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Steve stared at the item on his desk. It was one of those cliché teddy bears, the ones you gave your partner on Valentines’ Day. He poked it with his pen and when it fell backwards, he smiled slightly. It was still very early, nobody else was in. It was on his desk and nobody shared that so unless the giver had gotten the wrong desk, someone had sent him a teddy bear.
He’d spent one Valentines’ Day with a partner and the other 34 of his life single. Or at least, single on that day. He had presumed that this one would be the same.
He stared at the bear again. It held a heart in its paws with white writing;
Be mine
As the lift door dinged open, Steve shoved the bear into his drawer. He didn’t want anyone to know about this. It was his mystery and clearly someone who knew where he sat might want to spend this Valentines’ Day with him.
“Alright?”
Steve looked at Kate and smiled, “you’re in early”.
“I’m always in early” Kate laughed, “it’s you who is rarely in early. I’ve been downstairs sorting out the bloody car pass”.
“Got a new car?”
“Lost the pass. I had it when I was shopping and then it’s just gone. It’ll turn up but had to get a new one and those bastards downstairs wanted me to put every detail on it”.
“If you need my details I’ll –
“Already done mate. I have them stored onto my phone”.
Steve nodded, “coffee?”
“Be great if you could. I need to click a link they’ve sent me on my emails. Although why they couldn’t just fucking text me it” Kate grumbled and dumped her bag on her desk.
Steve chuckled and walked to the kitchen. His eyes widened as he saw two mugs already out, coffee inside them, waiting for hot water to be added.
On closer inspection he saw that they were Kate and his mugs, the ones they used the most at least.
“Well that’s half a job done” he mumbled and boiled the kettle. He looked in his own mug and saw sugar had been added. He smiled. Kate must have started to make them before having to sort out her car.
Maybe Kate knew who had dropped the bear off at his desk.
“Kate?!”
He grabbed the mugs and walked towards their desks, “Kaaaate?”
“Yeah heard you the first time, what?”
He handed her mug across, “when you came in earlier, did you see anything on my desk?”
“I’ve not been in earlier. I had to sort the pass out straight away”.
“Oh? But the mugs were-
“Were what?”
“Is anyone else in early?”
“Not that I’ve seen” Kate sipped her coffee and winced, “think this one’s yours mate”.
Steve looked at his mug and sipped it, “shit yeah. Sorry” they swapped mugs and Kate smiled at him, “you missing something on your desk then?”
“No no…just…na it’s nothing mate”.
Kate nodded, “right well I’ve got a report to finish” she moved to her desk and he smiled softly.
“You busy tomorrow?”
“If I get the report done no. Why?”
“We should have a curry”.
Kate nodded, “you’ll wanna collect it then”.
“Why?”
“Valentines’ Day mate. Places will be packed”.
“I thought it was two days away”.
“Nope it’s tomorrow”.
“Oh”.
“Why? Were you planning on finding someone to have sex with so that you’re not alone?”
“God no” Steve laughed, “I’m past that game mate. Can’t be arsed with it all”.
“So you’re staying single then?”
“Never said that” he laughed and put his coffee down. He opened the drawer and held up the teddy, “this was on my desk this morning”.
“Ahh that explains you asking. S’Cute”.
“Never been bought anything for Valentines’ before”.
“Really? I thought you would’ve…well, had loads”.
“None” Steve smiled at the bear, “what about you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, when you and Mark were married you must’ve had a few”.
“Mark didn’t believe in the commercialism of Valentines’ so we didn’t”.
“Prick”.
Kate chuckled, “yep. Right now if you could stop distracting me that would be very helpful. Go play with your bear”.
“I’m gonna call him Fleming” he teased.
“Twat”.
Steve smiled and placed the bear back in the drawer and turned his computer on, ready for a day of reports and endless parking ticket violations.
