Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rey was grateful to all the women at Harrod’s who ended up sending her out of the shop with far more bags than she’d intended. Hux seemed completely unfazed by this, and in fact, was surprised when she didn’t leave with more. He had his own bag, but Rey thought nothing of it. While waiting for her — over an hour, as it turned out — he naturally would have ended up buying something for himself, as well.

Though she’d entered the shop with trepidation and worry, Rey was leaving with more confidence than she’d ever had before. She knew that it was silly, worrying about how she’d look for a date, but there was something exhilarating about knowing that no matter how she dressed, she’d surprise Hux. He’d only ever seen her in her day to day clothes, the stuff she chose to wore to the tent or packed with her for the trip to London. Usually, it was sneakers or boots, and it was very often her overalls, her one pair of yoga pants she’d splurged on just before starting Bake-Off, or any random pair of torn jeans.

This was different. This was bags full of new things that Rey had never worn, but sometimes dreamed about owning. And now she did, and it was for their date.

Their first proper date.

Though they’d known each other for over two months now, and spent at least half of that in an odd “are we dating?” limbo, they’d reached a conclusion by the end of that time and they were a couple. They knew it. But they’d never gone on a date. Weekends in the tent and in the manor were the only dates they ever got, and most of they time they were too stressed to really enjoy it.

Rey wondered if Hux did this all on purpose, knowing they hadn’t had a proper date yet. Her heart fluttered at the prospect that he’d been that thoughtful. Given the lengths he was going to make it a night to remember, he probably had it all planned from the start.

She was quite glad she’d chosen to look past his glare and his silence to see what lay beneath. Hux was an expected surprise in Rey’s life since meeting him. He was realistic, factual, and down-to-earth. She loved her friends, but they often had their head in the clouds or took care not to hurt her feelings. Though Rey didn’t expect Hux to hurt her, she did know that if he needed to deliver tough love, he wouldn’t hesitate. Her friends might.

In all, he was an added element to her life that she didn’t want to lose, and she was beginning to feel like she occupied the same pocket of Hux’s life, as well.

They stopped for a short lunch at Pret a Manger on their way back to Hux’s flat, and Rey couldn’t wipe the smile from her face the whole time. Though he never said it out loud, she could tell that Hux was pleased with the day’s events, as well. He looked happy. He didn’t smile the way she did, but his eyes gave him away… the green in them was more lively, and his brow was smooth and unfurrowed.

“Thank you,” she said softly, as he gathered their things when they’d finished eating.

“It was just lunch.”

“I mean for this,” she said, picking up her bags from Harrod’s. “For this trip. For everything.”

Hux let himself smile. “For being more than a warm bed and a guide map?”

Rey laughed. Of course he’d hearken back to that conversation they’d had weeks ago. She nodded. “Yes, for that,” she agreed, amusement in her voice.

The corners of his mouth stayed tucked upwards just slightly as he said, “Well, you’re very welcome for that. It’s nice having things to do and places to go.”

“So I’m an excuse to get out of the house?”

Hux barked in laughter. “I —”

Rey’s eyes danced with happiness as she looked up at him, and she was very happy to see that he seemed to feel the very same way she did. “It’s alright if I am,” Rey said warmly.

“You’re much more than that,” Hux said.

He opened his mouth to say more, but the words were lost the moment one of the staff interrupted them, offering to take their trash for them. With the conversation effectively over, Rey and Hux left the shop and emerged out onto the sidewalks.

As they walked back to Hux’s flat, he said, “I was thinking we could go back and relax. I had a shower this morning, but if you wanted one, we have time. Then we can get ready… we’ll want to have dinner, probably. I know a place… do you like Italian?”

“Of course,” Rey smiled. “Be warned, I may make a mess, though.”

“As long as you didn’t get a light colored dress, we’re probably fine,” Hux countered.

Rey laughed. “I’m not telling you anything.”

Hux feigned disappointment. “So… Italian?”

“Yes,” Rey smiled. “Italian sounds wonderful.”

Nodding, Hux said, “Excellent. Well. I’ll schedule us a cab to take us there, then. And make a reservation. We’ll want to get there around six, so we’ll want the cab to get us at… oh, half past five? Maybe a bit earlier.”

“That gives us three hours to get ready,” Rey calculated. “I can do that.”

“Can you? How many things did you get, today?”

Rey giggled and shook her head. “Nice try. But like I said before, you won’t get any information out of me. It’s going to be a surprise.”

“It was worth a try.”

Hux put on a kettle of water so they could make tea, and Rey lounged on the sofa for close to a half hour, insisting to Poe over and over again that whether or not she was sleeping with Hux that night was none of his business. She also told Finn to stop telling her to be careful, or she’d be reckless in retaliation.

The group chat died down at half past three, after Rey had finished her cup of tea and Hux had sent out a few work emails — he’d neglected his work duties all week thus far, as one should while on a vacation — but he had some urgent ones that he had to answer. Rey didn’t mind. It gave them both a chance to enjoy each other’s presence and a well-made cup of tea (Rey could admit when she’d been beaten in that department).

Hux closed his Macbook and set aside his empty mug. “I’m going to get my things, and then the master bedroom and bathroom are all yours,” he said, standing from the sofa.

