Reid Franklin (untwinned) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2021-10-27 19:42:00 |
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Entry tags: | #flashback, harlow, harlow x reid, reid |
Who: Harlow and Reid
When: December 2017, about 2 months after this scene
Where: Elk Ridge, NC
Warning: NSFW
Status: complete
Living with Harlow and her ‘sisters’ had been a transformative experience for Reid. It had been a couple of months now, and he didn’t think he’d felt quite so good anywhere else in his life. He never would have guessed he could be so content out in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of stranger women, but he was. His bedroom nook up in the attic was cozy, and he’d made it more his own over the weeks. The wifi worked for the most part, but he’d been spending much less time on his laptop, except to check in with his parents every few days, at his mother’s insistence.
Reid had learned the rhythms of the house, the preferences of its residents, and he’d been outside more than he ever had, even as the weather turned colder. There wasn’t much yard work left to do as they moved into winter, but Reid still walked the grounds every day and kept everything neat. He chopped wood for the fireplaces, and he was pretty sure he was building muscle in his arms for the first time in his life. He cleaned inside too, and while he didn’t have any real culinary skills to offer, he’d made Harlow and Sukie grilled cheese a few times.
Reid had gotten to know the women of the house better, and while some of them still intimidated him a bit, he felt like they’d come to accept him. He loved to listen to their stories, and some of them were happy to tell him things. He was learning about wild herbs and mushrooms too, what was good and what was poisonous, and he’d been out in the woods foraging a few times with one of the elder sisters. It was fascinating and made him feel helpful, and Reid was finding that he liked that feeling. He didn’t snoop, and he stayed out of their way when something magical was going on, but for the most part he almost felt like part of the family.
Harlow’s cousin Rayna had made a few passes at him early on, then tried to sneak into bed with him a couple of times. Reid had been tempted -- it was hard not to be with a warm lovely woman pawing at him -- but he’d ultimately turned her down. It just hadn’t felt right, given the feelings he was developing for Harlow. Now if she ever crawled into bed with him ... but Reid didn’t think that would happen. They seemed to have a different kind of connection, something deeper and more resonant. Reid was pretty sure he’d never been in love, but Harlow was never far from his thoughts, and something in him got happy every time he saw her. He didn’t know what that meant for them down the road, but it was nice to feel anything that wasn’t grief and depression.
It was late afternoon by the time he got to work on the lunch dishes in the kitchen, glancing up every now and then to look through the window over the sink. It was pretty out, with the winter afternoon light glinting off of the snow on the ground. Nobody else was in the kitchen, so Reid sang to himself as he worked, low and soft, some old 70s song that his mother had sung to him and Reese when they were little.
Harlow hadn't been sure how long Reid would stay in Elk Ridge. They had kept him busy with chores around the property and Harlow hadn't heard him complain once, but Harlow also knew that her sisters could be a bit difficult from time to time and not always pleasant to be around. Thankfully Reid seemed to adapt quickly to the household and he seemed to know when to offer his help and when to stay out of sight. He never asked too many questions either, which was probably why he was still living with them. Sukie encouraged curiosity, but only to an extent and never with the details of their magic.
It had only been a couple of months but Harlow had grown both fond and possessive of Reid. In some ways, it felt like she had found him and because of that, he belonged to her. Something in the universe had sent him to Harlow, whether it was to save his life or not, she didn't know. But right now, it didn't matter. Reid seemed happier now than he had when he first walked into Sukie's shop and while Harlow could still see shadows in his eyes, the desire to die seemed to have dulled significantly.
Harlow wasn't surprised to find him in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes. But when she heard him singing, as quiet as it was, Harlow waited, leaning against the doorframe and folding her arms so she could listen. After a few moments, she spoke. "I don't think I've ever heard you sing before."
Reid looked around quickly at the sudden voice, then gave a sheepish huff and a grin. “I don’t do it a lot,” he said. “Probably for good reason.” His voice wasn’t awful, but he certainly had never put work into developing it as a skill. Reid rinsed off the dish in his hands and set it aside on the towel, then shook the water from his fingers and turned to look at Harlow. “What are you up to?” he asked with an easy smile. He’d relaxed significantly since his arrival here, but he always felt the most comfortable and good when Harlow was around.
"Nothing much," Harlow said, returning his smile with one of her own. "It's a quiet day so I thought I would come find you and see if you wanted to spend some time with me." He had never said no in the past when Harlow suggested it, and even though she didn't have any one specific thing in mind, she wanted his company for a while, especially since the house was empty, which was a rare occasion considering how many women lived there. Harlow was not oblivious to Reid's feelings for her, though he was pretty adept at keeping them under wraps. There had just been a reluctance to do anything about it on Harlow's part, for a lot of reasons. Maybe she had wanted to get to know him better, to make sure he was worthy of anything she gave him.
If she had put it to him like that, Reid would’ve been sure that he wasn’t worthy, he was barely worthy to borrow space in their attic and do chores for them. Any time he got with Harlow felt precious, and Reid was trying not to take any of it for granted. He had definitely assumed that the attraction was only one-sided, so he kept it to himself. It felt kind of good to nurture a crush, like it was something human and normal -- something living people did, not just empty shells, which was how he’d felt for so long. “Yeah, of course,” he answered, smiling again. Reid plucked up the dish towel to dry his hands off, then left it on the counter and approached her. “I can finish up here later ... did you have anything in mind?”
