Desi girly

His leg was bent, crossed over his knee. He was squinting down at the book in his hand, index finger resting on his chin. The second he looked up, your eyes widened, a hit in your chest. Stupidly, you thought it would be a good idea to come over after work, but maybe you were too bold. Your fingers curled around the strap of your bag. "Sorry. I, um, let myself in."

"Why're you sorry?" Steve closed his book and tossed it on the cushion next to him. "I left the door unlocked for you. C'mere."

He held out his arms and you gravitated to him, setting your bag down. Sinking into the couch beside him, you leaned into his side, his open arm falling around you.

Scrunching your nose, you said, "I should have changed before I came over. I'm getting my outside clothes on you."

"Outside clothes?" Steve sounded amused.

"Y'know. There are inside clothes and outside clothes? When you change clothes it's like changing mindsets." You felt silly, but he nodded solemnly.

"You can wear some of my inside clothes if you want?" he offered. "That sound okay?"

Fidgeting, you asked, "Wear your clothes?"

"Yeah." He was so casual about something that was tilting your world on its axis. Getting to his feet, he extended a hand. "C'mon. I was gonna offer anyways. It's not fun to hang around the house in jeans."

He seemed…excited? You took his hand and let him guide you up the stairs to his room. Steve went through drawers until he found a sweatshirt, your favorite to see on him, and a pair of grey sweatpants, not unlike the ones he had on now.

"Want me to turn around? Or you can use my bathroom?"

"Turn around," you said, and he nodded, dutifully rotating until his back was facing you. It might be dumb, but you liked having him close.

"Stevie?" The sweatshirt was no problem, but the pants were too big.

He turned around, smiling at the sight of you holding the pants up with one hand. "It's alright. There's a drawstring." Moving closer, he grasped the strings. "It'll make 'em go smaller than this."

You held up the hem of the sweatshirt while he untied the pants, redoing them with surgeon-like precision. His knuckles brushed your tummy and your breath hitched. He looked up at you with the sweetest smile when he was done. The pants were still baggy at your ankles, but they sat better over your hips.

Steve patted your waist with both hands. "Socks. You need socks. It's cold outside." He disappeared and came back with a soft pair with snowflakes patterned around the top. You couldn't help the big smile that slowly spread across your face, mirroring his. He lifted his chin, picking you up around the waist and gently depositing you on the bed.

When you realized what he was doing, you groaned and flopped back. "I can do it myself."

"Yeah, yeah, just let me." He threw one sock over his shoulder and held the other one open. "Foot, please." You gave him the wrong one on purpose and he swatted it away. "The right foot, babe."

Giving in, you stared at the ceiling while he worked the sock over your foot. You made your legs limp so he had to bend the other one, your heel flat on the bed, to put the next sock on. Steve pulled you in by the legs so he could lean in for a kiss. "All better."

You scrunched your nose. "You're silly."

"So 're you!" Steve pulled you up. "Did you bring your book?"

"It's in my bag."

"You wanna read together?"

"Read?" You tilted your head.

"Yeah." He kissed your nose. "I can read my book and you can read yours."

"You're reading a book?"

"Yup."

"Why?" You winced and quickly amended. "Not that you can't read. I just didn't think it was something you're interested in."

"I've got a smart girlfriend. It's time I started acting like it." Steve smiled proudly. "I'm on chapter three."

"What book are you reading?"

"That's a surprise." He threaded his fingers through yours. "Tell you what. When I finish, if I like it, you can tell me what to read next."

"Okay." Even though you were a little confused, the idea of reading together was warm like a cozy cup of tea.

Steve flopped on the couch and patted his lap. "Pillow right here for you, baby." You happily cozied up to him, head cozy thighs, book on your tummy. He put his free arm behind your book, propping it up, hand absentmindedly stroking up and down your side.

You were in heaven. If there was a better place to be, you didn't know of it. Laying in Steve Harrington's lap whilst rereading Pride and Prejudice for the tenth time made your heart beat like the beginning of a song you'd play over and over.

Your shower was heavenly, a gift after a cold winter day. It snowed so hard earlier that Steve called you at work to say he was coming to pick you up. When you walked out, bundled in your coat, he was parked at the curb reading, car warm and ready for you. the second he saw you though, he shut the book and tossed it in the back. "Hi, baby."

Every attempt you made to figure out what he was reading and why only left you with more questions. Whenever you were around, he determinedly wouldn't read it, attention squarely focused on you.

Now, as you walked out with your towel wrapped around you, hair clinging to your neck, you stopped dead in your tracks, sure he was trying to kill you.

