MrsShiesty's Masterlist
Joe Burrow x Reader only
Things Joe probably tells you
Lingerie Madness
Joey Christmas
Engagement
Winter Mood
Not today Justin
Mike Driver
tumblr dot com
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
Game of Thrones Daily
ojovivo
trying on a metaphor

pixel skylines

JVL
Cosimo Galluzzi

TVSTRANGERTHINGS
styofa doing anything

shark vs the universe

One Nice Bug Per Day

祝日 / Permanent Vacation

Janaina Medeiros
sheepfilms

titsay

seen from Türkiye
seen from United States

seen from United Kingdom
seen from India
seen from Nigeria
seen from Türkiye
seen from Portugal

seen from United States

seen from Germany

seen from Egypt
seen from Barbados

seen from Brazil

seen from Singapore

seen from United States

seen from Spain
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States

seen from Türkiye

seen from Malaysia
@mrsshiesty
MrsShiesty's Masterlist
Joe Burrow x Reader only
Things Joe probably tells you
Lingerie Madness
Joey Christmas
Engagement
Winter Mood

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had the urge to hop back on here bc i still love joe and will forever be a bengals fan but i YEARN for 2022-2023 joe tumblr community and vibes
PICTURE PERFECT!!!
Peyton, Michael, Eli & Joey B!!!
might run into joe this weekend be aware😜
Just gonna leave this here🙃
Kinda rude of them to crop me out of this pic👀

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Joe at practice earlier this week🤍
not ready for off season
Joey B how you will be missed this off season😭💔
😭 the guy is doing nothing and here i am drooling over him
Hes doing nothing and I’m barking ??
if yall could see what i’m doing….
Who will we be rooting for in the playoffs?
I’m rooting for Usher 😜
proud of the team. who dey always🧡
miss this era
while the world celebrates the new year this is the reality of palestinians. they have been enduring the oppressive violence of israel for 75 years and 87 days. on the last day of 2023 and into 2024 continue to donate, protest, and keep sharing and paying attention to gaza.
our only new years resolution should be to continue fighting for a free, safe, and liberated palestine🇵🇸