"Nothing in particular," Harlow said, though that wasn't necessarily true. She reached out to take his hand before leading him from the kitchen. "It's so quiet right now. I thought we could take advantage of it." It wasn't that the women in her coven were rowdy and rambunctious. But they were all extremely opinionated and strong willed, sometimes to a fault. Wanting to be heard occasionally meant conversations or arguments got loud. When they were all under the same roof at the same time, there were very few places one could go for some quiet. Reid probably had the most isolating room in the house, which also meant he heard less. That was probably better for all involved. She walked with him to the stairs. "I thought about going out to the mountains for a while, but it's probably too cold for that now. So we can stay in where it's warm, unless you have some overwhelming urge to make a snowman."
Reid was always happy to be led anywhere by Harlow, especially when that meant holding hands with her. He walked along, his thumb stroking slowly over her small knuckles. He’d heard plenty of raised voices in the house but he kept heeding Harlow’s initial warnings and minded his own business. It was nice for him too when it was quiet like this -- he probably wouldn’t have been singing if there had been a lot of traffic through the kitchen. Reid started up the steps with her, not even really questioning where they were going. They didn’t spend a lot of time in one another’s rooms, but he’d seen the inside of hers a few times, and she occasionally popped up to the attic to say hello. “Nah,” Reid answered with a soft chuckle. “I’m voting for staying warm today. I was out shoveling for a while yesterday, I dunno if my toes have actually warmed all the way up.”
"This is only the beginning," Harlow warned with a touch of amusement in her voice. "Winters here are brutal. We'll be stocking up on supplies soon, in case we get snowed in for a significant amount of time." Yes, there were magical ways of freeing themselves from the elements, but Sukie was the one in charge and she revered nature, so magical means to significantly change the weather was to be used in emergency situations only. Reaching the landing on the second floor, Harlow led Reid to the right, towards her bedroom. "You've been here a couple of months now," she continued. "If you wanted to leave before the worst of the weather arrived, I would understand." Harlow paused just outside of her closed bedroom door, her free hand reaching for the knob before she looked up at Reid. "But I want you to stay, if that's an option too."
He was a tiny bit surprised that they were heading to Harlow’s room instead of further up the steps to the attic, but he wasn’t going to argue. Reid tried not to invade her space, so he didn’t tap on her door very often, but he loved being in there, surrounded by her stuff and her essence. Like a damn teenager. He probably ought to be embarrassed about it, but he wasn’t. He hadn’t been embarrassed about much of anything while he’d been staying here, it was liberating as fuck. Reid met Harlow’s eyes and felt his heart squeeze in his chest at the last part. He didn’t want to leave, and he was glad that the majority of the house tolerated his presence, but every time Harlow said she wanted him there, it meant so much to him. “That’s the only option that appeals to me at all,” he murmured with a crooked little smile. “I want to stay. If -- if that’s still okay with everyone.”
"You shovel snow and wash the dishes... I don't think anyone is going to kick you out," Harlow said, her lips twitching into a smile before she opened the door to her bedroom. It was a simple space to her, but one she valued more than any other room in the house. Probably because it was hers and everybody was respectful of each other's space. She had candles on nearly every surface and scarves thrown about here and there. Books were piled up on her dresser and on the nightstand by her bed and the greenery she had hung above the bed were twisted in soft white lights. It was probably a bit too whimsical for some people but Harlow found it cozy and quiet, tinged with her magic. The curtains were closed and blacked out most of the sunshine but enough streamed through to make it easy to see without having to flip on the lights. She shut the door behind Reid before turning toward him, her hands slipping under his shirt until she could feel bare skin. His skin was warm, but then she knew it would be. "Is this okay?" Harlow murmured, bringing her gaze up to his face.
Reid was glad to have something to contribute to the household, though he was even more glad that Harlow seemed to want him around for more than the labor he could do. They’d gone on lots of walks throughout the autumn, had a lot of good conversations, and she’d helped him more than he could properly tell her. His thoughts were interrupted by the sensation of having his shirt pulled up a bit, and Reid looked down at Harlow with genuine surprise. They held hands, they hugged occasionally, and sometimes she clung to his arm -- physical contact that he cherished every time -- but she’d never gone up under his shirt before. Feeling her soft small hands caress the skin of his waist sent a flash of heat through him and he felt his cheeks flush. Besides it being Harlow, Reid hadn’t been touched so intimately in a long time ... if he didn’t count Rayna pawing at him before he turned her down, which he didn’t. It was probably a crazy overreaction to a simple touch, and Reid tried to get it under control, clearing his throat quietly and nodding. “Yeah, that’s okay,” he whispered, staring down at her.
Harlow knew that touching Reid so intimately might throw him, but he didn't pull away from her. Not that she expected him to. He was someone who was deprived of physical affection and she could only imagine how long it had been since he had even kissed a woman. Some people dealt with grief and pain by throwing themselves at anything that would make them feel good. Some people simply shut down completely, ignoring all base instincts and desires, unable to do much more than exist. Reid had come to her that way, but lately she had been able to see sparks of life in his eyes and she knew he wanted this as much as she did. Maybe more. Harlow let her fingertips glide over his skin for a moment before she began to raise the shirt up his body, eager to get it off. It had been a while since she had undressed anyone, so she felt like she could take her time and just enjoy it.
The light touches sent goosebumps racing over Reid’s skin and his lashes fluttered a tiny bit. When Harlow started to pull his shirt up, it really dawned on him that she was seducing him. It was immediately both exciting and nerve-wracking, and as he lifted his arms up to help her strip his shirt off, he felt blood rush to his groin. After his twin’s untimely death, Reid’s sex drive had plummeted straight down into the earth’s core, it seemed like. He hadn’t slept with anyone since before Reese had even been diagnosed, and part of his brain was quick to tell him that he was going to completely embarrass himself here. He was glad that all the outdoor work had built some muscle on him over the past couple of months, so he felt okay about his body once he was shirtless. Heart pounding in his chest, he finally touched Harlow back, his hands skimming lightly up her arms before one slipped under her hair to the back of her neck. “Can I kiss you?” he murmured.
