Archive of Our Own

If Steve’s honest, he’s a little overwhelmed. He’s back at work after his time off for Christmas, he’s started packing up his place in anticipation of moving in with Eddie, and Ella’s New Years Eve party is in just two days. It’s all good stress, but it’s stress nonetheless. 

Steve’s phone dings at the same time as Eddie’s - they both look at each other and put down the stacks of books they’re packing, digging their phones out of their respective pockets. It’s a text from Ella - a long one, about logistics for the New Years Eve party. Steve’s stomach drops as he scrolls the length of it. He was already nervous at the prospect of a big party with a bunch of unknown people, and this absolutely isn’t helping. He can’t even bring himself to read it. 

“Hey,” Eddie says from across the living room, clicking his phone shut. “What’s up, buttercup? You look upset.” 

Steve sighs. He doesn’t want to burden Eddie with his stupid anxiety. For a hot second, he thinks about faking it and saying he’s fine. But the prospect of lying to Eddie, even to make things easier on him, makes him uneasy. They’ve built what they have on trust and communication and Steve reminds himself to trust that Eddie won’t think he’s too much if he answers him honestly. 

“I’m just… a little nervous. About Ella’s party.” 

“Honey, why?” Eddie offers Steve his hand. Steve accepts and Eddie pulls Steve toward Steve’s sofa and they sit facing each other, one leg up and the other on the floor. 

“I mean, I’m a librarian, I don’t really get out that much,” Steve scoffs self-deprecatingly. “Meeting you at that munch is the most adventurous thing I’ve done in ages - and it’s always like that, with Robin dragging me somewhere out of my comfort zone and me ending up having a good time. Sometimes begrudgingly.” 

Eddie nods and reaches for the bottle of wine they’ve made their way halfway through and pours Steve another glass, then himself. He keeps his eyes on Steve as much as he can, actively listening. 

“Parties like this are hard for me.” Steve admits, looking down at a smudge on his leggings and worrying his finger into it, trying to scrub it away. “I’m worried I’ll disappoint Ella and Robin if I’m not social enough and worried I’ll meet people it turns out I don’t like. I don’t know. I’m sorry. The whole thing is just making me really nervous without even bringing in the whole kink scene aspect to it.” 

“I think…” Eddie says carefully, swirling his wine in his glass thoughtfully. “Maybe the scene part of it could actually help make you less anxious.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Well, Ella said that people are free to come in collars and gear if they want, but there won’t be any spaces for active play. It’ll be kind of like a munch, but a little more relaxed because it’s in private. People don’t have to pretend to be as… normal as they would at a public bar or restaurant. People might flag just to let other interested people know what’s up. Some subs might come in cute outfits picked out by their doms and some doms might match them or be wearing lots of leather or whatever their vibe is. Some subs might not be able to talk to you unless you get their dom’s permission. It’s gonna be a casual, safe situation where everyone’s allowed to be their real selves.” 

“Huh,” Steve muses. He hadn’t considered that the dynamic aspect of this could actually be comforting as opposed to daunting. 

“For instance, I could pick your outfit if thinking about doing that stresses you out. I can kinda dial up the possessive vibe if you want people to know you’re off-limits. Hell, you could even wear your leash.” 

Steve rolls his eyes at that. That stupid fucking neon pink Princess leash is the bane of Steve’s existence. Eddie could have at least picked a pastel. 

“And I’ll be with you the whole time, honey. I won’t leave you alone unless you’re with Robin or Ella or you let me know you’re comfortable.” Eddie pauses as though an idea has occurred to him. “Hey, what about this? We have a safeword for in bed, in case either of us need to pull the plug. Let’s think about a nonverbal safeword so you can tell me if you’re comfortable and one for when you want out.” 

“I like that,” Steve takes a sip of wine. He’s calmer now - Eddie tends to have that effect on him. 

“Good,” Eddie smiles. “Do you have any ideas?” 

“For the safeword thing? Yeah, maybe.” Steve brings his hand up to his face in a way that could almost be mistaken for a thoughtful pose, but he taps two fingers on his cheek twice in quick succession. “For when I want out.” 

“That’s perfect.” Eddie sets his glass down. “What about when you’re comfortable and you’re okay if I leave you alone for a bit?” 

“I could take your hand and tap the back of it with my thumb two or three times?” 

“That should definitely work. I think we’ve got something here!” Eddie opens his arms and reaches for Steve, who happily obliges, crawling forward to lay against Eddie’s warm chest. 

“You know I’ve got you, right, baby?” Eddie tucks his chin against Steve’s head as Steve nuzzles into a comfortable position. Eddie curls a hand into Steve’s hair and just leaves it there, tugging the slightest bit. Steve sighs and pushes his head into Eddie’s hand, fully relaxing into the contact. Pliant and comforted, he closes his eyes. 

“I know, daddy.” 

“We can lay here for ten minutes,” Eddie kisses the top of Steve’s head. “But only because we’ve been packing for a long time and we deserve a break. In ten minutes, we get up and I pick your outfit for the party.” 

“Okay, daddy,” Steve says, already half asleep. 

Eddie gives him fifteen before he tickles him off the couch. 

“I’m going! I’m going!” Steve stumbles into his bedroom, laughing. Eddie follows and throws the closet door open dramatically. 

“Oh, perfect.” Eddie reaches for a particularly lumpy, grandma-looking sweater, one that Steve truly only wears ironically out shopping with Robin. 

“You can’t be serious.” 

“What if I was?” Eddie sticks his tongue out at Steve. “You never let me have any fun.” 

“I let you have so much fun all the time!” Steve scoffs, faux-affronted. 

“Yeah, yeah.” Eddie waves him off and pulls a soft, pastel blue sweater off the rack. It has pastel yellow suns and moons on it and Eddie runs a ringed hand over it, admiring its softness. “This is adorable, oh my god.” 

A tightness wraps itself around Steve’s throat and he reaches for the sweater. 

“Oh, that.” He says, forcing a casual tone. “I’ve been meaning to get rid of that, actually.” 

“Why, cutie pie? It would look so good on you.” 

“I don’t think so,” Steve tries to grab the sweater out of Eddie’s hands, but he pulls it out of Steve’s reach. Steve makes a frustrated noise. “Eddie, just give me the damn sweater.” 

He wishes he’d gone through all his clothes before Eddie got his hands on them. His selection of clothes at Eddie’s is… curated, to say the least. He hadn’t really realized what it would actually be like to have Eddie digging through his entire closet at his place, pulling out anything he finds interesting without any knowledge of how long it’s been hanging there, untouched for a litany of reasons that have all but cemented its place in Steve’s closet and never on his body. 

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Eddie’s brows pull together in concern. 

“There’s nothing wrong!” Steve barks. “I just don’t want to wear it. I’m getting rid of it.” 

“Can I ask why? Is there something that upsets you about it?” 

“No.” Steve has to turn his head to the side, jaw tight. He can’t look at Eddie. 

“Stevie.” Eddie hangs the sweater back up in Steve’s closet and Steve can’t fucking watch him do that, either. He looks at the floor instead. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m gonna push you a little bit because we trust each other.” 

Steve doesn’t respond, eyes fixed on the carpet. Eddie steps toward him and pushes him down onto his knees roughly, grabbing a handful of his hair and yanking it hard. Steve inhales sharply at the pain searing through him and and chokes out a surprised sob, tears welling up in his eyes. 

“Color?” 

“G-green, daddy.” 

“I want to help you, honey. But I can’t do that if you shut down. Will you tell daddy what’s wrong?” 

Eddie pulls Steve’s face up to look at him by his hair and Steve lets out a whimper as tears stream down his face. 

“I don’t know if I ha-have the right words for it,” Steve breathes. 

“I’m gonna let you go and you’re gonna sit down and try. You don’t have to look at me if you don’t want to. Do you want me to hold you, baby?” 

“Yeah,” Steve sobs as Eddie lets his hair go. He sways on his knees as Eddie sits down in front of him and pulls him sideways onto his lap, not unlike the way he held Steve on Christmas morning. Steve buries his face in Eddie’s neck, clutching at his ratty tee, crying and trying to get a hold of himself, to slow his shuddering breaths. 

“I… I know I’ve been experimenting with wearing different stuff lately,” Steve starts, his hand still fisted tightly in Eddie’s shirt. “But that’s mostly ‘cause of you and Robin. And I’m not saying that’s a bad thing - I really like it. It’s fun and it’s different and it’s easy because I… don’t have to pick the stuff out for myself. I’m not. Uh. Great at that. It’s like… anxiety? But also not exactly that. It’s hard to explain.” 

“I’m not going anywhere,” Eddie murmurs, rubbing his hand soothingly up and down Steve’s arm where it’s wrapped around him. 

“The sweater,” Steve’s voice is quiet, thick with tears. “I love that sweater. But I bought it months and months ago because I loved it and I just can’t… wear it. Because I look at myself in it…” Steve unclenches his shaking hand from Eddie’s shirt and presses it to his mouth, holding back an ugly sob. “And I don’t know. It’s like I’m not right for it. Like I don’t belong in it. I don’t know how clothes are supposed to fit. I get really caught up in what other people are going to think when they see me in something really feminine. Or tight, or just outside my comfort zone of like, oversized sweaters and business casual for work. I look at myself in the mirror in something like that sweater and I… kind of pick myself apart through other people’s eyes in my head til I just can’t bring myself to wear it. I don’t know if that makes any sense.” 

Steve sniffles and wipes his eyes. Eddie is silent for a long moment, hand still moving up and down Steve’s arms in that comforting motion.

“It makes a lot of sense,” Eddie says softly, voice full of sadness. “It breaks my fucking heart, but it makes sense. I’m so sorry you feel like that, honey. Do you feel like that all the time?” 

“No,” Steve admits, blinking through his tears. “When I wear stuff I wear often, it’s familiar and I don’t have to worry about it. And when you or Robin give me something or make me buy it. It’s just… different. I don’t know. I don’t overthink it as much.” 

“What if I told you that you have to wear that sweater to Ella’s New Years party?” 

It’s the strangest thing. Steve is instantly flooded with relief - the tension in his jaw and the vice of nerves and emotional upset around his stomach loosen. The nagging worries about fit and coordination and leaving his comfort zone seem much farther away. He has to do it. He has to wear whatever Eddie wants. Because his daddy knows best and knows what he wants to see Steve in. Steve wants pretty much nothing more than to be good for Eddie, and to be good for him means wearing the sweater. There’s nothing else to the situation. No room for insecurity. It seems so simple now. 

“Okay, daddy.” 

Eddie immediately wrenches a fistful of Steve’s hair back so that Steve is forced to look at him. He lets out a breathy little noise at the sharp pain and meets Eddie’s searching brown eyes. 

“I don’t think you are, but I want to check in and ask you if you’re just saying that to get this conversation over with or placate me.” 

“N-no, daddy.” Steve stutters as Eddie’s hand tightens in his hair. “It helped when you told me I had to. Made me feel like… I don’t have to worry.” 

“That’s my good boy,” Eddie smiles his fond, proud smile and pulls Steve into a kiss. “You don’t. ‘Cause I got you.” 

“You always know how to make me feel better,” Steve murmurs against Eddie’s lips and kisses him again. 

“Aw, princess,” Eddie replies, charmed, before biting at Steve’s lip and flicking his tongue into his mouth. 

“Okay, turn around.” Eddie says, spinning Steve by the shoulders. He opens his eyes and is confronted by his own reflection in the full length mirror of Eddie’s - both of their - bedroom. 

He’s wearing the pastel sun and moon sweater, and Eddie has swiped some pretty, opalescent glitter across his eyelids, likely lent by Ella. It shifts and changes colors and sparkles as he tilts his head. On the bottom, he’s in a pair of light grey ripped-up skinny jeans and some simple off-white sneakers. He loves it. Eddie had kept it familiar enough that Steve feels at ease, while pushing him a little in terms of color and the fit of the sweater and the glitter on his eyes - wait, is that lip gloss he’s wearing? 