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look at him in his squidward hoodie and supporting Teddy K with the Cincy hat🥹
KC arrival, 12/30/23
baby
You see this logo
anyWHERE on anyTHING you PASS THAT SHIT BY.
Don't just boycott their cafés.
friends, i hope you all are still boycotting starbucks and all these other brands🙏
They're so cute 😭😭😭
LMAOO😭
🎄 Merry Christmas From Wicked Matinee 🎄
🔥 Simply The Best 🔥
great job on this ladies!
Hard Reset IX
Pairing: Joe Burrow x Reader
Warnings: 18+ / Smut / Fluff
Description: This fic covers the rest of the bye week honeymoon.
Time/Place: Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 - Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 / the lakehouse
A/N: This is the ninth fic in the Hard Reset series.
The end of the secret honeymoon is here! Next chapter will be back in the city. I'm going to be pretty busy the next couple weeks, but I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can. It'll probably be after the holidays.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wednesday night, 10/18/23
You come awake slowly, yawning and smiling against Joe's chest as he drops a kiss on your forehead. "How long was I asleep?" you ask.
"Just over an hour," he answers. "I woke up about ten minutes ago."
"I feel like I slept for ages," you murmur, yawning again.
"It was def a power nap," he muses.
You enjoy his warm embrace for several more minutes before his stomach growls loudly, causing you both to laugh. "Let me get a quick shower and we'll cook dinner," you state. "We can save the fondue action for tomorrow."
"Can we finish carving the pumpkins before dinner?" he asks, his hopeful tone making you smile.
"Sure." You take his hand as he stands up and helps you off the sofa. "Shower first, then pumpkins, then dinner. Does that sound good?"
"Sounds perfect," he agrees, following you as you head for the stairs.
~ ~ ~
About forty minutes later, you're freshly showered and back downstairs, finishing up carving your jack-o-lantern as Joe -- who finished carving before you -- tosses another log on the fire.
"I'm done," you eventually announce, standing up and giving him a smile. "Time for the big reveal," you continue, setting your jack-o-lanterns side by side on the table before stepping back to inspect them.
"Awww, yours is super cute," he mutters, making a face as he gestures at his. "Mine looks like he's struggling to hold in a huge fart," he grumbles, mimicking his jack-o-lantern's grimace as you bust out laughing.
"He really does," you agree, laughing even harder when he playfully swats your butt.
"You weren't supposed to agree with me," he pouts.
"Sorry," you giggle, pulling him into a tight hug. "It'll look awesome once we put the candles inside. Let's put 'em on the hearth and light 'em up."
Y'all grab your jack-o-lanterns and head toward the fireplace, placing them on the hearth and inserting lit candles inside before stepping back to admire the results. Both of you are silent for a minute before Joe speaks.
"Mine looks even worse lit up."
You know better than to agree with his very correct assessment, so you just give him a smile and lie through your teeth. "I think it looks great," you chirp, smiling even bigger when he narrows his eyes at you.
"Liar," he scoffs, trying and failing to keep a stern look on his face.
"He's got a touch of RBF, but he's still super cute, kinda like you," you tease, grabbing his hand and walking toward the kitchen. "You ready to cook dinner?"
"Yes, I'm starving," he groans, quickly forgetting all about his less-than-stellar pumpkin carving skills.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Thursday, 10/19/23
Y'all sleep late the next morning then have breakfast together before taking a few hours to do your own things:
watching game film, talking to Coach Taylor, and a work-out for him
a shower, talking to your bestie, your mom, and Joe's mom, plus online furniture shopping for you
You're lounging in bed just after noon -- wearing lace panties and one of Joe's t-shirts -- perusing armchairs for the lakehouse bedroom sitting area when he walks in fresh from his work-out, wiping his face and neck with a hand towel while looking like sex on legs.
"Hey," he greets you, ambling over and leaning down to press a kiss on your lips. "What are you doing?"
"Watching porn," you deadpan, smiling when he cranes his neck to look at your computer screen.
"Those leather chairs are really nice, but I wouldn't call 'em porn."
"I was talking about you," you purr, placing your fingertips on his inner thigh and running them all the way up the leg of his slinky shorts to his thigh crease, giving him a filthy wink at his sharp intake of breath.
"I'm really sweaty," he mutters, his eyes going wide when you pull your hand out of his shorts, set your laptop aside and turn to face him.
"Take your shirt off," you order, grabbing his hips and coaxing him forward a couple steps until his legs touch the edge of the mattress; you look up at him, loving the angle as he towers over you while you stay seated on the bed, your spread thighs flanking his long legs.
He tosses the towel down and slowly pulls his shirt off, using it to wipe his armpits and chest before trailing it down his torso. "Uh-uh," you scold, taking the shirt and tossing it on the floor. "That's what my tongue is for," you tease, holding eye contact while flattening your tongue against his abs just above the waistband of his shorts, licking up the length of his barely-there blonde treasure trail before slowly rimming his belly button.