Rey’s heart began to beat faster in her chest; this was it. She was going to spend two hours being as stereotypically feminine as she’d ever been in her life, primping and preening to get ready for their date. And though it was never something she’d entertained the thought of doing, she was really looking forward to it. Celia and several other women at Harrod’s had given her all the tools and advice she’d need to complete her look.

She showered, she dressed slowly, standing in her underclothes as she blow-dryed her hair (if she’d dressed first, she would have sweat all over everything, which she hated about herself). Already, she looked different in the mirror than usual. She was noticing her curves more, and her hair, though not too terribly long to begin with, fell nicely over her shoulders.

Right as the clock struck five, Rey pulled the zipper up to the top of the dress and turned to examine her reflection in the mirror. She still couldn’t believe that the woman in the reflection was really her.

Out in Hux’s bedroom, she slid her feet into the shoes she’d gotten, and smoothed out the front of the dress one last time. Playfully, she wandered to the door and knocked on it.

After a brief pause, she heard Hux ask, “Yes?”

“Are you ready?” she asked excitedly.

She knew she was being silly and ridiculous and probably building up the anticipation a little too much, but she also… really wanted him to be impressed. It was very likely he would be no matter what, but Rey had put a lot of time and effort into not only choosing a dress, but getting all dolled up for a night at the ballet.

Not to mention this was their first date. Their first real, official date.

“Very ready,” he replied.

Slowly, Rey pulled the door open and stepped out onto the hardwood floor of his flat. As she did, her heels clicked on the floor, and she waited with bated breath for his reaction.

She stood before him, trying not to fidget or bite her lip too much — but it was hard because Hux was looking at her with a gaze he’d never fixed upon her before. It was almost… hungry. Fitting, given they’d met at a baking competition, but still an odd feeling.

Her dress was just the right amount of showy — a black top with a floral design giving way to a velvet bottom with beautiful golden orange accents. The sash on the dress was the same color, and it hugged her every curve perfectly. Rey felt beautiful in the dress, and though her hair was in a simple half-ponytail and she wore only mascara and a rather sheer lipstick, she felt more glamorous than she ever had before.

And given the way that Hux looked at her, from her head to the toes she’d covered with shiny black pumps only about an inch too tall for her to really walk confidently in, he liked what she’d chosen. He really liked it.

She watched him curiously as he stood from the sofa and walked towards her, eyes raking brazenly down her body.

He too looked good, Rey observed as she did the same to him. His shirt hugged his body a little more than the other button-downs he’d worn around her. This one was a deep blue — fitting, as it matched the little flowers in her dress. With it he wore a form-fitting blazer and his usual black slacks.

Without trying, they’d matched.

“You’re beautiful.”

Rey felt her cheeks get hotter, and she shook her head, fighting a smile. She didn’t know what to say to that.

Nervously, she brought her hand upwards, her fingers drifting over the lapel of his jacket. “You look good, too,” she said, suddenly feeling shy.

He stood right in front of her, daring to rest one of his hands on her waist. Rey felt so silly for being so affected by him all of a sudden. She swallowed past a lump in her throat and looked up into his eyes, unsure of what came next.

“You’re taller,” he observed with amusement.

Rey laughed. “Yes, by two inches.”

She shifted all of her weight onto one foot, lifting a leg out to the side to show him how tall her pumps were. When she did, she wobbled just a little, and Hux had to reach out to catch her. “Careful,” he warned.

Again, Rey laughed. “I’m going to fall tonight, I can almost guarantee it.”

“No you won’t,” Hux replied. “I’ll catch you.”

Rey smiled warmly. “You do that a lot.”

“You were the one who confessed to being clumsy,” he argued.

He helped her steady herself on her feet while they both tried desperately not to laugh. “Before we go, I have something for you.”

Rey’s expression turned to surprise. “What?”

“Don’t do that,” Hux scolded. “I can get you gifts.”

“What is it?” she challenged.

He walked to the countertop where the small Harrod’s bag from earlier sat. Rey had assumed it would be something for himself, not for her. If it was from Harrod’s, it was likely expensive. Rey was very, very nervous about that.

“I’m allowed to get you something nice,” he said stubbornly. “You’re the new winner of The Great British Bake-Off. Consider this your prize.”

“But I got that cake stand —”

“ — And now you’re getting a gift from your boyfriend.”

His words stopped her in her tracks. Before he took the item out of the bag, Hux’s eyes met Rey’s and he looked at her with a questioning glance, as though he were asking her one last time, without words, whether this was alright. Rey nodded.

Hux pulled a small box from the bag and brought it over to Rey. “To go with your dress,” he said by way of explanation as he offered it to her.

The box was wide and flat — not the right shape for a ring, thank goodness — but other than that, Rey couldn’t figure out what it was. The velvet was buttery soft beneath her touch as she slowly opened it to see what it was that Hux had bought her.

Inside, two gold hoops sparkled beautifully in the light. Earrings — sensible and golden and —

“Before you worry, they’re only gold plated,” Hux said. “I know what would be too much.”

Rey laughed. “We crossed the too much line after this dress,” she joked. “Hux, they’re —”

“Will you wear them tonight?”