Steve was shirtless, hair messy, sitting up against the headboard with the covers pulled up to his hips, book in hand. His bottom lip was pinched between his teeth as he frowned at a sentence. You would usually hold your book with two hands, but he propped it up with just one, reminding you just how big they were. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, he reached for a pen on his nightstand and underlined something on the page.

You could have melted. This was more erotic than if he was standing in front of you naked. Practically floating over to the bed, you forgot about changing and flopped down next to him. Steve shut his book and smiled at you. "Good shower?"

"Yeah." Holding your towel against your chest, you watched as he slipped his arms around your waist and shifted down, cheek on your hip.

"You sleepy?" Steve propped his chin on your stomach. "Want your pajamas?" Slowly, half your clothes had begun to make their way over to his place. You now had a drawer and a portion of his closet.

Laughing, you gently pushed his head away. "You always baby me."

"You had a big day at work! Didn't you say you were swamped even though it was snowing?" He sat up but didn't let go of your hand.

"We were." A big group of older men came in shopping for their book club, deciding loudly between Crime and Punishment and Hearts Aflame.

He held out his arms. "So let me baby you." When you hesitated , he dipped his chin, giving you a look. "Please? What jammies do you want?"

Your shoulders slumped. "Pink with bows."

"Pink with bows," Steve repeated, leaning in to kiss your nose. "Pink with bows," he muttered to himself as he swung back the covers and stood up. The book was on his nightstand, and you tried to study it from where you were laying. Unfortunately, the plain green jacket offered no clues.

He returned with your pajamas folded, tugging your towel playfully. While you dressed yourself, he waited patiently and kept his eyes on his lap. When you He threaded his arms around you and you buried your head in his chest, the hair there tickling you.

Maybe you were close to your period. Maybe you were overwhelmed from a busy day at work. Or maybe the image of him shirtless reading in bed from earlier grated at your emotions until there was nothing but pure vulnerability left. Tears sprouted in your eyes and you sniffled, arms tightening around him.

"Woah, woah, hey." Steve looked panicked. "You okay? What's wrong?"

Shaking your head, you pulled back and hid your face in your hands. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"Baby, you're crying." He reached for you, hands grazing your sides. "C'mere. How can I make it better?"

"You're making it better." You uncovered your eyes and blinked at him. "I'm sorry. I'm being too much."

"No," he soothed, nose smushing into your head. "Baby-"

"Who's baby?" You giggled through your tears and he pulled you into his chest.

"You. You're my baby." Steve cupped the back of your head, thumb rubbing up and down. "You tired? 'S that why you're crying?"

"No." Sliding your arms around his waist, you buried your face in his torso. His chest hair tickled you and you breathed him in, trying to calm down. "I just…I'm not used to it."

"Hm?" He was looking at you when you removed your head from his pecs.

"You're just sweet," you said softly, tracing his chest. "And you listen to me and you know what I need and it's overwhelming in a good way and…" Your shoulders slumped. "I used your conditioner in the shower. You're letting me sleep in your bed."

Steve was quiet for a moment, then he leaned down to kiss you gently. "I love you." He said it like it was obvious. "So you're gonna get whatever you need."

"You're so soft with me," you said, your fingers subconsciously sliding around his. "You can be such a hothead but you're soft with me. Why are you soft?"

"Cause you deserve it," he said, shifting you to lay on him. "That's what you do when you love someone. That's what you do for me."

"It's confusing because it's new." You burrowed into his armpit on a whim. "I don't understand it yet but I like it and that's why I cry."

Steve nuzzled his chin into your head. "You like it?"

"I love it," you said. "I love you."

"I want you to have whatever you want," he said, searching your eyes. "Anything. I'm all yours."

A comfortable silence fell over the room, and you grew sleepier, his arms heavy around you. He was tender with you, making sure you were covered as much as you needed by the blanket.

"You're really hot," you mumbled into him.

"Too warm in here? I can turn on the air-"

"No." You reached around and pinched his bottom. "Hot."

"Yeah?" Steve took your knee and hooked it over his middle. "I think you're hot."

"Mmm." You drifted off holding him like a teddy bear.

"What's the matter, bub?" Steve was lounging on the bed, watching you scurry around the room in one of his sweatshirts.

"Can't find my bra." You frowned at him. "Are you sitting on it?"

"No." He got up and surveyed his room, hands on his hips. "Huh. Can't remember where I threw it."

"Here!" You retrieved it from atop his pants draped over the chair by his bed, belt still through the loops.

