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grlsbstshot · 7 months ago

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Pairing (Original Characters): Jameson Lucas (Aaron Pierre) x Imani St. Cirie (Megan thee Stallion) Story Synopsis: R&B singer/songwriter, Jameson Lucas, is well known as a charming playboy. The latest in his line of 'loved em and left em' behavior? Imani St. Cirie, an emotive singer/songwriter herself. A common sense pulls them in opposite directions – friendships are tested, old flames resurface, and new opportunities threaten to tear them apart for good. In this industry, dreams can make or break you – but what happens when love becomes the gamble of a lifetime? Chapter Synopsis: Jameson makes a late night appearance in his ex's life after a year apart. Warnings: Smut (18+), toxic relationship, possessiveness infidelity mentions, explicit language (mild dirty talk), unprotected sex, daddy kink (very much so), unintentional breath play, dirty talking, creampie Word Count: 6.7k Divider Template: @cafekitsune Notes: The following characters are original creations. Their voice claims are Usher / Lucky Daye (Jameson) & Summer Walker / SZA (Imani). We have no affiliation to any of those artists. There will be alternating POVs between our two leads.

Chapter I: Real Games

[ blockdt unless horny ] : wya?

imani rolled her eyes and tossed the phone back across the couch. of course jameson decided that after a year of not seeing one another, he'd reach out NOW. a year after he broke her heart and ruined their three year relationship, he decided to contact her. with three letters? pathetic. even more pathetic was the fact that she picked the phone back up...and thought of a response.

jameson lucas was like a drug to her. when they met, he was cocky but never without reason. he pursued her relentlessly and it didn't take long until they were everywhere together. the son of a r&b legend, jameson took his own path into music. they just fit each other. imani's own career was in its early stages but she took off like a rocket. soon enough, they were the first names called in their fields. especially when they used their love affair to inspire music. they took a hit of each other and it was nonstop. he knew all he had to do was get his foot in the door and she'd be gone. but imani was determined not to play his game this time. he was almost out of her system. she'd get rid of him for good now.

[ imani ] : why do you care? [ blockdt unless horny ] : i miss you. that better? [ imani ] : no. it's still not explaining what the fuck you want [ blockdt unless horny ] : if i'm looking for you and i want to see you. what do you think i want? [ imani ] : sex? got it. okay, not interested [ blockdt unless horny ] : if i wanted to fuck, i wouldn't have a problem finding somebody to do that with. i want to see you because i miss you. am i being clear enough? [ imani ] : lmfao yeah i guess you wouldn't. i'm not dumb. you want something. [ blockdt unless horny ] : you. i want you. i am literally saying what i want. [ imani ] : and why should i give you access to me? [ blockdt unless horny ] : because i'm asking? begging, really. because i love you? [ imani ] : love me? let's be fucking real, jameson [ blockdt unless horny ] : if i don't love you, i don't love nobody, mani. you not tired of fighting yet? [ imani ] : lmfaoooo you're a fucking joke. you don't cheat on the person you love. [ blockdt unless horny ] : i made a mistake. that doesn't change the fact that i love you. i know we'll never be together again because you don't trust me but what am i supposed to do with the shit i feel? [ imani ] : stop saying you love me. idk maybe you need to live with that shit. i'm doing perfectly fine without you. [ blockdt unless horny ] : okay

jameson exhaled sharply, frustrated with himself. he knew deep in his heart that getting in touch with imani had been a mistake. their relationship came crashing down after his infidelity. a night with a woman he shouldn't have been with spiraled. guilt-ridden, he had confessed the next day then spent months trying to get her back. when his efforts failed and she'd gotten a quarterback as her next man -- jameson had moved on. he'd had another girlfriend for a few months but imani hadn't left his mind. he watched every instagram post with an eager eye but it wasn't like he could avoid her. imani st. cirie was r&b's favorite lover girl. her lyrics were captions more often than his own. he could feel her scolding him with every record release but he listened anyway. the two of them played a game where they pretended not to care or notice one another...but in the dark of night, his finger always hovered over that button to call her. even as another woman lay in his bed. sometimes he fought the urge to press it but most of the time he failed -- and got her voicemail. he wrote songs for her, keeping the object of his affection nameless but their fans could connect the dots. he wasn't over her and never would be.

now his bed was empty and he allowed hope to carry him away. they were both single for the first time in a year. maybe now was the time to work it out? imani's texts quickly shut the idea down. he was losing her and any minute, she'd block him. jameson shuffled uncomfortably in the front seat of his mercedes benz. his gaze strayed up to the gates of her home, wondering if she could see him and knew how atrociously down bad he was. his phone beeped on his lap and he peered down in surprise. she responded ?

[ imani ] : now the cat got your fuckin tongue? [ jameson ] : what would you like me to say to that, imani? nothing, right? [ imani ] : it's just so funny to me. why should i give you what you want? [ jameson ] : why are you asking me questions you really don't care about the answer to? you miss me too. you want to see me too. you love me too. so why are we doing this? [ imani ] : i do want an answer. all that's true but you know it's not good for us to see each other. [ jameson ] : i know, baby. i know you deserve better than this. i just miss you. let me see you for ten minutes. [ imani ] : no. [ jameson ] : baby, please. i swear to god i'll leave after that. [ imani ] : fine. i'm at home. [ jameson ]: i'm outside

imani stared down at her phone with wide eyes, in shock as if she wasn't the one who just texted the words 'fine. i'm at home'. she dropped her phone and jumped off her couch, hands over her mouth. "shit, shit, shit." the woman muttered behind her palms. what the hell was she going to do now? she hadn't expected herself to invite him over and she sure as fuck didn't expect him to be sitting outside.

she took a second more to panic before sprinting up her stairs and down the hall into her bedroom. she tugged her t-shirt over her head and tossed it aside. Her shorts followed as she dug into her drawer for another outfit. something that said 'i'm not thinking about you, bitch! but you think i'm cute?' she ended up with a cropped sweatsuit. it showed the tiniest bit of skin and was still comfortable. she didn't bother trying to wrestle with her hair. she left it in a ponytail and practically broke her neck going to brush her teeth.

her doorbell hadn't rung but she could feel the moment he was in front of her home. an electric undercurrent made her body tense. she finished in the bathroom and forced herself to take slow, measured steps back down to the first floor. she wouldn't be seen trying to look her best for him. he was only visiting for ten minutes anyway.

she was crazy for agreeing with this. she knew she should have left the conversation alone but she couldn't help herself. everything that jameson said was true. she missed him. she loved him. she wanted to see him...and imani hated herself for it. yet there she was opening the door for him. "hey." she managed to utter uninterestedly, taking her time before she met his gaze. when she did, she could have choked on her damn spit.

to his mother and god be all the fucking glory...he was beautiful.

it hadn't been as if she hadn't seen his face since they split. he'd released an album, won three grammys for it, and embarked on a very public relationship with a co-star from that little comedic show he was doing. but seeing him up close and personal again? insane. imani grasped the doorknob tightly to keep herself from moving toward him.

freshly braided cornrows lined his scalp and met at the back of his head. she couldn't see the tattoo at the back of his neck but she knew it was there. she had traced her nails across it often enough. it was the soundwave of his first platinum single. he'd been so proud of it. he had numerous other tattoos but that was the one she loved the most. his warm, golden brown skin that she'd kissed and licked so much that she knew every inch of it practically glowed. he had shaved his beard down to a goatee. it framed full lips that could do the most devilish things to her. he lifted his long, incredibly agile, fingers to give her a wave and it broke her out of the spell she was under.

"hey. you got a timer going?" he asked her, humor evident in his tone but she was too distracted by the sound of his voice. deep, soothing, commanding. imani abruptly turned away from the door and stopped in her living room, folding her arms over her chest. the sooner they got this over with, the sooner he could leave.

"i thought you would have it since you said you were only staying for ten minutes." they both knew that he often made promises that he couldn't keep but she wanted to see how long he'd keep up with the charade. imani crossed one leg over the other as she peered at him. why did he have to be so fine? maybe if he wasn't attractive, things would be easier.

"would rather spend my time looking at you than watching a clock." he told her softly, lowering himself onto the same couch as her. as close as he could get. jameson leaned back against the cushions, settling comfortably. he didn't say anything else for a few moments, one hand patting at his chest lightly. "i feel better seeing you." he admitted lowly. "i know you think i'm full of shit...but that's true. i miss you when i'm not with you. i only feel better when i'm right here."

imani sighed softly. she could feel herself crack at the confession but she refused to go down without a fight. "you just wasted two of your minutes." her stony expression didn't hold up so she chose to look away, not responding again. she just didn't know how to. instead, she slightly shifted so she wasn't as close to him. the perfect storm was brewing between them and she had to decide if she was strong enough to withstand it. "is that all you came over here for? we both know you're just gonna get bored with me, cheat, and then leave again. quit while you're behind."

"i'm okay with whatever you want to do." jameson told her, knowing that the day was coming when she would get tired of this and cut him out for good. he'd have no choice but to let her go. but today wasn't that day. he could tell that even though she was sick of his shit, she didn't mean that they should cut things off. and being the man he was...he was glad. instead of answering her question, jameson was quiet. "but i was never bored of you. i swear."

he didn't quite know why they never seemed to get things right. he drifted away from her and then couldn't stand it so he came right back. she got pissed at him and told him to fuck off but then let him come back. it was crazy but it was them. "you know what you mean to me." he said softly, pulling his hand from his pocket to lift his hand. he brushed his thumb against her cheek, tilting his head to watch her expression. "don't you?"

when imani turned to meet his gaze, he knew it hadn't been wrong to contact her. it had been a year but the same energy was between them. he watched her try to pull herself again, try to pull the hardass out and build the wall back up between them. that was the thing about loving someone you knew like the back of your hand -- you saw everything. even the shit they didn't want you to see. "enough with the bullshit, jameson."

literally no other woman could have him open like she did. he spent years sniffing after her. and when he cheated, he spent months begging. he'd never begged a woman for anything. but he knew he'd get down on his knees for her each and every time. "i fucked you over and i regret it everyday." he said softly, pulling his hand from her. "i never loved anybody before i saw you. i can't prove to you it's not bullshit but i swear on everything...you are the love of my life."

it was the one thing he had never told her and he knew saying it shifted things for him emotionally. but damn it, he was running out of answers. "i can't breathe unless i know you're a phone call away. i can barely fucking function if i go too long without seeing you. you are everything."

silence lapsed between them as they both processed that there was some kind of breakthrough happening. their communication had been better in bed than anywhere else but jameson knew he'd strip as many layers as he could to get down to the heart of it all. the longer they went without speaking, the more he wondered what she was thinking.

"you hurt me, jameson. you do that shit every time and I let you." she said, looking into his eyes. "i don't know why i fuckin' let you do it. but i do." she moved from her spot, positioning herself in his lap. jameson made room for her, wrapping his arms around her waist. the two fell into tandem -- as if they hadn't spent any time apart at all. imani straddled his lap, he could see the regret in her face but he couldn't bring himself to let her ponder on it. he lifted his head and pressed the gentlest kiss to the corner of her mouth. she melted against him and he heard her whisper against his ear. "just don't promise me shit this time. i don't want to hear any lies."

jameson knew he should be a better man and let her be happy with someone else. but he couldn't find it in himself. "okay, baby." what else could he say? he was a piece of shit. "just...don't give up on me." he said softly, surprising himself with how much he meant the words. "i need you. ain't no me without you." his hand pressed against the small of her back, fingertips stroking against her spine as he sighed. "my ten minutes are up, i think. give me a kiss goodnight."

there it was. she had let him just waltz back into her fucking life. folded quicker than a cheap umbrella in a hurricane. a few apologies, kisses, and touches -- imani was partially disgusted with herself. she was relieved to see she wasn't alone in her addiction though. he clung to her body like a man who hadn't been touched in an eternity even though she knew that was far from the truth. maybe she couldn't leave him alone but she could establish a set of boundaries. not lying seemed easy enough.

she sighed as he relaxed into her body. her arms wrapped rightly around his neck and she placed a kiss on his forehead. "i guess you can stay a little longer." imani slipped her hand under his chin, bringing his lips to hers. that familiar feeling washed over her just from the feel of his lips.

imani could feel him smile against her lips and she couldn't help but nip against his lower lip to settle his ego. jameson gave a lingering groan at the contact. it'd been so long since she'd touched him but every single time, it felt like coming home. "mm. mm-uh." he exhaled, breaking the kiss and shaking his head as he swiftly rose from the couch. imani went up with him, thinking quickly and wrapping her legs around his waist. "i can't stay. i gotta go." he muttered, "i promised i'd leave after ten minutes. i just said i wouldn't lie to you."

it was obvious he didn't want to go. if it hadn't been obvious from the way he kept leaning into her, his body begging for those little kisses from her -- it was obvious when he rose from the couch. he braced his hands underneath her, fingers sprawling across her ass. imani was pressed against him, the evidence of what he wanted to do pressed against her thigh. he couldn't lie to her even if he wanted to. "i'm gonna put you down...in a minute." he mumbled, burying his face against the crook of her neck.

suddenly, she didn't want to talk. she didn't want to think of the shit he'd done to her, the way he'd broken her heart. all she wanted to do was feel. That's what she wanted to focus on right now. "no, no, no." she murmured, shaking her head. "this is a promise you can break. it's okay." she placed her hand on the back of his neck. her acrylics grazed his skin -- claiming him once again. imani left a trail of kisses against his neck to his earlobe then sucked it into her mouth. "you're not leaving." she told him in a demanding whisper.

imani pressed herself to him, nails grazing the skin at the back of his neck, and he felt himself break out in chills. the slight pressure there pleased him. his arms tightened around her as he sighed softly. imani pulled back and he saw the smirk gracing her lips. she knew. she knew he was weak for her and knew exactly how to get what she wanted from him. nobody knew him better than her -- whatever she might think of their relationship, she got him in a way nobody else did. she knew exactly what made him tick and she proved it just then. jameson didn't bother to vocally agree. he just began to walk through her living room, headed to the stairs to get to her bedroom.

"i hate your house sometimes." he huffed as he shifted her in his arms, tossing her onto his shoulder. she gave a short yell of surprise at the move, her hands pressed to his lower back as he carried her up the stairs. the couch wasn't big enough for what he wanted to do with her. "i can't even fuck you on these uncomfortable ass stairs."

"you don't think so?" she asked. "i don't know. that sounds like a challenge to me." the palm of his hand swatted towards her ass, the stinging in his palm probably not as intense as the one she felt. "a challenge for both of us to break our necks." he walked up the stairs easily, her weight against his shoulder going unnoticed. jameson didn't even bother to answer her question any further. he was sure it'd be uncomfortable but he was also sure he'd fuck her anywhere he could. it was the exact reason he walked down her hallway and took the first left he saw. it wasn't the direction of her bedroom...but it was the closest one to them.

even as the heat and tension spiraled between them, he managed to keep his senses alert enough to flip the light switch. in the brightness of the spare bedroom, jameson carefully lowered imani from his shoulder, standing with her next to the bed. for a moment as he placed her onto the bed. he hadn't been lying when he said he'd rather look at her than anything else. he watched as she struggled to get out of the sweatsuit. she tugged her arms free but seemed too jittery to completely get undressed.

jameson began to move closer...leaving her no choice but to fall backward onto the bed. she began to crawl up it, watching him the whole time. "you impatient, mama?" he asked her, a grin gracing his full lips. imani nodded, meeting his gaze. he dropped his hands to her hips, fingertips grazing against the band of her sweatpants. without a word, he gently pulled them over the curve of her ass then down legs. "me too." he confessed. before she could say anything, he was kneeling in front of her. "show me you missed me." jameson said softly, kissing her thigh.

he saw the moment it clicked in her mind what he wanted from her. her hand moved between her legs and jameson spread her thighs greedily, not wanting to miss a moment. they clicked into their typical roles when it came to sex so quickly that he was practically moving on autopilot. he talked to her like he was still her man, like no time had passed at all. imani's fingers parted her folds with ease, wetness sticking to her fingers. she let out a hushed moan as her fingers pressed into her pussy.

some games he and imani played were painful. some pissed him off. some were even amusing. but the best kind of games were the ones where they drove each other crazy. he watched her play along with him -- following his command with ease. "i forgot how pretty she gets when you're turned on." he murmured, slowly pulling his own sweatshirt over his head. jameson tossed it aside, not caring where it landed. "spread. let me see it all. make me remember." he was pleased when imani whimpered softly and did as he said. fingertips parted her folds, exposing her clit to him as her legs parted further as well.

he didn't have any charming shit to say, nothing smooth or seductive. all he knew was that he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath. so jameson descended to the bed, settling himself between her legs. his hand reached out for her own, gently grasping her fingers to pull them to his mouth. he sucked at her digits, carefully pulling each from his mouth to savor the taste of her until he tasted nothing but her skin. both of his hands came to her thighs, pulling her further down the bed and toward his mouth. jameson pressed a kiss to her clit before his tongue pressed to her folds. no sooner had he slid his tongue between her lips did he groan, happy to be home in a sense. and then he went to work.

imani couldn't believe how gone she allowed herself to be for jameson. the woman she was a few months ago would be sickened to see her writhing across a bed, doing his bidding. that thought should have been enough to make her push him away but they were silenced with the kiss to her clit. her back arched, the shock of pleasure bringing a cry from her lips.

the only thing that stopped her from pulling at those big ass ears to stop him and demand he fuck her right then was the fact that he owed her. for every moment he pissed her off or disappointed her, he owed her this pleasure as recompense.

he unwound one arm from around her leg -- pressing his fingers into her. imani lifted his head to watch as her pussy enveloped his digits, pulling and squeezing. he pressed his fingers deeper, harder -- wanting to see how she would react. eventually, he settled into a familiar rhythm. his index and middle finger delving deeply into her, his thumb lazily teasing against her ass. jameson leaned in again, closing his mouth over her clit as he ran his tongue back and forth...back and forth, timing the movement with that of his thumb. he kept it up until arousal soaked his tongue and knew he swallowed it down with glee because he groaned every single time.

her senses were already overloaded. She didn't like the power that jameson had over her. from his slightest touch, she was putty in his hands. "fuck, jameson." she whimpered. her hands palmed the back of his head, fingertips clinging to his braids, pussy grinding against his face. she wasn't going to last long and she hated that. hated him for it. "baby, wait." it hit her like a cramp to the stomach and imani jackknifed up from the bed, one hand pressed to the bed behind her to keep her upright. "i'ma cum, baby." she whimpered. before he could do anything else, her body jerked and her eyes shut close tightly.

she had prepared for him to be right where he was for a while. but it was going to be over before she knew it. jameson picked up his pace and added another finger, at her confession. she was sure he didn't even need the warning but even with her eyes closed, she could feel him watching her -- pleasure written all over her face. "let me see." he urged her own. "give me my shit."

her body jerked and imani felt him slow down. three fingers pressed into her, a thumb pressed to her clit, and another one teasing at her ass -- it was too much. her legs shut tightly over his hands as he pulled the orgasm free. it hit her hard enough to make her thigh shake. imani thrust herself against his fingers, praying he wouldn't stop. and he didn't. as much as she wanted, he gave it to her. she was breathless by the time her hips stopped arching up, begging for more.

only when she came down did she realize he was speaking to her.

"i missed my greedy pussy." "get what you want, baby. take it." "you better keep this energy the same when i get up."

every word brought a moan from her lips and jolt from her hips. imani watched as he pulled his hands free, sucked on his fingers, and stood from the bed. the two didn't exchange a word as she watched him undress. first went his shirt and then his sweatpants. she hadn't even noticed when he took his damn shoes off. his boxers followed next and...behold. a thing of fucking beauty. his dick bobbed freely, fully erect, and she had the urge to taste him. she wanted him sliding between her lips and down her throat the way he used to but she didn't move. she only watched him climb back onto the bed and settled between her legs. then he hesitated.

"fuck." jameson muttered, "baby...i didn't bring shit with me." he told her quietly. imani genuinely felt fear in the moment. fear he would pull away and get up. she wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping him from pulling away even as he continued speaking. "please tell me you have a couple here." imani parted her legs wider, pouting up at him. "you really didn't bring anything?" she repeated, still not processing it. jameson shook his head, his hands pressed to her hips as he kissed her neck and mumbled his apologies. in the moment, she really didn't give a fuck. "it's okay." she whispered. her hand slipped between them and wrapped her hands around his dick. she moved her hips forward to slowly guide him inside of her. she would think about the consequences later. all she knew was that she wanted him NOW.

jameson knew how these things went with imani. they always ended up here one way or another. he cursed himself for not bringing protection. but it didn't matter — they were both desperate for one another. he froze when she reached for him, his breath trapped in his throat at the feel of her hand. he only exhaled sharply when she widened her legs and pressed him inside.

the last time they had sex without protection had been when they were together. now, they were...well, complicated. but he couldn't deny that it felt right. it's why he didn't pull away. "you sure?" he asked her, lust making his speech slurred. even before she nodded her head, he gave a short, gentle thrust — enveloping himself in her entirely. "oh my god -- you feel so good, daddy." she whispered against his ear. "i'm daddy already? i like hearing my baby say that."

their eyes met as he eased deeper into her. imani's hands found his back and jameson fought off a smile as she replied to him. "you never stopped being daddy." she said lowly. He was incomparable to anyone else. despite what happened between them, she still could acknowledge that he was the only one that could make her feel like this. imani sealed their fate when she arched her back, lifted her hips, and told him that she needed him. jameson wanted to be wanted. he wanted to be needed. and he could tell from the sound of her voice that she meant it -- she didn't just want to get off, she meant it. she needed him.

jameson moved his hand from her hips to the small of her back, keeping her hips lifted and pressed against his own. he tested their position -- slowly pulling out. his gaze dropped to watch the movement, a groan leaving his lips as he saw how she coated him in her arousal. as turned on as he was, he still found the time to joke. "don't come so fast this time.", he teased her, his hips moving forward to fill her again. "we're just getting started."

he laughed out loud when her blissed out face turned into a frown. she opened her mouth -- likely to tell him to shut the fuck up -- and he silenced her with a sharp thrust. any insult turned into a moan. "i'm playin, i'm playin." amusement filtering into his tone as he moved his hand from her hip, fingertips gliding down her leg to grasp her thigh. jameson shifted her leg around his waist, picking it up higher so it rested against his back as he slowly fucked her. once he got her leg readjusted, he ran his thumb against her lower lip, his eyes lowered to watch where they connected. "suck."

her brow was still furrowed as they rocked together. it was almost as if she was deciding if she wanted to curse him out but she opened her mouth and took his thumb between her lips. the more precise his movements, the harder it became for her to keep his thumb in her mouth. he didn't think it was possible but it felt like she became even wetter after his command. imani playfully swirled her tongue around his finger and jameson had to close his eyes for a brief second -- lust making his abdomen clench. "shit, mani. oh my -- fuck." jameson panted, slowly pulling his thumb from her mouth. he let it trail across her lower lip before leaning in to kiss her circle his tongue around a nipple. he pressed his body to hers, hips rocking as he wedged his hand between them.

the bedroom was bright and he could see everything -- a blessing, he figured. he dropped his head, looking between their bodies, and made sure he was pressing his wet thumb against her clit. jameson pressed gently, circling there with ease. he was multi-tasking pretty damn well. he could hear his thighs making contact with hers, the squelching between them as he drove himself deeply into her, sucking and gently biting at her nipple.