When Steve got home there was a letter on his mat. He picked it up and smiled at the unfamiliar handwriting. It was hand-delivered and yet there was a sense that he knew the owner. He opened it as he walked into his kitchen. He froze. His post was always in a box downstairs, that meant whoever delivered this knew his address.
He slowly pulled out a card and laughed as he realised it was a Valentines’ card.
It was over the top, incredibly sappy. But it made him grin like a schoolkid.
He opened it and read the contents.
Steve,
If I could write a poem you’d have it, but unfortunately I am rubbish at this sort of thing, but you deserve the world. You deserve love.
I hope you accept mine.
Love, always
Steve smiled, “no clue as to who you are then?”
He turned it over and laughed.
No clues to give you, work it out Detective ;P
Was written on the back. He smiled, clearly someone liked him and knew him well. It could be Kate, but he doubted it. Kate wouldn’t go for this, she’d said it was all commercialism. Anyone could find his address in the office.
Anyone could know where he sat.
Steve took a photo of his card and sent it to Kate.
Got a card now, what next, chocolate?
I’m sure you’d prefer that chocolate to be on your so-called mystery gift giver mate.
Actually, good shout. If I do get chocolate, I’m melting it and putting on her.
What if it’s a bloke?
Don’t even put that image in my head Fleming
You’ve got an admirer then?
Seems that way. You busy?
Why?
Bored.
You can’t ask me over every time you’re bored. What if I’ve got a date?
Have you?
Beside the point
Have you?
No. I haven’t got a date
So come over
Prick. Alright I won’t be long. Need anything?
Chocolate ;)
“Right I got you a big bar of chocolate, if you even think of melting it and putting it on me I will murder you”.
Steve laughed, “as if you’d take your top off in front of me”.
“Exactly, I know you” she held up a bag, “this was outside your door”.
“A bag?”
“No a rhino” Kate said, “yes a bag”.
“Prefer the rhino” Steve grinned and took the bag from her.
Kate made herself a drink and smiled as he looked in the bag.
“Well this is uhm, I mean…mate clearly this isn’t I uh” he held up a pair of red lace knickers and looked at her, “they can’t seriously expect me to wear these can they?”
Kate looked at him and then at the knickers, “unless they’re showing you what they will wear for you?”
Steve eyed them, “that would be…wow” he breathed and looked in the bag again, “Christ”.
Kate rolled her eyes, “red your favourite colour?”
“Yeah” Steve blushed and pulled out a bra.
He examined it and gulped, “Christ”.
Kate looked at it, “nice brand that”.
Steve looked at her, “did you see who left it?”
Kate shook her head, “I took the lift, they must’ve taken the stairs”.
Steve nodded, “I don’t know who would do this? Who would fancy me in that office and then buy this?”
“Someone who thinks you’re worth it”.
“Me?”
“Well, they got you a cute teddy. Got you a card, and now they’ve bought sexy underwear. It’s someone who for some fault of their own, likes you”.
“Oi!”
Kate chuckled, “you should be out there looking for her not inviting me over”.
“I like your company”.
Kate patted his back, “well there’s a girl out there who wants your company”.
Steve smiled at her, “yeah”.
Kate looked into the bag and pulled out a card. She sniffed it and wrinkled her nose, “smells like that shit you wear”.
Steve sniffed it and smiled, “so they like what I smell like then”.
“Must have a problem then”.
“Oi!”
Steve sighed and stared at the bag with the sexy underwear in, at the teddy and at the card.
Kate looked across at him, “you alright?”
Steve nodded, “just thinking who would do that for me”.
“What, get you things?”
“Yeah…but also…who would want to be with me? Not exactly got the best track record with that”.
Kate shrugged, “not having a good past doesn’t mean you don’t qualify for love you daft sod”.
Steve sipped his beer, “what if its some creep?”
“What if it’s that receptionist?”
Steve looked at her, “I doubt it. She spells my name with a P”.
“What she spells is Peve?”
Steve laughed, “no like Steven but with a ph so Stephen”.