She drifted her fingers over the smooth metal of one of the hoops. Speechless again, she nodded. Hux took the box for her and helped her free the hoops from the velour insert they’d been resting upon. Very gently, Rey coaxed the earrings through the half-closed holes in her earlobes. She very rarely wore jewelry, especially things like this. But they went perfectly with her dress, and he’d asked her so earnestly. Rey couldn’t imagine why she’d ever say no to wearing a gift from Hux.

“How do they look?” Rey asked, tucking a few stray hairs behind her ears.

“You look beautiful,” he responded, snaking an arm around her waist.

Rey hugged him warmly, holding tight in a way she hoped would convey her gratitude for everything he’d done for her, not just that day, but all week. This trip to London had already been more than she could have ever hoped for.

Seconds later his phone beeped, telling him that their taxi had arrived. “Time to go,” he said, offering her his arm.

Rey beamed and gently put her arm through his. He was patient with her as she got used to walking in heels. Admittedly, she caught on faster than she’d thought she would. By the time they’d arrived at the restaurant, Rey moved like she’d been wearing heels for years.

Dinner, as she expected, was top notch. Hux had high standards when it came to food (and Rey couldn’t blame him for that). She managed to only drip marinara once, and it thankfully fell on the napkin she’d rested across her lap.

She didn’t start feeling giddy until they were leaving the restaurant. That meant it was time for the ballet — another one of her childhood desires come to fruition. Rey stared in wonder as they waited to get into the venue, and Hux very kindly let Rey take her time looking at all the beautiful posters, signs, and other relics from years of ballets past. Her eyes were wide and filled with wonderment, and she was almost reluctant to be dragged into the theatre itself.

Just as Rey expected, Hux had gone all out on the tickets. They sat in the center orchestra section on the main floor, about halfway back so they’d have a wonderful view without having to crane their necks. Rey was so close she’d be able to see the strings on the dresses, the scratches and wear at the sole of the pointe shoes.

The entire performance felt like a dream, and she didn’t want to wake up.

Rey held Hux’s hand, watching with unwavering attention. Her gaze never left the stage as the ballerinas and ballerinos swirled and spun and leapt to the sounds of a live orchestra. Rey had worried the experience wouldn’t live up to what she’d imagined in her head, all those years as a child, and then a wistful teen and young adult.

But it was so much better than she could have ever hoped for.

She clapped and applauded, and stood and clapped and beamed as the ballet company received a standing ovation at the end of their performance. Rey was completely enraptured with the evening. It would have been stupid for her to let her pride get in the way of this, she realized as she wobbled in her too-expensive pumps, holding Hux’s hand as he led her out of the aisle of seats and back into the lobby of the Royal Opera House.

“Did you like it?” he asked when they reached the doors.

He’d hailed a taxi on his phone again, and while they waited, they stayed indoors. As always happened in London, the rain had returned.

“I loved it,” Rey said breathlessly.

She slid her arm through his again, standing close to him for warmth. When their eyes met, Hux looked pleased with her answer. “I’m glad.”

For the first time that evening, Rey leaned forward and kissed him. “Thank you for tonight. It’s all been so perfect.”

“Of course,” Hux replied. “A first date to remember?”

Rey smiled warmly, happy to hear that he’d realized that, too. “Yes. It definitely is.”

Their cab arrived a moment later, and though it was a futile gesture, Hux held his hand over Rey’s head as she ducked down to rush through the rain. She didn’t slip or trip in her heels as she’d worried she might, and was thankfully only mildly damp as they settled into their seat.

Rey’s dress was sleeveless, and the chill from the rain nudged her closer to Hux’s side, for warmth. He draped an arm around her, and Rey felt warm again almost instantly. It was difficult for her to think about the fact that her vacation in London would end the next day; she was taking a late train back to Wolverhampton on Saturday evening. That meant she only had about twenty-four more hours to enjoy Hux’s company before… she didn’t even know what would come next, truthfully.

Whether Hux was thinking the same thing or not, Rey didn’t know. Their cab ride passed in companionable silence, Rey only breaking that silence once, with a yawn. In response, Hux had brushed his thumb over her upper arm where he held her, soothing her.

Before much longer, they arrived back at Hux’s flat, and they rushed through the rain once more before entering the building and taking the elevator up to his floor. They were still so quiet — Rey knew that was just how they were, and what they did, but something about it was different. She didn’t want it to be quiet.

She didn’t want the night to be over.

“Hux —”

“Rey.”

The door clicked shut behind them as they walked into his flat, and she turned around as he switched on the main light to the room. Everything was still neat and tidy, just as they’d left it, with Rey’s haphazard pile of gifts, trinkets, and souvenirs taking up most of the small dining table at the back of the space. She quite liked seeing the mark she made on his place — and that he hadn’t made her clean it up.

“I know it’s probably a little reckless, and we’ve only known each other a few months, and sure, I’m a few years younger than you, but —”

She hesitated, noticing the way Hux’s eyebrow raised as he watched and listened. He stepped closer to her, slowly, taking his time as Rey struggled to say what she wanted to say.

“And it’s not because of the dress, or the gifts, or anything else, I just —”

They stood toe to toe, Rey’s gaze drifting upwards to meet Hux’s as his warm hand reached out to cup her face. He still looked curious, but behind that Rey could see amusement.

“I really want —”

When Hux leaned forward, the words were lost on her tongue. She couldn’t utter another sound because she could feel Hux’s breath on her lips, and all the warmth radiating from his body where he stood so close to her, and God she knew what she wanted, and it was him, and he was right there.

