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uzumaki-rebellion · 1 month ago

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"There's Some Whores in This House" Geechee!Erik Killmonger (Part 2 of Ice Cold Jax)

Pairing: Geechee!Erik Killmonger x Black Female OC x Hoodoo!Terry Richmond (as the Crossroads Man)

Warning(s): 18+, Smut, Supernatural Horror, Period Piece, Erik Stevens AU, Terry Richmond AU, Black American Folktale. You have to read "Ice Cold Jax" First!

Summary:

P-Valley Meets Black Supernatural Goodness in 1940s Itta Bena, Mississippi as the second world war winds down to a close. Lulabelle hasn't seen her Geechee man for months, but there's a new whorehouse deep in the woods that's keeping her busy as they steal loyal customers from her juke joint and her stable of working girls. Lulabelle suspects the new Madame in the woods has something to do with Geechee Erik not coming around anymore and she intends on finding out what that heffa is all about, especially when previous customers start dropping dead near the crossroads. An old friend of Erik's, Terry Richmond aka High John the Conqueror, shows up to help. (Need to have read the first installment, "Ice Cold Jax With Geechee!Erik Killmoger")

Word count: 12.9K

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"There's some whores in this house

There's some whores in this house

There's some whores in this house..."

Frank Ski – "Whores in this House"

The first dead body appeared at the crossroads after the rising of Hunter's moon.

No one thought much of it because the deceased was a known pickpocket and rabble-rouser named Earl Lee Washington. Folks around Itta Bena didn't pay it no mind for about a week until they found another body in the exact same spot in the middle of a Saturday night. This time it was Reverend Mosley from the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church and people fell out because why was Reverend Mosley out near the crossroads? The only thing around in that part of the woods was a creek for good fishing, and Lulabelle Humphreys juke joint and whorehouse called "Lula's". Since Mosley didn't have any fishing pole on him in the middle of the night, that only meant that he had been tippin' over to Lulabelle's place pretending to save lost souls for Jesus as he felt up a thick thigh or two with moonshine on his lips.

Lulabelle herself thought little about the dead men. Everybody had their time to go, but that third body stirred everybody up because it was a woman. Zadie Greene was married to Butchie Greene who worked as a Pullman Porter for the railroad. He had emptied his pockets at Lulabelle's on good pussy and strong corn liquor while listening to the hottest backwoods band on that side of the Mississippi River, The Midnight Ramblers featuring Gertie Mae Robinson, the nastiest woman singer to ever touch a stage with her vulgar lyrics and raunchy, good-time energy. The man stumbled across his own wife's body on the way home smelling like another woman's cooch and marijuana. Zadie had worn her J. C. Penney nightgown and a big overcoat hunting for her man and headed for the only place that could keep him from her bed.

The cow shit hit the fan then. Lulabelle couldn't afford folks getting spooked by the specter of death hanging near her establishment. She was an enterprising woman who sold a commodity that folks craved, whether they wanted to admit it. Death was terrible for the pussy business.

Zadie's death hung a pall over the town, and Lulabelle became worried once she started counting up days and putting two and two together. Her Geechee Man, Erik Stevens, hadn't been around for a long time. There might be a random shooting or stabbing that left a man wounded and his ego bruised for a few weeks, but rarely did folks outright die under mysterious circumstances. She became extra concerned when the problem hovered around his territory. Geechee Erik was the Crossroads Man. His dominion was the protection of the supernatural world and preventing otherworldly beings from coming around her. He had claimed Lulabelle as his woman and promised that no harm would come to her, and part of that harm wasn't just physical. Her livelihood meant everything to her. Erik kept the haints, boo hags, the Plat Eye, and the Devil away.

Something must've happened to him.

She fretted about it, reading the paper on the latest victim while sitting on her juke joint's front porch. Honey Boy, her part-time male whore for sweet men, rolled her hair in long metal duckbill clips. She had taken a liking to tight curls all around her head with a side part, and it wore her fingers out, putting the curlers in herself. Honey Boy curled and clipped and she stared at a church photo of Zadie Greene, a plain-faced woman with a big heart and four children to feed by herself now that her husband was gone. Lulabelle tutted under her breath.

"Business is already slowing up. I don't need dead people scaring off my money," she grumbled.

The war had ended and all the men in uniform were coming home once V Day had been declared. Dollar bills sat on Lulabelle's eyelids every day. The boom was heavy for an entire year until recently as it trickled off to regulars and the occasional cross-country traveler.

"If you ask me, ain't none of this mess started happening until them other ladies showed up," Honey Boy said as he twined hair around the clips with nimble fingers.

"What ladies?"

Lulabelle put down the paper and twisted her neck around to stare at Honey Boy.

"You ain't hear? There's a new madame in town. I hear she's got some of the finest women around. No one wanted to say nothin' to hurt your feelings, Lula."

"Eva!" Lulabelle shouted.

Eva, the juke joint cook, and barmaid stepped out onto the creaky porch. She smelled of fish grease and her fingers were covered in cornmeal.

"Why are you hollerin' like that?" Eva said, putting a heavy cornmeal hand on her plump hip.

The older woman looked crossed at being interrupted with her work.

"You know about some new woman setting up shop out here?"

"Sadie Blackstone," Eva said.

"Sadie Blackstone?" Lulabelle said.

"That's what she said her name was. She come 'round here about three months ago. You were in town shopping, and she come right up here introducing herself. She had a big ole fur coat and a fancy car too, filled with pretty girls. She got all the colors of the rainbow, just like you."

"Ain't not one of you heffas think to tell me some new bitch is horning in on my spot?"

Lulabelle swatted Honey Boy's hand out of the back of her scalp.

"She said she was opening a little dress and hat boutique over yonder. It was cheaper than tryna rent a building from the white folks and house her dressmakers in town. She looked all expensive and was using big words like she done came from up North. Y'know how them northern negroes like to act uppity," Eva said.

"That bitch rolled up here with a car full of hoes and everybody kept their lips shut? I oughta fire both of y'all right now!"

"Who 'gon fry up this fish then, gal?" Eva said, staring Lulabelle down.

"Y'all supposed to be loyal and warn me about interlopers. They sitting out there stealing my customers and taking money outta my purse... and yours."

"They ain't got no mens, so I'ma be alright," Honey Boy said.

He left the porch and went inside the juke joint to set tables and prep glasses for the night. Dust kicked up from the slope of the road that led to Lula's, and a black car rolled toward them.

"What is it now?" Lulabelle said. "Betta not be someone telling me they found another body at the crossroads or I will scream!"

Lulabelle and Eva waited on the porch until the car stopped twenty feet away from them.

"Lawd, Jesus," Eva said.

Eva kissed the cross around her neck and grabbed the knob to the screen door.

"Wait now, who that is?" Lulabelle said.

Her heart skipped a beat thinking it was Geechee Erik, but instead, another man with honey, caramel skin, and piercing green eyes that hid a dangerous cunning behind them approached the porch. His dark brown suit was tailored, crisp, and casket sharp. The brim on his head was stylish and new, with a small peacock feather in the band.

"You don't wanna mess with that one, Lulabelle," Eva whispered. "That there is High John the Conqueror."

"The conjure man from over in Yazoo?"

"He more than that. Send him on his way, and don't let him come inside!" Eva said.

Eva ran into the juke joint and locked the door. Lulabelle wasn't worried; she had keys to get inside clipped to her dress. She turned and faced High John.

"Sorry to bother you, Miss. I'm not from around these parts. I'm lookin' for a fella that goes by the name of Erik Stevens."

Lulabelle stayed on the porch. Something told her to stay there and not step down to the man. As fine and polite as he was, there was sinister energy around him. He stepped forward, and she held a hand up.

"You can stay right there, mister. I can hear you good from here," she said.

"He's a big strapping fellow, about your color. Not as pretty, though."

"Whatcha want with him?"

"You know him?"

"I know the Geechee Man," she said.

There was no sense in lying. The man came there directly, so he clearly knew Erik's stomping grounds. The Geechee wasn't human, so that man on her property probably wasn't human, either. Lula stepped closer to the door and kept her eyes on High John.

"Whatcha want with him?" she repeated in a firmer tone.

"I ain't seen him in a long time and that ain't so good for my business," High John said.

Lulabelle was worried herself.

"He hasn't been around here for a couple of months," she said.

"You're worried about him. You his woman?"

"I am."

"Hmmm. I see why he likes it around here so much. Big fine woman like you to lay up with."

Lulabelle's cheeks warmed up. High John moved in closer.

"Big hips. Big titties. Big legs. You sure you didn't swallow him up between your thighs, beautiful?"

Lulabelle squinted at the audacity.

"Maybe I need to spend some time with you and follow where he went," High John purred.

"You best move along, sir!" Eva shouted.

She ran out of the juke joint and flung a bowl of salt on the ground in front of High John. He chuckled and kicked black dirt over the white grains.

"That don't work on me, ma'am, but I respect your efforts," High John said.

He tipped his hat at Lulabelle.

"I'll be back around again. I can smell his scent all around here. Tell Elizabeth I may need her services soon," he said.

He hopped into his car and drove off.

"Who is Elizabeth?" Eva asked.

"Just an old friend of mine," Lulabelle said with a chill running down her back.

Elizabeth had been dead for nearly two decades. But her ghost still lingered around Lulabelle's juke joint and whore house.

Something awful bad must've happened to Erik, and none of that trouble started until Sadie Blackstone showed up in Itta Bena. Ghosts, the Crossroads Man, High John, and a northern bitch stealing her customers had her thoughts in a tizzy. Lulabelle wanted to sell pussy and moonshine in peace. That's what she aimed to do. She marched herself to her bedroom attached to the back of the whorehouse to find her best dress and shoes. It was time to meet Sadie Blackstone. Her mind was on her money, and money was on her mind twenty-four seven. No northern hussy was going to ruin her pockets. If she had to fight haints and conjure men, so be it. She lived in goddamned racist America. Money was the only thing that would protect her, and since Erik Stevens wasn't around anymore, she'd have to face the enemy all by herself. Human or not.

The new whorehouse was within walking distance of the crossroads.

Lulabelle trampled through the heavily trafficked path of grass and fall leaves that led past tall loblolly pines. She curved around a few rotting snag trees and swatted away annoying gnats that buzzed around her eyes seeking moisture. A clearing opened up and she expected to see a ramshackle house. Instead, a sturdy tan and brown craftsman home came into view. Lulabelle stayed hidden behind a trio of skinny trees. Although it was daylight, the house gave off a cold dread that overtook the warmth of the sun toasting her skin.

The land they were on used to be part of a plantation with an old manor that had long burned down to the ground four miles away. It had now become part of the overgrown woods. An unfinished stretch of railroad tracks sat near the property covered with overgrown brush that ran out behind the creek it tried to follow a long time ago. The train route that was supposed to pass through and flatten out that part of the woods never came into fruition, having been moved a couple of miles away by the railroad company. It was the main reason why Lulabelle picked that part of Itta Bena to do business in. Close enough for travelers far and wide to get to her, while also discreet enough to hide from main street's conservative prying eyes. The Choctaw words "itta bena" meant a house in the woods or a camp of trees, and the area lived up to the small city name. Shrouded with the canopy of branches and leaves protecting it from sunlight, the house looked out of place. Unnatural. Only decomposing trees belonged out there, and the whorehouse reminded Lulabelle too much of the Hansel and Gretel story from her childhood. Sadie Blackstone's place was a lure for straggling adults. Instead of a house made of candy and gingerbread, grown-ups came to taste the nectar between the legs of lascivious women. In the light of day, Lulabelle shivered and wondered if it was better to come back with other people. Being alone in the woods with a pristine house that looked too new, too bright, and so wrong brought goosebumps to her arms. She twisted her hands in the pockets of her dress.

Dollar bills weighed on her eyelids again and Lulabelle shook away her unease and focused on her task. Meet the enemy. Better to do it in the daytime when she could see everything out in the open.

She stomped her way to the house and marched right up onto the porch. Banging on the screen door, she waited with bated breath for someone to open up. Tapping her left heel on the porch, Lulabelle sucked her teeth and slammed a hand on her hip. She noticed the door frame had a thick lump of brown paint that bubbled up from a cheap paint job. Running her nail against the paint, Lulabelle peeled back a strip and crinkled her nose when a few termite larvae squirmed inside a rotted hole.

"Well, hello, neighbor," a silky feminine voice crooned behind the opened door.

Lulabelle squinted to get a good look at the tall, pretty, dark-skinned woman with a heart-shaped face and a bright, winning smile. Her teeth were whiter than the cracker cops that took a cut of Lulabelle's money to look the other way with her establishment. Naturally thick eyebrows were plucked perfectly over deep-set, dark brown eyes that twinkled with the promise of a good time or some good trouble. Her lush lips were covered in a thick coating of red lipstick. Lulabelle admired a dark woman who was brave enough to wear bold red like that in the daytime. It wasn't the norm.

"You must be Lulabelle Humphreys."

"I am."

"I'm Sadie. Sadie Blackstone."

"I knows who you are."

"Do ya now?"

Sadie opened the screen door in a welcoming manner. She wore a tight, spaghetti-strapped wild berry pink dress with a rose-tinted flower brocade. Lulabelle looked over Sadie's shoulder and observed a slithering den of good-looking women of all hues staring back at her from settees and chairs spread around an inviting front room.

"Heard you been stealing my customers," Lulabelle said, cutting to the quick.

"Stealing?"

Sadie tilted her head back to her stable of whores.

"You hear that, ladies? She accused me of stealing," Sadie said with an indignant chortle.

The other vipery women giggled back at the comment, infuriating Lulabelle.

"Sister girl, there are plenty of men in the world to go around for everybody," Sadie said.