Kate laughed, “what a knob”.
“I’ve told her often enough it can’t be her”.
“Shame she’s pretty”.
Steve shrugged, “not my type but if you fancy her go ahead”.
“I don’t fancy her” Kate laughed, “I’m strictly into blokes; idiots mainly”.
“You including me there?”
“You’re a bloke, most of you are idiots”.
“Was Mark?”
“What a bloke or an idiot?”
“Both”.
Kate’s laugh died.
“Kate?”
“So this woman, if I like her she stays. If I don’t she buggers off”.
Steve nodded, “course. If you don’t like her what’s the point?”
Kate nodded, “good. Another?”
Steve nodded and handed her his empty beer bottle, “Kate?”
Kate smiled at him, “yeah?”
“If a bloke fancied you I’d have to like him too okay?”
Kate nodded, “of course”.
He smiled and briefly thought what Kate would look like in the sexy red lingerie as she went to his fridge. He licked his lips, what would she look like?
He moved to the bag, “Kate?”
“Yeah?”
“If the mystery woman doesn’t uhm, reveal herself? You’re welcome to the underwear”.
Kate looked at him quickly, “I’m what?”
“Well I just mean…like I’m not going to wear it”.
“Yeah but maybe your mystery fancy lady would want it back?”
“Why give it to me? Why not just turn up on my doorstep with that on?”
Kate handed him the beer, “if you ever meet her tell her that. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it”.
Steve chuckled, “yeah well if I don’t. You can have the underwear”.
Kate nodded and blushed slightly, “thanks”.
Kate fell asleep on his sofa and Steve watched. She had been dozing throughout the film he'd put on and was now fully asleep against him.
Her phone buzzed with a reminder and he glanced at it to silence the noise. Not wanting Kate to be woken by it.
11:00 Shave your legs Kate.
Steve laughed and covered his mouth. Trust Kate to have an alert for that. He smiled and locked the phone before his thumb scrolled. Old reminders appeared.
06:00 remember the bear
07:00 get the coffee ready for him
08:00 write the card and post it under his door
13:00 go to VS, pick up order.
He scrolled up and came across an upcoming alert for tomorrow.
18:00 Go to Steve’s wearing order. Pray he doesn’t laugh.
Steve blinked and looked at Kate, still asleep but now against him. Bear? Coffee? Card? VS? Now that he thought about it, the label on the bra had said Victorias’ Secret. VS could stand for that.
He gulped and looked at Kate. She would’ve worn it had he not text her to come over because he was bored. He thought she hated it but the more he thought, the more he realised that Kate had only said Mark hated the commercialisation of the holiday. She never said she hated it.
Steve licked his lips again and adjusted their position so Kate was lying flat on his sofa and he was lying beside her. He put her phone on the floor and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her.
He kissed her head and breathed her in, she’d smell like him if they stayed like this all night.
He smiled and kissed her neck, “I hope you do wear that order tomorrow Kate” he murmured.
Steve woke up on Valentines' Day with a woman in his arms, the woman he would hopefully, by the end of the day have in his arms again.
Now knowing that Kate was his secret Valentine it didn’t allow for much time on his part to return the favour. Not that Kate would expect it, but he wanted to, for the first time in his life he wanted to get a girl a gift on Valentines’ Day. His girl. Kate being his admirer made the teddy being called Fleming all the more sweeter.
He left Kate alone on the sofa and tided up their mess from the night before he got some fresh clothes ready for her. He scribbled a note for Kate to find when she woke.
Happy Valentines Mate. Had to rush off this morning to see Mum- emergency. Sorry. Be back at mine around 5. Still on for curry?
Steve x
He looked at Kate still sleeping and smiled, he had to make up for his lack of effort for Valentines for Kate. He phoned in sick to work, lying about a family emergency before he made a dash for the city centre.