“What do you think, baby?” 

“I feel… pretty,” Steve says softly, watching a smile bloom across his reflection’s face. He doesn’t feel the urge to pluck the fabric away from him or shift his posture. He’s comfortable.  

“You look so fucking beautiful.” Eddie’s hands tighten on Steve’s shoulders, emphasizing the word beautiful. “I have something for you.” 

“Daddy, you don’t have to-” Steve stops himself as Eddie vanishes into the depths of the walk-in closet. It’s useless; Eddie is relentless in his pursuit to spoil Steve. Steve could say something like I haven’t done anything to deserve this and Eddie would tell him he deserves good things regardless. It’s a strange little pas de deux; Steve’s low self-esteem versus Eddie’s steady push against it.  

“Close your eyes.” Eddie commands, reappearing into view with a hand behind his back. Steve does as he’s told. He feels Eddie take off his day collar and replace it with something else, something a little heavier. “Okay, you can open them.” 

It’s a lavender leather collar with a silver ring and hardware, and it looks just perfect with the outfit Eddie picked for him. Steve immediately reaches up to touch it and turns his head from side to side, admiring it on his reflection. 

“It’s perfect, daddy, I love it,” Steve breathes and turns around to kiss Eddie, who’s grinning behind him. Eddie allows a gentle peck, but won’t let Steve throw himself into it with the enthusiasm he wants to, holding him back with those strong ringed hands. 

“Uh-uh, baby. You gotta keep that lip gloss nice and pretty so I can fuck it off you later.” 

Steve pouts but relents. Eddie kisses his forehead, rolling his eyes fondly, and leaves him sat on the bed to finish getting dressed himself. Steve kicks his feet up and watches as he sorts through a long row of black garments on hangers. Eddie has chosen his side of the closet and consequently moved all his clothes, and seeing the other side empty sends a frisson of excitement through Steve. It won’t be long until his clothes are all hanging across from Eddie’s. 

“I’m debating.” Eddie tosses two black sweaters onto the bed - one looks sinfully soft and full of holes and rips held together by safety pins, and the other has frayed cuffs and hem with a pentagram messily stitched onto the front in dark gray thread. 

 “Hmm. Well, are you going to wear your harness?” Steve asks. 

“Oh, good point. Fuck the pentagram one, then.” 

Steve is secretly pleased with Eddie’s decision. Despite the potential cuddling hazard of the safety pins, the other sweater is just as soft as he imagined it would be as he runs his fingertips over it. Eddie puts it on atop his jeans with leather straps fastened around one leg and zippers and rips on the other. He looks fashionable and metal and intimidating, and he hasn’t even put the harness on yet. Eddie heads into the bathroom, presumably to do his hair, and Steve follows, wanting to touch up his own.

He stops in his tracks when he sees what Eddie’s actually doing - bending forward toward the mirror and using eyeliner to line his beautiful brown eyes. 

“What?” Eddie teases gently, finishing tracing the pencil against his water line. 

“I… I’ve never seen you…” Steve is genuinely struck dumb.  The black smokiness of the liner makes the rich chocolate of Eddie’s irises stand out and look even warmer than usual. The way it transforms Eddie’s handsome face is somewhat subtle but deeply mesmerizing, magnetic. 

“Aw, babygirl. You like it, don’t you?” Eddie turns around, smiling fiercely and putting on that patronizing voice Steve loves so much. His eyes practically smolder as he taunts him. 

“Yeah,” Steve’s mouth is suddenly dry and he can feel his cheeks heat up. 

“Good. I want you desperate by the time we get home.” Eddie says meanly. 

“Fuck,” Steve hisses and presses the heel of his hand to where his cock is half-hard already in his light-colored, tight jeans. Those may turn out to be a problem. Or maybe, judging by the look on Eddie’s face, that had been on purpose. 

“You want to choose a perfume, princess?” Eddie scrunches a little bit of hair product into his curls and rearranges an invisible flyaway. 

“For me or for you?” Steve shifts a little where he stands, willing his cock to calm down. 

“Both,” Eddie says, gesturing to the medicine cabinet on one wall. Steve opens it to find many bottles, travel sprays, and a dish filled with a bunch of tiny sample vials. He picks some up, turning them over in his hands, uncapping them, and inhaling their scent. He settles on the richest, spiciest rose he’s ever experienced for Eddie. It’s named Cairo and its bottle looks decadently expensive. For himself, he picks out a travel spray of something named Chateau 1970 that reminds him of a cedar chest with fresh linens inside. There’s something comforting about it. 

“This one’s strong, but one of my favorites. Watch what I do to make it a little less intense,” Eddie sprays Cairo into the air and walks through the cloud of perfumed mist, then sprays it very lightly on his left wrist before tapping his arms together and spreading it across both of his forearms. 

“Interesting,” Eddie says, apparently taken off guard by Steve’s choice. “I can totally see this on you. Huh. You never cease to amaze me.” 

Steve smiles bashfully as Eddie pulls him in close. 

“This one’s not as strong, so I’m gonna teach you how to put it on. One spray to each of your pulse points,” Eddie spritzes Chateau 1970 once on each side of Steve’s head, right where his jawline meets his neck. “And then another for the wrists.” Steve tries to mimic Eddie’s tapping to spread the fragrance up his forearms and Eddie beams like a proud teacher. 

“Good boy,” Eddie kisses Steve’s cheek and puts away the bottles. “You look stunning, I look scary; I think we clean up pretty good. Let’s get going,” He says, slapping Steve’s ass. 

“Okay,” Eddie turns off the engine of his Audi once the car is parked, cutting off a band named Dance Gavin Dance wailing into the warmth of the car courtesy of Will’s mix for Steve. “How are you feeling, honey?” 

“Not gonna lie, I’m nervous.” Steve very deliberately relaxes his jaw from where he hadn’t realized it had been clenched pretty tightly. 

“Let’s go over your safewords.” 

Steve takes his hand and holds it up to his face in a thoughtful gesture, tapping two fingers against his cheek twice. 

“That’s I want out,” he says, then takes Eddie’s hand and taps it three times with two fingers. “And that’s I’m comfortable, you can leave me alone if you need to.” 

“Such a good job,” Eddie leans over the console and kisses Steve’s cheek. “You still a little nervous, angel?” 

“Yeah,” Steve mumbles. 

“Need me to calm you down?” 

“Would you?” Steve pleads. His stomach is tight with nerves and his posture is tense. If he’s honest, he hates this about himself. The social anxiety, the self-consciousness. But when Eddie winds his hand into Steve’s hair and pulls, he can feel his shoulders drop and the anxiety loosen its grip on his throat. He sighs out a breathy moan of relief and slumps back in his seat, closing his eyes and letting Eddie pull him like a ragdoll. Fuck, the hurt is so good and so grounding as Eddie yanks his hair around to make him face him. 

“We’re going to go in there and it’s going to be just fine. Ella and Robin planned this whole party. You trust them, right?” 

“Yeah, daddy.” 

“Then trust them.” Eddie growls and gives Steve’s hair one more punishing tug before letting go. He’s not down - he’d been too anxious for that - but he is calmer, heart rate slowing and stomach settling. 

“I trust them, daddy.”  

“Good boy.” Eddie leans over the console and kisses his forehead. 

Robin opens Ella’s door and pulls Steve into a crushing hug. She smells like baking spices and a little floral perfume. She transfers her koala behavior over to Eddie before pushing the door shut behind them. 

“I’m so glad you came,” she says over the music and conversation spilling from other rooms. “You’re gonna love everyone. Oooh, Steve, I love this sweater.” 

Robin pets the sleeve of Steve's sweater, affirming in Steve’s head that Eddie was right and he had nothing to be afraid of. 

“I love your outfit,” Steve replies. She looks gorgeous in a pair of high-waisted black jeans and a black velvet long-sleeved crop top dusted with gold stars. She’s wearing gold eyeshadow to match and a black collar with gold hardware. On her ears are the earrings Steve bought her at the museum - showers of glimmering gold stars dangling from her earlobes. “Hey! Those look great.” 

“Thanks, my best friend bought them for me.” Robin laughs. “Come on in, meet everyone!” 

Steve hands off the bag with a few bottles of decent champagne to her and she shoves them toward the living room before heading off to presumably chill the champagne before rejoining the group. 

Steve is immediately struck by how different everything looks - Ella has clearly rearranged some stuff since the last time they came over. The living room appears a lot larger and more open, with couches toward the edges of the room and cushions strewn about the carpeted floor. Smaller tables dot the space, full of dishes of little appetizers, charcuterie boards, and other things to nibble on. The lighting is dim and intimate, like a nice bar, and the music is present but not overwhelming. 

Most of the couches are full, as are a good number of the floor cushions. Some people are standing and chatting with a glass, bottle, or can in their hand. The sheer variety in what people are wearing and how they’re interacting is dizzying - There are some subs on the floor at their dom’s feet, fully clothed but leashed and muzzled. Some people are wearing leather accents and some people’s entire outfits seem to be made of leather of various colors. There are a good number of people flagging with bandannas, colored bracelets, and more. There are people of all genders in frilly dresses, cocktail attire, harnesses and collars of all shapes, sizes, and colors, and everyone seems to be having an excellent time. There’s laughter and good conversation bubbling all around the room, making Steve’s nerves settle a little more. Well, that and Eddie’s arm around his waist. 

Ella sits in the middle of all the activity in a chic updo and a gorgeous black chiffon dress with an intricate harness worn over it. The dress is dotted with gold, glittery stars, matching Robin’s outfit. 

“Eddie!” Ella exclaims, and stands up to hug him as they cross the room to her. “And Stevie. You look so fucking precious, honey. Did your daddy dress you today?” Ella kisses his forehead and they hug warmly. 

“Stevie picked the sweater and I did the rest. You look gorgeous yourself, if I may be so bold.” 

“This old thing?” Ella laughs and twirls around. The skirt of her dress swirls around her. One of the ladies seated near her spot on the couch applauds. “Oh, let me introduce you to everyone!” 

Ella turns to the coterie of people sprawled out on the couches and floor and goes from right to left.

“This is Trina, she’s an accountant and ruthless with a whip. Her sub’s name is Ethan. He’s a paralegal and you should ask her before you talk to him.” A blonde in a cocktail dress waves from where she sits on one of the couches with her lethally sharp heels propped up on a bearded, sweater-clad man’s shoulder who sits on the floor in front of her. He looks up and nods, but doesn’t speak. 

“Ronnie’s a mechanic and their little one’s name is Sabrina. Sabrina’s a PhD student in chemistry and you can talk to her, but she might be in her little space.” Ronnie, a butch person in suspenders and a bow tie, mock-salutes Steve and Eddie. Between their legs on the floor sits a young woman wearing a flouncy blue dress and holding a stuffed dinosaur to her chest. She doesn’t respond to being introduced, instead choosing to lean her head against Ronnie’s thigh, who immediately reaches down to pat her comfortingly. 

“Charlotte is one of my best friends from college,” Ella points to a beautiful, intimidating goth woman in an outfit so layered with chains and spikes and leather that Steve is sure Eddie must be jealous. Her makeup is all in shades of black and red, and she holds a black leash in her hand connected to the collar of a young woman in a pair of cat ears and a beautiful dusting of blush across her face. “This is her kitten, Stella. You can talk to her without asking Charlotte.” Stella waves cheerily at them from where she sits at Charlotte’s feet. She’s wearing a collar with a little jingly bell on it and a skater dress with thigh high socks. 

“Eddie tells me you’ve met Alice,” Ella gestures to a young woman in a slip dress perched on the lap of someone in a suit jacket. Upon a closer look, Steve recognizes Alice - she’s the bartender from the munch where he met Eddie. 

“Alice! Hey!” Steve waves to her. She beams and waves back. 

“Her partner’s name is Dorian and they’re a bartender too.”

