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sea-owl · 10 months

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So Gregory, Lucy, and Felicity won the poll with Portia and Violet coming in second and Edwina and Penelope coming in third. I have started watching Harlots and am also in an omegaverse mood soooo. . .

Gregory was trying so hard not to blush. He needed to say something, anything. But what does one say to their family member who had basically dragged you off to a heat house?

Edwina Bagwell rolled her eyes at the young alpha. "It is not that embarrassing Gregory. You are not the first nor the last lord's child who has used a heat house to help you through a rut. It could be worse, I could be Kate or Anthony."

Now Gregory wasn't sure if he wanted to be sick or crawl in a hole somewhere at the thought. Kate and Anthony are basically his second parents, he would die of mortification if they ever took him to a heat house.

"And besides if you didn't know this place was a heat house then you would never think it one passing by. Very discreet and only serves those of the ton."

Gregory finally got his damn mouth to work. "Does your husband know you go to these?"

Edwina smiled. "Of course, he does. My husband and I do not mind sharing one another, especially when one of us is away. He much prefers I don't spend my heats alone."

She links one arm through Gregory's and starts marching him into the building. "Now come. Let us find you a rut partner before it hits."

Gregory wanted to argue that he had a week before his rut hit, not that it would make a difference as Edwina had already dragged him to the door.

He had to admit this was a very discreet place. If he didn't know any better, he would have assumed it was just another home of some gentry member. They even had a butler answering the door and taking calling cards.

On the inside though was a different story. The house was darkened, with the only light being soft candlelight. It was very open too, all the drawing rooms had the doors wide open, some without doors at all. Men, women, alpha, beta, and omega all sat in these different rooms, some in groups, others by themselves. Some wore feathers of varying colors in their hair.

Gregory could do without all the smells. So many in one place was not helping keep his alpha calm. Damn rut making his nose more sensitive. Most of these scents were okay, there were a few putrid ones though. Like that overly sweet one that honestly came off as fake.

Edwina and Gregory were led to an upper floor office, where they were greeted by an older omega woman.

Gregory would put her around his mother's age. Her red curls piled on top of her head into a bun with a gold feather sticking out. The choker around her neck was black with gold stitching in the shape of a feather. Her scent is a comforting one, a mixture of lemongrass and lavender.

"Mrs. Bagwell, tired of your husband already?" The woman teased.

Edwina giggled. "Madam Portia. He's away for business at the moment and sadly won't be here for my heat."

The woman turned her brown eyes on him. "I see you brought fresh meat for my girls. A Bridgerton no less."

Gregory shouldn't be surprised Madam Portia recognized him, one of his older brothers probably use to frequent this place. Since Edwina knows of this place it was probably Anthony-

"Your mother has always been one of my favorite partners."

Gregory blinked. "I'm sorry what?"

Madam Portia just carried on like this was normal to learn your mother frequents heat houses. "Honestly felt sorry for the poor thing when Lady Danbury dragged her here the first time. The first heat or rut after the year of mourning always seems to hit the hardest. You almost always need someone there to help."

Madam Portia started digging through her paperwork. "So what brings you to my den of sin little Bridgerton?"

Before Gregory could respond that he in fact was dragged here Edwina spoke up.

"He's getting too aggressive during his ruts. He needs a rut partner."

Not true, so what if he shattered a mirror and a dresser during his last rut? He does not need a rut partner. If anything Gregory should be working on finding his mate, a guaranteed way to help calm him down.

Madam Portia nodded. "Most young ones do. Lucky for you plenty of my girls know how to handle young alphas." Madam Portia turned towards Gregory. "Now how long before your rut hits?"

Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush. "A week."

Madam Portia smiled. "Perfect. We normally suggest a week in advance anyway so that way you can find the right partner for you and you both can work out how to spend your rut and payment."

Portia pulled out two contracts and two black feathers with red tips. "As Mrs. Bagwell already knows this is your contract Mr Bridgerton. In it states that we will help you with your rut so long as no harm comes to our girls and we receive payment. You are to come as often as you can a week before your rut so that you can relax your alpha with scenting. Whether that partner be an omega, beta, or another alpha is your choice. My available girls will have a yellow feather in their hair. Those who are currently with partners will have this same color feather in their hair. Those with a white feather though are off limits."

Madam Portia narrowed her eyes. "Do we understand that Mr. Bridgerton?"

Gregory nodded, hesitantly taking the feather and signing the contract. He still didn't believe he needed to be here, but Edwina still has a vice like grip on him. He'll just not give the feather to any of the girls, wait until Edwina is done, and be on his way.

"Is Pen available?" Edwina asked as she took her feather.

Madam Portia looked over a book. "She should be. She'll be in the emerald room today."

"Thank you," Edwina said and started to drag Gregory off.

Gregory wrinkled his nose the further they walked away from the office. "Edwina I truly think this will not work."

"You'll never know if you don't try Gregory." Edwina began to pull him towards a drawing room in the back of the house. "Now come, we'll start in the Emerald room."

The Emerald room was well emerald. It was also less crowded than other rooms with a total of maybe ten people, including Edwina and himself.

Edwina looked around the room before dragging Gregory over to a window seat where a plump, red-haired omega sat reading a book. He would put her around Edwina's age. She wore a soft green dress with no petticoats, so the fabric clung to her like those of ancient greek statues. Around her neck is the same black choker with gold thread that Madam Portia wore. She smelled of pomegranate and lotus.

"Pen!" Edwina greeted her.

The omega, Pen, sat down her book (was that greek?) and smiled. "Edwina, it's been a while. Did Mr. Bagwell, leave you alone for me?" She said, practically a purr.

Edwina dropped a kiss on Pen's lips and the feather in her hand.

Pen turned towards Gregory. "And who might this strapping alpha be?" Her brown eyes looked him over but it felt like she was looking through him.

Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush.

"I'm Gregory."

Pen's eyes lit up in recognition. "The youngest Bridgerton boy."

Don't blush. "It appears my family's reputation reaches farther than I thought."

Pen giggled. "Edwina and I are close friends and sometimes lovers. My friend Gen also spent quite a bit of alone time with your brother Benedict before he decided to tie the knot."

"What a small world. "

Pen nodded. "Indeed."

"Pen!" Another red head omega shot across the room. She was taller than Pen but younger. Gregory would put her a few years younger than himself, 21 maybe? She wore the same style of dress as Pen but her's were in blue. Almost the same shade as the Bridgerton blue. The same style of chocker was around her neck but there was something peaking out from underneath on the side of her neck.

A wave of orange blossoms with a hint of honey hit Gregory and he felt himself relax, and he cheeks start to heat up.

Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush.

"Litty, Edwina was kind enough to bring us a new guest, why don't you say hello to Gregory?" Pen suggested, as she darted her eyes towards Gregory.

Litty looked up, her breasts almost brushing against Gregory's chest. When did she get so close, or did he get closer?

"Edwina you brought a little cutie alpha!" Litty exclaimed as her hands cupped Gregory's face. "The girls are gonna eat him up."

Gregory's alpha purred at her touch, and wanted more.

Gregory turned his just so so he could rub against one of Litty's scent marks against her wrist. Her scent, it was almost perfect. If only the honey scent was just a little bit stronger. He glanced up at her hair.

She had a yellow feather in her hair.

"Litty let him go!" Pen ordered. "He's getting scent drunk."

"Oops, my bad!" Litty let go, her hands moving faster than Gregory's so he could put them back. She thankfully didn't completely let him go though, instead grabbing his hand and leading him to another window seat. "Come on I'll help you find your rut partner while Pen and Edwina work on payment."

Litty sat down. "So, your name is Gregory correct?"

Gregory nodded. "And you are Litty?"

Litty smiled. "That's me. So, what's your preference? Omega? Beta? Maybe another alpha?"

Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush.

"Um," Gregory stuttered. "Omega would be preferred."

Litty nodded. "That's probably for the best. You're new to rut partners aren't you?"

Gregory chuckled. "You can tell?"

Litty shrugged. "You all have the same look when you come in for the first time. You can start to tell, you can also tell who's families throw them in here."

Gregory sighed. "You can tell that too?"

"Your scent has been sour since you walked in. It's not uncommon."

Gregory and Litty looked over at the voice. It was another omega, this one with honey blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was dressed more like a maid, though the fabric of her dress still hugged tighter than any maid Gregory has seen in the past. She also wore the same choker, and like Litty there was something peaking out on the side of her neck.

