#did some traveling this weekend and it drained me and i kept forgetting to return to this

[lemondoddle]

Requests open? 👀 it’d be cool to see your favorite character from this week, being cool or some such

I was planning on making a full version of this (and maybe i will in the future) but the time keeps getting away from me so have the sketch that I still think is nice

[mar-iiposa]

"You're What?"

prompt: How would the Bayverse boys react to their s/o finding out that she is pregnant, and she is afraid/scared to tell them? The pregnancy was not planned. Hope you're having a great day/night <3

a/n: this was requested by an anonymous user as a bit of a long story, meant for all four turtles, but I'm deciding on separating it so it looks better on my masterlist later on. hope that enjoy, and make sure to read the tags I have included down below, just in case !

warnings: slight mention of abortion but that's it, mention of needles drawing blood (not too graphic of course), unplanned pregnancy, mentions of unprotected sex.

word count: 2.6k

"Y/N, are you okay?"

Your roommate, April's, voice rang out when she saw you hurry towards the bathroom in such a rush, for the third time today, and it was just barely 2 pm. She was concerned that you weren't doing so good, never having seen you in a peculiar state like this before. As late of this past week, you've started to show signs of illness and restlessness, constantly moody, which we knew was odd for you at times. "Do you need anything?" She gently knocked on the bathroom door, hearing the faucet run on the other side before it was turned off. "I'm good, thanks," You murmur, loud enough for her to at least comprehend what you're saying. Outside of the restroom, April looked down for a moment, hesitant on whether to truly believe you or not. However, she didn't bother to really question it. "I'll be out, text if you need me."

After getting up a little too fast, you feel a small, sharp pain in your breasts, causing you to wince and cup them lightly out of instinct. Over the last few days, you've been noticing some changes. Weird ones too. For starters, you missed your period, it was supposed to roll around about, what, three/four days ago. You kept it tracked monthly on your phone, and by now, it would seem to probably come later than usually expected. Never did you have an irregular menstrual cycle, sometimes periods tend to come a little bit late but this was still odd enough. Not to forget, you had been vomiting like crazy at times, especially in the mornings and early afternoons of the day, sometimes at night if you're "lucky" enough. Topping those off, you felt fatigued, you were bloated, strangely moody, and you really needed to pee way more. A lot more, actually.

You had turned off the faucet in the bathroom, hunching over the sink, still with little droplets of water sliding down and into the drain. You look into the mirror, bags under your eyes have started to form from lack of sleep after literally vomiting your guts out in the middle of the night, having to hold your own hair back yourself if April would be completely knocked out from work. It wasn't a rare occurrence for her to be passed out on her bed or the couch, after a long day of working. You were employed, too, it was just that you took a day off to find out what the hell these symptoms were. Who knows, maybe you were falling sick?

You do your hair and style it just a little, unbothered by if you looked like crap or not, you could care less. You were throwing up and felt almost sick, why wouldn't you look unappealing at the very least? Grabbing your keys and things, you make your way towards the subway almost downtown, avoiding eye contact with almost anyone and everyone, not feeling at your best. It felt like your self-esteem had taken a downwards decline in the last couple of days prior. Not that you never got irritated or anything, but it was peculiar to you that all of a sudden, you had mood swings that changed from one mood to another like a bolt of lightning. Hell, even your boyfriend, Leo, noticed fairly quickly, but he decided not to press on you too much about it.

Getting off of the subway train, you head to your physician's office, opening the door of the building, the cooled atmosphere of the room hitting you within seconds of your entrance of the room.

"Hello, Ms. L/N, are you here for your appointment today?" The female receptionist gazed up at you from her glasses, frames pink, wearing a light shawl over her arms and shoulders. "I am," You give her a nod, her gaze traveling back to the computer screen as she typed away, the sound of her dark red acrylics hitting the smooth black keys. "Sure does get cold in here," She chuckled, a small short in the middle of her laugh, "take a seat, miss."

Doing so, you sit near the TV of the waiting room, the magazines on the table ahead stared back at you, the words 'VOGUE' written on the modernistic cover. The television was of bland taste, just going over the weather expected for today and the rest of the week and into the weekend. You cradle yourself slightly, your e/c eyes flickering down to your fingers and nails. About fifteen minutes or so later, the door to the back of the office opened, a nurse appearing in her scrub, "Y/N L/N?" Perking up at the mention of your name, you both make eye contact and she steps aside for you to walk in, giving a nod before directing you to a nearby room. Taking a seat, you wait until the doctor comes into view, greeting you with a friendly smile. "Ms. L/N, hi," She shook your hand, holding a clipboard under her left arm as she entered, "how are you? Is there a reason as to why you made an appointment for today?" Seconds after listing off your symptoms, she eyed you a bit suspiciously, writing down with her pen. "I'll send one of the nurses in for a blood test, I'm sure you'll be free to go then," The doctor pursed her lips in a tight smile, looking as though she had something on her mind as to what you could've had.

You sit there, for what feels like hours upon hours of silence, and you don't even notice the nurse coming in through the door at some point. "Alright, just relax for me." A pinching at your skin came from the needle, and the nurse draws some blood from your arm. Closing your eyes and glancing away from the view, the needle is drawn away from your arm after a while, patching the spot up with a band-aid. "You should get your answers shortly," 'Angela Bardot' (the nurse) states with a small, friendly smile as you give her a nod for a reply in return.

The receptionist sends you a wave goodbye as you approach the door on the way out, nodding your head and giving a wave back. Traveling home among the streets of New York, your mind is constantly filling up to the absolute brim of what the results would be. What if you were terrible sick? Had an illness that was incurable or deadly? How would you tell the ones you loved? Always tending to think of negative outcomes was a habit of yours, for as long as you can remember. You're so deep into your thoughts as you don't realize your boyfriend had called you a couple of times already. You unlock your phone after typing in the digits of your password, tapping onto his contact. "Hey," His voice rings from the other side, "I was trying to call you, is everything alright?" You can hear the worried tone through his end.

You run a hand through your hair as you neared the corner, coming closer to your New York apartment. "Yeah," you breathe out into the air of the apartment building, taking the provided elevator, "yeah, I'm okay." You could almost see the look of relief in those blue sapphire eyes of his, he responds, "Sorry, I almost panicked when you didn't pick up." You chuckle a little at that, knowing you almost always picked up on phone calls, holding onto your keys as you pushed your front entrance door open, "Nah, you know I can handle myself, Leo." You grin hearing his voice, chuckling at that. "I know, I know." 

"I'll see you tonight?" He asks on his end, you immediately smile. "I give you my word." You can feel him smiling from 'ear to-ear' at your response, "Okay, I'll see you later then. Love you, princess." Your smile growing warm, heart fluttering at the words coming from your boyfriend, you speak back into the phone, "Love you too."

He was the first to hang up on the cell phone call, before you fall back onto your grey couch with a heavy sigh, soon leaning forward with your head in your hands, elbows firmly sitting on top of your knees. The TV is turned on from the remote in your hand, head leaning back into the couch, but only enough to still keep your eyes on the screen. Your phone rings again, and you assume it might be Leo again, calling to tell you something he might have forgotten or who knows what. Turning the phone over from it's front facing the cushions, and you recognize the contact number. "Hello?" You pick up, a recognizable voice rang through. "Hi, this is Dr. Rullston, I'm calling you to discuss your blood test results, yes?" Sitting straight up quickly, you feel yourself nod almost frantically, "Yes, it's not anything, right?" A long pause resonates between the two of you, and you can slightly hear the intake of a breath from her.

"Ms. L/N, you're pregnant."

Your heart completely drops as soon as you heard that, standing up from your seat within milliseconds. "What? I- I can't belie- !" She continues, "About almost two weeks pregnant is what I'm seeing. Congratulations miss." No, no, I didn't want a baby! I didn't know this would happen! 

You look down at the floor as your breathing is nearly stressed, "Tha- Thank you, Dr. Rullston." Quick to hang up first, you almost drop your phone onto the apartment's hard wooden floor. How was this possible? Well, you knew how pregnancy and sex worked, but this was something completely shocking, at least to you! You think you at least had intercourse with a condom on! You and Leonar- Oh God, Leo! How would he react to this? He would be disappointed, he could leave you! Who would want to raise a child with you? Who would even want a knocked up lady if he did leave the relationship you had been building for practically a year?! You could get an abortion, that's it! No, no, no, you couldn't see yourself going through with that. Seeing others get abortions was something you were supportive of, but you had no absolute idea what in the hell to do! Do you want to keep it? That was something you didn't know the answer to. 

Two hours roll by until you're dressed a little more properly now, on your path to the turtles' lair in the sewers. As of now, you're (somewhat) rocking some jeans, with an old t-shirt, your commonly-worn shoes, and your hair combed through. Sticking your head through the lair, Mikey spots you straightaway, quickly riding on his skateboard towards you, guarding your own stomach, afraid for impact. Luckily for you (and maybe your fetus), there is no impact. "Yo, Y/N!" He gave you his regular fist pump, "how's it hangin'?" He notices you guarding your stomach, emitting a laugh as he points at you, "What's with the stomach guarding?" You realize your arms protecting your stomach, pulling them away fairly quickly. "Just, uh- Just hungry is all!" Michelangelo eyed you for a second or two before shrugging, picking up his board with a swift kick at its tail, "M'kay! Leo's in his room by the way. Catch you later!" He rode off again, presumably to bother either Raph or Donnie with his "dazzling personality."