He makes a sound low in his throat as you reverse course, trailing your tongue back down over his treasure trail, waistband, and all the way down to the prominent bulge in his shorts. "I wanna taste you," you state, licking his erection through the flimsy fabric. "I'm really sweaty," he repeats. "I know," you moan, hooking your fingers in the waistband of his shorts and undies and pulling them down to mid-thigh; you catch his cock as it springs free, relishing the hot and heavy feel of it in your hands as you trace the prominent veins with gentle caresses before gripping him tight. You give him a few slow pulls, base to tip, coaxing some pearly precum out before gently lapping it up, a sizzle of heat rushing through you at the noises he makes as you pleasure him.
"So good," he grits out, placing one big hand on the back of your head as you take him deeper and deeper; your entire body reacts to the sensory overload, drunk on the feel and the smell and the taste of him, the pheromone cocktail causing an immediate rush of moisture in your mouth and core.
"Jesus, baby, I wanna fuck you," he eventually groans, "but I'm way too sweaty to get in bed."
You pull off of him, stripping your shirt and panties off before spinning around and getting on your hands and knees, scooting back until you're on the edge of the mattress, your butt conveniently positioned at his crotch level. You throw him a look over your shoulder and wiggle your ass in invitation, fully expecting him to sink his erection inside you. He licks his lips and squats down, sinking his hot tongue inside you instead; you drop your forehead down onto the bed and arch your back, giving him easier access as his talented tongue works magic between your thighs, your fingernails digging into the cool sheets and your breathy moans escalating as he expertly coaxes you toward climax.
~ ~ ~
After a few orgasms -- two for you, one for him -- y'all end up sprawled on the bedroom floor with you on top of him, both panting hard to catch your breath.
"That got my heart rate up much more than my work-out," he grins, running a hand up and down your back.
"I think I blacked out for a sec," you chuckle, taking several more minutes to recover from the intense climaxes before rolling off of him. "I need a shower, but I'm not sure I can walk."
"Let me help," he offers, standing up and helping you to your feet before guiding you to the bathroom. "Let's get a shower then go do the fondue thing, okay?"
"That doesn't sound like a very healthy lunch," you laugh.
He gives you a wink before turning the water on to heat up in the oversized shower. "We gotta enjoy the cheat days while we can. Once we're back in the city, we'll go back to healthy eating."
"Sounds good," you concede, stepping into the steaming shower just ahead of him, shivering in delight when the hot water hits you.
~ ~ ~
An hour later you're back downstairs, sitting across from each other on the floor on either side of the coffee table -- in front of a roaring fire -- playing Uno and dipping Honeycrisp apple wedges, pumpkin spice doughnut chunks and fluffy marshmallows in warm caramel.
"This fondue pot is amazing," Joe mumbles around a mouthful of gooey marshmallow, holding one hand in front of his face so as not to show you his partially-chewed food.
"It really is," you agree, hitting him with yet another 'draw four' card while he rolls his eyes in exasperation.
"Damn, woman," he mutters, snatching the cards from the deck. "I've got like fifty cards now," he exaggerates.
"Good thing you have big hands to hold all of 'em," you tease, giving him a cheeky grin when he faux-glowers at you.
A couple minutes later, you throw down your last card, laughing at the look of relief on his face. "Thank God that's finally over," he grumbles, stacking the Uno cards and setting them to the side.
Y'all exchange small talk while you finish the fondue.
"I talked to your mom earlier," you say. "She's hinting that she wants to see us when we get back to the city." You reach over and wipe a drop of caramel off of his chin before continuing. "Maybe we should have them over Sunday? You and your dad can watch football and grill steaks, and your mom and I will make all the side dishes."
"Sounds good," he mumbles around a mouthful of apple.
"I'll call your mom tomorrow and invite them. They can just spend the night and head home Monday morning." Joe opens his mouth to say something, but you beat him to it. "I'll let her know that you have to be at the facility early Monday to start prepping for the 49ers, so you won't be having breakfast with us."
"You read my mind," he grins.
"It's getting to be a habit," you laugh, before gesturing to his phone. "Check the weather real quick."
He wipes his hands on a napkin before doing your bidding. "The rain is really scattered," he muses. "Looks like we have a good chance for some light showers but nothing crazy like last night."
You heave a sigh and roll your shoulders, throwing a look of longing at the roaring fire before speaking. "Is it bad that I just want to stay in tonight? I know you want to go to the Lake Lodge for dinner, but it's so warm and cozy here," you plead, batting your eyelashes for good measure.
He gives you a smile before responding. "I was just about to suggest we get soup and sandwiches delivered from The Cove Café for dinner tonight. There's an hour window from like 6:00 to 7:00 when the rain chance drops to basically zero." He shrugs. "Perfect time to have something delivered without the delivery guy getting drenched."
"Great idea," you grin, your smile fading a bit as a thought hits you. "I feel bad you won't get to try the other items you were looking forward to at the Lodge. Maybe we should have lunch there tomorrow before we head back to the city?"
"Why don't we stay one more night?" he asks. "The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow. Max said we can borrow his boat to explore the lake, then we can have dinner on the rooftop deck at the Lodge tomorrow night."
"That sounds amazing, but we only booked three nights here."
"That was before we bought the place," he grins, laughing along with you as you make a sheepish face.