"You're not leavin', are you?" He sat up straighter.

"No. Just organizing." You folded your shirt and pants on top of his, putting your bra neatly on top.

Steve reached for you. "Come back. I have somethin' to show you."

"Mhm?" You turned around, a smile playing at your mouth. "What are you gonna show me?"

"It's a surprise." He made grabby fingers. "C'mere."

"I think I'm good over here actually." You leaned back on one leg. "You look cute from here."

"I look even cuter up close." He wiggled his fingers again. "Baby, seriously." You gave in, inching closer until he could reach you. Steve pulled you down gently, arms wrapped around your waist. "That's better, sweetie."

"You do look cuter up close." You tapped his nose. "Where should I be?"

"Riiight here." He kissed your forehead, dragging into his lap. "I have a surprise for you."

"Is it under the covers?" Raising your eyebrows, you folded your arms. "Attached to you?"

"What? No." He bumped your nose with his. "Get your head out of the gutter. We already did that. This is better."

"Better?" You leaned back, hands on his knees to support yourself.

"Oh yeah." Steve grinned, reaching for his bedside drawer. He pulled out the book he'd been reading for two months with the blank green jacket over it. In a dramatic move, he slid the jacket off to reveal Pride and Prejudice. Your favorite book.

Your eyes widened. "You read it?" There was something blooming in your chest that made you feel like floating.

"Every word." Steve flipped it over, studying the back. "It took awhile cause they use like, a million words to say everything, but it was good." He looked up at you. "Baby, should we have danced together more before we started dating? Or is that an England thing?"

He was teasing. You put your hands on his chest, bunching your fingers in and out. "Definitely should have danced more."

"Aw, I'm sorry. Had no idea." Steve presented the book to you. "I wrote stuff in it. For you."

"You took notes?" You hugged the book to your chest.

"Just like, underlined 'n stuff." He shrugged. "You always say how great it is. I wanted to be able to talk about it with you is all- oof!"

You threw yourself into his arms, burying your face in his neck. Emotion was swelling in your chest, and you didn't know what to do with it. "Thank you."

He clasped his arms around you, cheek smushed into your head. "You're welcome."

You kissed him, smiling against his mouth. "You really liked it?"

"Yeah. It was great." Steve tapped your sides. "So, do you think I'm Mr. Darcy or Mr. Bingley?"

"Mr. Collins."

"The cousin? Aw." He groaned, tilting to the side and bringing you with him. You giggled when he rolled you over so he was resting on top of you, caging you in.

"No, I think you're more like Caroline."

"Baby," he pleaded.

"Mr. Bingley," you decided after a moment of thought to make him squirm.

"You're Jane," he said confidently. "Cause you're sweet."

"That means we're perfect for each other," you said dreamily.

"We are." Steve sat up and pulled you to rest between his legs. You leaned into his chest, happy as a clam. "What should I read next? Since I'm a reader now. It's like English class but better cause you kiss me."

"Well…" You hummed in thought. "Do you want to read something more modern?"

"Nah, give me more old books. I can handle it." His confidence was one of the reasons you loved him. Adjusting his arms around you, he asked, "Did Jane Austen write any other books?"

"A few." You leaned your head back. "I think you'd like Emma."

"What's it about?"

"A girl who likes setting her friends up with her other friends."

"Huh." When he nodded, his chin bumped your crown. "Yeah. Sounds good. Do you have it at the store?"

"You can borrow my copy if you want," you offered.

"I wanna take notes," he said, smoothing his fingers up and down your side. "Don't wanna ruin your copy when I write a dumb comment on the side."

"Well, maybe you should have your own copy so you can reread it," you decided, shifting to your side and nuzzling your head into his chest. It still filled you with wonder that you felt so comfortable doing it now. He was all yours. And you were his, completely. "Start a collection for yourself."

"I'm gonna need a bookcase," he mused. "Course, when we get a place together we'll need a few anyways for all your books."

He never failed to astonish you. There was a lot to dissect in that sentence, starting with the fact that your books were starting to overflow from the little bookcase in your room and ending with him wanting to move in with you. You shelved it away for later. "I'll get you a copy of Emma on Monday."

"I can just come in. I like seeing you at work." He threaded his fingers with yours on your tummy.

Smiling softly, you tucked your head under his chin. A moment or two passed quietly. You pulled the hem of his boxers up when you realized your angle was making them ride down. "I'm still not used to all this."

Steve kissed your hair. "I'm getting better at reading and you're getting better at letting me love you. We're doing important work."