Closed to toomanyevans

[talentedscavenger]

[You'll be fine. It'll be fine, Rey told herself, taking in a deep breath as she headed into the quaint coffee shop, The Dark Side of the Mug. There was a steam punk vibe to the décor. A way for the shop to stand out among the many independent coffee breweries in Los Angeles. Rey appreciated the unique style of the place, and the puns they placed in their coffee names.

She pushed a strand of chestnut hair away from her face. She was tempted to gather her hair and place it in a messy bun, but that might give the impression was she more uptight. Which, on a given work day, she didn't care how others perceived her. Today though? She wanted to make a good impression on a cute guy from Tinder. So that meant styling her hair a little, wear a good pair of jeans that hugged her hips just right and a sweater that was comfy and cute. Practical, comfy, and it wouldn't send the poor guy running for the hills.

From their text conversations, Buck seemed sweet, and smart given his line of work. They seemed to vibe well in the digital space. Hopefully they would in the real world too.

In an effort to calm her nerves, Rey got in line to grab a small cup of coffee and waited for Buck at a two top table.]

Comments

[toomanyevans]

Through the next week or so, Buck has a hard time forgetting about Rey. Up until the end of their date when she revealed that she didn't know how ready she was for something serious, it had been going so well. They were on the same page about everything up to that point, but Buck is tired of waiting. He wants that someone to come home to, wants someone to settle down with and have a life with. He gets that she's younger, and she still has time, but ever since Maddie and Chim got together, since they had Jee, Buck's been feeling like he's running out of time.

Still, it would have been nice to get to know her better.

He's sitting on his couch, flipping through channels when he hears the knock. He's not expecting anyone, but people from the 118 drop by unannounced all the time, so it's not really a surprise. Still, he runs a hand through his hair and gets up to answer. When he sees who is on the other side, he really wishes he'd changed out of his sweats, and put a shirt on. Too late for that now.

"Rey?"

[talentedscavenger]

Rey's prayers were answered. Buck was indeed home and--he was not wearing a shirt. That left very little to the imagination, and for a split second she regretted her choice of coming over. Look at him you goofball! She blinked a few times, coming out of her stupor and offered a sheepish smile. He was a guy, a fully grown man and there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

He was relaxing and she looked like she had gotten home from work--a sweater and blouse coupled with dark pants and her hair tied back in a messy bun.

"H-hey," Rey began, thumb moving over the envelope that had Buck's name on it.

"I um, got your mail by mistake and wanted to return it. And well.." She took in a deep breath, once again trying her best to be brave and not chicken out like she did at the cafe.

"I'm sorry for running out the way I did. That was cowardly of me, and you deserved better than that. I, um, was giving it more thought and while I don't know if I want something serious—if this became serious...it wouldn't be a deal breaker." Fuck, was she making any sense right now? If she told him that he would be the exception to her uncertainty would that freak him out?

Maybe it was best if she started to retreat? No, she had to keep going.

"If you want to go out again, it would be my treat. You don't have to answer right now, but the offer stands." She concluded her little speech by handing out the envelope to him, the whole reason why she was out there in the first place.

[toomanyevans]

Buck takes the envelope, wide eyed, as he listens to what Rey is saying. He's still not quite sure he understands though, so instead of letting her turn and leave, he catches her arm. "Wait," he says. "J-just... what?" he asks, trying to understand what she means. "So what you're saying is that you want to try, and you know what I want. And that's okay?"

He just wants to be sure. They'd gotten along very well, and Buck is extremely attracted to Rey, but he needs to make sure that they're both okay if things do get serious. Buck doesn't like getting into things knowing they're going to break up. He hadn't liked it even when he was sleeping his way through LA.

"So, we're going to try, then?"

[talentedscavenger]

Rey was prepared to walk or dash away back to her apartment. Her heart was beating so loud that if Buck said anything, she might’ve missed it. Thankfully, he reached out to keep her from leaving. Was that a spark she felt? Or just her imagination running wild since he was shirtless? Hard to tell.

“Y-yeah. Yes.” She nodded her head at him. “I know what you want and I still want to try.”

Rey had to take a chance. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her head and things felt…nice? Good? Wonderful when they were texting and when they met up. Why not try?

“I know I dropped by unexpectedly and you’re relaxing…” clearly, considering he was shirtless.