Kate hated that Steve was in London and not here to annoy her into making a coffee every five minutes. She’d woken up alone on his sofa but she could smell Steve so strongly that she assumed she must’ve slept part of the night with him. She hoped his Mum was okay and that he really would be back that night.
Impulsively she’d put the underwear on under her work clothes that Steve had laid out for her.
The idea that Steve had been so thoughtful to do that almost made her want to forget to even wear the underwear. But if her plan was to work she needed to wear it.
Kate smiled at the teddy bear and then at the chocolate she’d bought Steve the night before. She had time before work so she wrote a note for Steve in case he came back here before she did.
Melt me x
Before placing it on the chocolate bar and leaving his flat.
Kate grinned and made her way to work where she was surprised to see a red rose on her desk alongside a note.
Kate, the love of my life x
Kate blushed and held the rose close, glad nobody was here to see her. Someone had thought of her on Valentines’?
It hurt that it wouldn’t be Steve but this was harmless. This was a sweet gesture and could very well be Steve being kind.
Kate placed the rose on her bag and made herself a coffee, she text a picture to Steve of her using his mug and received the aubergine emoji back.
It’s a big one! I like it!
Mine is the same size Fleming :P
Is it now? Would’ve thought with your history you’d be bigger
KATE!
Kate laughed and locked her phone before she walked across to her desk.
“This was downstairs, any ideas Kate?”
Hastings threw a teddy towards her, around its neck was a gift tag with her name on and she smiled.
It was a teddy to mirror the one she bought Steve.
I’m yours
“So she definitely liked it?”
“Yes Steve, Kate definitely liked it”.
“And she didn’t bin it?”
“No she- why would she?”
“I-I don’t know. Look uhm, can you ask her if she’s got any allergies?”
“Steve she’s your best mate, I’m sure you know if she has any allergies or not. And anyway, aren’t you meant to be looking after your Ma?”
“Yeah yeah I am but I uhm, well I feel bad for leaving Kate to finish the report alone. So I wanted to get her something”.
“Women like chocolate, flowers and thoughtfulness Steven”.
“I like her”.
“That’s not that hard to see fella”.
“I meant…I really like her”.
“I can keep her back here for half an hour extra if you need to prepare a meal for her”.
“Thanks Sir…Just…don’t piss her off. Kind of want to have a good night”.
“And with that knowledge I will hang up”.
Hastings looked at Kate and smiled as she got up to knock on his office door.
“Kate, what seems to be the problem?”
“Nothing wrong Sir. I was just wondering if DI Arnott informed you that our report will be a bit late”.
“He did, but I trust you can finish it without his pestering. I might need you to stay back a half hour. I have a meeting and I’ll need some level of competence in charge of this place whilst I’m gone”.
Kate nodded, “sure” she could get to Steve’s for 6. Even if she was a bit late it wouldn’t matter.
“Do you need any help?”
Steve blinked and looked at the sales assistant. He flushed as he realised he was caught staring at a load of bras. She smiled politely at him.
“This is our most popular one at the moment, perfect for Valentines’ Day”.
“I uh it’s very nice” he said.
“What’s your girlfriends’ size?”
“Oh I uh shit I didn’t realise I uh. I mean she’s not my girlfriend- we uh well I mean I like her a lot and I know she likes me too so it’s more of a uhm, secret Valentine I uh… maybe small? She’s small”.
The sales assistant nodded, “okay” and laughed slightly, placing her hand on his elbow she guided him towards a longer item.
“Oh uh Kate she doesn’t need a dress. She doesn’t wear dresses”.
“It’s a one piece” she handed it to him, “really sexy and that’s a small”.
Steve nodded, “I uh sure this this will be good”.
“What colour?”
“What? Oh uh well she bought a red bra?”
The assistant nodded and pulled out a red one piece, “it’ll match” she smiled, “would you like to get any panties? They’re on a 3 for £15 offer”.
Steve nodded, “I uh no I uh mean maybe” he breathed and looked at her, “I’ve never done this before”.
