Guarded Hearts

Chapter 10

"Let me help you."

"You're tired."

"So are you."

They'd gone back and forth like that for a few minutes. After Pippa had recovered from her near panic attack, she got up and started cleaning. Steve tried to help. Pippa told him to rest. So on and so on.

"Pippa, I'm fine," Steve said, exasperated.

"So am I," Pippa quipped back, putting her hands on her hips. She wasn't about to back down.

"Ok, then we're both fine. So, we'll both clean. How's that, Pip?"

"Fine," she drew out the 'i' in a whine. She picked up an empty bottle from the counter and put it in the trash.

"Speaking of," Steve said, crossing his arms. "Where's your stash?"

"My stash? What do you mean?"

"I know you have more bottles than that. And I'm sure most of them aren't empty. Where?" he crossed the room and put his arm around her shoulder and gestured dramatically. "Guide me, my star. Guide me to the liquor."

"You're entirely too much, you know that?" Pippa laughed. She stepped out from under his arm and opened the cabinet over the counter. 

"Thank you. We'll be getting rid of this," Steve pulled several bottles out and went to the sink.

"Wait, what? No, stop. What are you doing?" Pippa grabbed his hand to stop him, suddenly frantic.

"Pippa, this isn't healthy. You have to find a better way to cope. One that isn't slowly killing your liver," Steve put the bottles down and cupped his hands around her face. "Look at me. I can't watch you do this to yourself. You're better than this. I know you are."

"No, I-" her voice started breaking, "I can't. I can't do it. It's all I have."

"No. No, it's not all. You have me. You can do this. It'll be hard for a little bit, but we'll get through it. You will get through it," Steve wrapped his arms around her to stop her from shaking. 

She calmed slightly and he let her go. "Look. Let's take care of these bottles, then we'll go relax, okay?"

She let out a breath so deep, she got to a count of 15 before she inhaled. "Yeah. Okay."

So she watched as Steve poured bottle after bottle down the drain. 

"There's one in the fridge too," she admitted painfully.

She winced as the last drop fell out of the bottle. Then she sighed and hopped up onto the counter, not knowing what to do with herself. Steve went over to her and held her hands, kissing her fingers.

"So beautiful," he whispered into her hands.

She pulled his chin up to kiss his lips. His hands went to her waist as he stepped in closer. Then, he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. She moaned softly and dug her finger nails into his shoulders. He moved to her neck, sucking hard enough to leave a mark.

Pippa felt pressure on her leg. She looked down to see Steve's knee pushing her legs open, tracing a line to her core. He pressed his knee against her.

"Are you sure about this, because once we start it's gonna be hard to-" she had to get all the words out in one breath, she was panting.

"Please," he interrupted her, "I need you." He went back to her mouth, sliding his hands under her shirt, pressing his fingers into her back.

That was all she needed. She wrapped her legs around his waist and grabbed his shoulders. He slid his hands down under her thighs and lifted her off the counter.