"This is Itta Bena. Not the world, Toots. I've been selling pussy by the pound for five good years here, and I'm fixin' to keep on selling for many more years to come. This city ain't big enough for two cat houses—"

"Calm down your garters, Sister girl. The war overseas is done. No need to start World War three up in here. There's profit to be made for all of us. Plus, I hear you only sell pussy on the side. You got a juke joint, sell fish and chicken plates, provide musical entertainment… all we do over here are tits and ass. Nobody is cutting in on your profits."

Lulabelle reared her head back.

"You think you're gonna sit up here on my turf, comfortable as if pilfering a few coins ain't cutting into my bottom line?" Lulabelle said.

"You need a drink to cool down your temper. Come on up in here," Sadie said.

She opened the screen door and stepped aside, making room.

Lulabelle hesitated. But curiosity got the better of her. She switched her heavy hips into the place, letting Sadie see what down-home ass looked like in a tight dress too. The scarf she had on her head kept her curled hair safe from dust and debris in the woods.

The interior was larger than what the outside first impression gave her. In fact, the hall behind Sadie looked long enough for more rooms than Lulabelle's little whorehouse had back on the creek. The other women gazed at her with disquieting eyes while wearing red satin robes inside the cooler front room. Velvet furniture, Persian rugs, and stylish French alabaster boudoir lamps decorated the place. It had more of a European parlor flavor than a typical country house full of ill repute and cheap goods. Glancing around at the women again, Lulabelle felt more like a Brer Rabbit surrounded by hungry trickster coyotes. She swallowed hard and broke eye contact by staring at a fireplace mantle covered with several mason jars filled with moonshine. She counted ten jars across the top. Six were full, and the other four were empty. Next to the mantle was a liquor table filled with whiskey and assorted libations with fancy glass cups.

Sadie jerked her head toward her stable, and all four women stood up and sauntered to the back of the house.

"Too early for the hard stuff," Lulabelle said, waving at the mason jars.

Sadie grinned and picked up an expensive bottle of scotch. She poured herself a glass and one for Lulabelle, too. They clinked glasses, and Lulabelle took a small sip.

"Excuse me for a moment," Sadie said.

The woman left the front room to go to the back of the house. Lula put her glass of scotch down and inspected the oil painting above the mantle. It was a picture of Sadie and her women. All four of the whores sat on a baby blue and cream tufted French sofa with old-fashioned hairdos that Lulabelle hadn't seen since her grandmother had been alive. Sadie stood behind them, leaning forward with her arms draped across the back of the sofa. The painting unnerved her, and she couldn't put her finger on what exactly bothered her about it.

One of the clear jars filled with liquid caught her eye with movement inside of it. The sixth jar in the row had a tiny funnel swirl inside of it. It stopped when Lulabelle stared directly at it. She slipped her right hand around the jar. It was warm to the touch and seemed to grow warmer against her fingertips. She took her left hand and twisted the metal lid, breaking a seal around it. Lifting the lid, Lulabelle took in a whiff of sulfur, and clearly and distinctly heard a gravelly voice whisper from inside of it.

"Erik?" she murmured.

Another tiny funnel swirled, and Lulabelle watched the shape of Erik's lips and nose materialize in the liquid.

The clicking of heels moving toward the front room frightened her, and she twisted the lid back on the jar, going against her urge to pour the liquid out. She grabbed her glass of scotch and moved over toward a velvet chair, pretending to admire the texture by stroking it with her free hand.

"Had to see about some things. Forgive me for leaving you so long. I'm expecting a friendly crowd tonight," Sadie said.

Lulabelle turned to her and kept a tight-lipped expression. Sadie's eyes slid off of Lulabelle's face and glanced over at the mantle. Her dark eyes squinted for a second as she regarded the mason jars. Sadie shook her head and clucked her tongue.

"Just had to be nosy," Sadie hissed. "Good thing is, Sister girl, there's plenty of room up there."

The four other women slinked back into the parlor and surrounded Lulabelle.

"You like seeing thangs you ain't supposed to see, huh?" Sadie said.

Lulabelle watched the skin of Sadie's face grow puffy like a bullfrog getting ready to croak a loud belch in the creek. The flesh split like it wanted to turn itself inside out, letting her see the raw red insides of a slippery horror.

Sadie's hypnotic gaze kept Lulabelle's feet from running. Frozen in place by the menacing darkening of Sadie's eye color, Lulabelle couldn't even make a sound of protest. Her vocal cords became stiff and immovable. She couldn't even wiggle her fingers or toes. Only her eyeballs still had the ability to move, and they made a slow arc toward the open front door. A car had pulled up, and she prayed it was a customer who could help her escape.

The sound of a driver's side door creaking open shattered the quiet terror oozing all around Lulabelle. The crunch of heavy feet stepping on loose gravel became music to her straining ears.

"Hello?"

The male voice was familiar.

High John.

"Shit," Sadie grumbled.

The distraction freed Lulabelle, and she fled out of the house, leaping off the porch toward High John. He grabbed her arms to halt her frazzled getaway.

"Slow down now," High John said.

"They did something to me," Lulabelle blurted out.

She pushed her face into his chest to muffle her voice.

"Erik is in there. They have him in a jar on the mantle—"

"Shh," High John said.

"She's turning inside out… that woman… Sadie… her face…"

High John gripped her arms tighter as Lulabelle glanced around the woods and noticed that the sun had gone down already. It was only nine in the morning when she left her place, but by the looks of the darkening shadows stretching a night sky across the canopy of trees, it had to be at least five in the evening. They had her in that house for hours, and she didn't even know it.

Lulabelle squeezed her eyes shut. The screen door slammed loud and High John turned his attention to Sadie.

She looked normal again.

The deception lingered around her as Lulabelle watched the woman pat her cheeks like it was hot instead of making sure her cheeks had returned to their artful disguise.

"Let's go," Lulabelle pleaded, tugging on High John's arm and dragging him toward his car.

"Can I help you, mister?" Sadie inquired.

All four of Sadie's women stepped onto the porch with her, their satin robes discarded to show off sexy lingerie that highlighted their best assets.

"No ma'am, just came to pick up Miss Lulabelle here. Promised her a ride back," High John said.

He opened the passenger door for Lulabelle, and she scrambled in and slammed it shut.

"We're gonna be late," Lulabelle said, rushing High John along.

"A fine man like you should spend some time with us. I have a quality selection of ladies to choose from," Sadie said.

"I can see that you do, but I'm a little sweet on Miss Lulabelle's place," he said.

"Hmph. Suit yourself then. When you tire of your usual, come on back around here," Sadie said.

"Will do," High John offered.

He walked to his driver's door with a bounce in his step and hopped in with a whistle on his lips. They drove away without speaking until he reached a turn that led them riding over the crossroads towards her place. High John pulled over near a shrub of red buckeye that hid them from her juke joint. He stared at her, and she remembered he wasn't what he seemed to be, either.

"How did you know I was there?" she asked.

"I followed you."

"Why?"

"I knew you would lead me to the Geechee Man. Tell me what you saw in there."

"They gotta be witches or something—"

"A hag. She's a hag. Close enough to witches, I guess, for you to understand. The others are her minions, demons she's conjured up to act like whores to lure human bodies so the hag can ride them until they're dead."

"She's got a bunch of mason jars on her fireplace mantle filled with clear sulfur water or something. I opened one of them and heard Erik's voice… saw his features through the glass like they trapped him inside of it."

"She trapped his soul in there. What you described is something they do after they've taken a body."

"When she caught on that I had messed with one jar, her face… it started changing like it was flipping itself around… inside out."

High John sat back in his seat.

"He done got himself in a mess of trouble."

"He's still alive though, right?" she asked with a wavering voice.

"Only because he ain't mortal. Them other jars are dead souls. Little mementos for the hag to enjoy as playthings. That's why so many people have been found dead at the crossroads. Somehow, they tricked Erik and stole his spirit, leaving the crossroads unguarded for months. They can't kill him outright. But they can torture him… weaken him until he fades."

"Can you save him? Steal the jar and free him? I opened it, but I didn't know what to do. I was so scared."

"She cast a spell to keep him trapped. The problem is, even if you found that jar, we don't know where his body is. He uses a corporeal form to hide his essence, which helps him control his powers in this world. Without it, he can't come back."

"What the hell kinda powers do you have, then? Eva acts like you're the devil himself. She's scared of you, so you must can do somethin'."

"Sadie will come for you tonight. She can't afford for you to run your mouth about her house. I say, run your business as usual, and let me figure out a way to guard this place and find Erik."

Worry lines creased his face.

"What?" Lulabelle said.

"We ain't got much time. He can't be away from his body too much longer. It'll degrade over time, and it's already been three months on the mortal side of the veil."

"Veil?"

"This side of the spiritual partition separating humankind and us."

"What are you? Another demon? Haint?"

High John ignored her and appeared to listen to something she couldn't hear.

"Carry me up to my place so I can fix my hair and change my clothes," Lulabelle demanded.

High John nodded and put his car back in drive. They rode along in silence to the side of the juke joint where some of the band members she hired had already parked. Lulabelle jumped out and High John followed her. He stopped at the front porch and reached for a leather string around his neck. He pulled on it until a small blue handkerchief bundle the size of half a man's fist popped up. Untying it carefully, his nimble fingers reached inside and he pulled them back out. Brick-red dust colored his digits. High John squatted and traced a symbol in the dirt before walking all around the juke joint, pouring more dust on the ground. There shouldn't have been enough to circle the juke joint, but somehow, someway, the man completed the circle and sealed it back in front of the porch again. He tucked the mojo bag under his clothes again and clapped his hands together hard. The sound echoed all around, even scaring an old hooting owl that lived in a tree behind Lulabelle's Loving Rooms, where her clientele got busy with her girls after chowing down on chicken or fish.

"This spell will only last as long as the moon stays high. Once it drops… if we don't find The Geechee's body before moonset… my protective circle fades and they can leave the juke joint. He'll be a goner for sure then. Lost forever if we don't get that jar and man back together," High John said.

He turned his head toward the woods from where they came.

"Once the hag and her demons cross over this circle and go into your place, they're stuck inside until the moon goes away. That'll give us time to sneak back to their house and get Erik."

"We?"

"Yes, we. You opened the jar and broke the seal. That means you're the only one who can get him out."

"But we have to find his body first."

"That's where Elizabeth comes in."

"How do you know about her?"

High John winked at Lulabelle.

"I have my ways. Take me to her."

"I can't see her. I just get a feeling—"

"Take me to where you feel her the most," he said.

Lulabelle glanced at the juke joint.

"Eva said not to let you inside," she said.

"What would she rather have? Me helping you, or that hag stealing Erik's soul and ruining your business with all the body snatchin' she's been doin'?"

Lulabelle huffed and headed up the steps.

"C'mon, man."

High John followed her into the juke joint where the Midnight Ramblers were already set up on the small stage.

"Lula, gal, where ya been?" Gertie Mae said.

The lead singer of the Ramblers fussed her way over to Lulabelle.

"Honey Boy said you went to check out your competition, but when he went lookin' for ya, he couldn't find you," Gertie Mae said.

Gertie Mae looked at the scarf covering Lulabelle's hair.

"You not even dressed and ready yet. What's going on, girl?"

"Got busy with some business stuff. I'ma go get ready. Y'all get that music jumping and let these folks know that the party is starting!" Lulabelle said, flicking her right hand in the air.

She hustled High John away from Gertie Mae's prying eyes and took him to the back of the joint, where her usual seat was to watch the place in progress. Glancing around the area, Lulabelle threw out her hands.

"This is where I usually—"

She turned toward High John, catching him conversating with thin air. Lulabelle watched him talk in a hushed tone, pull out his mojo bag again, reach into it, and blow red brick dust in front of a chair. She glimpsed a ghostly figure, a woman with wavy long hair, and blinked back a tear or two as a bit of dust fell into her eyes.

"You should go get yourself gussied up, Lula. I freed Elizabeth to go find Erik's body," High John said.

He looked around the place as some customers high-stepped it inside just as the band struck up a hot, nasty jig that got folks hopping around before they even had their first drink. Honey Boy rushed over to her, and Lulabelle waved him away.

"I'm fine. Get these people liquored up and I'll get dressed," she said.

Gertie Mae eyed High John up and down one last time and yelled into her microphone.

"You gon' let that one hang his drawers low for ya?" Gertie Mae cackled.

High John howled with laughter, making everyone in the juke laugh with him. Lulabelle rolled her eyes and strode out of the juke joint through the hall that led to the Loving House creek bridge. Crossing it, she bypassed her girls, who flitted around in loose silk and lacy things. Making her way to a side room that she used for herself, Lulabelle poured water into a basin, stripped down, and rinsed off dust and the smell of the deep woods. It took her some time to get all the duckbill clips out of her hair. She combed, then fluffed out her tight curls, smoothing them into the perfect style. Make-up didn't take long to put on. Her plump lips smacked at her reflection in the mirror. Touching her stomach, she felt and heard the rumble of hunger, realizing she hadn't eaten a thing since breakfast. There was no time to focus on eating. She had to keep her wits about her. High John sent her former best friend, a ghost, to search for the rest of her supernatural lover's self. How could a hag trick the Crossroads Man? Erik was clever, powerful, and able to sniff out an inhuman creature from miles around. Ain't no way some slinky demon walked up on him and fooled him that easy.

Lulabelle took a moment and stretched out on her bed, calming herself. Too much was going on and all she wanted was for her man to come swaggering into her place again, showing her them shiny gold teeth, and lifting her onto that Daddy dick. She was tired of dead bodies showing up on her side of town instead of where the white folks were. A damn witch was making her life a mess. A knock on her bedroom door startled her agitated reverie.

