#quick veg meals

[health-e-diet]

Quick Weeknight Vegetarian Meals: Easy and Delicious Options

Finding vegetarian recipes that are both quick and satisfying can be a game changer for busy weeknights. If you're short on time but still want to enjoy tasty vegetarian meals, here are some quick and easy foods that you can whip up in no time!

1. One-Pan Lemon Garlic Pasta

Cook spaghetti in a single pan with garlic, lemon juice, and your choice of vegetables like asparagus or cherry tomatoes. This quick dish is light and bursting with flavor—perfect for a busy night!

2.Vegetable Fried Rice

Utilize leftover rice by stir-frying it with mixed vegetables, soy sauce, and scrambled eggs or tofu. It’s a quick way to turn last night’s dinner into something new!

3.Quick Vegetable Soup

Simmer vegetable broth with diced vegetables, beans, and your choice of spices. This comforting soup can be made in under 30 minutes and is perfect for chilly evenings.

4. Vegetable Stir-Fry

A classic option that’s super quick to prepare! Just sauté your favorite vegetables—like bell peppers, broccoli, and snap peas—in a bit of oil, add tofu or tempeh for protein, and toss in some soy sauce or teriyaki sauce. Serve it over rice or noodles for a complete meal.

5. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

Roast sweet potatoes and mix them with black beans, cumin, and lime juice. Serve in corn tortillas with avocado and salsa for a flavorful twist on taco night.

6. Vegetable Upma

Prepare a savory semolina dish by cooking it with mixed vegetables, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. It’s a quick and nutritious option for breakfast or dinner.

7. Chickpea Salad

Mix canned chickpeas with diced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and a simple lemon-olive oil dressing. This hearty salad is refreshing and can be served on its own or with pita bread.

8. Zucchini Noodles with Pesto

Use a spiralizer to create zucchini noodles, then stir-fry them lightly and toss with store-bought or homemade pesto. Add cherry tomatoes and pine nuts for a fresh and vibrant meal.

These quick and easy healthy meals are perfect for hectic weeknights. Enjoy your flavorful vegetarian dinner recipes this week!

[phregnancy]

Thank you so much for your depression post. Also the vegetables stuff is too real I feel so much guilt over having to buy precut vegetables.

listen. you and me? you and i and whomever else? same. we deserve vegetables. it is so great that some people are able to buy vegetables from farmers markets or buy vegetables in whole no plastic without a second thought bc cutting veggies is so easy for them! but it’s not for us. if precut vegetables is the difference between you eating vegetables at all vs not, get your precut veg. you deserve food that makes you feel good, who cares who cut it. you deserve it nonetheless.

[spicyvegrecipes]

Matar Pulao Recipe: How to make Green Peas Pulao

Matar Pulao Recipe: Matar Pulao also known as Green Peas Pulao, is a popular and comforting Indian dish made with basmati rice, fresh or frozen green peas (matar), and a blend of aromatic spices. It is a flavorful one-pot meal that combines the subtle sweetness of peas with the warmth of spices like cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon. Often prepared for lunch or dinner, it is a quick, nutritious, and…

[bloggerkey]

Easy Diwali Sweets Recipes | घर पर बनाएं स्वादिष्ट मिठाइयाँ और नमकीन व्यंजन

Introductionदिवाली, जिसे ‘Festival of Lights’ के नाम से भी जाना जाता है, भारत का एक प्र��ुख और पारंपरिक त्योहार है। इस दिन हर घर में मिठाइयाँ और नमकीन व्यंजन बनते हैं, जो इस त्योहार को और भी खास बनाते हैं। Easy Diwali Sweets Recipes , Diwali sweets, और Diwali snacks जैसे keywords इस पोस्ट के लिए महत्वपूर्ण हैं, ताकि अधिक से अधिक लोग इस जानकारी को पढ़ सकें और लाभ उठा सकें। इस ब्लॉग में हम आपको…

[wangramen]

Discover the Health Benefits of Vegan & Vegetarian Korean Noodles!

If you're a fan of bold flavors, unique textures, and plant-based cuisine, trying Korean Veg Ramen should be on your bucket list. Known for its hearty broths and delicious noodles, Korean ramen traditionally features meat-based elements, but the rise of plant-based diets has led to innovative vegan and vegetarian versions. With easily accessible Korean ramen noodles and plant-friendly recipes, it's never been more convenient to enjoy a delicious bowl right at home.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through the best ramen noodles for veg options, the key ingredients to build flavorful broths, and simple tips for crafting restaurant-quality vegan ramen. Whether you’re new to plant-based eating or a seasoned vegan, these recipes will help you satisfy your ramen cravings in a healthier way.

The Appeal of Vegan and Vegetarian Ramen

Vegan and vegetarian ramen bring a vibrant twist to traditional ramen by combining bold flavors with healthier, more eco-conscious choices. By opting for plant-based broths and toppings, you can still enjoy a hearty, satisfying meal while reducing your intake of sodium, fat, and cholesterol—common components in meat-based ramen. Fresh vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, and seaweed add both nutrition and depth to the dish, making it as wholesome as it is flavorful.

For those looking to dive into vegan ramen, plenty of Korean ramen noodle options cater specifically to plant-based diets. These come in an array of flavors, providing a delicious ramen experience free from animal products, proving that you don’t need meat to enjoy the rich taste of Korean cuisine. (Note:Want to Know About the Kimchi Ramen Recipe - The Vegan Korean Noodle)

Vegan and Vegetarian Ramen Noodle Recipes

Looking for easy, mouth-watering plant-based ramen dishes? Here are three irresistible vegan and vegetarian ramen recipes that are both quick to prepare and packed with flavor:

1. Vegan Soy Sauce Ramen

This savory soy sauce ramen combines a light, flavorful broth with nutrient-rich vegetables, creating a simple yet satisfying vegan dish. The chewy Korean noodles add an extra layer of texture, making this meal quick and delicious.

Ingredients:

1 Korean noodle packet

2 cups vegetable broth

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 clove garlic (minced)

Bok choy, mushrooms, and tofu

Instructions:

Bring vegetable broth to a boil and mix in soy sauce and garlic.

Add ramen noodles and cook until tender.

Stir in bok choy, mushrooms, and tofu. Simmer until vegetables are soft.

2. Spicy Vegan Ramen

For those who love a fiery kick, this spicy vegan ramen offers bold flavors. Using a spicy Korean noodle packet, it’s a heat-packed meal with nutrient-dense plant-based ingredients.

Ingredients:

1 Korean noodle packet

2 cups vegetable broth

1 tbsp chili paste (adjust to taste)

Spinach, carrots, mushrooms

Sesame seeds and green onions for garnish

(Note: Want to Purchase Vegan Based Korean Ramen Noodles?)

Instructions:

Heat vegetable broth and mix in chili paste.

Add ramen noodles and cook until soft.

Stir in spinach, carrots, and mushrooms. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions for a burst of flavor and crunch.

3. Miso Tofu Ramen

Miso’s deep umami flavors take this vegan ramen to the next level. With tofu, broccoli, and nori, this wholesome ramen dish is light yet satisfying.

Ingredients:

1 Korean noodle packet

2 cups vegetable broth

2 tbsp miso paste

Firm tofu, broccoli, nori (seaweed)

Soy sauce (to taste)

Instructions:

Warm the vegetable broth and whisk in miso paste until fully dissolved.

Cook the ramen noodles in the broth, adding tofu and broccoli.

Serve the ramen topped with nori strips and a splash of soy sauce.

These vegan and vegetarian ramen recipes provide a flavorful, healthy twist on traditional ramen, making plant-based eating easy, delicious, and satisfying!

Choosing the Perfect Korean Noodle Packet

When crafting the perfect plant-based ramen, selecting the right Korean noodle packet is crucial. Look for noodles made from clean, simple ingredients like wheat or rice flour, and ensure they’re free from animal-based components. These noodles pair perfectly with vegetable broths and plant-based toppings, creating a delicious and wholesome ramen experience.

One of the top choices for vegan Korean ramen is Wang Ramen. Known for its high-quality, chewy texture and rich flavors, Wang Ramen offers a variety of vegan-friendly options. Whether you're craving a mild, savory broth or a spicy kick, their ramen packets are made to complement plant-based diets without compromising on taste.

The quality of the noodles directly impacts the texture and flavor of your dish, and Wang Ramen excels in providing a satisfying, authentic experience. With vegan and vegetarian labels on many of their products, they ensure you’re getting ramen that aligns with your dietary needs.

(Note: Want to Know More About the Wang Ramen Products?)

Tips for Crafting the Perfect Vegan and Vegetarian Ramen

Follow these tips to create mouth-watering plant-based ramen at home:

1. Start with a Flavorful Vegetable Broth

A rich, savory broth is the foundation of great ramen. Begin with vegetable stock and enhance the flavor with ingredients like soy sauce, miso paste, garlic, or ginger. A dash of sesame oil can bring an extra layer of depth and complexity to the broth, giving it an authentic, satisfying taste.

2. Pack in Fresh Vegetables

Fresh veggies like spinach, bok choy, mushrooms, and carrots add both texture and essential nutrients to your ramen. To boost the protein content, include tofu, tempeh, or edamame, creating a balanced and wholesome meal.

3. Add Some Heat

For spice enthusiasts, personalize your ramen by adding chili paste, sriracha, or Korean gochujang for a fiery kick. Adjust the spice level to match your preference and enjoy a bold, dynamic flavor.

4. Garnish for Extra Flavor

Don’t forget the garnishes! Top your ramen with sesame seeds, green onions, or nori (seaweed) strips to enhance both flavor and texture. These small additions elevate the visual appeal and overall experience of your dish.

