel like a madwoman talking about my OCs and like I am only annoying to my friends because I am just so passionate about these stuff... I feel like a proper nuisance so it feels good to see some love for this dynamic
Summary: Victor hires a prostitute before his long journey into the cold. (18+, f!reader, sex work, oral, p in v, milk spitting?, ~1.8k)
Note: I had to get this one down. It’s been living inside of my brain for a few weeks now. And now I’ll get to writing requests. Thank you! I love you!!!
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Victor Frankenstein isn’t the strangest man who’s ever hired you for sex, but he certainly is the grumpiest.
He answers the door as if you’re interrupting his dinner. Not meeting him at his home for an encounter he himself arranged.
“Come in.” His cane thumps on the ground as he turns, not bothering to make sure you’ve followed him.
You take off your cloak and hang it.
This house had been his brother’s, William Frankenstein, before his passing. Not that you’d ever been invited. William was a very upstanding man. Not one to visit you and your colleagues, but as a prostitute, it's your business to know the well-off men in the city.
It’s a nice house. Not grand, but old and beautiful. Your money is sitting on a table by the door. You tuck it safely into the pocket inside your dress.
There’s a huge fire in the hearth of the sitting room. By the looks of it, Victor does all his living here. There’s a bed at one end with a silky red duvet curling messily on top. A table with books and beakers on the other. Maps of the Russian Empire and beyond are nailed to the wall.
Victor stands by the window drinking something that looks suspiciously like…
“Milk?” he asks you.
“No, thank you,” you say.
“Then you can refill my glass.” He wiggles it slightly.
A grown man drinking milk at nine o’clock at night. To each their own. You’re not one to judge.
“I hope you’re not a drinker.” Victor looks down his nose at you.
“No, sir.” You pour the milk into his glass tumbler.
“Is your job your vice, then?” he asks, fixing you in his dark gaze.
“I don’t do this job because I have uncontrollable urges,” you tell him honestly.
“I’m glad one of us doesn’t,” he says darkly. “If you’re not willing, you may leave. I’ll not force you.”
“I’m willing,” you assure him. “I only meant that this is a profession. I’m good at it, but I wouldn’t be here if not for the coin.”
You hope it doesn’t offend him, but it seems he understands. In fact, the corners of his eyes soften.
He’s very handsome. His dark curly hair is a little long. He has a short beard, as if he can’t be bothered to shave anymore. His skin is a shade darker than most men in this part of the world. His entire aura is enticing.
Some people say he’s stark raving mad. Victor’s a referral from one of your regular clients, though. Not exactly normal, the man had said, but never known to harm a woman. Apparently, Victor was going on a long journey and needed some company before he left.
Victor looks down at his glass thoughtfully. You can tell from the swell of his pants that he’s half hard already.
“Dip your fingers into my drink,” Victor says with a husky voice.
You set aside the bottle and let your middle and pointer finger drop slowly into the opaque, white liquid.
A deep sound reverberates in his chest. His lips part. You lift your fingers, still dripping, to his mouth. He sucks on them hungrily, moaning.
“Again,” he says around your fingers, “and touch my cock.”
You swirl your fingers in the milk. You barely take them out before Victor’s sucking on them again. You palm him over his pants. He’s harder than an oak tree and standing just as proud.
He slithers his tongue between your fingers and you think that maybe you do have an urge after all.
Victor unlaces the front of your dress and bends down to suck at your nipples. That at least makes sense, given how much he seems to love milk.
Strange, that someone so attractive is so… weird. Sometimes handsome aristocrats are cruel. Stupid. Miserly. But Victor is just so odd.
He kisses your breasts over and over, stopping to suck almost too hard, or to lick milk from your fingers.
On an impulse, you dribble some milk down the slope of your breasts. The absolute adoration on Victor’s face is more than you can bear.
You shiver as you feel his trembling lips on your skin. He gently licks at your breasts, like you’re made of porcelain.
He leans on his cane heavily, parting your dress as he kneels. He has some difficulty with it. You reward him by letting a thin stream of milk flow down your skin. Your dress falls off. You hadn’t bothered to wear underclothes.
His strong hands pull at your thighs, parting them. He looks up at you from underneath his lashes. Big dark eyes, like he’s seen more than his years.
“I feel more thirsty for this than for my milk. May I?” he asks from between your legs.
Normally you would laugh. Tell a client, “go ahead. You paid for it.”
Something about Victor stops you, though. Coarse words would ruin the moment.
“Yes, please,” you say, almost embarrassed. Ridiculous feeling. You have sex for money. Feeling timid is for real ladies.
He inhales as he brings his face close to your sex. “You smell so good. So alive.”
He keeps his tongue soft at first, mapping out every fold of your skin. Then, his mouth covers you and he dives inside. A deep rumble of satisfaction bursts out of his chest, tingling your skin. You brace yourself on the windowsill as he eats at you like a man who hasn't had a meal in weeks.
Instead of his cane, Victor now holds his cock. He strokes it steadily, the tip red and leaking down the shaft.
“Victor,” you say, barely able to get a word out as he teases your clit. “Lie down on the floor. I want to taste you too.”
He winces slightly as he does as you ask. His leg slows him down. You straddle his face. He eagerly pulls you down. From this angle, you can take him in your mouth too. He tastes musky and salty. Clean, but strong. It must have been some time, you think, since he’s had someone.