“And I don’t want to interrupt your day off further.” Awkward. Her awkward side was showing.

[toomanyevans]

"Yeah?" Buck honestly can't believe it. He'd basically given up, figuring that he'd ruined any chances of them actually trying something out when he'd left the cafe that day. Still, Rey is here and wants to try, so Buck isn't going to say no. They had good chemistry, and that's something to pursue.

Before Rey can leave, Buck says, "I was just watching a documentary. Do you want to come in?" It's not a normal second date, but Buck's not exactly a normal guy. He wants something serious, and he doesn't want to waste either of their time. This way, she can get to know who he is on his off time.

"I mean, if you're not busy."

[talentedscavenger]

Was Rey busy? From a work perspective, no. She had her assignments done and project work in line. She was going to chip away at small tasks, but it wasn’t anything vital. Small busy work because she could never find a good stopping point for the day, unless it was time for bed.

Was she planning to use some of her free time to calm down from asking Buck out? Yes. Her anxiety was still running high—but he wanted her to come inside!! Isn’t this how all true crime shows start? The thought drifts through her mind for a split second. Buck wasn’t a murder…he didn’t give that vibe.

“Are you sure?” She asks, feeling like she was imposing on his time. But, if he was inviting inside…

“I mean, sure. What kind of documentary are you watching?” She asks as she stepped inside his apartment.

[toomanyevans]

Buck shakes his head. "I'm on a seventy-two right now." He doesn't have any real plans before going back to work in a couple of days. He'd put a pause on dating for now since he hasn't been able to get Rey out of his head. She's here now, though. He moves aside to let her in and then leads her over to his couch.

"I'm watching one about black holes. Did you know that they discovered one that was singing? Space is wild." He doesn't settle down right away, instead he moves toward the kitchen. "Can I get you anything? I have beers, some juice... water?" he offers. He'll wait until she decides before deciding himself.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey made sure to take off her shoes at his entrance way, having stepped in mud on her way to work. She didn’t want to track dirt into his clean apartment. The layout was practically the same as hers, but further in the back would’ve been her home office…

And well, a couch that could be converted to a bed.

“Oh that is interesting. I know there are different solar systems aside from our own, thousands of light years away.” She may have to watch the beginning of documentary on her own. It sounded interesting for sure.

“I’m fine for now, thank you. But uhhh…” it was dawning on her that he was shirtless. That she could see how much time and energy he put into his physique.

“Aren’t you cold?” Yes, LA could be hot but—-damn did guys just walk around without a shirt in their own homes? She thought that was something tv shows portrayed for more views.

Then again compared to her with her blouse and sweater, she looked more like the type to get cold easily. Or that the office she came from had freezing AC.

[toomanyevans]

Buck spends most of his time at home without a shirt on, so he hadn't actually noticed that it might make her feel uncomfortable. "I'm uh, I'm not? But I can change," he says, taking a bottle of water from the fridge and setting it on the counter. "Give me a minute, okay?"

He sprints up the stairs to the loft and grabs one of his sleeveless shirts and pulls it on. It really doesn't hide much considering it's still pretty tight, but at least he's covered now. He comes back down, grabs the water and joins Rey on the couch. "Do you want me to restart it?" he asks, cracking open the bottle and drinking deeply.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey didn’t mean to make Buck feel self conscious in his own home, but it wasn’t everyday she was in close proximity with someone like him—the temptation was there and she felt a bit guilty for it.

“Take your time!” She called out while sitting in the middle of the couch.

She watched him dash up to grab a shirt that…didn’t help matters. There was nothing with his wardrobe, but damn. Everything he owned seemed to show off his body pretty damn well. Whereas Rey dressed more for comfort and to blend in. A wallflower more than anything.

Rey took the opportunity to untie her hair from its messy bun, giving herself a break from looking professional. This wasn’t work. This was …a second date? Kind of? She didn’t think too much about it.

“If you want? Seems like you were a ways in.” She was there to spend time with him and enjoy a documentary. Or try to enjoy as her brain wouldn’t stay quiet. Her hand reached up to rake through her hair in an effort to calm her mind.