These easy tips will help you elevate your plant-based ramen, making it delicious, nutritious, and satisfying.

Advantages of Vegan and Vegetarian Ramen

Opting for vegan or vegetarian ramen offers a range of benefits:

1. Healthier Choice

Plant-based ramen tends to be lower in fat, cholesterol, and sodium compared to traditional meat-based varieties. By using vegetable broth and fresh ingredients, you can savor a hearty, flavorful meal without the unhealthy fats typically found in conventional ramen dishes.

2. Environmentally Friendly

Choosing vegan or vegetarian ramen is also a more eco-conscious decision. Plant-based ingredients have a much lower carbon footprint than animal products, making this meal choice better for the environment and helping reduce your ecological impact.

3. Nutrient-Rich

With fresh vegetables and plant-based proteins like tofu or tempeh, vegan ramen is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s a great way to nourish your body with nutrient-dense, wholesome foods while enjoying a satisfying, flavorful meal.

Incorporating vegan and vegetarian ramen into your diet allows you to enjoy a delicious, comforting dish while benefiting from improved health and sustainability.

(Note: Want to Know about the Benefits of Eating Veg Ramen Broth?)

Where to Find the Best Vegan and Vegetarian Ramen

These days, it’s easy to find vegan and vegetarian Korean ramen in most grocery stores and through online retailers. Look for Korean noodle packets that are clearly labeled as plant-based to ensure they contain no animal-derived ingredients. You'll find a range of options, from affordable to premium, that cater to various flavor preferences.

With the convenience of online shopping, sourcing instant ramen that meets specific dietary needs is now simpler than ever. Whether you're searching for a local vegan noodle packet or want to explore Korean instant noodle bowls, you'll have no trouble finding a variety of options to enjoy delicious plant-based ramen.

Conclusion

Vegan and vegetarian ramen offers a versatile, flavorful, and nutritious meal that’s incredibly easy to prepare. With a wide range of Korean noodle packets designed for plant-based diets, you can enjoy a delicious bowl of ramen anytime. From spicy broths to savory miso flavors, the possibilities for creating plant-based ramen are endless.

So, grab your favorite Korean noodles and try one of these recipes today. Whether you're searching for the best ramen noodles or exploring new ramen recipes, there are countless ways to savor this comforting dish in a vegan or vegetarian style.

Discover the joy of plant-based Korean ramen and make it a regular part of your diet!

[superduperkitchen]

Mix Veg Sabzi

Mix Veg Sabzi or Mixed Vegetable Sabzi is a vibrant and healthful dish hailing from the diverse culinary landscapes of India. It embodies the essence of Indian cooking, showcasing a symphony of flavours, colours, and textures that make it a beloved choice in households and restaurants alike. This versatile dish can incorporate a variety of seasonal vegetables, making it not only a feast for the…

[yesterdayscake]

a few things that worked for me was making prep and cooking two different steps.

so when I went shopping, I’d get home and be tired so I’d rest. that evening I would prep the veg for storage in my fridge, and sort of as a pre meal prep stage.

so everything got washed and put in jars, and some things would get chopped a bit.

I like jars and clear containers because I can see into them.

that night (the same night as I shopped) I’d eat a pre-made meal. generally one I got at the shops.

…

so some meals take a lot of prep, so for those I would prep everything one day, do my mis en place into little containers, and then do the actual cooking the next day.

if it took super heaps of effort, lif goes on the pot and into the fridge and I would sort the leftovers into tupperware the next day (as well as worrying about the big dish the next day also).

I’ll do a lot of meals where I can eat the leftovers cold, which minimises spoons I’m using between cooked meals. stuff like larb and rice in lettuce cups, I’d wash the whole head of cos lettuce, mix rice into the larb, and then just eat the left overs for breakfast the next few days (this one is especially a lifesaver when you’re about to have a heatwave).

I also discovered that I personally prefer to eat leftover salmon cold, especially in the summer. the coldness mutes the flavour and I can handle it better on particularly autistic sensory days.

and that’s the other major thing that literally changed my life was making breakfast the Big meal for most days. people always say ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ and then spend all their time prioritising dinner!

but personally, if I have a full, balanced breakfast, generally consisting of rice, veg and protein, then I’m eating it when I actually have energy to enjoy it and to digest it properly. by the time I get to evening, I often only have energy to eat crackers or fruit with cheese, but if I had a decent, more balanced breakfast then that’s less of an issue.

last but not least was that I found that if I went to shops that weren’t soul sucking then it took a lot less energy. so I would get delivery from the soulless awful place for the heavy stuff and then once a month or so I’d go to the markets and get the cheaper veg and fruit and nice honey and stuff. it was sort of a compromise between spoons and morale that worked out pretty well.

I don’t know if any of these things will work for other people but they helped me to learn how to cook again after forgetting it all, and to learn to love food again after having appetite issues. and I didn’t go bankrupt while paying far too much rent and living in a very high cost area so hopefully they might help someone else too

so many tips for budgeting/being frugal are just twice as hard when you have a disability

"meal plan!" idk if i'll be feeling well enough to cook every day so it's hard to plan for what to eat

"cook in advance!" i can't cook meals for a whole week at once and plus i can't count on that because again idk if ill feel okay to cook at the same time every week

"use cloth napkins and towels!" those need to be washed and folded, i already have trouble doing my laundry

"delivery is expensive, always shop in person!" going to the grocery store can wipe me out for the day.

"base your food shopping on whats on sale that week!" one, allergies are a thing and some people don't have that luxury, two, that's a lot that you have to prep for and that takes energy.

"DIY!" takes time and energy. maybe i could do it by myself but would it be worth all the time i need to take to recover?

i mean none of these are bad ideas or trying to exclude people. most of it is cutting out conveniences. but for disabled people, something that's a convenience for someone can be a necessity to others

[0hcicero]

So I just started reading A Court of Thorns and Roses (audiobook), and am I the only one who is wondering if the author did any research into poor subsistence living or the lives of peasants? Because wow, I know Feyre’s family used to be rich, but if that was 8 years ago and y’all are poor as dirt now, somehow in the intervening period you might have learned:

- trap lines in the winter are far superior to active hunting. It burns less calories, you can use it with fish and land animals, and it will save you from frostbite bc instead of sitting in a blind for hours, you can go to your lines at certain times and head home, or drive animals toward your lines.

- buying flower seeds - or any garden seeds - is a suckers game when you’re poor. You only really need to buy seeds once!! Once you harvest, you let stuff ‘go to seed’ and then you collect it and store it for the winter, often trading seeds with your neighbours.

- they let things actively RUN OUT before doing anything about it. That’s absolutely buckwild if you’ve ever been poor — when you’re poor, you know how to make a meal stretch, and you DO IT.

- there is hunting, but no gathering?? This family has not stored any veg for winter, but neither do they go gather mushrooms, rosehips, roots, tubers, nuts, or even fucking bark?? What happened to their cottage garden?? Was it just flowers?! Were they that rich that they don’t understand that a garden produces food? Did they close their eyes as they walked past all their peasant neighbours and their gardens? Bc that’s maybe the wildest thing I’ve seen from both a historical and a ‘grew up so close to dirt poor you couldn’t tell the difference’ perspective!

- She left a whole ass Giant wolf carcass when her family is starving. Nah nah nah no that is the universe smiling on you when you’re subsistence! You will make a travois or somehow find a way to tie that to you and drag it along - that’s double the food, and possibly more money, because you could live off the wolf (which I assume does not taste great) and sell off some of the deer (which is delicious).

- she didn’t at least do a basic clean of her kill out in the woods?! She did not tan the hides?! Y’all, you do not want to be cleaning any kill on the kitchen table. Why? Because cleaning involves removing the intestines and stomach. That means shit and piss and food digestion in different stages, and the gases produced. You do that *outside*, typically at least close to where you made your kill, because you don’t want to have to have any…spills, and because it makes things a bit lighter to carry. Butchering? For sure do it on a table, but cleaning is an outdoor chore. Also, tanning a hide is not just skinning a creature! It’s scraping all the membranes off it, stretching and drying it, and curing the skin - sometimes with smoke, but often with a pretty gross solution (often including brain oil, and historically, I believe urine and/or feces, and other things with the right chemical components). It’s not a simple or quick task!

- soups, pottages, stews, with dried lentils, beans, or peas would have been the staple meals (depending on the climate and environment, but it feels fairly British thus far). Just having roasted venison (def not the best way to eat venison just from taste alone) would likely be a very very rare occurrence, because, as noted earlier, they’re so poor they would need to make it stretch. You would cure it or dry it or turn it into sausage. You would use it sparingly within a meal, not to serve as the whole meal.

- the market. If you were poor, you would likely be a stranger to spices, but not to salt. Salt is deeply necessary to survive in that period, as it’s one of the only ways of safely processing and storing meat with any longevity. And? If you got the money that they did while being as poor and as starving as they were? The first thing you would do — even if you were the most stupid rich person before then — is stock up your stores of dry goods! Flour, salt, honey, dried beans/peas/lentils, vegetables that store - onions, squashes, potatoes, root vegetables like carrots. It’s straight up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs here - you will not give a shit about a new cloak before you give a shit about saying your hunger. They are said to be ‘starving’. Sorting out your survival comes before sorting out your fashion.

Anyways, this has been me for channel 4, reporting on anachronisms and misrepresentations in fantasy fiction. More news at 10.

[leahsgirl]

dramatic much | ella toone x female reader

veryyy short ella blurb to get back out there. no warnings.

sorry for my disappearance - writers block got the complete best of me and i hate every draft i make.