He hesitated for just long enough that Rey could have backed out if she’d wanted. But she didn’t want that. Weeks of tension and argument and hesitation and learning each other had led to this moment: Hux leaning forward as Rey stood before him, stammering through her words because words were useless between them sometimes, and… oh.

The moment Hux’s mouth pressed to hers, Rey completely gave up on trying to vocalize everything running through her mind. He was there, and he wanted her, and she’d never felt more treasured than she had that day — that entire week. She’d won Bake-Off, sure, but she’d gotten a lot more out of those grueling ten weeks than just a title.

When Hux leaned away, looking down at Rey with smug amusement on his face, she bit her lip and laughed nervously.

“Yeah — that. I want that.”

It had taken her a few moments, but she finally was able to vocalize what it was she’d wanted, and he seemed happy to give.

“That can be arranged,” he replied playfully.

Rey smiled. Gently, she reached up with one hand and draped an arm around his shoulders to steady herself. “Can I take these shoes off, first?” she asked.

Hux looked amused. “Of course. I’d like to point out, by the way, that you didn’t fall in them once,” he said as she held onto him so she could haphazardly kick the shoes off to the side.

“I held onto you the whole night,” Rey laughed.

Once the shoes were kicked off to the side, she stood on her tiptoes to steal another kiss.

Rather than speaking or making any kinds of jokes, Hux slowed the moment down. He kissed her deeper — like that first night they’d made out in her room while at the manor after a stressful day of baking — but this time there was nothing happening the next day. They could stay up as late as they wanted, do whatever they wanted… nobody could tell them no.

Rey kissed him until she was breathless, and when she pulled away, she gasped for air, desperate to feel his lips against hers again. But instead of granting her what she wanted, Hux leaned away, his eyes darting to something over her shoulder for just a moment.

The tension in the air was thick — desire radiated from both of them in a way that made Rey wonder how in the world this hadn’t happened any of the other nights they’d spent in the same room, the same bed with each other.

She nodded, understanding what he’d been glancing at. Together, they walked to the bedroom, hands clasped between them. Hux switched off the lights with his free hand as they went, until they were in the dim light of his bedside lamp, the door shut behind them, the bed still unmade from when they’d gotten up that morning.

Rey took a deep breath and turned to face Hux. She chewed on her lower lip, wondering whether she should say something (probably not — she’d just ramble again if she did) or maybe undress (she could, but she’d rather he helped her with that). So instead of doing any of that, Rey waited for a signal from Hux.

He crossed the room to her with a determination she usually only saw from him in the tent. She reached out for him, holding the sides of his face in her hands as their lips met — more frantically, this time. Heated and desperate because they were alone, and they’d had their first date, and they trusted each other and wanted each other, and…

Rey sighed into the kiss as she felt completely surrounded by Hux — his hands on her body, his mouth against hers, each and every feeling more overwhelming than she’d ever experienced before. He held her delicately — not as though were about to break, but in a way that let her know she was in good hands. She’d be taken care of.

She fumbled pitifully with the knot on his tie (she’d never understood them) until he chuckled against her mouth and leaned away to work at the knot himself and take off the tie entirely. He looked at her oddly, but Rey laughed it off and tugged at the front of his shirt to pull him into another kiss.

It was easier for her to try to undress him now that the tie was out of the way. He helped her push the blazer down his arms — it was quite form fitting, after all — and left her to her own devices as she began to toy with the buttons on his shirt. A few moments of fumbling led Rey to break the kiss, giving the buttons her full attention.

“Never done this before?” he asked.

“What, sex? Or unbuttoning a shirt while kissing someone?” Rey glanced up at him, and then back down at his shirt as she made progress unfastening the buttons.

“Both, I suppose.”

“Yes, and no.”

She hoped he’d understand what she meant with those answers in quick succession. Rey had done this before, though not in quite an intimate setting. She’d been talked into a night of partying by her friends, and she’d given it the old college try, one night stand and all. But this was different. This was attraction, emotions, intimacy… and she couldn’t handle those and a button down shirt while distracted by his kisses.

Unlike when they’d filmed episodes for Bake-Off, Hux wasn’t wearing an undershirt — had he planned for this just as much as she had?

Rey stood on her tiptoes to initiate the kiss again, but Hux didn’t indulge; instead, he left the kiss short and chaste, keeping the upper hand. Whatever he was doing, Rey hadn’t anticipated it, but as soon as she opened her mouth to ask, he’d pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. Rey stared at him for the briefest of moments before allowing Hux to press at her shoulders gently, guiding her to turn around.

Oh.

His fingers were lithe and nimble, so it didn’t surprise Rey in the least when he managed to untie her sash and unzip her dress in a matter of moments. The air was cool against her hot skin, and she knew that now, Hux would see exactly what she’d bought that day — every single bit of it.

She’d hesitated, at first, when the saleswomen mentioned it, but then they’d brought out some sensible pieces that weren’t exorbitantly expensive, and Rey had fallen prey to their persuasion. Beneath the dress, growing easier to see with each passing moment as the dress began to slip from her body, Rey wore simple lace lingerie — a navy blue bra with matching panties.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was Rey’s dress hitting the floor with a soft swoosh! She didn’t turn around, and she tried not to shiver, because she wanted Hux to get a very good look. Rey closed her eyes, feeling his gaze heavy upon her, and smiled a little when she heard the sound of his belt buckle clicking as he unfastened it.

