Chapter Text
Hovering by the door, Buck’s heart leapt into his throat as he heard a key fit into the lock, and the door swung inwards.
Eddie was there, looking somehow just as usual while also being entirely different. An irrepressible grin burst across his face, his skin glowing with joy. Dressed casually, his hair was unstyled and tangled across his brow. Eyes bright, Eddie’s gaze locked with Buck’s as he said softly, “Hey.”
“Hey,” Buck echoed, taking a halting step, a scrap of uncertainty gripping him.
“Don’t be nervous,” Eddie whispered, moving closer. His hand touched Buck’s waist, slid around his back.
Rushing forward, Buck grabbed Eddie with both hands and leant in to kiss him—but he was stalled when Eddie’s fingers touched his face, dusting across his cheek, his brow, along the bridge of his nose. Slowly, he traced the lines of Buck’s face with tender touches, brushing his fingertips across Buck’s lips before drawing his hand away again. Mouth parted, it took all of Buck’s restraint not to chase after Eddie’s hand, not to catch those fingers with his teeth and suck them.
He was glad a moment later when Eddie tipped his head back and pulled Buck down to meet him, their lips touching with heart-aching softness. A fire burst and flared within Buck’s chest, but he followed Eddie’s lead; gentle, his mouth covered Buck’s with a deep sweetness unlike any kiss he had ever known. Long and lingering, Eddie’s fingers twisted through Buck’s hair to hold him close, and he deepened the kiss slowly. A wave of giddiness swerved across Buck’s brain. He swayed slightly, both hands closing on Eddie’s body to steady himself. Beneath his palms, Eddie was strong, his muscles flexing against Buck’s touch. A tiny sound huffed deep in Eddie’s throat, and he turned his head and pressed a little closer. Their bodies shifted together, chests touching, hips, thighs, tummies all pressing firm as they sought the security, the promise, of one another.
Eddie’s tongue touched Buck’s lip, and the crackling fire exploded into an inferno. But when Buck tried to hurry, desperate for more, Eddie slowed him down. His hand slid across Buck’s chest, curving around one pec and settling across the beat of his racing heart. Holding passion in check—and Buck could feel the heat of Eddie’s passion, simmering beneath his skin—Eddie kissed him with endless sweetness, slow, warm and long.
Buck lost himself in it, surrendered to Eddie’s touch.
He was dizzy when they finally drew apart, clinging to Eddie to keep himself upright. “Wow,” he breathed, bowing his forehead to rest against Eddie’s. “”You’re amazingly soft for a tough guy, aren’t you?”
“No,” Eddie said, slight laughter in his tone. “I’m amazingly tough for a soft guy.”
“Hm,” Buck hummed, curling his arms around Eddie’s back and trying to pull him closer. His mind was spinning, lost in a sea of perfect happiness populated only by himself and Eddie. He breathed, “So, aren’t you going to ask me?”
“Ask you what?” Eddie whispered.
Buck shook him. “To marry you, of course.”
“Oh.” Eddie shifted, blinking at him. “But you said you wanted something grand and romantic.”
“This is it,” Buck said, his arms crushing around Eddie. “This moment is the perfect romantic moment, Eddie.”
Smiling, Eddie locked eyes with Buck and murmured, “Will you marry me, Evan Buckley?”
A brilliant grin spread across Buck’s mouth, joy sparking through his entire body in blinding spirals. His voice strangled in the base of his throat, and he answered in a whisper as happy tears stabbed his eyes. “Absolutely.”
Beaming, Eddie brushed his thumb against a tear that slipped down Buck’s cheek, kissed it away. “Amazing,” he murmured, eyes dancing with happiness.
The inferno inside Buck became volcanic, spilling out of him with a desperate need. His arms flexed hard around Eddie. “How long did you say we’ve got until you get Christopher?”
“A couple of hours,” Eddie said, a little breathless as Buck squeezed the air out of him. He hooked a sly eyebrow. “You really gonna kiss me until I go numb, huh?”
Pushing Eddie towards the stairs, Buck grinned, “I’m gonna do a lot more than just kiss you.”