Nearing Leonardo's room, you were undecided on the option of telling him about the growing baby inside of you or not. You didn't know. You didn't know what he'd think, what he'd say, how he would react, or if his perspective of you would shift entirely. Every fiber of your being grew anxious, scared to share the news with him. Or not. Leaning against the doorway of his room, he looked up from his katana, a smile gracing his features. "Hey," He stood up from his spot on the bed as you approach him, "Hi." Leonardo glanced down at your shorter human self, grabbing your hands to hold into his abnormally larger ones. "Took you a while to get here." Yeah, it did because you couldn't stop vomiting into the toilet until you got the strength to eventually walk all the way down here. "Sorry, busy," You threw an excuse at him, the leader of the clan nods. "Uh-huh," He takes your hand and leads you to his bed, "you're not overwhelming yourself, are you?" Knowing how concerned he can tend to be, you shakily exhale a little, giving a closed-mouth smile. "No, not really."

"You know ho-" You bit your lower lip, feeling the need to interrupt, "Leo, there's-- there's something I need to tell you." He paused for a little, knowing there was something up, a feeling in his gut. "Well what is it?" You can feel that pit of anxiety start to blossom within you once again, your palms nearly growing sweaty as you try to gather your words. Carefully wanting to break it to him was something you wanted to do, and correctly too. "Y/N?" He sends you a fervent glance, "is something wro-?" 

"I'm pregnant."

He's taken aback by the sentence you had just formed, staring at you, with almost little to no emotion being expressed. He's speechless. Out of words, completely. "You're what?! With- With my ba-?" Giving the leader a small, slow nod, it finally makes sense to him. "That's why you missed my call? Y/N, you sh-" You feel tears swell up in your e/c eyes, a hot droplet starting to slide down your left cheek, "I know it's all my fault. I should have asked for an abortion before I left that doctor's office. And you don't want a kid, I can see perfectly see that, and just know that I'm sor-" A warm green hand cups the side of your face, endearing blue eyes look at you and hold your stare as a thumb comes to wipe your new, built-up tears. Tender lips come to kiss your forehead. "I want this. Y/N, please listen to me when I say it'll be alright. I won't let you and the baby down, okay?" Leo's words are kind, softly spoken as he offers you a pursed smile while holding your face in his hand, "You'll be fine."

Your breathing is starting to calm down as you meet his eyes, your hand coming touch his on your cheek. "How far? How far are you, I mean?" Feeling at ease, your eyes are still watery with tears, a smile growing on your lips, "Two weeks." He grows soft at your reply, eyes flickering down towards your stomach. The stomach that held his kid inside of it. "How big are they?" You hold your hand up and leave a little gap between your index finger and your thumb, "Like a little seed." A smile of joy lights up his face before he carefully runs the bottom of your t-shirt up to expose your stomach to him. He pursed his lips together once more, fighting off tears as he gives a breathy laugh. "I love them already." You grin to your significant other, kissing his cheek.

"And we love you too."

[jungkookiebus]

Petals | kth

Genre: hanahaki!au, ANGST Rating: PG13 Pairing: taehyung x reader Word Count: 1.8k Warnings: heavy angst, unrequited love, mentions of blood (and a fair amount of it), major character death Author’s Note: A kind anon asked, I had never heard of it, but immediately started googling and found the subject pretty fascinating. It’s short and sweet, but I think it covers the angst bases. 🙈

The first time you saw him was in spring. The cherry blossoms were blooming, and life seemed magical. Sun beat down on the campus and right onto him. He must have been a transfer; you hadn’t seen him this semester. His soft brown hair shone with strands of gold in the sunlight. His skin was equally as golden, and he seemed to shine. Whispers went around campus quickly. The new boy was beautiful, that much you knew, but the rest was a mystery. Rumors surfaced that he was some out of town rich kid. Others said he was some poor orphan from Daegu. Whatever he was, he was your new object of affection.

You learned his name when you found out you had chemistry together and his last name put him right next to you. He sat smoothly on the stool next to yours, his sweet scent wafting in your direction.

Taehyung. It rolled off the teacher’s tongue delicately because that was the only way one should say it.

You chanced a glance at him. He must have felt your gaze because he looked over at you and smiled. His smile was boxy, but it reminded you of a heart. His eyes were a deep, chocolate brown.

That spring semester was one to remember for you. Every day, after lunch, he was always happy when he sat down next to you. He’d tell you about the current video games he was trying to beat, the book he read over the weekend, or the strange antics him and his new best friend, Jungkook, got up to. Every now and again his hand would find your arm as he excitedly told you a story. Your face would heat up, but you don’t think he noticed. He’d go on talking like nothing had happened and would eventually ask you what you had been up to.

Your feelings for him grew as the months wore on. His touches would happen more often, and he’d keep his palm against your skin just a little longer than normal. You knew, in your heart, that he was beginning to feel the same way.

That was, until, the last day of the semester before summer break. You were making your way down the hall to your last chemistry class. You were excited to see him, but sad that this would be your last class together. Maybe he would tell you about his feelings? If not, were you prepared to make the first move? But those thoughts were quickly dashed when you saw him in the hallway with her. Your school’s sweetheart was oddly close to him as he stood against the wall. One of his hands was on the strap of his backpack while the other was stuffed into his pocket. She, too, leaned against the wall but her chest was nearly touching his arm and she was doing that disgusting thing that girl’s do when they look up at boys and bat their eyelashes. He was talking to her and smiling. It made your heart drop sickeningly into your stomach. You just looked at them, neither of them noticing, as you passed and walked into class.

Moments later, Taehyung was walking into the room, usual smile on his face as he sat down next to you.

“Everything okay, ____?” he asked.

“Yea,” you mumbled, looking ahead.

He merely shrugged and began rambling on as he usually did. You wanted to pay attention, to give him all you had, but you also wanted to be upset with him. Why was he talking to her of all people? Did he not feel anything for you?

Class went by as usual and at the end, Taehyung was extending his hand towards yours. Your heart flipped in your chest.

“Hey, put your number in here,” he said while handing his phone to you, “so when I finally beat Jungkook at that game I’ll take a picture of his face and send it to you.”

And then again, maybe he did like you? Hope bloomed in your chest like a flower and settled here. Nestled deep in your heart, the petals fluttering in time with your heartbeat.

You put your number in his phone that day and he waved a goodbye to you as you parted ways in the hall. But the joy you felt when you left campus would not be long lived.

Taehyung texted you once and it was as promised, a picture of a sad looking Jungkook. You replied and got nothing in return. The message was left as read in your inbox and there it sat. That was when you coughed up the first petal. Delicate and white, it traveled up your throat as you panicked, and out came the fragile thing. It landed softly in your hand and laid there as if it had just come from a flower. You quickly dropped it on your bed, but the burn in your chest was undeniable. Utter pain coursed out from your lungs and to the rest of your body. Heartache charted a course of hot fire to your nerves.

You cried, holding your phone, telling yourself just to text him, but if he liked you, he would have messaged you back. That whole semester was nothing to him. Your talks about art, music, and books was just filler for him before class started. He was nice and social to everyone, so what really set you apart? Nothing. You were as forgettable to him as the rest of your classmates.

Later that night, you’d cough a pink petal, just a tad bigger than the last. You placed it with the other on your nightstand. They delicately overlapped, seeming to have come from the same flower. Perfect matches. Most unlike you and Taehyung.

A week later and you gathered up the courage to text him. Not even five minutes later he replied to you. The ache in your chest subsided a little. The tickle in the back of your throat wasn’t quite as pronounced. He seemed happy that you texted him. Or, as much as the text could portray emotion. He told you about his family vacation, where he had gone, the things he had seen, etc. He began to attach photos and you were excited that he was wanting to share such intimate details about his life. The first few were some nature shots, a couple of squirrels, and then you began to get to ones of his family. His little brother was just as cute as him and you saw that the both took after their father.

The next one sent your heart plummeting into your stomach.

It was Taehyung and her. The girl from the hallway. The one batting her eyelashes so innocently at him. You felt instantly sick, bile rising in your throat. You dropped your phone on your bed as you began to cough. It lit up with text after text from him, but you couldn’t see through the blur of tears as you coughed. Your chest was on fire and it felt as if someone had stuffed them full of old wash clothes. For the life of you, you could not catch your breath. Something was travelling up your throat, but it didn’t feel like sick. You clutched at your throat as you tried to get any amount of air around what was coming up. In the last few moments when you thought you were going to pass out, it fell from your mouth. A small bundle of forget-me-nots lay in your bed as if they had just been plucked from the bush. You inhaled a large breath, throat burning as you did so, but the burn in your lungs worsened.