"Who is it?" Lulabelle shouted.

The new girl, Altovise, stuck her head through the crack in the door. She had replaced one of Lulabelle's pregnant girls a few months back, right before Erik disappeared. Her short black bob of heavily greased curls made the room smell like bergamot.

"This man out here wants you, Lula," Altovise said.

High John pushed Altovise aside and stepped in, locking the door behind him. Lulabelle sat up, but he was next to her, sitting on the bed before she could feign decorum.

"Filling up fast out there. Good profitable business," High John said.

His fleshy lips said the words as his eyes raked down to her breasts that sat heavy and propped up with her good full-figure bra. Her cleavage spilled over the low cut of her dress. He reached over and dragged warm fingers up and down her arm.

"You look real nice, Lula. I cleaned up myself in that kitchen. Miss Eva let me use some hot water to bathe with and I changed my suit for you."

"No need to look good for me," she said.

He smirked. Without his hat, she could see his eyes clearly. Soft green ones with little flecks of pale jade toward the center. His cologne was spicy, like the kind the soldiers wore when they got paid and wanted to show off. The scent of nutmeg, anise and lemon tickled her nostrils with the odor of his breath reminding her of warm maple syrup. His wide nose complemented his full lips which had a playful twitching to them every time he said her name. Lulabelle tried to brush past him.

"I better get out there—"

High John gripped her by her arm tight and held her in place on the bed next to his hip.

"There needs to be a little discussion about payment," he said.

"Payment?"

She yanked her arm out of his hand.

"You said you were looking for him because he does business with you. A monetary transaction ain't got nothing to do with me, buddy," Lulabelle snapped.

"Who said anything about money, sweetheart?"

A lecherous pulling down of his lips made Lulabelle grit her teeth and huff under her breath.

"You want to fuck one of my girls?" she said.

"I wanna fuck you."

"This some bullshit, man. Why are men so typical?"

"I ain't no regular man."

"You act like one."

"You don't gotta pay me now. Let's just say you owe me, and I can collect later."

Lulabelle sucked her teeth.

"I'm just playin' girl. That Geechee said you don't enjoy being teased," High John said, slapping her kneecap.

He stood up and gave her a serious look.

"The moment they step in here, we have to play it cool and sneak away quietly. Hags only have power over their own dominion when they are in it. We get them preoccupied first, and then we can rescue Erik's spirit. The last thing we want is for them to harm anyone here," he said.

The old owl hooted outside, and High Joh turned his head in that direction. "I feel them coming," he said.

He clasped her hand, and they left the Loving House, crossing over the creek bridge and back into the juke joint. They pushed past excited dancers and the wall-to-wall patrons packed in her place. The Midnight Ramblers had Lulabelle's spot stacked like sardines in a can. Hot, funky, and full of spunk, Gertie Mae sang her ass off, and the crowd ate it up.

Outside on the porch, Lulabelle and High John spotted Sadie and her demon whores strolling out of the woods in stylish dresses and heels. Their movement seemed too fluid. Like they were floating instead of walking, but Lulabelle clearly saw their feet on the ground. Sadie shook her lean hips as she listened to the raucous sounds spilling out from the door.

"Ooh, sounds good in there, Lulabelle," Sadie said.

The hag eyed High John and gave him a wide smile.

"Thought you were expecting a crowd at your place," Lulabelle said.

"Later. We just wanted to come by and get some fried fish and listen to music. A little fun for my ladies before they have to work tonight," Sadie said.

One of the lighter-skinned whores snickered and held a finger under her nose like Sadie had said a funny joke. High John pulled out a toothpick and jabbed it between his teeth, making room for some new patrons to come inside. Lulabelle kept her cool.

"Come on in and see what good business looks like," Lulabelle said, mustering up a brave face.

Her heart pattered so fast in her chest watching Sadie and the others step across the protected threshold. She glanced at the moon that showed a glimpse of itself rising over the woods across from her juke joint. Opening the screen door, Lulabelle nodded her head toward the inside.

"Welcome," she said, grinning hard because Erik's life depended on it.

The women swept past smelling like strong perfume and trouble. She trailed behind them with High John just as Gertie Mae and the band whipped up another frenzy with a song talking about where to get the best sugar in town and everybody knew she was about to get filthy once she hiked up her dress and showed off gartered stockings.

Sadie and her demon girls wasted no time joining in with the dancing. They grabbed men away from other women and began grinding their breasts and asses against hips, groins, and hardening dicks. One bawdy demon, pretending to be a delicate-looking Black rose with succulent lips and feline eyes, took off her dress and slinked around a patron in her black bra and panties. She strutted her stuff, whipping up the thick crowd into another frenzy. Some men even had the nerve to throw money at her. Hoochie Coochie dancing began all around as if the crowd became infected with the seductively charged atmosphere. One demon girl jumped on the stage and thrust her narrow hips at the guitar player, nearly upstaging Gertie Mae who only fueled the fire by using her handkerchief that she used to wipe away a sweaty brow to fan the dancing whore on to more steamy shenanigans. Patrons sitting at the small tables stomped their feet and pounded the tables, making their liquor glasses and cold beer bottles jump with the brazen action.

Gertie Mae kicked up her heels and caterwauled into the microphone.

"I treats him kind but he don't do me right!

We fights and quarrel most every damn night

I can't have no man's got such low-down ways

Cause the blue gum man ain't the style now'days

I brought him from the north and I'm sendin' him back

Else I'll use his head for a carpet tack!"*

Lulabelle gazed at the crowd who had no clue about the wickedness among them. There was nothing she could do to prevent them from mingling with evil. Gertie Mae howled into the microphone a new tune that always brought the house down.

"Oh, the white girl rides in a Cadillac

The yella gal rides the same

Black gal rides in a dusty Ford

But she gets there just the same!"

High John slipped his hand around Lulabelle's and pulled her toward the kitchen. They slipped out of the juke joint through the backdoor and ran to his car. He drove fast out of the parking area, heading for the deep woods where Erik was held captive.

Lulabelle's heart lodged in her throat when they arrived at Sadie's whorehouse.

"Let's hurry," High John said.

Leaping out of the car, Lulabelle followed him to the porch. He checked around the grounds for something, holding his hand back for her to stay put. He dashed over to a stump on the side of the house and pulled out his mojo bag again. Quickly moving his fingers over the stump, Lulabelle listened to the house creak like it was about to collapse on itself. High John glanced at the house, then moved over to her.

"It's safe now. I had to put my protective root over it so the house won't snitch on us being here. Sadie may have some tricksters planted inside, but they won't notice us now," he said.

They cautiously climbed the steps, and High John opened the screen door. He juggled the front doorknob, and it opened whispery quiet as if it expected them.

"Hold on," he said.

He pulled a matchbox from his coat pocket and struck it, allowing them enough light for Lulabelle to get to a lamp and turn it on.

"There, on the mantle," Lulabelle said, pointing to the mason jars.

"Grab the one that has him," High John said.

Lulabelle eyed the jars and honed in on the one she remembered touching. She lifted it, spun around, and showed it to High John.

"Open it!" he said.

She twisted the lid and held out the jar to him.

"What do I do now?" she yelped, wide-eyed and scared.

High John took the jar from her hand and drank down the contents like he'd been parched for one hundred years.

"Da fuck you doin' man?!"

Lulabelle snatched the jar away from him, but the man swallowed down Erik and licked his tongue around his meaty lips.

"You tricked me!" Lulabelle shrieked.

"Calm down, Lula!" High John snapped.

Lulabelle wrestled the jar away from him and busted him upside the head with it. Blood gushed from the split in his temple, and she dashed toward the front door. High John grabbed her arm and swung her back into his chest. Smothering her lips with his large mouth.

She thrashed within his firm hold on her and jerked her face away from his, breaking his hold on her lips.

"Lula, baby! It's me!"

Lulabelle stopped moving and gazed deep into High John's eyes. The voice coming out of his mouth was Erik's. She swooned and his grip on her tightened and he pulled her in close.

High John kissed her, but the moist lips, the feel of them was all Erik. She cradled his face.

"What's going on?" Lulabelle said.

Erik nuzzled her cheek.

"You saved me, baby."

He dragged her out of the house and down the steps.

"Over there!" Lulabelle said, pointing to High John's Packard.

He helped Lulabelle get into the passenger side and he ran to the other door. High John left the keys in the ignition. Her man, using High John's body, held the steering wheel with trembling hands.

"Erik? Is it really you?"

Tears welled up in Lulabelle's eyes. High John turned to her and caressed her face. He pressed his dewy lips against hers and she squeezed her eyelids shut, praying that it wasn't a cruel trick. The taste, the feel, and the urgency of the kiss were all Erik. His deep wet kiss fed her a tongue that reminded her of why she adored him. This was her man. The Crossroads Man. The opener of the way to the old African Gods and pathways to other worlds. Back where he belonged. With her.

He released her and she jumped in her seat as the eyes staring back at her belonged to some other beautiful man. High John. She whimpered next to him and High John hugged her, his muscular arms and scent so different from Erik's but feeling like him just the same. Her lips hungered to kiss him again and tongue him down to his socks, but she couldn't get over that he was housed in a different man.

"What is happening?" she said.

"High John is letting me use him as a vessel to carry me until I can find my body."

"You sent… I mean… he sent Elizabeth to look for it. Do you remember where you were last?"

"Near the crossroads."

"How were they able to get you?"

Her head swam with the incongruence of hearing Erik's voice come out from a stranger's lips.

"Don't cry, baby."

She rested her head on his chest, listening to the heartbeat whispering love in her ear. Three months felt like three years while he was gone.

"They used a piece of your hair to cast a spell pretending to be you. One of them made an offering at the crossroads for me and clouded my eyes," Erik said.

"Your affections for her helped them fool you," High John said, interrupting Erik.

The switch-up made Lulabelle's head spin. A two-for-one sat next to her, and she reeled from the dizziness it produced in her.

"They must've come into the juke and got close to her… stole some hair or maybe fluids from something she drank out of and conjured a vision that clouded your eyes, Geechee," High John said.

"I can't stay in him long," Erik said.

The green eyes piercing into her made Lulabelle fret.

"I missed you, woman," Erik said.

He pulled Lulabelle onto his lap, and she felt his body react to hers. The skin beneath her fingers thrummed with anticipation as the heat from him seeped into her. She closed her eyes so she could imagine being with Erik, but the frisky hands on her ass made her gasp and stare at High John's handsome face.

Strong hands lifted her up and down onto a covered, bulging erection that felt like a steel rod underneath her panties. Determined fingers tore her underwear off and she lifted her hips so that High John… Erik… could unfasten his pants and released his dick.

"Wait," Lulabelle said.

She wanted to wait until he was in his own body, but Erik's heavy breathing told her otherwise. Plus, High John was a fine specimen of a man with just as much sex appeal as the Geechee man.

"I need you right now… please…" Erik begged.

He snaked that thick tongue in her ear and licked her down to her breasts, pushing them together. His palms squeezed and lifted the lush mounds until he could kiss them fully across the tops.

"Ride me, Lula, let me feel you again."

High John's body made Lulabelle ache with desire and long-felt longing. Their lips collided again, and he renewed their vows of pleasure that had been stolen for three months.

"We have to go, find your body—"

He smothered her lips and dominated the arch in her back, bending her until her shoulders rested against the steering wheel. His hands pulled down the front of her dress and slipped around her lower back to release the hooks on her bra.

Big tits spilled all over his chest, and the groan out of his throat thrilled her. She was with two men at the same time in one body, and the heat of them made her feel damp between the legs and wanton.

"Lula," he moaned.

He lifted her again, and she slid down on his erection, holding her breath and clutching his shoulders. It felt like cheating, but it wasn't. Not really.

"Fuck," High John groaned.

Her wide ass rested on his balls, and they both sat still, getting used to the sensation of the connection. Lulabelle's head fell back and High John stuffed a big nipple in his mouth, sucking on her breast with a ravenous tugging that shot down to her clit and made her clench her slick walls all around the girth that stretched her beyond belief. She threw her arms around his neck and bounced on his dick with an off-kilter rhythm, as if the Crossroads Man was still figuring out how to work the strange form he was in.

"So wet… tight..." he huffed, pumping himself into her.

She soaked his lap with the pent-up arousal she kept between her thighs waiting for him to return. It wasn't the reunion she imagined, but she took it hard and fast. Loud gushy sounds rang in her ears, listening to the splashy sounds in her pussy and the heavy slapping of her ass cheeks on his muscular thighs. High John played with her breasts again, and she sensed an internal struggle by watching his eyes blaze into hers. The conjure man wanted a taste, and she knew for sure the entity she fucked now was not Erik. It couldn't be. The feeling was different. The hands on her breasts and the tongue on her ripe nipples were foreign to her skin.

Lulabelle hollered in his ear as he pounded her pussy, slapping her ass as he took what he wanted from her. She let him, indulging in the forbidden touch of High John.

"We have to leave… now…" High John's voice returned, and Lulabelle pretended like she didn't hear him, wanting to feel that heavy dick carve unfamiliar territory in her pliant pussy.

"Fuck me, Daddy," she grunted, slamming her ass down on his balls, wanting him to feel all the harlotry she planned on giving him.

She kissed him, licking and biting on his big lips to make him open his mouth so she could rest her tongue in the maple-scented wetness.

"Oh, my damn!" High John screeched, losing full control of the situation.

His hand fumbled with the driver's side door and a gust of humid early fall air gusted around them. He moved out of the car with Lulabelle still stuffed with his dick. His pants fell around his shoes as he corrected his balance. She wouldn't let go of him, sucking on his neck and whimpering for more thrusting of that big meat. Tears dampened her eyes as she begged for more pumping.