She smelled of honey, with a hint of orange blossom, and in her hair was a white feather.

"Lulu!" Litty smiled, stretching her hand out for the other omega to take. Lulu curled into Litty's side, her head laid against Litty's shoulder. "Gregory this is Lulu."

Their two scents mixed, that missing piece to Litty's scent now there.

"A pleasure to meet you," Gregory said. His alpha purred in agreement.

Both omegas smiled at him.

Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush.

Damn it he was blushing.

#gonna stop there before it gets too long #gregory is in trouble #he's got two mates to win over #his siblings are gonna give him so much shit #bridgerton #gregory x lucy x felicity #gregory bridgerton #lucy abernathy #felicity featherington

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newtonsheffield · 3 years

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For spicy Sunday….What about Anthony and Kate having a bath together?? 🌶🌶🌶 ps. LOOOOOVED TENSION (can’t wait for next chapter of b&s)

Oh Hello there!

So I don't know if anyone remembers, but! This Coming Friday (25th June) Is Kate and Anthony's BSCU Wedding anniversary! And so, this week's fic will be called Anniversary

Anyway! On with the show!

Anthony + Kate + Rubba Dubb Dubb in the tub (No. Someone sedate me. I'm very tired right now, and very hungover)

It has started as one of those days where for some reason, you can feel the tension tight in your shoulders as soon as you wake up. Everything in your body pulled tight, on edge almost the minute your eyelids flicker open. And Kate knew it was stupid, but she resented it just a little. Resented the stress her job sometimes brought her despite how much she loved it.

She'd woken alone in her bed, tension already coiled tight as she thought about the meeting she had today. The celebrity looking for his new legal counsel, referred by Daphne's PR firm and usually Anthony managed them all but he'd been so busy, and he'd looked at her with so much trust in his eyes when he said You'll be great, Katie! And a not so secret part of her had preened that he thought she was capable, that he trusted her so much. But that didn't stop the anxiety swirling in her stomach as she slowly got ready for work, trying not to think of the dozens of other things also requiring her attention.

Anthony met her in the lobby, just as he always did when they spent the night apart, his lips toughing hers briefly as he held out a croissant to her. "Ugh I love you." She'd murmured against his lips, Her shoulders still tense. Anthony had chuckled, intertwining her fingers. "Are you talking to me or the pastry?" "I can love two things, Honey." She'd quipped back. silence falling over them as they entered the lift. "Are you nervous about today?" His question was light, his thumb leaving comforting circles on the back of her hand, so astute, reading her like a book. "I'm just very... stressed at the moment, I have a lot on." She'd shrugged. "You're going to be brilliant!" He'd said his eyes smiling at her, his confidence bolstering her own. But of course, it had been false.

The meeting had been an absolute disaster. From the very beginning the man had been rude, snapping and snarking and asking where Anthony was, why he wasn't taking his meeting. And Kate had done her best to keep her patience her shoulders rigid, but the man had left, irritated, vowing to never return. Kate had sunk into the chair at her desk, wondering how on earth she was going to tell Anthony that their new client wouldn't be their client after all. Especially after he'd trusted her.

She heard her office door open and close, not able to lift her head from her hands, he heard footsteps and seconds later Anthony's soft hands were firmly on her shoulders, massaging, comforting. She sighed spinning in her chair to face him. "I'm sorry, I really tried." She whispered, barely able to look at the soft expression on his face. Anthony shrugged. "Lucy said he was a dick. I'm worried about you, Katie." His voice firm his eyes searching. "What you need to do, is go home, and take a nice long relaxing bath." It was Kate's turn to let out a strangled scoff now, stress still pounding in her head. "I don't have a bathtub." Anthony let out a mock gasp, his eyes wide with faux astonishment "If only you had a boyfriend who did!"

Which is how Kate came to be where she was now, standing in Anthony's ensuite, biting her lip as she looked at her very sweet boyfriend flitting around lighting candles, the bathtub filling with warm water, sweet scented bubbles forming, steam rising off the water. Anthony smiled up at her gently as he bent to test the water. "All Done." He kissed her cheek, making to leave. Kate caught his hand. "Come in with me." a firm statement wrenched for her chest, the worry still fluttering there despite the flutter at Anthony's soft smile.

He undressed quickly, settling himself against the back of the tub, tugging her down to sit between his legs seconds later, his arms wrapped tightly around her, and finally the tension she'd been feeling loosened, shifted, just a little. Anthony lips were soft against his cheek, her collarbone one hand drawing soft circles against her hip bone under the water, the pther gently holding back her hair from her neck, so soft and tender it made her heart ache. "Can I help you relax Kate?" Anthony asked softly. Kate could feel his eyes burning into her. "Please, I can make you feel so good." And god, it was all she wanted. To feel something other than this relentless anxiety. She nodded softly, and the hand that had bee on her hip bone trailed between her legs.

Kate felt her breath catch, Anthony's lips sucking softly at the juncture of her neck and shoulder. She let out a soft sigh as his hand worked over her, her hips grinding against it, heat settling in her stomach, a different kind of tension building. The water was lapping against the sides of the tub, spilling onto the floor in time with Anthony's movements, a slow crescendo building, Anthony's chest firm behind her his voice rough in her ear drowning out the soft keens and mewls falling from her own lips. Always so beautiful Kate, you feel fucking fantastic. I just want you to feel as good as you make me feel all the time. And then she'd fallen over the edge, Anthony's arms still tight around her grounding her as she fell. Her heavy breathing filling the room as the tension she'd been carrying all day slowly leaked into the water surrounding her.

Anthony kissed her cheek again, humming contentedly. "Isn't that better?" And that was the thing about Anthony, he was so ready to please her, so eager, rarely ever looking for reciprocation. And honestly, that more than anything is what made her want to. Kate spun in his arms, her lips finding his. "Much better. Stop making me fall i love with you." she chuckled lightly in his ear, feeling more than a little stupid. Anthony's eyes were shining with delight, preening just a little. "No, I don't think I will."

#honestly 12 margaritas is too many #This is a mess and I'm sorry #bridgerton and sons au #kathony #anthony x kate #anthony bridgerton #kate sheffield #kate sharma #spicy sunday🌶#molly's asks and answers

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gumnut-logic · 3 years

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Callisto (Full Prologue)

Prologue Part One - Bit 1 | Bit 2 | Bit 3 | Bit 4 | Bit 5 Part Two - Bit 1 | Bit 2 | Bit 3

When I first started this story, I was of two minds whether to put all of the prologue at the front or scatter it throughout the fic. I started with 700-odd words of it and drove into the body.

It fast became obvious that I really needed to build a lot more into the prologue as the OCs were empty shells and I needed to explain the story behind them and why Jeff is so determined.

So at the end of Part Two, I stopped and went back. This is the result. Nearly 5000 words of Jeff Tracy landing on Mars. It can stand as its own story, but it definitely leads into the planned events for the novel, Callisto. Either way I hope you enjoy it. Be aware that the first 500 words or so may be familiar as they were part of the original version. Don’t worry, the rest is new.

Of course, many, many thanks to @tsarinatorment @scribbles97 and @janetm74 for all the amazing support and help with this fic. Plus @onereyofstarlight my go to science officer on this voyage. You guys are absolutely amazing and I couldn’t have done this without you ::massive group hug::

Now this is done, I can finally go back to writing the novel chronologically. I have to say that this is going to be one hell of a ride.

No warnings needed.

-o-o-o-

2033

“Another boy?”

Jeff grinned. “Yeah. Another one.” He couldn’t help but stare at the photo that had landed on his screen as a good luck token from Earth.

He did of course, know about Lucille going into labour the night before and it was for that reason he hadn’t had the sleep he probably should have pre-history making Mars landing. But honestly, to get this signal from that little blue planet a good eight months away…his heart swelled…his beautiful baby boy had a shock of red hair that screamed their Irish ancestry down through the hundreds of years since their family had left the old world.

Lucille sat holding him, looking tired but ever so proud. Her dark hair was tied back and the sparkle in her eyes brought a lump into his throat. Her mother, pink hair and all, sat beside his wife holding his two eldest boys on her lap. Scott had his hand on Virgil’s arm as the now second youngest reached over towards his baby brother, a frown of concentration on his face.

“He’s beautiful.”