"I keep forgetting it's our house now. -- It feels like a dream."
"This whole secret honeymoon feels like a dream," he sighs. "Let's stay an extra night before we have to go back to the real world."
"I'd love that," you agree, watching as he stands up and grabs a couple of throws off the sofa before layering them on the floor in front of the fireplace.
"Now that we have that settled," he states. "Let's play a game that I know I can beat you at."
"Football?" you tease.
"Blackjack," he answers, grabbing a deck of cards before plopping down -- criss cross applesauce -- on the plush nest of blankets, gracing you with a smug grin as he shuffles the cards.
"Boy please," you snicker, dropping down opposite him. "I'm gonna beat you at that, too," you boast, sticking your tongue out at him when he laughs at your bravado.
"Let's make it strip blackjack since you're being a cocky little shit," he challenges.
You shrug nonchalantly. "Sure, but you better stoke the fire up so you don't get cold when you're booty butt naked and I'm still dressed."
"You'll be naked first, sweetie," he purrs, giving you a wink as he stands up to throw another log on the fire.
"We'll see."
He drops back down on the pile of blankets and shuffles the cards again while stating the rules. "We'll play through the deck; whoever has the most cards at the end is the winner. We're both wearing five articles of clothing -- shirt, leggings, bra, panties and socks for you -- shirt, t-shirt, sweatpants, undies and socks for me. So we're good to go."
"Sounds good. Deal 'em," you order, watching his sensual hands as he does your bidding, placing one card face down and one face up for each of you. You check your hidden card. "Hit me," you order, smiling at the card you receive. "I'll stand," you continue.
He turns his hidden card over. "Nineteen," he gloats.
"Twenty," you grin as you turn your hidden card face up.
"Lucky ass," he mumbles, rolling his eyes as you rake the cards into a pile with a flourish before setting them beside you. "This is off to an excellent start," you tease, giggling as he deals the next hand.
You eventually win the game, biting your lip and trying not to look too smug when he rips his socks off.
"You wanna deal the next game?" he asks.
"No, I like watching you do it," you admit. "You have sexy hands," you continue, giving him a naughty wink as he shuffles the deck.
He easily wins the next game, and you slowly unbutton your plaid flannel shirt before shrugging it off; you take your bra off before sliding the shirt back on, leaving it open to expose your breasts. You neatly fold your bra and set it to the side, giving him an innocent smile as his eyebrows slide up toward his hairline.
After several more games, he's down to nothing but his undies while you're still wearing your shirt, leggings and panties.
"You're counting cards," he accuses, giving you a look as he shuffles the deck.
"Yep, just like you taught me," you grin with absolutely no remorse. "Why aren't you doing it?"
"I'm trying, but I have a hard time concentrating when your perfect tits are staring me in the face."
"That's too bad," you snicker, trying and failing to look sympathetic.
He narrows his eyes at you. "You took your bra off first on purpose, didn't you?"
"Maybe," you shrug, squealing when he pounces on you and manhandles you back against the blankets, playing cards flying in every direction. "Wait! The game's not over yet," you giggle.
"You win," he growls, pressing a kiss on the sensitive spot just behind your ear.
"But you're not completely naked," you protest weakly, snapping the elastic waist on his undies before turning your head to give him better access as he sucks your earlobe before nipping it lightly.
"I'm about to be," he promises, "and so are you," he continues, giving you a loaded look before parting your lips with his tongue, immediately thrusting it inside when you open up for him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Friday, 10/20/23 (after dinner at the Lake Lodge)
You finish brushing your teeth before clicking off the bathroom light and joining Joe in the bedroom, smiling when you find him sprawled out on the bed wearing only his undies, his clothes and shoes tossed in a heap on the floor.
"I can't believe I ate so much," he groans, rubbing his flat stomach while making a face.
"It was your last cheat day for awhile so don't sweat it," you soothe, sitting on the bed next to him and looking down at his beautiful face, the light from the waxing crescent moon streaming down through the skylight giving him an ethereal glow. He looks like a Renaissance painting, you muse to yourself.
"Well, the food was delish so I guess it was -burp- worth it," he states, belatedly covering his mouth after his gaseous eruption. "Excuse me," he chuckles. "That burp could've been much louder, but I held back."
"And some folks say romance is dead," you laugh, hopping up to get him an antacid tablet from the bathroom before breezing back in.
"Romance will never be dead for us," he states, chewing the chalky tablet before washing it down with the glass of water you hand him. "Thanks," he continues.
"You're welcome." You stretch out beside him and look up at the night sky, giving a wry grin when you spot the Big Dipper.
"We need to build a boathouse," he muses.
"Are we gonna buy a boat?"
"Yeah, eventually. I want to add another dock with a boathouse about thirty yards to the left of the existing dock. It needs to be offset so it won't block our view."
"I guess you enjoyed cruising around in Max's boat today?" you grin.
"Loved it."
"Me too." You smile at the memory.