Seduction was something Harlow enjoyed. It was something she felt like she was good at too, when she wanted to be. She just happened to be extremely particular about who she took to bed, so it didn't happen all that often. Even wanting Reid had taken her some time, because she needed to make sure about him. And now she was and Harlow was grateful for it. She liked the way his skin felt beneath her hands. He was warm and she could feel some of the definition from all of the physical labor Reid had been doing in and around the house. Despite living in the same house, Harlow had never seen him shirtless before, so she was enjoying it now, running her hands down his chest now that his shirt was out of the way. When he touched her back, she was pleased with it, because she was afraid he might be too nervous to do much more than stand there. His hand was warm against her neck and Harlow nodded at his question, already lifting her face up to meet his lips.
Reid’s nipples were hard from her hands on his chest, and his cock was also waking up in his jeans. It might have been embarrassing to get so quickly aroused, but he’d been trying hard to internalize the message that there was nothing about him to be ashamed of. Not his feelings, not his scars -- both physical and mental -- not his body. His desires should fall into that category too, right? And right then Reid desired anything and everything Harlow wanted to give him. Still cupping the back of her neck, he bent down closer and gently brushed their lips together, the contact slightly hesitant like Harlow might suddenly change her mind. He could only keep that up for a couple of seconds as hunger bloomed in his core, and then Reid was kissing her more properly, drinking in the sensation of her pillowy lips as their mouths moved together. He’d daydreamed about kissing her almost since he’d arrived, and the fact that it was finally happening was surreal in the best way.
Harlow let Reid set the pace, at least at first. She knew he would have lingering moments of self-doubt and perhaps question why Harlow wanted this, and him. He had made so much progress since moving into the farmhouse, but insecurities were devils to destroy, so Harlow waited until that deep desire kicked in, drowning out the rest of his doubts. When his kiss grew more firm, more confident, she parted her lips for him, slipping her tongue into his mouth to explore the recesses of his mouth and fully taste him. Her own body was quickly warming with arousal and Harlow let her hands glide down his chest to rest at his waist where her fingertips pressed gently into his skin. It had been a while since a kiss had sparked those pleasurable, tingling sensations inside of her, but she felt them now and her kiss grew a bit hungrier as her fingertips slipped just inside the waistband of his jeans.
Part of Reid was indeed baffled as to why this was happening now and what attracted Harlow to him at all, but it was difficult to really question it with such intense feelings flooding through him. They were blotting out everything else in his brain, and it was almost a relief. Reid had found that physical labor around the property pulled him out of the constant mess in his mind in a good way, and this was like that, only better. It was pleasure instead of work. Pleasure and a sense of being wanted. Reid kissed Harlow back deeply, sinking into her taste and how her hands felt on him. He pulled in a sharper breath through his nose when he felt Harlow’s fingers dip lower, feeling more blood rush into his cock. God, he was going to come the instant she touched him, he felt sure. If that was where this was going, anyway. Reid desperately hoped that Harlow would understand, just like she’d understood so much else about him. Still kissing her, he let one hand slide down her chest until it was an inch away from cupping her breast. Reid stopped there, just in case, feeling like he still needed permission to touch her back. It honestly wasn’t a feeling that he minded.
As much as she was enjoying kissing Reid, Harlow wasn't under any impression that this first time would move the stars. She was betting that he hadn't been with a woman in quite some time and she knew how a man's body worked. But she had no intention of this being a one and done moment between them, so Harlow wasn't thinking too much about performance. She was simply enjoying the way his lips made her body feel and how much she was going to enjoy fully possessing him. Harlow already had a piece of him on her finger, in the ring he had bought from her that first day at her aunt's shop. This was just another inevitable step. Smiling a touch against his mouth when she felt Reid's hand linger near her breast, Harlow opened her eyes to look at him. "I want you to touch me," she murmured. "Anywhere, everywhere. Take what you want." She certainly planned to and Harlow wanted them on equal ground, at least in the bedroom.
Reid had never been told to help himself quite like that before, and it sent a wave of hotter arousal through him. For some reason Harlow wanted him, and even if he ended up embarrassing himself, Reid didn’t want to pass up this opportunity. There was a lot he could do for her that didn’t involve his dick anyway, and now that she was giving him the green light to do so, Reid wanted to fill Harlow with pleasure any way he could. With a soft moan he kissed her deeply again, more hunger behind it as he caressed one breast through her shirt, then quickly tugged it up to touch bare skin. Harlow was smooth and soft and felt gorgeous under his fingers. One hand stroked her side and back while the other cupped one breast, his fingers rolling and lightly toying with her nipple, sussing out what kind of touch she liked the most. He wanted all of her clothes off already, to have her spread over the bed so he could worship every inch of her, but Reid wasn’t ready to stop and move yet.
Moaning softly into his mouth, Harlow felt sparks of deeper pleasure begin to blossom in her core. His hands felt lovely on her body and her nipples grew hard beneath his touch. Harlow had never felt as though she needed a man in her bed, but when she found the right one it was hard not to let it overwhelm her. Despite Reid's initial tentativeness, he definitely knew how to kiss and it was his lips and tongue that had triggered the fire deep in her belly. Her clothes, as loose and comfortable as they were, were starting to feel restrictive and hot. She wanted them both naked so she could feel his body pressed against and inside of hers. Sliding her fingers around to the front of his jeans, Harlow tugged them open and deftly pulled down the zipper. Rather than reach inside the way that she so desperately wanted to, Harlow pulled back from the kiss, breathing heavily as she began to slide her shirt up and off of her body.