Jeff startled a little. Berry was breaking regs and leaning over the back of Jeff’s pilot couch, her straps unfastened. The cockpit was pretty snug in the lander, most of the room taken up with safety equipment and interfaces, leaving little for the padded personnel support.

He shot an eyebrow in her direction and she smiled a dare back at him. The astrogeologist wasn’t one for breaking the rules, she just liked to taunt him a little.

Ju, in contrast, was checking her harness was secure a second time. “Creating your own crew, Tracy?” Her auburn eyes smirked at him. “Aiming to replace us?”

He grinned. “Could be.” Dare he mention that his four-year-old eldest could already name all the controls in this cockpit? His grin widened. “But we can’t replace the first person to set foot on Mars, now can we?”

Berry snorted, a little abashed. But it was, after all, her part to play once they made touchdown. The words had been rehearsed, the order of exit decided. For very specific reasons, the first human on Mars was going to be Kate Berrenger.

Berry had worked her ass off to make this mission a reality. Her specialisation onboard was astrogeologist, but honestly it was far more. The woman was talent on legs. It was she who had designed much of the equipment they were deploying on the surface, she who had hunted and gathered the funding, she who had put in the sweat and tears to make this work. And Ju wasn’t far behind. The two of them were quite a powerhouse pair. Jeff considered himself and Lee lucky to have been chosen for this mission. Of course, he’d known Berry for a very long time, worked with her for most of it, but it wasn’t a given that the team that had helped populate the moon would also be the first on Mars.

“Given how many life support pods we’re dragging down there, I bet your boys could drop by in about thirty years or less.”

“You gonna put your money where your mouth is, Berry?” The thought was tantalising. Not to put pressure on any future careers – Lucy would kill him – but he would hope that at least one out of three might follow in his footsteps.

Maybe?

He turned around and opened his mouth, only to be interrupted. “Major Tracy, tell your team to secure. Two minutes to separation.” Sinclair was his usual grumpy, nervous self.

“Roger that, Orbiter Control.”

He glared at Berry and the redhead bit her lip with a smile, green eyes dancing, before sitting back and strapping herself in preparation for the sequence.

She didn’t stop smiling though.

“So watcha gonna name him?” Lee prodded him with his eyebrows from beside Jeff.

A last glance at the photo before he returned to separation prep, fingers tight in his gloves. “Are you going to remember this one?” An eye in the engineer’s direction.

“Sure.”

Running his fingers over the controls, Jeff ran through pre-flight. “Name my eldest.”

Lee grunted, his eyes darting away. “Not important right now.” A flick of a switch. “I’m green across the board.”

“A-ok.” Jeff ran through the last sequence of checks…and ran them again…for luck. “Orbiter Control, we are green for separation.”

“Roger that, Cornerstone. Separation in sixty seconds on my mark.” A breath. “Mark.” Another pause. “Good luck.”

And the countdown began.

Jeff ran his eyes over everything again. The great ship that had journeyed so far from home was preparing to split in half. The lander at the top of the vessel was to pull away from the orbiter and its massive propulsion engines to begin the historic descent to the Martian surface. Eight months in space, so much preparation time and so many sacrifices before that, had all led to this moment.

History in the making.

His eyes combed the readouts watching like a hawk. The computer had control, but computers could only do so much.

Still green across the board.

Quiet, his fingers touched the screen where the photo had been. “John Glenn Tracy.” A breath. “His name is John.”

Displays shifted as the countdown hit zero and machinery grunted. The Cornerstone drifted apart from its propulsion module and floated free far above the red of the Martian surface.

Jeff eyed his instrumentation and sent a prayer to his family back home.

Today was an important day.

-o-o-o-

Lee watched Jeff side-on as he clicked his helmet into place. Taylor was a realist and he knew he wouldn’t be here without the crazy pilot.

It was Jeff’s drive that had gotten them this far. It was like riding a rollercoaster of determination and outright luck. From the Airforce, through space training and their sojourns on Alfie, Lee had tied himself to the man’s coat tails and hadn’t looked back.

God, it had been fun.

Jeff Tracy was a tsunami that crashed through everything and took everyone with him.

And Lee went willingly.

When they had been chosen for this mission it was a dream come true.

The countdown dropped to zero and machinery clunked as the lander separated smoothly from the orbiter. She drifted momentarily before the computer engaged thrusters to push her gently out of orbital alignment.

“We are five by five for atmospheric entry.” The words he uttered were almost rote after so many practise simulations back on Earth.

Atmospheric entry on Mars was considerably different to entry on Earth. Terran atmosphere was more like soup in comparison to the barely-there Martian atmosphere. Still made for a warm entry though, friction was friction after all.

“Trajectory achieved.” Jeff’s voice was confident and firm. As always.

Lee eyed the computer readouts, mentally ticking off procedure as the lander dipped into the outer reaches of the atmosphere and shifted to its entry interface.

Forces wrapped themselves around Lee and his body responded. After so many months of weightlessness, this was going to be a challenge.

“Ready for deceleration burn.”

The landing module sported early entrance stage retro thrusters designed to slow the vehicle to reduce the friction on the spacecraft’s skin. A new innovation that had proven essential in many return trips to the moon in preparation for the creation of a habitable dome on the satellite.

And here they were attempting to do something similar on Mars.

Cornerstone shook as her thrusters engaged exactly on time.

The craft roared.

Lee revelled in it.

“Three minutes to subsonic.”

“I really hate this bit.” It was barely heard above the commotion.

Lee snorted to himself. Ju was an astronaut in every sense, but she had a thing regarding atmospheric entry and the microscopic bits they could be exploded into if something went wrong.

“We are on track, Ju. Not a thing to worry about.” His voice reassurance itself, Jeff could sell the moon cheese if he so felt like it.

“Orbiter to Cornerstone. Tracy, we have a problem.”

Lee blinked. Sinclair’s voice was ominous.

“Orbiter, detail?”

“Cornerstone, weather has kicked up on the landing site. We have a developing dust storm. Looks to be a big one.”

“Orbiter, we are fixed for descent. Please advise severity.” Jeff’s tone was frustrated and Lee couldn’t help but echo it.

Data landed in Lee’s console and while Jeff continued to monitor their descent, Lee examined the situation. “We have a category five dust storm developing over the landing site. Orbiter is right, she looks like she could actually do some damage.”

Mars dust storms were generally all gust and no guts. The air density and pressure forced storms that were dramatic to look at, but generally little more than a windy day on planet Earth. This one, however... “It’s an anomaly.”

Jeff’s eyes darted from his console to Lee’s, grey eyes assessing the data. “Ju, your opinion?” They had to make the decision fast. Altering their trajectory now was possible, but fuel was precious. Any extra used now narrowed their safety margin for later.

The meteorologist’s fingers darted over her board. “Unusual strength, I agree.” Lee glanced in her direction as she frowned. “But Cornerstone should be able to handle it.”

“‘Should’ is not a good enough assumption, Zhang.” Jeff was frowning. The lander’s retros cut out as they reached a safe enough velocity to manoeuvre and Jeff’s hands curled around the yoke.

Lee’s finger darted over his board and brought up the outside cameras.

The red planet stretched out before them, her slightly blue tinted atmosphere contrasting against the rust of her surface.

That surface was churning.

Ju was outraged. “How the hell did that develop in the time it took us to separate from Orbiter? She was as calm as a sleeping baby!”

“I don’t care about then, I need now. Zhang, recommendation!”

The woman grunted. “I say go. If you think you can handle it. It is well within Cornerstone’s specs. Your decision, Major.”

Jeff’s lips thinned, his eyes darting across the readouts. A moment and he hit the comms switch. “Orbiter, we are go for landing. We’ve come this far, might as well go all the way.”

“Tracy, are you sure?”

“Humanity never got anywhere taking it easy.” He glanced at Lee. “Hold onto something.”

Cornerstone began her turn, orientating her nose to the sky so her retros could lower her safely to the Martian surface.

Or in Jeff Tracy terms, ‘spinning so she could park her ass’.

As if reading Lee’s mind, the glint in Jeff’s eyes was something to both be wary of and to celebrate.