You hum while you suck at him. More moaning actually. Victor’s face between your thighs is more actual pleasure than you’ve had in many months. It builds inside of you, a wave of orgasm that you don’t usually feel when working. This doesn’t feel like work, though. He feels like your lover.
Victor must know you’re close. He picks up his efforts, his tongue busily playing with you until you come. Your mouth stutters around his cock. You feel a rush of liquid out of you that Victor enthusiastically laps up. You recover enough to bob your head up and down on him faster, but Victor taps your side.
“No, I want to come inside of you.” His words are heavy. He sounds out of breath.
At this point, you’d give him absolutely anything he wants. He could’ve asked you to stand on your head and you’d have tried.
You turn around to ride him. In the process, your hand brushes his leg. It’s cold and not like flesh at all. He’s missing part of his leg. Sympathy wells up in you.
“Trust me, I don’t deserve that look,” Victor says gruffly. “I earned what I got. I’ll get worse before my miserable life ends.”
You drag your wet cunt against his cock. “You don’t seem miserable to me.”
He almost smiles. “This is probably the last bit of happiness I’ll ever have. I shouldn’t take it, but I’m weak, and you’re more tempting than undiscovered science. Just as ripe for the learning.”
“You don’t have to learn anything about me. I’m quite an open book.” You rise to let just the very tip of him inside of you. You don’t even use your hands to guide him. Your body knows how to take a man by now.
“I do love books. Look at your flesh and muscle.” Victor’s hands stroke your thighs. “Magnificent, and you don’t even know it. Your cunt is a miracle of nature.”
His words make you stutter. You stop your progress. It isn’t the praise. Some men like to do that. It’s that you can tell he means what he says. He’s marveling at you, at how your body is put together.
You reach behind you and pick up his glass of milk. It’s still cold as you take a drink. You don’t swallow, though. Instead, you lean down, chest to chest with Victor. As your cunt sinks down on him, you part your lips, letting milk fall from you mouth, into his waiting one. He swallows with obvious enjoyment and licks his lips afterward.
He fills you completely, stretching you entirely on his thick cock. You squeeze him and he moans like he’s surrendered completely. You take more milk and Victor’s mouth opens wide to receive it. His hand slides to the back of your neck. After he drinks your milk he pulls you down into a devastating kiss. His hips rise and fall, fucking into you from below. You hold onto his strong, muscled shoulders, riding him like he’s your prized stallion.
You shudder, coming around him again. You’re so tight it almost hurts as he pushes harder, reaching deep inside of you as he fills you. You swear you can feel every pulse and twitch as he comes.
Victor’s arms wrap around you, holding you to him. Your breath syncs together. Your hands relax on his shoulders and you realize he hadn’t even gotten undressed. A shame. You wish you’d been able to see his body.
“Stay the night,” he says in your ear.
You shut your eyes hard and think with your brain, not your heart and quim. “I don’t usually.”
“I only want to hold you. Fuck you again if you’ll let me.” His big hand brushes your face, pushing you far back enough so he can look in your eyes. “There’s food in the kitchen. We’ll use the bed next time. I can be hard again in a few hours. Maybe less if you don’t put your dress back on.”
He falls silent and you see in his eyes that he’ll pay you more.
“You can say it. It’s what I am, after all,” you say, your nose touching his.
“For the first time, I find myself not wanting to be rude.” His brow furrows. “Usually I don’t give a shit about my behavior.”
You chest moves in silent laughter. “Behave how you like. That’s what you’ll pay me for. The sex, however, I’d like to have again with you.”
Victor grins. He’s charming when he wants to be.
“We’ll need another bottle of milk,” you say.
His eyes light up. “More than one. I have a powerful thirst.”
Victor masterlist :: main masterlist :: Join My Fic Taglist
How I look trying to summon all my horniness to write a new Victor Frankenstein smut fic that involves that damn green robe that got me acting like a fool too many times.
Morning Dew (Steven Grant Imagine x OC, NSFW, 18+)
Tags: morning sex, slow sex, PIV penetration, chubby Steven Grant, body praise, dirty talk, sligt nipple play
Disclaimer: English is not my first language.
Taglist: @wspia Hope you'll like it ^^
Steven yawned into his pillow and turned on his side, making the bed sheets rustle around his form. When he was expecting to be met with the face of his partner, he instead saw the familiar whiskers of one of her familiars. Ren, the big red cat, stretched too, mimicking Steven’s posture and gave an appreciative purr as the man patted its back.
“Hiya, big guy…”
The feline’s soft purrs vibrated against his cheek as it rubbed against his face, asking to be fed.
“Did your owner forget to feed you?” Steven asked in a drowsy voice. Just when he had asked this question, footsteps lightly tapped against the old wood floor of his bedroom and he soon felt an added weight on top of the mattress.
“I would never.” This voice made the hair on his neck stand on thin air and even more so when the heat of this other body settled back right next to him.
“Don’t fall into his trap, Steven. He might be pleading with his eyes and his cute face, but that thief already ate.” To Alia’s words, Ren gave an undignified huff and jumped off the bed before trotting toward the kitchen. He almost seemed guilty to have been caught asking for more food this early in the day.
