Chapter Text
Stede tugged at the end of the black silk fondly, admiringly. "It does." He agreed, and Ed was not above noting how his eyes wandered. He wanted his eyes to wander, too, over parts of Stede he'd merely been afford glimpses over, parts he'd never seen before-
“May I?” Stede asked, his other hand reaching for the other end of the cravat.
Ed smirked, “Do your worst.”
He felt the huffed laugh across his lips, his eyes locked on Stede’s blushing face.
Time was a funny thing. He could see so clearly the boy who’d done this the first time. His golden halo of hair, his hazel doe eyes, his sunrise smile. But it was like a time-lapse video, one moment a glowing, burning star and the next a sun god, strong jawed and sharp nosed, sepia eyes soft with contemplation and melancholy.
“There.” Stede patted the cravat, hand gripping it loosely as it ran down the length. “You really do wear it…”
His eyes much like his voice trailed off, sight moving over mesh until it landed on a silver ring.
Ed swallowed, heat rising to his cheeks knowing his nipples were stiff. The hold on his cravat tightened slightly and on a hazy impulse he reached out, fingers grazing warm thigh right where the short length ended.
“Wear it…?”
Stede let out a shaky breath, eyes now searching his, face flushed as Ed’s fingers continued their back and forth movement until a fingertip slid underneath the hem and Stede gasped and then their mouths were colliding.
Ed surged forward as Stede pulled on the tie, lips bruising each other.
His hands pulled him in by the waist, Stede’s hands cupping his face. Their mouths opened, tongues sliding together deep and sensual. Tasting. Savoring. Stede sucked his bottom lip in, biting gently and he groaned.
Ed stepped back, leg hitting the couch and he sank down dragging Stede with him.
He broke the kiss on a whispered, “ fuck .” as he felt Stede’s hard cock against his own.
His hands gripped his ass, eliciting an involuntary moan, his hips thrusting.
“Yeah, just. Hold on.”
He shifted to the side to lay on his back and Stede stood slightly before climbing back over to straddle him.
They looked at each other, flushed and kiss-swollen and not without tenderness. There was a question between them but Ed didn't know who was seeking the answer, maybe it was both. Maybe it didn’t matter.
He took Stede’s hand and gently kissed his fingertips, eyes never leaving his. He kissed his palm, his wrist, pulled gently until his trail of kisses reached his inner elbow, the knot of his shoulder. When Stede’s face hovered an inch above his own, he spoke only one word.
“Ed.”
Revenant. Hallowed.
When the kiss came this time it was almost tentative. Stede’s hand reached into his hair pulling the tie out to gently run his fingers through it. They took their time until the soft simmer began to boil and Ed’s hands went from his waist to his bare thighs.
He caressed them and as the kisses got wetter, roaming to grip his ass. He pushed his hips up slightly and let out a pleased sound when Stede matched his movement.
They grinded together slowly, maddening until suddenly Stede sat up, palms flat on Ed’s chest.
He was breathing hard when he ground down with purpose, moaning soft and lustful, hips picking up speed.
Ed touched every part of exposed skin he could see as Stede rode him. He pushed up the tight white tee shirt and Stede unceremoniously pulled it off.
“Jesus, you are so goddamn beautiful.”
Stede whined at the compliment and so he had no choice but to continue.
“You look so good with your chest flushed and your thighs wrapped around me.”
He began thrusting upward, pushing Stede forward slightly who then started shoving his hips back. They increased their tempo movements becoming rough. He kept his eyes open, the desire in him increasing as he watched Stede lose himself, their covered cocks rubbing together, wet spot growing and intensely visible against the yellow shorts. He gripped his hips hard enough to bruise, release on a razor's edge.
“Tell me you want me.” he demanded.
“I want you. I always wanted you, wanted this.”
Stede’s thumbs moved over his mesh covered nipples, rubbing back and forth, pressing the mental in. Ed whined at the sensation, eyes rolling back slightly.
“I thought about it. Thought about taking you in my mouth, about how’d you feel inside me-“
He slammed their mouths together, gut punched groans trailing over Stede’s tongue as he came. He felt him stiffen, Stede’s moans soft and gentle as he buried his face in his neck.
They laid there as their breathing calmed, Ed caressing his back softly.
“How do you feel?”
A thoughtful pause.
“Free.”
Ed's hands stopped. He hugged him tightly, eyes drifting closed as a tear slipped out and trailed down the side of his face. They held each other in the stillness, warm and safe and easy.
“I’m also cold.” Stede mumbled after a while.
He laughed, releasing him. They cleaned up, Ed lending Stede his robe as he tossed their dirty clothes in the washer.
“Well, guess our outfits are a bust. Yours at least.”
“Hmm. It’s fine, best I wear the suit anyway.”
Ed shrugged when his eyes caught on his coveralls hanging off a door.
“Hey, wanna do something weird?”