You grabbed your phone and unlocked it, wiping away your tears so you could see the screen. Taehyung had kept on talking as if he hadn’t just sent you a picture of him and that girl. He kept talking to you like he had in class; like you were the only person in the world. He had begun asking you questions, but his last message was that she had just arrived at his house and he had to go.

I’ll talk to you later, yea?

No. No, he wouldn’t. This burn in your chest was killing you. You coughed into your hand and blood was spattered on your skin. The metallic taste of it made you sick as you stumbled to the bathroom. Leaning against your sink, you pulled the glass that was sat next to it under the tap. You drank heartily but was soon coughing most of it up. It came out stained pink, mixed with your blood, as you struggled to breathe. You dropped the glass into the sink as you fell to your knees. You couldn’t stop coughing. Your lungs burned like paper in a flame. More blood dripped from between your lips. Something was coming up your throat again. Tears streamed down you face, mixing with the blood, and caused a horrid display of red lines down your neck, mapping out your death. Two bundles of forget-me-notes fell to the bathroom tile. Their various blue, pinks, and whites were quickly becoming stained in the deep red blood that dripped to the floor. You were on your hands and knees but were becoming weak quickly. Your knees wobbled and your elbows began to give way as more flowers fell from your mouth. Soon, you would black out and hopefully the rest would be painless.

Yet, you couldn’t quit thinking about him, his soft smile, those bright brown eyes, and the soft, deep tenor of his voice.

Your thoughts were filled of still images and moments with Taehyung as you collapsed to the floor. By now, it was littered with your macabre floral artwork. Your eyes closed as the flowers filled your throat, a whole bouquet waiting to escape.

And it was his voice that said your name one last time and it was his face that you saw when your body seemed to sigh its last breath, if you had any. Blood still dripped thickly down your cheek and on the flowers beneath you. Finally, you were freed from the pain. No longer would you feel his rejection nor the anxiety that plagued your mind.

The medical examiner sat in a soft crouch next to your body. She came in after evidence had been marked off, photographed, and toted away in sterile bags. Now, it was just her, and you lying on the floor, in the bathroom. She quirked her head to the side as she searched your face. Your parents had found you the next morning, so even though the color had drained from your face, something about your features seemed…bright. The flowers spilling from your mouth hadn’t been removed, but the rest around you had been carefully stored away. Despite the gruesome, bloody bouquet however, it almost looked as if you had died with a turn of your lips. A grisly smile. This death would follow her forever.

The girl with the flower filled lungs. What a horrible, beautiful death.                                                

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

kiss me in the d-a-r-k .epilogue ii.

the weekend

masterlist

Warnings: dub con sex (oral, intercourse)

This is dark!(dad)Steve and explicit. 18+ only.

Summary: The reader meets Steve again.

Note: Okay, I kept going and here is the next part. I’m sorry if the following one doesn’t post as soon but I dunno. I’m feeling it. You’re feeling it. I’m the fic daddy over here giving you what your need so here you go! I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply!

...

Steve drove you home. It was past midnight and you were exhausted. He offered for you to stay the night but that seemed too much. You were glad you lived alone in the cramped bachelor. Your summer of work paid off your rent in advance. It was meagre but affordable and close to campus.

He kissed you goodbye. Hungrily. You imagined that if you spent the night in his suite, he'd not have let you sleep long. His stamina was surprising. You thought older men were supposed to be tamer. You bid him a quick goodbye and he idled outside your building until the door closed behind you.

You laid awake for an hour. You could feel him still. When you finally closed your eyes, you saw him in your dreams. It felt almost as good as the real thing. You woke in a sweat and the autumn clouds set grey shadows across your apartment. The kitchen, bedroom, and living all shared the same open space. It looked so dreary in the dim chill and after your evening in Steve’s lux suite.

You dragged yourself to the shower. You let the hot water wash away the filth and shame. Steve was in your head again. You thought of the summer. The night he’d removed your bathing suit and touched you; the first time he’d tasted you; the last night when he’d taken it all. Your fingers were between your legs as you snapped back to reality and the steam blurred your vision.

You stepped out onto the tile and sat for a moment as you gathered yourself. You had a long day of studying ahead of you. The scent of old paper and stale coffee in the uni library would help you focus. A typical weekend bent over a table full of textbooks and notes as Kylie pestered you to come over.

You stopped by the campus cafe on your way to the library and headed to the top floor where the tables were often empty. You parked yourself at one in the furthest corner and strategically set out your laptop, phone, and books. You rubbed your eyes and sipped from your latte as you started your weekly readings.

An hour, maybe two before you drew your eyes from the cramped text. You yawned and grabbed your phone as your stomach growled. Your half-toasted bagel had barely been enough. Your screen showed the usual texts from Kylie and the school emails piled up in your inbox. Another name flashed across the screen; well, a single letter as his moniker: ‘S’. Keying in Steve’s full name had seemed more sinful than your little tryst.

‘Meet me at the Beer Garden. 6pm.’ As always, to the point and more than just a request.

‘I’m studying for midterms.’ You replied.

‘All day? I know you’re probably nose deep in those books already, sweetie.’

‘7’ You replied.

‘That works.’ He accepted and you replaced your phone on the desk.

You were hoping he’d forget about you for the rest of the week. He said he had business and a friend he wanted to see. For a moment, you’d wondered if this friend was another woman but the worry quickly faded. You didn’t care if he had another woman, this was just sex. Easier to keep it that way considering. With another to keep his attention, you’d not be the centre of it. Maybe this thing would die quick enough that you’d both forget and you’d have nothing to hide from Kylie.

-

You stepped off the subway and rushed through the tunnels. You hated the underground. It was eerie and claustrophobic. Above ground, you checked your phone and stared at the map as it pointed you in the opposite direction. You didn’t travel far from the university and catching the right train had been enough of a chore to have you overwhelmed.

The Beer Garden was upscale and above your pay rate, which at the moment consisted of scholarship money and inconsistent cheques for amateur online articles. You entered the tinted glass doors and looked around the bar with dread. You checked your phone, you were right on time.

Your heart froze as you spotted Steve across the bar. You smiled at him as he looked up and saw you. As you stood dumbly in place, another ambled into you as they emerged from the hallway marked ‘restrooms’. You looked over at the man and gasped. Your heart sank as you stared up at him.

“Hello,” He steadied you with a hand on your arm. “Funny to bump into your here. Quite literally it seems.”

“I, uh, yeah,” You stuttered like an idiot. “I was just...meeting a friend here.”

“Oh, me too,” He smiled. “What are the odds?”

“Yeah, well, I don’t see my friend,” You said. “So I guess I’ll just wait outside.”

“Outside? Why don’t you join us for a drink while you wait?” He asked.

“Us?” You frowned. “Who are you--?”

“My friend,” He supplied, “Don’t worry, you’ll like him. And we don’t bite. We’re too old for that.”

“I dunno,” You wrung your hands and glanced over at Steve who watched you curiously. “Okay. One drink.”

“Great.” He turned and waved you along. “Just over here.” He led you across the bar and your nerves began to storm as you got closer and closer to Steve. When Professor Barnes stopped you at the same table, your head swelled in panic. “This is my friend, Steve. Steve this is Y/N. She’s one of my students.”

“Oh, nice to meet you,” Steve reached out cordially and offered his hand. You shook it and he smirked. “I can’t imagine having this know-it-all as my professor. You’re a brave one.”

“I couldn’t handle you as a student,” Barnes replied shortly.

“Heh, yeah,” You climbed up on a stool, “Professor Barnes isn’t too bad. I’ve had worse.”

“You can call me Bucky here,” He corrected you, “This isn’t a seminar.”

“Okay,” You smiled nervously as he waved over your head and a waiter appeared at the table. 

“We’ll take a pitcher for the table. And another glass.” He ordered and the server went quickly to retrieve it.

“I...I’m not of age yet,” You said shyly.

“They won’t card you here, don’t worry.” Bucky flicked away your complaint. “You good for another round, Steve?”

“More than,” Steve assured him and his eyes peeked over at you. “So, are you failing or is he actually being reasonable these days?”

“She’s one of my best students,” Bucky retorted. “Don’t listen to him. He does this. He thinks he’s more successful than me because he lives out in the suburbs.”

“I know I’m better than you,” Steve returned and the waiter came back to set the pitcher and extra glass on the table. “Your stuffy little office and dozen degrees don’t mean anything.”

You laughed awkwardly as Bucky filled each glass and shook his head. “I don’t mind his class. Even if it is on Friday.”

“Ah, yes, I forgot the uni girls all love their weekends.” He pushed the third glass towards you. “And yet here you are with us geezers on your Saturday night.”

“There is wisdom in years,” You jibed, “As questionable as the source may be.”

Bucky chortled and took a drink. Steve chuckled under his breath and tilted his head as he considered you. You could see the thoughts behind his blue eyes as he glanced between the two of you. You stifled your nerves with a mouthful of beer. It was going to be a long night. If not disastrous.

-

You were done your drink. In fact, you were on your second. The night had worn on and you checked your phone. Two hours! You glanced over at Steve but he was distracted by whatever Bucky was saying. You found it hard to keep track as you tried to balance the two of them. Tried to keep boundaries with your professor and hide your secret crush from the man you were fucking.