Steven smiled, both at the idea of the mischievous cat plotting for more wet food, and at the comfort of his partner’s body wrapping against him once again in this familiar position of them.
This was how it went every night. Steven lied on his side, facing the small window in the room and she would later join him on. Sometimes she would already find him asleep but most days, he was just truly waiting for her. For her right arm to be hooked around his waist. For her left hand to play with his hair. And for their legs to get tangled together. There were nights when they would tell each other their day, others when they would just fall asleep out of exhaustion and others when they would forget the rest of the world existed, lost in one another.
But mornings were different. Softer. Quieter. Slower. As if they belonged to a totally different time.
Steven lounged comfortably onto the sheets, holding her legs between his, letting his warmth wrap around her skin. He had always ran hot; it was a miracle they both managed to stay under the cover for so long.
“Thanks for warning me, love… You know, for a moment, I thought you had been replaced by a fat cat.” He mumbled, a lazy smile on his face.
“What’s so bad about this?” Her breath tickled the skin of his ear and he sank deeper into the mattress, trying to fight back the tickles. “I bet being a cat is not that bad…”
“You know, you might be onto something…” He chuckled before slipping his fingers against hers. She must have washed her hands on the way back to the bed after feeding the cats. The skin there was smooth but cold and he made it his duty to warm it up. Slowly, he brought it over the swell of his stomach, under his shirt. He felt her body move slightly behind him, all soft limbs and tender curves, and a small sigh of relief escape her parted lips. His skin was soft and slightly fuzzy right there. He had never been a really hairy guy, even when trimmed, but there was just enough fuzz on his abdomen to keep him all smooth under her caresses.
After a small silence during which her thumb gently rubbed his stomach, she kissed the back of his neck. He smelled like a mix of sweat, not the kind due to hard exercises but rather the musk left by a night wrapped into thick blankets, of the laundry detergent they used on said blankets and lavender. She could barely smell his cologne there and so she left her lips trace down from his neck to the juncture with his shoulder, in that small patch of skin where for some reason perfumes always lingered longer.
“You’re not working today?” Steven asked, barely hiding the hope in his voice. Her attentions were waking him up in more ways than expected.
“No… I am not…” She breathed against his neck before propping herself up on her free elbow. The mattress gave a slight bounce as she moved and peered over him. His features only looked softer in the early morning light, long lashes that hid his drowsy eyes, plump lips expecting a kiss and his curls like a halo around his face…
“Why? Do you have any plans?” She asked while leaning down until her nose rubbed against his cheek. His stubble scratched against her skin, putting all the nerves inside her body on edge.
“Not really… Except maybe keeping you in this bed for as long as possible…” He drawled against her shoulder. His hands held her hips, mainly taking in their perfect swell.
“Sounds like a good plan to me.” She kissed the corner of his lips and let her hands slide up higher on his torso until her fingers caught a handful of flesh, yielding and warm. She gave his pectorals a small squeeze earning a chuckle of surprise from him, soon followed by a shuddering breath as she swiped her thumbs over his nipples. He had grown softer over the months they had lived together, to the point that she couldn’t stop her hands to always seek him.
“Hmm...how about you take these off?” She asked while pulling on the fabric of his top that restrained her movements.
“No need to be in such a hurry, love…” He still slipped the shirt off, letting it fall somewhere across the floor.
“But I am in no hurry… In fact, I’m taking my time…” She sat up and looked down on his exposed body, taking in the view with a hungry look in her eyes. She loved how much he had softened over the months, even if it had taken some time for him to get used to this new silhouette. His arms were still bulky and his shoulders muscular, probably from all these years carrying heavy package back at the museum. Most of the change had happened around his chest and stomach, as well as on his butt.
Her nails raked down his torso, barely scratching the surface of his skin but definitely waking him up. She followed the curvature of his belly, up and down to the waistband of his old sweats. They clung more to his legs and back now and they were currently making a bad job at hiding his excitement. She tugged on the strings holding his pants together, looking back for his approval. His soft smile and a nod gave her all the confidence she needed to pull on the strings and with his help, slip them off his legs, as well as his boxers.
“You’re so hot.” Whenever Steven heard these words come out of her mouth, he couldn’t help the giant ego boost it gave him, as if all these years of self-consciousness had finally disappeared. After so long living like a shadow, this light upon him felt like a relief and if he had been doubting himself in the beginning, he had grown more comfortable with her praise.
Before he could reply anything, she imitated him, slipping off her shirt, an old thing he had brought back from the museum and that was now covered in cat’s hair and in her scent.
All his wits left him at the sight of her naked body and he more than happily welcomed her silhouette into his arms.
As soon as she laid on his chest, he felt once again that feeling of completion, like everything was right and where it should be. It felt as if they were just one body, moving at the same pace. Steven didn’t really care how unoriginal that thought was because he had not found one that expressed any better this feeling. While he was kissing her, he could not stop feeling her skin. The tension in her shoulders dissolving. The slight flex of her thighs as she wrapped them around his waist. The weight of a breast inside his palm. The indent of her stomach and then the opening of her sex… His thumb casually circled her clitoris, causing her to gasp against his collarbone.
She tensed up and looked for something to hold onto while he touched her. Steven guided her to lie back down on the mattress, her head nestled against the crook between is arm and shoulder while his free hand still drew lazy circles around her entrance.