Y'all spent a few hours cruising around the lake, the air crisp and the sun shining, Joe's curls blowing in the wind and his deep, throaty laugh echoing as he steered you in and out of quaint coves lined with trees lit up with leaves in shades of red, orange and gold. You took several pics of him, almost as many as he took of you. The outfit you picked out for him -- cream colored henley, dark olive jeans & Timbs -- made him look like a walking orgasm, especially with the henley unbuttoned to show off his sexy neck and a hint of chest.
"We got some amazing pics," he says, reading your mind, as usual.
"Yes, we did."
Y'all fall silent for several minutes before he speaks up again.
"I don't know if I should mention this right now, but I had a bad dream last night. I know it was just a dream, but it got me thinking."
"About what?" you ask, sitting up and looking down at him.
"About our 'official' wedding." He sits up and turns to face you, sitting criss cross and dropping his gaze to pick at a thumbnail as he continues. "I just … the thought of saying vows in front of a bunch of people kind of freaks me out."
You nod your head, not at all surprised since he has a tendency to suffer from social anxiety in certain situations. Playing football in front of 70,000 plus people with millions more watching on TV? Piece of cake. Public speaking when all eyes are on him? Not a piece of cake.
You brush a hand through his curls and give him a smile. "You know I'm perfectly fine not having a big wedding."
"I know." He takes both of your hands in his. "But what do you think about a really small wedding? Like just our parents and us?"
"Keep talking," you urge, the excited look on his face telling you he's got much more to say.
"I'm thinking a destination wedding with just the six of us. We'll take a private jet somewhere a little exotic but still fairly close. Not Florida," he deadpans when you raise a skeptical eyebrow at him. "Maybe somewhere in the Caribbean," he continues. "I like the idea of doing a beach thing, but I don't wanna fly forever to get there."
"I agree," you soothe, giving him an encouraging smile as he forges ahead.
"We can spend a couple days doing touristy things with our folks -- a beach BBQ, sunset cruise, whatever -- then we'll have the wedding ceremony followed by a nice dinner. Afterwards, you and I will go somewhere more private for our 'official' honeymoon while our parents stay behind at the resort."
"You've given this a lot of thought, and it sounds amazing," you grin, loving how excited he seems. "Will we all fly home together?"
"No. Our parents will fly home after a week stay or whatever they decide on. Then you and I will fly home later. Just the two of us." His smile goes from excited to naughty, and you know exactly what he's thinking.
"Will we be joining the Mile High Club on our return flight?" you ask, giggling when he gives you a filthy wink.
"The mind-reading is getting out of hand at this point," he chuckles.
You laugh with him for a bit before responding. "I love everything about your plan, but we'll need to have a party with all of our family and friends when we get back."
"Absolutely," he agrees. "We'll throw a huge party here at the lakehouse sometime between OTAs and training camp. All of the updates -- new boathouse and dock, deck expansion, swimming pool, upgraded landscaping, new kitchen counters, new furniture -- will be finished by then."
"If we host everybody here, they're gonna need a place to stay. Can't have folks getting shitfaced and then trying to drive back to the city."
He shrugs. "I think we should rent out that boutique hotel on the bluff overlooking the lake. It has like 100 rooms, so plenty of space for everyone."
"Ohhhh," you nod, thinking back to the hotel he'd pointed out to you on your earlier cruise around the lake. "The place with that gorgeous tri-level deck?"
"Yeah," he grins. "We should def utilize that deck for something."
"Dinner and dancing," you murmur, immediately getting into the idea. "We can rent out the entire hotel for two nights -- dinner and dancing at the hotel the first night, then we'll host everyone at our place the next day. At the end of the festivities, everyone can crash at the hotel and sleep it off before driving back to the city."
"Sounds like a plan," he states, his huge smile and deep sigh conveying a sense of relief as well as happiness.
You lean forward and press a kiss on his lips. "I can tell you put a lot of thought into this, and I really appreciate it."
He blushes and gives a shrug. "You've mentioned wanting me to make more plans and decisions instead of leaving it all to you. There are a ton of decisions you'll need to make, but I'm glad to help."
"Help?" you chuckle. "You've laid out the entire game plan. All I have to do is flesh out the details which is my fav thing."
"So you're happy?" he asks, his eyes locking onto yours.
"I'm ecstatic." You stretch out on the bed and pull him down beside you, trailing your fingers up and down his bare chest. "We have so much to look forward to."
"We really do," he agrees, covering his mouth to conceal another burp. "But, unfortunately, one thing we don't have to look forward to right now is sex. I ate way too much, and my stomach is churning a little."
"Let me get you another antacid," you offer, hurrying to grab it then watching as he chews it before gulping down another glass of water. "Dinner tonight was pretty rich, and you're not used to that. You'll feel better in the morning."
You stretch back out beside him, several minutes passing before he breaks the silence.
"I never got to see the naughty lingerie you brought."
"I'll surprise you with it one night soon. We have the rest of our lives to enjoy stuff like that."
"We have so much to look forward to," he echoes your earlier words, nuzzling his face into the nape of your neck as he pulls you against him.
"We really do," you agree, your mind racing with thoughts and ideas, a smile still gracing your lips as you eventually drop off to sleep.
another must read😇