“So what about that friend of yours?” You were startled by the question. You blinked and looked at your phone again.

“I...It looks like they’re not gonna make it,” You gave an exaggerated sigh. “It’s happened before. It’s whatever.”

“Aw, damn,” He frowned. His laugh lines showed beneath his thick beard and you couldn’t help but admire the way his blue eyes sparkled. “Well, at least you got to waste your time with us.”

“Uh, yeah, well,” You tapped your half-empty glass with your fingernail. “I think maybe I should just call it a night. I’ll have it out with my flaky friend tomorrow.”

“Finish your drink first.” Bucky said. “Might as well. Oh, you need a ride?”

“Oh, it’s cool. I don’t live too far and pass is subsidized through tuition.” You shrugged. “Really, I’m fine.”

“Alright, just be safe.” He warned. “Oh and don’t forget about Monday.”

“I won’t.” You promised as you drain the last dregs of your beer. You stood and pulled your jacket on. “Looking forward to it actually.”

“Monday?” Steve wondered.

“Writing workshop,” He explained. “A little extra experience for the students and some useful knowledge on how publishing actually works.”

“Oh, that nerd stuff,” Steve kidded and turned to you. “Well, it was nice meeting you. Good luck with this one.”

“Yeah, thanks,” You gulped. “Have a good night.”

“You sure you don’t need a ride?” Bucky asked.

“You sure you don’t? You’ve had your fair share.” You returned.

“Cab fare then?”

“I’m good,” You assured him one last time. “See ya Monday.”

You skirted away before they could suck you back in. They both seemed all too eager to keep you out all night. Steve didn’t surprise you but Bucky did. Rather, Professor Barnes. Always a laidback professor but you didn’t think him that friendly. You wondered how the odds had stacked up against you. The two of them; friends. Fate surely favoured you.

As you stepped out into the brisk evening, your bag vibrated and you stopped to check it. ‘Hotel. Lobby. Twenty minutes.’ You glanced back at the bar doors and texted your acquiescence. It’d take at least that to get over there on the subway. You wondered if Steve could beat you there.

He did. When you arrived he was in the lobby on a long leather chaise. He sat patiently. His eyes found you as you walked in and he stood to greet you. He held his jacket over his arm and held out his other hand for you to take. He pulled you to him and kissed you. His arm wrapped around you and you struggled to part from him.

“Steve…” You looked around. “Not here.”

“How many people do you know in the city, hmm? No one even cares.” He lowered his arm and squeezed your ass. “Let’s go before I lose all my self-control.”

He guided you to the elevator. His hand never left your ass despite your wriggling. He was warm against you and the beer made him irresistible. You leaned into him and your bag hung heavily from your arm. He led you down the hall and swiped his card at his door. He nudged you ahead of him and the door shut with a snap behind him.

“That whole time we were sitting there, I couldn’t stop thinking about your ass. About everything I wanna do to you.” He snarled. “Sweetie, you’re driving me wild.” He rubbed the front of his pants. “I need you naked. Now.” 

You complied almost instantaneously. You wanted him too. Wanted to feel the same electricity as before. You were tired of denying yourself. Of burying that urge that grew so overwhelming as you fingered yourself in your bed. Your jacket was thrown over a chair, your shirt, pants, and underwear followed. Your shoes and socks littered the floor beneath and you stood before him expectantly. 

“Jesus,” He inhaled deeply and unbuckled his pants. “Will you treat me nice, sweetie?”

You neared him as he undid his fly and ran you hand over his crotch. He groaned and let his pants fall open. You rubbed him through his briefs and he shuddered. He played with your hair and caressed your arm as he watched you. You dragged you fingers tantalizingly along his cock and relished the noises it drew from him.

You pushed his briefs down past his cock and got to your knees. You had only done it that one time. You were almost intimidated as you knelt down before him and he gripped the base of his cock. He bent his knees as you wrapped your fingers around his shaft just above his own. He let go and you flicked his tip with your tongue.

“Do you remember what I taught you, sweetie?” He purred and tickled along your cheek. “Just relax. Take it slow.”

You swirled your tongue around his tip and he twitched. You repeated the motion and he hissed. You stretched your lips around him and tasted his salty precum. His hands went to the side of your head and rested there lightly. He groaned as you took him deeper and pressed your tongue along his length.

You did your best not to gag as you pushed past your reflex. You still couldn’t take all of him and pulled back slowly so that your saliva coated his cock. Your hand followed your mouth and you did it again; again; again. Faster each time; hungrier. You’d never expected to like it so much and each stroke had you wanting more.

His thick breaths floated in your ears and you looked up at him. He was watching you intently, his blue eyes intent; hot. His fingers spread along the back of your head and he pulled you off him. He smiled at the small pop as his cock fell out of your mouth.

“Sweetie, you keep that up and I’m gonna cum already,” He purred. “Stand up.” 

He tugged on your hand until you were on your feet. You were almost dizzy; the mixture of lust and beer had you wild.

“On the bed.” He directed. “Tell me how you want it.”

You blinked at him and pouted. “I don’t...I don’t know.”

“Go on. Show me what you want.”

You clamped your lips shut and turned to look at the bed. As you edged away from him you heard the rustle of his clothing. You peeked back at him as he unbuttoned his shirt. He nodded for you to continue.

You stepped up to the bed and touched the mattress. The first night you were together, you’d mostly been on your back. He used his mouth more than his cock. There was so much left undone. Perhaps that was why you were here now. 

You climbed up on all fours and glanced back over your shoulder. His eyes sparked as he freed himself from his pants. You wiggled your ass and he grinned. You turned back as he stepped towards you and the city winked at you through the tall windows. The distant traffic and street lights so far away.

His hands surprised you as they gripped your hips and crawled down the back of your thighs. His hot breath was even more surprising and you looked back again. He was on his knees as he grabbed your ass. He leaned in and his cool tongue dipped between your warm folds. You gasped and your head spun back around. You closed your eyes and pushed your head back.

You moaned, a long relieved moan as he licked you. He played with your clit and sucked at it. His teeth tenderly grazed you and he drank you in. You grasped at the blankets and arched your back.

“S-S-Steve,” You came with a sultry stammer and he carried you through it with his mouth. “Oh, oh, oh god.”

“Yea, sweetie,” He parted and stood. “You want me to fuck you like this?” He slapped your ass.

“Yes, yes,” You were surprised by your desperate plea. You needed it more than ever. “Please.”

His hands were on your hips again. He held you steady and his cock poked your folds as he lined himself up. He plunged into you in a single motion. You squeaked at the sudden intrusion. It sent an overwhelming wave through you. His fingers kneaded your flesh as he started to thrust.

“Mmm, you’re so good, sweetie.” He brought his pelvis flush against you and you whimpered. You were so full. “Can you feel that? How tight you are. How good you feel around me.”

“Yesss,” You said breathily and dropped down to your elbows. You hung your head as he pulled back and kept his pace steady. You could hear how your walls longed for him; how they tried to cling to him. 

“Tell me what you want, sweetie? How do you want it?”

“Faster,” You said without thinking. “Harder.” 

You leaned into him and he impaled you. He sped up and you let out a delighted cry. His cock hit all the right spots as it filled you over and over. Your muscles tensed as you were drawn to the edge and you plummeted down to your orgasm with a roar.

“Yes, sweetie, that’s it.” He kept his hips moving just as quick. “Tell me where to cum.”

“On my ass. It’s...fine.” You gulped as your breathing turned erratic. “Oh. oh, oh, oh…”

Your chant continued as another orgasm followed. You’d never cum so easily. He pulled out suddenly and a warmth spilled down your ass and thigh. Your thighs quivered as he stroked himself to his peak and you slowly pushed your legs out from beneath you to lay flat.

He fell down beside you as the cum dripped down the side of your leg. He stretched his arm across your back and nestled closed. You turned your head to face him and gave a dopey smile. He smiled back but it was more than the afterglow.

“You wanna fuck him, don’t you?” He asked.

You blinked and shook your head against the mattress. “What?”

“Bucky.” He ran his fingers up your spine. “I can tell you want to. You should. If that’s what you want.”

“He’s my professor.” You stiffened and turned onto your side. You grabbed his arm so that his hand stilled. 

“And? He wants to fuck you too. I know him well enough.” He chuckled. “He doesn’t socialize with students. Not like tonight. And the way he perked up when he ran into you.” He tutted. “He’s a dirty professor. Not that blame him.”

“I’m not going to fuck him,” You insisted and sat up, the cum sticky on your leg.

“Alright,” He said coolly. “Just...if you change your mind, don’t worry about me. I want you to explore yourself. Even if it’s not with me.”

“Please,” You laughed off his suggestion and bent to kiss him, if only to shut him up. “I’ve got enough to worry and not enough time to worry about it.”

[countcameron]

The end of The Rolling Stone’s and so they rolled.....