“Let’s leave it for today, but I can pop a little voucher in for our mutual climax range. If your night goes successfully you might be interested in our toy range”.
Steve flushed at the thought of toys and Kate, before he paid for his gift and made his way out. He needed to get one more item for her and the centre was the best place for it. Turning left he made a sharp turn up the street towards the shopping centre.
Kate made use of her one and only break of the day, she walked directly towards Ann Summers and found the red one piece she’d been eyeing up. A sales assistant smiled at her.
“Do you need any help?”
“No no I think I’ve got the right one”.
She smiled, “it’s a great choice. We’ve got an offer on the panties today, 3 for £15”.
“I’m fine thanks” Kate looked down at the till and saw boob shape jellies. She chuckled and put a box on the till.
“Do you need anything else? We’ve got a four pack of lube and wipes on offer”.
Kate shook her head, “I’m fine thanks”.
“I’ll pop a voucher for our mutual climax range into your bag, just in case you and your partner want to experiment with our toys”.
Kate nodded, “thanks…not sure if this night will be a success though”.
“First date?”
“Telling the man I’ve been in love with for the past 5 years how I feel about him”.
“Awh that’s adorable! We’ve had so many people in here today saying they were going on first dates and buying this for the first time. Actually, one man bless him bought a one piece like this earlier. Bundle of nerves”.
Kate smiled, “hopefully we’re both lucky tonight then”.
“Are you on our emails?”
“I am” Kate said, “actually I’ve got a code?”
The girl nodded and after Kate paid she smiled and put a free sample in her bag.
“Just in case” she winked.
Kate grinned, “thanks” before leaving quickly. She had to get back to work before her lunch hour was up. Her attention flew to Steve and she wondered if he was okay. If his mum was okay.
How’s your Mum?
Good. Coming back home now. Delays on M5. Be back at mine around 6?
I’ll be back after, got extra work. Can you order the curry? Won’t have time.
Sure thing
Steve put his phone away and added the spaghetti to his basket and smiled at all the other men who were eagerly looking for a Valentine’s Day meal. He grabbed a bottle of wine and box of chocolates before paying. He had everything he needed for Kate. He smiled, tonight would be perfect.
Kate let herself into Steve’s apartment and smiled as she heard music playing.
“Iya” she called out.
“Hey” Steve smiled and looked at her, “I made us Spaghetti Bolognese”.
“You made us dinner?”
Steve smiled, “yeah”.
“Awh Steve”.
She put her bag down, “how long is it?”
“Nearly ready, wine?”
“Please”.
Kate smiled at him, “this is just what I needed”.
Steve smiled, “me too”.
He took her coat from her and looked at her, “you’re very beautiful. You know?”
Kate blushed, “thanks”.
Steve smiled at her, “I wrote you a card”.
“You wrote me a card?”
Steve handed it to her and smiled, “beautiful women on Valentine’s Day deserve a card”.
Kate blushed again, “Steve”.
He plated up their dinner and lit the candle on the table, “dinner Kate Fleming, is served”. Kate put the card down and approached the table. She sat and smiled at him. He smelt good. He looked good.
“I took your advice about the curry. Figured home cooked was more romantic”.
“It is” Kate said, “question is why do you want to be romantic Steve?”
“Can’t I be romantic with you Kate?”
Kate nodded, “you can” she smiled softly.
Steve grinned and held her hand across the table.
“Starting to think this is a date” she said softly.
“I think that was your intention when you got me the teddy”.
Kate bit her lip, “it was”.
Steve smiled, “and the underwear? It’s not in the bag anymore”.
“I’m wearing it”.
Steve nodded and smiled, “can you show me?”
“I can”.
Kate unbuttoned her shirt and looked at him as she took it off. His breath hitched as she took her trousers off and moved to stand near him so he could look at her, she’d added the one piece before coming over. He chuckled and tugged at the one piece.
