We had yet to be at one of our houses alone since then, our families just never seemed to need to go anywhere. I guess it meant that we just were not meant to be with each other in that way yet. Sure we things would get heated in the car or at work a few times but nothing ever goes far.
Steve and I were hanging out at his house the week leading up to Valentine's day, I was working on some homework and he was 'helping' me. His help consisted of making sure I was eating and drinking through the day but he also massaged my shoulders if I was getting tense. I was rubbing my temples while my head was in Steve's lap. He was reading the paper I had just finished, I closed my eyes as I didn't want to see his reaction to it.
"Steve, could you come help me," his mom called from the other room.
"Coming," he replied.
I moved myself off of him so he could get up, I laid my head on the couch cushion and I heard him talking to his mom when he reached her.
"Are we going somewhere?" Steve asked.
"You aren't, but your father and I are for Valentine's day, we booked a little getaway for the weekend. There is money and a grocery list in the kitchen for you so you don't starve or spend all your meals at the King's house" his mom replied.
My family wouldn't have minded at all, my grandpa would love to have another male around more often. But this meant that Steve would have the house to himself, for a few days.
"I'll manage here alone, don't worry about me" he replied.
I sat up as I heard him walking towards the stairs and saw him carrying suitcases up. His mom came over to me smiling softly as she stopped and whispered to me.
"You'll cook for him won't you? I don't need him burning the house down."
"Of course Mrs. Harrington, I'll make sure the house is in good condition when you return" I replied.
She followed Steve upstairs and I began to gather my things up, I would need to be getting back home soon and now was a good time to get my stuff packed up since Steve was helping his mom. When I was done he had come back downstairs, he called out to his parents that he was taking me home and would be back later. We got into the car and buckled up, he didn't start the car yet though.
"Did she tell you to cook for me so I don't burn down the house?" he asked.
"Did she do that with all your girlfriends?" I replied.
"You're the first actually, but she has asked other moms to make sure the house is in one piece and to bring me a meal now and again. I have not once done anything to bring concern of possibly burning the house. So I don't understand why she does it."
"She wants to know you're well taken care of," I smiled lightly. "So, you have the whole house to yourself for the weekend. Coming up with any big plans?"
"Well there's this girl that I have been dating and I really want to take the next step with her but just haven't had a chance to be alone with her except in the car and well that's not a very romantic place to make love for the first time."
"No it's really not. The first time should be special and romantic."
"Should I go for it? Have her over for a nice dinner, some mood lighting then take her upstairs and blow her mind?"
I nodded my head, he was cute when he talked like this and clearly talking of me. I couldn't really contain the happiness that flew through me as we would finally have a chance at being alone again.
"Alright I'll do it, I gotta get you home first so that I can go ask her."
"Steven!" I hit his arm and glared.
He leaned over and kissed me deeply before starting the car and beginning to drive me home. He glanced at me to see if I was still glaring at him, which I was.
"Fine I'll just go and spend the weekend at Robin's and tell her all sorts of secrets. Like how you get your hair so wonderful" two could play this game.
"Wait, how do you know?"
"You don't remember I was with you and Dustin that day? I may have been walking ahead of you but I could still hear everything."
"Please don't tell her, of course it's you that I want over" he placed his hand on my thigh and gently rubbed circles on it. "Every minute of every day if it were possible."
"Then you can pick me up for work on Friday, we can go back to your place afterwards."
When I got inside after he dropped me off I got up the courage to ask my mom if I could spend the weekend with Steve, we had a long conversation about it. I was open and honest with her. She wasn't happy with the idea at first but she trusted me and let me do it. Though if anyone else in my family asked, I was going to be spending the weekend with Robin and only see Steve on Valentine's day for dinner. Of course I would tell Robin that I was using her as a cover so that I could stay with Steve.
"Robin, how much do you love me?" I asked, leaning my head on her shoulder at work. Steve was helping a customer on the other end of the store.