—

ella busied herself in the kitchen, occasionally stopping stirring the sauce in the pan to re-read the recipe on her phone.

some may say she’s been a little too aspirational in opting to make a three course meal for herself and you, considering she can barely make a bowl of cereal without something going wrong. but with her being away so much with with international duty and pre-season duties lately and little time for just the pair of you - she wanted to do something special.

in all fairness, everything was going to plan. she prepped the veg in advance, seasoned the chicken, and is yet to call alessia to come and save her (and the meal).

but nothing is ever easy in the world of ella toone, so as the brunette was jamming along to one of her notorious spotify playlist as well as peeling potatoes; she accidentally managed to slice her finger.

“fuckin’ el” she retracted her hand back in a jolt, watching in horror as blood pumped out of the small but painful cut.

she’s pretty sure this is the end, any minute now and she’s going to die from a haemorrhage which is why in a swift motion - like any self respecting adult would do - she whipped out her phone from her back pocket.

“hey babe.”

“how far away from home are you?”

“about five mins-ish, why?”

“i’m gonna die man! you need to hurry up.”

“what do you mean, what have you-“

but ella hung up and there you was; heart rate through the roof as you sat driving your car. it didn’t take long for you to get back though, probably breaking a few speed limits here and there.

“ella?” calling out as soon as you entered the premises.

“in the kitchen!”

you find the girl hunched over the counter-top, about thirty pieces (not an understatement) of kitchen roll wrapped around her hand. “what have you done?”

“bloody sliced my finger open.” you see the half peeled vegetables on the chopping board and piece two and two together, letting out an airy laugh “let me have a look.”

ella propped herself up onto the counter as you gently unravelled the tissue paper to reveal… a small cut. barely a nick, really, but enough to have your dramatic girlfriend convinced she was at death’s door. “oh my god you are such a hypochondriac.” 

“mate it was like a blood bath in here i nearly died.” the mancunian defended herself as you hummed along amused, searching for the first aid kit.

“it’s your fault too.” she vindicated.

“of course it is.” you said with a grin, playing along “what did i do?”

“if i wasn’t cutting potato’s for this meal i was making for you, then it wouldn’t of happened.” she huffed like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“or maybe you and the kitchen just aren’t meant to be.” you opened a sachet of antiseptic wipes and motioned for her hand. “but i love the thought and effort.” you kissed her lips while slying cleaning the wound.

“shit shit shit!” the brunette pulled back and immediately went to wave her hand to stop the stinging “what you do that for?!”

“would your dramatic ass let me do it if i had told you? the answer is no.” you smiled sweetly at her and put a plaster over the cut. “there. all better.”

“wait you forgot something.” looking expectantly at you as you cleared away the rubbish. “what?”

“kiss it better?” you laughed at the childish behaviour but gave in, conceding a quick peck on her finger. “i’ve never known anyone as dramatic as you, ella toone.”

“good thing you love me isn’t it?” she hopped off the kitchen surface and smacked your butt.

“mhm. now go get changed so i can put that shirt in the wash.” pointing to the scattered red marks on the material.

“fine, but i’m stealing your hoodie.” she called over her shoulder as she made her way to the bedroom.

_

well what was supposed to be ella’s culinary masterpiece ended up being your handiwork. after convincing the girl she’d done enough damage for one night, you took over in the kitchen, following the recipe she found. to your surprise, the meal turned out pretty tasty. ella hovered around you the entire time, watching your every move like an eager student, offering unhelpful advice and distracting you with cheeky kisses. not that you minded—it was nice to see her so invested, even if it meant she spent more time fussing over her finger than actually helping

with dinner over and dishes abandoned in the sink, the pair of you was settled on the sofa, scouring the tv for literally anything to watch. ella was cuddled into your side, messing with the remote as you combed your fingers through her hair.

“why don’t we see what’s on netflix? i think there’s some new shows out.”

“ugh there’s nothing good on netflix anymore.” the brunette moaned.

“you’re so hard to please sometimes y’know.” you teased as you took the remote off her and put on a movie both of you liked, one that you watched together more times than you can count “happy?”

ella nodded, “i’ll go grab some snacks.” she manoeuvred off you and the couch, bending down to steal a kiss on the corner of your mouth, the brief contact leaving you grinning. you watched her disappear into the kitchen, hearing the familiar clatter of cupboards opening and the rustle of packaging as she gathered your favorites.

she was back after a couple of minutes, hands now full with a bowl of popcorn, a bar of chocolate and two cans of pop. “here you go m’lady.” she said with a mock bow, gracefully placing the bowl on your lap and handing you one of the drinks. “thanks babe.”

she went to the other couch and picked up the blanket, wrapping it around her shoulders like a cloak and making her way back to her personal pillow (you).

“ah! shit shit shit!” the older girl was now hopping around holding her foot.

“literally what’s just happened?” you look on in disbelief because realistically how many accidents can this girl get herself into.

“stubbed my bastard toe.” ella hissed through gritted teeth “think i’ve broke it, swear I heard a crack”

“oh for fucks s-“

[kenuis]

Come Through and Chill || plug!draken x fem!reader

You were just supposed to pick up some bud for the weekend... so how did you end up in bed with the hottest plug around?

Cw:weed, pussy eating, finger sucking, ptv, dirty talk, squirting, draken has a big cock (like coke can thick), belly bulge, pet names (baby, angel, good girl), not beta read (we die like men)

WC: 7.9 k I don't wanna talk about it.

Extra: Plug! Draken playlist.

‘Come through as soon as you’re off work, I got you.’

Blinking down at your bright phone screen you blink once, then twice. You hadn’t expected him to respond that quick in all honesty. “Hey girl.”

“Umm hello?!”

“Hey!”

You jolt as your friend calls your name, an amused tilt to her voice as she takes in your blotchy red cheeks. Tucking your phone away lightning quick you clear your throat, slumping back against the counter. “Are you sure you don’t wanna come out tonight?” Shaking your head, you cross your arms over your midsection as she tosses you a knowing smirk. You chew on your lower lip as trays of food and drinks whizz by you. Your legs and feet ache, hours of doing exactly what your co-workers are currently doing wearing on you. Your closest work friend raises her eyebrows as she leans her elbow against the shelf opposite of you. “So what’s the big plan then if you’re gonna be all by your lonesome?” You shrug, tucking your hands in your hoodie pockets, rubbing your finger over the ring that lays on your thumb. It’s a nervous habit you haven’t quite learned how to break. The spinning of the metal helps to center your thoughts as you stand there. You’ve already ordered a meal to take home after your shift, a bottle of wine in your fridge and endless hours of Netflix to carry you through the next few hours that will bleed into your first two solid days off in over a week. There was only one thing you were missing.  Your phone buzzes again and your eyebrows hit your hairline.

`1 location attached.`

‘No rush though, just wanna make sure you find the place okay.’

A place you’d been quite a few times if you recalled correctly. Sure the nights of partying were a little hazy, but you’d been to this particular spot enough times to know your way on your own.

‘I’ll let you know when I’m on my way, it shouldn't be too much longer.’

“Umm, just gonna pick up some smoke and then go home and veg. I’ve worked so many doubles over the past week.” It’s your co workers turn for her eyebrows to hit her hairline. Her smirk grows and the amused tone in her voice quickly turns to teasing as she straightens up to pinch your cheeks. 

“Ohhh you’re gonna go see that hot ass mechanic that was eyeing you up last weekend.”

You smack her hand away, trying to hide the way your face burns. “it’s not like that, I swear.”

“Suuuure.” She grabs your chin in her hand, squishing your cheeks together while she makes you look at her. “Is that why you gave him your number the last time we pulled through there? Cause you ‘just need bud.’” She giggles as she makes air quotes with the other hand. Letting out a snort, you manage to smack her hands away. “I’m serious!” Laughing you grab the to go box as the cook behind the window calls your name out. You grab what you’ve been waiting on and book it out the door, trying to ignore her hoots and hollers of, `it’s about damn time.` 

The night air is sticky, twilight blues and purple mixing with the fading pink and orange that paints the sky that’s about to throw her dark blanket of night over. Your keys dangle from your hand, jingling together as you walk towards your car. I

t’s a perfect evening, with most of the summer heat knocking out of the air the darker it got. Setting your food and bag in the passenger seat, you pull your phone out as you fiddle around with the stereo system. Bobbing your head along to the song that starts, you find the last message thread you had pulled up on your phone. ‘Draken’ complete with a little dragon emoji makes you roll your eyes.

‘On my way. Be there in 20.’

‘Perfect. It’s right under the mat, just like I said. Enjoy, angel.’

Confused. 

That’s the first feeling that creeps up on you as you walk down the hallway to his apartment. Usually it’s louder, a whole crowd that normally gathers here on Friday and Saturday evenings. There’s almost always music going, laughter coming from inside, the smell of food. It’s why you’d asked him to leave what you needed somewhere you could find it. The thought of being around tons of people after a long day of serving customers made you want to curl up in a ball, hidden away from the world.

Checking your watch you let out a small ‘huh’. It wasn’t late at all. 9pm glows up at you from your watch. It was early sure but still by now there would be at least some type of noise coming from the apartment.

Shrugging it off as you walk up to the door, you crouch down. Fingers brushing the rough edge of the door mat, you lift it only to find it empty underneath. Your brow knits together as you lift the entire thing only to find nothing but cold concrete staring up at you. Rising with a groan, you brush your hands off, watching as dust falls to the cement below your feet. Raising a fist, you almost hesitate, but as your foot hits the edge of the mat, another flash of annoyance shoots through you. 

All your weekend plans consisted of were your tv, your snacks, your wine and unfortunately, his bud. Letting out a sharp sigh, you knock, the rapping of your knuckles on the black door breaking apart the silence that hangs heavy in the hallway.