After a second or two of shuffling, Rey felt him behind her, warm and steady. He pressed his front to her back, and she could feel against her lower back that he was quite pleased with what she’d bought for herself.

He drifted a hand over the waistband of her panties, from her hip to her stomach. His other hand drifted higher, never touching her, but dancing just close enough that she felt goosebumps pebbling across her flesh, her body desperate for more heat. He turned her head towards his, guiding her to kiss him again. Hux leaned over her shoulder to bring their lips together, and Rey stopped thinking completely.

The kiss was less coordinated — the angle was a little odd, especially given their height difference — but Hux was able to improvise well enough. He drifted his lips across her jawline and towards her neck, catching her earlobe with a kiss before he found her pulse point and kissed with just the slightest bit of suction.

Rey’s whole body trembled at the touch; she’d never felt that before. His kisses sent shocks of pleasure in waves throughout her body, warmth pooling between her legs in a way nobody had ever done to her before. Her breaths were shallow, her chest heaving with them, as Hux’s mouth kept pressing soft and then heavy kisses against her neck. He was unpredictable, and everything he did made Rey unravel a little more.

He drifted his other hand down between her legs, finally dipping his fingers down beneath the lacy fabric of her panties. Rey gasped at the feeling, hands clinging to him wherever she could find purchase. Her cheeks reddened at the realization that he was probably able to feel just how he was affecting her, how hot and wet she already was, right where his fingers were drifting with teasing touches.

The hand that wasn’t in her panties had been drifting through her hair, and one smooth finger darted over her swollen, parted lips. Lost in the moment, Rey flitted her tongue against the pad of his finger, coaxing him to do more. With as much focus as she could muster, Rey swirled her tongue at the tip of his finger and then sucked teasingly, a promise of what she could try to do later.

When he just barely dipped a finger inside of her, Rey keened and bent over, hardly able to stand on her own anymore. She felt silly, being so affected by him, the finger she’d been sucking on now tugging at her lip, but really — this was what she’d wanted. To be completely and entirely overwhelmed. To feel his touch. To be his.

Hux supported her with strong hands, no longer teasing her. He understood, though she hadn’t said a word, that it was probably time to take this to the bed. She could hardly stand on her own two feet.

Rey was forever grateful for the way they communicated — that they could say so much without actually saying a word. His hands never left her as they moved towards the bed, Rey smiling, albeit with some embarrassment.

She sat at the edge of the bed and looked up at Hux, unable to find words or actions that seemed fitting.

He knelt at the foot of the bed, between her legs, and looked up at her. His hands were warm where he rested them upon her thighs, and looked up at her with no expectations. That in itself put a smile back on her face.

Gently, Rey brushed a strand of hair out of Hux’s face and leaned forward for a kiss. It was sweet and a little playful, until it wasn’t. It didn’t take long for Hux’s mouth to find the sensitive spot on Rey’s neck again, only this time he didn’t linger there. He kept kissing lower and lower, drifting his mouth across her collarbone, his breath ghosting over the thin lace fabric of her bra. Rey leaned back to allow him to reach every inch of skin that he wanted, her breathing growing more labored the further down he went.

Shyly, Rey spread her legs and watched as he kissed over the fabric of her panties. She’d never been quite so vulnerable and open with someone before, letting him see the effect he had on her, how wet she’d gotten for him.

Though she desperately wanted to leave them on because she felt so beautiful in them, Rey wanted nothing more in that moment than for Hux to rip them off of her and really touch her. Her breath grew ragged as she tried so hard to control herself, to have patience, to enjoy his torturously slow ministrations.

A soft keening sound left her mouth as soon as she felt Hux’s fingertips dip beneath the hemline of her panties, slowly sliding them down her body. She didn’t feel embarrassed at all, now almost completely naked in front of him. All she could focus on was that his breath was warm against her thigh, and she was buzzing with desire, desperate for his touch.

His mouth on her was like an explosion, her head thrown back as she saw stars, her body already trembling as his tongue lapped at her wetness, tasting her for the first time. One of her hands flew to his hair, guiding him where it felt the best, Hux happily complying as he gripped her thighs and tugged her body closer towards him.

Rey’s mouth dropped open as he drew a moan out of her, his tongue dipping inside her just barely. Her grip on his hair tightened and she trembled, pitifully close to climax already. Chest rising and falling with each breath, Rey fell back against the blankets, resting one foot on the edge of the bed, giving Hux even better access.

“H—” she panted, trying desperately to formulate words. “I—”

His lips closed around her clit, all his energy fueled on by the fact that Rey couldn’t even vocalize a single thought or feeling. She moaned again, back arching ever so slightly — just enough to push her harder against his mouth. Hux hooked an arm around her thigh, pressing her hips down to the bed and raising up higher on his knees. He redoubled his efforts, the sucking and slurping sounds echoing obscenely throughout the room.

Gently, Hux eased a finger inside of Rey, drawing another moan from her. She began panting, unable to stave off the feeling anymore. Head thrown back on the pillows, Rey let go, her whole body trembling as she came, Hux’s ministrations pushing her through her climax.