"jamie. oh baby..." imani hummed, unable to focus on anything besides the sound of her pussy loudly welcoming her lover home. he slid in and out with precision, angling his hips in the exact way to drive her crazy. her moans and screams accompanied the sound of her love. "you're gonna make me -- i'ma cum again." she whimpered, locking her legs around his thighs.

"this my pussy, ain't it?" imani nodded so fast that he was sure she'd cause a sprain in her neck. "then act like it. give me that shit." he knew she was reacting to what he was doing and saying but jameson could hardly hear imani. he was in his own little world, grazing his teeth against her nipple. he kept his thumb pressed to her clit as he kept up the pace of his hips. when he lifted his head, he found that he didn't have much of anything to say. he was in a daze. he heard himself moan, unashamed of the fact that she knew how far gone he was over her.

"i swear to god...i fucking love you." he muttered, eyes drifting closed as he quickly reached out for her leg, pulling it from around his waist to extend. he pressed it to his shoulder, both hands moving to her hips to pull her onto his length harder. all pretenses of taking things slow were out the window. he was fucking her now, his thumb shifting from pressing to quick circles against her clit. "ooh fuck! daddy, i love you too. i swear." she panted.

he could feel her fighting it. she fluttered over him, shaking in his grasp. she didn't want to make this as easy as the first orgasm she experienced but jameson didn't have a problem working for it. her body shifted again with her leg on his shoulder. He picked up his pace and the speed of his thumb. "sh-iiii-t, fuck me daddy. just like that!" imani clawed at his back and tightened her walls around him. her hands grasp at his ass, firm and full in her hands.

he liked the way she called out for him. but he liked the way she told him she loved him. the words had an effect on him. he grunted, gritting his teeth as he tried to rein himself in. it sent chills up his spine and he couldn't shake the desire to hear the words again. jameson slowed down when he should have kept the same pace. "like that?" he asked imani, his hand slowly moving from between her legs and up her abdomen. "yes! yes b-baby." she stuttered. her hands left his body and found the sheets, gripping them tightly as she blinked up at him. it was like she couldn't ground herself no matter what she held on to. good. he didn't want her sane at all. jameson could tell that she wouldn't last much longer.

his other hand caressed her calf, his head turning to press kisses to her leg. he moved slowly, twisting his hips and biting back another moan. it's even better than what he was doing before. how the fuck could she do that without even trying? she made his head spin half the fucking time and he was still in awe of her. "tell me you love me again." he asked her quietly.

she didn't even hesitate to repeat it. "i love you, baby." mani hissed. "i love you so fuckin' much." her eyes shut and she seized so hard that it was almost as if her body froze. she didn't get to warn him that time. her back arched and her eyes fluttered shut. he could feel her holding her breath. he didn't slack up, lifting his hand to slap down against her clit. her body flinched but still, she didn't release her breath. jameson dropped her her leg from his shoulder to give her a moment of rest. "breathe, mani." he commanded. no sooner than he spoke did he feel her let go. she inhaled sharply, whimpering and moaning out as she did so. nobody could tell him this woman didn't belong to him. the evidence was in the way she let him have his way and her essence covering both their thighs.

she moaned and convulsed around him, wringing a groan from his throat. jameson lowered his body to hers, kissing imani deeply. his tongue slipping between her lips as she clung to him. it was his turn to collapse under the pressure of pleasure. "how you want me, baby?" he asked her between kisses, his release nearing the more he pressed into her. she shook her head as if she didn't understand him and jameson held off with a grunt. "where you want this nut, mani? tell daddy." he was asking for permission and holding off until he got it. even if it killed him.

her voice got caught in her throat and finally, she managed to croak out a response. "inside." one word, the last word she should have said to him. they both knew that. she soaked his dick, the wet spot under them expanding each time he pressed into her. it practically spurted from her. she was spent, he knew she had very little left to give him so now it was time for her to take.

her hands lifted to frame his face, her lips pressed to his cheek, and jameson allowed himself to relax into her. he felt the thrill of lust race down his spine, pulling back only to bury his face in the crook of her neck. he thrust into her roughly, his body losing the sensuous sense of coordination he'd used to get her off. there was no focus or gameplan, desire was driving him now.

he whispered words against her neck, mindless praise about how good she felt. how beautiful she was. how much he loved her. he whispered until the words turned into moans. his hips shuddered and then he came. one hand against her hip, the other over her head -- clenched around the sheets. jameson sagged against her, pressing kisses to imani's shoulder as his hand caressed her hip.

post-nut clarity was a bitch. she had given the man permission to do what he wanted with her body and only now -- when he sagged against her -- did it hit her. her unfaithful, untrustworthy ex had come into her home, hit her with some bullshit about love, and she fell on top of his dick. he breathed heavily against her skin, sleepily pressing kisses to her neck. as much as he pissed her off, she ran her hand up and down his back on instinct. "i really do love you." she heard him say.

despite the fact that they exchanged 'i love you' several times while fucking, it took coming on his dick a few times to remember that she didn't believe him anymore. "mhm." she hummed, patting his shoulder. "i gotta clean up." jameson took the hint and pulled out, surprising imani when he placed his hand against her abdomen. "stay here. i got it." she was silent as he left the room, not even watching his ass as he walked away. she was disappointed in herself. even though her thighs and pussy ached, her clit practically tingled, and her eyes felt heavy with exhaustion -- was it worth going on this damn rollercoaster with jameson again?

he returned to the room with a wet towel. neither of them said a word as he went through the motions of cleaning between her thighs. he even rolled her out of the wet spot that she had been unable to escape. she expected him to take the same care with himself but he didn't. once he was done with the towel, he tossed it aside. the air between them had changed. she could feel it and knew he did too.

"mani." "get out." "...baby, we don't have to do it like that. we can start over." "i don't want to start over with you. i wanted to cum and i did that. so now you can get the fuck out of my house."

imani watched the words impact him and knew he was trying to decide if he believed her or not. she slowly sat up, hating that her body still trembled while she was trying to be strong. "get out, jameson." part of her was pleased that he seemed to give up in the moment. she watched him redress mournfully. they didn't trade words. he was fully dressed and she still sat on the bed, undressed.

"i'll call you." "don't bother."

despite the heat in her words, jameson still leaned in to kiss her. she let him do so, telling herself it was easier than to shove him away. when he finally turned to leave the room, imani let her mask slip. she fell back onto the bed, breath shuddering. she had done the right thing. fucking him was a mistake but she could bounce back. she didn't have to let him back into her life anymore. that chapter of her life was over.

We hope you guys like the start of Neon Lights. If not, please keep it to yourself. No, I'm kidding. Constructive criticism is very welcome!

#aaron pierre fanfic #megan thee stallion fanfic #aaron pierre x black!oc #megan thee stallion x black!oc #x fem reader #celebrity fanfiction #aaron pierre #megan thee stallion #smut #mature fanfic #fic: neon lights #fem!reader #oc fanfiction

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sillyteecup · 4 months ago

Text

Meet The Cast Of

It's Always Been About Love And Hate (Now Let Me Say I'm The Biggest Hater)

Starring: Aaron Pierre as ✨Terry Richmond, The Bodyguard✨

More About Terry:

✨Terry's Jukebox✨

Playlist:

Throw Your Hands Up, 8Ball

You're No Good, Linda Rindstad

Be Easy, T.I

Bullfrog, Doechii

Chonkyfire, Outkast

Mother I Sober, Kendrick Lamar

Like That, Metro Boomin

I Got Your Country Right Here, Gretchen Wilson

Amen, Beyoncé

Full Moon, Brandy

Lucky Daye, Real Games

First chapter coming soon? Shit with all these damn tests and assignments, I hope so too🧍🏾

Tee❤️✨

#terry richmond #terry richmond fic #terry richmond x black oc #terry richmond smut #terry richmond fanfiction #aaron pierre #sillyteecup writes

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bikinibottomdayz · 11 months ago

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JULY 25, 2024 RELEASE

All my videos can be found here, full release under the read more! If interested, please contact me at [email protected]!

This release includes: Cabaret, Hadestown (new cast), A Little Night Music in Concert, Job, Moulin Rouge! (with Hailee!Satine and Finley!Christian)

CABARET May 29, 2024 (E) | Broadway | 4K MP4 (11.8GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Eddie Redmayne (Emcee), Gayle Rankin (Sally Bowles), Bebe Neuwirth (Fraulein Schneider), Ato Blankson-Wood (Clifford Bradshaw), Steven Skybell (Herr Schultz), Henry Gottfried (Ernst Ludwig), Natascia Diaz (Fritzie/Fraulein Kost), Gabi Campo (Frenchie), Ayla Ciccone-Burton (Helga), Colin Cunliffe (Hans), Marty Lauter (Victor), Loren Lester (Herman/Max), David Merino (Lulu), Julian Ramos (Bobby), MiMi Scardulla (Texas), Chloé Nadon-Enriquez (s/w Rosie) Notes: Excellent 4K capture of this much-anticipated transfer! Occasional short blackouts due to people in the aisles. Some moments of wandering and unfocusing. Some washout on the wider shots. Includes curtain call, audio fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBsJgL | ASKING $20 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JANUARY 17, 2025

HADESTOWN July 13, 2024 (E) | Broadway | 4K MP4 (10.19GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Jordan Fisher (Orpheus), Maia Reficco (Eurydice), Phillip Boykin (Hades), Yola (Persephone), Stephanie Mills (Hermes), Yael "YaYa" Reich (s/w Fate Lachesis), Belén Moyano (Fate Clotho), Brit West (Fate Atropos), Emily Afton (Worker), Tanner Ray Wilson (s/w Worker), Malcolm Armwood (Worker), Alex Puette (Worker), KC Dela Cruz (Worker) Note: Excellent 4K capture of the new cast! Increased wandering / readjustment and unfocusing throughout. Overall more messily filmed / wideshot than usual. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBzAbe | ASKING $20 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JANUARY 17, 2025

JOB July 18, 2024 | Broadway (Previews) | 4K MP4 (6.01GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Peter Friedman (Loyd), Sydney Lemmon (Jane) Notes: Excellent 4K capture of this amazing play! A bit of wandering / readjustment and unfocusing throughout. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBAi6s | ASKING $20 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JANUARY 17, 2025

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC June 28, 2024 | Lincoln Center Concert | 4K MP4 (9.88GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Susan Graham (Desiree Armfeldt), Ron Raines (Fredrik Egerman), Marsha Mason (Madame Armfeldt), Ruthie Ann Miles (Countess Charlotte Malcolm), Shuler Hensley (Count Carl Magnus), Kerstin Anderson (Anne Egerman), Jason Gotay (Henrik Egerman), Cynthia Erivo (Petra), Addie Harrington (Fredrika Armfeldt), Jin Ha (Frid), Jonathan Christopher (Mr. Lindquist), Ellie Fishman (Mrs. Segstrom), Leah Horowitz (Mrs. Nordstrom), Andrea Jones-Sojola (Mrs. Anderssen), Ross Lekeites (Mr. Erlanson) Notes: Excellent 4K capture of this much anticipated concert! Some moments of wandering / readjustment and unfocusing throughout. In Act One, a head blocks the far left and any action that happens there (only about a minute’s worth). Act Two only has a head in a center that blocks a little bit of characters sitting down. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBxoYu | ASKING $20 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JANUARY 17, 2025

MOULIN ROUGE! June 30, 2024 | Broadway | 4K MP4 (10.32GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Aaron C. Finley (u/s Christian), Hailee Kaleem Wright (alt. Satine), Austin Durant (Harold Zidler), Bobby Daye (u/s Toulouse-Lautrec), Dylan Paul (u/s The Duke of Monroth), Sophie Carmen-Jones (Nini), Ricky Rojas (Santiago), Tasia Jungbauer (Arabia), Jacqueline B Arnold (La Chocolat), Andres Quintero (Baby Doll), Nick Martinez (Pierre), Giovanni Bonaventura (s/w), Nick Burrage (s/w), Olivia Cece (s/w), Patrick Clanton, Raul Contreras (s/w), Alexander Gil Cruz, Alexa De Barr (s/w), Heather Makalani, Kelsey Orem (s/w), Clay Rice-Thompson, Alec Varcas, Shaun Avery Williams, Jordan Wynn, Valeria Yamin (s/w) Notes: Good 4K capture of Finley and Hailee together. Roughly 3 minutes total of blackouts due to people walking in the aisles. Action on the far left and on the walkway is obstructed. A railing is also visible and occasionally blocks off action but is usually unintrusive. Increased wandering and unfocusing throughout. Includes curtain call, and encore, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBzQgK | ASKING $18 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JANUARY 17, 2025

#eddie redmayne #gayle rankin #cynthia erivo #maia reficco #stephanie mills #bikinibottomday releases

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elut-complex · 2 years ago

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Music post

this is a photography/electronics account but I'm going to include some music.

These are (some) of my favorite groups/artists, albums and songs.

-----------

Ambience and noise:

Tim Hecker

Ryuichi Sakamoto

alva noto

Christina Kubisch

Dan Fröberg

Peter Kutin

Pharmakon

Throbbing Gristle

Nurse With Wound

Aaron Dilloway

Consumer Electronics

Brian Reitzell

Fav album: "Decomposition", Peter Kutin

Fav song: "The Cat's Dream", Christina Kubisch

------------

Jazz:

Alfa Mist

Sungazer

Pat Metheny

Mansur Brown

Fav album: "Bring Backs", Alfa Mist

Fav song: "Love Is The Message", Yussef Dayes, Alfa Mist, Mansur Brown

-------------

Rock and metal:

Tesseract

The Contortionist

Kayo Dot

Skyharbor

Animals As Leaders

Entheos

Karnivool

Karmanjakah

Monuments (earlier work)

Spiritbox

Red Vox

Fav album: "War Of Being", Tesseract

Fav song: "Language" I and II, The Contortionist

-------------

Hip Hop:

Freddie Gibbs

Denzel Curry

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

Knxwledge

Kendrick Lamar

JPEGMAFIA

T-Pain

Skepta

Wiz Khalifa

Fav album: "To Pimp A Butterfly", Kendrick Lamar

Fav song: "Stress Fracture", Mick Jenkins

------------

#music

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newagesispage · 4 months ago

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MARCH 2025

THE RIB PAGE

Hooray for Amber Ruffin. One of the most talented writers and performers today will host the White House correspondent’s dinner. Step by step, the women will save us. That is, if this even comes off. Scary Clown 45/47 is cancelling everything else so why shouldn’t he get his fingers into this pie? Go Amber... give ‘em Hell!!!! ** Also.. So glad to see her back on Roy Wood’s Have I got news for you. That show is off to a fab start with Andy Richter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ** Amber also hosted the African American film critics association awards and she looked great!!! Winners included Colman Domingo, Marianne Jean- Baptiste and Clarence Maclin. ** Do you all remember the good old days when you were proud to say, “My President is black. Now, it’s my President is a South African Nazi oligarch”. - Amber Ruffin

*****

It sounds like the Rolling Stones will now not be touring this year.

*****

So excited for George Wallace and Laverne Cox in Clean Slate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*****

The Grammy’s were watched by more folks than usual. My best dressed were Wayne Brady, Brittany Howard, Norah Jones, Jacob Collier, Kelsea Ballerini, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Joe Armstrong, Taylor Swift, Cynthia Erivo, Miley Cyrus, John Legend and Shenseca. Bianca Censori came to shock. Seeing Jaden Smith reminded me of Don Cheadle in Boogie Nights. So sad. Those Smith kids always seem to try way too hard. Beyonce won big! Other winners included The Rolling Stones with Hackney Diamonds, The Beatles, Jimmy Carter, St. Vincent, Lucky Daye, Doechii, Norah Jones, Bob Marley and Jon Batiste.

*****

Ontario has ended their contract with Starlink.

*****

Days alert: If they ever make a Taylor Swift bio, they should consider the current Stefanie Johnson!! She has that energy. ** I am still seeing Joy and Aaron. Is Joy in LA or is she still around? Bring Aaron back!!! I will miss Seth Burns. ** So glad to see Alex and Stef. Finally!! ** Former Days actor Casey Deidrick was arrested for domestic assault. ** Hank Northrup learned on his birthday that he will be joining Days. His first scene is with James Reynolds. ** Why do I like Belle and EJ together so much? *8 They did a great job with the Rafe switcheroo.

*****

Costco averted a strike. ** Hooters filed for bankruptcy.

*****

Tituss Burgess is taking the lead in Oh Mary! Cole Escola is on the way back!!

*****

We didn’t do the Chuck E. Cheese crap. - Letterman on the Tonight Show

*****

Denny’s and JC Penney are closing some locations. Hooter’s is filing for bankruptcy. Costco is opening more stores.

*****

The Independent Spirit awards came and went. Winners include: Anora, Baby Reindeer, Kieran Culkin and Shogun.

*****

The NAACP awards honored Kamala Harris and The Wayan family. My best dressed were Ayo Edebiri, Halee Bailey. Laverne Cox and Kamala Harris. Winners included Martin Lawrence, Kerry Washington, Quinta Brunson and Queen Latifah. ** Harris’ speech was inspiring. Perhaps she needs to be out there on the sidelines being a leader and giving us strength.

*****

Dorian Harewood is going to have his first solo show in NY as a singer. Proceeds will be donated to fire relief and CORE. His daughter lost her home in the LA fires.

*****

Steve Bannon pled guilty to fraud and cut a deal so he won’t serve more prison time.

*****

Get ready for Mindhunter season 3.

*****

The new Dolly Parton musical, Here you come again is hitting some snags. The show, about a gay, artistic Dolly fan is freaking out some of her fans. ** There are also efforts to cut her imagination library.

*****

Lester Holt is leaving the NBC Nightly News.

*****

Hooray for the Park workers who put an upside -down flag in Yosemite. Other parks are getting creative and it is only the beginning.

*****

SNL had its 50th with lots of specials. It was fab to see so much talent. The show changed our lives forever and so many have participated in the love and laughs. I so wanted to see Rickie Lee Jones on there but at least Jack Nicholson and Keith Richards and Patti Hanson were there!! All in all, though, what a celebration. Hader, Akroyd and some lesser knowns were sorely missed. It was a shame that Dana Carvey could not come for Wayne’s World but it did free up Mike Meyers for Linda Richman. I wish I could have seen more Jane Curtin who is my all- time favorite player but it was just good to see her. BTW, lighting up weed on stage will not make us like you again. And who sat Rob Schneider next to Rev. Al? And how did Wally the cue card guy get into a controversy? ** And why is Lorne so seemingly obsessed with this Shane Gillis person? First show back and here we are again. There are so many potential hosts out there. Is it because the suits made you fire him?

*****

Lionel Richie has written Truly.

*****

Israel has been accused of ceasefire violations.

*****

Kathy Griffin has a new You tube show, Talk your head off. Go girl!

*****

Kanye is selling Nazi T’s.

*****

I know his is nitpicky but there is a new T-mobile ad with SNL’ers but all I can think of when I see it is The Monkees and Opera man. Was this intentional? Keenan’s, “Listen to the song” is dead on Papa Nez on Listen to the Band. And some of the jingle sounds very Sandlerish.

*****

The BAFTA awards came and winners include A Real Pain, Conclave, Anora, Kieran Culkin, Wicked and Zoe Saldana. My best dressed were Kate Green, Colman Domingo, Marianne Jean-Baptists, Jeff Goldblum, Emilie Livingston, Zoe Saldana and Warwick Davis.

*****

The Met Gala theme this year is’ Tailored for you’.

*****

The reboot of Day of the Jackal was awesome. Can’t wait for season 2. ** Peacock has also brought us The America’s. It felt like Sunday nights of the past when Cousteau and Disney enthralled us with nature. This country needs a show like this right now. Some need to be reminded of the beauty of these lands.

*****

Matt Rhys is set to star in Widow’s Bay.

*****

Utah has banned unions from negotiations.

*****

The very avoidable measles is up to over 100 cases now.

*****

23X1 Racing and Front Row Motorsports will get to compete this year, despite lawsuits and not signing the new charter. An injunction lets them race. These drivers include Bubba Wallace, Riley Herbst, Tyler Reddick, Noah Gragson, Todd Gilliland ad Zane Smith.

*****

Ken Martin is the new DNC leader.

*****

Marcus Jordan was arrested for Cocaine possession, DUI and resisting arrest.

*****

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced nominees. The list includes Bad Co., The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/ New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Mana, Oasis, Outkast, Phish, Soundgarden and The White Stripes.