“Hey careful with that” Kate laughed.
Steve stood quick and kissed her hard, moving them back so her body pressed against the wall. He hitched her legs up to wrap around his waist and he ripped the one piece open.
“Steve!” Kate gasped as his hand reached down into her knickers.
“I bought you the same fucking one piece earlier” he growled against her neck, leaving kisses so dark they looked like they’d stain. Kate moaned as he slipped a finger into her. She bucked her hips as her toes curled.
Steve kissed her harder as he fucked her with a finger. Teetering her as close as he could before he tugged her knickers down, unzipping himself he pressed up against her. Thrusting in as Kate gripped him.
“Oh jesus” she breathed as he gripped them.
“Gonna…gonna make you come” he growled and thrusted fast. Kate whined, gasping for him as he thrusted.
She couldn’t believe a few minutes ago she was enjoying dinner with Steve and now she was having sex with him against his wall. Steve kissed her again, deepening it as he took her bra off. The ruined remains of the one piece hung on her body as his fingers stroked her breast. Pinching her nipple before his mouth took it. He bit and sucked at the flesh as he built up a tempo, “so beautiful” he breathed into each kiss.
Kate felt herself lose control, her body was his. Each touch ignited her, she was losing it. Her body moved a dance of Steve’s choice.
Kate gripped him, “Steve- I-I” she yelped, “I can’t just I-i-Ooh” she gripped him tighter as she came. Pressing her chest against his face as her body became hers again.
She gripped him as he moved to pull out.
“n-No” she breathed, “stay…been so long for you I want to feel it”.
Steve nodded and thrusted faster, allowing himself the pleasure of feeling her tighten around him as he came.
He kissed her softly and smiled. She was naked in front of him whereas he still had his shirt on, his boxers on the floor.
Kate gripped him and sucked on his bottom lip, “melt the chocolate” she ordered.
Kate woke up on the floor of Steve’s flat. His body was curled protectively towards hers. His leg between hers, gripping her.
She was still naked, so was Steve. She smiled and brought her body closer to his, kissing him.
“Wake up” she murmured against his lips, “Arnott”. She stroked him slowly and he smiled in his sleep, hardening in her hand.
“Oh Steve” she breathed, “don’t make me start without you”.
Steve opened an eye, “by all means Fleming” he gripped her hips and she straddled him. Kate whimpered as she rocked down on him.
“Three days off” he growled, “I am not leaving you”.
Kate tilted her hips as Steve fucked her with his tongue, the man was good at sex. Good at everything to do with sex. He made her come with his fingers, his tongue, his words. He barely left her. Was always in her. They’d ordered food in, Steve had fucked her in every position. Over the sofa, on the sofa, beside the sofa. Over his table. On his table.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn clothes, each time she’d gone to Steve had seduced her out of them.
As Kate came Steve winked at her.
“So beautiful” he kissed her and slipped into her again. She gripped him and smiled at him.
“You feel so good” she breathed.
Steve kissed her, “so do you”.
“We have work tomorrow”.
“I can’t leave you” he breathed and thrusted more, “so good Kate. Can never last…gonna come”.
Kate gripped his shoulders as he thrusted again before pulling out and coming across her stomach. Kate panted and looked at him. He smiled at her, “guess we’ll have to wash”.
Kate laughed as she lifted her up, knowing just how much washing they’d end up doing.
“I take it you pair made the most of your few days off” Hastings said to them as Steve kissed Kate against their lockers. Steve pulled back and flushed.
“I don’t mind you together but if you could keep your hands to yourself in the office that would be grand”.
Kate nodded and licked her lips, “we will Sir”.
Hastings nodded and when Kate looked at Steve he sighed, “one of you make a drink. The other, go sit at your desks, I do not want to have to tell you pair to keep your hands to yourselves again”.
“Yes Sir” Kate smiled and then grinned at Steve, “I’ll go make the drinks” she teased before moving swiftly towards the kitchen.