Feeling her nipples get hard and knowing that he was responsible for it, that he was really turning her on, made Reid’s head spin a little. He’d had a few girlfriends down through the years, but none of them lasted very long, and Reid had never felt like he was some sex guru or anything. He felt clumsy with it sometimes, like he was rushing or too self-conscious or not hitting the right buttons, and he knew he hadn’t satisfied every partner he’d ever had. There hadn’t been that many, but still. He could sense some of that old performance anxiety stirring up in him, but he did his best to ignore it and stay focused on the moment and how he felt, and how Harlow felt under his touch. The way she pulled his jeans open drew a soft moan out of him, and Reid licked his lips when she pulled back. He helped pull Harlow’s shirt off, then backed up to sit on the edge of the bed to push his jeans down, his eyes locked on her exposed skin.
Harlow stood in front of Reid while he got rid of his jeans and she kept her eyes on his face as she pulled off her bra to let it fall onto the floor with her shirt. Her fingertips slipped into the waistband of her leggings and she pushed them down as well, along with her panties. Harlow didn't want to rush anything but she was eager to be naked with him, to touch him the way she had been wanting to for the past several weeks. Stepping forward, she ran her hands over his bare shoulders, inward until her fingers could slip into his hair. She gripped the strands gently to pull back his head so she could dip her face down and kiss him again. There was something about his mouth that she really adored. Before today, Harlow had found herself silently studying him from time to time, her eyes drawn to his lips. And now she knew how he tasted and she wanted more of it.
God, she was beautiful. Reid watched her approach, feeling almost hypnotized by the lithe movements of her body. He spread his knees further apart to make room for her, and her fingers in his hair sent tingles all down his back. He slipped his arms around Harlow to pull her in closer, hands running down the curve of her back to cup and squeeze her ass. It felt like a perfect fit in his palms. Reid had shed his jeans but still had boxer briefs on, but they currently weren’t leaving much to the imagination, and he got a small jolt of pleasure when Harlow’s thigh brushed against his straining erection. Part of him was dying to just pull his cock out and pull her down into his lap to bury himself inside of her, but Reid didn’t want to rush this. It was going to be too fast already. He just hoped she wasn’t disappointed. Meanwhile, Reid’s hands kept exploring her curves, tits and thighs and hips and ass, until one set of fingers slipped between her legs to touch the real heat there.
Being held by someone was something Harlow didn't partake in very often. She kept most people at arm's length for her own reasons, but it had been difficult to do that to Reid. From the moment he walked into her life, she knew he was different and living with him over the past couple of months had only solidified that in her mind. Maybe he wasn't the most sexually experienced man and maybe he harbored insecurities about it, but Harlow didn't care. This was about so much more than sex and she hoped he understood that. She wanted this as much as Reid did. Harlow let him touch her anywhere he wanted to, just like she told him he could and his hands left trails of heat behind on her skin. Harlow moaned low in her throat, unable to resist the sense of smug satisfaction that he so clearly desperately wanted her. That first touch of his fingertips between her legs prompted Harlow to tighten her own fingers in his hair. She was already aroused and her hips moved instinctively against his hand, encouraging him to explore.
There had been something magical and divine about Harlow from the instant Reid had laid eyes on her. He’d gotten an explanation for that feeling, but that hadn’t diminished it in the slightest. If anything, he only felt more in awe of her after the time he’d spent in this house. He knew on some level that if Harlow had just wanted to get laid, she could’ve had him months ago -- not to mention the fact that she could’ve had anyone else she wanted. So there was something special and real to this, some culmination of the time they’d spent together. As bizarre as it was for him to think, Harlow liked him. Reid was just going to try not to fuck that up. The sound she made and the way she clutched his hair made his cock throb, and Reid gave his own moan into the kiss. He explored her folds gently with his fingers, spreading her slickness around and lightly stroking the firm nub of her clit. He wanted to make her feel good, make her come, show his admiration through pleasure. Reid pulled his mouth away to kiss Harlow’s skin, down her neck and chest until he caught one nipple between his teeth.
Harlow did like Reid. He belonged to her, and everyone in the house knew that by now, even her cousin, who, in the past, had made a few pathetic attempts to change that fact. But Reid was hers and Harlow knew that Reid knew it too. Moving against his hand, Harlow panted softly when Reid's lips found their way down to her breast. The subtle bite of his teeth drew a louder moan from her lips and she loved that he didn't seem to be afraid of exploring and touching her body. Harlow could be patient but she didn't want to have to treat Reid with kid gloves right now. She kept her fingers in his hair, her head falling back on her neck as the pleasure blossomed throughout her body. There was a desperate need for more pressure and Harlow dropped one hand without thinking, covering his between her legs to press his fingers more firmly against her clit.