Out of the four of them, Jeff was the most reckless, the most daring. But as he was the pilot, it sometimes called for it. Jeff had already saved them from becoming just another crater on Earth’s moon by pulling the most unconventional manoeuvre ever seen on the satellite when a landing thruster misfired on approach. The craft had shot off on a completely unpredicted vector that would have ploughed them into moon dust...if Jeff hadn’t reacted as fast as he did. He flipped the craft with its remaining three thrusters and, shedding the majority of their velocity in an energy dump that had Lee’s stomach on the outside, planted their craft like a sack of potatoes.

They had landed roughly, but they had landed alive and Lee was still amazed his friend had been able to do that.

So, if they were going down in a cloud of red dust, Lee was quite happy to have Jeff at the controls.

Not to say that Lee himself wasn’t handy with a spacecraft. He had his own experience to be proud of. He flew, but his realm was more the mechanical. He was here as back up and maintenance.

For those times the Tracy fix wasn’t quite enough.

A sigh. He eyed the billowing clouds below as they rapidly approached. They were history in the making. Whatever happened here today would be taught in schools for decades to come.

He had faith in Jeff. They would land, Berry would take those first important steps on a new planet, say the rehearsed words, and join Neil Armstrong in the halls of fame.

But first they had to get there.

-o-o-o-

Jeff swallowed as the cloud of dust loomed beneath the lander. Numbers scrolled across his console. The computer should be able to handle most of it. Its programming was solid. Lucy had made sure of it.

The thought of his beautiful wife...little Johnny.

Dust swelled and wrapped around their craft and visibility became...bad.

Cornerstone shuddered.

Mars dust was a bastard of a thing. Ever so fine and carrying a tiny electric charge that on occasion interfered with instruments.

This was one of those occasions.

“We have blackout on three primary sensors.” Damn. Two others flickered, the screen fritzing a moment.

His fingers darted over controls in an attempt to compensate for the data loss.

Lee was muttering beside him and stabbing at his board. “Rerouting to back-ups.”

Their screens flickered and cleared somewhat.

Numbers plummeted.

Beyond the blinding dust the digital readout that marked the surface of the planet approached.

Far too fast.

Retros crucial to start the landing sequence did not fire.

Shit.

It took seconds for him to compensate and move to manual, but that was enough for the craft to fall many more metres so, when he did manually trigger the burn, they were lower than they should be.

Cornerstone roared as he pushed more energy into braking.

“Lee, we need primary thrust or we are so much pancake!” Her four landing thrusters were not slowing them enough. The math in his head was churning out a fatal result and their history-making attempt was fast turning into a shitfest. “I need that power now.”

“You have it.” Short and sharp as Lee’s hands darted over his console.

On Jeff’s board the main thruster icon lit up.

It wasn’t meant to be used this way. The main thruster was for launching. It was far more powerful than they needed to land. But if he didn’t slow Cornerstone, she was going to take on a big red rock and lose.

The computer ran calculations and spat numbers out at him.

“Firing main thruster.” The icon flashed, Cornerstone roared and g-forces wrapped around all of them and squeezed.

No one said anything for the second of burn that slowed their descent ever so rapidly. Everything shook, the ship’s superstructure groaning.

Jeff’s eyes tracked their velocity, counting down as the surface of the planet rushed towards them. Visually they couldn’t see it. Virtually it looked ready to slap them in the face.

But the main thruster compensated, slowing the craft just enough for the landing rockets to do their job.

Jeff killed the big one and concentrated on the landers to take the last of their speed.

Cornerstone slowed. Five hundred metres. Four hundred metres. Three hundred metres. Two hundred metres. One hundred metres. Landing struts deployed. Fifty. Thirty. Twe-

The whole ship slammed to a stop, its structure groaning and tilting for a second before righting itself. Alarms began shrieking, red lights flashing all over his board.

What the hell?!

The readout had them stalled nineteen metres ‘above’ the virtual surface. Virtual was obviously not lining up with actual.

Another metallic groan and the ship tilted slightly again. This time it stayed tilted. No doubt a landing strut had taken the brunt and folded.

One red light screamed at him more than the others.

Beside him, Lee confirmed his fears. “We have a fuel leak.”

Shit!

He was unstrapping himself even as the craft groaned again. Something sparked not far away. Lee was a split second behind, listing the reason for the malfunction. The exterior hull, and the mangled landing strut responsible.

A rupture in the external hull. Hell.

Jeff undocked a diagnostic pad and slapped it on his belt.

Martian gravity made itself known. So many months without its native pull, Jeff’s body protested the sudden movement, but they didn’t have time. Precious fuel was escaping.

He hit the ladder leading out of the cockpit at a run, feet locking around the struts and his hands pushing him down. The whole sensation of gravity, but only a third of Earth’s was baffling. His body caught between expectations and stumbling along the way. Ultimately, he partly fell his way down through the access ports, hands grabbing at the railings barely preventing him from colliding with each deck.

Cornerstone’s fuel tanks were attached to her four landers, with a fifth fueling her main launcher.

It was number three that was the problem.

His boots hit decking and he scrambled for the airlock. Beside him Lee had a toolkit and they both barrelled through the door sealing it behind them.

The pumps cycled and the pressure dropped, their suits shifting with the change, and then the elevator was lowering them to the ground.

As the doors opened, they were faced with a wall of swirling dust.

Jeff did his best to ignore it but it fast became a problem. The maintenance tab in his hand was directing him to climb ladders up the side of the vehicle, but he could barely see the tablet, much less the ladders themselves through the red dust.

“Stick close, Lee. I’d hate to lose you in this.”

“Right behind you, Jeff. Wouldna want to lose you either.”

It was simple, but reassuring nonetheless. Fumbling, he found the landing strut. It was skewed in a way that even in the thick swirling haze, he could see was far from the right angle for correct support.

Hooking a foot into the lowest rung, he snagged his friend and urged him up the ladder ahead. If anyone was going to save their asses in this situation, it was Lee.

If Jeff could land it, chances were Lee could fix it. The man could jimmy two sticks and a rubberband into whatever was needed. Hell, he’d done almost exactly that on the moon at least twice.

This was just another challenge. Jeff had landed them, no matter how roughly. Now Lee would be able to fix it.

Jeff clung to that maxim.

But the question wasn’t about skill, it was more about whether or not they were going to damn well be able to see what they needed to see in order to do what needed doing.

Red obscured everything. The speed it was all flying past spoke to his earth senses of gale force winds, but the pressure on his suit was little more than a windy day.

Not enough to affect the spacecraft.

Mars was obviously educating them early that this was not Earth. Not in any way shape or form.

Their clamber up the strut was partly a blind one, but they made it to the damaged side of the craft. Through a mixture of touch and virtual readout, it became clear that the outer hull had buckled, forcing the inner hull into the fuel tank. Most of it had held, but there was a small microfracture and the pressure differences were bubbling solid state fuel into gas at a rate that, if it didn’t deplete the tank, would likely cause an explosion that would solve all their problems with a history-making finality.

Jeff climbed up beside Lee as he fumbled at his tool kit. The tank was dislodged off its mounts, something they would need to remedy later, but it was still inset from the hull.

Jeff put his body in position to block the main flow of the dust and wind, jamming himself up against the still warm hull of his ship.

A little less dust swirled over the bubbling crack and Lee didn’t hesitate. Before Jeff could blink, gell bondtape landed smoothly over the area, the engineer sealing it with an electronic nudge from a set-wand. The electricity lined molecules up like soldiers and locked them in place bonding them to whatever the tape was adhered to. They had used the same stuff on Alfie two years ago when one of their habitats had tried to make one with the lack of lunar atmosphere.

An extremely simple solution for a very dangerous problem.

His heart, still adrenalin-fueled, refused to believe the danger was over.

As if reading Jeff’s thoughts, Lee smirked at him through the haze. “Never leave home without it.” A sigh as he ran a gloved hand over the seal. “This should hold for the short term. Once we are sure the strut is stabilised, I’ll give it a good going over. Hopefully, we can lose this storm in the process.”

Jeff would have liked to claim it couldn’t blow forever, but both of them knew Mars storms could be unpredictable and last for months if they so chose to.

Lee ran a scanner over the strut’s connection to the launcher. How the hell the engineer could see the readouts, Jeff didn’t know.

For all future excursions to the Red Planet, Jeff was going to recommend helmet based heads-up displays.

“She’s safe for now. A little bent, but she isn’t going to fall over. Hopefully, once we get out some of the heavy lifting equipment we can bend her back into shape if we need to.” Lee stood up. “Hull patching is going to be an ass, though.”