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Someday at Christmas
Surprise! Though I am still on a writing hiatus, I've had this in the drafts since last Christmas, and wanted to post it as a present to all of you. This year my following count exploded, and I never thought when I started posting my little stories on a whim that it would lead to thousands of followers and so many new IRL friends. You guys are gems, and though this season hasn't gone how we all envisioned it, there has been beauty in the dysfunction, just like in this story.
I hope you enjoy and have a beautiful holiday❤️💚❤️
Thirsty Tag: @katelyn102 @dandelionwrites8 @jordyn14 @hummusxx @alitheamateur @morgan108 @fandomqueen5994 @burreaux-drys @ann288 @asphaltmeadowws @joeburreauxsworld @natalielakes @mrsshiesty @wickedfun9 @countryday @theflawedwriter @burrow-ix @unhingedfangirl @tigertales9 @haylorillie @schumacherburrow @louisianadaisy @burrowstyles5 @idyllicbarb @marvelislove10 @kmc1989 @burrowsobx @onedirectionluver123 @murrylove @erinmartin1987 @arielmarlin @stainednailpolishremover @lonelywiththestars
The holidays were always a little strange for you, even as an adult. You’d grown up tethered to the nomad nature of your dad’s job; random hotel restaurants serving as the backdrop for things like Thanksgiving and Easter; a truck stop dinner more likely to be Christmas dinner than your own home. Once you got older, you lived too far from your family to make it home most years, and now that both of your parents had passed, you’d spent most Christmas’ on your couch with Chinese food and Gilmore Girls reruns.
Because of all of that, a small part of you had been excited, even a little giddy this Christmas, because it marked the first one with Joe as a couple. The Bengals had the morning game on the 25th followed by their unusually late bye week, so you had figured once the game was over, Joe would be making his way to your house four hours north of Cincinnati. A recent furlough at your job had forced you back to your much more affordable hometown, and the distance, though not excessive, was just far enough that time with Joe was at a premium.
That distance, coupled with your complicated relationship with the holidays, is why you were dumbfounded at what your boyfriend had just said to you over FaceTime not two days before Christmas. “Wait, what did you just say?” you asked, slightly incredulous. “I said are you going to take Stacy up on her offer for Christmas so you aren’t alone?”
Stacy was your very well meaning coworker at the temp job you had taken; a nosy but sweet mom of three who didn’t make it a secret what a big fan of the team she was and was determined to become your best friend. You remembered in that moment that you’d mentioned to Joe that she’d invited you over for Christmas dinner, an invitation you’d declined because surely you’d be spending the day with Joe instead.
“Well, no, of course not. I—I thought you were going to come straight up here once you flew back from the game. I’d been kind of planning on it,” you stammered, dread and disappointment knocking at your stomach.
“Oh God. Baby, I’m not coming back on Christmas Day. I thought you knew that,” Joe groaned, “because of the storm and how many guys didn’t want to risk getting stuck away from their kids, the FO paid for all the families to come out to Pittsburgh and we are staying until the next day. I’m sorry, I thought I mentioned it to you last week.”
“No, you didn’t,” you chirped; your voice jumping up to an octave that didn’t hide your frustration. “I’m really, really sorry. What if you came to the game? I know you mentioned that you didn’t want to ask your new boss, but I’m sure he would understand. I could call him for you,” Joe offered.
“That’s very sweet, but I cannot have my boyfriend try to pull strings when I already told them I could work the 24th and 26th. Besides, they’re evaluating us for full-time employment in 10 days. I can’t risk giving them a reason not to bring me on,” you sighed, tears threatening to fall.
“I should have checked with you. I just figured you were all set because, you know, you told me you weren’t really into Christmas in the first place. That was my fuck up,” Joe rambled. “I guess I should have communicated better. We both should have. It’s okay though! You can come up on Friday and we can spend the weekend together before you have to report back,” you smiled, trying to mask your disappointment.
Regretfully, Joe had to rush to practice, so the conversation quickly ended and you were left to process the news. It was a calamity of errors, truly, and you ran through various options in your head. The fact was you just didn’t feel comfortable asking your not-yet-permanent boss for a favor, even if dating Ohio’s favorite quarterback would surely get you a pass.
You also didn’t want to make a bigger deal out of things than needed; the team was in a tenuous spot in the standings and this was a huge game. Joe was more stressed than ever and you’d been walking on eggshells, not wanting to add to the chaos. Truthfully, you knew that it was silly, and that Joe had been nothing but a caring and compassionate partner over the past year. He’d probably be devastated if he knew that you were trying to minimize your real feelings to protect him, but you felt it for the best.
Snapped out of your pity party by your dog Rufus, you absentmindedly got his dinner scooped and came up with a plan to try and make the best of the holiday without Joe. Stacy’s packed party didn’t sound appealing, but you’d noticed that the sports bar in town was advertising a watch party for the Bengals game, and you decided that you’d at least force yourself to enjoy a meal with fans instead of moping at home.
The next two days flew by, and soon it was Christmas morning, a white blanket of fluffy snow covering the sidewalk outside as you gazed out your window. Typically on game days, Joe was silent and you respected it; his preparation honed over years of playing. Today, you were shocked to receive a call from him as you were still wiping the sleep from your eyes.