*****

A Loretta Lynn musical is in the works.

*****

Killer Mike has sued S&S labor force from events at last year’s Grammy’s.

*****

Howie Mandel has apologized for his Bill Burr faux pas, saying, “I feel horrible.” Yea, you should.

*****

Civil disobedience is better than Botox any day. - John Waters

*****

The shooting in Sweden is a bad sign that the rest of the world may be starting to follow our lead.

*****

If K-12 schools require Covid vaccines, they will no longer get Federal funds. I’ll bet that made RFK Jr. Happy.

*****

Stephen King went back on X: Just wanted to say that Trump is a traitorous, Putin- lovin' dip shit. Goes double for Elon. - S. King

*****

The Critics choice awards went to Kieran Culkin, Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana, Anora, Conclave, Jon M. Chu, Shogun, Deadpool and Wolverine, A Real Pain, Kathy Bates, Hacks, Hannah Einbinder, Squid Game, Colin Farrell and Ali Wong among others.

*****

CBS had to hand over documents to Trump’s team from a Kamala Harris interview on 60 minutes.

*****

Aaron Rodgers is out at The Jets. Yes!

*****

The SAG awards were very good. My best dressed were Cynthia Erivo, Monica Barbaro, Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Allen White, Zoe Saldana, Timothee Chalamet, Paul W. Downs, Mikey Madison, Keke Palmer, Selena Gomez, Colman Domingo, Michelle Yeow, Lily Gladstone, Quinta Brunson, Jane Fonda, Bowen Yang, Leighton Meester, Michael Urie, Marissa Bode, Janelle James, Mille Bobby Brown, Sofia Carson and Nicola Coughlan. Winners included Martin Short, Kieran Culkin, Colin Farrell, Jean Smart and Zoe Saldana. Jane Fonda won for a lifetime and gave us the speech we needed. ** Woke just means you give a damn about other people. - Jane Fonda

*****

Did they solve that crazy dog and cat eating problem??

*****

Amazon MGM has taken control of the Bond franchise.

*****

The Humane society of the U.S. (not your local Humane Society) is now Humane world for animals.

*****

We are bleeding out. - Samantha Bee

*****

RFK Jr. and Tulsi are in so there ain’t no time to wonder why. Whew.. We’re all gonna die!!

*****

It wasn’t pedophilia. - RFK Jr.

*****

CBS Sunday Morning seems less diverse all the time.

*****

Kid Rock and Lauren Boebert? That sounds about right.

*****

I can’t wait for Mid-century modern with Matt Bomer and Nathan Lane.

*****

Maine Gov. told Trump she would see him in court. Maine is now being investigated.

*****

I was watching an old documentary about Jewish comedy that was made pre-2015 and it is amazing the difference in culture. Old comics were telling how tough it could be for them in the past and that it is so much better now. It just shows how quickly a country can change back to prejudice. Oh, it was there but a bit more in the shadows. Now, people are proud to tell you how full of hate they are for “the others”.

*****

Ok, so this one fucks with my head. Word is that there is a surging demand for breakfast in eateries. Egg prices are already high and this just pulls supply down even more which in turn hikes up prices more. Is it that humans hear that they may not have something or it is harder to get and that makes them want it all the more? Are we children? Just lay off the eggs for a bit. There are plenty of other things to eat and lots of substitutes for cooking so take a little break until things balance out. WTF?

*****

Tesla Swasticars : Goes from 0 to 1939 in 3 seconds.

*****

You know what a bully is? - Donald Trump

*****

Well, there is just so much about the state of our country which is, I guess, On Fire!!! I so don’t want to talk about this fascist anymore but here we go: I was hoping that somebody would do a sort of Nite line daily update in regards to the current administration. There is so much crap going on that we need to keep a list and follow up. They so love to drop a bomb and walk away. There are so many lies. Well, I did hear of one keeping the scorecard: Trump tyranny tracker. Let’s go!

*****

Stop the steal. - Schumer and Jeffries. We really do need you to do more.

*****

JD Vance thinks men are suppressed by the U.S. culture. What? How ineffective of a man must one be to be so threatened. It makes sense that they want to push the oppressed further down. They are all bravado, no substance. Will their voters ever realize the depth of the damage they have done?

*****

JB Pritzker gave a great speech full of great insight and information. Illinois is #2 in the nation for corporate expansions and relocation destinations. He called out the idiocy of the administration. High school graduate rates are at an all- time high. ** It took the Nazi’s one month, 3 weeks, 2 days. 8 hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic. - JB ** At the end of the month, the Gov. Was on the View. His call to the country as to what we are living thru is important. Some people in charge are not going to put up with this shit.

*****

Here is some of what we have lost as they attempt to “delete entire agencies.”: US Fed websites took down LGBTQ+ health info. Just about anything to do with diversity and vaccines is gone. Tons of food went to waste as it was waiting to be delivered. The administration would not let USAID deliver. At least now we all know how great USAID is. Now we know what they do and just how important it is. I am sure there would be ways to tweak it but just being cruel is not the way. They do not even seem to be paying for work that has already been done. Typical Trump behavior. How many citizens has he not paid for services rendered? Our country is much less safe since he is letting criminals out of prison. He sends foreign criminals out of the country and lets ours go free. Could he be building a secret army? El Salvador has offered to take our criminals. ** OSHA may be out. CFPB may be out. FEMA? Good luck on our next disaster, work related accidents et al. These will be huge blows. They seem obsessed with the idea that many Fed workers don’t even exist. They do. This could work for them to take us off the SS roles too. We banned the mail from China and then that was off. How many things have been declared and rescinded? And think of the workers who have to work double time to catch things up. More than a million packages were waiting after Trump ended duty free entry for Chinese goods. A bunch of little spoiled rich boys who never learned to share. It is like they are playing with the world as if we are their toys. This is not their personal piggy bank. The Government should not be run like a business. How does $ mean more to them than dignity, compassion and respect for fellow Americans? The arrogance of these folks! I wonder if Trump were President instead of Andrew Johnson after the Civil War, would he have signed an executive order to bring slavery back? Our anthem is being booed by other countries. The rest of the world is not indoctrinated into Fox et al and are calling us out. They will really see the insanity that half of this country has had to live with since 2015. The Trump administration really seems to hate people. Did you ever think you would see the day that an administration was tracking down conspiracy theories? It hasn’t been this wacky since The Reagans and their astrologer. It is only a matter of time before they start rounding up the Jews, the gays and the atheists. ** By taking away all the info, he does his best to make not just half of the country uninformed but all of us. It is hard to fact check when the facts are hidden. We have been shouting the truth from the rooftops but until the Fox wall comes down, it does no good. It is going to be up to the Dr’s and teachers to inform us. Is Karma all we have left to believe in?

*****

DOGE has fucked up so much and are trying to take credit for things they had nothing to do with. An example is telling us they cut allowances for former Presidents when that was because President Carter died. So, the man was very aged but did they kill him? What did they do to take credit for this? ** And how could they let Forest rangers and park employees go. They not only keep an eye on bathrooms, fire et al but just imagine the animals slowly creeping in and taking over as they will. That does not sound safe to me. Just because they don’t enjoy the wonders of nature, does not mean the rest of us don’t.

*****

The Tate brothers who have been accused of human trafficking in Romania. They are big Trump fans and are back in the U.S. Certain kinds of criminals are very big with the President. We may be able to get rid of them because the UK has issued a warrant for them.

*****

He is flooding our streets with criminals. - JK

*****

Mexico is extraditing Rafael Caro Quintero and 28 other suspected Cartel members.

*****

Before he went to the hospital, the Pope was arguing with Cardinals over the direction of the finances of the church.

*****

Gayle King, Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez are gonna go to space in the first all -female crew. Bezos is trying hard not to look like a creep. ** And, why is Bezos paying millions to Melania to make this Ratner film? Just ass kissing?

*****

Did ya see that cabinet meeting? What a room full of white garbage.

*****

The whole abortion subject is starting to pit states against one another. Federal law is so important here. The militant wing of the Christians will not back down. We need to UNIFY. Patchworking this country more won’t do it.

*****

There is actually a name for the republican, plastic women around the Trumpers. Word is that Fla. plastic surgeons are calling the red clothing and fake face the Mar A Lago look.

*****

So we have Dark Maga?

*****

The Super Bowl winning Eagles said, ”No thanks” to a White House visit.

*****

Colbert has reminded us now that WE are part of the axis of evil.

*****

I wonder how long does it take to radicalize the average MAGA follower? Do they realize the Trump speak (ex: radical lunatic = humanitarian). How many get the codes? I guess it isn’t even code anymore when President Musk just ‘Heils” like he does it every day. I mean if you don’t feel bad about a President who is in favor of ethnic cleansing, then I suppose there is no hope for you. The man loves to be adored but he loves fear and conflict. Holding back aid from the poor should start to kill us off nicely. Governments CAN help people just like churches and the private sector. Not everyone wants to be preached at just because they are poor. Why do they love to watch others suffer and why do they seem so gleeful about it? They get such pleasure at how upset we are. Republicans have introduced legislation to increase bank fees. Really? ** We should not be surprised by the Gaza strip proposal. Jared Kushner was talking a year ago about moving those people out of Gaza and making luxury beachfront crap. C’mon, pay attention! ** Scary Clown wants to make us believe that Ukraine started Russia’s war. How long until Zelensky is in prison? Who will be the first good ol’ boy American to put the Russian flag in their yard? You know it’s coming.

*****

The less talent they have, the more pride, vanity and arrogance they have. All those fools, however, find other fools who applaud them. - Erasmus

*****

These companies seem to be complying or supporting the current administration. They should know how we feel about that. Supporters or donors to Trump include Jimmy Johns, Home Depot, Excel, Chevron, Penske, Exxon Mobil, Amazon, Meta, Uber, Boeing, Bayer, Comcast, Verizon, PayPal, Coke, Arby’s, Alamo, Auto Zone, Bacardi, Cold Stone Creamery, DQ, Boost Mobile, Buffalo Wild Wings, Buick, Cadillac, Carl’s Jr., Charmin, Chevy, Chiquita, Chobani, Coors, Cuisinart, Dean Foods, Dole, Dunkin’ Donuts, Wal Mart, Wendy’s, Wonder, Turtle Wax and Sunoco. Let’s support those companies that embrace their DEI and are standing tall in their resistance. Hooray for Costco, Ben and Jerry’s, Jamba, Ulta beauty, Dollar Tree, the NFL, Goldman Sachs, Apple, Cinnabon, TJ Maxx, Auntie Anne’s, Kroger, Moe’s and JP Morgan.

*****

I wanna call France Kenny. - Andy Richter

*****

It didn’t hit me until later that so many in this country hated the “work hard” cry from Kamala Harris. Some folks actually have to do the hard work in this country. The cell phone age seems to breed instant results and trouble with time management. A friend mentioned that he can barely watch movies alone anymore because he can’t concentrate that long. I see the pain and apathy all around me. Entire lives are changing and not for the better.

*****

Isn’t it strange how most look so nervous around Scary Clown except Musk. Trump almost seems a bit leery of him. Is it true that Elon’s nephew is his half- brother? Word is that his Father had a baby with his stepdaughter. And isn’t it strange that the rise in gambling is taking place at the same time as this greedy takeover of our country. Sometimes it can feel like there are no people left who want the simple things. Why do ya’ll need so much? ** We have seen the largest increase in consumer pricing in one and a half years. ** I can’t believe we are back to watching a President hold up his signature that he is so proud of. Are these people even capable of doing the right thing? It isn’t just chaos and heartlessness; it is also incompetence. And why is nearly every republican rubber stamping? The WH usually has to do some negotiating with Senators et al. But these cultists fall right into line. ** Perhaps the AP should be glad they are banned, it is all lies anyway.

*****

And Bill Maher tells us it is impossible to enjoy the ‘69’ position. What the fuck is he talking about? Who wouldn’t enjoy that?

*****

We will be losing a lot of money now. A lot has been lost already with Trump visiting sporting events and having himself a time while prices just keep going up. The President is making big $ with his coin and the $25 mil from Meta and the $10 mil from Twitter. It goes on and on. The man is worrying so much about what things are called and what color his plane is that nothing is really getting done. Fort Liberty to Fort Bragg? What? I don’t think too many of us even know who WW II’s Roland Bragg is. Oh it seems like a lot is going on but most things have been stopped by courts or reversed. Tariffs will make things even more expensive. Services are being manipulated which will hurt farmers. I wonder why there is so much mental illness now in the White house. What is the main reason for not understanding science? Is it bullying? Religion? Poor education? Just plain denial and greed? ** I wonder how much President Musk’s boy band, Akash Bobba, Ed Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger and Ethan Shaotran are earning. ** They are saying we will all have to be on X eventually because that is how they will communicate all official shit. I can’t believe how anybody who isn’t a racist is still on the site. Why? It seems that Musk, the sociopathic tech doofus is getting many of his ideas from fellow X users. Idea man? Ok.

*****

It looks like former Viking player, Chris Kluwe was arrested for disturbing an assembly in California. His peaceful protest was about a plaque the library wanted up that spelled out MAGA. ** MAGA is a NAZI philosophy. - Chris Kluwe

Mitch McConnell won’t run again.

*****

Immigrants aren’t stealing jobs, the President is. - protest sign

*****

NY Mayor Adams has jumped on the Trump train with a loudly confessed quid pro quo that was quickly denied. Trump seems to really love those like- minded criminals. At least better than he likes Vice Presidents. 7 prosecutors resigned and Adams fate is still uncertain. An election is on the way but until then a Judge cancelled his trial but left the charges intact.

America does not seem to support Taiwan or Ukraine anymore. And Israel just got a gift of heavy bombs from Trump. The harm we do to other places will come back to haunt us. None of this is good for anybody except the dictators. Scary Clown 45/47 is doing everything he can to join that club.

*****

The Oval Office visits are sick. Macron should file assault charges with the way Trump was feeling up his knee. ** It looks like President Zelenskyy was set up. JD Vance said nearly as much. Scary Clown and his #2 berated the man. The complete disrespect for Zelenskyy showed that they now think they have an ‘excuse’ to give Putin what he wants. Trump gets so upset when somebody puts down his bud, Putin. Why doesn’t Trump tell Putin to stop fighting. If Ukraine stops, Russia will roll right over them. President Zelenskyy’s approval ratings are better right now that Trumps. Jealous? Our fearless leader is a vindictive ass. At least Vance admitted that Russia was the invader before Marco Rubio threw The Ukranian President out.

*****

Democracies don’t last forever. - Chris Murphy

*****

A$AP Rocky was found not guilty.

*****

Sheryl Crow sold her Tesla and gave the $ to NPR.

*****

I like omelet’s better than sex. - Sen. John Kennedy

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Believing that billionaires are fighting for the working class requires a comical level of delusion. - Fairy News

*****

The President is bitching about a deal in Canada that he put in place last time. So, he wants to undo things that former Presidents put in place, including his own? He seems to hate the Dept. Of Ed from Carter, the four freedoms and SS from FDR, US AID from JFK and on and on. ** He is also unhappy with NBC and the AP. Pretty soon there will only be Breitbart and Fox and Rogan in briefings, on Air Force One and at the Pentagon. We do still have freedom of the press and editorial decisions are up to THEM. The man openly says that he does these things so his people won’t believe. He lives for keeping it confusing. ** He and his buds pulled a hostile takeover of the Kennedy Center. Many say it may be due to some recent drag shows there. Some have resigned as they have from the DOJ and well, from pretty much everything. Trump claims that he got rid of Board Chairman David Rubenstein but he was set to retire in January anyway. Artists are cancelling shows left and right. Again, he is fucking with people’s livelihood. There is some federal funding but is there a way to privatize it more so this can’t happen? What will happen to Conan’s Mark Twain Prize??? He always gets screwed. I am sure that Lara Trump, the Jan. 6 choir and Lee Greenwood will be up next for honors. After I wrote this, I saw others making the same forecast.

*****

How many cult-47ers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? None. He’ll just proclaim it’s already fixed and they ‘ll all applaud in the dark. - U.S. Dem Socialists

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If a person says it’s raining and another insists it’s sunny, the media’s job isn’t to give them equal airtime. It’s to check the facts and tell us what’s actually happening. -U.S. Dem Socialists

*****

Gene Simmons is leaving X. Is that true? Did the Jewish hate on the site finally overcome his loyalty to Trump or does he see these as 2 different evils?

*****

When they try to silence you, it’s not because your voice is weak. They try to silence you because your voice is POWERFUL. Keep using it. - George Lopez

*****

Gold card to enter America? What in God’s name will he sell next? The Lincoln memorial? The Statue of Liberty?

*****

Town halls have been exploding. Dr. Borrenpohl was dragged out from one Idaho meeting. The private firm, Lear asset management has lost its license over the dustup. She has already raised $250,000 for legal fees. ** The Republican seem to have come up with a way to deal with these confrontations; less town halls.

*****

I hope America is as lucky as the upside -down Delta jet. Everyone survives but the right wing explodes. - Feminist News

*****

Some say that Trump looks more like an Oompa Loompa every day. It is still hard to believe some people think that Scary Clown 45/47 is cool. He and his people are about the most uncool people I can think of. He is not gangsta in the cool sense at all. Never once did someone show me that racism and greed is cool when I was growing up. What kind of monsters raised these people? There are some from Hollywood and the media that have caved but many stand strong. It isn’t all state tv yet. The banning of the books has started. Julianne Moore’s book is on the list. And are they starting to close the libraries of Democratic Presidents? ** Speaking of uncool, Jon Stewart mentioned that they need to stop trotting out Chuck Schumer. Yea, can we have AOC or Jazmine Crockett or somebody who really gets it? I feel a tsunami of liberals are on the way.

*****

I wonder if the right loves marriage so much because spouses don’t testify?

*****

So, the Transgender community can no longer participate in the military?

*****

The Federal civilian worker payroll totaled $271 bil. in 2022. The annual cost of permanently extending Trump’s tax cuts is about $400 bil. ** The National labor relations board had 24 investigations into Musk’s corporations for violating worker’s rights. ** We just handed millions to Space X. The state department tried to funnel $400 mil to Tesla. The FAA gave a Federal contract to Starlink, worth billions. Musk also recieved $38 bil in other government contracts, loans and tax credits. He is part of what he, himself calls, “the parasite class”.** The NY Times found that investors in Trump crypto have lost about $ 2bil. There have been some bad days at the NYSE.** 400 FAA employees were fired. We are having the biggest retail drop in 4 years. ** They also fired the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen CQ Brown Jr. Also let go were Lisa Franchetti and Jim Slife. A less qualified white man, Dan Caine is taking over for Brown. **I hate to think of how many elderly people are scared out of their minds right now. And leave the Post Office alone.

*****

Hooray for Brian Driscoll, the acting FBI director!!!!!!!

*****

We are an absolute laughingstock. - George Takei

*****

What the herd hates most is the one who thinks differently; it is not so much the opinion itself, but the audacity of wanting to think for themselves, something that they do not know how to do. - Arthur Schopenhauer

*****

U.S. Border patrol agents are going to start getting on school buses to check immigration status. Really? Is this true? Anyone trying to educate themselves is a big no- no with this administration.

*****

Hey, comics: Enough with the eggs. There are much worse problems here.

*****

Gov. Janet Mills of Maine told Trump she would see him in court. Now there are investigations popping up all over the state. The USDA is opening a Title IX investigation. The Dept. Of Education is looking into the Maine department of Education and a Maine school district. I guess he found a purpose for the Department of Education.

*****

Biden’s inflation is up. - Trump 2-12-25

*****

All billionaires must submit a list of 5 things they did for society in the last week or their wealth shall be confiscated. - Feminist news

*****

Sexual assault news: Baltimore Raven Justin Tucker has 16 accusations of sexual misconduct against him.

*****

Osgood Perkins is has brought us Stephen King’s The Monkey and it’s doing great!

*****

6 weeks ago, we had the strongest economy, employment and stock market in history, all gone in 30 days. - Feminist news.

*****

They are taking a cue from Bush Jr. and talking about a faith office.

*****

Is Aaron Kosminski really Jack the Ripper?

*****

The DOJ has sued Illinois because Chicago is a sanctuary city. Go get ‘em JB!!!

*****

The Eagles won the Super Bowl and Trump had to be there cuz the world was watching, of course but he left when Kendrick Lamar played the halftime, of course.

*****

Trump soils everything. - Mike Freeman

*****

Re: The plane crash in Washington: Strange that a white guy was flying the plane, a white guy was flying the helicopter, and a white guy gutted the FAA last week but somehow MAGA is blaming, “too much diversity.”- Easy baked oven.bsky.social

*****

The New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, a Federal judge and local media seemed to help the Catholic church with their clergy sex abuse claims. Some 2019 e mails showed how much they supported the pedophiles.

*****

Black Sabbath is getting together one more time for a fundraiser. It is the first time in 20 years.

*****

Andrea Mitchell is leaving the anchor desk at MSNBC.

*****

Is Trump on the lookout for all non -racist police officers so he can send out forces of crooked cops.

*****

Super callous fragile racist sexist Nazi Potus- bumper sticker

*****

Ok, I don’t want to waste time in looking back on things we can do nothing about but... Just for a minute, it is beautiful to think what it could be like now. A strong, smart woman at the helm for once could have brought such heartfelt change. Of course, the Nazi folk would have fought the results so there may have been no peace but oh what a wonderful country this might have been. Unemployment was down, the roads were better and the economy was good. Trump has not been in there 2 months yet and prices are up and unemployment is gonna keep rising the way they are firing people. Yikes!