Rocking back and forth on your heels as you wait, you pull your phone out. No new notifications flash on the screen and you open your messages, shooting one off before you knock again.  You hear the chime of his phone and cross your arms over your mid section, waiting as you hear footsteps approaching the door. You turn your head to look over your shoulder, seeing that you’re still alone in the hallway when the door swings open, causing you to stop short and your mouth to dry out all in one swoop when you turn back to look at him.

The first thing you note is that he’s fresh out of the shower. A wafting scent of fresh pine, whatever scented soap he uses drifting across your nose. It tickles your senses, drifting into your nose. But that’s not where your eyes zero in. 

Your eyes flick down to the exposed skin of his abdomen. He’s in the middle of pulling on a black t-shirt, the material catching and sticking to still wet skin. Water droplets roll down the ridges of his muscles, carving a wet path that your tongue would kill to follow. His abdomen is on a brief display for you, each outline of solid muscle searing into your mind’s eye. The deep V of his hips seem like they were chiseled out of marble, something you would find in the finest art galleries.

Your eyes flick back up, trying to pull your attention away from the hard lines and dips in his skin. His shirt flutters into place but at this point none of that even helps. 

Wide eyes catch the dip of confusion in his brows, the way they knit together as dark eyes take in your form in front of him. Trailing down to see the frown that tugs at the corner of his mouth, pink lips opening and forming words. Forming words? Shit, he was talking to you and you couldn’t get your eyes off the droplet of water that trailed down his neck and clavicle, disappearing underneath his shirt. It warps around the gold chain that he pulls out of his collar and your stomach rolls at how insanely attractive the motion of his fingers and the sparkling gold against his skin is. “-okay angel?” Snapping your eyes to his, you swallow dryly . He raises a brow at you now, the tiniest upturn of his lips and the amusement that flashed through his eyes has you flushing. He definitely caught you checking him out. Finally your brain catches up to what he’s asked you. “Everything okay angel?” Blinking quickly, you look down at your feet, shoes scraping the doormat. It reminds you of the reason you knocked on the door in the first place. Looking back up at him, your lips curl over your teeth by a fraction. Frustration returns to your body, grounding you as you seem to snap out of your thoughts.

“Yeah uhhh.” The edge of your shoe catches the welcome mat and you nudge it. “I’m missin’ a little something.” His brows dip again, but then an exasperated sigh is falling from his lips and a light dusting of pink dances across the tip of his nose up to his ears. One hand comes up to scratch the back of his neck, his bicep straining against the arm of the t-shirt he’d just put on. His other hand tucks into the pocket of his gray sweats. “Fuck I got caught up. Lowkey I was supposed to put your shit under the door when I got home and I had to handle something on the phone so I forgot.” He looks so endearingly bashful, the annoyance that has settled in your chest dissipates like smoke. Awkwardly, you scuff your toe against the ground, shrugging as nonchalantly as you can manage. “It’s fine I just, was hopin to get it and go.” 

“Here, come on in and I’ll get it for you.” He moves to the side, a jerk of his chin the only hint of an invite you get to coming inside. Still feeling awkward inside of your own skin, you follow him in, arms still crossed like a shield. You offer him a tiny half smile as you cross the threshold, moving past him. There’s a crackle of electricity as you move past him that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up straight. 

Chewing on the corner of your lip as you turn to look at him, you find heated and amused onyx eyes trained on you, His mouth tugs up in the corner again and a smirk spreads across his cheeks. “Whatcha lookin so nervous for?” He moves past you, his movements, fluid and smooth. When he moves past you, he glances slightly over his shoulder with a wink. “I don’t bite. Come on, my shit’s in my room.” There’s a heat that crawls up your neck and face, and you’re sure that your whole face is on fire as you trail behind him, hands going into your hoodie pockets. You’ve left your shoes at the front door, and your socked feet pad quietly behind him. “Didn’t say you did. Just kinda weird in here when ‘s quiet.” He chuckles as he opens the door to a room you recall being in once. It’d been filled with hazy smoke, and there’d been people packed in here like sardines, passing around blunts and listening to bass heavy music. You also briefly remember that it’s the night he put his number in your phone. You’d been leaning against the desk that night, while he sat in his desk chair right next to you. 

At one point you’d been zoned out, sufficiently buzzed and listening to all the noise around you. A single finger had looped in your belt loop and tugged to get your attention. He’d checked on you, made sure you were good and given you water, watching with eyes that were more alert than they should have been for someone who had smoked as much as he had. His finger stayed hooked in the belt loop of your shorts the entire conversation and he’d only let go when your friends called your name, dragging you out of the room. But not before he’d tugged on your shorts, plucking your phone out of your back pocket. He put his number in and shot you a look that could only be described as heated. “In case you’re ever in need of some good bud.” Recalling the heat that had flowed in between the two of you, you want to bolt out of there like the entire place is on fire. It’s unnerving, it makes your insides hot and the feeling makes something in you burn specifically for the man in front of you to look at you the way he did just a mere week ago. “Yeah, ‘s a lil weird when people aren’t here but it’s nice to have a quiet night in. My roommates are both out tonight. Eatin’ at your joint tonight I think Did you just get out of work?” He takes a seat at his desk, turning the chair so he’s facing you. He pats the bed that’s pushed up next to it, motioning for you to take a seat. 

Hopping up, you nearly groan in relief at being off your feet and something so soft. His eyebrows raise as he pulls out a scale, a jar full of bud and a small green pill bottle from the bottom drawer of his desk. “You good?” If your face gets any hotter, you’re pretty sure you’re going to resemble the surface of the sun. “Yeah I’m good. Just had a long day at work. I opened the restaurant this morning and ended up staying later than I mean to cover one of the other girls who was late and…” You trail off with a shrug as you tuck your hands into the sleeves of your oversized hoodie. “I didn’t realize how much my feet hurt until I sat down.” “Mmmm.” He makes a non committal noise as he measures out product. Long deft fingers are fucking with the scale, placing a pill bottle on it and dropping little green nugs into it. “You said 3gs right?” “Uh yeah. Don’t need much, just a little to relax this weekend. I finally have a weekend off and I’m gonna take full advantage of it.” You grin despite yourself, thoughts of a freshly rolled blunt and food with a bottle of wine and the softness of your couch filling you with happiness. 

“Damn girl, look at you.” The tips of your ears start to feel the same heat as your face as he looks at you with a teasing grin. “Got any specific plans?” “I’m going to melt into my couch and not move for three days.” You bite your lower lip when he fully turns to you, a thoughtful look crossing his handsome face. He twirls the pill bottle in his fingers as he looks at you, eyes half lidded with an emotion you’re not sure you want to name. 

The both of you are friends, acquaintances really and you’re not entirely sure if you’re ready to cross the line to anything besides that. But the way he’s looking at you promises something inevitable. He holds the bottle out for you and before your fingertips even brush it, he snatches it back towards himself, a smirk planted on his mouth. “How about you start your relaxing weekend here?”

Your brows furrow and your lip sticks out in the softest pout. A sharp protest sits at the tip of your tongue and you can’t help the whine that comes out in your tone. “Hey!”

“How about… You start the relaxation now?” Your brow furrows as he speaks, confusion flitting across your face. You stare at him for a long moment, chewing on the inside of your cheek. 

“What do you mean?” “I mean, smoke with me.” He leans backwards in his chair, reaching for a pack of blunts. Honey white owls, the same as he had at the party. It’s a good flavor, one of your favorites and it’s so tempting to start now. His bed is soft and his room is surprisingly clean, and it smells like a mix of his cologne and extremely good bud. Plus it’s one on one time that you two have never had before outside of a stolen moment of him grabbing you a drink in the middle of one of his and his roommate’s parties. “Come on angel, I don’t bite and it looks like you could use the chance to unwind.” “I have food in the car.” It’s the only thing that comes out when your mouth opens even though the word ‘yes’ lingers on the tip of your tongue. “I don’t want it goin bad or anything…” Trailing off, when his onyx orbs stay planted on yours, you realize that any argument is futile and you sigh. The mega watt grin that he gives you speaks of his satisfaction over his victory and he holds his hand out. “Gimme your keys. I’ll bring your food in and put it in the kitchen for ya.” Smacking your lanyard in his outstretched palm, you can’t help but roll your eyes at his instance and the boyish charm that drifts across his face. In exchange, he plops a rolling tray in your lap with strict instructions to start rolling while he gets your things sorted. 

This is crazy. Absolutely insane that one smile from this male had you turning into putty in front of him and you grumble under your breath but get to rolling away. When he walks out it’s silent except for the sounds of the metal grinder in your hands. 

It’s a familiar mindless process of rolling, and you do it quickly and efficiently. By the time he walks back in with your purse in hand you’re licking the end of the blunt wrap to seal it. His eyes flick down to your pink tongue that sticks out from your pretty glossed lips. You don’t even notice as you’re focused on what you’re doing, brow furrowed cutely in frustration. 

“Lemme see how good you did ma.” Your eyes flick up to his at the use of the pet name at the end of his sentence and you give him a bland look that has his lip tugging up in a smile again. You hand him the blunt before leaning forward to place his rolling tray on the desk, not realizing as you do that he’s already walking forwards. Your shoulder bumps into his abdomen, the same chiseled one you spotted earlier when he was sliding his shirt on. 