“Open up for me, love, please…” Steven quietly begged into her hair, making her legs part. His fingers traveled down between her labia, parting them with a scissoring motion. An other gasp escaped her and he felt her body shiver against him.
“Such a beautiful sight, darling…” He mused while looking at his hand nestled between her thighs and her mound of love rubbing against him. His praise slipped over her burning skin, wrapped into her. Words kept leaving his mouth at the same pace as her hips moving against his hand. He had kept his movements slow, giving him time to explore, to luxuriate on that precious gift of hers.
“Come closer, please… I need you…”
Her fluid had coated his fingers like honey, leaving him wanting more of it. He had thought about lapping it up straight from the source but nothing mattered more than what she wanted in the moment and so he settled between her thighs, the head of his cock rubbing against her entrance. He’d have all the time in the world later to properly enjoy her sweet cunt.
Holding himself on his forearms, he hovered above her for a few seconds, taking in her disheveled figure. He kissed each of her cheeks slowly, heavily breathing as she hugged him more tightly.
“Please, don’t make me wait, ya hayati…”
The term of endearment made him blush to the tip of his ears. He could have lost his composure.
“Don’t. You’re going to make me blush…” He mumbled before kissing her softly. His hips moved slowly, letting her get used to him until she pulled him closer.
“You’re so impatient sometimes…” He chastised her, even though there was no real bite in his words.
“Can’t blame me…” She said with a smile while dragging her hands down his back and holding his buttocks, guiding his movements as he entered her. His fingers gripped the sheets as soon as he felt that familiar grip around his member. Warm walls closed around him and with a rhythmic pace, he moved back and forth. She took him deeper with every stroke, always asking for more until he was just panting over her, his movements less coordinated and even.
“Come on, Steven… Just a little bit more…” She pleaded while rolling her hips against his, letting his stomach bump just right against her lower belly. Steven was trying his best to keep the rhythm but he knew it was a lost battle and eventually he lifted her hips up to let his last strokes be deeper than before.
“I’m...trying, darling… but you’re just so…” A grunt left his lips as he sank deeper between her thighs, his hands full of her ass and his eyes only able to focus on her sprawled form. And when she placed her hands on his torso and let them slide down to his stomach, he was even more at loss for words.
“Don’t...don’t do this…”
“Doing what?” She asked coyly while digging her nails into the soft dough of his belly. “Don’t tell me you’re getting all shy now?”
He could recognize that deviant smile of hers a mile away. This could only mean one thing. No matter how soon this ended, they were far from laving this bed and he didn’t need anything more to finally let go.
His full weight lied upon her as he came, his warmth mingling with hers, coating her thighs in both their release. She didn’t let him go away, even with the added weight on her. In fact she held him even more tightly throughout his orgasm, letting him pant harder and moan into her ear, the sensation of fullness subsiding between her legs even after he had emptied himself.
“You know you can let me go now, hun?” He asked after a few minutes of them both catching their breath.
“No way I am doing that.” Steven could only chuckle in her hair and kiss her again at that. While he was focused on the kiss, she rolled them over and took the opportunity to straddle him. Helpless, only because he wanted to, Steven smiled.
“You are insatiable.”
“Have you seen yourself? Of course, I am insatiable.” She grinned before tracing a line of kisses down his lips to his midriff. She didn’t miss a single sensitive spot on his body, making him hard once again. When she reached his groin, she parted his legs and he squirmed on the bed, a bit self-conscious for getting so much attention.
“You are a menace… Next, I’m taking care of you.” He said, already blushing at the sight of her so close to his shaft.
“We’ll see that...”
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Note: Hope you liked this fic, I had a lot of fun writing it. Even if technically the Moon boys all share the same body, I have always imagined Steven a little chubbier and I think it suits him.
Tags: fluff, first date, none really, just two sappy idiots in love
Disclaimer: English is not my first language. This is a fic about my OC and Steven Grant from the show Moon Knight. It's a sweet tooth-rotting fluff, and I usually write more smutty stuff but I hope you'll like it.
Steven checked his watch for the nth time in the minute, not that it made a difference but he was too jittery to think rationally. With Alia, they had come up with an hour to meet at Clapham park and yet, he had came here way too early. With a sigh, he looked at the picnic blanket he had brought -and bought specially for this day – where lied the dishes he had prepared for today and a bouquet of flowers, just for her.
So much for being nonchalant.
With a wry grin, he wondered if she would deem this too much. It was a date after all, a proper one they had agreed on, and Steven had always thought this type of attentions natural on a date. He just hoped she wouldn’t think it was too much. The last thing he wanted was to scare her with unbridled enthusiasm or his usual awkwardness. It was already a miracle for him that he had somehow managed to get a date with her.
Just when he was about to check the time again, he heard someone -not just someone but her -calling him out.
Steven remembered watching Pride and Prejudice once, the 2005 version, with Mr Darcy walking across the field at dawn, surrounded by dew and fog to an enamored Elizabeth Bennet. Now he understood. He get it. The appeal of this scene. Except that instead of being Mr Darcy, he was more like Elizabeth, watching his crush walking toward him with resolve and determination.