After what was probably the longest orgasm of Rey’s life, she slowly began to squirm away from Hux. “Ah ah ah,” she said between exhausted laughs.

He leaned away and looked up at her, still knelt by the side of the bed. “Everything alright?”

Rey chuckled, scooting up the bed towards the pillows. “Yes,” she said breathlessly. “Very. I’m just — sensitive.”

Hux looked rather smug with himself as he stood up and climbed onto the bed next to Rey. Her eyes lingered on his briefs and at the very obvious way they were tented at the front. He’d liked that, too.

When she looked back up at Hux, Rey realized that she’d been caught staring. She bit her lip and tried to look innocent, but Hux was unwavering in his gaze as he looked at her, one eyebrow quirked.

Rey couldn’t help it. She laughed.

Hux snorted, trying very hard not to laugh, but failing.

Things were comfortable, even with both of them nearly naked on the bed. That put Rey at ease and made her feel more confident both in their relationship, and how the rest of the night would go. As her laughter dissipated, she let Hux lean in to kiss her again. Rey closed her eyes and smiled against his lips, reveling in the warmth of his body against hers and this new feeling of her on his lips. It ignited something within her — something vaguely possessive, or maybe territorial — whatever it was, it renewed the fire within her, and Rey slowly let her hand drift over the front of his briefs, letting him know that she was ready for whatever he wanted to happen next.

Hux took his time kissing Rey before he broke the kiss to focus on removing the last piece of clothing he wore. That left Rey as the only one wearing clothing, and she only wore her lacy navy blue bra. “Should I —” she asked, hands drifting over the lace.

“Only if you want to,” Hux responded.

Rey glanced down, fingers drifting over the lace covering her body. She loved the feeling of the fabric against her skin, but in the end, decided she’d much rather be just as naked as Hux, fully trusting of him, fully exposed before him as he’d done for her. She sat up and unfastened the clasp behind her back, gently letting it fall down her front before tossing it to the side.

She couldn’t blame Hux one bit for staring; in fact, part of her wanted him to stare.

There was a hunger in his gaze as he leaned forward, resting one hand on Rey’s hip as he kissed her. The kiss was more frantic than the last ones had been, and Rey happily gave in to it, bringing her hands up to frame his face as she laid back against the pillows, bringing him with her.

They stumbled just slightly, Hux trying to move between Rey’s legs and keep his balance while kissing her. Rey heard a muffled curse word fall between their mouths, and she couldn’t hold back a giggle as they settled together on the bed, right where he’d wanted to be. When their eyes met, Rey knew she must have looked silly, a big smile on her face but her arms drawn in close to her chest, cupping his face. She wasn’t trying to cover up or look shy, it was just how she’d ended up.

Hux kissed her softly in response, slowing things down as he lowered his body to hers on the bed. Rey gasped when she felt his erection against her stomach; she still couldn’t believe she’d had such an effect on him.

Rey smiled into his kisses, savoring each and every one as they let themselves fall back into the moment. It felt so good, not having a single care in the world, nowhere they had to be, nothing they had to do.

It was in that moment that Rey heard the pitter-patter of rain against the windows of the flat; the rain they’d encountered on their way home from the ballet had increased in intensity since then. Something about it was cozy and made the moment even better.

Before long, Rey grew impatient and rocked her hips against Hux, providing the tiniest bit of friction for him. “Hux…” she whispered against his mouth.

He seemed to catch the hint, because he nodded and leaned back on his knees just enough to reach into the drawer of his bedside table. Rey blushed; he’d been prepared. She liked to think it was for her specifically, and not just out of habit. They hadn’t talked much about their past, and that was a conversation for another day.

Rey was quiet and tried not to stare too much as Hux tore open the condom wrapper and rolled it on. She bit her lip, and when their eyes met again, both took a deep breath. Gently, Rey brought her hands to frame Hux’s face again, looking into his eyes, suddenly feeling bashful. She wanted this. She did. But this was also a big step for them.

Hux seemed to understand, because he took things slow, from lining himself up, to gently pushing inside of her, to beginning to move his hips. Rey gasped at the stretch, and she couldn’t put into words how grateful she was that Hux had slowed everything down. It wasn’t painful, just… a stretch. More than she’d felt in a long time. But it was good. As soon as he began to rock his hips, pulling out of her and then pushing back in, Rey’s discomfort quickly gave way to pleasure.

Rey slowly began to relax, losing herself to the moment, to every single place their bodies touched. It was electric, Hux’s hands on her, touching her, buried deep inside of her, and — the moment his mouth found her pulse point again, lazily grazing his teeth over the most sensitive place he could find on her neck, a loud moan tumbled from Rey’s lips.

Realizing that Hux lived in a flat and his neighbors might have heard, she brought a hand to cover her mouth. Almost immediately, Hux gently coaxed her hand away. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “Let them hear.”

“I —” she began to protest, but then he rolled his hips, pushing deeper inside of her, and whatever she’d been about to say was lost between them.

“Okay?” he pressed.

Rey smiled and nodded eyes closing with pleasure as he kept moving inside of her, distracting her from whatever needless worries were still floating through her mind. He watched as she brought a hand to her breast, thumbing over her nipple. Rey gasped when Hux batted her hand away, wanting to touch for himself.

