Bandom One-shots book 3

Endless Love (Izzy Stradlin x Duff McKagan)

~Izzy Stradlin point of view. Valentines Day 1994~

I couldn't help but smile as I shut the door behind me. The night air still clung to my jacket, thick with the chill of LA's winter. It had been a long session in the studio, but the kind of long that makes you feel like you've really earned the break. My new band, Ju Ju Hounds, was starting to take shape, and I'd been so wrapped up in the music that I'd nearly forgotten what day it was.

But as soon as I stepped inside the apartment, everything else seemed to fade. It wasn't the warm glow of the lamp or the soft sound of the rain tapping against the windows. No, it was the unmistakable smell of something sweet—like vanilla and roses—that made me pause. And then the sound of footsteps, light and quick, coming from the other room.

Before I could even get my shoes off, Duff appeared, practically bouncing on his heels, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Hey, baby," he said, his voice warm, like he'd been waiting all day just to say those words. His eyes sparkled, bright and full of mischief, and there was something about the way he looked at me that made my heart race. I hadn't even realized how much I'd missed him until right now.

"Hey," I said, dropping my bag onto the floor and letting him pull me into a hug. "What's all this?"

He didn't answer at first, just kissed the top of my head, his hand rubbing the small of my back like he was grounding himself. "Happy Valentine's Day," he finally murmured, voice low and soft.

"Yeah, I didn't even—" I broke off, realizing I hadn't gotten him anything. "Shit, I didn't get you anything."

He chuckled, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes. "You don't need to get me anything. I've got everything I want right here." He kissed me gently, then pulled away, an exaggerated pout playing on his lips. "Now, I've got a surprise for you."

I raised an eyebrow. "What kinda surprise?"

"You'll see." Duff reached for my hand and led me through the hallway, his grip firm but affectionate. His fingers twitched around mine like he was barely containing excitement.

When we got to the bathroom, I stopped in my tracks, blinking in confusion. "Duff..."

The whole bathroom was bathed in candlelight, the flames flickering softly, casting shadows against the walls. The scent of roses—real roses—filled the air. The bathtub was filled with water, petals floating on top like some kind of magical scene out of a romance movie.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching me closely, his eyes full of that patient, loving warmth that always made me feel safe. "I know you've been working hard in the studio, and I thought you deserved something... a little extra tonight."

"Jesus," I muttered under my breath, eyes widening as I took in the sight of the petals. It wasn't just in the tub—roses had been scattered across the floor, leading a path to the bathroom. There was even a chilled bottle of wine sitting on the counter, waiting. "You... you did all this?"

He shrugged, looking modest but with that little smirk on his face that I knew all too well. "Had some help from a few friends. But yeah. Thought you could use a little pampering."

I shook my head, my chest tight with emotion. "Man, I don't even know what to say... this is... this is too much." I wanted to protest, to tell him I didn't need all this—but the truth was, I did. I really, really did.

Duff stepped closer, reaching for the collar of my jacket and pulling it off slowly, like he was savoring the moment. "Come on," he murmured, his fingers brushing my skin, sending a warm shiver down my spine. "I'll help you unwind."

I let him lead me to the tub, where I sank down onto the edge and kicked off my boots. I could feel his hands on my shoulders as he worked my shirt off, massaging away the tension in my muscles. He was gentle, but I could tell he was enjoying the moment, taking his time as he always did when he wanted to make me feel special.

"Lay back," he whispered, pulling my pants down and letting them drop to the floor before gently guiding me into the tub. The water was warm, just the right temperature, and the rose petals made the whole thing feel unreal, like I was being treated like royalty.

I relaxed into the water, sighing as the heat worked its magic on my sore muscles. And Duff—god, Duff—was right beside me, kneeling on the edge of the tub, brushing my damp hair back from my face. He reached for a bottle of oil, his hands working the fragrant liquid into my shoulders, his touch soft but firm. I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the moment, into the feeling of him being close, of him taking care of me.

"How's that?" he asked, his voice low, quiet, like he didn't want to disturb the peacefulness of the moment.

"It's perfect," I replied, smiling without thinking, the words slipping out before I could stop them. "You're perfect."

Duff's face softened, and he leaned down to kiss me gently on the lips. "Happy Valentine's Day, Izzy," he said against my mouth, his words lingering like a promise.

"Happy Valentine's Day," I whispered back, and for the first time all day, I felt completely at peace.

The bath didn't last long—maybe a half hour, maybe longer—but by the time I climbed out, my skin felt renewed, the tension gone, and I couldn't help but feel like I'd been given a small piece of heaven. Duff helped me dry off, gently patting me down with a towel before wrapping me in one of our thick, soft blankets.

He gave me a little grin, a gleam of mischief still in his eyes. "Come on," he said, taking my hand once more. "You're not done yet."

I raised an eyebrow. "Done? What now?"

"Trust me." Duff's grin was a little too knowing, and I couldn't help but chuckle. He led me into the living room, where the lights were dimmed just enough to create an intimate atmosphere. A record player softly hummed in the corner, and when I turned to look at it, I saw the unmistakable cover of Diana Ross & Lionel Richie's "Endless Love" spinning.

It was our song—our song—and as the first soft chords of the ballad floated through the air, I felt my chest tighten in the most beautiful way.

"You're seriously gonna make me slow dance to this?" I smirked, half-joking, half-embarrassed.

But Duff just smiled, the kind of smile that made my heart swell. "You know I will," he said softly. "Come here."

He held out his arms, and without missing a beat, I stepped into them. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close as I rested my head on his shoulder. The music filled the silence, each note of the song a reminder of how lucky I was to have him in my life.

We swayed together, moving slowly to the rhythm, our feet barely making a sound against the soft carpet. I could feel the warmth of his chest against mine, his breath against my ear as he hummed along with the lyrics. His voice was quiet, but it was there—like a second, soft version of the song that only he and I could hear.

"I love you," I murmured, pressing my face into his neck, letting the words slip out without thinking.

"I love you too, Iz," he whispered back, tightening his hold around me just a little bit more, like he was afraid to let go.

The song played on, but it felt like time was slowing down. There was no rush, no need for anything else. Just us, the music, and the feeling that we'd been writing our own love story all along, one song at a time.

When the song finally ended, I lifted my head, gazing into his eyes. There was a softness there, a kind of quiet understanding, and I knew in that moment that I didn't need anything else. This was all I wanted. This was home.

"Best Valentine's Day ever," I said, a smile tugging at my lips.

Duff chuckled softly, brushing his thumb across my cheek. "Yeah... it kinda is, huh?"

And as we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, I realized there was nothing more perfect than this—than him.

~Endless Love~