Chapter Text
I made my best attempt at sliding into the Stardew Saloon unnoticed. I really did. But as always, every eye in the joint turned my way as soon as I opened the door. Gus and Emily hollered welcomes, Marnie waved and patted a stool beside her, Clint blushed over his wobbly smile, Pam teetered on her stool while grinning hazily.
So much for losing myself in a well-deserved beer.
I stopped to make pleasantries with the locals, even though I was in no mood. And I tried to sound upbeat about the farm, even though I was lying through my teeth. By the time I sidled up to the counter to get a drink, I must’ve looked a little brittle because it was the first time Shane ever really spoke to me.
“You look rough,” he huffed.
I snorted, leaning on the bar and throwing a thumb behind me. I dropped my voice to a conspiratorial whisper; “The entire town seems to think I look like the goddamn sunshine and gossip train.”
Shane laughed, though the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. He flagged Emily with two fingers, and she fetched a couple mugs from under the bar.
“This one’s on me,” he said, settling onto a bar stool and watching Emily work. “I can always tell when someone needs a drink.”
“Thank you, but don’t expect me to return the favor: as of today, I’m officially broke,” I sighed, plopping down.
He frowned, casting a sidelong glance at me. “Didn’t you just move into that old ranch west of town?”
I nodded. Emily put the beers down in front of us, and I gave her a halfhearted smile and nod as thanks before she bustled off. “It’s been one whole season,” I confirmed, then took a deep drink, licking the foam from my upper lip. “But it looks like I’ll be moving back to the city soon.”
Shane cocked his head. “Why?”
“Because I’m a shitty farmer,” I answered frankly.
He snorted. “How bad can it be?” He lifted the mug to his lips, downing half the glass in one breath.
“Oh, very bad. As in, spent just about all the money I had on seeds that went to shit with the wild rain we’ve been having. The two plants that did grow aren’t enough to buy any summer crops. The rest of my money got sunk into a sapling that apparently won’t produce a damn thing until fall,” I heaved in one fast breath. I paused to sigh. “So, basically, I’m fucked.”
“Oh yeez! I’m so sorry, but wow!”
I shrugged. “I know this is some city slicker nonsense, but I just assumed farming would be easy. Pretty much as soon as our ancestors stepped out of the caves, they were figuring this shit out. So why can’t I do it?”
He shrugged, but his eyes were dark, his expression grim. He glanced down and saw that my mug was low, so he waved to Emily for two more.
I tried to grab his arm. “Hey, man, I can’t let you to do that.”
“Normally, I’m just buying them for myself. I stand over there until I’m drunk, then I wander home,” he said, gesturing broadly. “Tonight, I’m getting us both pleasantly buzzed.”
I looked over at him suspiciously. “You’re not this nice.”
He laughed, his eyes fixed dead ahead at the bar. “Nope,” he replied, taking a long sip.
We stepped out into the brisk night air together, several beers down but not nearly drunk. I heard peepers in the distance and smiled ruefully to myself. Summer was on its way to the valley, and I wouldn’t be around to experience it. I had started out my adventure with big dreams of an orchard, chubby little piglets, corn silk blowing in the breeze. But all those things had slipped through my fingers.
When Lewis had challenged me to raise some parsnips to get my feet wet, I figured it would be unfuckupable. I was shocked when crows ate up a few of the tender little leaves poking through the soil, but the rest of the crop did okay–not stellar, but passable. So I quickly took the proceeds and bought all of the potato seeds I could afford while still having enough gold to get by. And that’s when–
“Walk with me.” He wasn’t really asking, but I didn’t really have anything better to suggest. I locked arms with him and we headed north. Shane was silent as we strolled and it was nice. I loved that Shane was the official town jerk, just by virtue of not falling all over himself to become best friends with everyone he met. A few of the times I’d tried to make conversation with him, he had been unfriendly–once, bordering on outright hostile–but it reminded me of people I saw on the streets of Zuzu City. Not really meaning to be rude so much as annoyed that you were prying into their business when they were so clearly busy.
“Did you grow up here?”
“Nope, I was a city boy,” he replied, glancing down his nose at me.
I hummed my approval. “I knew I liked you,” I said with a smirk.
He returned the sly smile.
We approached the Community Center. “Watch this,” he whispered, sneaking up towards the door and pulling a hairpin out of his pocket. I watched with amusement as he prepared to pick the lock–and quite theatrically, at that.
“No, watch this,” I insisted, stepping forward. With a flourish, I reached out and turned the doorknob. “And voilá!”