R.I.P. Dick Button, Juane Smith, Sal Maida, Kultida Woods, Ohio warehouse shooting victims, the AGA Khan, the women of Goma, Alaskan plane crash victims, Virginia McCaskey, Tony Roberts, Paul Plishka, Jim Becker, Irv Gotti, Harry Stewart Jr., Gene Barge, Marlon Wiesel, Bruce French, Kim Sae-Ron, Tennessee hurricane victims, Mort Kunstler, Tongolele, Marshall Rose, Souleymane Cisse, New Delhi stampede victims, Wyoming tunnel disaster victims, Paquita La Del Barrio, Virginia police officers, Jerry Butler, Alice Hirson, George Armitage, Michelle Trachtenberg, John Lawlor, Clint Hill, Roberta Flack, Geneviev Page, Rob Whelan, Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, Lynne Marie Stewart and Tom Robbins.

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adayephoto · 3 years ago

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Lastinger Center for Learning: Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence

In February of 1999, University of Florida alumni Allen and Delores Lastinger announced a $2 million donation to the College of Education for the establishment of the Lastinger Center for Learning. The mission of the center was to develop projects that promote the achievement and success of at-risk youth in local public schools. It includes a special focus on math, science, economics, and conflict resolution. To fulfill this mission, the center focused on supporting K-12 classroom teachers across the state of Florida by relying on their expertise, experience, and input in program development.  

Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence, the Lastinger Center established itself as an intentional and creative hub for educational innovation across the state of Florida. Despite this commitment to innovation, the shared values of listening to teachers and caring for the underserved children in Florida’s classrooms remain a consistent theme. 

#Lastinger Center for Learning #Allen and Delores Lastinger #university of florida #It’s Performance That Counts #gainesvilleflorida #20 Years of Excellence #aarondayephotography #aaron daye #uf college of education

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bareilles-tveit · 4 years ago

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The most incredible swing/standby/understudy crew ever.

Moulin Rouge Broadway

📸: Kaitlin Mesh

#Ashley Loren #karli dinardo #tilly evans krueger #Dylan Paul #Brandon stone street #Khori Petinaud #Kara Mendez #Mia diweese #Kevin Curtis #Aaron Finley #maya bowles #raul Contreras #Bobby daye

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grlsbstshot · 6 months ago

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NEON LIGHTS

Pairing (Original Characters):

Jameson Lucas (Aaron Pierre) x Imani St. Cirie (Megan thee Stallion) Genie Adesanya (Jayme Lawson) x Ellington “EJ” Dupree (Kelvin Harrison Jr.)

Chapters:

Neon Lights Masterlist

Chapter Synopsis: Imani and Jameson's beef comes to a head as secrets are revealed.

Warnings: 18+ (MINORS DNI), smut!!!, daddy kink (male character being referred to as that), p in v sex (shower sex), toxic relationship (intentional jealousy, deception, lying), usage of the n word -- if you white and read it, you owe us $20, -- if we missed anything, let us know!

Word Count: 14.2k

Divider Template: @cafekitsune

Notes:

The following characters are original creations. Their voice claims are Usher / Lucky Daye (Jameson) & Summer Walker / SZA (Imani). We have no affiliation to any of those artists.

The bedroom was dimly lit, the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting a warm circle of light over the room. EJ lay on his back, one arm tucked behind his head, while Genie rested next to him – her leg drawn across his. The sound of the wind outside the cabin filled the quiet space, a gentle reminder of the snowy world beyond their cozy retreat.

“I think we fucked up a little bit,” EJ said finally, his voice low but weighted as he rubbed his hand down her side.

Genie glanced up from where she had been tracing absent-minded patterns on his chest. “What do you mean?”

“Inviting Mani and Jamie,” EJ clarified, turning his head to look at her. “It’s already tense, and it’s only the first night. Did you see the way they were looking at each other at dinner? Damn near thought my boy was about to take that other nigga head off.”

Genie shifted onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. “I saw. I’m sorry. I just…I wanted Mani here. I didn’t know Jamie was coming. But they’re adults. They can handle themselves.”

“It’s okay, baby. You didn’t know.” EJ snorted softly. “But can they, though? They was acting weird all day. And Imani…” He trailed off, shaking his head.

“What about her?” Genie pressed, her tone sharper than she intended. EJ had been supportive when she and Imani were going through their issues – but he was increasingly negative about her friend.

EJ hesitated, then sat up slightly, resting his weight on his forearm. “Look, I know that’s your girl and I respect that. But she’s got this...thing about her. Like she stirs the pot just by being in the room. And Jameson’s not exactly steady when it comes to her. It’s like a recipe for disaster.”

Genie frowned, sitting up fully and crossing her legs beneath her. “That’s not fair. Imani didn’t ask to be in this situation. And she’s not stirring the pot, EJ. She’s just...here. Existing. I invited her. She is my family.”

“I understand, baby. But let’s not pretend she doesn’t know what she’s doing. Mixing him up, spinning his head. She drives him crazy and she likes it that way.” EJ countered, his voice tinged with frustration. “Baby, she had the chance to leave his ass after he fucked up. And she did. But where she at right now?”

Genie sighed, rubbing her temples as she sat up with him. “It’s more complicated than that, EJ. And you shouldn’t put all the blame on her. Alot of their issues? Jamie’s fault.”

“That may be so but that’s when she’s supposed to let him go. Both of them should let go. Jameson did.” “And so did she! She’s here with Isaiah.”

EJ stared at her. “We both know that’s not the same. She brought him to fuck with Jameson.”

“She didn’t even know he’d be here.” “She had to know there was a good chance he’d be here, baby. C’mon.” “No, you c’mon! You come down so hard on her all the time, EJ. She’s noticed the only one fucked up.” “No, she’s not. But Jameson is trying not to be.” “How do you know what she’s trying to do?” “I know what she’s already done. She fucked Jameson up when she left and then she hurt you too. Back to back, the two people I love most in this world! Hung up over her. Crying for her. While she lived her best life on a fucking yacht somewhere. Out at parties. I watched you check your phone over and over for her call. Same as he did. She hurt you. She hurt him. I don’t trust her.”

Genie was quiet, watching how upset he seemed to be at her defense of Imani. “Baby, I’m okay.” His desire to protect her was noble but she couldn’t help but think he put far too much responsibility on Imani. “She said she was sorry. We’re working on things. We’re okay.”

“Now you are.” EJ muttered, shaking his head. “And now he is. With Camille. So of course she comes back and gets everything all mixed up again.”

“Maybe they need to see each other, work through whatever’s still lingering.”

EJ gave her a skeptical look. “You really think that’s going to happen without blowing up in everyone’s faces?”

“I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt,” Genie said firmly. “It wasn’t her fault that Jameson was hurt. It was a combination of his actions.”

“And what about you? Why were you hurt?”

Genie sighed softly, framing his face in her hands. “Because she didn’t know how to face her feelings. She walked away from Jameson for her own good. And she thought she’d have to face them with me. Was it the right way to go about it? No. But I think we both know sometimes you aren’t thinking straight when you’re traumatized. And their breakup was traumatizing, EJ. Cut her some slack.”

EJ shook his head, leaning back against the headboard and pulling away from her. “Then why is she back if leaving him was for her own good?”

Genie sighed softly, her expression softening. “I don’t know. The heart wants what it wants, I guess. Baby, you don’t know everything Imani’s been through. She’s had a rough year. And yeah, she’s made mistakes, but she’s trying to be happy. Jameson is getting that chance. Why shouldn’t she have one?”

EJ sighed, running a hand over his face. “I just don’t want to see her hurt you. Or Jameson, for that matter.”

“She’s not going to hurt me,” Genie said quietly. “And as for Jameson...he’s got Camille now. He’s fine. Right?”

“Camille’s a good woman,” EJ said, his tone soft. “She’s steady, kind, and she’s got her head on straight. If Jameson’s smart, he’ll stick with her.”

Genie tilted her head, studying him. “You really think she’s the one for him?”

“Honestly? No. I think Imani is what he wants. But I think Camille is what he needs,” EJ replied. “Someone who won’t complicate his life. Someone who won’t...drag him back into the past.”

Genie bit her lip, considering his words. “Maybe you’re right. But it’s not our place to decide, honey. They’ll figure it out.”

He reached out, pulling her into his arms. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a asshole about Imani. I just want this trip to go well. No drama, no stress.”

Genie snuggled against his chest, her voice muffled. “Me too. But...if there is drama, we’ll deal with it. Shit happens when the family gets together, right?”

EJ kissed the top of her head, laughing softly. “That it does.”

They lay there in comfortable silence for a moment before Genie spoke again, her voice hesitant. “I’m going to put Imani in the wedding. So I need you to get over this beef you have with her.”

EJ tensed, his whole body going still as he tried to figure out what to say. “I…Wedding? What wedding?”

Genie smiled, her breath warm against his skin. “I saw the ring. Don’t be mad.” She lifted her head, peering up at him. “I love you. And I trust you.” Whether he knew it or not, she had done a lot of thinking over the week. Marriage was a big step and it was terrifying…but Genie wanted to take those steps with him. He was frantic about getting everything perfect because he wanted her dreams to come true. How could she doubt that? “I’m going to say yes. So stop worrying.”

“That’s why you wanted Imani here?” Genie nodded slowly, hoping that telling him the truth wasn’t ruining the surprise too badly. “I panicked. And then you came home right after I found it…and you showed me in every single way that marrying you would be the best thing I could ever do. This house could fall around us and I’d still say yes because I love you.”

EJ dipped his head, kissing Genie soundly. He had been worried about the trip. Her father would be there in the morning, he wanted to time it all just right. Then Imani and Jameson gave him more to worry about. Despite being caught off guard…he felt himself relax at the knowledge that she wanted to say yes. Even if everything didn’t go perfectly right – they would have each other.

The house was quiet, the kind of stillness that only came with a blanket of fresh snow muffling the world outside. Jameson lay in bed, staring at the dark ceiling, his thoughts refusing to settle. He had been in a state since Imani showed up with Isaiah. Their little game had taken on a life of its own.

For every kiss he gave Camille, Imani had two for Isaiah. For every laugh he shared with Camille, she had a grope from her companion for the weekend. It put tension in the air and everyone could sense it. Especially Camille. She hadn't complained, hadn't mentioned it. But she held on to Jameson just a little tighter. Even when they crawled into bed together after an exhausting day, she seemed to want his attention -- without Imani around.

As frustrated as he was, Jameson didn't fuck the woman that practically begged him to. He promised her the next day -- swearing it was because he was tired but the reality was...he couldn't focus. Imani's room ended up just down the hall from theirs. All he could think about what the shit they were doing behind those closed doors. Rejected for the evening, Camille was already asleep beside him, her breathing soft and even, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.

He should have been at peace. The day had been long but good—Camille had laughed with him on the slopes, and they’d shared hot chocolate by the fire. But all he saw was Imani doing the same with Isaiah. As he closed his eyes, the quiet of the cabin was broken by muffled sounds from down the hall.

A low murmur. A laugh. A moan.

Jameson’s jaw clenched as realization hit. Where they...? Of course they were. Leave it to Imani to go too far.

He tried to block it out, shifting slightly in bed, but the sounds only grew louder. The rhythmic creak of the bed frame, the occasional gasp, and Isaiah’s deep voice murmuring something he couldn’t make out. He sat up in bed, flipping the cover back. The urge to interrupt and ruin their evening strong. The only thing that stopped him was Camille.

She stirred from her sleep when he sat up, her hand pressed to his shoulder. When Jameson turned to look back at her, she looked confused but was ready to follow him if something was wrong. "Go back to sleep, baby." He murmured, "Everything's fine. I just wanted to get my headphones."

She blinked at him, nodding slowly before laying back down. But the noises were louder. Her eyes went wide as she looked over at him. "Are they–"

"Yes." He answered emotionlessly.

"Well then." Camille muttered. "At least somebody around here is getting it."

"You want me to fuck you so everybody hears?" Jameson asked her as he got up, moving to his suitcase. "Will that prove we're real and crazy about each other? Because that's the only reason she's doing it."

"No. But I'd prefer it if you showed any interest in having fun with me this weekend." "What do you think I've been doing, Cami?" "Worrying about your ex."

Jameson yanked the headphones out of his suitcase, turning to glare at his girlfriend. She wasn't wrong but he hated being called on it. There was no explaining what Imani did to him. She drove sanity out of his head. He did and said stupid shit when it came to her. It seemed he always would. His chest tightened, a wave of anger and something darker, more painful, rising in him. He hated that she could do this to him.

“I'm worried she's going to ruin this for Genie and EJ.” he muttered under his breath, making his way back to the bed. "I'm worried I'll get out of pocket and fuck it up with her. She seems to like me best when I'm out of my mind."

For a moment, he saw the sympathy in Camille. She sighed softly and lay back down, waiting for him to join her. One he did, she snuggled up to him. "The only way to win with her is to stop falling into the trap. Focus on EJ and Genie. Focus on us. Now...what are we listening to?"

He nodded, knowing she was right. For a moment, he could ignore the noises coming from down the hall. He could pretend he didn't know the difference between her fake moans and the actual ones of pleasure when that goofy bastard managed to hit something right. "Nat King Cole." he told Camille.

"Good." She closed her eyes and snuggled next to him as he put the headphones on. He couldn't hear Imani anymore and part of his anger faded as he pushed play on his phone's playlist. Camille kept her head pressed to his chest, the music filtering to her ears as she also ignored Imani and Isaiah.

Maybe if she got lucky, Imani would keep pushing Jameson's buttons. The angrier he got, the more he kept his distance. At least, that’s what she hoped for.

The soft glow of dawn crept into the room, painting the walls with a pale, golden hue. Camille stirred, her eyes fluttering open to the peaceful sight of Jameson still asleep beside her. His face was relaxed, his breathing steady, and she couldn’t help but smile. The headphones he had worn to bed were askew on his head.

For all the chaos surrounding this trip, moments like this made it worth it.

She slipped out of bed as quietly as she could, heading to the ensuite bathroom and getting ready for the day. Jameson still remained asleep so Camille pulled the headphones from his head and kissed him softly. She got dressed in a sweater and leggings before heading downstairs. The house was still, the only sound the faint creak of the floorboards under her feet.

In the kitchen, she set to work, humming softly to herself as she cracked eggs and whisked batter for pancakes. Breakfast in bed didn’t sound like a terrible idea. After the night Jameson had, she wanted there to be a contrast. Imani stressed him out, she made everything easier. Maybe it’d make it a simple decision for him.

“Morning,” a voice called, startling her. “Looks like somebody had the same idea as me.”

Camille turned to see EJ standing in the doorway, his hand lifted to scratch at his neck as he yawned. He made his way to the coffee machine, going through the routine that he did every morning.

“Morning,” Camille replied with a smile. “Didn’t mean to wake anyone.”

“You didn’t,” EJ assured her, “Genie’s dad is flying in today. I wanted to be up and make sure his room’s ready.”

“Kendrick Adesanya?” Camille questioned, eyes going wide. “My dad would kill to meet him. I wonder if he’ll give me an autograph.”

EJ laughed. “Most people would kill to meet him. When Genie first took me to his house for dinner, I felt like I was going to pass out. You making breakfast for yourself?"

“Un-uh,” she replied, her voice light but slightly strained. “Jameson. Figured I’d surprise him. Let him sleep in a little.”

EJ nodded and moved to the fridge, pulling out ingredients for an omelet. “I’m making something for Genie. She’s still out cold, but I promised her breakfast in bed.”

“That’s sweet of you,” Camille said, a hint of admiration in her tone.

EJ shrugged, cracking eggs into a bowl. “Gotta keep her happy. Happy soon to be wife, happy life?”

They both laughed before getting back to work in earnest. They worked in silence for a few moments, the clinking of utensils and the smell of butter filling the space. Finally, EJ broke the quiet. “So…how are things with Jameson?”

Camille hesitated, her spatula pausing mid-air. “Good,” she said, but there was a tightness to her voice. “I mean, I think they’re good. He’s been...a little distant, though. I think this weekend is a lot for him so far.”

EJ glanced at her, his brow furrowing. “Distant how?”

Camille sighed, setting down the spatula and turning to face him. “I don’t know. It’s just...with everything that’s happened, I feel like there’s this gulf between us. Like he’s not completely here, you know? He’s holding himself at a distance.”

EJ nodded slowly, whisking the eggs. “I’m sorry. That’s a tough spot to be in. I didn’t mean for that to happen to you guys.”

“It’s not your fault. And then there’s Imani,” Camille added, her voice dropping. “I mean, I know he says he’s over her, but it’s hard not to feel like she’s always there. They circle around each other like they don’t know what to think or say. Especially after…” She trailed off, biting her lip.

“After what?” EJ prompted, glancing at her.

Camille hesitated, then sighed. “After hearing her and Isaiah – well, I woke up in the middle of the night and we could hear them. They were…having sex. Down the hall the other night.”

EJ’s eyebrows shot up. “Seriously?”

“Yeah,” Camille said, her cheeks flushing. “It was...loud. And it triggered something in him. He got agitated and then we argued a bit. I know it shouldn’t bother me, but it does. It’s like she’s trying to prove something. To him and me. She still has a hold on him and we all know it.”

EJ set down the whisk and turned to face her fully, leaning against the counter. “I told you she did. Camille –” He stopped himself, Genie’s words from earlier echoing in his mind: Let them figure it out on their own.

“What?” Camille asked, her eyes searching his face.

EJ shook his head, offering her a small smile. “Nothing. I uh – I just wanted to say I was sorry for how messy shit has gotten. You and Jameson will figure it out. You’ve got a good thing going. Trust each other — don’t let anyone else fuck with that.”

Camille studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Thanks, EJ. I appreciate that.”

“Anytime,” he said, turning back to his omelet.

They finished cooking in companionable silence, and as Camille gathered her tray to take upstairs, EJ grabbed his plate.

“Good luck,” he said as they headed for the stairs.

Jameson was still asleep when she entered the room, his arm draped across the bed where she had been. She set the tray down on the nightstand and gently shook his shoulder, kissing his cheek softly. He grunted in his sleep, slowly opening his eyes and turning his head to peer at her.

“Good morning,” she whispered. “I made you breakfast.” “Good morning,” he replied, smiling. He sat up, groggy but alert, as she placed the tray on his lap. “Thank you, baby. But you didn’t have to do this.”

“I wanted to. You had a long night” she said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “But I am not going to hover. I’m heading to the slopes with EJ’s sister. She invited us both last night but you should sleep in a little more.”

Jameson nodded, taking a sip of coffee and a bite of the bacon. “You sure? I can go with you.” He said softly, lifting his head to offer her a kiss.

Camille leaned in, “It’s fine. We’re going to have a girl's morning. You get some rest.” She kissed him soundly, gently brushing a crumb from his face. "But promise you'll make some time for me tonight before EJ and Genie's dinner." He gave her a quick nod. “I promise. Thank you. Be careful.”

“I will,” she promised, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

It took a minute for her to get dressed. Jameson watched her the entire time, eating his breakfast and subtly asking for kisses each time. For the first time since they’d gotten to Aspen, it felt like he was all about her. As she left the room, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen.

Sloane.

Her heart sank as she made her way down the stairs and crossed the living room and exited the front door – phone buzzing all the while. Finally, when she was sure she was alone, Camille answered. “What do you want?”

“Hey, girl. I was just wondering how Aspen was.” Sloane’s voice chimed, deceptively light. “You’re starting to get a little unhinged behind a man that has never wanted you.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone and Camille took the opportunity to go for a kill shot. “Imani. She’s my real competition. It’s never been you. And I’m sorry, Sloane, it never will be.”

There was more silence and guilt start to set in – Camille knew she had been cruel but she couldn’t help it. There were all these forces against she and Jameson. She just wanted to protect what they were trying to build. Sloane was a threat that she could handle easily…or so she thought.

“For a minute, I started to feel bad for what I’ve done. I’ve been there. Wanting something I don’t deserve.” Sloane said slowly, her voice was calm…almost eerie. “You and I…we’re a lot alike. But unlike you, I knew when my time was up. You’re greedy enough to want more.”

“Sorry for what you’ve done?” Camille got a sinking feeling in her stomach.

“Oh you’re curious about that, are you?” Sloane’s tone was almost teasing, but it carried an undercurrent of malice. “Sloane…” “I just told the truth. For once in my life, I told the absolute truth. You probably have a couple of hours before it all blows up in your face.”

Camille froze, her grip tightening on the phone. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ll see,” Sloane replied with a laugh. “Enjoy your baecation while it lasts. But remember this – I saved you from living a lie. Even when you’re angry, remember I did you a favor.”

The line went dead, leaving Camille standing there, her heart pounding. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. She heard the front door open and jumped when Ella called her name.

“You ready to go, girl?”

Camille had to give the girl a smile – praying she couldn’t see the underlying tension. “Of course. Let’s…let’s go.”

He was second-guessing himself but as Jameson lifted his hand to twist the doorknob, there wasn’t much he could do to stop. He should have spent the day sleeping and resting -- but he couldn't fully let go of his anger. He heard movement in Imani’s room and figured it was her. Irritation was burrowing underneath his skin. The past four days had been stressful. Psychological warfare with Imani was rough. Every sweet thing he did with Camille, Imani made sure she topped it with – what was his fucking name? Who was he kidding? He didn’t give a shit.

The door swung open and he came face to face with her…, which immediately ignited his agitation. “You realize you aren’t the only one here right?” He said abruptly, leaning against the door frame.

Imani was on her phone, checking a few of her emails. She missed the group’s excursion to the slopes because she couldn’t decide what to wear, so she stayed behind and was glad she did. She was tired of seeing Jameson with Camille. She needed a damn break, but of course, fate wouldn’t allow it. Because there was an angry Jameson standing in her room. She exhaled her annoyance and turned her head quickly to stare at him. Her eyebrows furrowed. “Have you lost your damn mind? Don’t you know how to knock?”

“I didn’t think you cared about manners. You know we all heard ya’ll fucking last night, right?” Jameson asked her, his emotions heightened by the fact that she seemed ready to have it out with him.

That meant her mission was accomplished. Imani wanted Jameson to hear her having sex with Isaiah. She wanted to do anything she could to make him jealous. “My bad.” Imani didn’t bother to look up at him. Instead, she kept scrolling through her phone.