Whatever Buck decided, Rey would go along with it. She wasn’t sitting too close to him, unsure if she should be right next to him or if he wanted more space. She didn’t want to seem too eager or too clingy, but little by little she started to shift closer. Her knee bump against his and her hand settled between their bodies, there for him to touch or hold.

[toomanyevans]

Buck doesn't mind restarting it, especially if it means getting to spend more time with Rey. He sits next to her and chooses the start from beginning option, then settles back in. He feels weird wearing his lounging clothes on what is essentially a second date, but he hadn't expected her. If he had, he would have made them something to eat, and made sure that he had drinks she might want.

"It's cool," Buck says. He stays where he is, trusting Rey to do what she feels comfortable with, and when he feels her thigh press against his hand, he shifts over the few inches between them and slings his arm around her shoulders and pulls her in for a closer cuddle. "This okay?" he asks.

He hopes so. Rey feels so good against him, small and sweet tucked against his side. He really hopes that things work out between them, but then, he's hoped that things work out with everyone he's been interested in, even the girls he was casual with. Buck really just want to be loved.

[talentedscavenger]

In the grand scheme of things, this was more of a continuation of their first date…just delayed. If Rey thought her actions would’ve lead her to this spot, she would’ve had a better plan. As it was, she was enjoying the documentary and being by Buck’s side.

She felt his arm come around her shoulders, pulling them closer to cuddle on his couch—and asked if it was okay. That was utterly sweet in her eyes.

“Yeah…” she began to say, a shy smile tugging on her lips. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

Usually she was adverse to being touched by someone she barely knew, but with him…it felt different. It felt like she could lower her walls around him and risk being vulnerable without fear of getting hurt. Something for her to analyze at a later time.

The day was catching up to her, making her eyes feel heavy and body yearning for sleep. While being in her dress pants and blouse weren’t the most comfortable things to wear, Rey couldn’t bring herself to pull away. She wanted to stay where she was and enjoy the time they had together.

Her eyes flickered up to see the side of Buck’s face and found herself asking, “can I hold your hand too?”

[toomanyevans]

Buck looks over at her, nodding, when she asks to hold his hand. It's a bit more difficult in this position but Buck doesn't mind. He just tugs Rey a little closer and threads the fingers of the arm he has around her through hers. It might be a bit intimate for a first or second date, but Buck is kind of an all in sort of guy.

"You sure you're not hungry or thirsty or anything?" The documentary is only an hour, so if she is, they can order something and it will arrive just before it finishes. Or Buck can cook for them. He doesn't mind.

[talentedscavenger]

A simple and intimate form of affection. Something that was both small and big at the same time. Warmth washed over Rey feeling her fingers intertwine with Buck’s. He didn’t pull back, opting to cuddle closer, holding her to him as they watched the documentary.

She kind of felt like a cat, curled up against a warm spot, feeling relaxed and safe.

The question gave her pause and she had to think about when was the time she ate something that wasn’t coffee or a pastry. A soft gurgle from her stomach told Rey it had hours. Whoops.

“I should probably eat,” she admitted sheepishly. “I can order food, are you the mood for anything specific?”

Rey would pay for dinner—it was the least she could do.

[toomanyevans]

"I'm not picky," Buck replies. This way, she can get what she wants and he won't worry about requesting something that she might not. It helps that he's not actually picky though. "You should let me cook for you next time."

Since he started working for Bobby, Buck's been learning to cook. He still messes up sometimes but overall he's doing a lot better. He can definitely make something for the two of them. Maybe not lasagna yet though.

"What are you in the mood for?"

[talentedscavenger]

“Neither am I.” Which, in theory, should make it easy for Rey to pick something. However…choices were hard. Yes, she had money and could splurge on things, but it was hard to break out of old habits.

She pulled away a little, taking out her phone while staying curled up next to Buck. A few quick taps and she was on door dash, scrolling through options.

“That would be fun—but, I’d like to help, if that’s okay?” If he was cooking then she would need to pitch in. Either with helping to make the meal or with washing dishes.

“If you’re alright with Chinese food, I could order that. Here…” Rey held up her phone for Buck to see what was available to pick from. “Take a look.”

[toomanyevans]

"Do you like to cook too?" Buck asks her. "I've been learning from my Captain. I used to be so bad at it, but now I can pull off a few things." He turns toward her and grins, "I think that would be really fun." He hasn't shared a kitchen with anyone except Bobby so far so making a meal with Rey would be really nice.