Ella gestures to the last folks in her immediate circle - a gorgeous woman in probably her mid- to late 40s with a young woman curled up in her lap and a young man at her feet, head on her leg and glassy-eyed. 

“This is Nadia and her sweethearts are Violet and Theo. I think Theo’s down right now, but you can talk to them without asking. Nadia is an event planner and throws the most unbelievable parties known to man - in fact, she’s been wanting to meet the couple we’ve been double-dating with who got an invite to her Valentine’s Day bash.” 

“I’d get up, but…” Nadia’s voice is smooth and low and rich as she gestures at her subs draped all over her and laughs. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eddie and Steve. Ella’s told me so much about you.” 

Nadia extends her hand for a handshake from Eddie, who turns her hand over and bends forward to kiss it instead. 

“The pleasure is all ours.” He grins at her. She returns his smile and turns to Ella. 

“You were right. I like them already.” 

“I told you.” Ella lightly slaps Nadia’s shoulder. Robin slides into place in front of Ella on the floor and pulls another cushion in front of her for Steve. 

“This okay?” Steve says to Eddie, gesturing to the cushion and taking Eddie’s hand from his waist, tapping at it three times with two fingers to indicate that he’s okay to separate from him a little. 

“Of course, honey.” 

Steve sits down with Robin and can’t help but smile at the cheery Stella, who’s sat right next to her. 

“Eddie, see if you can grab a seat between… yeah, perfect.” Ella nods as Charlotte and Nadia make room for Eddie between them. Eddie immediately compliments Charlotte on her outfit and strikes up a conversation with her, Ella, and Nadia. Steve turns his attention back to Robin and Stella, who’s playing with a few strands of her dyed lilac hair. 

“This is a fuckin’ great party,” Steve says, and means it. It’s relaxed and intimate without leaning too hard into the play aspect of kink, and the food looks stellar and company intriguing. Plus, he’s with Robin. He’s always more comfortable when he’s with her than when he’s alone.

“Thanks, dude! Rearranging the living room was the hardest part. And everyone’s brought enough champagne to fill a swimming pool, so feel free to have as much as you want.” Robin snags two glasses from a nearby table and passes them to Steve and Stella. Stella accepts with a thank you and then turns to Charlotte, gently laying a hand on her leg and looking up at her. Charlotte’s hand comes down and caresses Stella’s face for a moment as she finishes her sentence with Eddie and the others, and then she gives her her full attention. 

“What do you need, kitten?” 

“Am I allowed, mistress?” Stella holds up her champagne flute. Charlotte’s eyes flick to Steve and Robin and a slow smile spreads across her face. 

“Yes, sweetheart. But only four glasses total tonight, so make them count. And be sure you don’t fall behind on your water.” 

“Thank you, mistress,” Stella says happily and turns back to face Robin and Steve, bringing their glasses together in a cheers motion. They sip at the champagne together and lower their glasses, smiling. 

“Steve, right?” Stella asks. 

“Yeah,” Steve nods. 

“And your dom’s name is Eddie?” 

“Yeah,” Steve looks over at Eddie, deep in conversation with Nadia and Charlotte, and can’t help a smile. 

“You guys are cute,” Stella nods approvingly. “How long have you been together?” 

“Ah, thanks,” Steve feels his cheeks warm at the compliment. “Uhh, almost 5 months.” 

“Wow,” Stella looks a little taken aback, hazel eyes wide. “You seem like you’ve been together for longer.”

“Right?” Robin interjects enthusiastically. “They have such a good connection.” 

“That’s so sweet of you,” Steve ducks his head shyly. “How long have you been with Charlotte?” 

“About a year,” Stella smiles proudly. “We met at Nadia’s party last year. I was in a Peloton class with Nadia. Adjacent bikes. She invited me after we got to know each other and said she had someone in mind that I should meet. I fell in love with Charlotte the moment Nadia introduced us.” 

“Awww,” Steve and Robin chorus together. 

“Yeahhh,” Stella responds and giggles. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. We U-hauled embarrassingly early on and we’ve been doing lifestyle ever since.” 

“Lifestyle?” Steve asks. 

“You… don’t know? Huh. You and Eddie seem like the type.” Stella cocks her head. “Anyway, whatever, lifestyle is like… rules and stuff. Where it’s not just in bed or during a scene, y’know? Like, your dynamic is always kind of there, even with life stuff. People do it to different degrees, like for some people, their doms make all the decisions for them no matter what unless they safeword out of it. But for others, they come up with rules and chore lists and stuff that makes sense for them.” 

Steve is absolutely blown away. People live like this? This is something common in the kink scene? How has he never heard of this before? He has so many questions for Stella, but he can’t focus on just one of them at a time - his mind keeps looping the electric thought of doing something like that with Eddie. Fuck, he hadn’t even known this was a possibility, and now his mind is awash with all sorts of half-formed, enticing ideas. 

“Wow, I… wow. That’s awesome,” Steve says emphatically. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are some of your rules with Charlotte? I’m sorry if it’s rude to ask, I don’t really know anything about lifestyle.” 

“Not rude at all!” Stella chirps. She sips her champagne. “You’re sweet. Robin, feel free to chime in if you and Ella do rules or whatever.” 

“We don’t… yet. It’s something we’ve both expressed interest in, but I think we’re going to talk about it before the Valentine’s Day party.” 

“Totally! I hope it goes well.” Stella nods enthusiastically. “Our rules are just stuff that works for us. I have a chore list that I have to get done every week and a water requirement of how much I have to drink a day. Mistress likes me to make sure I actually get out of my pajamas and into real clothes every day - I work from home and it’s really easy to stop taking care of yourself. If she’s at home, she’ll pick my outfit. If she’s at work, I get to pick it. I told her I wanted to get a little more regular at going to the gym and she designed a workout for me that I have to do at least three times a week or I get punished. Unless I’m like, sick or injured or something. We have more, but those are the tame ones.” 

“So if you don’t follow your rules, you get punished?” Steve asks, enthralled. 

“Yup,” Stella giggles. “Sometimes it’s a fun punishment, like having to wear a bullet vibe while I do the dishes. But sometimes it’s a not-fun punishment. Those are still good, though. ‘Cause I get to prove I’ll be good for my mistress and take what I’m given.” 

Steve’s cheeks are pink at this point, he’s sure of it. He hopes it’s not that visible in the dim lighting. 

“That is so cool. I had no idea that kind of thing was even an option.” Steve sips his champagne and lets the bubbles pop gently on his tongue before swallowing. 

“Oh, yeah. It’s lots of fun but also a huge trust thing.” 

“Yeah, I bet.” Steve nods. “Oh - you said you work from home, what do you do?” 

Stella’s face lights up. She tells him and Robin all about how she’s a digital artist who freelances for clients all the way from individual furries all the way up through huge companies. They talk about who pays better and some of her most fun commissions before she turns the question to them. 

“Where do you two work?” 

“Funny story,” Robin starts, looking at Steve with that familiar mischievous twinkle in her eye. 

“We both work at the library downtown.” Steve finishes her sentence, slotting into the familiar routine of introducing themselves as a duo. 

“That’s how we met! Stevie here was languishing at the circulation desk and I showed up like the chaotic dyke tornado I so classically am and brightened up his life.” 

“If by ‘brightened up my life’ you mean ‘are a menace to me regularly’ then, yeah. Sounds about right.” Steve nudges her with his shoulder. She nudges back. 

“Hey! I got you to apply to the Teen desk position and you’re still there! And you even like it!” 

“That’s awesome,” Stella replies. “You work with kids on school projects and stuff?” 

“Oh, yeah. And I help them find stuff they’re looking for and give them recommendations. It’s definitely an excuse to keep up on the latest in Young Adult fiction.” 

“That sounds so fun,” Stella drains the rest of her champagne glass. “And you guys get to work together. Aside from the whole commuting thing, you got something pretty cool going.” 

“It’s not so bad,” Robin wrinkles her nose at Steve. Steve sticks his tongue out at her. 

They continue the conversation along with a glass of ice cold water for each of them and some delicious appetizers - the stuffed mushrooms are particularly excellent. Stella asks after the stories of how Steve and Eddie and Robin and Ella met, and they discover they all share a love of thrifting. At one point, Charlotte gets up and Stella is pulled along with her by her leash, collar jingling. She waves goodbye to them and they all say that it was nice meeting each other. It was, at least to Steve. She’s so nice and easy to talk to, not to mention that she’d casually blown Steve’s mind with her talk of rules and punishments. 

Steve sees an opening to tug his cushion over to rest in front of Eddie, to Robin’s left instead of sitting directly in front of her. As soon as he settles down against Eddie’s leg, Eddie grips roughly into his hair and wrenches his head to the side to look up at him. He bends down so he’s closer to Steve and lets the conversation go on above his head. Steve looks up at Eddie, lashes fluttering. 

“You okay, princess?” Eddie murmurs. 

“Yeah, daddy. Just wanted to be near you.” Steve says softly back. 

“Good boy.” Eddie kisses his forehead and lets go of his hair, sitting back up and resuming his chat with Ella and Nadia. Steve’s head lolls forward for a second before he catches himself. It’s always such an arresting feeling when Eddie takes control of him like that, pulling him roughly to wherever he wants him. 

He looks back to Robin and she’s on her knees in front of Ella, their heads bent toward each other, clearly discussing something to do with the party. 

“Steve,” Robin turns to him. “Can you help me in the kitchen? I need to refill ice and I need some dishes washed.” 

Steve taps three times on Eddie’s leg as he tells Robin no problem, and Eddie taps his hand back. 

“Dude, thank you.” Robin clutches his arm gratefully as they cross the house into the kitchen. It’s a large kitchen, painted a very pretty shade of sage green and accented with a white marble island and countertops. There are coolers full of champagne open on the island and lots of dishes in the sink. 

“No problem! What do you need done?” 

“Can you clean up a couple of these platters? Ella wants me to put out more charcuterie. I’ll be right back,” she says, digging a huge bag of ice out of Ella’s freezer. “Gotta refresh some ice first, then I’ll come back with more dirty plates.” 

“You got it.” 

Steve turns his attention to the dishes. This is actually exactly what he needs right now - a mindless task to occupy him so he can mull over Stella’s words. He soaps up the sponge from the caddy on the side of the sink and gets to work, just kind of cleaning everything in front of him. He starts with the platters, at Robin’s request, of course. As he washes, he lets himself get lost inside his head. 

Steve’s practically pathological need to be good absolutely burns at the idea of Eddie giving him rules or a list of chores. Are there different kinds of rules? Routines he has to follow? Habits that Eddie could train him into? The possibilities are practically limitless, and Eddie’s creative. Eddie could choose his outfits. Steve could learn new recipes on his days off and make them for Eddie, really leaning into the housewife thing. Fuck, that’s hot. He’s going to have to look into this more, do a little internet research into this topic before maybe bringing it up to Eddie. At some point. He thinks Eddie would be into the idea, but he’s not entirely sure. He doesn’t know if Eddie has done this before or what his experience might have been. 

Speak of the devil - Steve feels arms slide around his waist and he leans back into the touch. 

“Hey,” he says softly, and puts the sponge down. “Couldn’t let me out of your sight, huh?” 

“That’s right,” says a voice that isn’t Eddie’s. 

Panic absolutely rips through Steve. Before he can even think it through, he turns around, throwing the person’s arms off him. He’s backed up against the sink, breathing hard, and a man he’s never seen before is holding his hands up in front of him like he’s trying to calm a wild animal. He has a shaved head with a tattoo on the left side of it, and he’s a few inches taller than Steve, sporting a leather vest over a black shirt. 

“Get away from me,” Steve says, holding his hand out in warning. “You can’t just go around touching people like that.” 

“Give me a break,” the man scoffs. “This is a kinky party, I’m just trying to get to know you a little.” 

“I’m good,” Steve says defiantly, tipping his chin up with more bravado than he feels. “I have a boyfriend, so no thanks.” 