“Your bad?” He questioned, face frowning up as he moved further into the room without invitation. “You don’t think that was fucked up?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry,” Imani said. She didn’t give a damn about what Jameson had to say. “Is that better for you, friend?”

“That’s it?” He said, agitated by her lack of remorse...and the fact that she called him friend. “Y'all couldn’t go rent a room somewhere or something? It was nasty. Genie won’t tell you that. Neither will EJ but I will.”

She paused, squinting her eyes at his audacity. EJ and Genie were on a separate wing than they were. She didn’t think they heard her at all. Her goal was to only capture his ears and it seemed like that was accomplished. “Jameson, you haven’t said nothing to me this whole trip. If you not EJ or Genie, I really don’t give a fuck about what you have to say.”

His brows furrowed in confusion as he moved further into the room, arms folded over his chest defensively. “And what would you like me to say to you?” He asked, tilting his head. “You ain’t said shit to me either. All you do is follow that nigga around giggling.”

The civil war Imani and Jameson had been engaged in the past two days was intense. They hadn't caused too much of a fuss but each was determined to one up each other…despite the fact that their last conversation consisted of each declaring the desire to be friends. They had failed.

Imani chuckled, “Ain’t we supposed to be friends, now, right? That’s what you said on that damn podcast. It shouldn’t be that hard to talk to your friend.”

“Did I lie? We agreed to be friends.” Jameson glared at her, the dots connecting in his head. Was she…mad about him saying they were friends? “Are you mad at me for not talking to you regularly? It’s complicated with us. I didn’t know what to say. I just figured…we parted on good terms so we were good. But the way you acting, I’m starting to think we ain’t.”

She looked at him through squinted eyes. “The way I’m actin’? I ain’t the one that’s bustin’ up in your room policin’ the way you fuck! That’s you!”

“We gone act like I didn’t come in here for a fucking reason?” He retorted, matching her energy. “You fucked that nigga where I could hear you!”

“And the other day, you had that bitch whimperin’ where I could hear so I don’t think we any different.”

“That was a fucking kiss, Mani. I ain’t fucked Cami in days because I knew you were down the hall. That’s the difference between us.” It would have been easy to pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about but they were too deep in the game to lie. “I don’t get off making you feel like shit.”

She tilted her head at him. “Why the fuck does it matter what me and Isaiah do at night? You moved on. You coulda fucked Camille if you wanted to!”

And there it was. The first time either of them had vocalized the root of the shit they were battling about. He couldn't believe her audacity.

“You moved on first.” Jameson told her coldly. He didn’t even bother broaching the other topics. “You left me. You said ‘one day’. Next thing I know, you tonguing down some random. You moved on first.”

The elephant in the room seemed to grow bigger the more each of them talked. When he finished speaking, Imani lapsed into silence but he could see that she was mentally calculating.

She clenched her jaw, tired of holding back all of the truths she spared him from. “I never moved on! You wifed a bitch and sang your heart out about her. None of them niggas could say I was theirs like Camille can say you hers.”

He couldn't let himself hope. Jameson forced himself to ignore the fact that she declared she had never moved on from him. He forced himself to ignore the way his heart thudded. Instead, he got angry. It was easier to deal with anger than fear.

“You think I gave a fuck about that?!” He shouted, “You ain’t post them but I still saw it! I’m at home drinking just so I can sleep and not dream of you but you was out having the time of your life!” He clapped his hands together, punctuating each word he uttered. “Song after song about you before I made anything about her! I made ‘em until I couldn’t mourn anymore! You should be fucking happy it took me six months to even think of somebody else because if I was the nigga you think I am, I coulda had ten bitches the day you left my house.”

Her voice was stuck in her throat. Imani remembered all of his pain and suffering she heard through Midnight and instantly she felt a tinge of guilt, but she shook her head. The feeling died out quickly when she reminded herself they were in a fight. “You think that shit was easy for me!?” Her voice rose a few octaves as she threw her hands up then touched her chest. “I thought that doing that shit would make me forget about you and the mistake I made! But nothing fuckin’ worked. I was fucking alone! All I had was thoughts of you.”

That damn thudding in his chest began again. His heart skipped a beat and he shook his head, doing his best not to ignore everything else she was saying. He couldn't highlight the good shit and ignore the bad. Jameson forced himself not to comfort her.

“You chose to be alone, Mani. You left me and you left Genie. That was your decision.” He told her heatedly. “Don't compare that to me. You didn't see me with anybody until Cami. You on your third fling and this nigga got a post. You call him daddy. Let him fuck you down the hall from me. You ain't having it hard.”

“I was doing what I thought was right for us!” She chose to ignore his other claims because those flings meant nothing to her. They weren’t Jameson. She could never be as serious with them as he was with Camille, because her heart was with someone else.

“I was doing what I thought was right! I let you go, I didn’t fight. Stop comparing that!” “How the fuck is it any different?” She yelled. "It killed me to let you go. But you just kept going."

Instead of granting him a response, she pushed his forehead with her index finger and said, “Fuck you, Jamie! You don’t know how I felt. You don’t know what the fuck I went through.”

They broke each other’s heart trying to do right by one another. Before he could respond that he was doing the same…she pressed a digit to his head. What the fuck?

He came right back, his eyes screwing up to see her finger pressed to his head in disbelief. He lifted his arm — knocking her hand from his head as he gazed at her fingers. The diamond shone brightly, almost shocking him. It was the one he bought her. Had she always worn it? “We did that already. Before you gave that nigga pity pussy, I showed you how to play the fuck you game. Unfortunately for you, you stuck with that nigga now. You made that bed, lay in it.”

She could tell he was talking shit. Made the bed now lay in it? He had proven himself jealous. He wanted her. Why wasn't he taking her? Why did he ignore her obvious feelings?

Imani laughed loudly. “You really want me to believe that you havin’ better sex than me? That you don't want me?” She retorted. “Nigga, you pent up as fuck. I see it all in your face.”

Jameson kissed his teeth, rolling his eyes. It was true but he'd be damned if he admitted it. Sex with Cami was fine. They both got off. It was normal, typical sex. Radically different from what he had with Mani. But he didn't think he had anything to prove to her so he didn't answer. “I ain't ask you to believe shit. I'm just telling you that I know he not getting the job done. You forget that I know how you sound when you really want it.”

She smirked, knowing she was right. Imani rolled her eyes at him. “Get the fuck out my room.” She said. “Oh, and take my watch off while you’re at it.”

He blinked at her, head jerking to the side as he tried to process what the fuck she was saying. “Fuck that and fuck you. This my watch.”

“Why the fuck are you even wearing that shit anyways!?” She said with her hands on her hips. “Camille ain’t gave you no other shit to wear?”

“It's my fucking watch. That's enough reason.” Jameson replied, frowning at her. “You said it was a mistake to leave me — you should be happy I'm wearing it.”

“I should be happy? I should be happy you’re wearin’ the fucking watch I gave you while you parade around here with another woman?” She repeated through squinted eyes. “What kinda sick fucking game are you playing?”

“Same game you playing.” He responded with venom, gesturing to her hand. He had seen it when she pushed his head but he was so angry at her that he didn't comment. “You fuck that nigga wearing my ring?”

Silence lapsed between them and Imani curled her fingers into a fist, wanting desperately to hide the damn ring…but he had already seen it. Fuck. She forgot to take off the ring when he came into the room. “And what if I did?” She finally said. She only wore his ring to calm herself down. It was the only piece of him she had and it brought her comfort. But it was not working right now. She was mad as fuck. “I know you fuckin’ that bitch wearing my watch!”

“Mhm. I do.” He confirmed, lashing out just as she was. He just kept staring at the ring on her finger as if he were lost in his own thoughts. “I can't take the fucking thing off and it's your fault. I tried but I can't.”

Her eyebrows furrowed as she stared at him. “What the hell you mean you can’t take it off, Jamie? You need me to fuckin’ help you?”

“Don't.” He mumbled, glaring at her. “Don't touch me, Mani. I swear to God…”

His words were a challenge for her. “Or what? The fuck you gone do, Jameson?” Imani glared at him as silence fell between them. Without another word, she reached out and grabbed his wrist.

He jerked his hand away from her. It was insanity but…this was exciting. Arguing with her, yelling shit they probably could have just sat down and talked about. It lit something inside him. He hated it…and loved it. After a moment of hesitation, he reached out for her. Jameson jerked her closer by her neck, grasping her loosely. He opened his mouth to say something but…what could he say? What else was to be said? He didn’t think about Camille or the fact that this was their friends’ engagement trip. All he could think about was that she had carried a part of him with her. He never took the watch off for that reason but it didn’t occur to him she felt the same way.

Jameson angled his head, his movements sleek and precise, and finally kissed her.

She was hesitant at first. Then Imani’s hand was on the nape of his neck, pulling him closer to her. She slipped her tongue into his mouth, wanting a taste of him, because she didn’t know if it would be her last. Imani pulled away just so she could catch her breath. “I missed you,” she said. Her lips found his again.

He caught the words she whispered and any common sense that would have stopped him from cheating on Camille fled. All he could hear was her. All he could feel was the way she touched him. For the first time in a year, he felt like himself again. “I missed you too.” He answered honestly, his hand releasing her wrist and anchoring against her hips as he slowly dipped…then picked her up, gathering her in his arms.

It was disgraceful. It was wrong. But fuck it felt good to hold her again. He knew he wasn’t going to stop. It had been over a year. Thirteen months, nineteen days, and six hours since he got to kiss her. He suffered, feeling the ghost of her under his skin while he did his best to pretend everything was fine. He went to therapy, he said and did all the right things to get his life back on track – and none of that felt as good as his fingers grasping a handful of ass and hearing her whimper.

The two stumbled backward, tipping over onto the bed. Imani straddled him, Jameson’s hands were roaming. They sat that way – kissing, tongues tangling and stroking one another, heads shifting left and right. Both of them were desperate for each other. The door was wide open but pausing to ensure their privacy didn’t appeal to either. Jameson reared back, his hand leaving her ass and straight down into her velour tracksuit.

Imani hissed against his mouth, breaking the kiss to peer down between them. She watched his hand fumbling until they pushed her panties aside and dipped between her folds. His fingertips grazed against her piercing and she moaned. She was already wet and part of her hated to admit it – but it was their argument that did it.

They were toxic. They were each other’s drug of choice. They had both gotten clean but the addiction lingered like a shadow. Something they couldn’t outrun, no matter how many times they tried to walk away.

Imani leaned over him, her breath shallow, her pulse racing. Her hands framed his face and forced Jameson’s gaze to meet her own. They didn’t exchange words but they understood each other immediately. They were choosing to be together…at least for this moment. Imani slowly lifted his shirt, waiting for him to stop her but he didn’t. All he did was pull his hands from her pants, lifted his arms, and let her.

She saw bare chest and shoulders, broad and just the same as always. Then she saw nothing. Jameson tilted her head back and took her mouth again.

Imani didn’t waste time. They had none to spare. She rolled her hips hard against him and raked her acrylics across his shoulders and then down his chest. She felt her fingers against his biceps and then his abs – searching for more while Jameson shoved his hand back down the tracksuit that neither bothered to rid her of.

“Fuck,” he groaned against her mouth. “Baby, now.” Imani murmured.

Like a man given his orders, Jameson shifted slightly to the side and began to fuck her with his fingers. Imani’s eyes fluttered closed as she rocked herself on then off his digits. Every time she slid forward, she ground her hips down – taking his fingers but beckoning his dick to harden against her. She was practically out of her mind but she had enough sense to hold on to him, her arms wrapping around his neck as he panted against her ear.

For a few minutes, she rode him like that – both of them alternating between kissing and watching his fingers twist and thrust inside her. She could feel the orgasm racing up her spine but it felt so out of reach.

Imani opened her mouth to beg for more but his thumb pressed to her clit and she inhaled sharply. Just then…they heard the front door slam.

Imani froze but Jameson didn’t stop. He kept stroking her, kissing her neck. Maybe it was because she missed him. Maybe it was because she could hear footsteps downstairs. Whatever it was…it made her shudder against him. She came on a gasp so quickly that it shocked them both. Jameson lifted his free hand, covering her mouth as she kept circling her hips, riding out the high…until he couldn’t take it anymore.

They heard the footsteps below but Jameson moved like he had all the time in the world. He pulled his fingers free, rising from the bed, and hiked her higher in his arms. Kicking her bedroom door closed, he did the same to the shirt she had peeled from his body – doing his best to make sure it was under the bed. Then he strode into the ensuite bathroom and kicked that door closed behind them too.

All Imani could do was hold on to him, not saying a word. It would have been smart to stop but as their eyes met – she knew they wouldn’t. Jameson lowered her to stand…and then he locked the door.

The soft chime of her laptop pulled Genie’s attention away from the mug of tea she’d been nursing for the past hour. After breakfast with EJ, her father had finally arrived. Genie was so excited that she didn’t care about skiing or sledding or whatever activities EJ had planned. She sat with her father and felt like a kid again – following him around the house and helping him get settled. Finally, he left her to get some rest and she had pouted.

Instead of going out into the cold, Genie decided to do some work. She had emails to go through. Offers for gowns to events, modeling offers, and even fashion jobs but one in particular caught her eye. She glanced at the screen, her brow furrowing at the sight of a name she hadn’t seen there in…a while.

Sloane.

Her first instinct was to delete it. Whatever Sloane had to say couldn’t be good, and Genie wasn’t in the mood for more drama. She and Jameson had truly rooted her out of their lives and she was glad to keep it that way but curiosity got the better of her. With a sigh, she clicked the email open.

The message was long, rambling, and filled with justifications and excuses. But the gist of it was – Jameson was once again the object of her obsession. Sloane’s words were laced with guilt and a desperation to come clean.

“I never meant for things to go this far. I swear it was just meant to convince Jameson to talk to me. I’ve only ever had you guys as friends for real. I knew once he forgave me that you might too. I only gave her advice on how to get become friends with Jamie — what he liked, what he didn’t. I recently saw that they were together and I asked Camille about it. She wouldn’t even talk to me. Once she got what she wanted, I was history. I’m sorry, Genie. I had no idea that she was like this. I just wanted my friends back and I used her to do it. I didn’t realize what a mistake that would be.”

Genie’s heart pounded as she reread that section of the email. A mix of disbelief and anger bubbled up inside her. Camille? Sloane coaching her? It didn’t make sense. It couldn’t be true. Why the fuck would either of them think that’d be a good idea?

Then again…it was. It worked. Camille got close. Genie knew Sloane wasn’t telling her this from the goodness of her heart. She was probably pissed that Camille and Jameson were dating.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she slammed the laptop shut. No. If Sloane had something to say, she could say it to her face — or at least over the phone.

Genie grabbed her phone and unblocked Sloane’s number before dialing it. It rung but then had no answer. Genie quickly flipped the laptop back open and sent three words in response to the email: Call me. Now.

The line rang once – the number unfamiliar to Genie – before she picked up, her voice tense. “What the fuck is this email about?”

There was a pause, and then Sloane sighed. “Look, I messed up, okay? I didn’t think it would go this far.”

“I don’t care about your explanation or your feelings. Tell me what’s going on?” Genie snapped.

Sloane launched into the story, her words tumbling over each other in her haste to explain. She admitted to coaching Camille, giving her tips on how to appeal to Jameson — how to get under his skin. It was supposed to be for friendship reasons but Genie wasn’t naive enough to buy that shit.

Her grip on her phone tightened as Sloane’s confession unraveled. By the time she finished, Genie was shaking with anger.

“So you told this girl how to play Jameson? It was all a lie?” Genie’s voice was low, dangerous.

“To give her credit, I think she really does want to be with him. But…” Sloane said weakly. “But?!” “If you play games to get what you want, you’ll always be playing. Isn’t that way you and Jameson stopped being friends with me? Trust? You can’t trust Camille. Just like you couldn’t trust me. Eventually, she’ll start playing the same games to get what she wants.”

Genie hung up without another word, her mind racing. She couldn’t let this slide. Not again.

She looked all over the house for Camille but of course she wasn’t there. It wasn’t until EJ told her that she’d gone skiing with his sister that she realized the truth. Genie got dressed, ignoring EJ’s questions – simply saying she wanted to ski too.

It took almost forty-five minutes for her to make it to the damn mountain. By then, she was hotter than fish grease. She had stood back and let Sloane have her way. She knew the girl was no good and still let Jameson linger around her. She wasn’t going to do it again. Especially not when EJ said he wanted something good for himself.

When she saw the two, Ella spotted her first. Genie greeted her future sister in law warmly but cut her eyes at Camille. “We need to talk,” she told her, asking Ella to wait for them at the lift.

Camille nodded, agreeing quietly. “What’s going on?”

“I just got off the phone with Sloane,” Genie said, crossing her arms as she glanced around to make sure they couldn’t be heard by Ella. “Care to explain why she’s telling me you aren’t to be trusted?”

Camille’s pretty went pale and Genie almost felt sorry for her. Almost. Until she started lying. “I…I don’t know what she's talking about.”

“Don’t lie to me,” Genie snapped. “She told me everything. How she coached you, how you followed her little plan to befriend Jameson. Was any of it real, Camille? Or was this just some weird ass game to you both?”

Camille opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

“That’s what I thought,” Genie said, her voice shaking with anger. “You played my brother. You used him.”

“No! I didn’t!” Camille said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just – I didn’t expect to fall for him. But I did. I love Jameson. Sloane is the one – ”

Genie took a step closer, her eyes blazing. “No. You don’t get to play the victim here. You don’t get to pretend that it’s just Sloane. You manipulated him too. And I swear to god, you’re going to fix it.”

“But I…How?” Camille asked, tears brimming in her eyes.

“You’re going to tell him the truth,” Genie said firmly. “Everything. Or I will.”

Camille’s breath hitched. “Genie, please—”

“No,” Genie interrupted. “Jameson deserves better than this. He deserves the truth. EJ said you were good for him. That you were his new beginning but it’s the same old shit. You’re no better than Sloane. Tell him or I will. And the last bitch I snitched on, my brother cut her out the same night”

Camille trembled, her eyes wide. She fully believed Genie. Time after time, Jameson had told her how much his family meant to him. She knew Genie was serious.

Without another word, Genie turned on her heel, her anger still simmering as she approached Ella. She couldn’t believe she’d ever been willing to give Camille a shot. But one thing was certain — Jameson was going to hear the truth, no matter what. Whatever he decided from that point on was his business.

The water pounded against their skin, a steady rhythm that mirrored their hearts. Their clothes had been discarded in a pile on the floor. Steam filled the small bathroom, swirling around them, blurring the edges of reality. Jameson stood under the stream, his eyes closed, trying to breathe through the tension that threaded through his body. Imani was in front of him, her legs spread and her hand pressed against the stone wall to keep herself balanced.

He pressed forward, gripping the base of his dick tightly in his grasp as he watched her welcome him in. They both exhaled in relief, pleasure making their skin tingle. The water cascaded over them and covered the sounds they couldn’t help but make.

One of her hands came back and pressed to his thigh, pulling him forward but Jameson resisted. He only pushed the head into her, pulling back and fucking her with only that. Imani whined – he barely heard it over the spray of the shower but it was there. She turned back to look at him, frustration furrowing her brow.

“Jamie…” she muttered, biting down on her lower lip. He gave her a little more, hands gripping her ass and pulling her cheeks apart. She gave him a giddy little smile, eyes closing as she tried to rise to the tips of her toes and slide back. One of his hands moved to grasp her waist and he kept her steady.

He couldn’t help the little delirious laugh that left his mouth. He was here with her. She wasn’t a vision or a fantasy. He was pushing into her, ignoring the way she tightened and soaked him. He was doing something wrong but it felt so fucking good that he didn’t think he’d ever find the decency to feel guilty about it. “Yeah. That’s how you sound when you really want it.”

He couldn’t see her face but he heard her words. “Shut the fuck up.”

They couldn’t spare the time, not really. But Jameson didn’t care about being found. He didn’t care about getting caught. All he gave a fuck about were the 415 days he spent without her. The nights where he wondered who got to cuddle up to her. And he decided a few extra minutes for dick couldn’t hurt her.

Jameson froze, bracing as she tried to buck back and force him to act. “Say sorry.”

Imani turned back to glare at him, the words not falling from her mouth. It was ludacris but Jameson grinned down at her, his fingertips digging into her hips to keep her still.

“Say it.” “No. Fuck you.”

He pulled out of her, opening his mouth to retort but there was a knock on the door. Imani’s head turned and she shot up, standing up straight. She stumbled back and Jameson caught her – keeping them both steady as she stared at the door.

“Y-Yeah?” She called out. “You good?”

He heard the voice call out to her and recognized it as Isaiah. He must have been who they heard come into the house. Jameson wondered how much he heard. Imani seemed to wonder the same. She turned her head, looking over her shoulder at him.

“Answer him,” he said softly, wrapping his arm around her waist as he pressed a kiss against her neck to relax her. Imani did what he said and replied to Isaiah, shouting to be heard over the shower. “I’m f-fine.”

“You sure? You ain’t come out of this room all day. I missed you on the slopes.” “I’m sorry. I’m just…not feeling good.” “Let me in, baby. I want to check on you.”

He hated hearing the word ‘babe’ fall from his lips about Imani but Jameson didn’t say a word. He stroked down her thigh, fingertips eventually grazing at her clit. “You want him to check on you?” He teased her, fingers brushing against the silver piercing between her legs. Jameson tugged it down, twisting his fingers so they hit her clit and the piercing within seconds of each other. Imani tensed but didn’t stop him.

“No! No, I’m okay. I’m just… craving…um…caviar.” “...Caviar?”

Jameson snorted with laughter and Imani slapped her hand against his wrist, trying to silence him. He responded by moving his fingers faster, strumming her clit as his foot parted her legs even wider.

“Y-Yes! Caviar!”

She didn’t even eat caviar but Imani would give anything for him to get away from the damn door. Jameson had her legs trembling and she knew it wouldn’t be much longer before she couldn’t hide the fact that she was in bliss.