He certainly felt like he belonged to Harlow, but so far Reid had kept that to himself, wary of overstepping his bounds with her. He knew his head wasn’t screwed on right, and hadn’t been for years now, and he didn’t want to read too much into things that didn’t mean anything to Harlow. Now, though ... now he knew. It was like having a leash taken off, and Reid could feel more and more emotion bubbling in his chest, mingling with all of the arousal and lust. He groaned through sucking Harlow’s nipple as she pushed his fingers harder against her, and he took the instruction, rubbing at her with more force. She just seemed to get wetter and wetter, and it was getting more difficult to ignore the way his cock was aching for attention. Reid pulled his mouth off of her breast to look up at her with heavy lidded eyes. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispered. It was a fact she likely knew, but Reid hadn’t said it yet, and he’d wanted to for weeks and weeks. Keeping his thumb pressed against Harlow’s clit, Reid slipped two fingers inside of her and groaned at that tight, hot feeling.
She heard his words and opened her eyes to peer down at him, her lips parted with shallow breaths. Of course she knew she was beautiful, but she still enjoyed hearing Reid say it. So many other men would have already told her, would have tried to kiss her or push for something more. But Reid had been so patient and reserved. He hadn't wanted to risk losing this, if she hadn't felt the same, and Harlow appreciated his restraint. It was part of his appeal, although now she had given him permission to do and say anything he pleased and it was as freeing for her as it likely was for him. Her pussy immediately throbbed around his fingers and Harlow moaned, still working her hips against his hand. The urge to push him onto his back and tug his boxer briefs down was strong, because she wanted to ride him until they were both sweaty and breathless and spent. But Harlow knew that Reid might not last very long, at least not this first time, and she desperately wanted to come before it was over. So yes, she was feeling selfish enough to ignore his obvious arousal for the moment, instead rocking against his thrusting fingers to work herself towards her orgasm. Harlow tightened her fingers in his hair again and nipped sharply at his lower lip before tongue flicked against the spot she had bitten. "You're going to make me come," she breathed. "Fuck me harder."
Reid was more than happy to indulge Harlow’s selfishness -- he didn’t even see it that way. He was eager to give her all the pleasure she wanted, in whatever way she wanted it. Reid belonged to her, after all, and he wanted to prove himself worthy of the privilege. He hadn’t known that Harlow wanted the same thing until today, but that didn’t detract from it in the slightest. He hissed in a quick breath between his teeth when she bit him, but the sting felt damn good. Even if it hadn’t, Reid was in the mindset to enjoy anything Harlow gave him. Her words made him moan again, and Reid felt some more precum leak out of his cock and into his boxers. The small part of him that could still think straight was relieved that this was working, because he was no doubt going to come almost the instant he got inside of her, he already knew. Reid obediently started working his fingers faster and harder into Harlow’s body, his thumb rubbing eagerly at her clit. He wanted to feel her pussy throb around him, hear her lose control of herself, and know that it was his doing. “Yes,” he panted up to her, lips brushing against hers. “Come for me, please, Harlow ...”
He knew to keep touching her clit so Harlow didn't have to, Instead, she was able to ride his hand, her moans rising in volume as Reid worked her towards the peak. Her hands fell from his hair to his shoulders where she gripped him tight, her fingertips pressing hard into his flesh. Her magic seemed to burn inside of her, intensifying the sensations that were throbbing between her legs. And then everything went white behind her eyes, the pleasure bursting deep in her gut and stealing her breath. Her body pulsed around Reid's fingers and she absolutely couldn't wait until the time she would get to come around his cock. Panting, Harlow pressed her forehead to his, her hands rising to cup his face, thumbs brushing along his jaw. She knew he felt insecure about himself, but he had known how to touch her and hadn't protested when she guided him, the way some men would have done. "That felt amazing," she murmured, still breathless, but wanting him to know.
It was incredible to feel and watch, for Reid. He didn’t think he’d ever gotten a woman off through fingering before, and definitely never with that big of an orgasm. He found that he could pay even better attention to it all like this, without his tongue or his cock buried between her legs, and he drank it all in. The way Harlow cupped his face made him want to cry in the weirdest, horniest way, and Reid swallowed thickly as his hand slowed to a stop at her pussy. He waited until she said something to gently withdraw his fingers, giving her clit a couple more soft strokes, his heart feeling too big and happy for his chest. He’d done well, so even if she was unhappy with his dick game, maybe she would continue giving him a chance to please her. Reid tilted his head to kiss Harlow a bit more. “You’re amazing,” he murmured into it. “I’ve wanted you almost since I got here.” He was sure she knew that, but now felt like the time to say it.
Harlow did know. Even if he had kept his hands to himself, she had felt his attraction. Just because she had kept him at a sexual distance didn't mean Harlow hadn't thrived on it. But she had her reasons for waiting. His desire for her hadn't faded, if anything it had grown and Harlow had needed that as well. Her body was still pulsing with the aftershocks of her orgasm and she brushed her lips to his. "Now you have me," she said softly, her hands sliding down from his face to his chest. Harlow didn't push, but she pressed firmly, wanting him to lay back on the bed so she could get his boxer briefs off of his body. She was eager for so much more right now and even if it didn't last terribly long, watching the ecstasy on his face would be more than worth it. "Lay back and let me take care of you."
Those words -- now you have me -- were like a magic spell all on their own, and Reid’s eyes fluttered closed briefly. He’d really come to value Harlow as a friend and confidant during his time here, and while he’d been nursing more romantic feelings for her, he’d been sure they weren’t reciprocated. People tended to fall in love with their therapists for a reason, right? But she’d obviously wanted him on some level too, and now here they were, and he could stop trying to squash those feelings down. Reid laid back on the bed, feeling overheated and exposed in the best sort of way. No one had seen him fully naked in so long, but he didn’t even feel nervous about it anymore, just eager to be touched and taken care of.
