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The party in the preserve was in full effect by the time Stiles got there. Drinks were flowing, the fire was blazing, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Of course, they were. School was over and they were all back home in Beacon Hills, celebrating summer break.
Stiles plopped onto a log that had been rolled over for seating. A surprisingly chilly gust of wind rolled through the clearing, causing Stiles to wrap his arms around himself for warmth. No one else seemed affected, but they were closer to the fire. He supposed that some of them were also supernatural, and they tended to run warm for the most part.
As he watched everyone laughing and talking over each other, a familiar voice called out from behind him, "Cold?"
Stiles froze for a second before glancing over his shoulder, eyes widening at the lone walker making his way over.
Derek Hale.
Also known as Stiles's crush of epic proportions. Not that Derek had any idea. Hell, Derek probably didn't even know who Stiles was. He was a few years older, already a junior, when Stiles first saw him at Beacon Hills High School. Derek had been an upperclassman assigned to show the freshman around during orientation. That had been four years ago. Derek hadn't noticed him at all that day or year. Or the one that followed. And then Derek graduated.
Stiles went the next two years without seeing Derek more than a handful of times and eventually got over his crush. Or so he thought. But then Stiles graduated and was surprised to see Derek across the quad when he started at university that fall.
Derek had been tossing a frisbee around with some friends. He'd leapt in the air to catch it, and Stiles damn near choked on his tongue when his shirt rode up, revealing all that smooth skin and heavy muscle. Derek had been a little leaner in high school but had apparently bulked up quite a bit. Not a surprise since he was athletic. As soon as Stiles found out Derek was on the baseball team, he always went to every game just for that extra glimpse of Derek and his dimpled smile.
Which naturally meant that as soon as spring hit, Stiles looked up the schedule for the university’s baseball team and, yes, attended every home game he could.
Needless to say, his crush came roaring back.
Derek's chuckle jarred Stiles from his memories, and he was encased in warmth as Derek placed a leather jacket around his shoulders. It was the one Stiles had seen him wear often. Stiles couldn't help but inhale deeply. It smelled like grease, motor oil, and gasoline, which made sense since Stiles knew Derek worked at the local garage during the past few summers.
"You looked like you could use this," Derek said, sitting beside him. "You're Stiles, right? I'm Derek."
Stiles had to bite back a gasp as Derek's arm casually brushed against his.
"Y-yes," Stiles stammered as warmth crept up his cheeks. He always blushed so easily, but thankfully he could blame it on the cold. Probably. He couldn't really think right now because Derek knew his name! "I'm Stiles."
Derek smiled, those damn dimples popping through the dark scruff on his cheeks, and Stiles's heart tripped over itself. He could only hope that Derek wasn't able to hear it over the noise of everyone around them. Damn werewolves with their enhanced hearing. Especially since Derek was an alpha.
"I saw you around campus this year," Derek said, and then someone called his name and he nodded to them before returning his attention to Stiles. "So, what are you doing over here all by yourself?"
"Just taking in the scenery, I guess." Stiles was glad his voice didn't betray his nerves. It was as if a kaleidoscope of butterflies had been released and were fluttering around his stomach.
Derek had seen him around school? That was strange since they weren't in any of the same classes. Hell, Stiles didn't think they even shared any buildings since Derek's studies were focused on architecture for his major while Stiles was taking classes geared more toward criminal justice.
"What about you?" he asked, surprised he was still able to speak. Seriously, Stiles's mind had shorted out the moment he recognized Derek's voice.
What were words? Stiles wasn't sure he'd be able to recite the alphabet at this point.
"I just came to hang out with some friends." Derek smiled again, and it was the most amazing thing to witness. He smiled with his whole face. His eyes got a bit squinty, crinkling in the corners, lips parting to reveal his bunny teeth, and his nose scrunched up in a way that could only be described as adorable.
Captivating.
Beautiful.
God, Derek was so fucking unrealistically gorgeous. In every way. And Stiles couldn't help trailing his eyes over Derek's face and down his body. He was chiseled, sculpted, carved, hewn…pick one. Derek was all the adjectives there were for hard, masculine beauty.
And for some reason, his attention was on Stiles right now.
"Actually, that's a lie," Derek said. His smile turned shy as he ducked his head. "Um…Erica actually told me you'd be here."
"Erica…Reyes?" That was the only Erica that Stiles knew. She was in a few of his classes since they were both freshmen. They were friendly—study buddies who, on occasion, would send each other TikToks when they were bored.
Stiles would ask how Derek knew her, but she'd started dating Boyd, Derek's best friend, a few months ago.
"Yeah. I hope that's alright. She mentioned that you lived here too, so I asked around about you." Derek shrugged as if it were no big deal, but holy shit. Derek had noticed him at school. Had asked about him.
Shit. Was Derek interested in him?
Stiles didn't want to assume, but their arms still brushed with how close Derek was sitting. And then there was his smile and the way he kept his attention on Stiles despite all the people around. Some of whom had been trying to get Derek to notice them.