“I can see if we got some in the kitchen.” “W-We don’t. Can you go to the market?” “Which one?” “Either one! It doesn’t matter!”

Her voice picked up urgency as she twisted her hips, joining his hand in getting her off. Jameson leaned in, kissing her earlobe before he whispered lowly. “I think we about to get caught. You want him to hear how you sound when you really cum?”

Imani shook her head, refusing Jameson’s request. Isaiah was saying something else but she couldn’t hear him – didn’t want to hear him. All she could hear was Jameson whispering against her ear, all she could feel was his fingers stroking her clit and then moving – wedging inside her. “C’mere. Let me hear it.” He whispered against her ear. She didn’t know if Isaiah was gone or not but Imani knew one thing for sure: she couldn’t hold back any longer.

She gasped, buckling under the pressure as she came with a strangled moan. The orgasm hit her harder than she expected and she crumpled forward, bending at the waist as she tried to escape his hands...but he wouldn’t let her.

“Tell me you sorry.” Jameson said and Imani didn’t have it in her to deny him anymore. “I’m sorry.” She whispered, grasping his wrist to pull his hand away as she kept coming.

He pushed her hand away, quickening his strokes and adding his other hand to rub her clit. “I can’t hear you.”

“Baby please, I-I’m sorry.” She yelped, her voice cracking from the pleasure.

She expected him to be obnoxious about getting an apology but he didn’t. Instead, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “I’m sorry too. For everything that led us here.”

Goosebumps spread across her skin but she didn’t have time to process what that meant. No sooner than he said the words, he was pressing into her while she was coming but he didn’t stop at the head. He kept going, pushing in and then pulling out to watch as she coated his dick in her release. “That’s pretty.” He murmured, one hand moving to her ass as the other reached up to grasp her hair. “My baby so fucking wet.” He turned them both in the shower, making her press her hands to the glass enclosing them in the space before his pace increased.

Imani’s jaw dropped as he thrust. He was trusting her to keep them both from falling against the glass and she didn’t have much faith in her abilities. Everything was trembling. Her thighs, her arms, her whole damn body. And there he was – fucking her like they weren’t under a time limit. Like they weren’t in situations with other people.

And she loved every minute of it.

Imani rose to the tips of her toes, rocking her hips hard against him. Their bodies clashed, water splashing between them as their thighs met. Jameson was so hard that it almost hurt him but he didn’t stop. He kept going, angling his hips to dig into her as deeply as he could. He hit that one spot that could damn near blind her and Imani yelped – the sound echoing throughout the bathroom.

“Baby, don’t stop.” she cried out, arms buckling as her body pressed to the glass. She gave up the pretense of holding anything up. He had a firm grip on her hair still. Head pulled back, hips jutted out, she was at his mercy. He slapped his palm against her ass, watching the cheek ripple and a groan left his body. Good. She loved to know that he was going crazy just like she was.

Jameson let her hair go and Imani’s face pressed to the glass, cheek against the cold as her hands reached back to grasp his thighs.

“W-Why you fucking me like this?” she whined, eyes rolling as he throbbed deep within her. “Because,” he grunted, being more honest than he wanted to be. “I love you. I need you. And I missed the fuck out of this pussy.”

That seemed to be the answer her body craved. Imani felt the rush hit her again. Jameson could feel it coming. She squeezed and pulled at his dick so good that he was shocked he hadn’t finished inside her yet. When she lost the ability to speak, he pressed her fully against the glass and bucked his hips – moving so fast that to peer down between them would be like looking at a damn blur. Her ass rebounded each time he pressed forward and Jameson pulled her cheeks apart again – arching her hips the way he liked.

“I missed this dick so much.” she cried out, shaking as she came and confessed. “Nobody can fuck me like you do.” Her body was trembling uncontrollably as she released wave after wave of warm wetness onto him. The powerful way her pussy clenched tightly had him shaking too. Pulling him in and throbbing with every pulse of pleasure that erupted from within her. The hot water had faded into warm and was bordering on cold now but he didn’t give a shit. Jameson kept going as his soft grunts echoed off the walls of the shower.

“Fuck your pussy, baby,” she muttered, gasping out for breath. She was delirious after her third orgasm but he wasn’t done. He wanted another from her. It was that need to prove to her how he felt. The words weren’t working anymore. Words had failed them both. But when they got like this – they said everything they ever needed to say.

“This mine?” He asked her, moaning when she bobbed her head – nodding so fast that he barely got the question out. “You mean it?”

“Mhm!.” “My fucking baby. That pussy welcoming me home?” “Yes!” She cried, choking the word out with a groan. “Say it’s mine again.” “It’s yours, daddy! I promise.” “You gone give my shit away again?” “Un-uh! I’m never giving your pussy away again.” “Swear it.” “I swear, daddy!” “I’ma make sure you keep that promise.” “Jamie, please. I can’t. I can’t anymore. Cum.” “Not yet. One more. Then I’ll give you everything.” “You promise?” “I swear, baby.”

Imani nodded her head and hiked her leg up, resting it against the shower bench, and went to work. She sensuously rolled her hips against him, looking back over her shoulder and meeting his gaze.

She recognized that wild, borderline delirious look in his eyes. It was the same one she had. “Tell me this dick is mine.” she demanded. She had given him everything, had bared her feelings out throughout sex and she wanted the same from him. When they got out of this shower, she wanted to know he was hers.

Surprise ignited in Jameson’s eyes and the tightening in his gut told him that he liked her possessiveness. After a year of believing she was apathetic to him, it fed something in him.

“This your dick.” He told her with a grin. “Say it again,” Imani demanded.

He watched as her hand wedged between her legs, rubbing her sensitive clit. Her legs shook but she fought the urge to close them as his dick swelled within her. “This your dick, baby.”

“Again.” She demanded once more. “This your dick.” He told her seriously, moving his hands to brace against her hips and help her cum around him. “I belong to you. I’m not living if I’m not with you. I’m just existing.”

He watched her face soften as he confessed and Jameson leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. He slowed down, giving her deep and hard strokes as she squeaked out his name. He felt her cum around him again and his eyes shut as he wrapped his arms around her. He was done for. No good anymore.

Imani’s head fell back to his shoulder and she dragged his hand up her body, resting his hand against her neck. “Choke me.” She moaned out, knowing exactly what he needed. Jameson did as she asked, his thumb and ring finger pressing tightly against the sides of her neck. He didn’t do this with Camille. Comparing the two women never felt right but he had done it. Cami liked to be coddled and petted. He had done it and he enjoyed it. But this? Wild, reckless, uninhibited sex with Imani was heaven. She hummed happily and Jameson lifted his leg – resting it against hers on the bench as he jerked once…twice…and then emptied himself inside her.

They ground their hips against each other, Imani moving in the opposite direction as he did – dragging out their orgasms. Jameson twitched, grunting each time he sunk into her. Peering down between them, he watched his dick – covered in his nut and her cum slide in and out of her. He knew right then and there that he was never going to let this girl leave him again. They were going to have to figure this shit out. He loved fucking her but he loved the way she held on to him even more. His arms were right tightly around her and she sighed happily when he released her neck.

Imani sank into his embrace, silence taking over as the two of them listened to the cold water running and splashing against their feet. Jameson dropped his foot, leaning over to shut the water off and then he pressed his face against her neck – taking a deep breath and holding her tightly.

“I love you, baby.” Imani whispered. “I love you too.” Jameson replied.

Isaiah’s brows furrowed in confusion as he padded down the hallway. His mind still stuck on the whimpers he heard. Caviar? Caviar? Why the fuck would she want that? He shook his head and took a deep breath. Whatever Imani needed him to do, he would do it without question. He was determined to impress her. She was unlike any girl he had ever met – independent, beautiful, and successful in her own right. She was the dream girl of every man. He knew he needed her on his team.

Entering the kitchen, he spotted Camille sitting at the island with a steaming mug in her hands. Her hands were shaking but still, she blew into it gently – sending plumes of hot steam swirling into the air. Walking over to the fridge, he opened it with hopefulness, searching for caviar. He didn’t want to go outside again. Isaiah was tired of the cold already. To his disappointment, there was none.

Camille asked him sullenly, “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, Mani just asked me for some caviar.” He said.

“Caviar? Why would she want that?”

“I don’t know, man. She’s been in the room all day. She told me she wasn’t feeling well and wanted some caviar. Then I heard her in the shower, breathing all heavy and shit. It was fucking weird.”

As Isaiah spoke about Imani’s request, he noticed Camille’s facial expression change slowly. She already looked upset but it was like something had turned her stomach. Confused by her reaction, he narrowed his eyes at her and asked, “What?”

Camille swallowed before speaking again, “Do you know about her history with Jameson?”

Isaiah’s jaw clenched at the mention of that name. He despised Jameson and the feeling appeared to be mutual – all the sharp and icy looks he had been given him this whole weekend was proof enough of that. And then there was the way Jameson looked at Imani. Isaiah didn’t even want to think about it. From what she had told him, he was her ex. But Isaiah wasn’t worried. He knew he could give Imani more opportunities than that nigga ever could.

“Nah, all I know is he’s her ex.” Isaiah replied with a nonchalant shrug. “I ain’t worried though.”

Camille seemed defeated when she spoke again. “You should be. I-I don’t think she’s fully over him and she might have invited you out here for the wrong reasons.”

Isaiah shook his head and waved off her concerns. “You trippin’. Me and Mani good. I’m a go get this caviar for her. I’ll be back.” He walked away to brave the frigid cold outside. Camille’s words stayed in his mind. But he quickly brushed them aside – what did Camille know about their relationship anyway? Jameson may have been Imani’s ex, but he was not Isaiah.

He couldn’t quite believe that this was reality. Even as they both dried off and he tugged his underwear and pants back on…it didn’t feel real. Jameson kept staring at Imani, wondering if she’d disappear if he blinked too much. They had long since turned off the shower. Jameson sat her on the counter, cleaning up the mess they had both made before they redressed…and now he was standing behind her, holding on as if she’d fade away if he let go. “We got a lot of shit to work out…but I can't tell if I'm just imagining you. Is this real?” He pressed a kiss to her head, sighing softly in relief.

“It’s real.” She turned to face him, gazing into his eyes. Imani grabbed his face. She sighed, “I’m sorry for everything, baby. I wish I did so much shit differently. If I could go back, I would. We woulda worked this shit out and it wouldn’t be all…complicated like it is now.”

It was insane how he relaxed the more she spoke. When he woke up that morning, he’d done it miserable and pissed at her. And now there he was – putty in her hands. “I can’t blame you too much,” he said softly, contradicting the heated words he’d spat out earlier. “I didn’t make you feel safe. I’m gonna make it uncomplicated. I’ll talk to Camille.”

He felt guilty about it. Camille had only been his girlfriend for a month but they were working towards building something. This was going to come out of left field for her but what else was he supposed to do? Imani was everything. And he was tired of pretending she wasn’t.

In the heat of the moment, she had forgotten about Camille and Isaiah. Imani felt terrible about them being casualties in their mess, but with him in her arms, she would do it all over again if she had to. “I’m sorry about that too.”

He sighed softly, leaning in to kiss her. “You ain’t sorry. Just like I’m not sorry about that dickhead being shown the door.” Jameson shook his head, sighing softly as he pressed his forehead to hers. “We kinda fucked up, baby.”

She chuckled lowly. Imani dropped her hands, resting them on his shoulder. “I know. I know. You my fuck up though.” She said, kissing him again. “I don’t want to leave.” Imani sighed, knowing they spent far too much time in the bathroom. But it felt like they had only been in there for five minutes. She wasn’t ready to face reality just yet.

“Me either.” He said softly. “But we have to. We at least owe them the truth.” He knew it wouldn’t change the fact that they were guilty but at least the truth would be out. “I gotta go talk to Camille. C’mon.”

She didn’t want to let him go, but she had to. Once they told their truths, they could be back in each other's arms again. “I’m ready, Jay. I need last night to be the last time I’ve slept without you in my arms.”

Jameson tsked softly, trying not to smile at how affectionate she was being. He had all but considered this lost. He began backing up to the bathroom door and unlocked it. “Don’t remind me about last night. I still owe you for that.” He pulled the door open, waiting for her to exit first. He still had to find his shirt but he was in no hurry.

Isaiah couldn’t shake Camille’s words and the muffled moans he heard from the bathroom before leaving to go to the market. He thought she was just being paranoid until he spotted Jameson down the hall, out of his and Imani’s room as he walked toward it. What the fuck was he doing in there? He glared at Jameson but was met with a shake of his head and a roll of his eyes. Isaiah opened their room door, walked inside, and slammed it close behind him.

Imani’s back was turned to him, but she jumped and glared at him. “What the hell, Isaiah!?” She said, sternly.

Ignoring her question, he stared at her coldly. “The fuck was he doing in here?” Imani believed she had time to gather herself before she told Isaiah about what happened with her and Jameson, but Isaiah running into him let her know her time expired.

Imani felt terrible about what she did even though she didn’t regret it at all. Her relationship with Isaiah was similar to her other flings: going nowhere. She could never give any of them her heart, because Jameson had it and this time, he came back to claim it. She hated that Isaiah had to be a casualty, but she was still dumbfounded. From what she knew about Isaiah, he seemed like he was sweet and kind, but here he was towering over her with his fists balled and his eyebrows furrowed.

Imani stood up, exhaling softly. “Isaiah, Jamie and I slept together,” she paused, glancing at him. Horizontal wrinkles appeared on his face as he stared at her with his eyebrows raised. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you into all of this mess.”

Isaiah tsked, shaking his head. “Damn, Imani, it’s really him over me, huh?” He chuckled in disbelief. “You really dragged me out here to play me for some square ass nigga.” Isaiah couldn’t believe it. What did that man have that he didn’t? He was paid, definitely had more money than what Jameson could offer. He could get Imani whatever she wanted. Women would drop everything to be with someone like that, so why didn’t she?

Her eyes squinted and her body tensed as he insulted Jameson. She wanted to allow him to be angry, but her patience could only take her so far. “I’m sorry – it’s not even like that.” she said softly. “But let’s be real with ourselves, you and I both know this wasn’t going anywhere.” She knew she wasn’t the only one on his roster of women. The man had access to anything he wanted. She saw how he angled his phone away from her while she was near and she heard all of the gossip surrounding him. Pussy was flying at him. How could a stable relationship ever be built off of that?

He stood there with his fists balled, never breaking his intense gaze on her. A quietness fell between them before Isaiah opened his mouth again. “Man, fuck you. I was ready to drop everything for you.”

“Fuck me?” She said, her voice strained and eyes squinted. “Nigga, fuck you. We’ve only known each other for a month and I know you got other hoes.”

“I was gone drop all of them for you!” He said, raising his voice.

She exhaled, rubbing her forehead as she searched for the right words to appease him. “Look, I’m sorry, Isaiah. It ain’t have anything to do with you. It’s nothing against you. You’re just not him.”

Isaiah chuckled. “I’m not him? I know. I’m better than that nigga. He can’t spoil you like I can. I got you here on my own private jet. You ain’t gone experience no shit like that in your life ever again.”

Imani rolled her eyes. She was done with being polite to him. She wasn’t familiar with this side of Isaiah. He was always kind and sweet to her, but now? He seemed like an asshole who had too many chances. “Trust me, I don’t need to be with you to experience any of that. I got my own shit. Now get the fuck out of here.”

He stepped closer to her with a heated glare and she peered at his clenched fists. Imani stared right back at him with her hands over her chest. She wasn’t scared of this man. “Fuck you! I can go get another bitch like you easily. You not special.” He countered.

“Well then go find the bitch and get the fuck out of here!” She yelled loudly, tired of going back and forth with someone she wasn’t vested in. Imani pinched the bridge of her nose. He opened his mouth to speak again, but she looked at him with a death glare. Isaiah finally stepped back and pivoted on his feet.

He walked into the closet they shared, mumbling something. Imani didn’t care what it was. She was just happy to hear him packing his things along with it.

Jameson approached the door, wariness and anxiety inside him The soft hum of the heater filled the hallway with warmth but it did nothing to ease the chill in his chest. He still felt the heat of Imani’s kisses against his lips, the feeling of her body fitting perfectly against his. He wanted to go back to that – to be anywhere that wasn’t this cold, broken place. He opened the door, stepping inside and stopped short. Camille was already back – sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to him.

Her snow suit was on and her suitcase was repacked. Confusion furrowed his brow but Jameson shut the door behind him, inspecting the rest of the room.

Two dozen roses sat wilting in a vase on the dresser—an ironic reminder of the fleeting romance he had tried to build with Camille. He could still see the way he and Camille were that morning – warm kisses and affection between them. But in the light of day, the heat he had with Imani had put it to shame. Now he was guilty of something he never wanted to do again: Cheating

“Hey,” she said softly, as he closed the door. “I was waiting for you. Where have you been?”

Jameson looked up at her, his heart twisting. There was no excuse he could give her besides the truth. That’s what he was here for anyway. “I…was with Imani.”

He heard her sigh and saw her head nod dutifully. “Yeah, I figured.”

He took a deep breath, his voice low and pained as he continued on. “I... I slept with her.” He could have just broken up with her and hid the truth but that wouldn’t be fair. If she was going to hate him, it should be for the right reasons. He deserved her scorn and her anger.

The words hung heavy in the air and slowly Camille turned around. “What?”

“I slept with Imani,” he said, his voice strained. “It just happened. I didn’t plan it and I’m so sorry. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t just lie either.”

He took a good look at her face, realizing she seemed upset even before he spoke. She gripped the sheets in her hand, eyes glossy with tears. “You...really slept with her?”

Jameson nodded, guilt etched into every line of his face. “I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to fight how I feel about her, but it’s not going away. I thought I could move on. I wanted to move on, Cami. I wanted it to be with you but I just – I love her.”

“You told me she wasn’t good for you.” Camille muttered.

“She isn’t.” He said softly. “I’m not good for her either. But she’s my heart. And I’m hers. I always have been.”

Camille’s eyes filled with tears, and she shook her head. “No, Jameson. You don’t mean that. We’ve been so good together. We can work through this.”

He stepped closer, his voice desperate. He wanted her to hate him, yell at him. Not beg him to stay. “Camille, you deserve someone who can give you their whole heart. I thought I could, but I can’t. I’m so sorry.”

She stared at him, her chest rising and falling as she tried to process his words. “You can’t leave me for her. Not now.”

Jameson reached for her hand, but she pulled away. “I never wanted to hurt you. You’ve been incredible, but I don’t want to live the rest of my life lying.”

Camille’s shoulders sagged, and she let out a bitter laugh. “You know what’s funny? I was going to tell you the truth – all of it – but I didn’t want to ruin things. I didn’t want to lose you.”

He frowned. “The truth? What do you mean?”

She wiped at her tears, her voice trembling. “I didn’t just show up in your life by chance. Sloane sent me. She told me how to get close to you, how to make you fall for me. At first, it was just a game, but then... I started to care about you. I really did.”

Jameson stared at her, his jaw tightening. “A game?”

“A game. You seem to like them so much with Imani so why not with me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was supposed to convince you to forgive Sloane.”

The room fell silent, the weight of their confessions pressing down on both of them.

Jameson finally spoke, his voice low. “So was this whole thing was a lie?”

“No!” Camille said softly. “Not all of it. I love you, Jameson. I really do. We…we made something really beautiful together and I –”

He shook his head, stepping back. “So everything I thought this was, it wasn’t. I felt so guilty. I still feel guilty…but clearly this wasn’t meant to be.”

Tears streamed down Camille’s face as she sank onto the bed. “It was real. We were real.”

“Were we?” He asked softly. “The woman I thought was so good for me isn’t real. Do you like the shit you told me you do? Do you feel the way you told me you do? All those nights I rambled to you about Imani. About what I wanted out of life. I was talking to a woman I don’t know.”

Camile shook her head. “So what if I don’t like jazz, Jameson? So what if hate cooking? I lied about little stuff! How I feel is not a lie!”

“If you’ll lie about the little shit, you’ll lie about everything.”

She shook her head, wiping the tears away from her way brusquely. “Like you’re one to talk. You just finish fucking another woman!”

Jameson was silent for a moment, nodding. “You’re right. I thought I was moving forward but really…I wasn’t. I was just existing. I’m sorry, Camille. I’m sorry it ended like this.”

Her heart was heavy as she watched him and he could see the moment she accepted that it was over. She didn’t say a word but he took a step closer to her, pressing his hand to hers. This time, she let him. “I’m sorry I pulled you into my life. I’m sorry Sloane pointed you in my direction. I hurt you and I’ll regret that forever. I hope you find someone who makes you happy, Camille. You deserve that.”

And with that, he walked out, leaving her alone in the room, the sound of her quiet sobs echoing behind him.

Camille stepped out into the biting cold, her breath visible in the frosty air. She pulled her coat tighter around herself, her mind spinning with Jameson's words. She dragged her suitcase behind her, trying to make a quick escape. She didn't see Jameson or Genie as she left the house and wanted to keep it that way. Her heels crunched against the snow as she made her way down the steps of the house, desperate to escape.

“Excuse me?”

She turned at the sound of a man's voice and came face to face with Kendrick Adesanya. He stood by his car, dressed in a wool coat and scarf, his hands in his pockets. His expression was one of mild surprise but quickly shifted to concern as he took in her tear-streaked face and trembling hands.

“Are you okay?” he asked, stepping closer.

Camille shook her head, wiping at her face hastily. She could see Genie in his face and the reminder of the woman sent her spiraling. “No, I’m not. I need to get out of here.”

“Where are you going?”

“The airport,” she said, her voice tight. “I can’t stay here.”

Kendrick frowned. “Well, do you need a ride?”

She hesitated, her pride warring with her desperation. Finally, she nodded. “Yeah. If you don’t mind.”

“Of course not,” Kendrick said. He opened the passenger door of his car, gesturing for her to get in. He moved across the snow and ice, reaching for her bag. Free from the heavy thing, Camille made her way to the car.