Buck looks over the options and nods, "yeah, Chinese is good. Lots of protein and veggies. But I should warn you, I can put a lot of food away." He kind of feels bad, since Rey wants to pay, but he works a very physical job, and that means he needs to constantly replace calories.

[talentedscavenger]

“Kind of?” Came Rey’s sheepish reply.

“I find it’s easier for me to meal prep for the week so I’m not wondering what to eat. But trying to figure out what I should make is still challenging. Then finding what I want, I have to follow a recipe or I feel completely lost.” Baking on the other hand came more naturally to her and was more fun. Though one could argue baking and cooking were more or less the same.

“So one pot or one sheet meals have been my go to,” she explained further, hoping he didn’t think she was weird for that. It was a system that worked pretty well for her and helped her save on her grocery bill.

“That’s fine. I don’t mind ordering a lot.” It meant leftovers, if there were any. She started to add some items into her cart, waiting for Buck to indicate what he wanted and then added it to her cart. Whatever the total was, she didn’t bat an eye about it.

“Just need to update the delivery address…” a few more taps and swipes and the order was placed.

“Should be here in about…thirty minutes.” She told him, looking away from her phone then back up at him. As close as she was to him, it dawned on her again just how close they were. Easy enough to lean in closer if either of them wanted.

“Think that should be enough time to finish the documentary?”

[toomanyevans]

"Yeah?" Buck says, listening to Rey talking about her cooking habits. "Those kinds of things make the most sense for the firehouse too. There are so many of us, and most of us are big guys so we eat a lot. I eat a lot." He's not ashamed of it either. He needs to, to keep up his strength and to stay in shape. "I do that for myself too. I'm normally too busy to make a full meal daily."

He looks over her shoulder to give his own opinion on what to order. After the order is put in, they're even closer than they had been before. Buck doesn't mind. He's looking for something serious, but that doesn't mean he's the kind of guy that goes slow, not even at the beginning of a relationship. He'll go at Rey's pace, though. He wouldn't want to make her feel pressured or uncomfortable. He'd been bad with women before, but he'd never been that kind of bad.

"Yeah, that should be the perfect amount of time," Buck replies, voice low. He reaches for the remote and unpauses it, settling back in to watch the rest.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey listened and nodded her head a little. It makes sense Buck and the other firefighters would eat a lot. They needed their energy for emergencies and for their health. She wondered if it would be too much to offer to make things for him, but quickly reminded herself she had offered bread and a protein-esque dessert.

“Yeah, those one pot meals help out a lot. Same with those crock pots? You let it cook on a slow heat and hours later, it’s done.” Rey never thought she would be one for kitchen appliances, but if they saved her on time, then they were worth it.

She looked down at her phone, confirming again the order was placed before tucking it into her pocket. Buck’s low voice sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.

Should she lean in further? They were pretty close as is. Was it too bold to try for a kiss? The young woman pushed the thoughts away, opting to cuddle with Buck once more. She was trying to do her best to pay attention to the documentary, but every few minutes her attention turned to the hot guy next to her.

Rey’s brown eyes darted to the side of Buck’s face, trying to be discreet in the hopes he wouldn’t catch her looking at him. One quick look before turning her attention back to the documentary…the cycle repeated itself two more times until she was caught by him.

Rather than pull away or look down, the brunette found herself drawn into him.

Heaven help her, she was going in for a kiss.

[toomanyevans]

It's pretty clear that Rey is no longer paying attention to the documentary. Honestly, neither is Buck. He can feel her tense every time she sneaks a glance at him, and it's really cute. It's clear that they're attracted to each other - it's the reason they'd matched together in the first place - and Buck's never been that patient when it comes to moving things forward. Not even with Tommy, not even when it was all new experiences and experimentation. It had taken him less than an hour to convince Tommy to bed with him after that second date. Buck 1.0 still has remnants inside of him, and this is exactly how it manifests.

Their eyes meet and they're frozen for a moment. Buck half expects Rey to look away again, flushed and embarrassed from being caught staring. But she doesn't. Instead, she leans in closer, and it's only natural for Buck to meet her halfway.