She felt dizzy with it all, the way he was touching her, the way he felt inside her… Rey hadn’t felt anything so blissful in a very long time. Though she had worried what the neighbors would think, Rey quickly began to forget about them as she lost herself to the moment, to the feeling of being completely engulfed by everything Hux was doing.

Part of her wanted to do more, but she didn’t know what. She was still new to all of this, and Hux didn’t seem to have any complaints. But Rey got just lost enough in her head that Hux slowed what he was doing and leaned back to look into her eyes.

Rey blinked a few times before realizing he’d stopped. “Everything alright?”

The fact that he’d noticed, that he’d asked, elated Rey and made her feel even more secure. He cared for her — he cared more than anyone would probably realize after seeing him on the telly, or just meeting him once or twice.

“Yeah,” she nodded breathlessly. “I — can we —”

Hux tipped his head to the side, waiting as Rey found words.

“Sit,” she said finally, patting the bed next to her.

Eyebrow raised in confusion, Hux did exactly that, shifting the pillows so they were leaning up against the headboard. Emboldened by his trust in her, Rey sat up and slowly moved to straddle his lap, watching to be sure he understood, and he was okay with this.

Given that he was holding her hips and ready to guide her atop him, it seemed that he was. Rey reached down between her legs to line them up, and slowly she sank down onto his lap. A soft, low moan escaped her mouth, and as it did, Hux pressed kisses all along her neck, not daring to leave a mark, but tiptoeing dangerously close to doing so anyway, as his teeth grazed a sensitive spot.

Rey shivered at the feeling, and took a few moments to adjust to this new angle, at just how impossibly deep he was inside of her.

Hux rested an arm around her waist, holding onto her, helping her steady herself as she slowly began to find a pace she could handle. Rey combed a hand through his hair as he continued to kiss at her neck and collarbone. His free hand drifted playfully over her breast, smugly savoring the way she’d shiver and whimper in response.

She felt dizzy and unsteady, but for a million wonderful reasons — his arms holding her so protectively, and all the new sensations he’d ignited within her. Rey desperately wanted to show him just how much this meant to her, how happy he made her, but all she could think to do was kiss him, deep and romantic. Hux kissed her back with matched intensity, bringing his hand from her breast to her hair. He threaded his fingers through her hair and held her close, kissing her with an energy she hadn’t expected from him.

In moments, she felt a heat coiling in her belly that she couldn’t stave off for long; it made her legs shake, her breathing grow shallower, her head start to spin. “H—Hux,” she breathed, trailing off to a mewl.

Rey leaned her forehead to his, smiling a little as she noticed the way his hair hung in his eyes again, sticking to the sweat beading on his forehead. “Mhmm,” he hummed against her lips before stealing a kiss.

He brought both hands to her hips, helping to keep her steady, keep her going as she reached her climax. Rey’s toes curled and it felt like her whole body shook with the intensity of it until she couldn’t bounce on his lap anymore, it was too much. She sank down onto him as the wave crashed over her, her head spinning as she came, clenching impossibly tight around Hux and bringing him to the very same peak.

He buried his face against her neck and shoulder, breathing heavily as a moan fell from his lips; it was the most beautiful sound Rey had ever heard — low and melodic, perfectly controlled like everything else about Hux. He held onto her with a protective, strong grip, arms sliding around her waist as she clung to him around his shoulders and tried to catch her breath.

Rey’s eyes drifted closed, already growing sleepy after the day they’d had, and of course the night’s activities, but she didn’t fall asleep. She was close, though, and knew that if she didn’t lift herself from Hux’s lap soon, she may never have the strength or energy to do it.

She stayed draped over him for a few more minutes, until he tapped at her hip to coax her into moving. Rey was reluctant, but obliged, settling herself onto the mattress next to him. As she did, Hux leaned over, kissing her again.

They didn’t speak; Rey wasn’t sure what either of them would say if they did. What just happened… she didn’t have words for it. It was different. Meaningful. Romantic. It left her heart beating frantically in her chest and a welcome, wonderful slight ache between her legs. It had been too long, but she’d loved every moment of it. It meant everything that it was with him.

Hux rose from the bed first, disappearing into the bathroom to get rid of the condom and wash himself up. Rey half-expected him to get dressed when he returned to the room, but he didn’t. He just went directly to the bed and started shuffling the blankets around, making them look vaguely as they would had the bed been made.

Rey took her turn in the bathroom and returned to find Hux just climbing into bed after fixing the blankets. He’d chosen to stay undressed, so Rey would, too. There was something thrilling about that, sleeping naked together. They’d wake up the next morning, the magic of their date night worn off, nothing but the new intimacy they’d forged left to remind them of it all.

As soon as she climbed under the blankets, she rolled to face Hux, a smile on her face.

“Hi.”

Rey’s smile grew. “Hi.”

He pushed a stray hair out of her face, just as she’d done so many times for him that night. “I had a good time tonight,” he said.

He stated it so factually, and Rey knew that indicated Hux really, truly meant it. Her heart swelled with happiness.

“I did, too,” she replied. “This whole week, even. It’s all been a dream.”

“Yes well, don’t think about what comes next,” Hux said. He talked about everything so factually — when she’d arrive, when she’d leave — that it was odd to hear him wanting to avoid those conversations, his denial that she’d have to leave the next day. “It’s still date night.”