When Reid laid back, Harlow ran her hands over his chest and stomach before leaning over to press her lips to his abdomen. She may not have ever seen him naked but she had seen his scars and they certainly didn't bother her. They were a part of who he was, reminders of his pain. But they had healed and she hoped that he would too, someday. Slipping her fingertips into his boxer briefs, Harlow pulled them down his hips, slowly peeling them off of his body and discarding them somewhere on the ground. Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, Harlow crawled up onto the bed, her fingers curling around his cock and stroking firmly, but slowly. She saw nothing to be unsatisfied with and already Harlow was looking forward to having Reid buried inside of her any chance she could get. "I want to taste you," Harlow murmured, peering up at Reid from where she had settled near his crotch. "Is that okay?"
The muscles in Reid’s stomach jumped a tiny bit at that first kiss on his skin, and it made him tingle all over on the inside. He lifted his hips to help her get his underwear off, his cock bouncing a little as it was freed, flushed and leaking and hard as a rock. Reid couldn’t help but groan softly as she wrapped her soft hand around him, one of his hands reaching down to stroke the skin of her back. He knew he had nothing to be ashamed of when it came to size, he was just so out of practice with sex that he was grateful for Harlow being in control for the moment. He didn’t have to do anything but feel, and Reid needed that escape from his head. He stayed propped up on one elbow so he could watch, and he nodded a bit dumbly to her question. “You can do anything you want to me,” he whispered back, and meant every word. He was hers now.
Harlow preferred to be in control over most things in her life and that generally included sex. That didn't mean she wasn't willing to let herself go every now and then but she had to be in the right mood with the right person. At the moment, she knew Reid needed her to lead and she was more than okay with that. It had probably been a long time since he felt any type of real physical pleasure. There was no doubt Reid had masturbated since his brother's death but given what she knew about him now, Harlow was willing to bet it was all perfunctory, rather than something he truly desired. But he desired this and while she had selfish moments, Harlow wanted to give it to him. Her lips quirked in a small, knowing smile before her tongue came out to lick slowly along the underside of his cock until she could take the head between her lips and suck gently.
It had taken a long time for Reid’s body to remember its physical needs after Reese died ... he’d even struggled with feeding and bathing himself on a regular basis. He’d lost a lot of weight and hadn’t even thought about jerking off for months. Harlow was right that once the urge came back, he took care of it like a chore, never gleaning much real pleasure out of it. This though ... this was something completely different. His twin wasn’t even on his mind, all Reid could focus on was Harlow and being in this moment, and he was grateful for the ability to really feel her soft warm body touching his. Reid wondered briefly if this was just some awesome dream, but his dreams were never this good, so he dismissed it out of hand. He made a soft, deep sound the instant Harlow’s tongue touched his cock, and Reid’s lashes fluttered as he watched her, his fingers curling in the blanket under him. He’d all but forgotten how good a woman’s mouth could feel.
He tasted as good as Harlow had known he would and she wasted no time taking him deep into her mouth, her lips closing firmly around his length as she began to suck at him. Harlow didn't want to dive in too eagerly and risk having him come too soon, but she was dying to taste and explore every inch of his cock that she could. Harlow had a feeling that he would be more than happy to let her take her time next time they did this. There were so many things she wanted to do to Reid and she knew he would be more than a willing participant. Moaning in appreciation, Harlow opened her eyes to peer up at him, her tongue swirling around the head of his cock. Watching him seemed to get her off as much as sucking his cock did but Harlow ignored the renewed throb between her legs, wanting to focus on him for the moment.
It felt a little wrong in a weird way not to be doing anything, like he should still be giving Harlow pleasure at the same time. She was definitely filling him up with it. But Reid knew he needed to re-learn how to accept these kinds of good feelings. They were almost overwhelming, shivers of physical ecstasy swirling around with the visuals she was creating for him, mixed with a deeper layer of jumbled feelings about the whole thing. Reid was awed by how beautiful Harlow was and the very fact that she wanted to do this for him. He stared down at her, almost hypnotized as his breathing got heavier, the flush in his cheeks and upper chest getting darker. Reid didn’t want to come embarrassingly fast, but he also just wanted to make this last as long as possible because it felt so fucking good.
There would be plenty of time for Reid to return the favor and Harlow had every intention of making sure that he did. But right now Harlow wanted to do this as much as anything else. When she found the right man, she loved giving pleasure and there was nothing like discovering a new lover as intimately as this, especially when one was as special as Reid was. When she heard the hitch in his breath she pulled back, gliding her tongue firmly across the tip of his cock where she could taste the pre-cum. Her body was ready for more now and Harlow pushed herself up, straddling his hips and leaning down to kiss him as she did so. This might be over rather quickly, but even that didn't bother her much. She just wanted to know what he felt like inside of her and Harlow rocked her hips slowly over him, pressing her wet heat against the length of his cock. "I can get a condom if you want one, but I'm covered," Harlow murmured to him. She had no intention of getting pregnant anytime soon, or ever, but she certainly didn't want to take the option away from him if he felt more comfortable with that extra protection.
Reid’s eyes widened a bit when Harlow climbed on top of him, and the sensation of her pussy rubbing against his cock almost made him come right then and there. His hands moved to grip Harlow’s hips, making her hold still for a moment while those pleasure-tremors died down a bit. He swallowed thickly, his breathing even more unsteady now. She had to know just as well as he did that he couldn’t last long, but there was no way he could turn down the chance to come inside of her. Especially without a condom, that was something he’d never done before in his life. Maybe it was idiotic of him, but Harlow said she was covered, so he assumed that meant pregnancy and STIs both. Of course she was, she was magical. “No,” he whispered, his mouth still close to hers. “I wanna feel you ... please ...” Reid pulled up on her hips and shifted his own to angle his cock right to slide into Harlow.