His heart painfully leaped inside his chest as he took her in from afar. She had a bright yellow sundress on and her hair was tied up with a pink ribbon. In her right hand, she was holding a bottle of cider and a cooler in the left one. Her heeled sandals stomped over the grass of the park and that’s when Steven woke up, realizing he should probably help her carry all of this instead of just watching like a fool.
Gods above, the closer he was getting to her, the less he could believe he had struck a date with this woman. She reminded him of the fairies in tales, or more precisely dryads; these wood spirits known for their other wordly beauty and charm.
He quickly got up, stumbled on his way to her and practically snatched the cooler off her hands.
“H-hey, love. How you’re doing? Please, let me help you with that…”
The cooler nearly slipped off his hands. How the hell did she manage to carry it like it was nothing?
“Hey there.” She greeted him with her usual drawl and a lazy smile on her lips.“Sorry for making you wait. Traffic was crazy. I hope I’m not late.”
“No. Not at all. You’re just on time. It’s me who was here early…”
When her eyes fell onto the displayed food and the gingham blanket, she stopped in her track and her jaw went slack. Oh no, it was too much… He knew it, he should have known it; if only he had more social awareness…
“Steven… That looks wonderful.”
Oh. Okay, he was back on track. She seemed to appreciate the gesture.
“Oh, that’s nothing, you know…”
“You made all this?” She asked while sitting down, closer to him than he was expected; not that he was complaining. She picked up the lid of a pot to look at the salad inside and her face made that expression again. Eyes wide open and a little whistle of admiration.
“I didn’t know you knew how to cook like that.”
“It’s just a salad…” He fidgeted, awkward but also pleased with himself.
“Yeah… I would have managed to burn it down. What’s that?” She asked, pointedly looking at the flowers he was fidgeting with.
“Oh, it’s...hum...for you.” He had actually prepared a little speech for when he would give her the flowers but it felt way above his abilities now to properly talk. And he felt like he would have looked silly telling her how these flowers reminded him of her, so he just handed her the bouquet.
To his relief, she took it and went to smell the flowers. There were pink hydrangea, white lilies, lavender and yellow roses. She closed her eyes and took in their powdery scents, letting the head of the lavender tickle her nose before looking back at Steven with these feline eyes of hers.
“How did you guess I liked lavender?”
“Oh huh… I don’t know… Kind of a premonition, I suppose.” He stammered while watching her take a sniff of one of the stems like a delicate butterfly. She had closed her eyes again, as if this flower was meaning more to her than a pretty scent.
“So...this is your favorite flower?” He asked.
“Yes… My mom used to make me these little bags with dried lavender in it to carry around or just slip into my bed and clothes. There were just so many fields of these where we used to live…”
Steven may have been a scholar when it came to Ancient Egypt history but it still blew his mind to think that this very woman had lived through those times. How lucky she was to have admired the greatest civilization of all times and lived through it… That’s why every little anecdote she gave to him was so precious, like little nuggets to collect, both for his curiosity about this time and more so for his curiosity about her. He was starting to put all the pieces together about her past and she had told him so much more than she had to most people in her life; he couldn’t help but feel grateful for this. He only wished he had as much to share with her.
“Yeah… I’ve read that Lavender was really appreciated in Ancient Egypt. Do you know that they found jars wit an unguent made out of it in Tutankhamen’s tomb? At least they suppose that’s what it was…” Why was he rambling about archaeology facts now?
A knowing smile pulled at her lips and she leaned closer. He could feel her thigh brush against his and her scent invaded his own senses. Lavender and orange blossom…
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I was rambling about this now…” He sheepishly apologized. Her eyes had not left his face. In fact he didn’t remember the last time someone watched him so intently.
“Don’t apologize. I like that.” Steven was not sure what she meant about ‘that’. Him being unable to shut up? His constant fact dropping about Ancient Egypt? Learning more about the tomb of Tutankhamen? He did not ask her to clarify, not wanting to make more a fool of himself.
“Thanks again for the flowers…” She leaned closer again and Steven watched her lips pucker and her eyes close...as if she was about to kiss him, to which he quickly stepped aside and shoved the chocolate box he had brought for her into her arms; with maybe a bit more force than he had intended to.
He didn’t know what had taken over him in that moment, except for the fact that he had heard an alarm ring inside his head. Maybe it was the memory of a failed kiss in the past and the fear of embarrassing himself but no matter how much he wanted this too, he had pulled away.
“I’m glad you like them.”
“Oh, I love them, Steven.” She smiled, looking intently at him. Surely, this couldn’t mean what he thought it did. He was surely imagining stuff…
“I’m glad you do. Huh...here, I also got you these. I didn’t even know your favorite flavor, I hope it’s fine.”
She grabbed the chocolate box from his hands and a wide smile split her face, even wider than when she saw the flowers. He had made a good choice with these, it seems.
“Oh, Steven… You really shouldn’t have. I didn’t even bring you anything…”
“You didn’t have to. Really.” After all, he was the one who initiated this date. And he was already more than happy with her being here. This was all he needed this afternoon. Her presence and seeing her smile.
“Is it okay if I open this now?” She asked, already ripping through the ribbon that held the box of chocolate closed. He smiled at the sight. She reminded him of a kid on Christmas day.