Jeff’s lips thinned and he dropped a hand onto his friend’s shoulder. “One thing at a time. We’ve got this, Lee.”

Lee grunted. “How the hell do you keep spinning the optimism, Jeff?”

A snort. “What? You’d prefer doom and gloom?” He shuffled back towards the ladder. “That’s it, Lee, we’re never leaving this god forsaken rock. Welcome to your new home.” He raised up his hands and as if the gods declared him some kind of Moses for that very moment, the dust clouds parted as if they were a red sea of sand. Sol, so much smaller this far away, poked its weak light through the hazy atmosphere and lit up the bare red rocks of their temporary home. While on one side, the billowing wall of dust storm swirled on its way, on the other red mountains rose up to a weak blue-red sky.

Lee shifted down beside him. “You know, I figured you had an agreement with the gods of physics, but isn’t this a little ridiculous?”

Jeff was too captivated with the view to respond.

Cornerstone was on the plateau they had been simulating for months on end. She stood tall and proud, if a little crooked and pinker than her promo shots.

“We made it.” The words fell from his lips.

Lee clung to the ladder beside him. “Yeah, that we did.”

Sunlight flickered weakly in the atmosphere and a gust of wind dragged more dust across the view.

Jeff shifted. “We better get inside before that mess starts up again. Take advantage of being able to see where we are going.”

Lee didn’t respond immediately, his eyes combing the jagged horizon. “Thanks, Jeff.”

A frown. “For what?”

“Getting us here.”

“It was a group effort, Lee, you know that. Couldn’t have done it without the team. Couldn’t have done it without you. Hell, you just patched a hole that could have blown us up.”

Lee grunted.

“Are you guys going to hang outside all day, or do we have to guess the sitrep?” Berry’s tone was tight.

“Roger, Berrenger. Situation secure. On our way back in.”

It wasn’t until they reached the elevator that he realised exactly what had happened.

And who he was.

By the doors, protected by the shadow of the lowered module was a single footprint that hadn’t been blown away by the wind.

“Aw, hell.”

Lee, as always, stepped up beside him. “Yeah. I guess that makes you the first man to walk on Mars.”

-o-o-o-

Ju was furious. “It was Kate’s right to be the first!”

The vacs in the airlock had sucked everything off their suits to the point Lee was surprised his hair wasn’t standing on end despite the helmet.

As it was, his hackles were somewhere near orbit as they stood in the conference room that doubled as a mess. “And what exactly do you think we were supposed to do? The ship was going to explode.” It was simple to Lee. Sure, he was all for equality, it was a given, but they would’ve been all equally dead if he and Jeff hadn’t done what they did.

“You didn’t give us a chance!”

“I’m the engineer here, Zhang. There wasn’t time! The decision was made and we are alive because of it.”

“Then why weren’t you first, Taylor? Why the hell was Tracy even out there? He’s not the engineer!”

Beside Lee, Jeff straightened. “Standard procedure, Zhang. We work in pairs. If you think I was going to let Lee go out in that on his own, you’ve been serving while wearing a blindfold.”

The short, dark-haired woman stepped up to the Major, her eyes fiery. “It was Kate’s place in history and you stole it!”

Lee flared. “We did what was necessary! This was not a publicity grab, for Christ’s sake! It didn’t even occur to us until we were returning. It was about saving our lives, Zhang. How can you possibly think it was anything else?”

“Because it always is.” She waved a hand at Jeff. “Always the hotshot. Always the first. Always the hero. Do you ever think, Tracy? Do you ever think about those you barrel past?”

Jeff glared down at the meteorologist. “I will not apologise for my achievements, Zhang. This was an honest to god accident.”

“Due to decisions made by you.”

“What the hell, Zhang?!” Lee pushed forward. That was taking it too far.

“We should never have tried to land in that dust storm. We should have waited it out.”

“You said we could take it!”

“But it wasn’t my decision, was it?” Her tone was a positive hiss at Jeff.

“Screw you, Zhang-“

“Taylor!”

“Jeff-“

The man was still the damn tall walking wall when he wanted to be. “Lee, stop.” He glared at Ju. “I will not apologise for my command decisions either, Zhang. What was done, is done.” His stance softened as he turned to Berry.

She had been ominously quiet the entire time.

Jeff sighed. “I’m sorry, Kate.”

The red-haired astrogeologist straightened away from the bulkhead, her arms still folded across her chest. Lee had always liked Berry. She had her head on much straighter than Ju ever did.

Ju was like a terrier with a bone.

The bone variety today was definitely Jeff-flavoured.

But there was only kindness in Berry’s eyes as she looked up at the Major. “This sucks, Jeff, it really does.” She looked down a moment. “But it is what it is and I guess it was what it was meant to be.” A shrug. “I suppose I’ll have to settle for third on Mars. Still pretty momentous, I think.”

“Kate, it doesn’t have to be that way.” Jeff took a step towards her. “It’s not official. It was a stupid repair. We can do the ceremonial step onto the planet anyway. No one has to know.”

Her head tilted to one side. “So, the ship miraculously healed itself?”

“Berry-“

She closed the gap between them, placing a hand on his arm. “Jeff, honestly, it’s not what is important here. You took the first step. We still have plenty of others that need to be taken. My ego can keep.”

Zhang flared again. “Kate, this was for women-“

“Ju, enough. It doesn’t matter! Humans have just landed on Mars, for god’s sake. I would have thought we would be a little less worried about the gender of the person taking the first step and more worried about the fact we did it without blowing up.”

“It was supposed to be you.” Ju wilted in defeat under Berry’s glare.

“Well, it was Jeff, and I think he is no less deserving than any of us.”

Jeff’s voice was quiet. “Are you sure, Kate?” The use of her first name was a rarity for the major, there was a friendship between those two almost as long as the one between Jeff and Lee. Hell, if Jeff hadn’t met Lee’s sister, Lucy, the engineer wondered what might have eventuated in that department.

Not that he had ever had to worry about that. Jeff was a complete sop for Lucy. His sis had the man wrapped around her little finger.

If that made Lee feel just that touch more protective of the crazy pilot, then so be it.

Kate straightened, her shoulders strong. “I’m sure.” Then her lips curled up a little. “Besides, my lines were so much more elegant than ‘Stick close, Lee. I’d hate to lose you in this.’”

Jeff snorted and shrugged. “If I’m going to make history gotta make sure my best friend is with me.”

Zhang made a disgusted sound and stormed out of the room.

Shoulders dropping, Jeff sighed. “Guess I need to work on my phrasing.”

But Lee was too wrapped in the moment, a little too proud and grateful to care. “She’ll live.”

The grunt from Jeff reminded Lee that they still had months to share living quarters with the fiery Ju.

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to her.” Berry squeezed Jeff’s arm before reaching out to Lee as well. “Thank you, both of you, for getting us down safely. We’re on Mars, guys. Let the party begin.”

The smile in her eyes was honest and ever so heartening.

-o-o-o-

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds #thunderbirds fanfiction #Jeff Tracy #lee taylor #mars #callisto

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becuzpurple · 7 years

Text

It’s About Damn Time! - an Ed & Kate One-Shot

The title of this one-shot is also an extremely appropriate and well-deserved reaction to my S L O W-as-molasses writing. LOL But I’m finally done. YAY!

As I said, this is a one-shot. It’s still about Ed and Kate, and it’s still set in the same world as the main story. But it takes place about 2 ½ years down the line from where the main story currently is. You will see a 3rd character whom you’ve met before. You will also see mention made of a new, very significant character, though this person is not important to this chapter, so you won’t actually meet him/her. Yet. 😊

I hope you like it!

WARNING: Lossa Smuts

——————————————————————————————-

IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME!

an early Wednesday afternoon

I’ve been running for years. It gives me discipline and confidence, it’s a great way to relieve stress, and it improves my mental and physical health.

When I first met Ed, he didn’t exercise regularly. He’d just come off 5 years of touring, and he was really, really tired. He was bigger than he is now, but I had no complaints whatsoever. I liked him big and solid.

After taking a good four or five months to just slog off, he started coming around to the idea that he should probably start taking better care of himself. He says seeing me get up and go to the gym or go for a run made him feel like a slug. He also says he did it for us, although I never felt that was necessary - he’s always been perfect to me. But, it was around that time when his perspective began to shift a little bit in regards to a few things.