Harlow was definitely protected from the unsavory consequences of unprotected sex. There were so many advantages to being a witch and not ever having to worry about unplanned pregnancies was one of them. It also meant she could be impulsive when it came to sex and Harlow was already imagining all of the places she could take Reid. He needed more adventure in his life and Harlow was more than ready to deliver. Her eyelashes fluttered when she felt Reid push inside of her. It had been a while since she'd had sex and she absolutely loved the way her body stretched around his cock. Harlow stayed close to Reid, her fingers curling into the blanket beneath him on either side of his head. Rather than start moving right away, she simply pressed her hips down until he was fully buried, letting both of them adjust to the sensations. "I knew you would feel this good," Harlow murmured, her nose nuzzling against his.
Reid didn’t think he’d ever felt anything so goddamn good, and he was dumbly grateful that Harlow held still. His hands were tight on her hips, and he tried to make himself relax, but he teetered very close to the edge for a long moment. Her body was hot and tight and slick around him, and he had to fight off the instinct to pump his hips up in a frenzy until he came. Reid wanted to fully experience as much of this as he could ... who knew if it would ever happen again. Harlow’s words sent an extra tremor down his spine and he pressed his lips to hers a bit desperately. Hearing that it felt good to her too, however briefly, was an incredible turn on. “I’ve never ... this is my uh, first time without ... a condom,” he murmured haltingly, part of him wanting to over-explain to Harlow why he might suck this first time. Reid let out a shaky little groan. “You feel so good.”
Harlow had arched a brow, almost sure that he was about to tell her he was a virgin. So she was more than a little relieved when it turned out this was just his first time condom free. Smiling, Harlow brushed her lips against his again. "First but definitely not the last," she said, unable to keep her hips still for much longer. She knew this was going to be over quick but her body was burning up, just wanting to feel some of that delicious friction before Reid finished. Still remaining close to his lips, Harlow began to rock slowly, one hand slipping in close to cup his cheek.
He’d never been the kind of guy who got laid a lot, but Reid wasn’t completely inexperienced. He’d just had ‘safe sex’ beaten into his brain his whole life, so he’d always wrapped it up, so this was a first for him. It was smart to do anyway, but now he somehow felt like he’d been saving it for Harlow. Over-romantic nonsense, probably, but it still felt good. Everything felt so fucking good. Reid moaned quietly as Harlow started to move, and he had to let her, his own body positively aching for more sensation, more friction. Intense pleasure rippled through him, and his own hips started to move with hers out of pure instinct. He pressed a few more breathy kisses against Harlow’s lips, his hands sliding around to cup her ass.
A fresh wave of arousal surged through her when Reid began to move beneath her. That was what she wanted and she pressed her hands to his chest to push herself upright, her body rocking against and into his. She didn't rush or ride him too hard, aware that he was probably already teetering on the edge, but she wanted to feel that delicious friction and she knew he did too. This wouldn't be the first and only time they had sex and Harlow was already looking forward to finding out what it took to make Reid lose control. There was so much of who he was buried under the grief and depression that had taken over his life and Harlow wanted to be the one to pull him out of it. This was a good start. She kept her hands on his chest, fingertips pressing into his flesh as she moved a bit harder, moaning low in her throat.
Reid could only last a few minutes after Harlow gave him that delicious view, but he honestly thought that was an admirably long time, considering everything. She was just so fucking beautiful and her body was so tight and hot around him, she moved her hips like a goddess, and he could tell that it felt good for her too, and that was just an insane turn on. He’d always tried to be giving in bed, but Reid couldn’t remember ever wanting to please a woman this badly. It would’ve been divine to feel her come around him, but there was no way that was happening with all that pressure in his balls. A few choked groans escaped Reid as he moved more desperately under Harlow, his eyes rolling back and his hands gripping her thighs. He held his breath as he peaked, his body shuddering with pleasure that made the darkness behind his eyelids sparkle. Reid gave a few more shaky pumps of his hips, feeling like he was emptying everything he had into her.
Harlow felt his body start to tense beneath hers but she didn't slow down, watching his face until he finally peaked. The corner of her lips quirked into a pleased smile and she rode him until she was sure he was depleted. When Reid finally stilled, Harlow leaned over again to press a kiss to his lips. She already believed that he belonged to her, but there was definitely something more carnal about the feeling now. While she knew she would have to move eventually, Harlow still draped herself over his body, tucking her face against his neck to lay there for a few moments, just wanting to enjoy the skin on skin contact before they would have to get dressed again.
It was all indescribably good, and Reid felt dazed as he kissed Harlow back. He loved the way her body felt relaxing against him just as much as the squeeze around his still-sensitive cock. It was all so grounding and warm and good, he didn’t want to move from that spot, ever. Reid wrapped his arms loosely around Harlow as all the tension leaked out of him. He rubbed her back with his thumbs, the motion slow and dreamy. He’d felt close to her in a lot of different ways over the past couple of months, but what he was feeling now was on a whole new level. It made his throat feel tight, and he swallowed thickly as he gave her a gentle squeeze. Reid wanted to tell Harlow what it all meant to him, but he didn’t feel like he could get words out, and maybe she understood anyway.
Reid didn't need to speak for Harlow to understand how he was feeling. She felt it in the silence and the way his hands touched her. Harlow had never been one for broad declarations of love. She had never needed them. It was more important to show and feel it, than to talk about it. Humming low in her throat, Harlow pressed another kiss to his throat before lifting her head to look at him. "I don't think you're going to finish those dishes today." She wasn't entirely sure she was even going to let Reid leave the room for the rest of the day, except for the basic necessities.