“Do as you wish. Those are yours.” He smiled gently, feeling his heart flutter at the sight of her shiny eyes and bright smile.
She looked over the variety of chocolate and took her time to choose. This was something he actually appreciated about her. How she was never rushing and how she took the time to think about things, giving a meaning to everything she did. Eventually she picked up a heart-shaped piece of chocolate and bit the edge of it. He could only stare at the way the chocolate melted against her lips, how they puckered around the piece of sweet and then the motion of her jaw as she luxuriated on the rich aroma of chocolate beans.
It was slightly bitter with a rich flavor to it that lingered on her tongue. She twirled the chocolate piece around her mouth, swiping her tongue over it, letting it melt slowly and sighed when she finally swallowed it.
And Steven had not missed a single second of this. Actually he felt like this was something he should not have watched with such rapt interest but it was stronger than him.
“Hmm… these are...delicious.” She finally said, breaking the silence between them. Steven was still too stunned to speak. Maybe this was the heat of that Summer day that was catching back on him.
“Here, try one…” She offered him a piece of chocolate from the tips of her fingers, holding it close to his lips, close enough that he could have eaten it straight from her hand if he wanted to. And gods know he wanted to do so. Never had eating chocolate seemed so enticing. She could have actually offered him anything to eat, he would have accepted the offering.
But something held him back once again. He didn’t want to look like a fool or do it the wrong way for he was sure he would certainly not look as good as her while doing so. For a moment he just watched the chocolate simply melt on her fingertips and seeing she had not made a single move to retreat, he grabbed the piece of chocolate with his hand and popped it right into his mouth.
“Hmpf… you were right; those are good.” He chewed on the treat and smiled awkwardly at her, hoping he didn’t have any chocolate left on his teeth.
“I know, right?” She smiled before bringing her chocolate-covered fingertips to her lips and licking them clean. The sky could have crashed on him right now and he would not have moved, too entranced by the sight.
“Hum...right...you seem pretty hungry, maybe we should start.” He fumbled while grabbing for the first dish he had made.
For the sake of his mental health, they finally started eating and everything went pretty normally from there. She looked amazed by even the most simple dish he had prepared, from the coleslaw to the bread and this was doing a lot of good to his ego.
“Where did you even learn to cook all this?” She asked while going for her third part of quiche, which was a delight to see for him. He subtly pushed the dish closer to her.
“Well...mostly from the internet.” He replied while grabbing a baby carrot. “I could give you a few recipes if you want.”
“Hmm…” She pursed her lips, holding back a laugh. “You have never seen me inside a kitchen, Steven.”
But I’d like to…
“It can’t be that bad… I’m sure you could manage to do a few things…”
“Yeah...no…”
“Wait, so, that means you were alive for over… 3 millenniums and you never learned how to cook?” He grinned, taunting her. It was a good sign he could gently tease her, or so he thought. She seemed to take his teasing pretty well in fact, fussing up just enough to keep this interesting and always responding.
“I didn’t feel the need to.” She shrugged. “I’ve always found someone to do it for me.”
Once again, she stared at him intently and he didn’t know what do with himself. She just had this way of playing with his nerves whenever she looked at him and making him lose all his bearings.
“Well…” He nervously chuckled while trying to open the bottle of cider. “I hope you’ll find someone to do it in this lifetime too.”
“Huh huh…” One of her brows arched up as she watched him struggle with the bottle. “Need help with that?”
“Nope. I’m fine. Doing just fine.” He grabbed a tea towel and started twisting the cork plug of the bottle harder while holding eye contact with her as much as possible. “So...you were saying that you were impotent in the kitchen?”
“I guess you could say that. Thankfully my talents lie elsewhere.” She drawled while lying back on her hands, the innuendo barely disguised.
Jesus Christ…
The cork plug gave in just before Steven did and flew off with a loud pop. She was going to be the death of him, he thought while reaching for her glass. Her hand brushed against his and he nearly spilled the bottle all over himself.
“You okay there?” She asked with a knowing grin, her arm outstretched with her glass in her hand. He made a herculean effort to focus only on the amber liquid running down rather than her pout or the way her movements showcased a dangerous amount of skin around her cleavage.
“Wonderful. I feel wonderful.”
She pulled her hand away to present him with his own glass.
“Thank you. Be careful if you’re not used to drink, this is a hard one.”
“How hard can it be?” He asked before realizing what he had just said. At this point he was thinking about diving straight into the lake at the center of the park and never go up for the next few weeks. She must have taken him in pity because she didn’t say anything to make it worse.
They both sipped their cider quietly for a moment, watching over the quiet water and the sunlight glistening over its surface. A few ducks were swimming among the lake as well as a few pedal boats and barks. Steven regretted not thinking about booking one of these sooner. Maybe she would have liked this? It sounded pretty romantic, he was sure he had seen movies with a scene involving a bark and a lake. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice her taking out of her tote bag a pack of strawberries and a large envelope.
“Wait! I just thought about it but I did bring something for you.” She said while opening the envelope. “Well...actually it’s more for both of us than just you but I thought you would like it.”
Intrigued, Steven moved closer and watched her retrieve a large piece of paper. The symbols drawn on it reminded him of a board game, shaped like a snake. Immediately, he couldn’t contain his excitement.
“Wait...is this...a Mehen Game?”