“He’s not here, is he?” the guy says, edging closer to Steve. Steve backs up along the countertop until he’s unfortunately trapped in the corner where two of the countertops meet, blocked from leaving by a fully stocked bar set up on a small set of shelves. 

“He is, actually.” Steve says, heart hammering in his throat. He looks wildly to the kitchen doorframe, desperately hoping for someone to walk through it. 

“I don’t think that’s true, cutie. Are you lying to me?” 

“Leave me alone, I don’t know you,” Steve says, he hopes disdainfully, preparing either to destroy this bar cart and run for it or try to get the upper hand and get enough of a shocker hit in on this guy that he can push past him. He can’t decide which. 

“I think we should get better acquainted,” the guy says, reaching out to touch Steve, and Steve acts on instinct, winding up and swinging on him. His fist connects with the man’s jaw. Pain ricochets through Steve’s hand and the man staggers back a few paces holding his face  - he’s not out of it enough for Steve to escape without completely destroying Ella’s bar cart. There’s a fury in this guy’s piercing blue eyes that makes Steve’s heart pound in his ears and before he can even move, duck, anything, the man lunges at him and presses him to the counter with his arms tight around him. Steve’s own arms are stuck at his sides - he can’t move them. The stranger’s iron grip is too strong. 

“Hitting me was a bad move,” he whispers in Steve’s ear and Steve flinches at the feeling, turning his head away and opening his mouth to scream for help–

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Steve opens his eyes, which he hadn’t even realized he’d clenched shut, and sees Nadia. She’s standing across the kitchen island from them, cutting a powerful figure in her towering heels and full dominatrix gear, eyes blazing with fury and hands on her hips. The guy lets go of Steve and backs up a little bit, laughing nervously. Steve absolutely scrambles past him, tripping over himself to get away, eyes burning. 

“No problems here,” the guy says, putting his hands up in mock-surrender. “We were just having a little fun-”

Nadia silences him instantly with a look. 

“Come here,” Nadia says to Steve, and pulls him to her. He wraps his shaking arms around her waist and she squeezes him to her tightly. She smells comforting - she and Eddie must wear one of the same perfumes. Steve lets her hold him and tries to slow his breathing. Everything is happening so quickly. “ELLA,” Nadia shouts over her shoulder. Ella and Robin appear within a few seconds. To Steve’s eternal gratitude, the entire party hasn’t felt the need to trail after them to see what’s going on. 

“What can I do for you, Nad-” Ella leans on the doorframe casually for a second until she parses the scene in front of her. “Wait, what the fuck is going on here?” 

“I need you to get Eddie for me, Robin. Can you do that?” Nadia says in a firm but honeyed tone. Robin gasps somewhere out of Steve’s line of sight. 

“Yeah, is everything okay?” 

“It will be, honey. Please get him for me.” 

“What’s going on?” Ella asks as soon as Robin leaves, voice tight with urgency. 

“This man came with Amber, correct?” Nadia asks, gesturing to the man who desperately looks like he wants to leave the situation. Nadia and Ella are blocking the only way out of the kitchen, so that’s not an option. Steve suddenly finds he doesn’t want to look at the man anymore, opting to look at the floor, at Ella’s shoes, at anything else as he realizes he’s crying. 

“Yeah,” Ella affirms. 

“She’s leaving here with him. Now. I caught him trapping Steve in the corner there, pressed up against him.” 

Ella is silent and Steve lifts his head to look at her. Her cheeks are bright red, eyes glittering with pure, deadly, calm rage. 

“I’m going to get her. And you,” She snarls at the man, the angriest Steve has ever heard her. “You’ll be lucky if you leave here in one piece. Nadia, keep him there. I’ll be right back..” Ella turns on her heel and vanishes. 

“What’s up?” Steve hears Eddie’s voice. 

“Eddie, I need you to take Steve upstairs to Ella’s bedroom.” Nadia says calmly, turning towards Eddie and making Steve shuffle along with her dumbly.  

“What the fuck is going on?” Eddie asks, voice tight and urgent. 

“Eddie, please.” Nadia loosens her grip on Steve and Steve picks his head up, looking up at Eddie. 

“Steve,” Eddie’s eyes go wide. He immediately pulls Steve to his chest. Steve buries his face into Eddie’s neck. He can smell Cairo and feel Eddie’s heartbeat hammering under his cheek. “Come on, honey. Baby. I got you, come on.” Eddie murmurs to Steve soothingly as he pulls him along in small steps. 

“I-I’m okay,” Steve raises his head and Eddie keeps him firmly anchored to his side as they walk down the hallway toward the stairs. 

“You’re doing good, baby. Come on, we’re gonna go upstairs for a sec.” Eddie climbs the stairs right behind Steve, who’s moving a little slowly, legs still shaky. “Right in here,” Eddie says, and shuts the door behind them. The noise of the party is instantly muffled and Steve feels an overwhelming relief as the adrenaline leaves his body. He sits down on Ella’s beautiful bedspread harder than he means to. Eddie immediately kneels in front of him and takes both of Steve’s hands into his own. Steve lets out a little noise of pain at Eddie gripping so tightly at the hand he’d injured on the stranger’s jaw. 

“Stevie,” Eddie looks down at his hand and back up at him, and his lined eyes are frantic, betraying the slightly shaky calm of his voice. “Baby, what happened?” 

“I-” Steve starts and shakes his head, coughing, as his throat goes tight. He tries again. “I-” and he still can’t. 

Eddie bends his head forward and kisses Steve’s red, raw knuckles. Steve hisses as he feels something painful on one of the cuts. 

“Fuck,” Eddie pulls back and Steve realizes that the pain had been the salt of his tears dripping onto Steve’s scraped skin. “Baby, I’m so sorry. Do you want to be held right now?” 

“Yeah,” Steve’s voice is raw. He doesn’t just want it, he needs it. Eddie lays down against Ella’s pillows without hesitation, shoes kicked off at the front door downstairs with the rest of the partygoers’ footwear. He pulls Steve into his chest, wrapping both arms around him tightly. Steve throws his leg over Eddie and clings to him, finally relaxing as they breathe together. 

They lie there for a moment before someone knocks gently on the door. 

“It’s Ella.” 

“Come in,” Steve says hoarsely. 

Ella opens the door slowly and closes it behind her as she enters the room. 

“Hey,” she says softly, sitting down on the bed. Her bed. The irony. “How are you, honey?” 

“‘M okay.” Steve mumbles into Eddie’s chest. “Calmed down.” 

Ella reaches out and Eddie unwraps one of his arms around Steve to accept her hand. He pulls her into the bed - a King sized bed, at least - and Ella crawls forward. 

“Stevie, can I hold you too?” She asks. 

“Yeah,” Steve whispers. Ella curls up behind him, a comforting big spoon, and props her head up with the arm not wrapped around him. 

“Did you tell your daddy what happened?” 

“Not yet.”

“Do you want me to, sweetheart?” 

New tears prickle at the corner of Steve’s eyes. He feels so absurdly cared for right now, curled up between them and really touched by Ella’s offer. 

“Yeah, could you? Thank you, I really… thank you.” 

“Of course, precious thing. Anything for you, you know that.” Ella squeezes him once before she turns her head toward Eddie. “Nadia caught Amber’s partner with Steve in the kitchen.” Steve can literally feel Eddie’s heart rate pick up at Ella’s words. “She and a few others are holding both him and Amber in there for now in case Stevie decides he wants to press charges.” 

“What did he do,” Eddie’s tone is flat despite his heart absolutely pounding. His arms tighten around Steve involuntarily.

“Nothing, daddy.” Steve says softly. “Just tried to get close to me. I punched him in the face and he grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. Then Nadia came in.” 

“You punched him?” Eddie and Ella say simultaneously, a mixture of pride and incredulity in their voices. It’s enough to shatter the pall over the three of them and Steve laughs, soft giggles at first, but it grows until all three of them are shaking with it, wiping their eyes. 

“Jinx,” Ella says, whooshing out a breath. “You owe me a soda.” 

“I owe you more than that by now, for sure,” Eddie chuckles. 

“Is it so hard to believe that I’d punch someone?” Steve asks. 

“No!” They both say at once, again, defensive. This sets them off laughing again. 

“You were fully ready to kick Jonathan Byers’ ass on Christmas, Stevie. It doesn’t surprise me at all.” 

Another knock comes at the door. 

“Steve?” It’s Robin. 

“Yeah,” Steve raises his voice to respond back. Robin enters the bedroom and immediately crawls into the pile of bodies without a second thought. She drapes herself half over Ella and half onto Steve. 

“Are you okay, Steve?” 

“Yeah,” Steve sighs. “I’m much better, actually.” 

“Good.” Robin says, nuzzling her cheek into his side. “Dude, I’m so fucking sorry.” 

“It’s okay,” Steve reaches down and pets her head a little, awkward but fond. Robin grins up at him, eyes watery. “I’m not gonna press charges or anything. I’m the one who hit him. I think it’d be best if they left, though.” 

“Say less,” Robin says, pulling out her phone and sending a text one-handed. “Nadia will handle it.” 

“They’ve been told in no uncertain terms to never come back to any kink events in Chicago. Not just by myself and Nadia, but by other folks here who host.” 

“Amber dumped his ass, by the way. She punched him too.” Robin is reading off texts as they come in, presumably from Nadia. “She’s downstairs crying. Says she’s fucking mortified and had no idea he was like this. They’ve been together a couple months but she’d never seen him drunk before. She wants you to know she’s really sorry, Steve. Aaaand Nadia bounced them both. No strike twos, she says.” 

“I want to apologize to you, honey.” Ella says behind him. “It was my job to keep you and everyone else safe tonight, and I’m sorry I let you down. I keep a tight lid on my guest lists and pride myself on safety. Amber has historically been trustworthy. I hate that this happened and I am so fucking sorry, Steve.” 

“I don’t accept,” Steve puts his hand over her arm that’s slung around him. “‘Cause there’s nothing to apologize for. It’s no one’s fault that someone decided to behave badly while drinking other than his own. I… want to thank you, actually. Nadia doesn’t even know me and both of you took such good care of me right away.” 

“Steve,” Ella says, voice shot through with emotion. 

“You do make me feel safe, is my point. You have ever since I met you. And I’m okay, really. Just a little shaken up. It’s been awhile since I’ve thrown a punch.” 

“Thank you,” Ella tightens her arm around Steve again. 

“Do you want some ice for your hand before you leave?” Robin asks. 

“Leave?” Steve tilts his head to look at her. “Who said anything about leaving?” 

“Steve,” Eddie says softly. 

“I’m serious. All I need is a minute alone with Eddie, some ice for my hand, and someone to fix my makeup.” 

“I’m on the ice,” Robin springs up from the bed and is already out the door before Steve looks up. 

“I can fix your makeup,” Ella offers, sitting up. “Text me when you’re ready, okay?” 

“Thanks, Ella. I’m okay, I promise.” Ella squeezes his hand one more time before standing up and leaving the room as well. 

Steve moves to sit up and Eddie clutches at him like he doesn’t want him out of the protective circle of his arms. Steve allows himself to be pulled back down and nestled into Eddie’s chest again. 

“I want to check in with you for real,” Eddie says. “I need you to be honest with me. Are you okay?” 

“I’m okay, daddy,” Steve says. 

“If I pulled your hair and asked you again, would you still say yes?” Eddie asks. 

“Yes,” Steve says staunchly. “I feel much better. He’s not here anymore and you and Ella and Robin really helped. And Nadia.” 

“Do you feel safe here? Because if you don’t, I’ll take you home, no questions asked.” 

“I feel safe here,” Steve replies without hesitation. They had handled it so quickly, with such immediate measures of protection and care for him, that he doesn’t even question it. He’s safe. He might not leave Eddie’s side the rest of the night, but he’s safe. 

“I’m glad, honey. Since you wanna stay, can I keep you with me the rest of the night? I don’t…” Eddie trails off, and Steve realizes he’s still upset. 