One of those things was his health. He told me that he didn’t want to get fat and lazy. I couldn’t imagine that actually happening at all, but I certainly wasn’t about to discourage him, either. We began working out together, even though I had to stop running due to some early pregnancy complications. I still exercised right up until I went into labor - mostly yoga and stationary weight machines. Ed did those things with me, too, and he also started running.

He’s now in the best shape of his life. His body has changed over the last couple of years. That sweet, soft belly that wouldn’t ever completely go away actually went almost completely away (RIP, belly - I kind of loved you). He has defined abs. He’s gained lean muscle-mass. He’s noticeably stronger (and he was strong before!). His endurance is through-the-roof.

We run together now when he’s home, often with Daisy in the jogging stroller. On this particular day, though, she’d napped a little early, so I stayed in with her while Ed went out for his run. Nathan and Lucy were at school.

It was early-afternoon in mid-fall, and it rained the night before. It was cold, and the sun wasn’t out, so there was a dreary cast to everything - in other words, typical November weather. It was good napping weather, and Daisy was taking full advantage of that in her new “big girl” toddler bed. She loved it so much that she had a renewed interest in naps and bedtime.

🙏🏻 Thank-you Jesus🙏🏻

I sat down at the kitchen counter with a fresh cup of coffee and my laptop, and opened up my emails, which was my first mistake. I should have started working on the new research project I’d been invited to participate in. I’d been asked to contribute to a collection of biographical sketches for a Time magazine feature called “Women and the Myth of the American West”. I was really excited about it, and needed to begin researching my subject - Elena Gallegos, who, in 1712, widowed and aged 32, became the sole owner of a land grant that included about 4/5 of present-day Albuquerque, NM. It was willed to her NOT from her deceased husband, but from another man!

But I digress. Instead of gathering facts about Elena, I started reading through my unopened emails.

My friend Dante had lately made a habit of emailing video links to me - links to videos of Ed. Because he’s completely obnoxious! I don’t make a habit of watching Ed videos. I admit that right after we met I promptly fell right down that rabbit hole, but it honestly only lasted a couple of days, and I haven’t really looked at any more since then.

Dante periodically fangirls pretty hard over Ed, and it’s really hilarious since he knows him, now. He’s slightly embarrassed yet completely unapologetic about it.

So, he’d evidently just discovered Ed’s BRIT’s performance from 2015 - Bloodstream. That’s what the link was to in the email he’d sent me. He was raving about it - he even noted a minute-mark within the performance that he thought I’d particularly enjoy. So then I made my second mistake: I clicked on the link and I watched it. I’d somehow never seen it before.

This is such a sexy song. Oh, he looks so good in black…those are really red shoes. That vein on his neck and wow he sounds so good. He’s in such a different place when he’s performs - like he’s a completely different person. Jesus he’s oozing confidence. And sex. He’s oozing sex?! Whatever, it’s true. Why is that little backward step so hot??? And why is it suddenly freaking hot as hell in here? The RASP. Fuck me, that rasp...OK, here comes the part Dante thinks I’ll like…HOLY SHIT. What’s he thinking about when he spanks his guitar like that? It can’t actually be the song, right? I know I’m not thinking about the song. GOD, I’M BAD. Oh god more rasp and more neck veins and I’m…Jesus help me, my blood is rushing to PLACES, no joke…I just…FUCK...

When the hell will he be home?

I glanced at the clock and saw that he’d be gone for at least another 10 minutes or so - plenty of time to rewatch the good parts…a few times.

Which is what I was still doing several minutes later when I heard him open the door. I stopped the video just as he came in through the back entrance off the kitchen, drenched in sweat and still breathing hard. His eyes found mine and he nodded in greeting, leaning on the door frame as he caught his breath.

“Hey.” He noted my setup. “Getting some work done?”

“Hi.” My voice was soft. I couldn’t tear my eyes from him. “No, I...got distracted.”

I closed the laptop, got up from my chair, and made my way over to him, still in the doorway. He was eying me curiously, a small grin forming.

“Distracted by what?”

I took hold of his waist and pulled him closer to me.

“Email,” I answered right before I kissed him…with a little bit of tongue.

He readily reciprocated, delving into my mouth with the softest, most slippery of caresses. He gently pulled my bottom lip with his teeth before leaving one last, chaste kiss. Then he pulled back just far enough to let his eyes focus on mine.

“Mmmm, more…” I pulled his torso right into mine, and basked in how drenched with sweat he was.

I slid a hand up the back of his neck through those wet curls and guided his face back down to me.

His mouth opened immediately and I took full advantage, holding him to me as my tongue eagerly explored. There was a saltiness to the taste of him, and a muffled moan escaped my mouth at the thought of being wrapped up in this sexy, sweaty, beautiful man.

His hands soon moved to my hips, starting to slide to my backside, but then he paused and kept them fastened where they were, and he again pulled his lips away from mine.

He returned my soft, huff of frustration with a small smirk and a knowing look.

“I’m a sweaty mess right now.”

I combed my fingers through the tufts of his damp hair as I softly replied. “Baby, that’s so not a bad thing.”

Just then I noticed a vein in his neck slightly pulse and I was reminded of what got me in this state to begin with. I grinned, and then my lips were right there. God, I wanted to inhale him, breathe him, taste him, feel him - I needed it. I felt the soft rush of his breath on my cheek as he let his head fall to the side. I inhaled his sharpened, earthy scent as I kissed and nipped at his salty, sticky skin from his collarbone up to his ear.

I sucked and tugged on his earlobe just a little bit before pulling away. He righted his head and teased my nose with the tip of his, making me smile.

His hands found their way back to my bottom, and, gripping me securely, he pulled me in right up against his groin. “This what you wanted?”

His voice was suddenly so serious, and his cock was already getting hard. I felt him through my thin cotton pants and his shorts, and I was so fucking turned on, and really, really glad that he seemed to be, too.

I nodded.

He was slick with sweat - everywhere. I have no idea why that made ME so wet, but, my god, did it.

I nudged my hips up into his, and we began rubbing against one another, slow and deliberate, both of us still fully clothed.

What the hell has gotten into me? Fucking Bloodstream…

He leaned back on the door and positioned his knee between my thighs. I leaned into him, and we rocked into each other, slowly building up, and the friction became so intense I felt flutters in my belly. I brought my hand to the obvious bulge at the front of his running shorts, and started stroking him in time with our thrusting.

Our mouths came at each other hard, and for a few seconds there was a frenzy of slippery tongues and wet lips sliding over each other. We were desperate mouths and rough hands and stifled gasps and sticky-wet bodies.

We broke away and, with his hands at my waist, he urgently backed me into the kitchen, to the large, built-in island. He was about to lift me up on it, but then stopped and looked at me uncertainly.

“Daisy?”

“Asleep,” I assured him.

We stared at each other for another second or two before we came together again, lips fusing, tongues thrashing, hands fumbling, bodies converging. He had my pants down before I even realized his hands were on me. I quickly kicked them all the way off, but I was still wearing my panties.

I shoved his shorts and underwear down to his knees and locked my legs around his waist just as he pressed himself up against my center.

Somehow during all of this he sat me up on the very edge of the island.

His brow ruffled slightly when he noticed that I still had my panties on, but I hastily pulled them to the side, out of his way. We shared a brief smirk just before he took hold of himself and slammed into me. There was no point in checking my readiness. I’d already made that very clear to him.

I was caught up in the sight of him - his eyes were blown wide and lips slightly parted, he was hot and covered in sweat and soaking wet, and his hand was wrapped around his dick as he aligned himself with me. He was all confidence and desire - from the intent etched on his face, to the forward roll of his hips, to the well-practiced way he held his beautiful, hard cock in his hand just before he guided it into me.

He is a lot to take in at once. The sting (there’s always a sting) was sharp but short-lived, and was followed by that exquisite sense of fullness that still gets me every time.

My balance on the counter was questionable, so I kept a hand back to anchor myself. My other hand gripped his shoulder. He held my hips tight as he fucked into me, full-force, balls deep on every thrust, so hard I was groaning in time with the short, soft grunts he made on each exhalation. By then we were both covered in sweat.

“Fuck. I love this…” I thought it was just in my head but I apparently said it out loud. He didn’t answer me, but did raise an eyebrow and grinned while he continued fucking into me. He watched my eyes fall shut and my head fall back, and then I felt his lips and tongue on my bared neck.