He didn't.
Stiles imagined that he was doing a damn good impersonation of the mind-blown emoji right now. Hope bloomed in his chest at the thought, making his words come out faster than he'd intended. "I…wow. That's…very flattering. What did you want to know?"
Derek grinned. "Everything."
It was said with such sincerity that Stiles had no choice but to believe him. And then Derek reached out and brushed his knuckles against Stiles's hand, and it was like an electric jolt shot straight through him. It was impossible to hold back the gasp that escaped Stiles's lips.
Derek chuckled, and the sound was like a melody of sweet bells.
"Everything, huh?" Stiles licked and pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, watching the way Derek tracked the movement. The way his pupils dilated and his breath caught in his throat. "Well, that's an awfully big request. Where do you want me to start?"
Derek’s eyes sparkled in the light of the fire as he smiled. "From the beginning."
"That might take a while," Stiles said with a laugh, feeling as though they were suddenly cocooned in their own little world at the party. Everyone else faded away until it was just them. "Do you have time?"
"For you?" Derek asked, eyebrows raised in anticipation as he leaned closer. "Absolutely."
"Alright. From the beginning then." Stiles turned toward the fire as it crackled, giving him an excuse to avert his eyes as Derek's gaze seemed to bore into him. God, Derek was almost too gorgeous. It was unnerving.
But also, he was so captivated by Derek's presence that he barely realized time passing as he spoke. First, an hour and then two. People trickled away as the party died down, but still, they didn't move. Derek sat there, patiently listening, and Stiles felt like the luckiest person alive.
Making conversation was easier than usual; the words and stories flowed without effort. It was as if they were childhood friends, reconnecting after being apart. And Derek wasn't just listening to respond. He seemed to genuinely want to get to know Stiles more. He commented and asked questions, especially when Stiles talked about his mom. Something he usually avoided since most people got weird and awkward, not knowing what to say when he brought up her death. But Derek made Stiles feel seen.
He felt utterly content and alive for the first time in a long time.
It was the best feeling in the world, and Stiles hated when the fire eventually died, and it was time to go. He eased himself up from the log, blushing when Derek rose with him and placed a hand on the small of his back. Derek didn't move it as they headed to their cars, as if he couldn't bear to break that bit of contact.
Unfortunately, it was a short walk.
"Here," Stiles said, shrugging Derek's leather jacket off, but Derek shook his head.
"Keep it."
So Stiles put it on properly, chuckling at the way it enveloped him.
"Looks good on you," Derek said, his voice low and rough, almost coming out as a growl. Then he looked deep into Stiles's eyes, and when he spoke, his words were laced with hope. "Can we do this again? Soon?"
"Yeah, I—" Stiles swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. "I'd really like that."
Like, really like that.
Derek nodded and smiled, his gaze not once leaving Stiles's face as he stepped closer.
Stiles could read the intent in his eyes, in the way Derek licked his lips. So he wasn't surprised when Derek reached out and hauled him close, kissing him.
It was like fire and electricity. Sparks and pleasure. Every single molecule in Stiles's body lit up and he shivered in delight. It was as if Stiles had never been kissed before, and Derek had just gone and shown him what it was all about.
When they parted, air rushed into Stiles's lungs. He was lightheaded in the best way. Menacingly happy, and it took everything not to giggle like a fool.
Stiles wet his lips, chasing the taste of him. Wanting more.
Derek brushed his thumbs against Stiles's cheeks as he cradled Stiles's face, leaving a searing path of heat and electricity in its wake. He pressed their foreheads together, and his breath fanned over Stiles's face as he whispered, "Tell me you felt that too."
Stiles could only nod. His heart beat so fast he was sure it was about to burst out of his chest. This moment was surreal. Life changing.
"Good." Derek smiled as he stepped back, and Stiles immediately missed the press of his body against him. The way he held Stiles's face as if he were precious. His hands left a tingling sensation behind, and Derek flashed Stiles a final grin before opening the Jeep door for him. "How about I give you a call tomorrow."
"Don't you need my number?" Stiles asked as he climbed in, even though he was still in a bit of a daze. Derek had kissed him. He'd kissed Derek Hale. It was something he'd never even dared to dream about.
But now, as he touched his fingertips to his lips, he knew something special was beginning.
"I, uh, I already got it from Erica." Derek ducked his head again, but Stiles could see the way his lips quirked up.
Such a smug asshole and Stiles couldn't help but swoon at the confident display. Especially when Derek winked at him before closing the driver's door and jogging over to his Camaro.
As Stiles started the engine, his phone pinged with a notification.
Unknown: Hey. It's Derek. Now you have my number too.
Stiles quickly saved Derek's contact, sending back a heart-eyes emoji. A silly smile tilted up at the corners of his mouth as he thought about what might lay ahead, exploring this new relationship, and he absolutely could not wait.