"Give me some more, Daddy," she pleaded, purposely not saying anyone's name.

The squelching of her pussy told her Erik was back in the driver's seat. He spun them around and plopped her on the hood, drilling her folds like there was no tomorrow. Watching her titties bounce as he hunched and hollered her name gave Lulabelle joy. She scraped her nails on his nape and cooed his name into his big lips.

"I'm finna cum," he yelled.

"It's your pussy!" she encouraged.

She didn't know if it was Erik or High John. Didn't matter no way. Her pussy was plowed to smithereens and ready to receive.

"You like how it feels?" she purred.

Erik grabbed her throat and pushed her down on the hood.

"Fuck me harder… harder… lemme feel all that big dick!" she demanded.

His eyes burned holes into her skull, but the face looking at her was High John. The conjure man's lips slammed on top of hers and kissed her breath away.

She felt the hot spurts of semen against her walls. It warmed up her insides as his dick pulsed with a prolonged orgasm.

"Lula!" he groaned, flicking his fingers across her clit.

"Cum in this tight pussy!"

Her walls throbbed all around his dick from the bottom of her pussy. She lifted in time to see her opening grip and release with a rhythmic throbbing that made her whimper for God. The damp curls of her pubic hairs were beautiful against his wild bush of dark moist pubic curls. He grabbed her breasts again to hold them once more as he shot one last coating of cum all over her walls.

Hot, sweaty, and spent from the exertion, High John pulled his fat dick out of her pussy. His ejaculate pooled out on the hood. She squeezed as much of it out as possible, and he groaned at the amount spilling all over the car. Wiping his face, he reached for his pants like a drunk man trying to dress.

"Got no time for this shit… gotta find this niggas's body," High John grumbled.

Lulabelle slide down the hood and fixed her dress. With no panties on, the air tickled her naked vulva. She fastened up her bra again and caught her breath. High John regarded her with his own lust, not Erik's. He was in control again.

"Gotta find Elizabeth and see if she found his body," he said.

"Where should we look for her?"

"The crossroads," High John said. "Get in the car."

She crawled back in, and he slipped in beside her. He started the car and drove carefully out of the woods.

The crossroads were empty, only moonlight high above, and the distant sound of The Midnight Ramblers at her juke joint met them there. High John stomped around and peered in every direction before stepping to the center that joined all the directions together. He kicked around some dirt and rested his hands on his hips.

"He loves you," High John said.

Lulabelle stared at him with a curious expression.

"That's the only way they got him. If he didn't love you, then the root they put together to bind him wouldn't have worked. Love is a powerful spell, Lula. An incantation that holds hearts together takes two to manifest the conjuring," High John said.

He looked at her with soft, knowing eyes.

"They probably would've fooled me too," he said, winking at her.

He gazed all around him.

"I figure… they moved into these parts and wanted to grab people roaming around late at night. Drunk. Confused. Not paying attention to the signs. Someone who regularly fed Erik might've missed a night making an offering to him. It weakened the veil and made him come look-see when bodies were found here. Can't nobody resist a pretty girl pretending to be lost. Not even a drunk man. Even a woman looking for her wayward husband would stop to help another woman in trouble. They get caught, and the hag rides their body for… draining them of energy and the will to live. Geechee came to see what was going on and a demon pretending to be you seduced him with a binding spell. Stuffed his essence in a jar for Sadie to keep. Buried him somewhere…"

His eyes glanced behind her.

A glowing ball of yellow light bounced above a thicket of kudzu.

"There she is," High John said.

He ran toward the light, and Lulabelle followed him. The kudzu was thick and High John yanked on it at the spot where they saw the light. She helped him, and they found a decaying lump of plant matter and unsettled dirt. Dragging their hands through it, Lulabelle squealed when they discovered Erik's body stuffed in a hole. She brushed the soil off of his suit and wept as she helped High John pull him out and lay him flat on his back.

"Erik," she said, stroking his moldy and mottled face.

The stench of decay was sickly sweet, and she covered her nose and mouth once they took in the full reeking of the decomposing form. High John stuck his fingers in Erik's mouth and scooped out more dirt. He wiped his nose too, and Lulabelle looked up to check the placement of the moon. It was still high in the night sky.

High John widened Erik's lips and covered his mouth with his own, vomiting the liquid he swallowed from the jar down into his throat. The retching sounds almost made Lulabelle puke, and she turned her head, pinching her nose from the powerful odor of sulfur. She looked over at Erik again when High John sat back and wiped his lips. They waited.

Nothing happened.

"Are we too late? Is his body too far gone?" Lulabelle asked.

High John looked worried, and he stood up and paced among the kudzu. An hour passed. The sounds of the woods at night gave Lulabelle the creeps, but she felt safe with High John. When another hour passed, she couldn't hold her tears back.

"Come on, man. Get your ass back here!" High John shouted.

He slammed a fist on Erik's chest. Despite that, nothing happened.

"We were too late," Lulabelle whined, wiping her eyes.

"Nah, his body is still good enough to restore."

"Then what's wrong with him? Use your mojo bag, cast a spell on him or somethin'!"

"Calm down, woman," Erik said.

Lulabelle placed her hands on his chest and watched him blink the dirt out of his eyes.

"It takes time to get acquainted with the body again. Always wanna rush people," Erik teased.

He sat up and dirt dropped from his skin all over and his face filled with his beautiful ruddy brown coloring again. She helped him stand, and he brushed off his clothes and shoes. He held out a hand for High John and they clasped palms and bumped shoulders.

"Came right on time," Erik said.

"Lulabelle was a big help. She found you before I did," High John said.

She stood between them feeling sheepish and a little embarrassed thinking about what had transpired between the three of them earlier.

"I got 'em trapped at Lula's juke right now. We best hurry back before the barrier I put around the place wears off. I got no choice but to take the hag down there. Couldn't do it until I found you, though.

"Understood," Erik said.

They trotted back to High John's car, piled in, and rushed over to the juke. The noise from inside seemed louder, and the dancing and partying going on shook the foundation.

"Go in through the back," High John said.

They snuck around the side and entered the rear with stealth. No one paid attention to them except for Eva, who fried up the last orders of fish and chicken for the night. Her eyes grew wide at Erik being with them, and Lulabelle held up a finger to her lips, warning her not to say anything. Erik went to the kitchen sink and rinsed his mouth out and washed his face. Lulabelle poured him some whiskey, and he took the glass and gulped down the contents. He leaned over and kissed her lips. She closed her eyes and accepted the warm, smooth feel of his mouth over hers. High John handed Erik his hat that he hung up in the kitchen.

"Keep that down so they won't recognize you in the crowd," High John said.

Erik pulled it down low, and they listened to the hard partying.

"This place is on fire," Eva said, monitoring High John. "These people are eating and drinking up everything!"

Lulabelle could see the dollar bills Eva was adding up with her eyes, thinking about all the money they were making.

"People are so busy in the juke, they barely going to the Loving House," Eva said.

"Go on out there and stay in the back. Lula, let Sadie see you so she'll think you've been here, but stay away from her," High John said.

The conjure man stared at one of Eva's cupboards, then waved his hand at Lulabelle.

"Go on, get out there," High John ordered.

Lulabelle grabbed Erik's hand, and they squeezed through bodies. She shook one hip and waved her hand at customers as if she'd been making the rounds as usual. Sadie sat perched at the front table near the band, and her girls were still half naked and urging debauchery everywhere. The people obliged with lusty kissing on the dance floor, and fingers groping and grabbing partners in their seats.

Lulabelle called out a loud, "Hey girl!" to Gertie Mae, who had sweated out her pin curls and make-up. Streaks of pancake foundation dripped down her drenched face as she sang a bluesy, slow drag. Her eyes connected with Sadie, who smoked a cigarette with a long cigarette holder, blowing smoke circles at the piano player. Lulabelle pretended to roll her eyes and moved through the patrons to the back. Erik kept his head dipped low as they scurried and hid behind the standing audience.

For the first time in months, Lulabelle could relax with Erik pressed into her back. He threw an arm around her chest and felt on her breast openly. No one cared. Their gazes were stuck on Gertie Mae and listening to her moaning lyrics. She leaned her head against his chest.

"I thought you left me and found someone else," she said.

She didn't have to speak louder than the music because his keen hearing could pick up the softest whisper from her lips. He rested his back against the wall, and she clung to his arm.

"I'ma go wash up back at the Loving House. Change clothes," he said.

She gripped him tighter.

"Don't worry, I'm here. You're here. Can't trick me with my real woman," he said.

He kissed her forehead and pushed through the throngs toward the hall. She circled the juke and collected money from Honey Boy who looked dizzy from all the business.

"These men are finally heading to the back," Honey Boy said. "Thought them hoes from the woods would leave soon, but they are hunkering down for the night. That Sadie ain't left that table yet. She don't dance or nothin', just watches her women and smokes."

"She ask about me at all?"

"Nah. She likes her moonshine and people gawking at her hoes."

"I bet," Lulabelle said, stuffing the money down her bra.

The juke was sweltering, with so many people bumping up against each other. Erik met up with her in the back wearing a fresh suit that she kept pressed and ready for him in her room. He held her close. His touch was electrifying on her skin. They swayed to the slow drag and before she knew it, he had her dress hiked up her waist in the back while he unzipped his clean pants. Her lips made an "O" as he took her right there in the crowd, their eyes transfixed on nothing but The Midnight Ramblers. Erik gripped her shoulders and thrust in and out slowly. His balls slapped against her clit and her body jerked to his pacing.

"You enjoyed fucking High John a little too much," he growled in her ear.

Her eyes watered from the stretching his dick gave her walls, and he was not kind about letting her catch her breath as he stroked faster in her pussy. He slammed a hand over her mouth to keep her from moaning too loud. The cacophony of music, call and response shouting at Gertie Mae, and Erik's hot, heavy dick beating down her wet slit with no mercy had Lulabelle mewling and crying softly with too much stimulation. His dick was thick enough to make her clit tug down on its own without his fingers stimulating it. He wouldn't let up, digging his heels into the floor and thrusting into her until she was almost on her tippy-toes. Her pants were loud in her own ears against his hand, and she creamed on his dick with a sudden loss of control. His erection swelled and his grunt of satisfaction pushed a flood of cum into her that weakened her knees. He held her up and whispered in her ear.

"When this is over, I gotta punish that pussy. You know that, right?"

She whimpered, and he spanked her ass, covering her cheeks back up with her dress.

"I ain't like how you acted in that car and out of it. Didn't even say my name like you usually do. You liked fucking his body," he said.

"I was fucking you," she said.

The gleam in his eye and the smirk on his lips told her he thought she was lying. He gave her a fat smooch on her cheek and slid his tongue in her ear and around the shell.

"Were you?" he whispered.

Lulabelle rounded her shoulders and avoided eye contact. High John stepped out of the kitchen and she shivered, thinking about him sucking on her titties while she bounced on his fat dick. All three of them kept watch over Sadie and her whores.

"Night Lula!"

Lulabelle held a hand to her chest, trying to calm the tightness there and the shortness of breath as she watched the last of her patrons leave her juke. She waved at the man who called out to her, the piano player, and kept her eyes on two of Sadie's demon whores who were topless and lounging on chairs near the stage.

Sadie herself sat at the piano, tickling the ivory, keeping her sultry eyes on Lulabelle. Honey Boy took the last of the cash she collected and headed out to the Loving House to check on the girls and rest. Eva slung a coat over her shoulders and lifted a covered plate of chicken from the bar counter and bid Lulabelle goodnight as her husband waited to scoop her up at the front door. She left a bag on the counter, waving for Lulabelle to ignore it as she walked out with her man. The last stragglers headed out and finally, they were alone with the hag and her ladies. Erik slinked away from the wall and took off High John's hat. Sadie squinted and stood up once she realized it was Erik. The hag snapped her fingers and her women jumped up and stalked across the dance floor toward the entrance. Lulabelle glanced at High John and he checked for the moonlight through the window. He grinned.

Sadie and her women came back in, the barrier blocking their exit from the premises. Erik pulled Lulabelle behind him and she stayed near the wall.

"Ain't nobody here now. Might as well show yourselves," High John said.

He pulled out his mojo bag and sat it openly on his chest. Erik moved next to him and flexed his fingers before pulling out his switchblade. Sadie checked the juke to make sure no one else was around.

"Why not?" she said.

Sadie's face puffed out like a bullfrog again, and she stripped out of her dress and underwear, revealing a gorgeous body that split and twisted, turning itself inside out until her skin fell to the floor in a wet splat at her feet. Without her skin, she was a walking, red, glistening wound. She grinned, and everything inside her mouth was black. Lulabelle couldn't see a tongue or teeth anymore. The whores behind her shed their phony skin and dropped to all fours, snarling and gnashing vicious teeth looking like hell hounds skinned raw, the lean muscles in their bodies a wet scarlet nightmare as their claws clacked across the wood floor.

Lulabelle couldn't turn her head away from the horror in her juke and a chill dragged along her spine as she sincerely wondered what High John and her Geechee man looked like under their skin.

"No tit for tat boys? We get undressed and y'all stay pretending? That's not fair at all," Sadie said with her midnight black mouth.

Her eyes were still seductive and sinister. She turned toward Lulabelle, and Erik stepped forward.

"I would love to ride you gal, then put your shiny little soul in a glass jar," Sadie said.

"Don't look at her, Lula. Turn your head, baby," Erik said.

She did as he said so she wouldn't be hypnotized again. He lunged for the hell hounds, distracting Sadie. The demons attacked Erik, but he cut them with his razor, deflecting their snapping teeth as much as he could. The hag jumped on his back, whipping her head back and forth as she gripped his chin, yanking it back.