He felt so good, and the spontaneity of it made it that much better. It’s hard to be spontaneous when you have a toddler and two tweens in the house - and when Ed is on the road as often as he is. He comes home as often as possible, and I’ve occasionally joined him for a weekend here-and-there when I could manage it, but Daisy is usually with me, and those opportunities are few and far-between, anyway. So even though this was an unplanned quickie, it was much-needed.

There was one other thing I wanted though, thanks to that damn video. But since he’s not a mind-reader, I was going to have to ask for it.

Quickly, before I could lose my nerve, I pressed my lips next to his ear and whispered, “Spank me.”

He hadn’t expected that, judging by the look on his face. But I saw excitement there, too - he loves it just as much as I do.

”Yeah? You been bad?”

He’d been gripping my hips the whole time, and now started working his fingers over the outermost contours of my ass cheeks. He didn’t stop slamming into me over and over, and I took a sharp breath as another thrust hit me just right.

Eyes boring into mine, he slammed HARD into me one more time, pushing, pushing, just keeping himself buried so deep in me. His eyes zeroed-in on my mouth and he moved in so close to my face that I thought he was going to kiss me. But, no. He brushed his lips against the corner of mine and, sounding absolutely cocksure, whispered, “Hope you’re ready.”

In one fell swoop he pulled out, and before I could even register that, he lowered me to the floor and spun me around, yanking my panties down. Before they even fell to my knees he was balls-deep again.

Oh, god.

He kept one hand firm between my shoulder blades and the other spread out over one of my ass cheeks as he fucked into me and whispered in my ear.

“Have you been bad?”

Jesus…

Everything had escalated so quickly and I was wrecked enough already that I couldn’t properly put words together. So I just sort of grunted in acknowledgement.

His hand still stroked my bottom, although somewhat erratically, probably due to his busy thrusting.

“Such a pretty bum.”

His voice was so soft, and he sounded so controlled, although his movements betrayed that impression. I imagined his eyes glued to my backside.

“Should I make it pink, then?”

Fuck…Yes?!

I meant to answer him - I really did. But the the best I could manage was a muffled, incoherent moan.

“What’s that? Can’t hear you.”

I took a breath before gasping out a soft, “Please?”

I felt him smile against the back of my neck as he murmured, “There’s my dirty girl,” as he drove into me again.

It felt dirty, what we were doing. We were fucking in our kitchen in the middle of the day. He had me bent over the island, both of us still half-dressed. He was a sweating mess from his run, and I was too by that point. The sounds coming from both of us were indecent (although muffled, since the baby’s room was just right up the stairs). Everything felt wet and slick, and hard and rough, and hot as hell.

I was leaning on my elbows, hands splayed flat on the countertop. I looked over my shoulder and saw him staring down at my bottom. I’m sure he also had a view of himself repeatedly slamming into me. In any case, he seemed enthralled by what he saw.

He thrusted hard again. And again.

I turned my head to face forward again, my breath rushing out, gasping on each stroke. He filled me continuously, hitting my furthest walls, steady and unyielding. The flutters in my belly were spreading. I felt like I was lighting up slowly. I went up on my tiptoes and arched my back just a little bit more, forcing my bottom further out, needing more, asking for more. It was such a good, good feeling - being fucked so good like that.

He unexpectedly pulled out, quickly hooked his right hand below my thigh and lifted it up so my knee came just above the countertop.

“Put your leg up here.”

I did so, and then he took hold of my waist and slammed right back in. The angle was different so the bumping of his cock inside me was more intense. He was reaching even deeper.

His right hand was back on my bottom, fingers pit-patting in subtle patterns. He brought his left hand around to my front, his fingertips swirling lazily over my most sensitive parts.

My mind drifted away, lost again in the sensations. My body was thrumming - I could feel it buzzing from my belly out to my limbs, my fingers, my toes. I was so consumed in the moment that when that first smack came I was stunned.

He had just pulled back, with the head of his cock barely touching me, and lightly tapped his fingers over my clit a few times. I heard it before I felt it - a resounding slap that snapped me out of my reverie. I felt the sting of his hand just as he slammed back inside me, hitting my front wall with such force that I grunted at the impact.

And god, it hurt - it really hurt. But the pain was only secondary. Much more important than the pain, and the reason I love it so much…it makes me feel so incredibly close to him. I know that sounds crazy…like, how on earth would Ed spanking me cause me to feel closer to him? But I completely trust him, so I allowed him to be in a position of control over me within that situation. I knew I would feel some pain, but I also knew he would never, ever actually hurt me. For us…unspoken promises accompany acts like this - absolute love and trust among them.

I sucked my lips into my mouth, hoping that would keep me from releasing the wail that was welling up inside, threatening to escape. Instead, my soft, mewling whimpers mingled with his hard, gaspy breaths. I was completely lost in it again.

“Please...” I gasped, pushing my bottom out as far as I could, trying to get more of him.

“Please what, baby…what do you want?” He breathed in my ear between each thrust.

“More…everything…”

I’m sure I wasn’t making much sense at all, but it was the best I could do at the time. I wanted him deeper - so fucking deep in me, and I wanted him to make my bottom look sunburned and make it hurt and feel so damn good that I’d lose any remaining sense of reality.

He knew. He knew what I wanted, what I needed. And he wanted it, too.

He was attentive and carefully turned each cheek a lovely shade of rose pink - like a deep blush. Never while he was inside me - he only filled me immediately after a spank. That way I could feel the sharp sting at the same time as something truly pleasurable, and that combination is fucking electrifying.

I was so warm everywhere - we both were. But the heat emanating from my bottom was different - like a deep, low, slow-spreading burn. It, along with the smoldering tremors threatening to go off throughout my body finally, finally, started to push me over. Just when I could tell that the end was near, he opened his mouth and shattered me to pieces.

“Baby, your arse is so fuckin’ pretty…so pink…just like your pretty pussy…”

I began clenching everywhere, including around him. My legs and my hips tensed, and if he hadn’t already had me pinned up against the island I would have gone down.

“You almost there…gonna come, sweet girl?”

I nodded, but have no idea if he saw it or not. Then everything went soft for a second, my ears buzzed, my entire body pulsed. The ache in me spread everywhere, and then a terrific whoosh of warmth and comfort consumed me. I was swept up and fallen apart. He’d completely taken me Somewhere Else. It was just what I needed and absolutely perfect.

He finished just after me. His hips were a flurry of movement as they rocketed into me a last few times. Then his body tensed, as mine had, and he breathed out a series of short, not-so-quiet gasps as he came.

---

“What. The fuck. Was that?”

We were on the floor against the base of the island, still half-naked and legs tangled together. My head was buried in the crook of his neck. His arms were around me. He left copious short, soft kisses all over the side of my head and face.

I glanced from the corner of my eye at him, a tiny, somewhat awkward grin plastered on my face. He looked immensely pleased.

I didn’t answer him.

“I’m not complaining at all. But really…what got into you?”

“Umm…you?” I giggled. I was not about to tell him that a freaking 4 year-old video of him got me so worked up that I literally begged him to spank me. In the middle of the day. In the kitchen. Nope. Wasn’t going to happen.

“Ha-ha.” He smiled and took my hand. “Damn, woman. I thought my workout was the run but you gave me another one.”

“Ha,” I grinned. I got one, too.”

I looked down at the both of us - what a sight. His shorts and underwear were around his ankles, but he still wore his t-shirt and shoes. My pants were flung across the floor, my panties were around one ankle, and my shirt and bra were askew. We were both sweaty messes.

Glancing at the wall clock, I sighed. “We should shower. Daisy will be up in a bit.”

He nodded and puffed out a noisy breath, stood, and pulled his shorts back up. I remained sitting on the floor watching him until he offered his hand to help me up. He grabbed my pants up off the floor as I kicked my panties off from around my ankle. Because what was the point, really, right?

We walked together to the shower, cleaned ourselves up (and then the kitchen, too - yikes), and no one was the wiser.

——————————–

Saturday Evening, 10 Days Later

Dante was visiting, and he, Ed and I were just finishing up a late dinner that he’d picked up on the way over. Daisy was down for the night, and both Lucy and Nate were at a friend’s birthday party. We hadn’t seen Dante in a while - several months, actually. So when he called that morning, suddenly freed-up from plans with his partner Aaron, who was called out-of-town for work last minute, we all jumped at the chance to finally catch-up.