Friday night should’ve been one of the best nights for Cameron. He got to perform at one of his favorite spots in town, Kanaloa Beach Bar. His artist had been performing there every weekend and now it was his turn to spin the tables. The party was bumping, it was their busiest night the bar was crowded, shoulder to shoulder. His set was off the hook, he had been working on it since the beginning of the month when he decided he would perform, getting back to doing the shit he loved. Drinks being poured since the moment he walked in. You’d think that would be good enough for him to take him out of his funk but he was 10 feet under. The last few days he’d been fighting with his wife and had him in the gutters. He messaged his drug dealer, Draven asked for a quarter of his best smack. He’d been doping up for the last three days nonstop as soon as his high was wearing off he shot back up. He didn’t care to be in a sober state anymore. He was letting his mind and body go at this point all he wanted was self destruction.

Fuck it, he repeatedly said to himself holding the needle up to his veins. His eyes rolled back to his head and shortly after began twitching. He spent his days just like that until the show. Getting high in his car before his set, snorting lines and drinking all the booze he could, free drinks made that easy. His body was home to toxic waste at this point killing it from the inside. After the party was over it was about 3-4 in the morning, Cameron and Moon Byul Kim-Stone were going home or anywhere the car would take them now. No words spoken to each other.

It had been raining all day. Storming more like it, loud claps of thunder and lightning filling the air. The pair had already had a particularly rough argument just before getting in the car so the tension between them was already thick. A fight so stupid it shouldn’t have happened in the first place; she knew this but let it happen anyway. If only she had believed him maybe they wouldn’t be so quiet in the car right then. She reached over to turn the blasting radio down just a little bit. In return he just turned it right back up.

“Could you not? I have a headache.”

Moon spit out right as she reached for the knob again to turn it down. Cameron simply rolled his eyes at her and turned it back up.

“You don’t tell me what to do.”

He spat right back at her. She looked at him for a moment before turning in her seat to look away from him mumbling under her breath,

“You’re an asshole.”

Moon kept her eyes looking out the window while he tapped along on the steering wheel to whatever song was playing. The rain was starting to pick up more outside, the drops clashing against the windshield harder and harder at a faster rate. She noticed that he was making no move to slow down from the high speed he was going. 

“Cameron, slow down please. It’s getting harder outside.” 

Her body moved to sit up now, facing forward, her heart falling into the pit of her stomach. He let out a soft huff

“We’re fine. It’s just rain. Chill out.”

Cameron looked over at her direction before leaning back in his seat even more. Moon leaned over the console to look at his speed, gasping softly when she saw he was already well over the speed limit on top of all the rain pouring down.

“Please..just slow down...”

She reached for one of his hands on the steering wheel only for him to snatch it away from her grasp. His jerk of the wheel matched with the accumulating puddle of water as they rounded the curve only sealed their fate. She was screaming as the car began to swerve, her eyes wide as he tried to gain control of the car but there was nothing he could do at this point. It was a lost cause. The vehicle swerved off before hitting the embankment and started to flip.

As fate would have it ‘Last Kiss’ by Pearl Jam played….

“Oh, where oh where can my baby be? The Lord took her away from me. She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good. So I can see my baby when I leave this world.”

The windows started to shatter, glass flying everywhere cutting his face up, blood spilling from almost every inch of his upper body. Cameron made an attempt to grab for her but it was too late. Her seat belt had snapped and she was thrown from the car into a nearby tree. He barely had time to call her before his side was slammed into the side of another large tree, his head hitting at an unsightly angle, causing his brain to bleed killing him within seconds. In her last few moments she saw the car land and tears filled her eyes. Ringing in their ears the last thing they were able to hear. The sustaining injuries to her spinal cord aiding in her last breaths. The pair had gone within a few minutes of each other. The rain started to stop and the car caught in flames, no passerby’s coming to their aid. 🔥

PART TWO

April 26, 2019

Before that date Cameron was just a man. Many talents followed and many vices followed. Those are the things that killed him on that dreadful night. The fire ignited through out his car, he bleed to his death. Wounds and injuries marked his dead body.

May 26, 2019

A month later he woke in shivers, his body tied down to a wooden bed in a place he’d never been before. Candles lit up the room he was in and he heard chanting happening around him. His body in cold sweats. Cameron’s body drenched in his blood and sweat. He had a burning fire inside him, his own blood making him burn from the inside out. He looked around in the dark room his pupils were dilated, everything was intensified. His body had no harm done for what he could tell. He had one mark on his body right on his face. A bruise covering his entire cheek from where his face slammed onto the windshield of the car and the fire burns. He was healed but not complete reminding him of his previous life, one mark left of humanity.

He had a thirst he couldn’t explain, a thirst he never felt before. It was driving him and controlling him. He tried to get untied but the chains kept him down, he felt weak yet strong. He was going mad until he heard a voice coming from the shadows.

“Now, now, relax”

The female said as she approached him with a glass in her hand.

“Take this, you’ll need it to survive”

Cameron looked at her, he had fear in his eyes. Not knowing what was happening to him. He leaned forward taking a sip of the beverage she offered to him. Spitting it out from his human instinct but he wanted more.

“This is only the begging.”

PART THREE

“We hadn't driven very far

There in the road, up straight ahead

A car was stalled, the engine was dead

I couldn't stop, so I swerved to the right

I'll never forget the sound that night

The screamin' tires, the bustin' glass

The painful scream that I heard last.

Oh, where oh where can my baby be?”

That darn and damned song kept playing in Cameron’s mind even after he told himself to forget. It played the moment he started to remember. Remembering her was the best and worse thing that had happened to him. He could finally feel pain since his transition. Aching for the moment he could see her again. He left everything else behind they were suppose to go together and he would spend eternity until he found her again, he would find her again.

June 4, 2019 

He chased high and low went to every place he knew. Every place he took her and every place she took him to. Slowly remembering the little things that they had done together. Slowly the memories of them came and went maybe not all of them but most. He stayed in New York for a few days and headed to upstate New York to see if she was there. The trail went cold and he wasn’t getting any more memories after a day of finding nothing but his old family estate; Stone Manor intact and it made him to start to reminisce about his childhood. Only to remember why he left and headed to California.

June 6, 2019 

San Diego, California it was 9 pm, Cameron was confused forgetting about the time change between the East and West coast he had to adjust. He was also feeling hungry and food was not cutting it anymore. Once it was night he headed to the beach a couple of lonely passerby’s were his victims that gave him the fix he needed. Every time he took a life, he felt more alive.

“Darling this will hurt but for a second.”

He said to the female that was screaming and attempting to run away. He covered her mouth and dug his fangs in her neck sucking every last drop of her blood. She was young and he could tell by the taste of her blood she took care of herself, she was healthy and now she was dead. Soon her boyfriend would be too, they both ended up together after all. He threw them in the middle of the ocean for the sharks and the natural elements to erase them from this earth.

The following morning, he continued his search leaving a trail of bodies with their heads cut off behind him as he traveled around the West coast and finally ended up in Las Vegas. The place he and the woman he was looking for had gotten married. He was happy he remembered. He wanted to see her smile and those eyes shining one more time. Between feedings and beheadings, she kept popping up like a ghost.

“Cameron you shouldn’t kill them to feed.”

Even when she wasn’t around she was telling him to be better than what he was. To be good even if he was bad. He figured that was something she did often. He stopped by a gas station and cleaned himself up, stole some clothes from a man that was pumping gas before killing him and draining him dry. He had arrived at the Graveyard, it looked familiar but not at all. He walked inside and immediately felt relief as he walked in. He was amongst friendly’s and immortals as himself. He walked to the bar and ordered a drink. Bourbon on the rocks the first drink was his last the liquor burned down his throat, a feeling he had missed.

[...]

June 10, 2019

After spending sometime with Lucy and indulging himself in distractions but also getting to know himself in his new form with her help. He headed on his search it kept pulling him as much as he didn’t want to be anymore. He headed to place he didn’t know would really existed. He was there unsure of how he had got there but he made it there. The help of the gods led him there, there was no other way he could’ve made it to Olympus. There she was standing in the roof top with a long beautiful dress. She was more beautiful then he had imagined. Every thing about them starting to come in flashes in his mind.

The first time he’d ever laid eyes on her in Las Vegas in that crowded club as she danced eating her chicken wings. That evil, I’m going to kill you look for stepping on her chicken wing. The long nights in the studio creating a song not knowing he would fall in love with her shortly after that. The first night they’d ever spent alone. The day they got married now understanding completely why he headed to Las Vegas in the first place. They had eloped and he had the time of his life with her.

“It’s you!”

Cameron approached behind her.

“I’ve found you”

He was finally able to speak again after gathering all of his thoughts at once. Taking a step closer to her waiting to put his arms around her. He got an unexpected response from her.

“You’re not real..”

She wiped at her eyes while the tears began to fall.

“You aren’t real; this is just in my head... This is in my head...”

Moon ran her hands through her hair, grabbing at her head while she shut her eyes real tight.

“When I open them he’ll be gone... he’s not real, get it together he’s not fucking real.”

Her voice was breaking the more she tried to talk to herself but the break down was already building up and the dam was soon to break. She was breaking his heart how could she not see he was standing right in front of her. To take her back and for them to continue their lives together. They weren’t done just yet.

“I thought this might go a little bit different when I found you again, babe.”

He spoke softly, standing back as he watched her, curious about what the hell was her problem.