High John sprang into action, snatching the hag's skin off the floor and running with it to the counter. He stretched it open on the bloody wet side and dumped the contents of the bag Eva had left behind all over it.

Sadie shrieked when she noticed his actions and jumped off of Erik. He continued fighting and cutting the hell hounds that gave off the smell of burning flesh. High John stepped away from the counter and allowed Sadie to pick up her skin. She shook it and cursed High John, throwing her outer covering back on. It sizzled and burned her flesh, and she clawed at her skin, enraged and frightened.

The hell hounds flopped around the floor like they were having convulsions, and black acidic foam bubbled out of their mouths, filling the room with the stench of burning rot. Sadie clawed at her once beautiful face.

"You motherfucker!" she screamed at High John.

Erik ran to the conjure man and High John poured the contents of the mojo bag into the Geechee's hand. Erik balled his hand into a fist, blew through a small hole he made on the side of it, then slammed his hands together. There came a loud clap of sound that reverberated like thunder and Lulabelle could never be sure if she saw what she saw, but The Crossroads Man, her beloved Erik, stole the moon from the sky, reached right through the juke window behind the stage, and plucked it with his fingers, replacing it with the sweet sugary colors dawn.

Sadie shrieked again and fled out of the juke, breaking through the screen door and tumbling down the steps with a roar pouring out of her wicked mouth. Lulabelle ran to the entrance and watched the hag head for the woods, but it was too late. Sunlight pierced holes through her body and she sparked up like a human torch, her flesh scorched into black ash that floated to the morning sky. One last horrid screech sounded from her lips before she vanished in front of Lulabelle's eyes.

"My God today," Lulabelle whispered with wide eyes.

She turned back into her juke and the hell hounds had vanished too, leaving no trace behind. High John wiped his hands.

"Eva's salt trick don't work on me, but Miss Sadie sho did go out like a whiny bitch!" High John said.

Erik laughed at him, and both men slapped hands and shook their heads.

"Hags always have a bad habit of leaving their skin out in the wrong places tryna be tough all the time," Erik said.

Lulabelle could only stare at them, mouth agape, and her thoughts jumbled with all the terrifying sights she'd seen in nearly twenty-four hours. She tossed a weary hand up at them both.

"I'm going to bed. This shit… this was too much," Lulabelle complained.

"Oh, you ain't about to do no sleepin'," Erik said.

Lulabelle stopped and put a hand on her hip.

"Whatchu mean?"

"Told you already. I'm 'bout to be knee deep in that pussy. Go on back there and get naked. You gotta make up for the disrespect," Erik said.

High John snatched his hat from the floor where Sadie had knocked it off of Erik's head. He placed it back on his own head.

"Guess I'll just mosey along then. Come see me Geechee when you done with her. I'll be waiting over at the crossroads. We got work to do," High John said.

"You ever gon' give that conjure man his body back?" Erik said.

"Maybe. Maybe not. I kinda like it. What you think, Lula?" High John said.

"Don't be askin' her 'bout nothin', man. Take that shit back. I don't want her looking at that face again."

"Scared of some competition, I see."

"Whatever, man. Take that nigga his shit back so he can do his work."

High John sucked his teeth at Erik and winked at Lulabelle.

"Sure y'all don't need me to watch?"

Erik raised a fist. Lulabelle grinned.

"Tell the truth, Lulabelle, was all that hollerin' you was doin' for me or him?" High John asked.

"Goodbye High John. Close the door behind you," Lulabelle said.

Erik stuck out his tongue at High John.

"So ungrateful. I'll be waitin' on your ass," High John said.

High John looked into the corner of the juke and tipped his hat to nothing she could see.

"Thank you for your help, Elizabeth. You are a true friend to these two," High John said.

"Tell her thank you for me, please," Lulabelle said.

"She heard you," High John said.

He strolled out of the front door and politely closed it for Lulabelle.

Erik spanked her ass.

"I'ma start with those big thighs first. Then I'll lick and kiss that juicy pussy with my sweet jewel at the top…"

Erik nuzzled his face against hers. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Is it true that you love me?" she asked.

He kissed her softly and rubbed her shoulders.

"Yes."

"That's what got you in trouble," she said.

"One time. Won't ever happen again."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"What will happen to those jars they left in that house?"

"Nothing. I'll pour them out and release their souls to heaven at the crossroads."

"Will you ever show me what you truly look like?"

"No. Your human eyes couldn't handle it."

"So I'll never see you?"

"Not until you're an old woman and you pass on. Then I'll guide you to the other side of the veil."

He kissed her again, and she admired all the gold in his teeth.

"You'll stay with me until I die?"

"Or until you get sick of me."

She shook her head and pressed her face against his neck, smelling his skin and feeling his warmth.

"I won't ever get sick of you."

He spanked her backside, and she yelped.

"Lulabelle, Lulabelle… time for us to go to the Loving House," he teased.

She threaded her fingers with his and thought of all the things she wanted to ask him about turning night into day and loving her so much that a hag could trick his ass into a jar. He tugged on her hand and she walked beside him across the rickety creek bridge. He slipped a hand under her dress and fingered her folds, slipping two digits inside of her as she walked slowly for him, letting him watch her big ass jiggle while he worked her pussy.

When they reached her soft, lumpy bed, she forgot about the moon, the sun, and the shiny mason jars. All she saw were stars in her eyes as she raised her big legs high to the sky, letting the Crossroads Man make love to her again, and again, and again….

Part 1 "Ice Cold Jax" HERE.

A.N.:

Aaron Pierre is my new face claim for John the Conqueror. I had someone else originally, but it's fun to switch up. Basically Killmonger and Terry Richmond tag teaming in this. This sequel was also written as a birthday read for @soufcakmistress in 2022.

#There's Some Whores in This House #Killmonger Smut #Terry Richmond Smut #Erik Killmonger AU #Terry Richmond AU #Black Supernatural #Black American Folk Tale #Uzumaki Rebellion #Erik Stevens AU #Erik Killmonger Smut

58 notes · View notes

anyamaris · 1 year ago

Text

Less Than Perfect

Word Count-10526

Summary- Your boyfriend Yeosang has planned the most amazing vacation for the two of you over the Christmas holiday. While the journey starts out fine, you both find yourselves in a small town with car troubles and no way to fix it because of the holiday. What should have been a perfectly planned vacation turns into everything going wrong, or so your boyfriend thinks. It could just be that perfect isn’t what you’re looking for.

Trope/Au-Established relationship au

Pairing- Yeosang x F!reader

Warnings-Vulgarity, explicit language, unprotected sex (wrap it up irl), some angst (mostly Yeosang being silly), Minors DNI 18+

A/N: Ahhhh this one has been brewing for awhile and I'm emotionally attached to this. I actually refer to a prior fic with the reader and Yeosang that ties to this one. There's also a smut I wrote with them later here!

I want to thank @mint-yooxgi and @starlitmark for doing me the amazing kindness of beta reading alot of this story as I cried my way through it. Without you two, I imagine I would have faltered so much more. I appreciate you both more than you know!

This fic is part of the Stranded for the Holidays Collaboration, make sure you check out all the other wonderful writers who have written as well!

Tags- @cultofdionysusnet @ksmutsociety @wooyoungmybelovedhusband @yoonguurt @shinestarhwaa @stardragongalaxy @kpop-stories-21 @starlitmark@millennial-fangirl @ericssmile @wooahaeproductions@changbinslovelylegs @yeosxxx @millennial-fangirl @starillusion13 @duchesskaren @minki-moo

@cafekitsune Thank you for banners and dividers! 🤍💜🤍

You can’t suppress your smile as you look over at your boyfriend, curling to the side in your seat to watch him as he drives. “What? What is it?” He questions, glancing over at you with a small smile. “Am I not allowed to admire my handsome lover?” you retort.

He only responds with a laugh, shaking his head as he reaches over to take your hand, keeping his eyes on the road as he kisses the back of it.

“I’m so excited to get away, going to sleep in and eat sooo much!" You exclaim, thinking of the little resort town Yeosang had booked the hotel in. His smile just fuels your own as you continue to tell him all of the silly little things you plan on doing on your vacation. “Oh and the hot tub…” you murmur, giving Yeosang a sexy side eye.

His cheeks flush as he bites his lip, clearing his throat as he glances at your little grin. “Yes…that’s definitely a great perk…”

Giggling at his expression, you just sigh in contentment as you continue to chatter away at Yeosang. You’re about three hours into the trip and you’d just stopped for a break before the next part of the journey. You’ve been climbing into a heavily mountainous region, a necessary route to get to the resort town Yeosang had booked your vacation in.

“It’s so pretty up here!” you exclaim, looking out at the soft flakes starting to fall in the midday sun.

“It’ll be much prettier on the other side, once we’re through this little backwoods area.” Yeosang says, eyeing the falling snow with less enthusiasm than you are. “I hope the weather holds, I’d hate to get delayed.” He murmurs, and you look over at him.

“I’m in no rush, Yeosang. We have the rest of the weekend and then all week following Christmas. Enjoy the beautiful scenery!” you tell him, poking his cheek.

“I have the most beautiful scenery right here for the entire trip, what are you talking about?” he says, his cheeks turning a little shade of pink at the words.

You gasp, your hands on your chest, “Kang Yeosang, you're going to make my poor heart give out.” you tease, but you lean over to plant a kiss on his cheek for the compliment. “I adore you.” You breathe out, watching as his pink shade brightens to a red and his ears decide to match, making you laugh. “Even after two years you still blush when you say that kind of thing. I love it.”

You just smile at him as he glares at you and shakes his head. “You’re lucky you’re cute.” he murmurs.

Over the next hour, you just happily chatter away to Yeosang, until suddenly the car starts to sputter and shake. Looking over at your boyfriend in alarm, you ask, “What is that?” His frown doesn’t bode well as he looks at the dash controls, brow furrowed as the car begins to slow. Before long, he’s pulling to the side of the empty road, cursing softly under his breath.

“I just had this checked before we left…” he grumbles and you just nod, opening the glove box to rummage around for the car’s manual.

“Not sure if this will help…” you say, flipping through it as he mutters, and the car completely stalls.

“Damn. Fuck.” He curses and you reach over to him, rubbing his arm as he glares at the steering wheel.

“It’s okay, we still have a signal out here.” You tell him as you look at your phone, quickly searching for nearby mechanics or towing. Finding only one nearby number that does both, you call and the nice man on the other end asks you some questions about your location.

Luckily, you remembered passing by some noticeable landmarks, and you let the man know. Yeosang just watches you with an unhappy, worried look as you talk.

“Ah the state park! Well sounds like you’re a few miles outside of town. I’ll get to you in no time, this isn’t the weather for sittin’ too long!”

You smile at the voice, “Yes, we were heading west so-” “Yep yep, don’t you worry, I’ll find ya and get ya somewhere warm!”

“Thank you so much!” You say, hanging up and smiling at your boyfriend. “Yeosang, don’t worry. Someone is coming, wipe the frown off your handsome face.” You tease him, reaching out to smooth the furrow in his brow.

“I sure as hell hope they have somewhere to fix this.” He sighs, looking at the clock on his phone. “Let me text the others and let them know we’ll be delayed a bit.” You just take a deep breath, smiling at him to try to ease his mood.

“It’s fine, at least we won’t be stuck out in the cold. Everything happens for a reason.” You say and he just rolls his eyes at you, but you pinch his cheek as his lip curls up into a small smile.

“If the reason is to throw everything off…”

Leaning back against the headrest you just sigh and shake your head as you watch him text. “‘Everything’ is relaxing, eating, spending time together. We can do that anywhere.” You remind him and he just hums as he chews his lip, shooting you an odd look.

“Am I wrong?” You say, smirking and he just sighs.

“I just hope this is something simple.” he hums and you nod, patting the dashboard.

“This girl is just tired, right, baby?” You say to the car, and that finally draws a small laugh out of him.

“Well, she needs to rest and get her energy back soon.” He says, and his smile grows as you lean over to plant a kiss on his lips before he returns to his messages.

Before you know it you look up to see headlights cutting through the heavy snowfall and then the sound of a truck backing up has you unbuckling your seatbelt to go talk to the tow truck driver.

A hand stops you and you throw Yeosang an odd look as he halts you. “Stay here and keep warm, I’ll go talk to him.” He says, leaning over and kissing your cheek before he’s unbuckling and opening the door. You watch him trudge over to the man and chat, gesturing to the vehicle.

Smiling as he makes his way back, you can’t help but feel your heart swell with love for the man you’ve given it to. Even in this situation, there is no one in the world you’d rather be with than him. Especially during this time of year. Last year, you’d both been working and had spent the following Christmas day together, but this year you’d both been able to get the time off.

Yeosang sighs as he gets in, watching the tow truck driver back up and set about hooking the car up. He turns and opens his mouth, but stops and blinks at your silly smile. “Are you alright?” he asks, waving his hand in front of your face.

You can only laugh at him, taking his hand as you shake your head. “I’m fine, just…happy to be with you.”

The odd look on his face at your words has you laughing a bit more, his nose wrinkling as his mouth twists. “Only you would be beaming at me like, broken down in the middle of nowhere, with a snow storm around us.” He huffs, but he reaches over to pinch your chin in his fingers, a small smile now creeping over his lips. “He’s going to have us ride with him to town, we can figure things out on the drive and when we get there.” he tells you and you nod, grabbing your bag, sending a quick text to the two friends you were meeting at the resort, noticing the frown faces and dismay at your delay.

“Jackie and Ty are already drinking.” You say, laughing as you show him a pic of the two women at the bar with their boyfriends.

He just snorts, shaking his head at the picture, letting out a long sigh. “I’m ignoring the whining texts from those two.” He gestures to Seonghwa and Mingi in the picture and you just smile, knowing all too well he’s getting blown up by his friends.