“Merry Christmas sleepyhead. I’m sorry to call so early but we are leaving for the stadium soon and I wanted to catch you,” Joe said. “I’m surprised the King of Superstitions would dare switch-up his routine by calling his girlfriend,” you teased, pulling the comforter up around your freezing neck. “Superstitions be damned on a holiday. I missed you too much to not call first thing. I wish more than anything you were here with me.”
“I wish I were too. This wasn’t how I envisioned today, but the…the days will go by quickly,” you remarked, using a phrase the two of you often shared during this long-distance phase. Sharing your plans to watch the game downtown and take some photos of Rufus with the snowman you’d built the night before out of boredom, you chatted mindlessly about what his siblings with up to until someone came to tell him it was time to board the busses for the stadium.
“Go be great today. I love you Joe,” you instructed him. “Always. I love you too baby. I’ll call you as soon as we’re back at the hotel,” Joe promised. Leaning back on your pillow with a smile, your heart was full despite your empty house. This year had been remarkably bad; losing your last surviving parent, your job, and your home all within 10 months had brought you to your knees. Most days, you found yourself staring at the wall in the evenings, wondering how long would this feeling last. The bright spot in the darkness had been Joe and his constant support through it all. Many relationships wouldn’t survive one of the events you two had weathered, let alone all of them, but somehow, you two had come out of all of it stronger for it and you were beyond grateful.
You checked the time on your phone and decided to do a little baking before you walked to the bar. While your apartment was devoid of any Christmas decorations, you loved recreating all the little treats and cookies your grandmother had made when you were a little girl, and soon the house smelled of nutmeg and vanilla.
After a begrudging walk with Rufus in the snow, you left him on his dog bed and made your way into town, the winter wind tangling your dark curls against your cheeks as you carefully navigated the unsalted sidewalks. “Someone’s gonna break their neck,” you grumbled, gingerly crawling up the slick steps to the bar. Inside, it was busy but not packed, and you were able to get a small corner booth to yourself directly in front of a TV. A babyfaced waiter came up to take your order, and you smiled at the Burrow jersey he was wearing. It still tickled you how many fans Joe had, and you always made sure to tell him how many you spotted in a day.
Your pregame anxiety spiked as soon as the TVs switched to a live shot from Acrisure Stadium; the snow you saw making yours in Ohio look like a light dusting. It was a silly fear but any time Joe had a game in heavy elements, you were nervous, always saying an extra prayer that the team stayed safe despite the weather. Snow collected in the crevices of his helmet on the screen, creating an illusion that he was illuminated by tiny stars. The white uniforms of the Bengals blended in with the conditions, and you chuckled at the fact that surely the Steelers fans would complain of a manufactured advantage.
Regardless of uniform color and after three espresso martinis, the Bengals pulled out a massive win, keeping their playoff hopes more than alive and eliminating the possibility of their rivals clinching the division. It put you in such a good mood that after closing out your tab, you found yourself on Stacy’s doorstep; sheepishly frizzy as she pulled you into a massive hug and began introducing you to the small army of relatives in her living room.
Despite your initial hesitation, you were grateful that you ultimately accepted her invitation, and after a few hours of games and carols, you walked back to your apartment, happy that you’d made the most of the day. Humming to yourself as you unlocked your door, you dropped your stuff in the entryway, confused.
You’d distinctly remembered leaving the lights on when you left, and for some reason they were now off. It was also highly unusual that Rufus hadn’t greeted you when you stepped inside; normally he’d be jumping in circles after you’d been gone for so long. A flash of worry hit your chest, and you fumbled around in your purse for the small pocket knife your dad had given you when you left for college. Once you felt the smooth handle against your fingers, you felt your way to the light switch and flipped it on, half-expecting some masked burglar to be hiding in the hallway.
Instead of an intruder, you were met with the sight of brand new Christmas tree, strung with lights and shoved next to the loveseat. A Christmas tree that hadn’t existed in your apartment when you left your house 6 hours earlier. What on earth, you thought to yourself, bewildered as to who could have snuck into your apartment. “Alright buddy, let’s go show mom your outfit,” a familiar voice whispered from your bedroom.
Your brain rushed to process what was happening as Rufus scampered down the hallway wearing a green Christmas sweater—the same one worn by Joe, who followed behind him, a massive grin plastered on his face. “W-what are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow,” you croaked, dumbfounded. Pulling you into his chest, Joe laughed and lifted you off the ground as you squealed, a million questions and thoughts swarming your brain.
“If you thought, for even 2 minutes, that I wasn’t going to find a way to be with you on Christmas, you’re not as smart as I’ve been hyping you up to be,” Joe chortled. “I feel like I’m hallucinating,” you sniffed, poking at Joe’s side, “How did you get here so fast? And with a tree?”