“Hey,” Steve looks up at Eddie, bringing a hand up to cup his cheek. Eddie looks down at him, eyes tender and misty under the smoked-out liner, and Steve leans up to kiss him. “I’m okay. It’s okay. I promise.” 

“It’s not okay,” Eddie says, and starts to cry. “Fuck, sorry, I shouldn’t- you’ve been through enough-” he takes a shaky breath and wipes his eyes, smudging his eyeliner. 

Steve shifts, taking off his sweater and crawling on top of Eddie. He uses his body weight to flip them so they’re facing each other. He pulls Eddie into his arms and Eddie buries his face into Steve’s chest. They hold each other tightly as Eddie cries silently, body shaking against Steve’s. 

“It’s okay,” Steve soothes. “I’m safe. I’m here with you.” 

“Stevie, I’m so s-sorry,” Eddie chokes out.

“Please don’t be. It’s okay, it’s over, I’m safe, and our friends protected me.” 

“Should have been me,” Eddie says softly, like a confession. Like it hurts. 

“Hey,” Steve pulls back, looking down at Eddie. “I’m not gonna let you do that. You don’t get to beat yourself up for somehow not psychically knowing what was gonna happen. That’s ridiculous.” 

Eddie’s eyes are still swimming with tears, but a little smile teases the corner of his mouth. 

“Come on, it’s a little ridiculous, isn’t it? You’re not fucking That’s So Raven.” Steve pushes the envelope a little and Eddie laughs once, wetly. “Can I be honest with you?” 

“Yeah,” Eddie nods. 

“You were exactly what I needed you to be right when I needed you. If you’d been there - if you’d been the one to see it happen - you’d have beat the shit out of that guy. And… that’s not what I wanted or needed in that moment. I needed you. I needed you to get me out of there, to hold me and tell me I’m okay. And that’s what you did.” 

“I would have destroyed him.” Eddie’s voice is dark. 

“I don’t doubt it. I didn’t exactly want you catching a murder charge when we’re trying to enjoy New Years Eve.” 

Eddie sighs. It’s long, deep, and weary, but it’s a sustained breath and not interrupted by the hiccups of sobs. 

“I’m okay,” he says, and Steve believes him. “I’m gonna bite my tongue and not apologize for making you comfort me when you’re the one who had something bad happen to them. Instead…” Eddie leans up and kisses Steve gently, tenderly. “I’m gonna thank you for being honest with me and for helping me feel better.” 

“I love you so much,” Steve says, and kisses him again. “And I promise, I’m fine and I feel safe. I would tell you if I didn’t.” 

“I know you would,” Eddie wipes at the trails of eyeliner streaked down his cheeks. “I trust you. And I love you too, honey."

Ella ends up pretty much completely redoing both of their makeup after forehead kisses and a group hug. Robin joins them as Ella wipes them clean with makeup remover and hands Steve a towel wrapped around a plastic bag full of ice. He presses it to the ache of his knuckles and sighs, contented, as Ella taps glitter onto his eyelids. She swipes some nice-smelling gloss across his lips and takes care to wipe away the excess at the corners of his mouth. 

“You look so pretty,” Ella smiles as she sits back, admiring her finished work. 

“I’m just the canvas, I can’t take credit.” 

Robin makes a retching noise and Steve rolls his eyes at her. Eddie muffles a laugh behind him. Ella turns her attention to Eddie, deftly reapplying liner and not even making him blink and sniffle at all with her application. 

“You’re good,” Eddie nods appreciatively, looking at himself in the pink heart-shaped hand mirror she passes him. Steve wishes too late that he could sneak a picture of Eddie right now - looking hot and terrifying in his outfit and eyeliner, preening in a Barbie-pink mirror. He hears the photo shutter noise and sees Robin, glorious, genius, incredible Robin, grinning into her phone screen as she captures the image. 

“Buckley,” Eddie puts the mirror down and growls. 

“I had to,” she gets up and backs away, moving to put her phone in her pocket, but Eddie lunges for it. She whips it to Steve, who’s ready with his hands open. 

“Betrayal…” Ella whispers dramatically. 

“Princess, how could you?” Eddie presses a hand to his chest, mouth open in mock-shock. “Aiding and abetting Robin’s crimes.” 

“That’s like, me and Robin’s whole thing,” Steve says, and Eddie grabs for the phone. It’s already back in the air to Robin, who’s out the bedroom door and halfway down the stairs before Eddie can even turn around. 

“Eddie, I smell a punishment brewing in your head right now.” Ella stands up, offering Steve her arm to head downstairs and return to the party. 

“There will be revenge.” Eddie says confidently, wrapping an arm around Steve’s waist. The two of them bracket Steve as they head back downstairs. It’s an unspoken protective instinct, Steve can tell. He’s grateful for it as the music picks up and Nadia and her cohort make room for everyone on the longer sofa. No one looks at them strangely - it seems like most of the people present have no idea that anything even happened. 

“Steve,” Nadia says warmly, smiling as Eddie pulls Steve down onto the couch, tugging his legs up into his lap. “Are you feeling okay?” 

“Much better,” Steve says emphatically. “I… Thank you so much. Really.” 

Nadia reaches out and takes his hand, gripping it firmly and smiling at him, lips painted a rich, dark red. Ella props her shoulder up behind Steve, giving him permission to lean back against it. He does, comforted. 

“We all look out for each other. Don’t mention it.” She lets go of his hand and turns her attention to Eddie. “You weren’t kidding, he’s darling.” 

“I know,” Eddie tips Steve’s chin up and applies a hint of the cooing, saccharine voice that makes Steve crazy. He has the distinct feeling that he’s being admired like a particularly fine specimen of cat at a cat show. “He’s brave and pretty. I really got lucky.” 

Eddie lets go of Steve’s face and Steve knows his cheeks are a little flushed pink. Hopefully it’s not too obvious in the half-light. 

“Does he always blush like that when you compliment him?” Nadia smiles, and it’s glittering, predatory. Steve does what he does anytime someone points out his blushing - blushes harder. 

“Oh, yeah. You see how it spreads like that? It goes all the way down his chest.” Eddie says proudly. Steve kind of feels like a product, an object, a fancy car or something, and it’s absurdly hot. He’s been finding lately that he really, really likes being spoken for and talked about like he’s not there. 

“Precious,” Nadia murmurs. “Theo’s a blusher too, aren’t you, honey?” 

“Yes, ma’am.” Theo is much more alert at Nadia’s feet than he had been earlier, a glass of champagne in his hand and pulling out of a light, breezy conversation with Violet - Nadia’s other sub - at his domme’s mention of his name. 

“Theo, this is Steve. He’s Eddie’s boy.” 

It’s almost comical how both Steve and Theo look to their respective dom/mes to nonverbally ask permission to shake each other’s hand. Once permission is obtained with nods, they proceed. 

“How d’you do, Steve?” 

“Not bad, Theo. Nice to meet you.” 

“And this is Violet,” Nadia gestures to the young woman curled in her lap. She’s wearing fishnets under a dark blue bodycon dress and has beautiful, curly brown hair. She chooses to wave at Steve instead of shake his hand. 

All of them lapse into a comfortable conversation, getting to know each other. Steve learns that Nadia is a full time dominatrix, it’s her job and her hobby. Violet works at a tech company and is passionate about Nadia and running. She’s done several marathons in the past few years. She met Nadia via sharing an Uber Pool - they changed their destination to a bar for drinks instead of to their respective homes, and they’d been seeing each other ever since. Violet had experience in BDSM before Nadia, and knew a domme when she saw one, so she made the first move. She’s a sub, she explains, but a bold one, and Nadia smiles and shakes her head with fond exasperation. Oh, Steve thinks. So she’s a brat. 

Theo is a lawyer - a relatively new one, having sat the bar two years ago. He was looking for an outlet due to his fast-paced, unrelenting job in law, and he’d gone to see Nadia professionally. They fell into a routine where Theo explored being a sub and realized it was the perfect antidote for his constant stress. Then they fell into a personal relationship, and here they are. Nadia is poly and so is Violet, but Theo only has eyes for his mistress. He’s more than okay with her seeing other people, but he doesn’t feel the desire to do so himself. 

They ask after Steve and Eddie’s relationship and Steve finds himself telling the whole story all over again. Nadia howls with laughter at the thought of Robin dragging a completely ignorant, “vanilla” Steve to a munch. Robin beams with pride from where she sits at Ella’s feet. Eddie shares his side of the story, which Steve realizes he’s never heard him tell before. 

“Even from behind him, I could tell Stevie was new to the scene. I’d never seen him at an event, club, or dungeon before. He was wearing a big cardigan with sleeves that pulled down over his hands, and I thought that was so fucking endearing that I had to know what he looked like from the front. He said he’d never been, like, adventurous with a beverage or some shit like that to Alice, and I just walked up behind him and said I thought he could use some more fun in his life. When he turned around, that was it.” 

“Yeah, right,” Steve snorts. “My mouth dropped open like a fish out of water, I was so shocked that someone that hot was even speaking to me. Trust me, it was not a good look.” 

“It was, baby. You know I love it when you get flustered.” 

The ping ping ping of Ella tapping a dainty fork against a glass rings through the first floor of the house as Robin cuts the music and she rises to her feet.

“Assembled degenerates, it’s T minus 10 minutes to midnight. Please fill your champagne flutes and locate your kissing partners. We’re gonna switch to the radio in 5 so we can hear the countdown.” 

A flurry of activity commences. Robin comes in with a small tray of champagne glasses for the folks still seated on and in front of the couches. Steve accepts his gratefully as Robin puts the tray down and heads over to put the radio on the speaker system. 

“What are everyone’s resolutions?” Eddie asks the group at large. 

“I’d like to try having sex,” Robin quips as she flops back down onto her cushion. Everyone laughs. 

“If I don’t get promoted at work this year, I’m getting a better job.” Violet sips her champagne. 

“As you should,” Eddie fistbumps her. 

“To outdo last year’s play party,” Nadia chimes in. 

“Can’t wait to see that happen,” Ella sits back down, pulling Robin onto her lap and scooting her shoulder into Steve’s back again so he can rest against it. 

“I’m going to really prioritize my work-life balance.” Theo says firmly, looking into his champagne flute as though it contains the secret to doing just that. 

“Good boy,” Nadia scratches her nails through his short hair and Steve recognizes the borderline euphoric look on his face as she does it. 

“I have some, but if I spilled them right now it’d spoil some stuff. I do kinda want to finish my left tattoo sleeve, though.” Eddie contributes. “I have some open space on the back of the arm.” 

“Nice,” Ella says. “I’d like to work on my sleeves this year too. And I’m going to be taking cooking classes. I want to get better with a knife and learn more advanced techniques.” 

“I volunteer to eat whatever you make for homework,” Steve raises his hand. Ella laughs and squeezes his shoulder. 

“What about you, Stevie?” 

It’s not exactly the appropriate moment to bring up his ideas about lifestyle and rules, nor does he want to publicly share his therapy goals. Other than those two things, he likes his life just fine and doesn’t really have anything to offer that could be considered a resolution. Then, he thinks of it. 

“I’m trying to push at my comfort zone a little this year. Try new things, be a little more adventurous. Care less about what boring people think.” 

“Admirable.” Nadia nods approvingly.   

“Proud of you,” Eddie whispers in Steve’s ear, arm tightening around him. 

Suddenly, the countdown booms over the radio, echoed by the tight-pressed crowd of people around them. 

“Ten, nine, eight…” 

“I love you, Stevie,” Eddie cups Steve’s face gently and smiles his fondest crooked smile. It’s stomach-butterfly-inducing paired with Ella’s stellar eyeliner job, and Steve can’t help but return it. “This year’s gonna be our year.” 

“Seven, six, five…” 

“Yeah, it is. Love you too,” Steve murmurs and leans in. 

“Four, three, two, one! HAPPY NEW YEAR!” 

Eddie kisses him, pulling him tightly to his chest. Everything tastes like champagne, feels like bubbles and confetti, and Steve lets himself get lost in it. 