“Did the others show yet?” You ask as you watch the tow truck driver gesture to you both after he has everything hooked up.

You both open your doors and get out, Yeosang running over to grasp your hand after the driver tells you to go get warm in his truck as he finishes up.

Once you're both settled in the cab of the truck, Yeosang wraps his arm around you, rubbing gently to warm you and he finally answers. “Doesn’t sound like the rest showed yet, but I’m certain I’ll know once they do. I’m putting my phone on silent for the time being. I really don’t want to deal with Wooyoung especially.” He says, making an annoyed face.

“They’ll survive without us for a bit. Besides, that means I have you to myself for even longer!” You say, trying to get him to smile.

He sighs and leans over to rest his head on your shoulder as you wait for the driver to finish and join you. Once he does, he introduces himself to you as he starts to drive slowly towards the town, cautious in the increasingly heavy snowfall.

“You’re both lucky you broke down where ya did, when ya did. This snow is gonna get worse through the night.” he says, keeping his eyes on the road. “I'll drop ya at the bed and breakfast so ya have a room for the night, already told the couple there we’d have a few extra in town once I got yer call.” He tells you, and you smile at his kindness.

“Thank you so much, you have no idea how much we appreciate it. Is there someone who can fix the car this weekend?” you ask him and his mouth thins into a line.

“Normally I’d say yea, but with this weather and Christmas eve tomorrow, depends on what she needs to get ‘er up and runnin’.” he responds, gesturing to the car being towed behind you.

You let out a soft sigh, feeling Yeosang tense as he sits up, squeezing your hand gently. “Well, no matter what, I’m just grateful you came to get us and thank you so very much again for finding us a place without even knowing us.” You say, smiling softly, letting your thumb rub circles on your boyfriend's hand to soothe him.

“Ah don’t mention it, we take care of folks ‘round here. Don’t you worry ‘bout nothin’.” he says comfortingly and you just enjoy the conversation as you watch the town come into view, buildings popping out beneath the white cover of snow.

Gasping, you lean forward, noticing the plethora of decorations lighting up the street lamps and all over the buildings and landmarks you can see. “Oh my goodness, it’s beautiful!” You exclaim and the driver chuckles, nodding.

“We do so love our Christmas, that we do. What are you two travelin for? Going to see family for the holidays?” He asks, and you shake your head, eyes never leaving the sights of the decorations as you pass through what looked like the main street of the small village.

“Hmm…just meeting up with some friends we haven’t seen much of lately, everyone has been traveling. And last year we were so busy, we both haven’t had much time to go anywhere together for any holidays.” You answer and smile over at Yeosang.

He’s also taking in the decorations, shooting you a small smile as you get excited over them.

“You two married?” the driver asks with a grin and you smile, shaking your head. “No, no, not married. Just dating.” you tell him with a smile, barely noticing Yeosang’s body tense up once more.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll have a nice stay with Abby and Connor, they been runnin’ that bed and breakfast for ages. Abby’s a great cook, too.” He adds, smiling at the two of you as he turns down a small side road.

Slowly, he pulls up to a large house with one of those wrap-around porches, and from what you can see, it’s the epitome of the style of a house for a bed and breakfast. It’s hard to see the color in the storm, but it looks like a cozy two story home perfect for welcoming guests of all types.

Thanking the driver, you leave Yeosang to talk with him about contact information as you go to grab the two suitcases from the back of the car. Before you can so much as pull them from the vehicle, Yeosang is beside you.

“I’ve got them.” He says, and you double check that you have everything before waving goodbye to the driver through the white blanket of snow.

“Would suck if no one was home.” Yeosang grumbles and you can only shake your head at his dour mood, smiling softly as he insists on carrying everything.

“What’s with all this negativity today? It’s so unlike you.” You tease him, and he just looks at you sheepishly. “It’s not as if things always go to plan, Yeosang. We have all weekend and next week to spend at the resort, so please don’t stress out over something as simple as a detour.”

He just nods at your words, his eyes apologetic as you ring the doorbell. Threading your arm through his, you kiss his cheek as the door opens.

“Well, well, lookie you two, poor things all stranded in this mess!” The bright, cheerful voice is coming from a middle aged woman, her curly brown hair up in a messy bun. “Come on in, let’s get you two warmed up! Carl said he’s getting your car in a garage for them to take a look at, so it’s in good hands. You two can relax and have a cozy place to stay for the evening.”

Smiling at your boyfriend, you allow the kind woman to escort you both into the warm house as she calls out for someone. “Connor! Our guests are here!” She says and a moment later, a tall, handsome older man makes his way down the stairs, smiling widely at the sight of you both.

“Welcome! Sorry for not greeting you at the door, I was making sure you had everything in your room.” He says, immediately going to his wife to slip an arm around her.

“I’ve made sure there are towels, fresh linens and extra blankets and pillows. There’s a small table and seating area in the room we put you in. Let me help you with those.” He says and you do your best to contain your amusement and pleasure at having such a sweet greeting in an otherwise stressful day.

Squeezing Yeosang’s arm as you both exchange a small smile, he gratefully hands one of the suitcases to the kind older man, slipping off his shoes before he takes another step.

“Come along, let’s get these in your room and you can let me know if there’s anything else you’ll be needing.”

You can only smile at the shocked but amused look from your boyfriend as he’s herded up the stairs before you turn back to the kind woman.

“Oh goodness, where are my manners? My name is Abby, and that there is Connor, as you heard me bellowing.” You laugh in delight as she gestures to the talkative man disappearing upstairs.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Abby. Thank you so much for taking us in tonight, everyone has been so kind so far.”

She just waves her hands as you introduce yourself and Yeosang, explaining the situation about the car breaking down. “Carl said he’s gonna take a look at it with his son tonight, so you two can just relax yourselves and not fret too much. We’ll take good care of you.” She pats your arm comfortingly as she shows you where to hang your jacket.

You have to admit, you can already feel the tensions of the day slipping away. Despite being calm through everything, it’s still a hitch in your plans and you know Yeosang is unhappy at the delay.

“I can’t thank you enough, really. Oh! Before I relax too much, let me pay you for the room.”

She just scoffs at you, shaking her head as you reach for your bag. “Let’s just see what needs to be done with your car first and we can deal with all of that later. You two just focus on resting and getting warm before we worry about all that fuss.”

Relenting, you can only smile gratefully at the woman, glancing up as Connor comes back down the stairs.

“Your beau is waiting for you in your room, but please let us know if there’s anything you’ll be needing.” the man tells you.

“Thank you both so much.” you say again as you make sure to take off your snowy shoes before you head upstairs.

“Make yourselves at home, and when you’re feeling comfy, come on down and I’ll give you a tray for your dinner so you two can eat together. You’re welcome to eat in the dining room or you’re free to bring it back upstairs to have a quiet dinner together.” Abby tells you as she gives you a small wave.

“Come on, dear, let the younger ones have some quiet time and don’t you dare go turning up the television to disturb them…” you hear as the two walk down the hallway into another area of the house, their voices trailing off.

Glancing around, you take a moment to admire the tasteful Christmas decor, sighing happily at the soft scent of mulled spices hanging in the air. It truly feels surreal, so wonderfully comforting standing here in this obviously loved and lived in house.

There was no front desk, no workers rushing about. Just the cozy feel of being in the company of people welcoming you into the comfort of their home. Taking one more glance around, you hum as you make your way upstairs, following the light from an open door at the end of the hall.

Walking in, you can’t help but grin at the large, spacious room.

The bed is huge, taking up the left side of the room, noticing Yeosang as you make your way in as he checks his messages. Glancing over, you take in the cute little table on the upper side of the room, with plenty of space to sit and have breakfast near a set of doors that seem to go to a balcony.

A small fireplace with a decorated hearth has two cozy armchairs facing it and you can’t help but feel a sense of bliss overwhelm you at the environment you’ve both stumbled into.

“Hey, you alright?” You hear Yeosang’s voice cut through your idyllic thoughts as he gently rubs a hand up your arm, a look of concern on his face.

“What? Of course, I just…” you inhale softly and his brow furrows, confusion on his face.

“You look like you’re about to cry.” He says, pulling you into his arms, cupping your cheek as he studies your eyes.

“Perhaps, but it’s because this place is so ….” you take a deep breath and let it out, a smile curving your lips. “It’s crazy, isn’t it? It’s like…falling into one of those romantic holiday movies.”

He wrinkles his nose at your whimsical statement, shaking his head but you can’t help but catch the upward quirk of his lips before he leans in to press them to yours.

“I’m sorry we’re not at the resort right now, out at a fancy restaurant like you deserve. I promise I’ll make it up to you.” He hums, drawing back to place a kiss on your forehead.

“Yeosang…” you let out a small laugh at his words, “I think this place is amazing. I’m here…with you. That’s all that matters to me.”

He merely frowns, looking down as he rubs your back. “I just…want everything to be perfect.” he sighs, and you wrap your arms around his neck, placing a kiss to his lips as he looks back up at you.

“You worry too much. Let’s get changed and cleaned up, then eat something?” you ask him, trying to focus on positives.

He nods, holding you for a moment longer before you release each other to unpack and wash up.

It’s well past dark when you both make your way downstairs, Yeosang’s hand in yours as you walk down the hall to a large open space, resplendent with a large decorated Christmas tree.

The piles of wrapped presents under the tree brings a smile to your face and you finally glance over at the sweet couple who have so kindly taken you both in.

Abby has on a cute apron proclaiming her to be the boss of the kitchen as her husband sits at the island overseeing everything.

“There they are!” She says, wiping her hands as she beams at the two of you. “Come, I’ve got some nice warm stew and homemade bread. If you give me a bit, I can whip up something more filling.” causing you to immediately shake your head.

“Oh please, don’t go through the trouble! This looks amazing!” you say as she presents you with a tray of steaming food.

Yeosang’s eyes even light up at the aroma of the home cooked meal and you smile warmly at his expression, not noticing the knowing look passing between the older couple.

“Why don’t you two go on upstairs and eat there, so you can have your privacy. I’ve got all these cookies I’ll be making for Christmas eve tomorrow so if you get hungry for more, or something else, you come on down and tell me. Don’t be shy now.” She teases and Yeosang nods as you reassure her that you definitely will let them know.

“Hopefully Carl and his sons can get your car taken care of so you can be on your way tomorrow.” Connor adds, telling Yeosang comfortingly. “Everything will be a bit better come the morning. Just leave your tray on the little table outside the door when you’re done if you don’t want to come down.”

You and Yeosang exchange a small smile as you make your way back up to eat together, and you can tell he’s hungry as he eyes the food on the tray.

Perhaps getting him fed will improve his mood, you think.

The evening is spent having a nice quiet meal together, sharing your thoughts on getting back on the road tomorrow. Luckily it was only a few more hours drive to the resort but you’ve definitely noticed the tension from him when you bring it up.

After eating, you both get ready for bed, placing the tray outside of the door as Connor had requested.

“Let’s get some sleep, and tomorrow will be much better.” you say as you slip into bed next to your boyfriend. Yeosang pulls you into his arms, allowing you to snuggle into him. “No matter what happens, it’ll be fine.” you promise him.

He just hums at your words, hugging you just a little tighter as you both drift off into your dreams.

The smell of baking cookies wakes you early, and you lay in the warmth of Yeosang’s arms for just a bit longer as you let yourself take in the morning around you.

The soft morning light spills across you both, buried comfortably in the blankets together.

Yeosang’s soft murmurs make you smile as he unconsciously rubs your arm and you let him settle before you slip from the bed.

Taking a few moments to wash up and throw on a hoodie from your bag, you leave your room to pad your ways downstairs, delighting in the beautiful home you’re staying in.

The soft lilt of a humming voice over the music playing has you drawn to the kitchen where Abby is back at her cookie making.

“Well good morning!” She greets you happily and your lips curve up as you watch her expertly ice the sugar cookies spread out before her.

“Good morning, wow…those are beautiful.” you exclaim, coming over to gaze at her work.

“Why thank you! I’m an old lady, so I can say that it’s taken years to get them to come out this well. But as they say, practice makes perfect!” As she says it, a blob drips onto her current cookie and she shoots you a wink.

“Well, maybe not perfect…” she says and you grin at her as you take a seat to watch.

“The imperfect ones are the tastiest!” You tease and she gives you a knowing look as she slips you the cookie in question.

“Okay then, you can be my taste tester.” She says. “Did you two sleep well? You’re up bright and early.” She asks and you nod as you take a generous bite of the snowman cookie.

“MM!” you hum, eyes growing wide. “Delicious!” you tell her as you nod, setting the cookie down on a small plate she provides. “We did, it’s so comforting here, and the meal was exactly what we needed last night.”

“Well I’m glad to hear it, honestly we hadn’t expected anyone so I’m glad I had something last minute for you both. Connor is out plowing the town at the moment but once he’s back and your man is up, he can take him down to the shop to check on things.” she reassures you and you hum as you nibble at your treat.

“Honestly….” you throw a look over your shoulder, then turn back to lean towards her. In a loud whisper you say, “I don’t mind being stuck here, we’re going to visit all of our friends…and I’m excited but…” you sigh and she nods, seeming to understand.

“We both work so much, and we do live together. But the whole year gets so hectic and it’s rare to get quiet moments, you know?” you confide and she hums as she continues to ice her confections.

“You two love each other very much, we could both tell last night when you showed up. Your man doesn’t talk much but you can just see it in how he is with you.” She says, beaming at you.

You can’t help but blush at her words, warmth filling your heart. “When we first started dating, lord….” you sigh, remembering. “He isn’t very talkative and he’s fairly stubborn when it comes to vocalizing his feelings, but….I feel loved every single day with him.”

