cw: makeout, friends to lovers, mutual pining, afab!reader, dirty in public, a touch of jealousy (we're eating good!) teasing <3
eddie looks at you with stars in his eyes, both of you firmly cupping the other's face. both of your lips are parted, desperately inhaling the air you've not realized you're lacking.
"what?" you ask, the question riding on the expelled breath you've just managed to take, leaving as quickly as it came.
eddie's jaw tightens with restraint, palm frozen in place on your cheek.
"i said, "i love you."' he repeats, his tongue gently pressing against the inside of his cheek, desperately trying to fight the coy grin that succeeds in drawing up his lips. it feels like the air has been punched from your lungs, and you can barely manage a nod.
"say it again."
"i love you." he breathes, his restraint finally fading into oblivion. his body takes control before his mind does. slowly-but surely-his thumb begins to run along your cheek.
"i love you." he repeats, and you nod, his metal rings working in tandem with the chill of the brick alleyway wall pressed against your bare back, revealing goosebumps that slowly scatter across your flesh.
you're not sure why you can't reply, but you can't breathe, either.
the amount of time that you've waited for this is insufferably long.
now that you've heard the confession, you're not sure how you managed to go so long without it.
his eyes search for any doubt in yours. reasonably so, because you feel your face dumbfounded, but desperate. clinging to every word he says.
eddie's knee bumps along your own, a slow invitation which you allow him to have, his thigh resting against your clothed core. his knee balances you, and he tucks your hair behind your ear.
both of you are dumb-stricken, that all-too familiar warmth nestling in the pit of your stomach. the same one that burrowed when he looked at you, when your hands brushed against one another in the crowded harrington living room during parties, and when he just..was.
he closes the space between you now, slowly leaning in to you.
"say something." he coos, his nose brushing against yours, nudging it gently-teasing-waiting to kiss you.
"i love you." you breathe, and you feel him physically tense up.
"say it again."
"i love you."
the groan that leaves him is primal-gutteral.
his free hand immediately flies up to catch your other cheek, metal rings pressing into the plush of your face, inevitably parting your lips farther. his tongue brushes gently into your mouth, just behind your top teeth at the roof of your mouth. it earns a moan from you, the silent invitation accepted.
your lips desperately knead at the others, cherried and puffy from how hard you're kissing him.
every time you pull back, it's only to allow yourselves a millisecond-and that's being generous-to suck in as much air as you can before your lips are on each other again. and then he's slow. fingers threading through your hair, starting at the base of your neck-raking up along your scalp before tugging gently.
"eddie-" you moan, head lulling back against the wall behind you.
"that's me, sugar." he breathes, raspy. heated. he's nearly snarling the words before his lips latch to your throat, and your knees buckle beneath you, falling onto his expertly placed knee from just moments ago.
his mouth is vicious on you, and you can hear him sucking against the soft crook of your neck. "eddie-" you gasp. you're positive your heart is going to physically beat out of your chest. it's so much all at once. his free hand is holding your jaw, turning it slightly to allow himself more room.
your body grants him permission.
you can feel him groaning before you hear it, the vibrations intruding against your pulse. he drags his lips up to the shell of your ear, hot breath making you shudder.
"knew you wanted it." he coos, cold knuckles brushing against the warmth of your skin as he toys with the bottom of your shirt. it's your favorite cami-a sage green with white lace trim, the weight of his leather jacket cocooning you.
"eddie-" you squirm beneath his touch, desperate for him to touch you. take you.
"knew you loved me." he continues, fingers hooked under the hem of your shirt, sliding, but not going anywhere. "how i love you." he concludes.
"be mine." he breathes, his nose brushing against your jawline, and you shudder, eyes fluttering closed. he pulls back to look at you, forcing both of you to look each other in the eye, whatever your answer may be.
"already am. always have been." you slur, lust hazing your senses.
"for real, sweetheart." he presses. he needs consent, not a fantasy.
"i'm yours. i wanna be yours," you reply, a whine catching just the end of your sentence.
that grin perks up again, gently spreading as he looks at you.
"not gonna make you beg for it, sweetheart. 've wanted it for so long." he confesses, pressing a kiss to your temple.
"really?" you reply, and he gazes down into your eyes.
"always."