"Not as much as Steve does, why?" she replied.
"We're besties right?"
"Yes we are best friends. You, me and Steve."
"I have a favor to ask."
"What do you need?"
"I'm spending Valentine's weekend at Steve's, if my family asks where I'm at I want to tell them I'm sleeping over a your house."
"You want to use me as a cover so you and Steve can be alone? Could be worse, I'll cover for you. But I expect to have a real sleepover at some point."
"You are the best Robin." I hugged her tight. "I promise we can have a real sleepover soon."
When Valentine's day had come I had a small bag packed of things for the weekend and had a nice dress for dinner with Steve. Steve picked me up for work and even though we had to work most of the day we still planned to go out after our shift. Robin had no plans so she was going to be closing the store solo. I got ready in the bathroom at the end of the night, I did the best I could with my hair and I put on some make-up before pulling my dress on. I balanced carefully to get my heels on without falling over. I left the bathroom and was met with dropped jaws by Robin and Steve.
"You are a very lucky man Steve. She looks hot," Robin said.
Steve closed his mouth now and it became a smile as I walked over to them, he had put on some nicer clothes as well. I reached him and he took my hand, placing a kiss on my cheek so he wouldn't mess up my lipstick.
"You look incredible Rachel, I mean you always do..but this..wow" Steve said.
"You look pretty incredible yourself," I replied.
We left for dinner after thanking Robin again for closing on her own. It was a very lovely dinner then we went back to his place. We had decided on having dessert there, Steve had bought something special for it when he did the shopping with his mom's list. We worked together on making the dessert and I began to work on the dishes after it was put in the oven to cook.
"Take a seat I'll do this, '' he said as he came up behind me and kissed my neck softly.
"If you say so," I replied before putting the dish back in the sink and drying my hands. I walked over to the counter nearby and sat on top of it. I planned to stay there while he did the dishes so we could still talk.
"You Steve Harrington are husband material."
He was finishing up the dishes now, it was nice to sit and watch him like this. Just us, no kids or parents but alone. It felt good, it just felt right.
"Oh am I?" he said, coming over and sprinkling water in my face before drying his hands on the towel.
"Yes, you helped clear the table and did the dishes without my having to ask at all."
"I have my motives," he threw the towel onto the counter and slipped himself between my legs.
He caressed my face, then my neck and ran his hand down my arm to take my hand in his. He picked it up and kissed it softly, slowly kissing up my arm.
"You are wife material," he said between the kisses. "Trusting, a good cook, beautiful."
He was now kissing along my neck, up to my cheek and placing a single soft kiss on my lips. He lingered there for a moment. My eyes were closed at the touch of his lips along my body.
"You'll make a great mom someday too, you're already so good with the kids." His hand was holding my neck now.
I opened my eyes to look at him, "You're a pretty great dad yourself," I replied.
We have never talked about this before, jokes of course had been thrown around of Steve and I being the parents of the group but this felt more serious. Talk of husbands, wives and kids. I had thought of the future over the past couple of months and saw myself with Steve in it.
"I love you."
"I love you too," after my words I pulled him in to kiss me and he happily let it happen.
Before long both our shirts were gone, I had a hand tangled in his hair, the other gripping his back while he sucked the skin on my collarbone. He had his hands on my hips as he pulled me against him, leaving no room between us as he kissed up my neck again to reach my lips. I wrapped my legs around his waist, keeping that contact
"Steve," I muttered as I pulled away briefly.
"Yes?" he asked as he leaned his forehead against mine.
"Bedroom."
I did not need to tell him twice, his arms wrapped around me again as he lifted me off the counter. I tightened my legs around his waist at the sudden movement. He began to carry me from the kitchen and towards the stairs which led up to where his bedroom was.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was leaning against the counter in the kitchen. I had one of Steve's shirts on, my wet hair was braided down my back and I saw Steve come in wearing sweatpants and his hair was wet. I smiled at him and he kissed the top of my head.