Abby tilts her head at you, a knowing grin on her face. “That’s the real thing right there, sweetie. Hang onto him.” She points the icing bag at you and you just salute her,

“Yes ma'am! I fully intend to, if you only knew the silly way we got together…” you tell her and she lights up at your words.

“Well why don’t you just bless me with your romantic story time while I finish these up, then!” she exclaims.

Laughing, you settle in as you think back on it.

“We actually were friends for a long time before we got together. I had it bad for him.” You sigh, remembering.

“I bet he had it bad for you too.” She adds, and you can’t help the silly smile from growing on your face.

“I basically had to pry it from him, it took a stupid low cut shirt and some jealousy for us to finally break down with each other.” You sigh, shaking your head at the memory. “Like prying teeth, but when we finally put it out there in the open…” you gesture wordlessly and she hums.

“A good, strong relationship takes time, though I’m not opposed to that whole love at first sight idea. But so much more goes into truly loving someone…and perhaps it’s just not ready yet in some cases. Sometimes the best love simmers for the longest time before it blooms like spring. And darlin, you two are like watching two beautiful blossoms basking in each other’s light.” She says and you raise your eyebrows.

“Abby, you can cook, bake and talk like that? No wonder Connor fell for you.” You give her a wink of your own as her cheeks tint with pink as you bask in her beautiful words.

“Well now that’s a story….” she says and you laugh as you encourage her to spill, spending the early hours sharing your stories.

By the time Yeosang emerges from upstairs, you’re helping Abby finish up packaging her cookies for her gathering that evening. She’d told you that they go to her daughter and son in law’s house on Christmas eve and stay over there after going around dropping off cookies to families around town.

“Good morning.” He says, coming over to place a hand on your lower back, curiously looking at the tins of cookies you’re helping to pack.

“I put your beauty to work this morning, I hope you’ll forgive me.” She teases and he smiles softly as he gazes at you.

“Did you sleep well?” you ask him and he nods, placing a kiss on your cheek.

“Mmm, yes very well.” he says, then he leans in to whisper, “But I missed waking up to you in my arms.”

You catch Abby’s smirk as she makes her way out of the room, giving you two some space.

“Yeosang…” you say, blushing as he turns you in his arms, smoothing back your hair.

“Hm?” he just asks innocently and you shake your head, pursing your lips at him but he just leans in to peck them.

“Have you heard about the car yet?” you ask him and he just shakes his head.

“Not yet, it’s still early so I didn’t want to disturb anyone. Hopefully it’s good news.” He says, his warm smile fading into a worried frown.

“Don’t worry too much if it isn’t.” you reassure him but he is silent as Abby comes back in, and you hear the sound of the door opening, Connor making his way in from the snowy day.

“Morning, love birds! Still snowy out there but at least it’s stopped coming down for the moment.” He says as he sees you, gesturing to Yeosang.

“Come on, let’s take a ride down to the shop and see what Carl has to say.”

You smile at your boyfriend as he nods, giving you a quick kiss as he quickly runs to join Connor at the door, throwing on his shoes and jacket. “I’ll message you in a bit once I know what’s going on.” He calls out as they leave.

“Would you like to go deliver some of these cookies with me or do you prefer some alone time?” Abby asks as she puts the tins in some bags.

Perking up at the idea of going out, you respond, “Give me a moment to go change and I’d love to come along!”

She laughs at your eagerness as you run up to put on some warm clothing. “No rush!” she calls after you.

Once you help pack up the car, Abby drives you both down into the main stretch of the town, happily looking at all the Christmas decor as you drive along. One by one, she stops around town, first at a few residential homes where the jovial, kind townspeople greet Abby by name, hugging her before she introduces you.

After you’ve stopped by around six homes, she turns to you with a smile. “You’d fit right in here, but I doubt your beau would like it if I kept you around.”

Laughing, you nod, pulling out your phone to check your messages. You’ve been so enraptured with your little adventure, you hadn’t thought to look.

“Yeah, I doubt he’s willing to leave me here.”

Opening his message, you let out a sigh at the text. “Looks like we may be staying another night….” you tell her, and she looks over at you with a nod.

“Figured as much. Some kind of part?” She asks and you nod, pursing your lips.

You personally weren’t in a hurry but you could tell from the message that Yeosang wasn’t thrilled.

The text reads: “It’s going to take a day or two to get a part here for the car to be fixed. Connor says we can stay until the part comes. I’m so sorry I’ve ruined Christmas.”

“Oh Yeosang.” you sigh, shaking your head. “He’s going to be so grumpy.”

Abby pulls into one of the side spaces on the main thoroughfare and she reaches over to pat your arm. “Well, the only thing to be done is just to cheer him up then.” she comforts you and you give her a grateful smile.

“I’m sure Connor already offered you to stay until it’s fixed. You two can have the place to yourself tonight, we normally stay over at my daughter’s overnight for Christmas morning.”

“Thank you so much.” you say, the words unable to convey the heartfelt sincerity behind them as you think of how to cheer your boyfriend up.

“Come on, let's drop off the rest of these and there’s a few shops along the way. We can pick up a few things for you two for dinner later.” Abby reassures you, rubbing your arm. “It’ll all work out, don’t you even worry.”

Collecting the rest of the packages of cookies to drop off, you and Abby make your way from store to store. Abby introduces you to the friendly shopkeepers, each of them coming out to greet you and inquire about your stop here.

By the time you’ve come to the last shop, you’re grinning from ear to ear, just basking in the small town holiday feel. “I swear, I could live in a place like this. It’s just so….” you gesture, unable to find the words.

“Ah, it’s not always picture perfect but we all get along well. Everything comes with it’s ups and downs but yeah…” Abby glances down the snow covered main street. “Yeah…I am pretty content.”

You hum happily as you both push the door open to your last stop, noticing the vintage feel of it right away. “Wow…” you say in awe, admiring the beautiful dim lighting, and the aesthetically pleasing displays.

One such display shows what seems to be an antique picnic basket, opened up and set out as if someone was about to have a meal.

Crystal wine glasses adorn the linen blanket underneath and there was even a bottle of wine set amongst the dishes.

A beautiful frilly gown is draped over the vintage cushions placed around the spread, paired with some antique jewelry, shoes and even a bowler hat.

You can’t help but picture the scene it evokes in your mind; a couple out on a date in the countryside on a warm sunny day.

The owner truly seemed to take a lot of care with the items shown and you trail behind Abby as she calls out to the person inside. “Angelica! Merry Christmas Eve!”

You pull your eyes from the pleasing layout of the shop, shaking off the vivid image and turn to say hello.

The woman behind the counter appears to be slightly older than Abby, a long braid of black hair trailing down her back. Her wide smile immediately puts you at ease as she comes over to take your hand and greet you warmly when Abby introduces you.

“Stranded? Oh you poor thing, and on Christmas Eve of all times. Are you here alone?” she inquires.

You shake your head, returning her smile as you reassure her, “Oh no, my boyfriend is here with me. We were on our way to a holiday gathering with friends.” Looking around as she gives you a sympathetic smile, you can’t help commenting on the store.

“This place is gorgeous, I absolutely adore how much love you seem to have for the items.” Glancing at each display, one by one seeming to tell their own story, you let out a dreamy sigh.

“Why thank you, I must admit it’s become even more than a passion.” She says, following your gaze to another well thought out arrangement portraying a child’s bedroom, resplendent with antique toys and a worn but well taken care of teddy bear.

Yet another exhibit, because at this point you are convinced this is pure art, shows a flapper dress on a bust with stools and a small bar table. A men’s fedora and vest are on another, a pocket watch on a chain peeking out.

Crystal whiskey glasses sit beside a decanter and there is even a long cigarette holder on the table. You’re suddenly picturing smoke filled speakeasies of the 1920s.

“It’s magnificent, truly. It’s as if I can walk into any of these scenes and just get lost in the theme you’ve drawn out of the items.” you tell her, turning to see her expression of joy at your words.

“Well, you can come compliment me anytime, darling. I like you.” She says, beaming. “I hope you and your boyfriend get to your destination soon, I’m sorry you have this delay but we’re happy to have you.”

Turning to Abby, she gives her a hug, taking the last tin. “Thank you for the cookies, and I hope you and your family have a wonderful evening together.”

As they chat for a moment, you wander around to just enjoy the showroom and stop at a small case, admiring all of the jewelry displayed; from ropes of pearls to vintage rose gold rings, opal cameo brooches and so on.

“Ready to head back? We can stop by the small grocery on the way to grab a few things for tonight.” Abby asks, smiling at the case of jewelry. “Pretty aren’t they?”

“I love the idea that these items have a story, that…there’s a history behind them.” You smile softly at your host.

Turning, you blush as you laugh softly. “Sorry, I’m getting all sentimental.”

“Not at all, sweetie. I agree wholeheartedly, the beauty of them is in the time and wear. And yet still, here they are, awaiting the next adventure.”

You can only nod at her words, thinking about Yeosang, your relationship; thinking about life in general.

“I’m glad we broke down.” you blurt out before thinking and blink at your words, shaking your head.

Abby throws back her head and laughs, placing a hand on your arm as you cover your mouth in shame. “Oh sweetie, it’s fine to enjoy the detours in life. Don’t feel embarrassed to admit it.”

You can only sigh as you laugh softly, thinking about poor Yeosang and how upset he seems about it. But the experience has been nothing but comforting, allowing you both to slow down and relax for a moment in your busy lives.

Even the resort with your friends was planned out, daily events to go to this week. While you have your own rooms reserved, there is still a loose schedule to follow once you arrive.

Shaking it off, you both bid goodbye to Angelica, sweeping your eyes over the lovely displays once more before you head out.

By the time you arrive back at the bed and breakfast, Yeosang and Connor are in the living room, talking in low tones. As you and Abby bring in the few bags of groceries you’d obtained for the evening, the voices pause and both men come out to take them from you.

Abby waves you off, insisting on not needing help and you turn to greet your boyfriend.

Immediately, you notice Yeosang’s furrowed brow, and strained smile as he comes over to place a kiss on your cheek.

“Everything okay, besides the car?” You ask him and he just gives you a tight smile and a nod, placing a hand on your back.

“Yeah, just…” he shrugs, not finishing the sentence as he turns to watch Abby unpack the groceries.

You lean into him, resting your head on his shoulder for a moment as Connor helps Abby in the kitchen.

“Did you want to go rest for a bit? Abby said they are going to her daughter’s in a bit and we will have the place to ourselves.” you tell him.

He nods, “Connor said as much…” he says, then he looks at you, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I’m going to go shower and change. I’ll be back down in a bit.”

You watch him head upstairs and turn with a sigh. While you understood the stress of everything, he seems to you to be overreacting a bit.

Yeosang was one of the most calm, easy going men you knew. Even after two years, you’ve only seen him get agitated less than a handful of times. One in particular was the night you’d…gotten together.

Smiling at the memory, you just shake it off and go to insist on helping the kind couple. Abby points out where everything is and they say their goodbyes before you head upstairs, as they would be leaving for the evening within the hour.

“Just lock up if you remember. Though if you forget, don’t worry your heads. Merry Christmas and we will see you both tomorrow when we get back.” Abby says, and you reassure her before going to check on Yeosang.

By the time night falls over the town, both you and Yeosang have taken showers, and you make your way into the kitchen to prepare something to eat for the both of you.

Yeosang sits on a stool as you make omelets as he responds to the numerous texts he’s been receiving from your friends. His dark expression says everything about the content, you know Wooyoung and San are likely teasing him, not helping matters.

Trying to lighten the mood, you start talking about the visits you’d made with Abby earlier to drop off cookies.

“The people here are so nice, and all the little shops! Oh and you should have seen this one antique store we went to!” You prattle on to him, sauteeing all the veggies you were putting in the eggs.

“Oh?” He says absentmindedly, frowning at his phone.

“Yes, you should have seen it! The owner has all these displays, and it’s like you’re taken right back to the time period-” you stop, feeling bad about being excited while he was obviously in a bad mood.

“Yeosang…” you say softly. It takes him a moment to realize you’ve stopped and he looks up at you quizzically.

“Hm?” He asks, blinking at you as if he hasn’t heard a word.

Sighing, you turn off the stove to come around and take the phone from his hands, placing it on the counter. Before he can protest, you brush his hair back and place a kiss on his forehead.

“Yeosang, I understand you dislike the delay but…I can’t comprehend why you’re so stressed out. You’re normally the one telling me to calm down.” You tease but he just lets out a long sigh, looking away.

“I just…I planned all this out….” he says, then shakes his head.

“Planned the trip? I mean, sure the resort is nice and of course I am looking forward to seeing everyone-”

“That’s not it!” he says harshly, his voice raising. You freeze, shocked at the dramatic response.

He takes in your wide eyes and stunned expression, his eyes darkening as he rubs a hand over his face.

“You don’t-” he starts, but then stops, standing suddenly. “I’m going for a walk.” he says, leaving the room before you can say another word.

After a brief pause, you glance over to make sure the stove is off as you hear the front door close. Running after him, you throw on your shoes and grab your coat, throwing open the door to rush after your upset boyfriend.

“Yeosang!” you yell, flakes of snow slowly drifting down as you look out from the porch. You let out a sigh as you spot him walking at a brisk pace away from the house.

“Where are you going?!” You call out, frustrated at the sudden turn of events. He was the last person you’d have expected to get upset and walk out over ….nothing.

Knowing you should let him cool down and have some alone time to deal with whatever was bothering him, you just can’t help yourself from chasing after him.

“Yeosang, stop!” You call to him again, running to catch up to him.

“Go back, I don’t want to-” he starts but you feel your foot slip as you hit a patch of ice and his words are lost as you find yourself landing on your ass in the snow.