“Stop talking, You’re not real…”

He could see her crying and he didn’t know what to do. He took one step closer trying to reach for her but before he knew it she had stepping off the ledge falling and falling. His dead heart dropped. He wasn’t quick enough to catch her his hand graced her dress but it slipped through his fingers. He found her to have lost her all over again. She was gone now that he remembered every little thing about her. So it did that fatal night came flashing back.

“You’re an asshole!”

He could hear her yelling as if it were yesterday. The car drifting and the rain hitting harder, the fog making it that much harder to see. That tree that ended everything as he knew it. The fire and the reason why there was a scar on his face. His head slamming straight on the windshield cracking his head and cutting up his face the fire burning half of his face.

Cameron fell down to his knees. Holding his chest up, it became harder to breath. He killed his wife all over again. He couldn’t save her, he killed her.

“Oh, where oh where can my baby be?

The Lord took her away from me

She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good

So I can see my baby when I leave this world.”

...What A Fatal End

[lightsburnbrite]

The Devil is in the Details: Part 6

“No…Mama…Please listen…” Karina frowned as her mother went on scolding her over the phone. “Mama, we are coming to visit, just on Christmas day. We’re going to see Leon’s family on Christmas eve so he can be there when the kids open their presents.”

Karina glanced over at Leon who was smiling smugly, enjoying that her mother was giving her a hard time.  

“Yes, I am going to visit Leon’s family with him…Because he’s my husband…my marriage certificate says so.”

Flopping down on the sofa next to Leon, Karina rolled her eyes.

It didn’t take long for Marius to find out that she and Leon had gotten married but Karina begged her brother to let her be the one to tell her parents. Their father took the news in stride, welcoming Leon into their family but as Karina had anticipated, their mother had a different response. It wasn’t as though she held anything against Leon, her refusing to acknowledge their marriage was simply down to the fact that Karina and Leon didn’t have a wedding.

“Mama, we’ll see you in a few days. Goodbye.”

Leon laughed now as he realized Karina had hung up the phone on her mother.

Karina slumped down on the sofa next to him and just shook her head. “She is impossible sometimes.”

“I was thinking,” Leon draped an arm around Karina’s shoulder as he kissed her forehead. “There is the Ramsau church.”

Turning to face Leon, she knitted her brows. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, your mother is upset because we didn’t have wedding, right? So what if we have a small wedding next summer and then go back to the big house for dinner?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m talking parents, siblings and my sister’s kids. That’s all. Then she couldn’t complain anymore.”

Karina rolled her eyes before resting her head on his shoulder. “Don’t you know by now that my mother will always find something to complain about?”

Leon raised an eyebrow as if that wasn’t a valid answer.

With a sigh, Karina closed her eyes and nodded. “Let me think about it, ok?”

Once they landed in Düsseldorf, Leon’s sister picked them up at the airport. It gave Leon a chance to catch up but it also gave Karina plenty of time to think about how she still had yet to spend any real amount of time with his family. Any time that they had spent together before had always gone well enough but Karina couldn’t help but feel like Leon would like them to be more friendly and less formal. She took a small bit of comfort in knowing that Leon would never force the issue but she wanted him to be happy with her relationship with his family.

“Hey.”

Karina hadn’t realized they had stopped, it was Leon’s voice that brought her back out of her thoughts. Turning towards him, she gave a slight smile as she shrugged.

“You’ll be fine.” Leon rested his hand against her cheek. “They love you, you know that.”

Karina pressed her lips together. “But your grandparents are going to be here too. I’ve never met them so you can’t tell me that they love me.”

“But they will.” He gave her a playful little shake. “Trust me, you’re overthinking things.”

Letting out a sigh, she finally allowed herself to nod. “Ok.”

Leon smiled before he leaned in to give her a kiss. “I love you. That’s all that matters.”

As soon as they walked into his parent’s house, Linus came running over but stopped short. “Where’s Elsa?”

Karina tried not to laugh as Linus gave Leon a somewhat begrudged hug. “Sorry bub, we’re not going to be here for long so we thought it would be better if she stayed home. Next time, ok?”

“Ah, you must be the Karina that I have heard so much about.”

They both turned to see Leon’s grandmother walk in the room. Leon moved closer and kissed her cheek in a greeting. Oma, I’m happy that you can finally meet-”

Leon stopped as his grandmother walked over to Karina, clearly looking her over.

“Mathea had a very pretty face, very striking. Not like you.”

Karina strained to smile at the sudden critique. Leon knew she had two modes when it came to criticism, she’d either bite back or slink away. Being that this was his family, he figured Karina would simply take it but shut down.

“Oma,” Leon started to interrupt, but she only shook her head.

“No, no. You have a softer presence. You are very pretty too but I can tell you have a kind soul.”

As soon as she spoke, Leon could see Karina’s whole body relax. She remained relatively quiet for most of the evening, but really it was mostly about the kids anyway so she wasn’t being aloof.    

After two whirlwind days with their families, Karina and Leon returned to Munich and immediately began packing for the trip to Malé. Marius came back with them, after some convincing on Leon’s part, he agreed to watch Elsa and the apartment while they were away.

“Ok, so Elsa’s food is in this container here…” Karina opened the pantry and pulled out a stainless steel bin that could easily be mistaken for a trashcan. “She gets one scoop twice a day. There’s a full bag behind it if you need to refill. Her leash hangs by the door, she likes to go for a walk before breakfast and then after dinner but she’ll let you know if she needs to go out. The fridge is stocked, there’s beer…”

Karina turned around to face Marius. “Did I forget anything? Fresh sheets on the bed, fresh towels in the bathroom…”

“It’s fine.” Marius laughed even though Karina could tell he was starting to get annoyed. “I think I can manage.”

Leon walked in and shrugged. “Well, this is the first time she’s leaving her baby while we go away for longer than a weekend.”

Karina frowned before turning back to Marius. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” He offered a nod. “Let me know when you land, ok? Have a safe flight.”

Looking to her right, Karina let out a sigh, jealous that Leon was peacefully sleeping through the last leg of the twelve-hour flight. As she watched the flight attendants walk up and down the aisle, she realized that most of the flight seemed to be asleep. Karina smiled politely as the flight attendant stopped at her cabin.

“Would Miss like anything to drink?” There was a well-practiced head tilt that accompanied the line. “Water? Juice?”

Karina initially thought about declining but eventually figured a drink might help her relax. “Could I have a glass of Prosecco or Rosé please?”

“Of course, Miss.” Another smile. “Right away.”

Glancing back over, she briefly entertained the idea of crawling into Leon’s bed with him but the thought of possibly waking him kept her in her own seat. Giving her thanks, Karina quickly drained her glass as soon as the attendant walked away and then put her headphones on, opting to listen to an audiobook.

Leon awoke to a tap on the shoulder. “Pardon me sir, but we will be landing soon. Please return your seat to the inclined position and fasten your seatbelt.”

“Sure,” Leon nodded as he glanced over at Karina. “Can you let me wake her up?”

Karina’s eyes flew open as soon as she felt Leon’s lips on her forehead.

“Hey.” Leon tapped Karina on her nose. “We’re almost there. Time to buckle up.”

She blinked twice, realizing that she had actually fallen asleep, and sat up straighter. Karina pinched the bridge of her nose and gave her head a shake, wishing she hadn’t fallen asleep at this point. The little sleep she did get certainly wasn’t restful and left her feeling more groggy than anything.

Karina held on to Leon’s arm as they walked through the airport, bracing herself against the waves of dizziness that accompanied any movement of her head.

“So now might not be the best time to mention that we now get to board a seaplane.” Leon gently nudged Karina who could only close her eyes at the thought of another flight.

With a sigh, Karina leaned into him now. “You’re lucky I love you, Sir.”

“Hey now, this is as much for you as it is for me.” Leon stopped and turned to face her now, playfully clipping her chin with his knuckle.

“Actually,” Tilting her head to the side, Karina smirked, “I’d say this is more for me because you’d be happy with Ibiza or Mallorca but you know I hate it there.”

Leaning in, Leon kissed her briefly. “So in that case, it’s more like you’re lucky I love you, Maus.”

“Well, yes, we’ve already established that.” Tugging on his hand, Karina started to walk away. “Now, can we get on the other plane now? I’d like to get it over with.”

Leon was more than happy to continue to let Karina hold on to him but once they were over the atolls, Karina couldn’t stop staring out the window. While she continued to hold his hand, it was more out of excitement now.

Once they landed they were met by a man from the resort who quickly bowed his head in a nod. “Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Goretzka. We’re thrilled to have you here with us at Soneva Fushi. Your luggage awaits you at the villa. May I offer you anything as we travel there ourselves?”

Karina gave Leon a sideways glance upon hearing herself being referred to as “Mrs. Goretzka.” They had discussed if she was going to change her name and they both agreed it would be easier, at least initially, if she kept her own name. Leon gave a little wink. “It was just easier this way.”

The two stood with polite smiles as they were introduced to their personal wait staff for the duration of their stay but politely declined any further assistance. Leon wandered around the villa, getting a feel for where everything was located, even the secluded outdoor shower, before returning to Karina who was standing in the main room.