Rey smiled, trying not to get wistful or sad that their time together was drawing to a close.

She yawned, effectively ruining the moment, and they were both glad for it. Serious conversations could wait until the next day.

Hux rolled onto his back to switch off the lamp on his bedside table. As he did, Rey rolled onto her other side. She smiled as she felt Hux settle in behind her, his breath warm on her shoulder and his arm protectively wrapped around her waist. The room was a picture of serenity, complete with the rain pattering gently on the windows.

Rey was asleep within seconds.

——

They took their time waking up the next morning; Rey wasn’t sure if she was the first awake, so she stayed still in bed, smiling sleepily at the sound of Hux’s soft snores. Sometime in the night she’d rolled over, choosing to use his chest as a pillow, rather than an actual pillow. He held her protectively, even in his sleep, and Rey had never felt so safe.

When the snores stopped, Rey assumed he’d also awakened. Rather than speaking, just in case, she chose to turn her head and press a small kiss to his chest. He released a shaky breath and Rey smiled. He was awake.

His fingers traced little circles on her shoulder blade, and Rey savored the moment, well aware they may not have a moment like it again for a while.

But before long, bodily functions were necessary, and Rey slowly climbed out of bed to use the restroom. Hux took a turn after her, and when he returned, he found Rey back in bed, sitting underneath the sheet, leaning against the headboard. Her upper body was covered with none other than the wrinkled navy blue button-down he’d tossed on the floor the night before.

Hux pulled on his briefs and eyed her mischievous smile. Though Rey wasn’t sure what came next, she did know that she liked being playful around him.

“Come,” he said, holding out a hand to her. “Let’s have some tea.”

Rey smiled, climbing out of bed to take his hand and follow him to the kitchen. She sat on a barstool at the counter while he made them tea and a small breakfast of porridge and berries. The whole gesture of making her breakfast put a smile on Rey’s face, though that smile faded when she realized it was half past twelve and she only had four more hours with him, including their travel time to the train station.

It was a painful realization. Somehow, their week had come and gone in the blink of an eye.

After porridge, they showered and dressed, and Hux helped Rey pack her things in a far more economical way than she would have. He managed to fit far more into her suitcase than she’d thought possible, and was grateful for his help.

Hux put on more tea and they sat together in his living room, his arm around her shoulders as they avoided the serious conversation they needed to have. They were going to try a long-distance relationship, they’d decided. What more needed to be said, honestly?

In the back of her mind, Rey knew there was probably more to it, but they could always address problems as they came up — right?

She only shed a few tears as they gathered their things and got into the cab Hux had hailed for them, to get them to Paddington station. He’d be seeing her off at the train station, as he always did, but this time felt different — happy and sad, all at the same time. Rey was a flurry of emotions, and given how stoic Hux had become since they got in the cab, he must be, too.

At the platform, Rey did her best to put on a brave face. She knew there were tears welling in her eyes, and she knew that she’d gotten the most wonderful, meaningful vacation of her life so there was really nothing to be sad about. But still… she was. A lot of uncertainty lay ahead.

But then Hux kissed her, and he smiled at her as the conductor called out for boarding. “Text me when you get in,” he said.

Rey nodded. She didn’t trust herself to speak; if she did, she would very likely start crying.

“Go on,” Hux said, nodding to the train. His voice was so soft, it was nearly a whisper.

There were so many things Rey wanted to say all of a sudden, but it was too late. She had to board the train, or she’d miss it.

She could miss it, right?

Wrong. She’d lose her job if she did. She had to be an adult about this — she had to be responsible and go back home and work her cafe job and try to return to normalcy after what had been a very long and grueling ten weeks to win her the Bake-Off title. To win her Hux.

“See you soon, Rey.”

She nodded, blinking in quick succession to stop any tears that were coming. They were a couple. They were strong. Surely they could withstand some time halfway across England from each other, right?

They stood at the secure gates, Hux unable to go any further. “Have a good trip,” he said finally, pressing one last kiss to her forehead before coaxing her through.

Rey had a feeling that they were holding the train for her, and that she should get a move on or they’d give up and leave without her. One of the conductors approached her to offer help loading her luggage, and it was clear she couldn’t put off the inevitable any longer.

Hux held up a hand, waving to Rey as she followed the conductor to the train. She boarded, her heart heavy, but full of hope at the same time. They’d had such a wonderful week together. It had been like she’d been living in a dream.

And they’d managed a long-distance relationship in the weeks they’d been together during the competition — surely things wouldn’t be much different now. Though they wouldn’t have every weekend together at a beautiful manor in Berkshire, they had FaceTime and they had Skype, and they had phone calls and text messages. That could get them through, right?

When Rey got settled into her seat, she pulled her phone from her pocket, already slipping earbuds into her ears. As she unlocked her iPhone, she saw a text message on the screen.

Safe journey.

She smiled, unable to stop the tears welling in her eyes. Quickly, she tapped out a reply.

Missing you already.

Though the weeks and months ahead sounded daunting, and like a lot of work, Rey couldn’t wait. She’d found something special in the tent at Bake-Off, and she had a strong feeling this was only the beginning.

It seemed very likely that this was just the start of one massive, wild adventure.