Words would come eventually, but Reid wasn’t going to rush them. For now, he just wanted to adjust to feeling everything he was feeling, and knowing that he deserved to feel it and wasn’t somehow betrying Reese by finding some happiness somewhere. In fact, Reese would probably be proud he’d gotten laid, but it already felt like so much more than that. He quirked a smile at Harlow’s words and chuckled softly. “I’m not gonna bitch about it, but Sukie might,” he murmured. Harlow could keep him sequestered in her bedroom from now on, as far as he was concerned. He stroked at her back and lifted his head a bit for another kiss. “I’m all yours. Anything you want today, it’s yours.” And the next day, and the day after that, and so on ...
"Sukie will be fine," Harlow said with a soft laugh. "She'll know you're with me, so she won't say anything." Aware that she needed to move, Harlow returned his kiss and then carefully slipped off of Reid. She didn't stray though, stretching out beside him and curling up against him, her arm slipping over his stomach. "I just want this today," she said finally, pressing her lips against his skin. "You, naked in my bed. That's what I want." And Harlow knew he wouldn't protest. He would stay as long as she wanted him to stay. "I think I knew as soon as you walked into Sukie's store that this is where we would end up. There was something about you that I wanted."
Reid moved his arm as Harlow settled so it was curled around her and her head was on his shoulder, and it made him feel ridiculously warm inside. He sighed with contentment and idly toyed with the ends of Harlow’s hair. He’d spent full days with her before and loved every second of it, he could only imagine spending the full day naked in bed with her was going to be even better. Reid smiled faintly at her words and turned his head enough to kiss her forehead. “That soon, huh?” he murmured, thinking back to that day. It hadn’t been very long at all in the grand scheme, but he felt like such a different person than the mess who’d met Harlow. “I saw immediately that you were gorgeous ... but sure didn’t think I’d end up here.” Reid chuckled softly. It still felt a little surreal, like he was just having a great dream. “I’m just ... so happy you want me too,” he added softly.
Harlow huffed a soft laugh between her lips. She wasn't vain, but she certainly wasn't modest, so it wasn't much of a surprise that Reid found her attractive. And what she had wanted from him hadn't exactly been sexual, at least not in the beginning. Harlow had believed she had some purpose where it came to Reid, and that still rang true even after sleeping with him. "Well, you deserve to be happy," Harlow murmured, grazing her fingertips along his skin. "And I'm glad I'm a part of that. Everyone here is fond of you, Reid. You feel like you're a part of our family now."
He already felt addicted to her touch on his bare skin, and Reid had the passing thought that he would happily live naked in Harlow’s bed for the rest of his life, completely at her disposal. That was ridiculous, of course, but he hadn’t felt this good in years. What she said touched him in a different way than her fingers, and he swallowed down some emotion as his nose stung. He was actually beginning to believe that he deserved to be happy, and it was making all the difference in his damaged psyche. “You’re my family too,” he whispered, pressing his lips against her forehead. “You all definitely ... understand me better than my blood family.” Which had always been kind of true, hadn’t it? Even before Reese died, he’d been the weird one, but he didn’t feel weird here.
"Maybe we just understand you differently," Harlow said. "I don't know who you were before you came here, but grief changes a person." Maybe he had been damaged before his brother died, and that death only amplified the pain. They hadn't gone into any real depth about their lives prior to meeting, at least not beyond the simple things. There was a lot about Reid Harlow still wanted to learn. "Personally," she added, "I think being able to choose our family is much healthier than being forced into one. I don't know that we can ever be who we truly want to be when there are so many expectations from the start, you know?"
Harlow’s words were so wise, Reid got that sense again that he was in such good hands here. Maybe it was foolish to put so much faith into people he technically barely knew, maybe he was getting sucked into some cult or something, but it all felt so good and right, he didn’t care. This was where he belonged, at least at this point in his life. This was the family he needed right now. “I think you’re right,” he murmured. “I just don’t even know who I want to be yet. I’ve always felt ... behind in that way, you know? It’s especially hard without my brother, like I lost my north star. Now I have to figure it out for myself.” The words came out slow, like a realization. Maybe that had been part of why he’d felt so disoriented and lost and terrified after losing Reese -- he didn’t have a role model to look to anymore. “I want to be here though, I know that much,” Reid added quietly.
Harlow continued to graze her fingertips along his skin, listening to his heart beat against her ear. A small noise of acknowledgment formed in her throat and she lifted her head so she could peer up at him. "I want you here too. And I'm here to help you figure it out. There are just things in your past that you need to confront and find closure in. And you know I'll be here to help you figure it out." Rarely had Harlow ever felt the undeniable need to help someone else. She would do it if the money was right but that was different from what this was. This was something in the universe guiding her and she wanted to see it through.
Months ago, Reid would have been suspicious and closed off if someone offered him that deep kind of help. But he felt completely different about Harlow. He wanted her to see him, know him -- he felt safe being vulnerable and fucked up with her. He’d been doing nothing but that this whole time and not once had she judged him or made him feel worthless for being a mess. Reid believed that she wanted to help untangle him, and he was gaining faith that she could. Something big had led him here to find answers, and feeling Reese’s spirit had just been the beginning. He nodded a bit as he gazed at her, then dipped his head in to kiss her lips again. “Thank you.” Reid knew she would probably brush it off, but sometimes he just needed to express how much it all meant to him.