You scowl when you hear his low chuckle sound throughout the room. “If you wanted to hug me that badly you should have asked.” Your lip curls over your teeth as he plops down on the bed in front of you. “You think you’re real slick aren’t you?” “I know I am.” He throws you a wink as he polyps down on the bed, leaning against the wall as you lean back against the headboard, pulling your knees up. Pulling a lighter from his pocket, he hands the blunt back to you along with the lighter. “Guests light up.” “Thanks.” There’s a soft shick of the lighter sparking, and then a sizzle as you hold it to the end of the blunt and inhale. Draken doesn’t say anything while you take your first deep inhale, instead opting to turn on the bluetooth speaker that rests on the shelf mounted to the wall above his bed. There’s a gentle boom of the system connecting, and then a few notes fill the room before music starts to flow out. Despite your reservations your shoulders relax a fraction as you blow out the smoke you’ve held in, the familiar pepper and citrus taste of the bud heavy in your airway and drifting over your tongue. You take another deep inhale, deep enough to make your lashes flutter and you’re completely unaware of the eyes that are currently glued to your face. 

Draken doesn’t think he’s ever seen someone as pretty as you. All soft curves and shiny locks. A pretty smile that stretches wide over your cheeks. The way your head tilts back a little when you laugh and your nose scrunches. Truthfully, he was floored the first time you rolled up with your friends at one of the infamous house parties. You looked so out of place, skittish and shy until your friend shoved a blunt in your direction and told you to relax. Come to find out there’s a little fire, a spark that simmers underneath the shy outer shell. He can’t help that you’re intriguing enough for him to want to know what it looks like when you strip away all the layers to where you burn. Burn for him. 

Your eyes open as you let out your second inhale and you lean forward, holding out the blunt for him. Your small, soft hands brush past his large calloused ones and the warmth that radiates off of them makes him want to groan as he thinks about how they would look wrapped around his length. He has to fight the temptation to grab one down while he places the blunt to his lips, right in the place where your glossed lips have been. 

The cherry flavor from your lips gloss lingers on the blunt, mixing with the flavor of weed and the blunt wrap. His mind drifts to the thought of what you would taste like. If he sucks your tongue, would you taste like cherry and bud and something else? He inhales and looks at you again through heavy lids. Truthfully he’d smoked half a blunt the minute he’d gotten off work, but the thought of sharing one with you was too tempting to pass up. 

When you’d sunk onto his mattress like it was your salvation he jumped at his chance and for now, he can tell he made the right call. 

Now that he’s got you here though, there’s a little bit of hesitancy that lingers in the pit of his stomach. It’s been a long time since he’s tried something like this with someone who’s caught his attention like you have. It makes his insides churn with anticipation and he can’t help but sigh out his inhale, the smoke curling out of his mouth. One of the first things he noticed about you is that you don’t have the need to fill the silence with empty words. You’re content sitting with him in the silence, and it’s something he appreciates after a full day of dealing with customers. He takes his second inhale before he’s handing the blunt back. His eyes stay on yours when he wonders when this.. Tension that’s been building between the two of you is going to pop.

It’s like a bubble that traps the two of you in it, but instead of expanding, it shrinks, pressing down and pushing you two into each other. It’s been a month and a half since the first time you graced his doorstep and he’s thought of you every other minute since. 

You’re about halfway through the blunt when you let out a sigh, sinking a little further into the pillows. You lick your lips and he tracks the way the tip of your tongue wets your plus mouth. Bloodshot eyes drift up to look into his, and he watches as a smile tugs at the corners of your lips. “Thanks for this. I really needed it.” “Any time angel. You know. You’re kind of my favorite customer. Although you can’t tell anyone else that. They might start askin’ for special treatment and then I’ll be outta a side hustle.” He reaches over and grips your ankle, tugging a little in jest. His thumb brushes over the pretty anklet dangling around it and the minute the metal hits his thumb something shifts. 

He traces the delicate gold chain, running his thumb over the tiny links. It glints against your skin, a little angel dangling from the chain and resting against the hollow of your ankle. A low dangerous chuckle vibrates through his chest even though the energy in the room is anything but light hearted. “Guess I was spot on with the nickname.” 

“Yeah…” Your voice is just as low as his, as if, if you speak too loudly you’ll break whatever tentative vibe has taken over the room. “Um Draken?” “Ken.” He mumbles it as he moves, leaning a little closer. He leans on his elbow with your feet near his abdomen, nearly laying on his side as he blinks over at you. “Call me Ken.” “Ken..” The sound of his name leaving your mouth in a near whimper does him completely in.

Before he thinks too much, before his nerves get the best of him, he places the blunt directly in between your lips. There’s not much left to it, maybe one last hit. “Finish it.” There’s a soft demand in his tone and the feeling in his chest gives way to admiration as you do exactly as you’re told. “Ash tray is on the desk.” He murmurs the sentence out as he presses his lips directly to your anklet. You let out a soft whine before you swallow dryly, half lidded eyes taking in the sight of this big broad man laying the softest kidd on your skin. “I…” “You can tell me to stop when you want me to.” He looks up at you, his nose skimming the skin of your calf. The sight of it, the heat from the weed and the overall tension pops as you shake your head. “Don’t… Please don’t stop.” Your cheeks burn even hotter than before when he grins a heated smile up at you. Your breath starts to come a little faster as he works his way up your leg, large, rough, warm calloused hands moving up your calves to the back of your knees, spreading them wide enough for him to slot himself between. His hands don’t stop moving, massaging your sore calves. His fingers knead the knotted muscles so expertly and gently, you can’t help but melt into the touch. Your eyes slide shut and your mouth drops open in a groan. The moment your attention is off of him, he takes his chance, grabbing you and sliding your hips forward. You yelp in surprise when your back meets the mattress and he gives another deep chuckle, one that shoots a bolt of heat straight to your core. You’ve always been touchy when high, when your senses are heightened to a point where pleasure gets overwhelming. You swallow thickly and open your eyes so they’re glued to his. The music in the room continues to fill the space where both of you linger, and you’re unwilling to break the vibe besides a groan when his hands move from your calves to the top of your thighs. Squirming despite yourself, your eyes finally fall from his to where the backs of your thighs rest on the top of his. He’s broad in between your legs and your heart jumps in your chest as he moves to sit back on his heels. Draken’s - no Ken -  is glued to the apex of your thighs, right where your clothed core rests. It’s right below his growing erection and the sight of you squirming underneath it makes him impossibly harder. “Fuck that’s a fuckin’ pretty sight.” You may have been unwilling to break the silence but a high Ken is also a vocal and touchy Ken. Reaching down, his hands skim up your thighs, over the flesh of your plush ass to your waist. He grips it hard, tugging you to sit up so he can slot his mouth against yours. Even cotton mouthed from smoking, it’s the sloppiest kiss of your life, His soft lips meet yours and he presses hard, claiming your mouth. He consumes you, prying your mouth open with his tongue. He strokes it against yours, one of his hands coming up to thread in the strands of hair at the nape of your neck. His fingers thread into your hair and he tugs, tilting your head back so your throat is exposed. A whimper leaves your throat and small hands come up to clutch at his forearms. 

You push back against him, tentatively letting your tongue meet his, stroke for stroke. There’s little strings of saliva that connect the two of you when he finally finds it in him to pull away. It’s lewd and wet, your eyes glazed over as they flick down to take in the sight. The hand on your waist leaves, coming up to tap on your lower lip. “Open.” The command is stern, growled out in impatience until you obey, mouth dropping open. You cling to the edges of your shyness, and as much as he finds it endearing, he’s waited too long for this. “Stick out your tongue.” You’re practically panting as you do as you’re told and two fingers are laid on the wet pink muscle, rubbing against it. Your eyes widen and another whine slides out around his fingers, muffled and wet. “There we go. Feels good doesn’t it?” This man hasn’t even gotten you out of your clothing and you feel like you’re going to cum already. How he figured out your oral fixation you’ll never know but he’s exploiting it to it’s extent, moving his fingers in and out of your mouth. All you can do is cling to him and suck, little whimpers and moans falling out around his large fingers. Your hips start moving on their own accord, rolling against him until he’s tugging you into his lap, settling your aching core over his tented sweats. His hand in your hair trails down to your hip, rolling you over his erection with a groan. Every noise you make spurs on his insatiable need, and even though he feels impatient, even though he feels like tearing through every layer of clothing you two currently have on, it’s nothing compared to the desperate way your hips are chasing your high. 

“Shhhhh.” The hand at your hip cups your ass, squeezing the denim of your shorts. The seam presses into your dripping core, the pressure of it and his length currently pressing into it with every roll of your hips makes electricity creep up your spine. Your eyes widen and you begin sucking his fingers even harder as the band in your belly starts to tighten. “Go ahead. Go ahead angel, show me how good this feels.”

Your eyes drift shut and your brow furrows just as cutely as he knew it would. A single tear gathers on the corner of your shut eye and with a shudder you come apart on top of him, just from him grinding you down on him and letting you suck on his fingers. He guides your hips against him the whole way through it, waiting until your mouth lets up on his fingers. Waits until the fierce sucking of his fingers eases into small kitten licks and your hips slow to a stop.

“That good baby?”

You can’t believe you feel this good already. Your mind is already halfway numb from a combination of the weed and his overwhelming presence, but a shyness lingers around the edges of your psyche and you can’t help the flush that takes over your cheeks. His fingers draw out slow, gentle as he drags them down your lower lip and over your chin. Realization of how easily he’s turned you to putty in his hands washes over you and your eyes widen a fraction.

Embarrassed, you lean forward, tucking your face into the crook of his neck. His entire chest rumbles with a deep laugh that sounds more like a rumble. “I.. I’m sorry I….”