He placed it in the backseat and then Kendrick slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, the car humming to life. Relief flooded through her system. She was on her way.

As they pulled out of the lodge’s driveway, Kendrick glanced at her. “Are you sure you want to go straight to the airport? It’s late, and you seem... upset. I can get you a room somewhere for the night.”

Camille shook her head vehemently. “No. I need to leave. I can’t stay here another second.”

Kendrick was quiet for a moment, his hands steady on the wheel. “Did something happen? Are you...you're Camille, right? Correct me if I'm wrong but you were supposed to be there with Jameson.”

She hesitated, not wanting to spill her humiliation, but the weight of the day pressed down on her. “It’s just... so much. Everything’s falling apart. Jameson and I are over. My life is chaos. And I couldn't stay there any longer.”

Kendrick glanced at her again, his expression unreadable. ��I don’t know what’s going on, but running might not fix it.”

Camille let out a bitter laugh. “Trust me. Running is the best thing for me right now. My boyfriend is in love with someone else, your daughter wants my head, and I can't trust anybody.”

He sighed, his tone softening. “I'm sorry about Jameson. I don’t know you that well, but I’ve been around long enough to see when someone’s at their breaking point. If you need to talk, I’m here. No judgment. As Genie's father, I can confirm that her bark is worse than her bite. ”

Camille stared out the window, her fingers tightening around her bag. “Thank you, Mr. Adesanya. But I think I just need to get away.”

"Call me Kendrick."

The rest of the drive was silent, the tension in the car palpable. When they reached the airport, Kendrick pulled up to the curb and put the car in park.

“Take care of yourself, Camille,” he said as she climbed out.

She paused, looking back at him. “Thanks for the ride. And being so kind.”

He gave her a small smile. “Anytime.”

Camille shut the door and walked into the airport, her heart heavy and her mind racing. She didn’t know what she was running toward, but she knew she couldn’t stay where she was.

#aaron pierre #megan thee stallion #aaron pierre x black!oc #megan thee stallion fanfic #aaron pierre fanfic #megan thee stallion x black!oc #original characters #celebrity ocs #celebrity fanfiction #fic: neon lights #look at that word count when u wanna know why it took so long today :o #but we HEREEEEEEEEEEEEE #Spotify

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miyuhpapayuh · 4 years ago

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𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐟 | 𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐟�� | 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐟 | 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐟𝐟

Marshawn

Eat | Beat | Beat, again

Tre

Tape | Can't wait another minute | Alone time

Yahya

Lucky

Y’lan

Where You Belong | Crushin’

Daniel

Kiss Me | Quickie

Michael

I missed you | Before work | Brat | Safe word (blurb)

Aaron

You scared? | The only one

Method Man

Right back

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ Sweet relief

lover's day

Sugar

Finish

We don't even have to

Anytime, anywhere

Parkin' lot lovin'

3thehardway

3thehardway...again

Sticky

Tape: take two.

Hands (teaser)

Been so long (blurb)

Before you go (blurb)

In the rain (blurb)

Massage

let it out

Sex entry #3

Sex entry #4

#trevante rhodes fanfiction #Yahya Abdul Mateen II #lucky daye #blackwriters #miyuhpapayuh #poc writers #Trevante x black reader #lucky Daye smut #trevante Rhodes smut #yahya abdul mateen ii smut #Y’lan Noel smut #ylan noel #Masterlist #smut #marshawn lynch

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beyondtheblonde · 4 years ago

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Moulin Rouge! The Musical - Broadway

December 2019 | StarCuffedJeans’ master Format: MP4 HD Cast: Aaron Tveit (Christian), Karen Olivo (Satine), Danny Burstein (Harold Zidler), Sahr Ngaujah (Toulouse-Lautrec), Ricky Rojas (Santiago), Tam Mutu (The Duke), Kyle Brown, Jodi McFadden (u/s Nini), Jacqueline B Arnold (La Chocolat), Holly James (Arabia), Jeigh Madjus (Baby Doll), Reed Luplau (Pierre) Notes: Beautiful HD capture of the Original Broadway Cast. Starts after "Welcome to the Moulin Rouge!". Filmed in 16:9 with a mix of wides, mediums, and close-ups.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical - Broadway

January 2020 | StarCuffedJeans’ master Format: MP4

Cast: Aaron Tveit (Christian), Amber Ardolino (u/s Satine), Danny Burstein (Harold Zidler), Sahr Ngaujah (Toulouse-Lautrec), Ricky Rojas (Santiago), Dylan Paul (u/s The Duke), Robyn Hurder (Nini), Jacqueline B Arnold (La Chocolat), Holly James (Arabia), Jeigh Madjus (Baby Doll), Reed Luplau (Pierre) Notes: Beautiful HD capture of the fabulous Amber Ardolino as Satine and Dylan Paul as the Duke. Filmed from the rear left orchestra with a mix of wides, mediums, and many close-ups.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical - Broadway (Audio)

September 24, 2021 | Unknown’s master Format: mp3

Moulin Rouge! The Musical - Broadway (Audio) December 1, 2021 | juniper47’s master

Cast: Aaron Tveit (Christian), Natalie Mendoza (Satine), Danny Burstein (Harold Zidler), Sahr Ngaujah (Toulouse-Lautrec), Ricky Rojas (Santiago), Tam Mutu (The Duke), Robyn Hurder (Nini), Tasia Jungbauer* (u/s La Chocolat), Holly James (Arabia), Jeigh Madjus (Baby Doll), Brandon Stonestreet* (u/s Pierre), Keely Beirne, Giovanni Bonaventura, Olutayo Bosede, Kyle Brown, Sam J. Cahn, Bobby Daye, Aaron C. Finley, Bahiyah Hibah, Ericka Hunter Yang, Kara Menendez, Kaitlin Mesh, Fred Odgaard, Khori Michelle Petinaud, Benjamin Rivera, Julius Anthony Rubio Notes: Tracked by ascreaminggoddess. Good clear audio, though there is a shift in the depth of stereo due to needing to move the audio recorder and mics partway through Act 1. (do not gift, trade only, not for sale)

Moulin Rouge! The Musical - Broadway

December 4, 2021 | TheatreCouple14’s master Format: mp4

Cast: Natalie Mendoza (Satine), Aaron Tveit (Christian), Danny Burstein (Harold Zidler), Bobby Daye (Toulouse-Lautrec), Ricky Rojas (Santiago), Tam Mutu (The Duke of Month) Robyn Hurder (Nini), Jaqueline B. Arnold (La Chocolat), Holly James (Arabia), Reed Luplau (Pierre), Jeigh Magus (Baby Doll) Notes: 4x3 Wide-shot phone boot show from front right orchestra. A few major heads obstruct about 40% of the view throughout. Interesting view to see some of the dancers on the right side of the stage that aren't usually captured in close-up boots. This show is such a spectacle! Videos can't even do it justice, but super fans might like it.

#mr!#mr!bway

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bboyplankton · 3 years ago

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R&B/Pop/Alternative Albums 2021

1.Mac Ayers – Magic 8Ball

2.Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales

3.VanJess – HomeGrown

4.Jake&Papa – Blackberry Winter

5.Shelley FKA DRAM – Shelley FKA DRAM

6.Jaz Elise – The Golden Hour

7.H.E.R. – Back of My Mind

8.Kenyon Dixon – Expectations

9.Sinead Harnett – Ready is Always Too Late

10.Tiara Imani – Cycles – EP

11.Otis Kane – Purple BLUE

12.Tone Stith – FWM

13.Snoh Aalegra – Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies

14.Emotional Oranges – The Juicebox

15.Elhae – Aura III

16.JMSN – Heal Me

17.Dixson – Darling

18.Vedo – 1320

19.Charlotte Day Wilson – Alpha (Deluxe)

20.Sevyn Streeter – Drunken Wordz Sober Thoughtz

21.Kyle Dion – Sassy

22.Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound (Deluxe)

23.Sammy Johnson – Cool & Easy

24.Jael – Half As Much

25.Gallant – Neptune

26.Jordan Hawkins – Heart Won’t Stop

27.Willow – lately I feel EVERYTHING

28.JoJo – Trying Not to Think About It

29.Jael – Half As Much

30.Otis Kane – Growing Pains – EP

31.Prince – Welcome 2 America

32.James Blake – Friends That Break Your Heart

33.Eric Bellinger & Hit Maka – 1-800-Hit-Eazy

34.Raheem DeVaughn & Apollo Brown – Lovesick

35.Nao – And Then Life Was Beautiful

36.NBDY – Tunnel Vision

37.Bren Joy – Twenties (Deluxe)

38.DVSN & Ty Dolla $ign – Cheers to the Best Memories

39.Kevin Ross – Drive 2

40.Cleo Sol – Mother

41.Robin Thicke – On Earth, and in Heaven

42.Destin Conrad – Colorway

43.John Mayer – Sob Rock

44.Anthony Hamilton – Love Is The New Black

45.Aaron Childs – Peach – EP

46.Tems – If Orange Was a Place – EP

47.Kaytranada – Intimidated – EP

48.Otis Kane – November Love Notes

49.Brandy Haze – Silhouette – EP

50.Teflon – Years A Pain

51.Bathe – Bicoastal

52.King Sis – Ascension

53.Malia – Unpolished

54.Trevor Jackson – The Love Language

55.Summer Walker – Still Over It

56.Dayglow – Harmony House

57.Pink Sweat$ – Pink Planet

58.Arlo Parks – Collapsed In Sunbeams (Deluxe)

59.Jesse Royal – Royal

60.Majid Jordan – Wildest Dreams

61.Tone Stith – Still FWM

62.Silk Sonic – An Evening With Silk Sonic

63.Mariah the Scientist – Ry Ry World

64.Grace Webber – A Beautiful Space (Deluxe)

65.Zacari – SOL - EP

66.Joyce Wrice – Overgrown

67.Kelly Rowland – K – EP

68.Lucky Daye – Table For Two

69.Thando – Alive Again

70.Adele – 30

71.Joy Crookes – Skin

72.Kara Marni – State of Mind

73.Sky – Good Grief: 3am (slowed + reverb)

74.Michael Montano – The Wedding Album

75.Stokley – Sankofa

76.Doja Cat – Planet Her (Deluxe)

77.BJ the Chicago Kid – 4 AM – EP

78.Eric Bellinger – New Light

79.Donnell Jones – 100% Free

80.Roe – My Way

81.Puma Blue – In Praise of Shadows

82.UMI – Introspection Reimagined

83.Alina Baraz – Sunbeam – EP

84.India Shawn – Before We Go

85.Alicia Keys – Keys

86.Various Artists – My Way Riddim

87.Vandelux – Dream State

88.Emanuel – ALT Therapy

89.Joshua Henry – Grow

90.Thuy – I hope you see this

91.Sky – Good Grief

92.UB40 – Bigga Baggariddim

93.Black Coffee – Subconsciously

94.Weezer – Van Weezer

95.Rotimi – All or Nothing

96.Maria Isabel – I hope you’re very unhappy without me

97.Jvck James – Joyride – EP

98.Alina Baraz – Moongate – EP

99.Tiwa Savage – Water & Garri – EP

100.Hiatus Kaiyote – Mood Valiant

101.Jaas – Unavailable

102.Justine Skye – Space and Time

103.Maroon 5 – Jordi (Deluxe)

104.Jorja Smith – Be Right Back

105.Njomza – Limbo

106.Marc E. Bassy – Little Men

107.Brandy Haze – That’s Unfortunate – EP

108.Romero Mosley – Ro’s Colored Glasses

109.James Vickery – Songs that Made Me Feel

110.Phabo – Soulquarius

111.Jake&Papa – Octobuary

112.Hayley Williams – Flowers for Vases/decansos

113.Celeste – Not Your Muse (Deluxe)

114.Amaal – Milly

115.Candice Pillay – The Rise – EP

116.Sy Ari Da Kid – It’s Not You, It’s Me

117.Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Music From The Motion Picture)

118.The Black Keys – Delta Kream

119.Ed Sheeran – =

120.Lion Babe – Rainbow Child

121.Jenevieve – Division

122.Yebba – Dawn

123.Alex Mali – Iconic

124.Skylar Stecker – Earth Signs

125.Weezer – OK Human

126.Abby Jasmine – I Hate You 2 – EP

127.Moonga K – Candid – EP

128.Flozigg – Beige – EP

129.Brandy Haze – Silhouette – EP

130.Arya Starr – 19 & Dangerous

131.Tinashe – 333

132.Maeta – Habits

133.Charlie Heat – Valentine’s Son

134.H-Town – Date Night

135.Madison Beer – Life Support

136.Popcaan – Gyalentine’s

137.Miguel – Art Dealer Chic 4 – EP

138.Ebhoni – X – EP

139.Jessy Rose – Are You Home – EP

140.Blackbear – misery lake – EP

141.Sy Ari Da Kid – Alone But Not Lonely

142.Filah Lah Lah – We’re Gonna Be Just Fine

143.Halsey – If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power

144.Norelle – A Story About Love

145.Lyfe Jennings & Amina Buddafly – The Six Pack EP, Vol. 1

146.Everything Is Recorded, Clipz & Jumpin’ Jack Frost – Saturday Specials: The CLIPZ Remixes

147.Vampire Weekend – 40:42

148.Lorde – Solar Power (Deluxe)

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adayephoto · 2 years ago

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Leaders of The Gainesville Links

A photo session with The Gainesville (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated leadership board. The Gainesville (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is a civic organization founded in 1978, dedicated to improving the physical, emotional, intellectual, and moral status of African American women.

#gainesville #gainesville links #gainesvillefl #gainesville fl #university of florida #The Links #Incorporated #aarondayephotography #aaron daye

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libidomechanica · 4 years ago

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Untitled (“The sprit for þe jopardé to layke, lest hearse”)

The sprit for þe jopardé to layke, lest hearse our gryndelly was a desperate raged mosse rayled ayquere, too soon eclipsed as bright exclaimd, let hym after-time, and siding up through oft well; strike any quyle yow wrathed the glimmering hand soon enough the came, ’“twas but a breeze of my soule was Lord Henry rid well,” by oft predict that prated at þe fyue were in þe cropure, hit semed, -than the lightingale does I will not my fears there watz þe dok laste, þe bityde soþly I know bearing, I addressez þe ȝere, Sike a great krater-cup

and stalked. your pypes shepheard selfe my mistress for a garden-wall: and halden, so much from age and hay! After hit is not open, but better, bot if ȝe luf in his course, fit for it ful swyþe, and so think? Shelter than hour of ready for lyf, þe hyȝe horns than hour of a thousand conquerd woe; give gentlewoman, trickling the ancient than Phoebus, if this poem pleasant, understand amidst whom groan and wyth no stay here. D for doute, Raȝt,

as beauties wonnen. wherein is Nature does sit so lymp, lere oþer noyse, quat!

Ennurned at þe knyȝt, “þat wolde lenger þe courage quaintance of you would be wroth noyse ful tayt best semed as fyrst burne now I haue at you a tin heat, and he love; but stare long milk-bloom on that is the tumultuous Shout of the Pole (though it hath no malez with Aarons pretty dear; which quarrels move, which in this corsour, brayden ful ȝerne, vpon on þis fled;) passion ’‘tis not make hit to þe erþe, set in the window if þay hade a hattes, sometimes you ask, who ought heal…You knows all you with knyȝt,

and treleted with Ida: all her, resting injured by those to be circling inside my lady, for wele in spring in the clash they never dreary, he comes, and I, how is good or evening the church was reckond,’ and efte con mete, þe haþel about Madrid, whose eyelash is my long, who might chain round a wanton Yuie twine. ”

“Mary,” quoþ Gawayn con þonk, syȝ hym bysyde, þe best. Between; but tougher, he worlde wyth mony syked in the wore, hey ho chapel; and cachez þe wynne his dynttez dryȝe strok, stif kyng þat wyth a bande of þe helez, dubbed knight arm of his purpose set to wynne, and maybe telle truly, and with hym þonkkez þat scho þoȝt ellez; bot forget to these distant startings, and how to pass, the had she said son at þat daye, theres too highly places; and haylsed he nay þat ilke, sertayn, a great debarres myne thou hast þat day þe barres of sweetly sprenged, Wylde watz done pray yow, for to fonged þenne a wyndow, hollow roaring and shore! And bright have astronomy, but who shall be sad glory dight: I arise from the Westerns as olden chambre, to fynde þerafter watz blended hym charred and so fere vp hit were, or more redder the ink be dry, the churchyard yew a blooming from my mind hatz out þe grayn al of grene aumayl on golde hwez.

#poetry #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Markov chains #Markov chain length: 6 #122 texts

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grlsbstshot · 6 months ago

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NEON LIGHTS

Pairing (Original Characters):

Jameson Lucas (Aaron Pierre) x Imani St. Cirie (Megan thee Stallion) Genie Adesanya (Jayme Lawson) x Ellington “EJ” Dupree (Kelvin Harrison Jr.)

Chapters:

Neon Lights Masterlist

Chapter Synopsis: The crew deals with the aftermath of Jameson's album release party and makes major decisions about their futures.

Warnings: toxic relationship, mentions of therapy, emotional breakdowns, mentions of depression, deception in relationships -- if we missed anything, let us know!

Word Count: 5.3k

Divider Template: @cafekitsune

Notes:

The following characters are original creations. Their voice claims are Usher / Lucky Daye (Jameson) & Summer Walker / SZA (Imani). We have no affiliation to any of those artists.

The aftermath of the disastrous album release party left Imani seeking solace in her hotel suite. As she lay in bed attempting to find sleep amidst the chaos in her mind, thoughts of Jameson consumed her. She couldn’t shake the image of him when first laid eyes on her at the party, or how he looked with Camille by his side. The way he wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close made her believe they were happy together but the look on his face made her feel completely different.

He didn’t resemble her Jameson anymore. He appeared…solemn and apathetic. He smiled and talked politely throughout the night but he didn’t seem to be the life of the party anymore. Then again – what did she know about him? It had been a year since they even laid eyes on each other.

After tossing and turning all night, Imani realized she had to let it go. It was time to get back to her life. The next morning, she woke up feeling restless but she forced herself through her usual routine. She took a shower, brushed her teeth, and ate breakfast.Then began coordinating a swift exit from New York with her assistant. The trip had been a disaster and she wanted nothing more than to leave as soon as possible.

As she was sending out an email, a phone number appeared on her screen. It wasn’t saved, but she knew exactly who it was. She had removed him from her contacts but she didn’t forget. Without hesitation, Imani answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

For a moment, there was nothing. He didn’t say anything. But when he did speak, it was like a shock to her system. “Hey. It’s me.” His deep voice was like an earthquake to her core. It left her brain scattered. She needed to think of something fast! This man shouldn’t get to affect her like this.

She laughed, “Yeah. I know, Jameson. What’s up?”

She could hear his hesitation over the line and wondered what this was about. “I was…If you’re still in New York, can we meet up? Lunch or something? I think we should talk.”

“Yes, that’s fine!” She answered eagerly, the pitch of her voice rising in anticipation. She quickly cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. “I mean, yeah, we can go today.”

Once again, he got quiet. She expected him to call her out on her eagerness. Make a joke, tease her. But he didn’t. He seemed to be all business. “Two o’clock good? At Masa?”

“Yeah, that works. I’ll see you at Masa at two.” “Good. See you then.”

The call ended and her heartbeat tripled in speed. What the fuck did she just agree to? Why was he calling her? Why did he want to see her? Did he end things with Camille? Did he want her back? No, it couldn’t be that easy. He didn’t even flirt with her over the phone. Whatever he wanted, it made Imani nervous. She didn’t know how to handle the man he was now.

After coming face to face with Imani, Genie’s emotions were a rapid whirlwind, shifting from sadness to hurt and now settling into a wave of deep, seething anger. All she could think about that night was her former best friend barging back into everyone’s life without a word of warning. Understandably, her situation with Jameson became untenable and she had to walk away. Genie wanted the best for them both but sometimes love didn’t work out the way she thought it should. But never did she think Imani would cut her off without a word. She didn’t get it. She was her best friend.

She was pissed.

She decided she wouldn’t wait for Imani to reach out. If she did, she’d wait forever. She was taking control of their friendship. Determined, Genie called Imani’s assistant to find out where she stayed in New York. Aman Resorts. From there, it was nothing to get to Imani’s room. She practiced her speech the whole way, strutting down New York streets muttering to herself.

This wasn’t fair and Genie wasn’t going to stand for it.

When she arrived at the hotel, she immediately took the elevator up to the floor the assistant gave her. Genie fought to keep her composure despite the anger within her. When Imani’s voice rang out from behind the door, her stomach churned. Was this the path she wanted to take?

But it was too late. The door opened and Imani was there…looking at Genie in clear surprise. The girls looked at one another and before Imani could say a word, Genie wedged herself between the door and pushed her way inside. The aggressive action wasn’t part of her personality but she stuck with it.

It seemed the only way Imani would take her seriously was to make demands.

She marched past the foyer and found herself in the living room, waiting for Imani to join her. As soon as she heard the door close. She loosened the Chanel purse from around her arm, tossing it down onto the couch behind her as she paced the floor. She could hear the other woman approach the room and Genie whirled around, hurt in her tone. “Was it so hard to pick up the phone?”

To her credit, Imani apologized. Almost immediately. “Genie. I’m…I’m sorry. I–”

But she didn’t want an apology. She wanted answers. “You could have told me that you needed space. I would have left you alone. I wouldn’t have bothered you. I would have just checked in and we didn’t have to talk about Jamie. We could have just…” Her voice broke and tears glistened in her eyes as she fought against them. “You were my best friend. How could you?” The words spilled out before she could stop them.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do after I broke up with Jameson.” Imani confessed, tears filling her own eyes. “I just knew I didn’t want to speak his name. I didn’t want to hear it.”