Steve sneaks out of Eddie’s - their - bed quietly, surprisingly not hungover from all the champagne. The knuckles of his right hand ache and the scabs there pull a little. Even though they’d gotten home pretty late, Eddie had insisted on properly cleaning and bandaging Steve’s hand before they went to sleep. He’d tried to apologize to Steve again, but Steve had just shushed him until he fell asleep in Steve’s arms. It’s 8 AM and Steve feels quite rested despite the dramatic events of the previous night. He throws a cardigan over his sleep outfit of one of Eddie’s crop tops and black, boyshort-cut underwear trimmed with a little lace. Now that he’s wearing enough to not freeze, he picks up his slippers and waits to put them on until he’s all the way downstairs so that he doesn’t wake Eddie. 

He snags Eddie’s iPad from the living room coffee table on his way into the kitchen, setting it down on the island before assessing the contents of the fridge. There’s eggs, chives, cheese, and some bacon - perfect. Steve will make omelets. Before he gets started, coffee is absolutely necessary. He starts a pot brewing and sits down at the kitchen island. He opens Eddie’s iPad, pulling up an incognito tab in Firefox. A terrible idea occurs to him, and he closes the incognito tab, replacing it with a tab smack in the middle of Eddie’s usual tab grouping. He brazenly searches ‘BDSM lifestyle rules’ and opens up a few articles in new tabs as the coffee brews. He knows Eddie won’t be up for another hour at least, not after a night like last night. So he grabs an ice pack from the freezer, places it over his sore right hand, and dives in. 

The internet, as ever, is a wealth of knowledge. Steve reads intently for awhile, using his research skills - honed to a sharp edge in grad school for library sciences - to expand on the ideas from Stella at the party last night. He weeds out some of the less credible sources, preferring experienced voices, and just… absorbs. The general consensus is that lifestyle arrangements and rules look different in every relationship, and it all depends on the boundaries, limits, and experience levels of the people involved. Steve takes in lists of sample rules, how-to articles on kink and rule negotiation, information on 24/7 and Master/slave arrangements, and much more. Things are starting to take shape in his head - he’s got some ideas for rules and he knows Eddie will have no trouble coming up with punishments. If he’s interested in formalizing their dynamic, that is. Steve’s research and his current train of thought abruptly come to an end when he hears Eddie stirring upstairs. 

Steve clicks the iPad shut, not at all attempting to hide what he’d been doing, and flips the case cover shut. He doesn’t move it back to the living room, just leaves it on the island like he’d carelessly placed it there. The first thing Eddie would see if he decides to open it up is an article entitled How to Set Rules for Your Submissive. Which really could either be taken as a cheeky taunt or an invitation for a conversation. Or both, which is what Steve is really hoping for. Of course, this all hinges on Eddie actually opening the iPad and not just ignoring it in favor of coffee and conversation. He hears Eddie on the stairs and busies himself with preparing a pan for the omelets and slotting some bread into the toaster. 

“Morning,” Eddie half-yawns and comes over to press a kiss to Steve’s cheek as he cooks. “This looks good. What’re you up to, princess?” 

“Omelets, daddy,” Steve steals a kiss from Eddie’s lips. “Too slow. Coffee’s in the pot.” 

“How long have you been up?” 

“Not too long,” Steve hedges. Eddie pours himself a cup of coffee, looking longingly at it like he wishes he could drink it straight from the carafe. Smudges of eyeliner are still clinging to the outer corners of his eyes. It looks better than it has any right to paired with bedhead and a robe. “You okay, honey? After everything last night?” Eddie asks carefully. 

“Yeah. Hand hurts just a little but I’m honestly fine. Ella and Nadia really made me feel better about the whole thing and we still had a good night regardless.” 

“Good, baby. I’m glad.” Eddie kisses his cheek again on the way to sitting down at the kitchen island. 

“Are you okay?” Steve asks as he folds the omelets over. 

“Me?” Eddie asks like he’s surprised. 

“Yeah, we were both a little shaken up.” 

“I… yeah. I was. But I’m good. That’s so sweet of you to check in on me like that, angel.” 

“We take care of each other,” Steve says simply, flipping the omelets onto plates. 

“We sure do,” Eddie says and takes a too-big sip of coffee. “Huh, forgot where I put this,” Eddie mutters as Steve turns around with a hot, steaming plate for him. He flicks the iPad open and looks down at it for a long second, then up at Steve, who fights valiantly against a smile and slides the plate of food across the island toward Eddie. 

“Someone’s been using their library degree for nefarious purposes. Did you want to show daddy your research, princess?” Eddie asks teasingly. 

“I… I thought maybe we could talk about formalizing our dynamic?” Steve asks, flushing all the way down into his chest. 

Eddie rolls up the sleeve of his robe and pinches his own arm dramatically. 

“Am I dreaming? Is it my birthday? Am I being Punk’d or some shit?” 

“Who the fuck says Punk’d? I thought we left that behind in 2005.” Steve snarks despite the fond smile spreading across his face. 

“Awfully fuckin’ cheeky for someone who’s about to incorporate consequences into their lifestyle.” Eddie shakes his head and takes another forkful of food. “You’re lucky this omelet is good.” 

“Seriously, though, would you want that?” 

“Would I want that?” Eddie laughs incredulously. “Stevie, this is up there with you begging me to take your virginity as one of the most insane things you’ve ever offered me. It’s like every time I think life with you couldn’t possibly be better, you tell me you want something that couldn’t be more of a wet dream for me. Hell fucking yes, I want that.” 

“Really?” Steve asks softly. 

“Yes, really, honey.” Eddie finishes his plate and gets up to put it in the dishwasher. As soon as he closes the dishwasher, he gathers Steve into his arms and peppers his face with kisses. “My sweet boy. Can’t fuckin’ believe you’re real sometimes. Now let’s get another cup of coffee and talk about this.” 

They settle into the living room couch with Eddie’s iPad and their cups of coffee, all plans for a few hours of packing at Steve’s place abandoned in favor of this daunting thing that neither of them can resist. 

“I’m curious as to how you learned about this,” Eddie speaks first, running a hand through his curls. 

“Stella, from last night? She and Charlotte have a lifestyle arrangement and she told me all about it. I literally haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. It’s not that I feel like something’s missing from our relationship - I feel like this dynamic thing is already here. It’s just not… defined.” 

“Not negotiated, yeah,” Eddie offers. “I feel it too, sometimes. Like when you looked at me for permission to shake Theo’s hand last night. When you needed me to push you to be vulnerable about your sweater.” 

“Yes,” Steve breathes in relief - he and Eddie are even more on the same page than he’d thought. “That’s exactly it.” 

“I completely agree. I think talking about it is a really good idea, honey. Do you have somewhere you wanna start?”

“I think I have a jumping-off point, yeah. Obviously I did some research-“ 

“No shit,” Eddie says and laughs. 

“Shut up,” Steve continues, laughing too. “Okay, for real, though, I think a 24/7 thing would suit us, but not necessarily a constant Master/slave vibe or something super high-protocol.” 

“You have done your research,” Eddie smirks. “Agreed. I’d say private space rules should be different from in public.” 

“Yeah,” Steve agrees. “Although if we do have any non-sexual rules like a water intake thing, that would be fine wherever, really.” 

“Good point,” Eddie muses. “Okay, so, a 24/7 dynamic with rules, punishments, and maybe commands? Where I can command you to do situational stuff and you can absolutely safeword out for any reason.” 

“Fuck, yes.” Steve crosses his legs to hide the fact that his cock is already interested. 

“Do you have any rules you already know you want, princess?” Eddie asks, clicking open the iPad. “I’ll write them down so we never lose them.” 

“Yeah,” Steve says softly. He’s got a few. “I only wanna dress myself for work. Could… you choose my outfits for other stuff? Like date nights or what I wear around the house? And days we’re off?” 

“I can’t believe you’re asking me for this like it’s some kind of imposition,” Eddie says. “I would love to, honey. I want to take that pressure off you and make you feel pretty and like you’re doing good for me all the time.” 

“See, you understand exactly what I like about having rules like this,” Steve gestures emphatically. “You completely get it.” 

“Wanna know a secret? It’s ‘cause the things we like about it are the same, but from opposite perspectives. You want to stop feeling self-conscious and anxious about dressing more adventurously and I want to see you looking and feeling hot in clothes that make you happy but you’d have a hard time turning your brain off to enjoy them.” 

“You’re right,” Steve agrees. “It’s like a mirror image. We both get something out of it, but it’s just a little different from our own perspective to the other person’s.” 

“That’s a great way to put it,” Eddie finishes typing out the rule and looks up. “I have one.” 

“Please,” Steve tries not to sound too desperate. “Go ahead.” 

“I’m gonna tell you what it is, and then why I suggested it. Every week, you’ll cook dinner five days out of the seven. One day we’ll order takeout or delivery, and the last day, I’ll cook. I want you to meal plan and order groceries or be in charge of our shopping aside from what I’ll add for my dinner night.” 

Steve is puzzled, but he waits for Eddie to explain. 

“I know you got pretty good at cooking as a survival thing, but now it’s growing into something else and I’m not sure if you’re really consciously aware of it. You’re always cooking or baking for other people, to show them you love them. And that’s not a bad thing - please don’t think it’s a bad thing. I just thought, let’s combine a little of that ‘cooking as a love language’ with doing it for you. I want you to cook as both an act of service in our dynamic and have free range to enjoy yourself and have fun learning and experimenting. Every night you cook, I’ll take care of all the dishes, and if you ever decide you want to, you can take those cooking classes with Ella, our treat.” 

“I love that,” Steve says, touched. “That’s… I love it.” 

“Really? I’m so glad,” Eddie squeezes Steve’s hand and notes it down on their list. “Did you have more that you came up with?” 

“Yeah. I’m glad you brought up that I needed you to push me into talking about the sweater. Would it be okay if I gave you blanket permission to do that? To basically dom me into being honest about my feelings if I’m self-isolating or not wanting to be a burden? Like, emotionally withdrawing and not being healthy.” 

“As long as we both agree that you can safeword out of it for any reason, absolutely. I don’t ever want to force you to talk about something that you’re not ready to talk about.” 

“I really appreciate that,” Steve sips at his coffee. “And yeah, I definitely agree.” 

“Writing it down,” Eddie says as he types on the screen. “Anything else?” 

“Can we have dedicated time each week that I’m responsible for reminding you about where we read together? I feel like I’m not reading as much as I used to outside of work and I’d love to get to know your taste in books better.” 

“That’s a great idea, honey. How much time, how often? And if you don’t remind me and we don’t do it as much as we said we would, would you want a punishment?” 

“I think maybe an hour or two twice a week? And yeah, we should track these somehow so that every week we can make sure everything’s done right. The only reason I wouldn’t want a punishment is if it was for a legit reason, like an injury or moving or something.” 

“Very reasonable. And if you ever want a punishment even if it is a legitimate reason, it could always be a fun one. I’m open to negotiation,” Eddie puts his hands up in a ‘just saying’ gesture. 

“Clearly you are,” Steve laughs drily. “Is there anything else you can think of?” 

“Uh, definitely ,” Eddie says like it’s obvious. “I got a few more brewin’. What about this one: I text you whenever I’m on my way home from somewhere and if you’re home, you have to be ready at the door to give me a blowjob.” 

“Yes,” Steve says immediately. Eddie’s mouth drops open. 

“I was just throwing out ideas,” he says slowly. “Holy shit, you’d… want that?” 

“Yeah,” Steve goes to shift his posture, to keep hiding what this is doing to him, but thinks better of it. So what if Eddie knows? 

“Okay, wow, I’m… wow. Are you sure I’m not dreaming?” Eddie shakes his head. 

“I mean, if I’m not home or like, in the middle of dinner we’ll have to come up with something. But otherwise, yeah. I… you know I’d do anything for you.” 