He shifts, moving the both of you. Your world spins and all of a sudden you find yourself still in his lap, but now he’s got his back against the headboard. “That was the hottest thing I’ve seen in a long fuckin time.” Opening your mouth to apologize for a second time, you don’t even have the chance to say a single word when his mouth claims yours again. This kiss is hotter than the last one, a new burning passion to see you fall apart coming through every stroke of his lips. He swallows your whines, only breaking apart from you whip your shirt and hoodie off of your frame. You can’t even believe for a second that you let him, raising your arms to help. The sight of you sitting there in your pretty lace bra lights an even hotter fire in onyx orbs. Fingers dance up your spine while he brings his lips to your neck, kissing and sucking a line across your jaw and down your neck. You melt, hands slipping underneath his shirt to trace your fingers along the ridges of his abdomen. You trace every muscle with curious fingertips until you splay your palms flat on his stomach pushing his shirt up and over his head. “You’re so fuckin’ pretty.” The compliment flows from his lips as he sucks on your collar bone. You’re grateful you have the next three days off, because the marks he’s leaving are going to be impossible to cover up. Another soft whine leaves your lips as his tongue flattens and runs over the swell of your breast. The sight of it makes fire lick up your insides but a flash of silver in the middle of the pink muscle makes you stop cold. He has a fucking tongue piercing. 

Currently he’s using that to his advantage as he slides your bra off, gathering both of your breasts in his hands and kneading the fat as he pushes them together. “Pretty fuckin’ tits. Fuckin’gorgeous.” His thumb swirls over your nipple before he’s dragging his tongue over it so the ball of his piercing flicks it hard. You squeal, squirming in his hold. You’re tempted to dart out of his lap, roll off of him and take a breather but he bucks his hips up at the same time he scrapes his teeth across the stiffened peak and your head tips back, another sinful moan falling from your mouth.

He shifts and the world spins again, your back hitting the plush mattress as he leans over you, raining kisses down your rib cage, sucking on the skin so hard it bruises. He does this in a path all the way down your abdomen, and you never thought you’d be this needy after already cumming, but there is a pulsing want and ache that only he can fill pulsing in between your legs. You’re practically panting by the time he reaches the spot you need him the most. 

Your thighs are practically shaking when his big hands grab the back, pushing them towards your chest. A sharp nose runs up the seam of your shorts up to the button. “W-Wait, I…” “God you smell so fuckin good. I gotta taste you baby. Need to see how pretty she looks after she came for me.” Dark lashes brush his cheek bones as he looks up at you and pops the button of your shorts open with his teeth. You swallow thickly and thread your fingers into his hair, almost tugging it free from the ponytail it’s in as you lift your hips for him to slide your shorts off. 

The rumbling growl that leaves his chest makes your eyes roll back, and your weeping hole to clench around nothing. His thumbs come up to your folds, spreading them open for him as you buck your hips up, chest heaving with deprived pants. “Please. Please.” You beg without even really knowing what you’re begging for, just needing something, anything to relieve the fire that’s starting to consume. Your high still hasn’t worn off and the extra sensitivity from where his touch presses into you is driving you close to the edge. “Ken, please.”

“Look at me.” His rough tone is demanding, drawing your attention to him as your mouth twists in desperation. “Keep your eyes on me or I stop. Ya hear me angel?”

You nod, but his hand darts out to grab your jaw, squeezing your cheeks until you speak, your tone cracking a little with want. “Yes, I hear you.” “Good girl.” His eyes stay on yours as he dips down, releasing your jaw in favor for spreading you wider. He purses his lips, before he lets out a long string of saliva, thumbs spreading you open again so he can watch as it drips in between your folds. You clench even though you’re achingly empty, a soft gasp filling the air in between you too. It bleeds into loud keen when his mouth finally touches you. 

He sucks one of your folds into his mouth and your hands tighten in his hair as he alternates, sucking them until they turn puffy, swollen and aching with need. He moans into your pussy, running his tongue through your slick until the ball of his piercing flicks harshly against your clit. A squeal sounds from above him and he does it again, over and over until you’re bucking wildly onto his tongue.

He should prep you. He needs to prep you but your walls are already to spasm around his tongue and he’ll be damned if he lets you come anywhere but his cock. 

Pulling away and sitting up just enough to work his dick out, he thrusts forward, his heavy, thick cock smacking against your abdomen. Your eyes fly open and you look down, letting out a desperate whine when you realize his length extends well past your belly button. 

He’s got the prettiest, heaviest cock you’ve ever seen. Swollen and red, the slit weeping pretty pearls of precum that streak your stomach as he lets his length smack down on your abdomen again. “‘S not gonna fit.”

You look up at him with wide watery eyes, lips parted as you pant despondently. But no matter how much your voice shakes, your hips move, trying to slip him inside as desire takes over every cell in your body. “Ken, ‘s not gonna-” He chuckles breathlessly, sweat starting to break out on his hairline as he draws back to rub the aching head of his cock along your folds. “‘S gonna fit angel. Imma make it fit.” Slowly, he pushes in, head tilting back as he starts to push in despite the resistance he’s met with. You’re so fuckin’ tight he’s pretty sure that he’s already ready to blow his load and he’s only got the tip in. “Goddamn. Fuuuuuck.” The little high pitched whines that fall from your plush mouth and he can’t helo but reach down and grab your waist in his broad hands. Grip bruinsingly tight, he fucks into you, pulling out and fucking back in shallowly, inch by agonizing inch. Your pussy is gripped around him so tight it’s practically strangling his cock. “Relax ‘f me. God you’re so fuckin’ tight angel. Need you to relax.” A shuddering breath leaves your mouth, and his thumb drifts down to the little bundle of nerves that pokes out, working it in slow circles. Your thighs shake even more as you give. Your walls relax, eyes rolling back as his entire length finally sinks into you. A wet cry leaves your throat as tears leak from your eyes and the man above you lets out a moan so deep you feel it in your own soul. “There it is. Fuckin’ took the whole thing. Such a good girl.” Your hands grip the sheets, lower lip trembling as a tiny sob leaves your mouth. “Ken�� so full. I’m so full. ‘S too big Ken. ‘S too fucking bi-” Before you can finish your sentence he’s pulling out and sliding back in, using the grip he has on your waist to drag you up and down his length. You cry out, loud and high as he bumps into your cervix. Your chest heaves and you squeeze your eyes shut as he starts to move you up and down. He’s so big and broad and strong all you can do is lay there and take it as he moves you up and down, eyes glued to the way your slick is coating his cock, how some of it sticks to his abdomen. Strings of slick connect the two of you as he moves you, practically the length of his cock, soaking even his thighs. One of his warm palms spreads out over your abdomen and he pushes down on the bulge that’s appeared. His mouth practically pours out filth as he pushes on his cock pushing through your stomach and you scream his name. “Fuck baby. Look at that. Pokin’ through your stomach. You look so fuckin sexy like this. So fuckin pretty all fucked out on my cock. You like that baby?” You nod, sobbing as he starts to move you faster, your clit hitting his pelvis with every rough smack of his hips. The orgasm that hits you, hits you out of nowhere, hard and fast and so overwhelming that you see nothing but pure white. “‘M cummin’ fuck fuck fuck fuck ‘m cummin!” Your legs kick out and shake as your cream around his cock, a frothy ring of white forming as he fucks you. He hasn’t let up, his grip still tight on your waist as he moves you, rolling his hips into and fucking you onto him. His head dips down into the crook of your neck, heavy pants brushing past the skin of your neck as you sob and keen through your orgasm. Your hands fly up to bury into his hair, moving until your arms are wrapped around his neck. All you can do is hang on as he fucks up into, using your body  for his pleasure. “Takin’ my cock so fuckin’ well angel. You were made for it. Made to take my cock.” His breath stutters on the sentence as your velvet walls pulse around him and you whimper, your nails digging into his muscular shoulders. His masculine scent envelopes you, and everything about him crowds your senses as he drives into you. The entire room is filled with the sounds of your slick squelching around his cock, the cries that fall from your mouth and the filthy words he breathes harshly into your ear. 

“I’m gonna fill you up. I have to. Have to fill this fuckin’. Perfect. Pussy.” Each word of is enunciated by  a sharp thrust of his hips and you practically wail out his name. 

“Can’t.. Can’t take anymore Ken please.” Bleary, misty eyes look up at him, blinking past tears as your body jolts with the force of each thrust. His pace is picking up and he’s huffing out deep breaths, and you can tell by the way his abdomen tightens that he’s about to cum. His thrusts are getting sloppier, but you’re right on the edge with him, walls starting to clamp down again. “Ken I can’t!” “You can.” He places a soft kiss right under your jaw, dragging his lips up until they’re resting against yours. “I know you can. Give me one more baby.” You try  to shake your head but your mouth falls open when a hand snakes between you two again and starts to make firm circles on your swollen puffy clit. “Ken.. please I…” 

Your cheeks heat and your hiccup out an embarrassed sob. You’re not inexperienced by any means, but you’ve never had something that feels like this. That feels this overwhelming and good. You’ve never had someone who fills you this much, who hits every sensitive spot, whose cock is so big it sticks out from your tummy and pushes past your cervix with every sharp thrust. There’s a foreign feeling that’s settled in your stomach and it increases the more he plays with your clit and with every thrust that rams into the tight ring of muscle inside of you. Words tumble out before you can stop them and the minute  they’re out, embarrassment and lust flood you in the same instant and it makes you dizzy. “Ken please.. Feel like I’m gonna go to the bathroom!” A rumbling groan is the only answer and his thumb speeds up its pace, his thrusts sloppy. “Fuckin’ squirt baby. Squirt on my fuckin’ cock. I know you can. Make a mess ‘f me.” Another sharp thrust and a pinch of your clit sends hurtling into oblivion as you do just that. Your last release comes squirting out of you, coating his hand, his thighs, the mattress, his abdomen. You feel it run down the swell of your ass as you cry, your nails clawing at his back as you call out his name, sobbing and cumming as he doesn’t relent, panting and groaning into your neck. Hot ropes of cum start to coat your insides, filling you to the brim as he moans. It’s unhinged and messy, his cock head pushing past your cervix to coat your insides, filling your womb almost overly full. Your name leaves his mouth in a rumbling shout before his teeth sink into your shoulder, biting down to muffle the moans that leave his throat. 