She was practically beaming as he recognized the game. Only a few people nowadays knew about it but she knew that no matter what she would have taken out of that envelope, Steven would have been part of those who would understand her. That’s why it always felt so comfortable being around him. She didn’t have to feign interest for today’s society. She could talk about anything from her past and he would understand without her needing to explain.
“You know how to play?” She asked while disposing the game and the dice. Steven scratched the back of his head.
“Well… I’ve read about it but I’ve never had the chance to try it. You need to be at least two to play it…”
“My sister and I used to love this game. You’ll see, it’s not that hard to understand.”
And so, she started to explain the rules to Steven. He was listening with the most acute attention. The goal of the game was simple: being the first one to put all three pawns on the serpent’s head. He couldn’t help but laugh at the shape of the pawns.
“Excuse me but what are those?”
“Cats. My cats in fact. And lizards, my cats hate those so I thought I might make those pawns look like them.” She shrugged.
“You actually made those? Painted and everything?” Steven asked in awe as he took in the details of the small wooden pawns. He would have never guessed she knew how to hand carve these things and with the colors, he could actually recognize her cats. “They’re so precious, you did so well.”
For a few seconds, he swore he could have seen her blush at the compliment but she swiftly grabbed the dice and tossed it as if it was nothing, shrugging. “Let’s play, shall we?”
They couldn’t simply stop at only one game and after three rounds, Steven managed to win. It was a tough call and he suspected Alia to have let him win despite her protest that she would never willingly let someone win over her because she was too much of a sour loser.
“I think you’re just skilled at that.” She smiled while collecting the pawns. “Next time, we’ll have to try the game of Senet. It’s kinda like chess. Do you know how to play chess?”
“You want it to be an other time?” Even him could hear the hope in his voice, his rather tipsy voice. While playing, they had emptied the bottle of cider.
“Of course. I’m having a great time today. What about you?” She asked and maybe it was the alcohol in his system but all nonchalance had left Steven’s body.
“If I’m having fun? I’m at a park, in a sunny day, with the most beautiful woman in the place, playing some forgotten games from Ancient Egypt. I couldn’t have dream of a better first date.”
This time, he actually could see a faint blush spread over her cheeks. He probably didn’t look any better now but this was far from his first concern. All that mattered now was this beautiful woman and making her laugh again just like when he had sent the dice into the grass and scared a bunch of ducks.
“So, it’s settled then?” She leaned toward him, smiling. “There will be a second date.”
Steven swore he could hear the trumpets of victory ringing through his ears. He had made it. Despite being a fool, he had managed to secure a second date with his crush…
“Did you hear that?” She asked and Steven realized the metaphorical trumpets of victory were actually very real and that it was just a band playing in the middle of the park under a small gazebo. People were already gathering around the musicians, some clapping in their hands, others dancing. Steven didn’t know what took over him in that moment but he suddenly grabbed her hand and got up.
“Do you want to...huh...you know?”
With a knowing look in her eyes, she stepped out of her sandals, slowly got up and led him toward the gazebo.
“Always.”
She may have not known how to make a salad but she was a good dancer, Steven could tell by the way only the music seemed to lead all her movements when she was just walking. It was in the way she swayed to the beat and let it take over her without the restraint and self-consciousness Steven usually showed. It was how her eyes were only focused on him as soon as he stood opposite to her, almost as if nothing else existed outside of this moment.
And that’s when Steven realized he had no idea what to do. Was this a rock? A waltz? Was he supposed to use his arms? Maybe he should take dance classes before their next date… He was still not believing he had somehow secured a second date with her…
“You seem a bit lost here.” She chuckled while taking his hands and placing them on her hips. She placed her own hands on his shoulders and started spinning to the music.
“I’m a bit out of my element, yes…” He mumbled before placing his hands a little higher, on her waist. He made sure to not hold her too tightly but not too loosely either. This was something he had been hoping for far too long now to ruin it. “You, however, seem quite in your element.”
“I told you, my skills lie somewhere else.” She then made him spin and he couldn’t help but laugh at the gesture. It felt both silly and endearing in his eyes. No matter how much he stumbled around or almost tripped on other people’s feet, she was just laughing and pulling him back to her, making sure he didn’t lose the tempo. He could go along with the idea of being led around like that for quite a long time…
As soon as he noticed other people lifting up their partner, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body flush against his. Even out of her shoes, she was still a good head taller than him and he had to look up to see her in the eyes. He couldn’t help but think of that one time he had climbed on the roof of his flat after a mission and watched the moon. It was the exact same sensation of peace and wonder.
“Steven?” She had understood what he wanted to try and shook her head. “You know I’m too heavy for you to do this?”
“I’ve carried giant jackals on my back and cars that were ten times your weight and moved the sky. I think I can lift you up, Alia.”
He wrapped his head tighter around her and started lifting her up. As soon as he started doing so, she hugged his shoulders tighter and he felt like he had done the right thing. She was closer to him than he had ever hoped so. Her scent was intoxicating. He could smell her laundry detergent, the shea butter she had used on her skin, that lavender note that was already becoming familiar…
Her laughter was everything to him. He spun her around, going faster with the music, resisting the urge to just take off and fly away with her. He was euphoric, high on her, on her skin’s scent and her proximity. He was thinking about how she had always sought his touch all afternoon and he was too much of a coward to accept that the attraction was mutual.