“Then do this for me,” Eddie says, leaning forward to kiss Steve slowly, intimately, before he continues. “You’re not allowed to argue when I compliment you, or try to deflect. I don’t care how bad you blush, you’re gonna accept the compliment and say thank you.” 

“You want that?” Steve asks softly, hesitant. “Really?” 

“Yeah, princess.” Eddie says and kisses him again before sitting back to add to their list. Steve whines as Eddie pulls away from him. “I got another one for you,” Eddie says, smiling in that knowing, slightly predatory way he has. “Once a month, you have to get a massage. I’ll set it up in advance, for as long as you want at whatever place you want. Or we can try different places until you find one you love. When you get home from the massage, you’ll wear a plug until I get home. Or if I’m already home, until I decide you get to have my dick inside you instead.” 

Steve audibly gasps before he even knows he’s inhaled. He feels like all the blood in his body is rushing straight to his cock. 

“Please?” Steve asks plaintively. Fuck, this was exactly the type of thing he’d been hoping would happen. That Eddie would come up with some diabolical shit, both to make him submit to and to punish him. “I get to have that?” 

“Baby,” Eddie coos and completely abandons the iPad, pulling Steve into his lap and kissing all over his face. “Sweet beautiful boy, asking so pretty like that.” 

“Daddy,” Steve kisses Eddie desperately. Eddie’s hand brushes up Steve’s thigh and closes around Steve’s cock where it’s straining against the fabric of his underwear. 

“Do you wanna hear my idea for one last rule, honey?” 

“Yeah,” Steve’s voice is breathy and he throws his arms around Eddie’s neck, shamelessly pressing into the feeling of Eddie’s hand on him. 

“What do you think about this, princess?” Eddie tightens his grip on Steve’s cock as he talks, low and dirty, into his ear. “Your orgasms belong to me.” 

Steve moans like it rips its way out of his throat, and he knows Eddie can feel his cock pulse in his hand. 

“I decide if and when you get to come. Either I tell you, you ask me permission, or you beg for it. If you ever just can’t help yourself when I’m not there,” Eddie puts that chiding faux-pity that Steve can’t get enough of into his words. “Then you have to text me and ask permission and afterwards you have to text me what you thought about while you got yourself off.” 

“Fuck,” Steve whispers and he can feel himself leak into Eddie’s hand, pre-cum soaking through his underwear. “I need that, daddy. Need you.” 

“I can tell,” Eddie says, and twines his hand into Steve’s hair, pulling harshly. “I’m gonna give you what you need, baby, but you gotta let me take you up to bed.” 

“Yeah, daddy,” Steve sighs blissfully and lets Eddie pull him off his lap by his hair. He expects Eddie to let go of him, but he doesn’t. He tightens his grip and leads Steve out of the living room and down the hall to the stairs. Steve’s knees are weak and he’s stumbling along at Eddie’s mercy, panting at the pain. 

“Up,” Eddie tugs him up onto the first stair and then slaps his ass sharply. Once they’re in the bedroom and he’s manhandled Steve onto the bed, he lets go. Steve feels like he could float away without the tether of Eddie’s grip. 

“You like your new rules, baby?” Eddie asks as he grabs a few things and comes back to the bed. 

“I love them,” Steve beams up at him from where he lays. “They’re just what I need, daddy.” 

“That’s right, honey,” Eddie leans over and kisses him hungrily. “Rules for my pretty little housewife.” 

“Fuck,” Steve breathes as Eddie pulls back. That always gets him the same way a slap hits - out of nowhere and knocking the air out of him. 

“You wanna be extra pretty for me today?” 

“Yeah, daddy.” Steve nods up at Eddie dreamily. 

“You’re gonna put this on yourself and then I’m gonna fuck it off you,” Eddie hands Steve the tube of ruby red lip gloss/plumper he’d bought him for Christmas. “You can go in the bathroom if you need a mirror.” 

“Probably,” Steve admits and sits up before walking slightly dazedly into the bathroom. He flicks the lights on and mimics what he’s seen Robin and Ella do - wiping the excess on the inside of the mouth of the tube and just barely overdrawing his lips to look extra slutty. The gloss is slick and glassy, a red so vibrant and shiny it looks almost like vinyl. Fuck, he looks absolutely debauched with the pink flush high in his cheeks and his cock half-hard in his lace-trimmed panties. He fucks up his hair just a little in the mirror just to add to the disheveled, desperate look and he brings the tube back into the bedroom. 

“What do you think?” Steve asks as Eddie grins on seeing him emerge. As he speaks, his lips start to tingle a little. 

“Get your ass over here, you little slut,” Eddie pulls Steve into his lap and takes the tube from him. “You look like a whore and you know you do. Fuck, red is so good on you.” 

Steve’s lips are actually starting to sting and he presses them together a few times, concerned. 

“Does it hurt yet, honey?” 

“Wh- it’s supposed to hurt?” Steve’s mouth falls open. 

“Do you not know what lip plumper is?” Eddie teases, breath hot against Steve’s collarbone. “It’s made with the shit that makes hot sauce hot. It’s meant to hurt a little and to make those pretty lips of yours look extra slutty.” 

“Oh,” Steve says, and the air entering and leaving his mouth brings a new wave of sparks across his lips. “It… feels good, daddy.” 

Before Steve registers what he’s doing, Eddie makes contact with his nipples - but not with his hands or his mouth. He swipes the applicator of the red gloss over Steve’s nipples and the tingles start there too.  

“Oh, god!” Steve squirms and Eddie grabs his hair again. He pulls Steve down until his ass is seated right against the hot, hard line of his cock.

“Does it hurt, baby?” Eddie raises an eyebrow, voice remarkably even for the way Steve is wriggling and rocking in his lap. 

“Yeah, daddy, it hurts, fuck,” Steve’s lips are on fire and his nipples are quickly building towards that feeling too. He struggles against Eddie’s grip, panting, but the pain intensifies as cool air rushes over his sticky skin. Eddie just smiles at him as a whine builds in his throat. He’s definitely fully hard by now, and the pain is just working him up. Driving him crazy. 

Sudden relief comes in the form of Eddie swiping a makeup wipe over his stinging nipples, then his swollen lips. He sits backwards a little, finally able to relax. Not for long, though, because Eddie immediately lays him down onto the bed and pounces, kissing him. It’s a filthy fucking kiss. Eddie practically shoves his tongue into Steve’s mouth and as he pulls back from it, he sinks his teeth into Steve’s bottom lip. Pain blooms through the already-tender skin and Steve moans. Eddie does it again, bites and pulls at his lip, then mouths down his chin to his neck. 

“Please,” Steve whispers, and Eddie bites into the skin at Steve’s throat, sucking viciously. Steve can’t help it, his arms come up around Eddie and he writhes underneath him, rutting up against his thigh and moaning loudly. Eddie laughs, the hum vibrating against Steve’s neck, and kisses his way to another spot to sink his teeth into. By the fourth, or maybe fifth time Eddie sucks a bruise onto him, Steve can barely hold it together. He’s shaking, cock pooling pre-cum on his stomach, thighs clenched around Eddie’s leg. 

“Daddy,” Steve whines. 

“So impatient,” Eddie pulls back and shakes his head. “What if I just want to take my time with you, huh? Torture you until you’re a crying, drooling, shaking mess for me?” 

“I’m- I’m gonna go fucking crazy,” Steve pants. 

Eddie puts his hand around Steve’s throat, just resting there. “I think I’m gonna have to teach you a little about patience, aren’t I?” 

“Don’t wanna be patient,” Steve leans into the impulse to be a brat, needing Eddie to push his limits, put him further down into subspace, take him apart. 

Eddie applies pressure, smirking down at Steve. His hand slowly cuts off Steve’s air supply. 

“Two taps for stop, one for go,” Eddie says, guiding Steve’s hand to rest against his arm. Steve taps once immediately. Eddie tightens his grip on Steve’s throat and Steve relaxes into it, completely overwhelmed by the immediacy of the act; the way his lungs hurt a little and the way it sends him straight down into that hazy, delicious feeling he loves. Eddie lets up and Steve gasps in air. It floods through him, crisp and clean and cold, and he breathes hard as he looks up at Eddie, pupils blown and eyes wet. He’s so hard it aches. 

“You look fucking wrecked and that was like, three seconds.” Eddie teases, shaking his head. 

“More,” Steve breathes, and Eddie slaps him sharply. His cheek sears hot and head snaps to the side. 

“Manners and patience today, then.” Eddie says darkly, hand pressing to Steve’s throat again. This time he leans on it for longer. Steve’s eyes roll back into his head and his nails dig into Eddie’s arm - the pressure is so much but so goddamn good. It makes him acutely aware of his muscles straining against it, but almost as if he’s feeling it outside of himself. Like he’s drowning in it so badly that he’s just succumbing to it. 

Eddie lets go. 

Steve sucks in air, eyes snapping open and lashes fluttering as he looks up at Eddie. He feels fucking stupid with sensation, drunk on it. 

“Aw,” Eddie smiles down at him, crooked and fond, but filthy and mean around the edges. “You’re all out of those bratty words now, huh?” 

“Y-yes, daddy,” Steve breathes. 

“There’s my good girl,” Eddie croons and chokes Steve again, murmuring into his ear as Steve’s eyes roll back - just audible above the rush of his own blood. “Are you gonna listen to daddy now? Tap twice for yes, once for no.” 

Steve taps twice and Eddie lets go. As air pours back into his lungs, he can feel tears slipping down his cheeks. 

“P-please, daddy,” 

“Please what, honey?” Eddie asks smugly, knowing full well that Steve is so far gone he has no idea what he’s begging for. 

“Need you…” 

Eddie ducks his head down and sucks one of Steve’s nipples into his mouth - Steve’s back arches into the feeling and he cries out. They’re usually pretty sensitive, but the lip plumper made them almost tender from sensitivity. Eddie laves over it with his tongue and then pulls back a little to blow cold air against it. Steve writhes at the sensation, all pretense lost, pressing his cock into Eddie’s thigh and grinding against him. 

“I think I want you just like this,” Eddie says, voice low and almost teasing. “So desperate you literally can’t help yourself, forced to hump my leg because I won’t let you have anything else. You’re gonna come like this or you won’t get to come at all.” Eddie must see Steve’s eyes well up again in frustration and he grabs his face with one strong hand and forces him to look at him. “I didn’t say I wasn’t going to help you, princess. Always so quick to assume. Don’t you trust your daddy?” 

Steve knows he takes just a second too long to answer and he relishes the slap when it hits him. 

“Yes, daddy!” He cries, tears pouring over the fresh, stinging impression of Eddie’s hand on his cheek. “I trust you so fuckin’ much.” 

“Good girl,” Eddie says right against Steve’s ear before sucking his earlobe into his mouth and biting at it gently. Steve is almost dizzy with how intense everything is. His skin kind of feels tight. Eddie wrenches his head to the side with a punishing pull at his hair and bites at his other nipple. The pain of Eddie’s teeth against his extra-sensitive skin sends shocks straight to Steve’s dick, which immediately leaks pre-cum through the panties he’s wearing and onto Eddie’s thigh. He’s so embarrassed, but he can’t help himself - he fucks himself against Eddie’s thigh nonetheless, needing friction, pressure, anything. 

“That’s it, honey.” Eddie uses a lethal combination of poor-baby and a soothing, comforting tone, and it makes Steve uncontrollably buck up against his leg again. All he knows right now is Eddie’s hand in his hair, keeping him down and spacey and open and trusting, and the all-consuming need for more, more, more. “Your pretty cunt is so wet for me, huh?” 

Steve moans incoherently, shuddering at Eddie’s words. 

“You said a couple days ago that you thought I could talk you off,” Eddie’s smug now. Steve knows he’s in for it. “So that’s what’s gonna happen here. You’re gonna take what you need against my leg and I’m gonna play with your tits and talk dirty to you until you come all over me like the messy, desperate little slut you are.” 

“Daddy,” Steve whines. 

“If you promise to be good for me and take it, I’ll give you an extra treat.” Eddie reaches down and squeezes Steve’s cock once, prompting Steve to moan loudly. 