“Personal wait staff?” She raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Leon shrugged as he pulled Karina against him. “It might be nice. I mean, we are celebrating a special occasion after all.”

“Ok, ok. I’ll give you that.” Leaning into him, Karina breathed in the familiar and comforting scent of his cologne mingling with his deodorant and let herself relax. “What should we explore first? The beach? The hammock out front? The bed?”

Smirking, Leon licked his lips and raised an eyebrow. He lowered his voice to just above a whisper. “Food?”

“Oh my god.” She gave him a shove back before laughing. “Are you always hungry?”

With a sheepish smile, Leon shrugged. “Maybe?”

Karina glanced at her watched and realized it was later than she thought, about time for an early dinner. “Ok, ok. Let me take a shower and change, then we can go. Does that work for you?”

“Sounds perfect.” Leon drew Karina against him again and kissed her.

Leon sprawled out on the bed, scrolling through emails but also casually watching Karina as she undressed. He smirked but then something caught his eye. “Hey, Maus, come here for a sec.”

“What?” Karina stood next to the bed in her underwear while Leon stood so he was able to be next to her.

Putting a hand on her shoulder, Leon encouraged Karina to turn so that he could see her back. “Am I hurting you?”

“No?” She seemed confused by his question. “You’re barely touching me.”

“No, not now. I mean, at any point in time-” He moved his hand and brushed slightly along her lower back, closer to her hips where there were four finger-like bruises on both sides.

They moved closer to the mirror above the dresser so Karina was able to see as well. “You think those are from you?”

“What else would they be from?” Leon’s brows were knitted now, obviously concerned that random bruises kept appearing on her body.

“Baby, you’re not hurting me. I don’t know-”

“Karina, please.” He kissed her forehead before placing his hands squarely on her shoulders. “Please go see your doctor when we get home.”

She paused for a minute and started to protest but then started to think about why Leon wanted her to get checked out. “Yeah, ok. As soon as we get back.”

[lethe-distillery-blog]

The Most Dangerous Game

"Oh yes," her voice was the faintest of moans in my ear, "just like that."

I honestly didn't know how I got here. Sure, I could tell you all the points that started my evening off and how they eventually lead here. But as for how it all happened, I had no idea. I had come to the bar to forget. Not really that it ever worked but persistence has to count for something, right? It all started after a long, long day.

"Hey Rob," I called out to Robert Pakam, owner and proprietor of Hunter's Den, the small bar that I frequented more than I liked or should. Still, it was a nice atmosphere. Rob was a fair man, beer was cold, food was good, and it was a pleasantly crowded place. Nothing crazy loud, even on weekends when Richard Jackson, I had gone to school with him, what? Christ, must be pushing fifteen years now, and his motley band played on the small stage. It wasn't my favorite of listening, blues or country tones, but still it was enough to give Rob some extra money and kept the old coin-operated jukebox in the corner from dying, not from a lack of effort on its end though. Rob was always bitching about it not working but I had yet to make the mistake of suggesting an upgraded sound system, I had seen the results of that particular line of stupidity.

I went over to my usual haunt. A back corner that I could watch the entire building, bathrooms were on the far wall, bar on my left and main entrance on my right. T.V. was a bit too close for comfort, but, there wasn't much I could do about it and the small hit to my hearing was worth the hold I could maintain on my sanity. I sat heavily, tired, I hadn't even bothered to change. All well. Fuck what everyone else thought, Only thing that may make anyone twitchy was the bulletproof vest, and that wasn't coming off. Likely not for a month. I shivered in memory but forced a smile for Rochelle, Rob's daughter, she helped her Mom and Dad run the small place. I didn't think it was struggling, it was full most of the time and most people talked about the brew that Rob used from local places. I was sure it was a good bet that if Rob decided he liked your beer suddenly the locals would like it too.

"Galactic Space Dragon IPA," Rochelle's baby blues twinkled at me and I raised one in return as she set the tall frosted glass in front of me on a small napkin already saturated with condensation. The liquid inside was a light hue of gold. Dandelions on a hot afternoon. Yeah, that color. It looked filled with carbonation and the head was a brilliant white foam. I had always tried the newest thing on the menu. Why the hell stick to the same thing if you aren't sure you're going to die tomorrow?

I took a long sip, savoring the fluid on my tongue, rolling it around before swallowing. "Very carbonated." I murmured, it felt like a soft drink going down more than beer. I took another sip, "it tastes nearly like grapefruit on the first taste before it mellows out." She was nodding, she enjoyed sampling the local things with me, though only recently had she started asking what I thought of them. Beer had been beer, cold, refreshing, good on a hot day. But, as I forced myself to focus on it more, each did, in fact, have its own variety and I could start to pinpoint what I didn't like in certain ones instead of simply discarding the whole company. "It's smooth though."

"Yeah, and it almost has a chocolaty taste to it." she paused for a moment, "mind if I catch a lift after work?" I was usually around until closing anyway, "don't exactly want to bug mom and dad, it's supposed to be their anniversary tonight." I nodded at her before I took another sip, focusing. It had a rich taste, a little sweet. I wasn't quite sure if it was chocolate-like but it was a complex variety of flavors, not quite unlike chocolate, though I was leaning more towards coffee. Someone called and Rochelle rolled her eyes and I tracked the man as she placed on that fake smile of customer service. He was a regular, farm hand, Warren if my memory was good. Which it was, but Warren had never been one to stand out in any way other than being a stuck up jerk so I had promptly put him out of my thoughts. Becca waved as she noticed me on her way out of the kitchen. I lifted a hand in response, not quite a wave but I didn't do well with the idea of drawing attention to myself.

I had just comfortably finished my beer and was people watching, the sleepy townsfolk a comfortable distraction I allowed myself. I recognized a few familiar faces. Joe, Tom, and Brady. Three old men that came every dinner; bangers and mash with mushy peas, with a pint to wash it all down. Monday through Saturday. They were so predictable I was sure I could set a nuclear clock to their consistency. Arrived at six thirty exactly and left an hour and a half later on the dot, and got incredibly grumpy if they were held up for any reason. They had caused so much of a fuss that Rochelle actually stepped in to run the till for the three of them if Rob or Becca were busy.

"There you are," I smiled at Becca as she came over with a massive plate. I already knew the contents though she spread it before me with a grand flourish. "We were getting worried when we hadn't seen you around. Worried you had finally met a bear that was bigger and meaner than you."

I grinned at the comment, though I was exhausted and the smile took a lot out of me. "Impossible," I picked up my silverware, "we all know how grumpy I am, I send them whimpering back to their mothers." Becca laughed, and thankfully, left. I wasn't feeling sociable. It was too tiring to pretend all the time that I was normal, that I was just one of the guys. That I was a big game hunter that traveled all over the globe for the next big thrill. Rochelle had been all sorts of bothered until I showed her picture of me on my last holiday a few years back with an elephant, a small dart sticking out of its body. I did enjoy a good hunt, and the more vicious the animal the more cunning, the better.

That's why I didn't hunt strictly the four-legged variety.

I took a large bite of the roast beef almost moaning at it. Fuck, Becca made an incredible plate of food. It took everything in me to not devour the entire spread, instead, I ate like a civilized, if not educated, man. Roast beef, yorkshire pudding, gravy, green beans and a few of Becca's to die for cookies. She had swatted me the once I had accidentally said that colonial blasphemy inside her domain, within these four walls they had erected a wonderful, and proper, English Pub, complete with flags and a picture of Queen Elizabeth the Second. It was, different, that was for sure, especially for being in the middle of nowhere, but I had found I enjoyed the small haven. They were good people, and that was rare to find.

Rochelle supplied me a glass of water, I knew better than to drink to excess, even now, the beer was affecting me more than I wanted it to. Blasted schedule and not eating regularly. Hell, I didn't even remember the last time I ate. Thirty hours ago? I took a long draught of water, draining half the glass in a long swallow, doing my best to dilute the alcohol. I knew better than to even lose a single facet of control. I wanted to drink, I wanted to promise oblivion, and I knew myself well enough that if I got lost just enough to convince myself to buy a second, there was no stopping me after that. I did not need a repeat experience.

I looked up at the bell at the door and looked at my watch, 7:37 flicked back at me. I looked up and frowned at the unfamiliar figure entering, a tiny, vivacious blonde that I immediately pegged for someone passing through. She had a quick and easy smile her eyes flashing, though they did wander about the room with the slow deliberation of one that knows more than that quick smile intended to put forward. Rob greeted her and spread his arms as if showing her his entire establishment. My guess, she asked where she should sit. It was pretty relaxed around here, find yourself a spot and sit there. Rochelle will be with you, or if you wanted a drink, ask Rob.

Much to my surprise, and distaste, she made a beeline for me. What the shit? She smiled, forcing me to smile back or seem rude and that wasn't what I needed right now. "I'm Brianna ." She offered me her hand and I shook it. Her skin was soft, warm, despite the cool spring air. It felt slightly oily, freshly lotioned. It smelled of peaches.