When he tripped over himself, the world slowly shifted away. The music was too loud, the people too many...but all he could think about was her. He didn’t let go as they both fell down the floor and despite her still laughing, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of worry and guilt.
“I’m sorry, dear… You alright? Did you hurt yourself?”
His eyes frantically looked for any sign of injury on her but she was showing none. She perked up, still laughing and wiped the grass off his face and hair. Her smile was always blinding him with how bright it was. Once again, like too many times, he found himself drawn to her mouth, to her slightly crooked front teeth and the inviting shape of her lips.
“I’m fine, Steven… You alright too?” She inquired before catching his eyes on her. Time seemed to still as a softer smile took over her expression.
“I’m more than alright, love.”
Love.
The word had slipped too easily for him but it sounded so natural.
She raised her hand to his face and gently ran her fingers over his dirt-stained cheek. Maybe if he moved too fast, this could all disappear and Steven didn’t want to take any risks to let this moment end.
“Good… I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.”
The moment seemed to last again for what felt like an eternity until Steven felt the curious’ gazes of the other dancers on them and decided to put an end to his hopes.
“Come on, I feel like I embarrassed myself enough already. I wouldn’t like to actually hurt you with my terrible dancing skills.” He sheepishly said while holding out his hand to her. To his relief, after a moment of consideration, she took it and followed him back to their blanket.
“You were not embarrassing, Steven.”
“You are too nice, dear.”
“I am many things but certainly not too nice… Hey! Stop. This is ours!” She screamed while trying to shoo away a curious duck that had gotten a bit too close to their leftover, including the pistachio cake Steven had made.
“Go away, you thug!”
Steven couldn’t help but laugh at the scene of Alia chasing the duck away. Music was still playing in the distance, people cheering and laughing and above them the Sun was slowly declining into the horizon. He didn’t remember the last time he had felt so at peace…so in phase with himself. He was in this moment, no one else was.
Alia came back to the blanket to find Steven lying there, a content smile on his face.
“Geez, the ducks are ruthless around here.” She chuckled. With one look at Steven and his bright, red cheeks she could guess he was slightly tipsy. “Are you alright, Steven?”
“I have never felt better, dear.” He sat up groggily and grabbed her sandals to slip them on her feet. She couldn’t even begin to fathom how true this was.
“Are you drunk by any chance?” She asked with a teasing smile. “I can’t believe cider did that to you.”
“You said yourself it was hard cider.”
“It’s true.” After a small pause, during which Steven had not let go of the bottom on her skirt’s fabric, she asked: “You’ll be okay coming back home?”
“Of course, love. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
The ride back home was blurry in Steven’s mind. He vaguely remembered leaving the park, waving to the ducks to Alia’s laughter and getting into her car, something about her not wanting that he took the tube alone and carrying all these stuff. One of the clearest things in his mind was her scent constantly wafting around him, inside the car, when she led him back to his flat... It was probably a mess but he was too far gone to care, just like he didn’t care for her to see the ankle restraint on the side of his bed.
He felt her take his shoes off, pull the blanket over him…
“Next time, I’ll make sure you stick with lemonade…” She gently teased him while putting a curl of hair behind his ear. She was still standing by the side of the bed for Steven could not feel her weight on the bed. He hadn’t thought until now that he could miss something he had never experienced until now and yet, he felt like something had been missing by his side all this time. He just realized what it was.
“Next time…” He sighed while reaching for her skirt. His fingers gently pinched the fabric, holding her back. He had not had enough of an afternoon to truly show...what he felt and the memory of their failed kisses would haunt him.
She only smiled at the sight, her expression full of fondness.
“You know I have to go for now, right?”
“Do you really have to?” He pleaded and with those eyes of his, she could have almost considered staying. She was far from a prude, not wanting to spend the night together after a first date. But he was intoxicated and this was not what they actually wanted...
“You need to rest, Steven.” Her voice was firm but not unkind.
“We could rest together…” He asked, hopeful; this time pulling her closer. She didn’t fight the motion but still didn’t sit on the bed.
“I have work tomorrow morning…”
“I’ll wake you up…” He mumbled, feeling the exhaustion of the day and of these last sleepless nights catch up on him. In his dimly room, she looked like a mirage, something too beautiful to be real.
Finally her weight settled down on the edge of the bed and her palm cupped his cheek. Even a stronger man would have not resisted her touch and Steven was far from being the strongest man out there.
“You can barely wake yourself up.” She replied.
“Please...just...stay here, a little bit longer…” He didn’t know how to explain to her why he needed her presence so bad, how he had found himself craving her by his side over the last few months. It’s as if she could chase away all the shadows and fears that usually came over him at night. He didn’t even realize how anyone else could have interpreted his words. In his mind, it was very clear he just wanted her by his side the same way a flower needed the sun.
There was a small moment during which she held his gaze, trying to see through his words. Finally she leaned down, the bed creaking under her movement in the silence, and she kissed his forehead. Her lips were warm and her hair tickled his face and neck. And Steven knew he would get too easily used to that… She patted the blanket over his chest and kept her hand there.
“Sleep. I won’t go.” were the last words Steven heard before falling into a comfortable slumber.