His hips finally slow and he lays his forehead into the crook of your neck, his hands drifting down to your quivering thighs, massaging them as you both catch your breath. You let your palms lay flat on his broad back, running them up and down as little shuddering breaths leave you. 

Finally moving to look down at you, he blinks the sweat out of his eyes, brushing the hair out of yours. Both of you are a mess, covered in sweat and slick, your entire body marked with his love bites and his back scratched from your nails. 

Bliss and submission is written over your face and your eyes drift shut as his palm comes to cup your cheek. You’re so good for him, it makes his chest squeeze tight. He’s already softening inside of you, and surprisingly, you both still feel a little high, the combination of pleasure, euphoria and rapture making it that much more heightened. 

Both of you hiss as he slides out of you, moving so he’s hovering over you and bringing you to relax your legs completely. There’s a few moments of silence, soaking in each other’s presence.The air between you two settles into something you’re not sure you’re ready to name and you turn your head to say something to him, but find him already staring at you. He pulls you onto his chest, uncaring of the sticky sweaty mess you’ve become. His hand drags up your spine slowly, gently, and he pushes your head down so it’s tucked onto his shoulder. Ken is gentle as he continues to rub up and down your spine, grounding you and bringing you back down to earth. Humming contently, you drift until a rumbling laugh rouses you, and you move your chin until it rests on the top of his chest and you’re looking into those dark alluring eyes. Your hand comes up to trace the dragon tattoo on the smooth skin on the side of his head, following the inky black swirls as he continues to dance his fingertips up and down your skin. “So… wanna smoke again?”

All works belong to @ kenuis do no repost anywhere else without permission.

[whitehartlane]

he’s drinking coffee and talking to my uncle and aunt on the phone, if you see me on the news for patricide surely i cannot be blamed

absolutely the worst thing about going somewhere with my family is that they are chronically late to everything

[featherwurm]

Dinnertime (something cooked by Gale out of a nice selection of what the group has found and bought) at camp Tadfool, and here's some headcanons I have on food preferences of the lot:

Shadowheart – Omnivorous and a little picky, she’s sort of figuring out what she likes again and as always enjoys flexing her opinions. Loves fruits and nuts, and has a surprising taste for rare meats. Sometimes forgets to eat or looses track in the middle of a meal without reminding.

Lae’zel – Likes meat, meat, and more meat. Will add some variety into that but gith are biologically highly carnivorous. Has a real like of Bauldiran seafood (especially octopus and crustaceans) as it’s more akin to what’s available on the astral plane and in Gith rations, but will gladly tear into a steak or kebab. She can eat an absolutely terrifying volume for her frame, which she says is also normal.

Astarion – Stuck on that good old liquid diet, he is right that blood taste can be affected by things like age, lifestyle, and species, but he’s honestly not that into the distinction (and he hasn’t actually tried enough sapient varieties in a thoughtful way to have any real taste for one vs another, plus it does all taste good to him.) While he’ll always wax poetic, honestly just a human in good health tastes best to him (despite Tav letting him drink off of her first, in retrospect her tiefling blood has a faint smokey/spicy taste he doesn't quite like as much.)

Wyll – A real cruiser and grazer, likes a nibble of this and a bit of that and some of this. He’s so used to camp rations and foraging it seems to have sort of translated into a real love of charcuterie. Tends to get into things before they are cooked for a nibble. Still quite mannerly about things and his mess kit is kept immaculate.

Gale – A meat and potatoes kind of guy. Big on pasta and noodles. He’ll eat his veggies but he prefers them smothered in cheese or cream sauces. A bit like a big kid, but he he has the cooking skill to pull off fancier versions of childhood staples (and, of course, cooks in good variety for the tadfool crew, quick to show off his skills and breadth of knowledge.)

Karlach – Member in good standing of the clean plate club. Likes pretty much everything you put in front of her, but her favorites are big rare cuts of meat, meat pasties and pies, and other easy sources of protein like eggs and cheese. Tieflings like/need a slightly higher proportion of meat proteins in their diet than humans, but aren’t as extreme as the Gith. Karlach still likes pretty much everything though, and gets excited over tasty fruit, veg, and herbs too.

Tav – Was a very picky eater as a child but has mellowed with age and experience and likes pretty much everything, although some textures still put her off a bit (she’ll grudgingly eat things like casseroles and things with wet bread, but she’s not a fan – although she doesn't outwardly gripe.) Has a big sweet tooth and is a real fan of a lil treat.

Bonus: Astarion, Shadowheart, Karlach, and Tav stop for a quick rest and have a snack of some foraged nuts (walnuts) and berries (raspberries.) I know walnuts that aren't removed from their skins make quite a mess, and Karlach's hands are getting quite stained:

Astarion can't enjoy much, but blood is mostly water and fresh water is always good.

[spicyvegrecipes]

Tendli Ki Sabji Recipe | How to make Kundru Ki Sabzi

About Tendli Ki Sabji Recipe: Tendli, also known as Tindora or Kundru, is a popular vegetable in Indian kitchens for its versatility and health benefits. This humble gourd is transformed into a delicious, easy-to-make sabji for daily meals. Whether pairing it with roti, paratha, or steamed rice, this Tendli Sabji recipe will delight your taste buds! What is Tendli (Tindora/Kundru)? Tendli,…

[acti-veg]

This is another really easy starter or side, quick to make with just a few basic ingredients. They're high protein, cheap, and freeze well, so they're great for meal prep.

[feyburner]

Hello teacher feyre, I've been following your cooking tips and recipes and I wonder if there's any recipes/tips you have for someone who cooks only as a means to an end (food on the table), so something quick or easy. Thank you in advance!

You can’t go wrong with the basic carb + protein + veg. There are infinite variations on this in every cuisine. Whenever I’m cooking dinner it’s just carb (usually rice or quick homemade flatbread of some sort, sometimes Asian noodles; I’m not a pasta person) + protein (chicken, beef, pork, tofu) + veg (whatever was on sale).

The fastest and easiest way to cook things is sautee/stir fry imho, I know baked sheet pan meals are also a thing but for speed + Cooked Well I really only trust the oven for roasting veg. I’ve never had much luck with roasting meat in the oven, it never browns to my satisfaction (except for whole roast chicken). I only use the oven for braising.

Stir fry is hella easy. All you need for a good stir fry sauce is roughly equal parts salt/savory, acid, sweet, spice/herbs + some water or broth, maaaybe a thickener (cornstarch slurry). I usually just improvise with whatever I feel like. Soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar or honey, chili sauce or sriracha as a base, add water or broth until you have enough to cover what you’re stir frying. Salt and black pepper. Not the fanciest but it takes 5 min.

A typical dinner I make is rice, chicken, onions + bell peppers. First get the rice going in the rice cooker. Usually just with water, sometimes with broth, or coconut milk + lime zest if I have a lime. Pat the chicken dry and rub with kosher salt and whatever seasonings (can’t go wrong with S&P + garlic powder, paprika, chili powder or Cajun seasoning, or herbs: parsley sage rosemary thyme. Or get pre-made spice rubs! Who cares!). Cut into bite size pieces. Sometimes I’ll velvet/marinate it, sometimes I’m lazy. Sautee the chicken in a hot wok with oil until it’s browned. (I cut into bite-size pieces so it cooks fast inside too. Or you can do “hands off” for whole chicken breasts: Heat oil in a pan with a tight-fitting lid. Press seasoned chicken breasts flat with your hands. Place 2-3 chicken breasts in pan, brown 2-3 minutes on one side. Flip. Put lid on pan. Turn heat to low and and do not touch for 9 minutes. Perfect juicy chicken breasts every time.) Remove chicken from wok, pour out juice if desired, add onions, sweat a few minutes until softened, add peppers, sautee a few more minutes until peppers are softened/browning but still a bit crisp, add minced garlic, toss 1 more minute, done. Season through the process with whatever you want. Baseline = S&P, garlic.

When you’re cooking fast the thing that is most important is highlighting & enhancing the flavor of your raw ingredients. You’re not putting hours into a curry or a braise, so just season to show off the flavors of your onions, peppers, etc. S&P, garlic, and a finishing sprinkle of lemon juice, can’t go wrong. Spices and seasonings to your taste. Soy sauce. Whatever. Sautee until it looks like something you want to eat. Done.

Ground beef or pork, sausage cut into coins. Whatever’s on sale. Spinach is a big one in our house bc wilting spinach in a pan takes 5 minutes. Onions—edible in 5 minutes, don’t have to spend 45 caramelizing. Yukon gold potatoes—wash, chop, boil 9 minutes in salted water until fork tender, drain, quick pan-fry for a good crisp.

Figure out your staples—what you like, what’s cheap, what’s easy—and figure out fast ways to cook it and you’re done. Carb + protein + veg = you will never run out of things to cook, just switch up seasonings and whether you do a stir fry sauce or not.

The thing about cooking regularly is you figure out your go-tos and that makes it much easier. You don’t have to look at new recipes every night. You realize you can pretty much do anything to anything once you understand the 101 Basics of how to cook it.

Sorry this is rambling. Hope it helps a bit??? Feel free to ask for clarification.

EDIT: Wait I thought of actual tips.

- Always heat pan first, then oil, then once oil is shimmering/shivering add food. It’s faster, and you don’t ever want food sitting in room temp oil—it’ll just soak it up and get oil-logged instead of browning or crisping.

- You can use more flame than you might think. Default to medium/medium-high heat unless a recipe says otherwise, or unless you’ve already browned something and now you want it to keep cooking without burning. But if you cook everything on low heat out of caution it’ll just be slower and you won’t get satisfying textures.