He blinked confusion up at me. I chuckled and explained, “Lewis unlocked it so I could chase out some rats.”
He looked in the door, still confused, still crouched with the pin in his hand. “Well shit,” he sighed. “There goes my entire pick-up act.”
“Nice try.” I smiled at him as he stood and dusted off his knees. “Anyway, after you.”
He stepped through the door, surveying the derelict space. “I like it in here. It feels like someplace totally different than the rest of the valley.”
He had no idea. “So you’re trying to pick me up, are you?”
He smirked. “Only if you want me to.”
I laughed. “I think so,” I drawled. “But I already told you that I’m not here for the long haul.”
He came closer. Through a smirk, he whispered, “That’s perfect.” He kept walking until his chest bumped into mine, and he kept going, walking until my back bumped into a wall. His head dipped into my neck and he kissed my collarbone just above my shirt, his teeth scraping my skin. “Let me know if it’s too much,” he said, his breath chilling the kiss on my flesh. I nodded, my mouth hanging open in a gasp, my eyes wrenched shut.
Shane did not strike me as the forward type.
His hands snaked from my hips up to cup my shoulder blades, then down my arms and up my sides again. All the while, his lips, tongue and teeth were on my neck and breastbone, his stubble scratching my skin. I shivered, my fingers digging into his thick hair.
His eyes checked mine as his fingers grasped the hem of my shirt. I nodded again and his hands swept under my shirt, pulling the cups of my bra down under each breast so his thumbs could circle my nipples.
My hands grew antsy as he touched me. I stretched to touch him, but he stepped out of my reach. “Ah-uh,” he mumbled. “Not just yet.”
I made a disappointed sound and he chuckled, stepping close again and raking his teeth along my earlobe. “Now now,” he whispered. His voice was teasing. “We’re just making out.”
I laughed, and it came out deep and throaty. “We can’t make out with my hands all over you?”
“Tomorrow, maybe.”
I lifted an eyebrow and opened my mouth to deliver a saucy retort, but he crashed his body into mine, his lips swallowing my words as he rolled my nipples between his fingers. I hummed into his kiss, rocking my hips to grind against his. Without breaking the kiss, a finger hooked the front of my jeans and his other hand dipped in. He spread his palm across my belly. Catching my eyes, he waited for my nod.
“Yes,” I exhaled.
With that, he reached lower, his middle and ring ringers sliding on either side of my clit. He began to work his fingers, touching me near but not quite exactly where I wanted it most–and it was exquisite. Squeezing the hood, working the slick flesh around and over my clit with the pads of his fingers. My hips bucked, angling for more sensation, a more direct touch.
“Tell me,” he demanded, brushing his thumbnail over my nipple.
“M-more,” I sputtered, giving him a pouty look.
“More what?” His eyes were dark, his lips in a flat line, as if squeezing back a grin.
My eyes locked on his. I began to rock my hips against his fingers with more purpose, with focus. I worked my hips until his fingers were right where I wanted them, then I worked against them just how I wanted. “Do it like this,” I spat. “More. Harder.”
He finally gave into his smirk. His touch began to match my pace, leaving my free to let my body relax into the sensation. I sighed, letting my eyelids fall closed. The pressure and the pace was delicious, drawing lazy moans from my lips.
Slowly and expertly, his pace began to pick up. “Fuck,” I spat all at once, biting my lip, catching his eye. My hips jerked into his palm, bracing my weight on his shoulders. “Yes. Don’t stop.”
I found myself gasping into the crook of his neck, my head spinning with want and the smell of his skin. With my head tucked there, I caught a glimpse of the logo on his hoodie and the gears in my brain spun, a dim awareness hitting my mind.
“You work for Joja,” I mumbled just as my body lurched forward and an orgasm sparkled through my core. I sputtered a few curse words, my eyes wrenched shut as his fingers drew circles around my clit, his other hand cupping my ass to support my weight over weak legs.
He placed a kiss on my head, chuckling into my scalp. “You’re awesome.”
I laughed. “No, you.” I looked up at him. “You want me to–”
He shook his head. “Nope, I had my fun,” he laughed. “Maybe tomorrow. If you want.”
I nodded. “I think so.”
“Thennn, I’ll see you at the Stardrop,” he said, shoving his hands in his hoodie pockets. “On me.” With that, he walked away, out into the night, leaving me to catch my breath.
I felt my tongue wanting to test something. “Shane,” I said into the darkness. I realized I was smiling wide.