“I took a charter,” Joe shrugged, “I called the manager of your building and he was more than happy to break like, 5 occupancy laws to let my mom in with the tree. She says hi, by the way. She wants you to come for New Year’s Eve.”
You let out a deep breath and leaned against the kitchen counter, holding your forehead. This was probably the best holiday surprise you’d ever had, and you found yourself slightly speechless at Joe’s gesture. “I ate some of the cookies you made, by the way. I hope those weren’t for someone else,” Joe laughed, reaching for another. Glancing at the cooling racks, you burst out giggling.
“'Some of the cookies?’ Joe, there’s at least a dozen of the thumbprints missing and three gingerbread men! What the heck,” you smacked his hand away, wrapping your arms around his neck and mashing your lips against his. Joe’s hands instinctively went to your waist, pulling you even closer. You two stayed tangled up in the kitchen for a few minutes before Joe leaned back, tucking an errant curl behind your ear. “My mom left a box with a bunch of old ornaments. Let’s decorate the tree,” he suggested.
Carefully unpacking the box she’d left for you guys, you held up each one and analyzed it; asking Joe questions about the origins of each one as you placed them onto the tree. After two hours, you stood back and evaluated your handiwork, smiling. “It’s been probably 20 years since I’ve decorated a tree,” you beamed, leaning your head on Joe’s shoulder. “Wait, really? Why so long?”
“Long story. My mom wasn’t really into the tree thing since we’d always leave on winter break to meet my dad, and I’ve never really had the space for one as an adult. My grandma used to have a big tree though,” you shared, “and in the years we’d go see her, I’d camp out overnight with my blanket and sleep under the tree.”
“Sleep under it? Like to wait for Santa?”
“Kinda! Mostly I loved the way the lights looked when you lie under it and look it. It was like being in an enchanted forest. Here, get down,” you motioned to the floor and yanked Joe next to you. The two of you stretched out side by side and stuck your heads under the tree, the lights casting a glow over you. Silence fell over you guys as you stared up into the branches, and you felt yourself disappear into your brain before Joe gently reached for your hand and rubbed his thumb over the top of it.
“Where’d you go? I feel like you went somewhere for a minute,” Joe said softly. “I was just thinking about my parents. Hoping they’re together, wherever they are. And that they’re okay,” you mumbled, a lump forming in your throat.
Turning to face you, Joe used the back of his hand to wipe away the dampness that had collected on your cheek. “Without a doubt, they’re together, and they’re more than okay. And they’re also really, really proud of you and how you’ve handled everything. So am I.”
You opened your mouth to respond but couldn’t, instead snuggling into Joe’s body and wordlessly resting your head on his chest as his arms held you tightly to him. Feeling yourself start to doze after a while, you were jolted awake when Joe suddenly sat up and disappeared into your bedroom before returning with a wrapped gift.
“I distinctly remember we agreed to no gifts Burrow,” you glared, taking the heavy box from his outstretched hands. “Yeah, well, my memory is shit. Probably from too many hits to the head,” Joe winked. Rolling your eyes, you excitedly ripped off the paper before your mouth fell open at the sight of a distinctive green Rolex box.
You held your breath as you opened the case to reveal a sparkling gold Datejust; its pink face twinkling under the light of the tree. “Flip it over,” Joe instructed. On the back of the watch case was a tiny inscription that made your heart soar.
The days will go by quickly.
All my love,
JB
“Joe, thank you but this is too much,” you gaped. “Not for you. Merry Christmas baby,” he grinned, dragging you onto his lap. Capturing his lips with yours, you felt your whole body tingle as Joe’s hands traveled up and down your back tenderly until your kisses grew more urgent and eventually your found yourself in your bedroom, Joe’s head nestled between your legs as your hands scratched his scalp.
You orgasmed in no time, and soon Joe was inside of you, both of you breathless as he nipped at your neck. Moving your leg higher up against Joe’s torso to provide him deeper access to your core, the slight friction of each of his thrusts pushed you closer to another climax. You drew your bottom lip between your teeth to stop yourself from screaming as you felt your walls clamp down around Joe, every nerve ending in your body on fire with pleasure.
As Joe’s thrusts became more erratic and he buried his head between the swell of your breasts, you couldn’t hold on any longer and your vision blurred as you came down from your second orgasm of the night, Joe right behind you.
Afterward, you rested your head on his broad chest, tracing the small bruises and bumps earned during the game. “This is a big one,” you murmured, kissing a dark purple lump on his pec. “Yeah, Ted missed an assignment,” Joe replied, yawning loudly. “Ted’s getting a lump of coal from me,” you frowned, shifting to turn off the lamp on the nightstand. Joe’s breathing soon deepened, and you could tell he was starting to fall asleep, his long game day finally catching up with him.
“It means a lot that you came back early just to see me today. This was probably the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” you whispered into the darkness. “I wasn’t going to let us be apart today, no matter what. I love you so much baby, and I’m happy we made some new Christmas memories today,” Joe hushed, pecking you on the forehead before the two of you drifted off to sleep.
happy holidays friends!!! make sure you guys give this a read 💚❤️
Just scrolling on Pinterest and landed on patchy & thiccc Joey 😩
This is the Joe I wanted under my tree and Santa left me hanging this year 😭
UGH😫