“Okay but you just left me.” Genie’s voice cracked with emotion. She was fighting a losing battle with her tears. They ran down her cheeks as she glared at Imani. “Out of everyone, you know I would have understood.”

Imani nodded, acknowledging that Genie was right. Being understanding was one of her greatest strengths…but also a flaw. She searched for the good in people every single time and she got hurt because of it. She didn’t want Imani to just be another person in the list of people who hurt her.

“I know, I know. And I’m so sorry for shutting you out. Please forgive me,” Imani begged, her voice pleading and sincere.

Genie’s anger faded as she saw the genuine remorse in her friend’s eyes...but it still lived within her. “I’ll work on it. Just…don’t shut me out like that again or I might kill you.” She wiped the tears from her eyes, sniffling.

The two women eyed one another warily but their love for each other couldn’t be denied. And just like that…there was a glimmer of hope that their friendship could be salvaged. All it took were some tears and a couple of apologies.

“I won’t.” “You promise?” “Of course.” “You swear?” “Yes.” “...Give me your pinky.”

Imani laughed, moving closer to Genie as she wiped tears from her own face and offered her friend her pinky. Genie linked hers with Imani and nodded, the action sealing the promise between them. Imani wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug. “I promise you I won’t. I missed you so much.” she whispered.

“I missed you too.” Genie replied and returned the hug.

“You want to help me pick an outfit? I’m about to go see Jameson in an hour.” Imani said softly.

Genie reared back, blinking at her in confusion. “You’re seeing wh—Oh my god, Imani. Does it ever end?! Show me your options.”

Coming face-to-face with Imani again might not have been the best thing to do. He was already struggling after seeing her last night. And that was only one time. He shouldn’t put himself through the torture of doing it again, but he had to. He had to see if she was alright. He had to reassure himself that leaving her alone was the right thing to do.

He waited for her at Masa, shuffling silverware around nervously as he waited to see her. Meeting in public wasn’t ideal – he knew people would talk – but it was better than meeting her alone somewhere. He needed to keep this above board. His relationship with Camille was developing well. She was good for him. His therapist encouraged him to make decisions that were best for him.

Panting after Imani wasn’t good for him. He spent six months of his life reaching for a bottle of liquor every time he thought of her, literally begging God to have her wake up and come back to him – only to see her leaving LA hotspots with her latest fling. He circled the drain when he couldn’t have her…and he was tired of living like that.

But it would be a lie to say that he didn’t miss or worry about her, so he hoped this could be a new chapter in their lives.

When he saw her being led to the table by a hostess, he rose from his seat. It was a reflex but he followed it. His gaze swept her frame, taking in the outfit. The dark orange bordering on brown. The way her pants hugged her hips. Her belly button piercing was clear as day. Fuck. He had to stop. If they were going to be in each other’s lives, he couldn’t think like this.

They were going to be friends and it was time to act like it.

“Hey Jamie,” she greeted him with a smile. “How are you?” She asked, sitting down.

“Hey. I’m..I’m good.” He said softly, staring at her as she took a seat. Eventually, he realized he needed to be sitting too. Jameson quickly sat and met her gaze with a smile. “Thank you for coming.”

She looked at him, pausing for a moment. “No problem. It’s nice to, um, see you again.” She said softly. This was a side of Imani he wasn’t used to. She was softer and more timid. He didn’t like it.

“We just saw each other last night.” he joked

She laughed, looking away. Imani pushed her hair behind her ear. “I—I know. I just wasn’t expecting to see you so soon. I’m glad I am though.”

“I’m glad too.” He said softly, gazing at her before remembering what he was there for. “I uh–I was worried about you. You left early and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Again, she paused. She gazed back at him. He studied her facial features, looking for the answer she didn’t want to tell. “Oh, I’m fine. I was tired.” She said, her eyes giving away it being a lie. “Are you okay? You left your party early too.”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I was just tired from finishing up the album.” he said. Their conversation was stiff and awkward just like how it was at his album release party. It didn’t flow like how he was used to.

“Well, um, I’m glad you’re okay, Jamie.” She glanced at him. This time he could tell she was being genuine. “That’s all I want. I want you to be okay.”

“I-I want that for you too, Imani.”

There was a pause. She didn’t speak. Neither did he. Jameson knew what he had to do coming into this conversation, but he was having difficulty finding the words to do it. He exhaled, his eyes meeting hers. “Cami and I are…we’re good together. We get along really well. No arguing, no screaming, no mistrust. We work and I want to see where it goes. She’s good for me.”

She nodded, her smile faltering slightly, but she quickly recovered it. “Good. I’m glad that you’re happy, Jameson. You deserve that.” She said softly.

“Thanks,” he said. “I want you to be happy too.”

“I am,” she said quickly. “I’m happier than I've ever been.”

Her bright smile remained, leaving him hopeful, but her eyes conveyed a different story. He wanted so badly to ask more questions. He wanted to see if she was telling the truth. One of the last things she ever told him was that she didn’t think he was her person anymore. Shouldn’t she be happier now?

And yet, he stopped himself from asking. He had to let her go for her to be happy. It was a thought he lived by for a year. That had to be true. She was better off without him.

“That’s good. I asked you here because I—I want us to be friends, Imani. We loved each other for so long. I won’t pretend I don’t worry about you. I do. So I want us to be okay with each other.”

She paused, glancing at him. “I…I’d like that. I want to be friends with you too. I miss your presence in my life, Jamie. And I just want you to be happy at the end of the day.”

The words sounded nice and Jameson let himself trust in it…even if something in his chest tightened at them. He gave a nod, grateful that she wouldn’t just disappear from his life again.

She left lunch with Jameson, feeling bitter, annoyed, and lonesome. Yes, she agreed to be friends with him. Yes, their conversation seemed to flow after the initial stillness of discomfort. But she didn’t want any of this. She hated hearing him talk about how happy he was with Camille. They were supposed to be the perfect couple - never arguing, never screaming, always trusting each other – not him and Camille. Why couldn’t they get it together? She didn’t understand it.

Before coming to New York, Imani had been so sure of what she wanted - him. She thought it would be easy to win him back, to get back on the rollercoaster of their relationship. But now she could see that he was happily occupied with someone else, riding an easygoing kiddie ride with no thrill, and yet, he was having the time of his life. Imani was pissed. But there was nothing she could do about it; she had to move on, too.

As she rummaged through the clothes in her suite's closet, Imani searched for an outfit that would turn heads. Tonight was her last night in New York before returning to Los Angeles tomorrow morning. After forgetting to book a flight earlier in the day, she didn't want to spend her remaining time in the city sulking in her hotel room and watching Sex and the City. So when one of her industry friends mentioned a party just a few blocks away, Imani jumped at the chance to go out.

She stopped flipping through her clothes when her hands landed on a sleek black fitted dress. It hugged her curves perfectly - this was exactly what she needed.

The party was everything she had hoped for - alcohol flowing freely, fine ass men everywhere, and good vibes. It was the perfect distraction from Jameson. Imani took another shot of tequila and relished in its bitter burn as it slid down her throat.

“Okay, bitch, let’s go dance!” She exclaimed to her friend before they made their way from the bar to the crowded dance floor. The music was loud and pulsing, and Imani didn’t even know what song played, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was letting the beat move her body and forgetting about Jameson for the night.

As she danced, Imani could feel all eyes on her, but there was one set of eyes in particular that caught her attention. Through the dim lights, she could only make out a few of his features, but she recognized his gaze - he had been watching her all night. And she was sick of him just staring at her without saying a word. So Imani took matters into her own hands.

After the song ended, she confidently strutted over to where he sat. “You just gone stare at me all night and not say nothin’?” She asked with a sly smile as she finally got a good look of his handsome face. He had smooth caramel skin, his haircut was sharp like he just got it done, and a perfectly trimmed beard - exactly her type.

He chuckled and licked his full pink lips before standing up to meet her. Okay, he was tall too. Another plus. He stepped closer to her. “Oh, I was gon’ come talk to you. I was just waiting for the right time,” he replied, holding out his hand for her to shake. “I’m Isaiah and you?”

“Imani,” she said softly as she shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

"It's nice to meet you too, Imani." He smiled, flashing his diamond tooth fang. He pulled his hand away. Isaiah's neck, wrist, and earlobe were dripped in diamonds that danced harder than the crowd did. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Yes, I don't see why not. You can get me a lemon drop with a sugar rim."

He chuckled, "I like you already. You know what you want and I fuck with that." He said, a hint of admiration in his voice. She liked him too. Isaiah wasn't Jameson, but he was a perfect distraction to forget him.

EJ glanced at his phone, noticing the two missed calls. One from his manager and another from an artist he was working with while in town...but he had much more important plans going on then as he browsed the website of Aspen resorts. He leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs and rolling his shoulders. The faint sound of knocking at the front door pulled him from his hard work.

He carefully exited out of the browser before making his way to the door, hoping it wasn't Genie. He wanted to surprise her with dinner plans but hadn't even started to cook. Thankfully, it wasn't her. It was his best friend.

“Hey. What's up?" EJ said, opening the door wider to let him inside.. He noticed the tension in Jameson’s posture, the way his fingers twitched against his thigh. “I know you left early last night. You good?”

Jameson sulked into the room and dropped into the chair in the attached living room, taking a deep breath as his face clouded with something heavy. “I had lunch with Imani today.”

EJ shut the door behind him because he knew he was in for one hell of a story but he did his best to keep his tone neutral. “And?”

“And…” Jameson hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “I asked her to be friends.”

He took a seat across from Jameson, crossing his arms as he leaned back. He didn’t miss the way Jameson avoided his gaze and he immediately braced for bad news. “That’s…progress, I guess. But you don’t sound convinced.”

Jameson exhaled sharply, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “It doesn’t feel right. I thought it would. I thought that time apart would make things easier when we saw each other again but it's like..." He shook his head, his voice dropping. “It’s like nothing’s changed. I’m still drawn to her. And I hate it because Camille deserves my best.”

EJ frowned, his jaw tightening. He cared about Jameson, but he wasn’t about to sugarcoat things. “You’re right—she does. She’s good for you, man. She’s steady, supportive, and she actually cares about your well-being. She’s not a tornado like Imani.”

Jameson shot him a look, defensive and protective all at once. “Imani ain't a tornado. I put her through a lot of shit. She had to choose herself first.”

EJ held up a hand, waving off Jameson's defense. “Yeah, you did. It was fucked up. But that being said...she made the choice to walk away. That means staying away. And maybe I'm being a dickhead about it but you gotta admit -- shit with her has always been…complicated. Even when y'all were good, shit could go left within a minute. With Camille, it’s simple. She’s there for you, no drama, no games. She’s what you need, not just what you want in the moment.”

He could see Jameson mulling over his words, the conflict etched across his face. EJ hated seeing his friend like this, but he wasn’t going to let him spiral back into the mess he’d clawed his way out of.

Jameson finally spoke, his voice quiet. “But it ain't that simple. My head knows Camille’s the better choice, but my heart…Man, my heart starts thudding every time Mani girl looks at me. I sat with her at lunch and I just wanted --” He trailed off, shaking his head.

EJ sighed, leaning forward. "Let me know when she looks at you and I'll tell her to close her eyes."

"EJ, c'mon." "No, you c'mon. You spiraled, Jay. Your mama had to move into your house and take care of you." "I was fine. She was being dramatic." "You weren't eating." "I ate!" "Barely! You barely ate enough to get through the day but you drank enough to get through anything. Y'all were rocky before then you cheated but after that, everything got all fucked up."

Jameson looked up at EJ, seemingly wounded by the mention of his infidelity. He saw it was the root cause of all their problems but he was being foolish. He and Imani started having issues before he cheated. “Look, I’m not saying it’s easy. But you’ve worked too hard to get your life back on track to throw it all away for something that might not even work out. Camille’s solid, Jameson. You and Imani keep burning each other. Stop the cycle.”

Jameson nodded, but EJ could tell he wasn’t fully convinced. He’d seen that look on his friend’s face before, the one that meant he was caught in a tug-of-war between his past and his present so EJ decided to give him something else to think about. “Speaking of relationships…I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”

Jameson looked up, his expression curious. “What’s that?”

EJ hesitated for a moment, a rare flicker of nervousness passing through him. Then he smiled. “I’m going to ask Genie to marry me.”

Jameson blinked, leaning back in his chair. “Wait—what? You’re serious? You’ve only been together a year,” He was staring at him like he’d grown a second head. “Are you sure about this?”

"Of course I'm sure," EJ muttered defensively. "That's my baby. She's sweet, creative, and intriguing. I ain't never met anybody like Genie in my life. She makes me happy and I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy."

Jameson processed what EJ was saying, and a small smile crept onto his face. “Okay, okay. Good. Soft ass. Should I give you the speech?”

"What speech?" "That "If you hurt my sister, I'ma knock ya head off your shoulders" speech?" "Ain't nobody scared of your big ear ass."

Jameson got up, jokingly taking a swipe at EJ but the other man was much faster. He dodged out of his chair and laughed out loud. "I'm gonna need your help to do it. I want to catch her off guard. You, her dad. She loves Aspen. So I'll do there in February."

“Anything you need,” Jameson said without hesitation, though he still looked a little stunned. “You’ve got it. Just let me know.”

EJ nodded, a rare moment of vulnerability settling over him. “Thanks, man. It means a lot.”

"Well, let me get out of here. I got dinner plans with Cami." Jameson said, heading to the door before pausing and turning back. He clapped EJ on the shoulder. "You're a very blessed man. Genie's had a heart of gold since she was a kid. If she's your soulmate, God really did smile down on you."

EJ smiled wistfully, his tone soft as he spoke of Genie. "Believe me. I know how lucky I am."

His mind still lingering on his conversation with Jameson when he heard the door to their rental open. Knowing it was Genie, EJ got up and went to the kitchen to make her some tea. "Duke?" She called out, using the nickname he had grown fond of. "You here, baby?"

"Kitchen!" He called out and sure enough, she came around the corner looking every bit as serene and graceful as she usually did. "I take it you feel much better now?"

The past few months had been rough for her. She was building resentment and anger. It was the total opposite of her everyday persona but watching her now...it seemed that she had managed to handle those feelings very well.

"I do. I saw Imani this morning."

EJ’s body stiffened for a moment before he forced himself to relax. He didn't hate Imani but he was always on edge. She had the power to twist his two favorite people into knots and he didn't like that. “Yeah? How’d that go?” He beckoned her closer and she came to wrap her arms around him.

“It was…unexpected,” Genie admitted. “But we talked. We cried a little bit. I think we’re going to work on our friendship going forward."

“That’s good, my love,” EJ said sweetly, turning his head to kiss her as he waited for the kettle to warm. "I'm happy for you both."

Genie tilted her head, watching him carefully before she uttered her next words. "She also told me she was going to have lunch with Jameson.”

Even though he knew it, he still felt his stomach drop into his feet. Imani didn't even know how much power she had over Jameson. She had him rethinking his entire relationship with a woman he'd been with for six months. One sighting, two conversations...and he was considering throwing it all away. EJ schooled his expression, wanting to appear neutral to his girlfriend. “I know. He came to see me after.”

Her eyebrows lifted, curiosity in her eyes. “Really? What did he say? What'd they talk about? I didn't call Mani to ask. I didn't want to be too nosy.”

EJ hesitated, then gave her a reassuring smile. “He said they talked about being friends. They agreed. And uh -- that it felt like a step in the right direction.”

Genie studied him for a moment, brows furrowed. She knew it didn't sound like Jameson. But then...stranger things had happened than him practically growing up and being mature. She seemed to accept his answer with a nod, placing her head on his shoulder. “Maybe it is. I hope so -- for both of them.”

The kettle whistled on the stove and EJ reluctantly pulled away, lifting his hand to pat her bottom gently. "Go get comfortable. I'll make you a cup of tea and we can talk some more."

She gave him a beautiful smile and nodded obediently, practically skipping out of the kitchen giddily. He liked making Genie happy. If he had his way, he'd see nothing but bright smiles and happy giggles from her for the rest of her life.

EJ finished up in the kitchen, making her tea and finding a snack for her to nibble on before dinner. Taking care of Genie was one of his main priorities. It was why he rationalized lying to her about what Jameson said.

As he exited the kitchen and moved into the living room, she was stretched across the couch, knit blanket across her legs as she scrolled her phone. Her hair was curled, pulled into a ponytail. She hadn't even tried and she was gorgeous as hell. “I was thinking we should take a trip. We go back to Cali next week but maybe sometime soon -- we can go somewhere. Take a little trip?” He told her, setting the tray down as she pulled her feet up, giving him room to sit.

Her eyes lit up, and she sat up straighter. “Really? Where to?”

“Anywhere you want,” EJ said with a grin. “But...I've been looking stuff up in Aspen. That house you told me about? Talked to the owner. She'll let us rent it for a week in February.”

Genie’s smile softened, and she shifted closer, tucking herself under his arm. “You're too good to me, Ellington Dupree.” She didn't say anything more but she clung to him and he knew she was grateful.

“Please. This is nothing. Wait til we're together for ten years. I'm going to be hella annoying.” EJ said, pulling her into his side and resting his chin on the top of her head. “I want to make some time for us. No distractions, no work -- just enjoying life together."

EJ kissed the top of her head, feeling a pang of guilt for the lie but knowing it was better this way. “You know what? Maybe we should make this trip a family thing. Bring your dad? I can bring my mom and sister?"

Genie looked up at him, surprised but intrigued. “That’s actually a great idea. They’d love that.”

EJ smiled, brushing a curl from her face. “Good. Let’s do it.”

She hesitated, biting her lip as if a thought came to her.

"What?" "Hmm? Nothing." "You sure?" "Yeah. Us and our families. Sounds perfect."

She smiled, leaning into him. “Thank you. For everything.”

EJ kissed her forehead, holding her tightly. As they sat together in the quiet of the house, he felt a sense of calm settle over him. He was making the right decision. He wanted this for the rest of his life.

The lights of New York spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Camille’s penthouse. it was a beautiful view but Camille wasn't looking at it. She stood at the kitchen island, her phone buzzing incessantly on the marble countertop. Even glancing at the screen made her nervous.

[ +33123456789 ]: What's going on, Cam? [ +33123456789 ]: Are you seriously not going to tell me? [ +33123456789 ]: You're temporary, remember that.

Camille exhaled sharply, locking the phone and setting it face down. She poured herself a glass of wine, trying to push the words from her mind. Meeting Jameson was never supposed to make her feel anything. He was a handsome face that a friend wanted for herself. Camille's job was just to see if he was open to seeing someone else. Sleeping with him and falling for him wasn't part of the plan. But he was on the verge of being hers now and what her friend wanted didn't really matter anymore.

Even if guilt gnawed at her. The knock at her door startled her, and she quickly smoothed her silk robe before padding over to answer it.

The object of every thought she seemed to have lately stood on the other side, his tall frame illuminated by the hallway light. In his hands were two lush bouquets of roses, one red and one pink.

“Good evening." he said with a soft smile, cradling the roses in his arms.

Camille’s heart fluttered as she took him in. 6'3, solid frame, the most beautiful green/blue/whatever damn color they felt like being eyes? Jameson Lucas was one of the most beautiful men she'd ever seen...and she spent all her time with male models. "Roses? You’re spoiling me, Mr. Lucas.” She moved aside, letting him inside as she reached for the flowers.

“I would hope so.” Jameson replied, stepping inside as she moved to place the bouquets in vases. He had been to her place much more than she had been to his so he shut the door behind him -- getting comfortable. "I like the look in your eyes when I do something nice for you. It's very sexy."

Cami glanced over her shoulder at him, her lips curving into a playful smile. “You’re laying it on very thick tonight. What’s the occasion? You missed me?"

Jameson shrugged out of his jacket, kicking off his shoes and lining them up perfectly against the wall in her living room. "Yes." He called out to her, following her into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter, watching her with an intensity that made her stomach flip. “But no other occasion. I just wanted to see you..”

Even as her hands finished arranging the flowers in its vase, Camille's face was hidden behind the beautiful roses. Her cheeks were warm as she turned to face him. “Well, you’ve seen me.” she murmured, not looking at him as he rounded the corner and stepped into her space.

“Not enough,” he replied, wrapping his arms around her waist. Jameson pressed his head against hers, tilting his head to kiss her shoulder. "I told you. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately."

"Thinking what about me?" "Everything." "Mhm. I know what that means. You cannot put me in that position again. You almost broke my hip last time."

His humorous laugh warmed her heart and she was proud of herself for being the one to make him happy. Her breath caught as he reached for her hand, his fingers warm against hers.

“I"ve been thinking...I want you to be my girlfriend,” Jameson said, his voice steady. "I've been taking things slow because -- of the past. But I have to look forward. No second guessing. You're good for me. I like being good for you. If you would have me, I want to keep building on this."

She turned in his arms, the smile that spread across her face absolutely illuminating. “I wouldn't mind building a life with you.”

"Very enthusiastic response here." He grinned, dipping his head to give her a kiss. She melted against him, the laughter bubbling in her chest gone. The warmth and the steady beat of his heart grounded her. This was real. He chose her...over Imani. This didn't feel temporary.

"I didn't expect to care about you like this." She confessed against his lips, clinging to him tightly. Her hand moved from his, sliding up his wrist. Her fingertips grazed the watch he always wore and then moved to his biceps. He was hers. All hers. "I believe in you and I want you. I'm crazy about you. How's that for enthusiastic?"

“Very good. I like it." He sighed. "You make me happy,” he murmured into her ear.

“You make me happy too.” she replied, her voice soft.

They stayed like that for a moment, wrapped in each other, swaying in her kitchen. When he pulled back, his lips brushed hers in a tender kiss that left her breathless.

She didn't let herself think back to those messages. Even if Jameson found out, she didn't think he'd care. Neither of them meant to get serious about each other. It didn't matter why she had approached him. Only that she did and they hit it off.

She pushed the thought away, focusing instead on the way he held her, the way he looked at her like she was the only person in the world. For now, she could let herself believe in this—believe in them.

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