Their lips touch and it's like a spark goes through him. He can't help but make it deeper, sliding his lips against Rey's and then licking into her mouth. She tastes sweet, and Buck can't stop himself from wanting more. Without a second thought, he lifts Rey into his lap and splays his big hands across her back.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey hoped she wasn’t about to make an ass of herself by leaning in closer to Buck. If she was misreading the signs, or going too fast. Hell, she didn’t think they would kiss until…maybe a third date? All of this was new and the complete opposite of her last relationship. As scared and nervous as she had been, once her lips met his, the world faded to black.

There was a spark that traveled through her body, and damn if it didn’t feel good. It was warm, welcoming and made her yearn for more. She didn’t realize how touch starved she was until Buck deepened the kiss.

He tasted sweet and salty, like caramel. A taste she wouldn’t soon forget. She let out a soft squeak of surprise as Buck pulled her into his lap. Rey shifted, mindful of her work trousers and how little room they had. She wished she had changed prior to coming to his place. Whatever, she should get new clothes either way.

The young woman shifted, opting to straddle him while maintaining their kiss. Both hands moved over his shoulders, feeling the muscles beneath his shirt. The need for air grew, as did the increase in body temperature. She playfully nipped at his lower lip, pulling back for a brief moment to take off the sweater she had on, revealing the cream blouse she had underneath.

The garment was tossed aside so she could return to exploring Buck’s mouth with her tongue.

[toomanyevans]

Feeling Rey against his body is sending shivers up Buck's spine. It's a little bit reminiscent of Buck 1.0, having her in his lap like this, but also not. He and Rey are dating now, and Buck hasn't ever been slow at taking someone to bed if they were willing. And Rey seems willing so far, but Buck isn't going to push her into anything that she doesn't actually want.

Still, kissing her is great. He keeps his hands on her hips, licks into her mouth, and chases her when she pulls away. But when he sees that she's just taking off her cardigan, he grins as their mouths meet again. Rey's good at kissing, and Buck could stay here doing this all night if that's what she wants.

He's going to let her take the lead with this, but it's hard. He's hard, and he wants so much more than rutting against each other on his couch. God, she's so hot, and her body feels incredible on top of him like this. He wants to see more, wants to taste more, and he drops his lips to her neck just as the buzzer rings.

"Fuck," he complains, "food. I forgot."

[talentedscavenger]

Buck may need to tell Rey she’s good at kissing. She had kissed others in the past as part of a drunken night out, or in the heat of the moment while confessing her feelings (thanks Ben), but she was unsure of her abilities. She was going with what felt good, and Buck…he felt amazing. His kisses, his lips, and tongue were sending shivers down her spine.

He seemed just as eager to keep going. Part of her wondered if they were moving too quickly. That same part was quickly shut down as Rey had another taste of him. It was becoming harder and harder to think of anything beyond their current activity. Space be damned, she wanted to explore Buck—

At least until the buzzer goes off, indicating someone was at the door. Rey stiffened, resisting the urge to flee due to embarrassment. She still had her clothes on—but damnit! Poor timing.

“That was fast..” she murmured, trying to catch her breath and realizing how hard he was. Damnit!!

“I’ll get it,” huffing, she pulled herself off of Buck, pushing back some strands of her hair as she went to his door. Her blouse was rumpled but she didn’t care. Opening the door, she greeted the delivery person, said thank you and took the two bags of food. The door was quickly closed behind her.

The scent of Chinese food wafted through the air, and while that would normally entice Rey to actually eat something, there was something else that had her attention. She moved to Buck’s kitchen, placing the bags down on his kitchen island.

“Do you…” she began to ask, turning around to face him, the flush on her face having lightened.

“Do you want to keep going?” Making out? Have sex? All of the above?

[toomanyevans]

Buck is just as disappointed as Rey at the interruption, but he's really trying to hide it. It sucks that they need to stop, but it's for the better, he supposes. They'd probably been moving too fast. That, and the food smells absolutely amazing, so it's a good plan B.

He watches as Rey puts the food in the kitchen and then stands to come help her with it. Her next comment takes him by surprise but he finds himself grinning as he walks up to her. He wraps his arms around her waist and nods, "yeah. I guess we have two options: back to the couch, or upstairs where the condoms are." He almost regrets what he says immediately, but he'd given her a choice. If she doesn't want to, they don't have to go upstairs.

Buck really really wants to though.