- Season throughout, not just at the beginning or end. Flavor (especially salt) builds, and needs to build.

- Salt is your absolute best friend. Nothing is complete without it.

- Taste often. Don’t just make a sauce and dump it in without tasting. Ounce of prevention, pound of cure.

- When adding cornstarch to a stir fry sauce, always do a slurry (equal parts cornstarch + water whisked until smooth, usually 1 Tbsp each). Don’t ever just dump a spoonful of cornstarch into something. It will give you cornstarch lumps which will never dissolve.

- You want things to be dry when you toss them into hot oil. Especially meat, the reason for patting dry then rubbing in salt is to dry out the surface (salt draws moisture to the surface, then you can wipe it off again). This is how you get a nice crispy brown crust. Water = steaming, not crisping. (Most veg is easily steamed or blanched if you want to reduce the amount of oil you’re consuming.)

Okay I’m done. For now.

[fanfic-scribbles]

Dinner Date Chapter 40

Masterlist

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Overall Story Facts:

Fandom: MCU Captain America/Avengers

Story Summary: Steve Rogers has a girlfriend. A prickly, generally asocial girlfriend, but they make it work. They have more in common than some people might think.

Quick Facts: Romance – Steve Rogers/Reader – Female Reader

Story Warnings: Reader-insert that verges on OFC, written in 1st person past tense

Chapter 40: Awkward Pauses

Chapter Summary: Sitting in silence in person is so much less awkward than sitting in silence on the phone. What is a self-professed miser to do?

Chapter Word Count: 1735

A/N: Some long-distance relationship fluff <3

~

Long distance was hard.

Not for any real existential reason like reconsidering my life, location, or the relationship in question– that was all solid as fuck. But maybe there was some reconsideration in stuff like my hobbies. Or the lack thereof.

“What have you been up to?”

Because long distance was awkward.

“Well…” I desperately searched for something interesting to say, but I had nothing. It was just another week– well, from my perspective, at least. Which meant going to work, and coming home, and making sure to eat my daily meals and take my showers and basically take care of myself like a normal functioning human. I wasn’t sure why it felt so much harder lately, but chalked it up to the fact that I couldn’t sprawl on my boyfriend’s chest. “Sorry. I’m trying to think, but…”

“No, it’s my fault,” he said. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I needed to touch base with Natasha to make sure she kept a close eye on my all-too-willing-martyr. “I’m sorry I can’t…” He grasped for words and what I got was a sigh that sounded like the equivalent of a verbal shrug.

“It’s okay. I know you can’t,” I said. Security issues; maybe some in transmission, but there was plenty that was definitely on my end– no way in hell was I allowing SHIELD or even Stark to get their mitts on ‘upgrading’ my phone. Though I’d honestly let Stark take a crack at it before any suits. There was something oddly more comforting about loudly being judged for my porn history than silently so. “I’m sorry I’m not…I don’t know…a person about town. Work is boring but pretty draining lately; I’ve been coming home just to veg out.”

“I understand that,” he said. There was some shifting. I imagined him laying down somewhere. Maybe seeing the stars. On one hand: pretty. On the other hand: outdoors, and possibly elements and bitey bugs. Ick. I hoped he had a place to sleep, even if it was just a tent.

“I might go to the library tomorrow,” I said. That was sort of out of nowhere– I was just dragging my sorry carcass home these days, but it sounded like a safe place that I could conceivably stop on the way home, without spending money, and still get something fun. “Either tomorrow or the day after, I’m not sure yet.”

“Any books in mind?” he asked.

“Just gonna browse the new sections I think,” I said. “The very exciting life of a nerd in one of the most exciting cities in the world. Some party kid in rural Nowheresville is probably feeling a sudden visceral hatred and has no idea why.”

“Well, I hope they make their own way to the city someday, but I like that you’re there too,” Steve said. “And libraries are also a very valid reason to live in New York City.”

“Oh good, I won’t be booted any time soon then,” I said. There was a brief, sharp whistle from his end and I flinched at how clear it sounded. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he said. “Nothing’s happening, so don’t worry.” True to his words he said nothing else for a few seconds, and even let out a languorous yawn. I rolled my eyes. There was such a thing as laying it on too thick, but I didn’t bother to point that out. I liked being able to hear his tells. And maybe he actually wanted me to hear them too. “I do have to go soon though, and get some sleep. I’ll try and call tomorrow, but…”

“No promises. I know,” I said. “And I’d always rather you stay safe. If you get hurt because you’re trying to call just to listen to me sit and twiddle my thumbs, I’m going to be pissed. And I will never, ever let you live it down.”

“Okay,” he said. “I will only risk injury if I’m late calling to listen to you sit and watch paint dry.”

I screwed my mouth in effort not to laugh. It was a good comeback but I did not want to encourage that behavior. “You make it very difficult to love you sometimes but I do love you and I mean that even though I really want to wrap my hands around your fucking neck right now.”

“I love you too sweetheart,” he said, and I could envision the cocky ‘gotcha’ smile he had just by the sound of his voice, the absolute bastard. “And I’ll talk to you soon.”

~

Steve: I can’t actually physically talk today Steve: I’m sorry Me: It’s okay

It really, really was. I’d felt vaguely crappy since the morning, and eating lunch had made it worse, but I’d still soldiered on to the library. Except now I sat on the couch, with an empty trashcan nearby, trying to find any stomach medicine capable of making me feel less utterly wretched. And cautiously enjoying my new books– these were borrowed and I did not want to mess them up.

I grimaced at the thought and took a deep breath. My stupid stomach just gurgled menacingly in response.

Steve: What are you up to tonight?

I thought about it a moment.

Me: Are you up for petty complaints? Steve: Always, sweetheart Me: My tummy hurts and I am not being brave about it at all Steve: I’m sorry to hear that Me: I can’t appreciate good food Me: Woe Steve: Oh that IS awful Me: I knew you’d get it <3 Steve: I’m sorry Steve: I can’t chat for long but I wanted to check in Me: I’m glad you did Me: I’ll try to get up to some shenanigans before you call again Steve: Well don’t burn the city down without me :)

I raised both eyebrows.

Me: That sounds like way too much work Me: Also I live here. No burning. Steve: Good Steve: I’ll try to actually talk to you tomorrow, sweetheart Steve: I hope you feel better soon <3

My stomach bubbled in protest and I groaned. But I didn’t get sick, and so I settled back down with my book. It was nice, and good, and comforting…

…And it actually gave me an idea.

~

Steve did indeed call the next day, and I had gotten up to absolutely nothing except for managing to drag myself into work and back home. My stomach felt better but I still had myself on a soup-and-water diet just in case, so, no interesting events, and no interesting food, made the conversation die out. As it tended to do pretty easily these days.

“I really take for granted the ability to just sit with you,” Steve said. “I miss it. I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” I said. “I’m glad you keep calling, even though I am boring as hell.”

“I’m glad you keep answering, even though I have even less interesting things to say,” he said. “I honestly wouldn’t even mind just sitting quietly. Knowing you’re there…even that’s enough.”

That…was kind of intensely romantic. Also, I didn’t hate the idea– we were already boring when it came to conversation. Maybe if I just used my earbud and had him in, the ambient noise of home might even be kind of comforting. Or if I played a video game and tried narrating it, he might find it funny. I shelved that thought for later. Right now, I had a plan, and I wanted to see how well this went over before suggesting anything else. “I actually have an idea for tonight, but…don’t make fun of me if it sounds dumb, okay?” I cleared my throat. “I got a new book and it’s pretty nice and I was thinking I could…read some of it to you? If you want?”

It sounded so stupid out loud, but after a second or two Steve said, “Really?” and he sounded…sincerely into it. “That would be amazing.”

I had to scramble to catch up. “Really?”

“I can’t really talk about what I’m doing, and I know how you feel about the phone,” he said. “So it means a lot you’d want to stay on with me.”

“It’s not a hardship,” I said as I got up to go get the book. “I miss you too, you know, and if all you really wanted to do was stay quiet on the line I would. The phone is just…hard. I don’t know why.” I snagged the book and flopped onto my bed. I cleared my throat theatrically, but even as I read the title and author, I felt myself slipping into a comfortable cadence, and I read aloud something comforting and kind, and hoped it helped soothe rather than hurt with a reminder of what he couldn’t have at the moment.

Sometime later I was really regretting not grabbing some water to help soothe my throat, when I yawned hard and suddenly wished for coffee instead. “Sorry,” I said and rubbed my eyes. I looked at the clock but it wasn’t that late.

“I’m gonna let you get some sleep,” he said, his voice gentle and quiet and certainly not helping me stay awake. “Maybe we can pick this up again later?”

“We can,” I agreed and put my bookmark in sideways and carefully set the book down so it stayed on the right paragraph. “Get some good rest, Steve.”

“I’ll try,” he said like he was actually promising. “Hopefully Bu–…”

He didn’t continue, but I could kind of follow the thread, given what I’d just read. “Well, given you don’t know where he is, hopefully Bucky is somewhere safe and warm and comfy,” I said as I scooted off my bed and went to start getting ready for it properly. “Maybe he stole some rich asshole’s credit card and is holed up in a Hilton somewhere.”

Steve snorted. “I doubt that,” he said. “But it is a nice thought.”

“That’s what I’m here for. The sweet dreams,” I drawled sarcastically as I pulled out my PJs.

“You are. The sweetest,” Steve said. Smugly, because he knew how stupid that sounded.

My stomach even almost revolted again. “Bleck,” I said and stuck out my tongue.

He chuckled. “I’ll talk to you later?”

“Yeah,” I said, glancing at my book. Even if we didn’t talk, I still had plenty of reason to look forward to his call.

~

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