I’d just finished clearing the table of our dishes, and Ed was still rinsing and putting them in dishwasher. Dante was making our drinks. I took my seat at the dining room table while the guys were chatting and finishing up in the kitchen.

Those two adore each other. They’d immediately bonded upon first meeting a few years ago, and it made me so happy. Dante is probably my oldest, and one of my dearest friends, and I love that he and Ed get on so well. Both of them were in a mood that evening, though. I had no chance of getting out unscathed.

They came back to their seats carrying tequila shots with lime wedges for all of us. I’d already brought out some snacks for us to nibble on.

“It’s really good to see you, D. It’s been too long.” I put a few homemade oatmeal raisin cookies on a small plate and slid it in front of him as I spoke. Ed nodded in agreement.

“I’m just here for the cookies.” He grinned at me and then turned to Ed. “You know Katie used to bake cookies for me in high school?”

“Yeah? Were they any good?”

“Hey?!” I shot him a look. He just grinned and popped a whole cookie in his mouth.

“Amazing. That’s when I decided to keep her.” He winked at me.

“I did, didn’t I? I’d forgotten all about that.”

Ed downed his shot and added, smirking, “Yeah. I’m totally here just for her cookies, too.”

While the two of them chortled over their silly innuendos, I bit back a grin and shook my head. You can’t help but love ‘em.

“Sooo, you never acknowledged my last email, Kit-Kat,” Dante chided me.

“Oh, I didn’t? What was- OH.” It was the link to the Bloodstream performance. I could feel my face flushing as I recalled the aftermath from viewing it.

Shit…

Both Ed and Dante were looking at me oddly. Ed clearly didn’t know a thing about any of it, but he definitely noticed my red face. Dante seemed to be working out that there was some sort of story - he had a dangerous glint in his eye, and he started laughing.

I just stared forward blankly and took a huge bite of cookie so I wouldn’t have to talk.

“What? What was in the email?” Ed looked between Dante and me, not sure who might answer him.

“You know I’m a huge fan, right? Like, major fangirl? I’m not ashamed to admit it. I mean…LOOK at you!” Dante was talking with his arms by that point, as any decent, excited Sicilian would.

Ed shrugged and smiled. None of this was news to him.

I did nothing except pray to disappear. I had a feeling this was going to get epically embarrassing soon.

“Well, you probably know that I occasionally send our darling Katie-Kat links to…videos that I…just happen to come across. Of you. I figure she might enjoy them as much as - or more - than I do. It amuses me to no end.”

“Oh, god,” I whispered to no one in particular.

“Right, yeah, she’s mentioned that. I’m down with it. So, it was a video of me?”

Dante nodded, sucking on the lime wedge, and then slammed down his shot of tequila.

Ed gave me a bemused look. “What was it?”

“Ohhhhh… Umm, it was when you did Bloodstream at the BRIT’s a few years ago?” I didn’t know where to look, so I studied my still-full shot glass.

“Oh, good, you did see it, then. What did you think, dear?”

I glanced up at Dante then, and my very evil friend was waggling his thick, dark eyebrows at me, knowing full-well that the video must have had some sort of effect on me to bring about this kind of reaction at the mention of it.

“Yeah, what did you think, dear?” Ed was getting a little bit animated, too, or maybe buzzed. He was grinning wildly and wagging his head around at me. He must have realized that something good was about to go down.

I looked from one to the other and saw that they both watched me expectantly. Deciding it was a good time for some liquid courage, I sucked hard on my lime and slammed down my shot.

I looked at Ed, smiled, and answered his question. “I thought it was Sexy. As. Hell. Dear.”

“THANK-YOU, yes! Yes he was!” Dante then turned from me to Ed, arms waving again. “Yes you were! It’s my favorite video of you, you…gorgeous creature!”

Dante is naturally very hyper and enthusiastic, but Tipsy Dante is a whole ‘nother story. His tequila-laced exuberance was contagious, and even I started giggling by then. “D…you have a favorite Ed video??”

“YAHHHH?!!”

Ed was laughing and looking smug. He nodded toward Dante. “Thanks, man!” Glancing down at our empty drinks, he stared for a few seconds and then stood up. “Be right back.”

He retrieved the bottle of tequila from the kitchen where Dante had left it and refilled each of our shot glasses.

OK. Maybe I’m in the clear…

“Thank-you, sir. Salute!” Dante raised his drink up for a toast.

We clinked our glasses together and drank up. I was feeling warm and mellow and relaxed by then, and that turned out to be a problem. I‘d let my guard down.

“I’m sure we agree on what the best part was, do we not, Katie-Katie?”

“The best part of what?” I had no idea what he meant. God, if I had I would have deflected immediately. But no. I invited him to continue. Because tequila.

“The video! I even noted the time for you, darling.” The fucker actually started drumming on the tabletop as he grinned wickedly at me.

Fuck.

“What the fuck are you talking about, mate? Noted the time of what?”

Ed was being adorably clueless. Dante was being a mischievous bastard. I was being that girl who was pouring another shot and slamming it immediately.

“I’m just saying…I cannot be the only one who enjoys seeing a good-looking man spanking his… instrument!”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at that, but I blushed furiously at the same time. Dante was wearing a smug “sorrynotsorry” sort of expression, while Ed laughed almost as hard as I did. Ed glanced at me then and saw my burning cheeks. And I saw it happen - realization hit him right at that moment. He stopped laughing almost abruptly, and then grinned so evilly at me it rivaled a Dante Smirk of Doom.

“Hold on, hold on! When did you send her that email, Dante?”

Wow. I’m so fucked it’s funny.

“I don’t know…week? Week-and-a-half ago?”

There was a pause, just a beat of silence while Ed took that detail in. And then…

“Oiiiiiiiiii! That day! After my run! You were all wantin’ it-” He was excitedly and emphatically smacking the table. How ironic.

“Wait, WAIT, WAIT. WHAT? Katie Bear?!! My cute little Katie Bug? What exactly did you want?”

Now, I was plenty embarrassed, but I wasn’t completely flipping out or anything like that. I know Dante has a bit of a freaky streak, himself - it’s been discussed before. Spanking is actually pretty tame compared to some of the things he’s told me. I was actually more flustered over Ed figuring out that watching a video of him is what got me so worked up that day.

But I figured there was no stopping this train, and since we were all three sheets to the wind already, anyway, I decided to just go for it. I took a breath and (figuratively) jumped.

“What do you think I wanted, D?” I gave him a playful wink and grin, and began drumming on the table, myself.

The noise that erupted from that man could have waked the dead. It was a shriek like no shriek I’ve heard before. And that’s saying a lot, since I’ve known Dante and his penchant for drama for about 25 years - I’d heard LOTS of Dante’s shrieking.

Ed’s and my immediate reaction was to shush him since Daisy was asleep just upstairs, but our shushes almost instantly turned into full-out belly laughs. Dante in Complete Theatrical Mode was a sight to see. He did eventually tone it down a little bit, and between his residual hoots and sputters, he squawked out a few barely-coherent things.

Using wildly gesticulating arms to emphasize his words, he finally croaked out at me, “My puppy! My sweet, innocent Katie-Boo!”

He then turned to Ed, trying so hard not to lose it completely. “YOU, young man, have corrupted my darling Kit-Kat! And I have one thing to say about that!” He comically waved his finger in Ed’s face while both Ed and I laughed so hard we had tears running down our cheeks.

“It’s. About. Damn. Time!”

——————————————————————————————-

I’d like to thank @ownerandwriterofedsnnnnggghhhh for her patience with me and my insecure ramblings about my writings, as well as her time spent editing/proofing/opinion-giving! I also want to thank @edchristophersheeran for letting me use her words for the very last line and the title of this piece. Y’all are the best!

As always, feedback is very much encouraged. Click “like” or reblog, or send me an Ask, or do any combination of these things! But it’s literally the ONLY way I know if anyone is even reading my work, let alone enjoying it. So please leave me some, ok? :-)

#ed sheeran #ed sheeran fanfic #ed sheeran mature fanfic #becausepurple #becuzpurple #one-shot #ed sheeran love story #Ed&Katelovestory #surprise!#fucking Bloodstream #spanky spanky #Dante!#Elena Gallegos story all true #she was my 7 x's great-aunt #ed sheeran smut

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