You hear the crunch of snow as you let out a surprised yelp, then a small laugh at the situation.

“Baby, are you okay? Oh my god!” Yeosang’s voice gets to you before he does, then he’s kneeling beside you, his hands all over your arms, then legs, finally settling on your face as his eyes radiate concern.

“Yes, I’m fine-It’s you I’m worried about!” You tell him, exasperated. “Why are you just taking off?”

He huffs at your words, slowly helping you to your feet, still fussing over you as he brushes snow off of your clothing.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m just….” he sighs, his eyes unwilling to meet yours.

“Just what? Why would you talk to me?” you ask him as he turns to take a few steps away from you. You can only watch as he turns his face up to the falling snow, his throat working.

The path you are on from the bed and breakfast is lit with white lights, but they almost appear golden in the falling snow.

The quiet town is peaceful, but the tension between you feels so very loud. The heavy blanket of snow around you seems to muffle every footfall and word being spoken as you just watch him silently.

When he finally turns to you, you’re shocked by the pain in his eyes beneath the glimmer of unshed tears.

As you reach out for him, he just shakes his head, blinking rapidly. “I don’t -” he lets out a sigh, wiping angrily at his face.

“If you don’t tell me what’s going on, how can I know? God, even after two years, you still make me pry things out of you!” You half tease, hoping to bring the semblance of a smile to his face but he only frowns more.

“Two years, all this time together, I wanted…” he turns away again, his shoulders tense and you feel your heart suddenly plummet.

“Yeosang…” you say, breathless. Was he…unhappy? Was he going to…break up with you? Your mind spirals with all the possibilities and you feel your eyes fill with your own hot tears, stinging in the cold wind.

“Are you-do you-,” you swallow thickly, blanching when he turns to you in concern. “Are you ending things?” you finally ask.

The pounding of your heart and the spinning thoughts in your head almost overwhelm you as his eyes register shock.

“What?!” he chokes out, taking a step towards you. “Why would you even think that?”

You can only shake your head, wrapping your arms around yourself. “Because you’re so unhappy, and upset. Being delayed like this doesn’t ruin anything, we’re together and …maybe that’s not what you want…” you say, your voice softening as you feel your stomach drop.

“No! That’s-” he throws his hands up, turning away from you in frustration. “You have no idea how long I’ve planned this! I wanted it all to be perfect, for you!”

His voice grows louder and you can only watch as he spins around on you, a mix of emotions seem to play out over his face; anxiety, stress, pain, defeat.

He continues before you can say anything and you can only listen to him, stunned at the sudden outpouring.

“Months! I’ve worked with Seonghwa and Wooyoung, I’ve made reservations, I’ve planned it all!” He says, starting to pace. “It was all supposed to be exactly right. All of it. We even left a day early, so there wasn’t an issue. But no! We get stranded in a town that doesn’t even have a car rental place!”

You barely blink, watching your stoic, calm boyfriend just rant in front of you, confused at his words. “Yeosang…planning a trip isn’t something to get so-”

“It’s not just the trip!” He says, whirling on you, his eyes large, dark and sparkling in the golden lights. “Here we are, in the middle of some small town, and I can’t even manage to get a car fixed! It’s Christmas Eve, and I don’t have anything to offer you, watching you cook fucking eggs on a night where I should be giving you everything in the world you deserve-”

“How the fuck am I supposed to propose to you like this, with nothing?” he blurts out then goes silent, agony seeming to play over his face.

Stunned at his words, it takes you a moment for them to finally process them. As the snow falls around you both, the muffled silence hangs heavily over both of you. You can feel your heart rapidly thundering in your chest as you shake off the shock.

“Pro-propose?” You finally break the silence, the crunch of snow sounding under your feet as you take a step towards him. His throat works and he looks away, cursing himself under his breath, the puff of air visible in the cold as he heaves out a sigh.

“See…I can’t even do that properly. I …I was trying to keep it a secret until we got to the resort.” He says softly, his stress and frustration seeming to drain out of him as his shoulders slump.

“I’ve ruined it, it was supposed to be perfect-” but his words are cut off as you close the distance between you, throwing yourself into his arms as you silence him with your lips on his.

His body goes rigid for only a split second before he’s pulling you close, his hands in your hair as he opens his mouth to yours to deepen the kiss. You swear you can hear the soft chime of bells as a tear slips from your eye to burn a trail down your cheek.

Without an idea of how long you both stand there lit up by holiday lights on the snow strewn path kissing as if it was your first time, you finally pull back, your fingers combing through his dampened hair.

Silently you study his eyes as he reaches up to brush a tear away with his thumb.

“You idiot.” You say to him and he blanches, opening his mouth to protest, but you silence him with another kiss.

“Dumb, stupid, idiotic-” you keep saying, placing a kiss on his mouth with every word. Finally understanding why he’s been so stressed out, you can only frown at him as he gives you a look of confusion.

“Yeosang, the last thing I want is perfect!” You finally tell him and he frowns at your words, his eyebrows drawing together.

“But, you’re perfect and I love you.” He says simply, causing your heart and stomach to flutter together.

You pull back to squish his cheeks in your hands, giving him a dramatic pout. “I am no such thing, as you very well know. No one is perfect. I don’t know how you got it in your head that perfection is what I want or need.”

“But-” he starts and you peck his lips again, quieting him.

“There is no but. No matter what, I love you so fucking much. It doesn’t matter if you planned out an entire fancy event or if you took me into an alley and proposed to me in front of a dumpster.” you say, looking into his honey brown eyes as he blinks at you.

“As if you need anything but yourself to offer me, as if I need anything to love you. All I need is you and me, together. I’d say yes to you no matter where we were or what we were doing, you big oaf.”

He just stares at you, stunned into silence as you give him a fake angry face, pouting dramatically.

“So, is that a yes?” He asks, his lip twitching upwards as he cups your cheek in his hand.

“Of course it’s a yes, you-!” You smack his shoulder softly as he pulls you close, burying his face in your neck.

“I…didn’t expect to be called names during the proposal..” he whispers, placing a kiss to your jawline.

“Well, get used to it buddy cause-” his lips cut your words off now as he kisses you passionately, his tongue prying open your mouth, searching for your own. His soft groan as he presses against you has your heart rate increasing and a warmth pooling in your belly.

“Let’s go inside-” He whispers against your mouth, his hands slipping down to cup your ass to pull you tight to him. “Upstairs-” He says and you can only nod, your need matching his as you both make your way to the porch.

It’s slow going, as he keeps stopping to kiss you, touch you, his hands everywhere as you finally open the front door and kick off your snowy shoes. Your jackets are discarded, but at least you manage to toss them over a bannister as he backs you towards the stairs.

“The last thing we need is to fall down the stairs tonight-” you gasp and he pulls himself off you long enough to sprint up the stairs with your hand in his.

Before long, you’re pushing through the door to your room and he’s tugging and yanking off your shirt, then your pants. You do the same for him, frantic need building in both of you as you strip each other down to nothing.

“I love you-” he pants out, both of you falling onto the bed, his thighs parting yours as he settles between them. “I love you so fucking much-” his mouth returns to yours, muffling your response but he hums in understanding nonetheless.

“Always so wet for me…” he whispers as his hand dips between your legs, parting your damp folds.

“Always, always, only for you-” you gasp as his thumb presses into your clit, rolling gently as he probes at your entrance.

You arch your back under his touch, hands sliding down his bare back. “Don’t tease me, Yeosang, not tonight.” you beg him, as his eyes meet yours as he studies your face, his lids heavy with lust.

“Never, my love.” he whispers as his hips roll forward. His fingers leave you to wrap around his cock, rubbing the tip along your slit, bumping the head against your clit a few times before he’s guiding himself into you.

His gaze never falters from your face as his lips part, thrusting forward gently to bury himself deep within you. You’ve made love countless times in the two years you’ve been together, but you’ve never lost the excitement and passion with one another.

“I love you more than anything, Yeosang.” you murmur, eyes fluttering shut as he rolls his hips before he draws back.

“Mine.” He growls out, snapping his hips forward and his eyes darken at your loud moan. “All fucking mine-” he whispers as he dips his head to kiss your lips, then your jawline. You wrap your legs around his hips as they begin to set a steady pace, his attentiveness and urge to satisfy you always apparent as he listens to each and every sound he elicits from you.

“Yours-” you cry out, tilting your hips for him and he fists his hand on the sheet as he thrusts harder into you, his low moans mixing with yours. Your fingers twist into his hair as he looks down at you, sweat dampening his brow as he admires you underneath him.

“MINE-” You say, digging your nails into his back and he lets out a soft whine as his pace falters.

“All fucking yours, for life.” He groans as you begin to feel your womb start to flutter, building to your inevitable orgasm.

Though you open your mouth to respond to him, all that comes out are long, soft cries mixed with his name. He manages to choke out your name before he devolves into wordless moans as well, your body shaking under his as the coil deep within you teeters on the brink of snapping.

“Yeosang, oh god-! Harder-” you whimper, raking your nails down his back as he fucks you, the wet noise of your bodies meeting drowned out by your name on his lips, his voice breaking as he pounds into you relentlessly.

“Yeah? Gonna come for me?” He gasps, looking down at you, admiring how your tits shake at the force of his body plunging into yours. “So fucking beautiful-such a pretty little cunt-” he pants as you clench tight around him. “Yeah, just like that, baby-”

“In me-come in me-” you urge, gripping his hair in your fingers. “Let me watch you fill me up-”

His eyes roll at your words, at the sensation of you tightening around him. Your body shudders as he cries out your name over and over, his voice breaking and it sends you toppling off the edge into a blinding climax.

His face contorts as his eyes widen, gasping and whimpering as he starts to come inside of you. The sheer pleasure of watching him fall apart just intensifies your orgasm, finally letting yourself give in completely to him.

The combination of the physical pleasure and the surge of emotions for him has you clutching him tightly as his thrusts slow, then stop. The only sounds within the room are both of your harsh breathing, and you feel tears gathering in your eyes at the weight of it all.

“Hey…” he whispers, and you open your eyes to see a soft look of concern on his handsome face. “Hey.” You whisper back and he smiles softly, brushing away the wetness clinging to your eyelashes.

“I love you, Yeosang.” you say, brushing back his damp locks as he rolls you both to the side, pulling you close to him to press his lips to yours.

“As I love you, my soon to be wife.” He says, his lips curling upwards. You sigh softly, basking in his adoring gaze upon you.

“My idiot soon to be husband.” you whisper and his eyes widen in shock, causing you to laugh and peck his cheek. He hums happily, snuggling into your neck.

“You can call me any name you desire, princess. As long as I’m with you, that’s all that matters.”

His laughter as you begin to recite all the horrible names you could possibly call him devolves into another round of intimacy, and it’s well into the night before you’re drifting off blissfully in each other's arms.

Waking in the early hours of the morning, you sit upright and immediately blurt out, “Oh shit-I never cleaned up dinner!”

Yeosang’s soft laughter from under the piles of blankets has you swatting him before you’re jumping up to go clean. “Wait for me!” he calls out but you notice he’s not moving very quickly.

“You’d better come help! We never even ate…” you grumble but a smile adorns your lips as you pad downstairs, praising yourself for not taking out the eggs and only the veggies need to be tossed. “Sorry Abby…” you mutter, shaking your head.

Somehow you know she’d only give you a knowing smile if she knew the events that caused the tiny bit of waste.

Humming happily, especially when Yeosang’s arms slip around you from behind, you manage to clean up everything and turn to plant a kiss on his lips.

“Are you going to relax now and not stress out?” you tease him and he pouts at you. You just poke his lip to tuck it back in before sighing happily.

“Alright my Fiance, let me feed you before you starve to death. I need to keep you healthy for your stamina, especially after how insatiable you were last night-” you tell him, but he’s already dragging you back upstairs, a hungry glint in his eye and it’s not for food.

“Yeosang!” You say but he’s already stripping you again and you can’t help but give in to him.

“Fiance…” he hums, smiling as he kisses you deeply.

“I love you, my complete mess of a-” your words are cut off by a grunt and your Christmas is spent naked and happier than you ever could have imagined.

—One Year Later—

“Look at you two!” the cheerful voice has you beaming as the door flies open and Abby rushes out to pull you into her arms for a hug.

“Well, well, well…” Connor says, sharing a smile with Yeosang as he comes to help him bring everything inside.

“Deja vu?” Yeosang asks him and they share a laugh as you’re escorted inside.

The snow is falling much like the Christmas Eve a year ago when you were stranded together here.

But this time you’ve come here intentionally, to celebrate your honeymoon with the unexpected friends you’d made on that trip.

A rose gold ring gleams on your finger as Abby squeals over how your rosy cheeks match.

“Look at you, practically glowing. Angelica is excited for your visit, she wants to see her gift on the happily married beauty it was always meant to be with” she winks and you excitedly chatter to her about the wedding, and events of the year.

After your Christmas adventure last year, Yeosang had returned the expensive ring he’d purchased to propose ahead of time when you’d insisted. Instead, he wanted to go see the antique shop you couldn’t stop talking about and Angelica had insisted that the beautiful ring you cooed over was meant for you.

Yeosang agreed immediately, admiring how it looked on you and she’d sent you out with it as a gift, causing Yeosang to buy the entire set for you.

And just yesterday, you’d worn the entire set for your wedding.

Taking a moment to look around at the very place Yeosang had blurted out his accidental proposal, you smile blissfully.

You can’t help but look forward to your future together and you planned on coming to visit the place that went from a detour to a very special place in your heart.

Perfect, you think, then laugh at yourself.

No…not perfect.

Because some of the best experiences in life and love are the ones that are unexpected and imperfect.

Precisely how you liked it.

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