“Y-yeah, daddy, I’ll be good for you, I promise,” Steve says, lashes fluttering as Eddie lets go of his hair. Steve feels a strange sensation as Eddie reaches into his panties and smears something sticky against the head of his cock - oh, fuck. It’s the lip gloss. 

“Well, I guess it’s more like two extra treats. This, then my cock inside you if you do a good job for me.” 

“Fuck,” Steve grits out as the lip plumper starts to tingle. “I promise, daddy, I’ll be so good, wanna be your good girl!” 

“I know you do,” Eddie sighs against Steve’s ear, the rush of breath sending shivers down Steve’s back. “My good little princess, rubbing her soaking cunt against me like she can’t help it.” 

Steve’s nails sink into Eddie’s forearms as he looks up at him, mouth open, crying a little at the pain that’s making the tip of his dick throb. He’s so hard it hurts and Eddie’s filthy fucking words are practically melting him. 

“C-can’t help it, daddy,” he pants, fucking up against Eddie’s leg.

“I know, baby. I know you can’t help being a desperate, pathetic whore.” Eddie laughs darkly. “You’re shaking with it, honey. You need me so fucking bad it makes you stupid.” 

“S-s-s-so stupid,” Steve stutters badly as Eddie flicks his thumb over his sore nipple. Eddie slaps him and his cock throbs against Eddie. 

“Stupid girls don’t need to worry about talking, sugar. Just let daddy talk to you and worry about what you do best - being a slut for me.”  

“Okay, daddy,” Steve sighs blissfully. He’s not expecting Eddie’s hand to close around his throat again and his eyes fly open in shock, then roll back uncontrollably as Eddie applies pressure to both sides of his neck. He’s close, the sting of the lip plumper and the intoxicating feeling of Eddie choking him getting him even closer. 

“Oh, you fucking nympho,” Eddie laughs low in his throat. “I can feel how much you love that.” He removes his hand and Steve’s head swims from how good it feels to gasp in air. He rolls his hips against Eddie’s leg frantically, needy in the worst way. 

“Princess,” Eddie says before biting at Steve’s nipple again and oh, shit, pushing his thigh forward into Steve’s thrusts, giving him more of that delicious pressure he’s been chasing. “You look so gorgeous flushed all red, soaking wet, so needy for daddy. I love seeing you desperate like this, like you’d do anything I told you to if it meant you got to come.” 

“A-anything for you, daddy,” Steve moans, his thighs shaking as he gets closer. The head of his cock is practically on fire and he’s leaking even more onto Eddie’s leg, but he can’t even bring himself to care beyond dragging his cock through the wet patch for a little lubrication. 

“I want you to come for me, ‘cause I tell you when you’re allowed to,” Eddie pulls Steve’s panties down so his cock is bare against the heat of Eddie’s skin. He pushes his leg forward even more, limiting the range of Steve’s motion to little pushes against his quad, essentially only allowing Steve to rock back and forth. “I want to feel it, baby. I want to feel your sweet cunt come against me. Go ahead, princess. Get daddy messy with it.” 

“Daddy!” Steve cries out, flushing even more, bringing a hand up to his face and clenching his eyes shut, so embarrassed but so fucking close. 

“I thought you said you wanted to be my good girl,” Eddie croons. “Make daddy proud and come for me.” 

Steve clutches at Eddie’s arms as he comes like a shot at those words, eyes open wide and glassy with tears. He moans gutturally, like he absolutely can’t control it, body twitching and shaking against Eddie as cum streaks up Eddie’s leg and onto his stomach. Eddie keeps his leg there as Steve just paints him with cum, crying and shuddering. 

He’s not even done, still panting and coming a little, when Eddie slides the panties off entirely and works a slick finger into him. It’s a lot, but Steve lets his shaking legs fall open and relaxes into it. He’s practically lightheaded, deep in subspace, and he concentrates on the way Eddie’s face looks as he drinks in the breathy little noises Steve didn’t even know he was making at first. Eddie adds another finger and Steve pulls him down into a kiss. They make out like fucking teenagers, Steve almost drunk on the way it feels to have so much of Eddie’s skin hot against him, his tongue in his mouth, his fingers inside him. It’s overwhelming, even more so when Eddie finds his prostate and presses into it punishingly, making him jolt and cry with the intensity of the feeling. 

“Daddy, too much,” Steve pants, tears streaking down his cheeks. 

“I think you can take it, honey. You promised to be good for me, didn’t you?” 

“Yes, daddy,” Steve nods. 

“Can you take my cock right now or do you need more fingers?” 

“Not up to me,” Steve sniffles. 

“Smart girl,” Eddie cups his cheek with his hand and then slaps him out of nowhere. “Focus on me, baby. I want to watch you lose your pretty little mind when I fuck you full.” 

“Ah, daddy, please!” Steve pleads, nodding frantically. Eddie delivers on his promise, slipping the head of his cock into Steve and then punching the air out of his lungs by fucking into him in two deep pushes. 

“AH!” Steve sobs, eyes clenched shut, shaking against the pain and overstimulation, breathing ragged and harsh. Eddie grabs his hair and pulls, the familiar gesture distracting Steve and sinking him down, down, until he’s finally able to relax into it. “Ohh, fuck,” his voice is thin and reedy as Eddie works his hips into Steve gently at first. 

“That’s my girl,” Eddie groans. “Fuck, your cunt feels like it was made for me.” 

“‘S yours, daddy,” Steve slurs as Eddie takes him apart, hooking his hands around Steve’s legs and pulling him onto his cock as he fucks into him. 

“Love the way you beg me to fuck you even though you know it’ll hurt,” Eddie growls. 

“Want it to hurt, want it even when it’s too much, want you,” Steve is floating, anchored only by the feeling of Eddie splitting him open. “Wanna belong to you!” 

“You do, baby. Your sweet body is all mine.” 

“Use me, daddy!” Steve sobs as Eddie pounds into him relentessly, the head of his cock catching against Steve’s prostate over and over, searing him through with electric pleasure. “I’m your fuckdoll!” 

“Yeah, honey, with those swollen fuckin’ lips,” Eddie takes one hand and traces his fingers across Steve’s mouth. His lips are still tender and definitely feel swollen from the lip plumper, and he opens them against Eddie’s fingers, works his tongue over Eddie’s index and middle finger and sucks them into his mouth. Eddie’s mouth falls open at that, eyes blown dark. Steve practically worships Eddie’s fingers with his mouth, taking them as deep as he can and moaning around them as Eddie fucks him hard and fast and mean. Eddie pulls them out and Steve whines, chasing after them with his open mouth. 

“Fuck, princess, you’re gonna be the death of me,” Eddie’s voice is raspy and hot as he gives Steve everything he’s fucking got, rendering him completely nonverbal from the force and pleasure. Steve is fully crying at this point, sobbing in pure overwhelm as his legs shake in Eddie’s hands. He’s dimly aware that he probably looks a mess, but Eddie likes him messy and he can’t bring himself to care anyway - all of that is so far away when he’s down like this. He’s clutching at Eddie’s shoulders even though all his limbs feel so heavy and the only thing he knows is the insatiable, burning need to be good for Eddie and to take everything his daddy is good enough to give him. 

Steve is flooded with the heady blend of sensations from the cool sheets pooling around him to Eddie’s hands clutching hard at his thighs and digging indents into the skin there, the slight sweat-shine to Eddie’s gorgeous tattoos, and the way Eddie bows his head, biting his plush lip and saying Stevie like it’s something fucking holy. 

It hits him like a fucking freight train - he’s going to come again, and pretty much immediately. But he has to ask now. No matter how badly his body strains for it, it’s not his decision anymore. Even thinking about that is definitely not helping him hold off his orgasm. 

“Daddy, I need-” his voice is hoarse from the crying and Eddie cuts him off. 

“I know, babygirl, but you gotta wait for daddy. You’ll come when I tell you to.” 

Steve’s eyes widen and fresh tears spill over. He doesn’t want to disobey Eddie but the way he’s fucking him, so deep and perfect, is going to make him come no matter what. 

“C-can-can’t stop it,” Steve manages, looking up at Eddie desperately.  

“Yes you can, angel.” Eddie says and reaches forward, curling his hand around Steve’s neck and cutting off his air. Steve’s head tips back to let Eddie get a firm grip and just… lets go. He completely surrenders to subspace, letting himself float out into the ocean of weightlessness without a single fucking thought or care to keeping himself aware of what’s going on. He floats there for what feels like anywhere from ten seconds to ten minutes until air slams into his lungs like a football tackle and he struggles to flutter his eyes back open and look at Eddie through the haze of tears and pure pleasure. 

“Such a good girl, Stevie. You’re being so good for daddy, holding yourself back like that.” 

Steve moans raggedly and he clutches shakily at Eddie’s arm with one hand. 

“Please,” he cries weakly. “Please, daddy, I wanna be good but- I’m gonna-” 

“Been so good for me,” Eddie groans. “I’m gonna fill you up, princess. Come for daddy and your greedy little cunt will get just what it needs.” 

Steve gasps and throws his head back as he feels Eddie start to come inside him, and his orgasm tears through him like a fucking bomb going off. His vision fuzzes out into static and he can distantly hear someone sobbing until it gets closer and closer and he realizes he’s shuddering underneath Eddie and the crying is pulling itself out of his wrecked lungs. Eddie’s cum is searing hot inside him and he feels completely lit on fire by pleasure, twitching and moaning as he feels Eddie’s hand pump him through it. He looks down at his cock in Eddie’s hand and watches his cum spill over onto Eddie’s already dripping fingers. 

“Ohh, that’s so good, princess,” Eddie coos as he works his fist up and down, wringing him for every last drop. 

“Daddy,” Steve moans brokenly and Eddie bends down to kiss him gently as he pulls out. 

“One last thing, baby.” He says, and brings his hand covered in Steve’s cum up to his mouth. Fuck, that’s filthy. But Steve did suck on his fingers earlier and would be lying if he said he didn’t want to right now. 

“A-am I good for you?” Steve asks before sucking Eddie’s fingers into his mouth again like he’s been desperate for it this whole time. Shit, maybe he has. He doesn’t mind the taste of his own cum at all, and it feels so good to have a part of Eddie in his mouth and his cum inside him at the same time. 

“Oh, sweetheart,” Eddie breathes as Steve cleans him up, eyes sparkling with the remnants of tears and motions a little punch-drunk. “You’re my perfect girl. You’re so fucking good for me. I’m so lucky you’re mine, you sweet, gorgeous thing. I love you so much.” 

The adoration in his voice makes Steve melt, as if he wasn’t already practically a puddle from the intensity of everything and how deep in subspace he is. He pulls off of Eddie’s fingers slowly, making sure he’s properly cleaned up, and swallows before he smiles up at Eddie, blissed-out and hazy. 

“I like the rules already, daddy.” 

“I can tell,” Eddie smiles back, scooping Steve up into his arms and pulling him into his chest to cuddle. Steve is filled with pure delight at being held so closely, encircled by Eddie’s arms and face nestled into his tattooed skin. “You’re really down right now, aren’t you?”  

“Mhm,” Steve mumbles, lost in the smell and warmth of Eddie’s skin pressed against his own. 

“Later this afternoon,” Eddie says softly into his hair. “We’re gonna do some stuff. We unfortunately do have to get some packing in, but as a reward I’ll show you what I’m thinking we’ll do to keep track of our rules and punishments.” 

“Wha’ever you think is best, daddy,” Steve slurs. 

“You’ve been so good for me that I think you deserve a treat,” Eddie kisses Steve’s forehead and pulls the blanket that had been shoved to one side over them both. 

“Treat?” Steve does his best to sound excited with how out of it he is. 

“How does a nap sound right about now?” Eddie asks. 

“Please,” Steve’s voice is blurry and he passes out within a minute. Eddie holds him to his chest with one arm and uses his phone to set an alarm with the other before following him into sleep.