"You look good in my t-shirt," he said.
"I might never return it then," I replied, wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging him.
"It's yours then."
We sat at the table and enjoyed the dessert together, enjoying the quiet around us as we ate. I couldn't help but smile every so often and I knew he saw it. I was still on cloud nine and looked forward to the rest of the weekend with him. After we cleaned up the dessert, we went upstairs to finish getting ready for bed. I laid my head on Steve's chest, he played with my hair as I slowly fell asleep in his arms.
The next morning I woke up to Steve's arm around my waist and his head nuzzled into my neck. He was still asleep so I just laid there for a few moments smiling at waking up in his arms. It didn't take long before his alarm went off though, pulling me into the reality that we have work. I heard and felt him groan. I giggled lightly at his breath against me, he tightened his arm around me and made sure I was pressed against him.
"Can't we just call in sick today? Stay just like this the whole day?" he asked.
"No, we can't do that to Robin. We have to go work, but on the bright side I will be coming right back here with you afterwards" I replied as I tried to get him to let go.
"You're so warm though, don't go" he said as I finally got out of the bed.
"I'll go get some breakfast started."
I headed out of his room and down the stairs, still only in his shirt and a pair of underwear. Not even bothering to get dressed yet. I began to work on making some breakfast as well as packing lunches. I was putting the food onto plates when I heard Steve speaking.
"I could get used to this view," he said while leaning against the door frame.
"Take a seat before it gets cold, I also packed some lunches for us" I told him as I put the plates on the kitchen counter. I sat on one of the bar-stools and he sat beside me, kissing my cheek softly and picked up his fork.
"Thank you for breakfast."
"You're welcome."
We ate then went to get ready for the day, after we both had finished we walked to the car. We were picking Robin up on the way to keep with the charade of my staying at her place. She got in the car and eyed us both but said nothing. Steve had his hand on my thigh while he drove.
"You guys are going to keep your hands to yourself at work right?" Robin asked and I blushed.
"Robin!" Steve looked in the mirror at her while he spoke.
"What, it's not like I don't know what you two did last night."
"We'll keep our hands to ourselves Robin if you keep your mouth shut."
"Will do."
The rest of the drive was silent, of course it would be no surprise to Robin what Steve and I would be getting up to this weekend but I didn't think she would so bluntly point it out. Then again Robin was very blunt about things. We arrived at work and luckily Keith was not going to be there today, he wasn't often there when the three of us were working. The morning passed quickly, Steve and I kept our distance from each other. Just after lunch Dustin and Mike showed up, they were bored at home apparently and Lucas had basketball practice.
"You could try reading a book, or I don't know, spend time at your own homes" Robin said looking at them.
"But we came to see our favorite people," Dustin replied smiling.
"Aw Dustin, I love you too buddy" I said, hugging him as I passed by.
"Seriously, you two cave far too much with these kids" Robin rolled her eyes and went about checking the shelves.
"But Robin is right, here is not really a place to hang out. You guys probably also have plenty of homework to do" I said, leaning against the counter and looking at them both.
"But Rachel, it's Saturday and we don't want to be cooped up inside."
"So you chose to be cooped up in the video store instead?"
"Well not cooped up, but talking with our friends."
"You two seriously need friends your own age."
"Says the girl whose only other friend her age isn't here, doesn't give you much ground to tell us to make more friends" Mike said.
Ouch, when did these kids turn savage? I mean yeah I do work with two out of the three friends still remaining in Hawkins. I couldn't argue with him there. I shook my head before walking away and heard them high five.
"Steve, when did our boys become so mean?" I laid my head against his back while he stocked shelves.
There weren't any customers in the store, I don't count Dustin and Mike since they came just to be annoying and wanting entertainment.
"They're teenagers now, they are figuring out boundaries and limits. They'll get sense knocked into them before long don't worry" Steve replied as he patted my head.