I forced my smile, not outwardly reacting at all to the twitch that had just gone through my entire body. "Judd." I didn't bother with the last name as she hadn't either. She sat, not asking for my permission. Rochelle came over, her blues not quite as friendly, her smile a bit forced. Brianna asked for fish and chips and a coke. Rochelle sent me a look and I was pretty sure that she was jealous of my uninvited guest and wanted an excuse to move her. I gave her a smile, just the twitching of the corner of my lips but she backed off leaving me to look at my guest. "So," I fucking hated small talk, it was useless and served no purpose in all the damn universe, "what brought you here?"

"You looked lonely," she shrugged as if this were a statement of fact and not a very different answer than what I had been expecting. "I thought that I could sit with you. You did have an empty chair." I did, and I couldn't exactly fault her logic. We passed it in amiable small talk, though I let her do most of the talking while I just listened. Brianna was an intriguing young woman. She had recently started her own business and I had every confidence that she could make it and I made sure she knew it watching as she delicately sipped at her drink.

I let her eat in peace, talking around a wedge of pie I had asked Rochelle for. It felt like I should, otherwise I would just stick out more. Brianna too got upset with me for killing animals needlessly until I showed her the picture and explained the hobby I had, that I played off as a job. What was with women and killing animals? Christ, I was glad I was single. The time went by quickly. The sunset lighting the entire inside with brilliant hues of orange, red, and pink before fading into darkness. Rochelle kept us topped up with drinks. We had switched to ice water and I listened to her tell me about her line of products. I asked the odd question here or there but I was more of a listener so I let her talk as much as she preferred.

Finally, I made the move to get up. "Please," Brianna smiled courteously, "let me." I wasn't going to argue. The only thing better than food I didn't have to cook was food I didn't have to pay for. I allowed her to cover it, waiting on her before we exited the building. We talked for a while more, well, she talked and I listened to her as I puffed at a cigar. I wasn't really the smoking type but after a large meal there was nothing I enjoyed more than a large cigar to aid in digestion. I indicated her car, a sleek little Mazda sports car, it looked like a clown car because of the size of it. It didn't take much to figure out it was hers. "You taking off tonight?"

She nodded, "I need to get to Minot in the morning, still a few hours to go."

I looked to the sky and back to her, "Be careful, deer like wandering the roads at this time of night and they'll likely walk away laughing when you total your car." She laughed good-naturedly and bid me goodnight as she stepped into her car and watched her pull out of the parking lot.

I leaned against the wall, watching the smoke on my exhale curl on itself before vanishing as it worked its way towards the heavens. I listened to the family inside work at final cleanup, Rob calling out and asking if there were any more fives in the other till. It all faded to general background noise, familiar and comfortable, as I watched the stars starting to peek through a haze of clouds and glow defiantly. I heard her approach. "I would have thought you would go off with your pretty blonde there." I raised an eyebrow at the hostile tone and looked over to see Rochelle approaching me, she looked, pissed, but as she approached, I saw the glistening in her eyes, I could hear her breathing a bit harder than normal, she wasn't angry. She wanted to be angry, she was hurt.

"She didn't appeal," I spoke honestly, bluntly.

"No one talks to someone for three and a half hours without being interested." She snapped. She had been paying attention.

"I wasn't talking all that much, I'm pretty sure that Brianna there could have a conversation with your hat rack and enjoy it just as much."

Despite her best efforts, Rochelle laughed. It was a small laugh, but I knew I had taken the edge off her fury. "I hate you." I shrugged and followed her to my rental car. I opened the door for her, the very picture of a perfect gentleman. I walked around the car and got into the driver's side and pulled out of the lot and followed her quiet directions. "So, why didn't you go with the blonde?" I looked over to where Rochelle say, a petite, beautifully curvy brunette with kind chocolate brown eyes. She was the very definition of girl next door kind of beauty, that sedate sort that most of the world would overlook but a select few would see, and worship the ground she walked on. She had wide hips, a pristine, soft body that begged to be lavished with tongue and mouth. "She seemed like your type." Her words were a quiet statement, so full of hurt that I looked over at her.

"And what," I kept my voice calm, "pray tell. Indicated to you at all that she was my type?"

"She had nice legs, her hair was a nice style," Rochelle's was a mass of curls that almost seemed to bounce with her every step, "she talked to you constantly." I waited but it seemed like that was going to be it but I barely caught one final comment, a whisper, a pained flicker of emotion that came from her soul. "She's not fat like me."

I didn't react to the comment, I wanted to, but I figured that this poor girl got too many people that brushed her off. "You're not fat," were so easy to say, or some other excuse. And I had my thoughts that Rochelle had been told every single one of them. No, she wouldn't take simple placating. Besides, I wasn't good with talking. I wasn't a poet that had the right words for any situation. I was me, and fucked if even I knew what that was. "Take a left here." she sounded subdued and upset. Maybe I was supposed to say something?

I pulled up in front of a small home, it looked to be an RTM, small, but with a neatly painted fence and small flower pots along a railing. It was clean, well kept, and sedately beautiful. Much like her owner. I opened the door for Rochelle and breathed in, letting the calm of night wash over me. I followed her to the door, not entirely sure why. It wasn't like we had had a date or anything, she had asked me for a ride home. Simple as that. Still, this felt, right. And as a man that survived by his instincts, I followed them. "Thank you," she looked up at me, her eyes swallowed by the moonlight, looking almost black, but I could still see tears in her eyes. It nearly killed me. "I'm sorry I was an inconvenience."

Seizing the moment I leaned in, grabbing her hair and locking her in place, I was either going to get slapped or she was going to return this. I kissed her, I wasn't exactly a great kisser, I can be honest enough to admit that, but I kissed her, doing my best to show her, without the hated words, that she wasn't the fat one. She gasped into my mouth and I slid my tongue inside, pressing her against the door, locking her between me and it. I savored the taste of her, I devoured her, and to my relief, she kissed me back. Her entire body was soft, warm, welcoming. I pulled back, my breathing was hard and it sounded harsh to my own ears. "I don't think that you ever asked me my sexual interests."

She blinked up at me, her eyes hazy. "W-what?"

"You." The answer was simple and deadly. I wasn't attracted to anyone but her, and her naivete to my very deadly world was a hell of a handicap, hell, it may get her or I killed. It's why I had convinced myself I couldn't like her, why I couldn't even imagine the fantasy of her over me, all that deep brown hair thrashing my chest as she rode me, her eyes flashing with her lusts, and the way her soft skin would feel against mine. I couldn't give myself that fantasy, and I knew it was stupid that I had just kissed her, that I had just bridged a gap that I had kept her blissfully unaware of. And now, now it was too late. I kissed her again, not knowing what else to do, nothing else felt anywhere near as perfect as the way she wrapped her arms around me with infinite care and hesitation.

"If I'm dreaming," her words were soft, just like her, "I'm going to smash my alarm clock when it wakes me up."

I smiled, I couldn't help it and breathed in her ear. "You, Rochelle Pakam," I nibbled her ear, "are my dream." She was, and this was all kinds of stupid and I was never stupid. Ever.

She opened the door, it was a small town, no one locked their doors. We would have to remedy that. She was shaking, she looked about ready to pass out. I kicked the door behind me and locked it before coming to her. "Gorgeous," the word slipped out before I could stop it, "you need to breathe."

She nodded and took long deep breaths if I wasn't so concerned she would pass out I would have found it amusing. "Sorry, I just, I can't," she was floundering and it was adorable, "I can't believe you are here, and you want me."

"Want has nothing to do with it," if I had my way I would never want this perky, beautiful, voluptuous brunette, I wouldn't come back half hoping, and half dreading if she found someone else to be with, "I need you." Her mouth parted, and again, because I couldn't seem to stop myself, I kissed her. I pulled her to me this time, making sure she wasn't pressed against something hard and unforgiving, she would be pressed against me, and that was where she would stay.

Whoa. That's a thought.

She dragged me through the house, our lips only parting to breathe, to pull our shirts over our heads, and, once, when I tripped over the coffee table making her giggle wildly. Finally, when I felt like I wasn't going to take much more of her fondling me we made it to the bedroom. I gave her a firm push, watching her fall onto the bed with a short gasp, looking up at me with lust in her eyes. "What about the lights?" She sounded hesitant, "Aren't you going to turn them off?"

Uh, no. Was she out of her mind? Seeing her lying there with every inch of herself exposed for me was enough where I could feel my sanity starting to slip. "No." It came out as a feral growl as I walked towards her. "I want to see every bit of you."

"You really are too perfect."

Yeah, precious. I was all kinds of perfect, perfectly stupid. I came over her, kissing up her calves, her thighs, over the soft wonderful body with kisses and touches I hoped that I could memorize and hold close because there was no way I could let this happen again. Ever. I swallowed a nipple into my mouth smiling to myself at her moan of satisfaction and pleasure as I started toying with her body. Hell, it had been so long since I had been this domestic with anyone that I was surprised I remembered how to. I flicked her nipple with my tongue, smiling as her whole body tightened beneath me, she tasted exquisite.

"Oh, gosh." Her refusal to use profanity was amusing and yet strangely erotic, I wondered if I could ever get her to say something naughty during sex. Now, was definitely not the time to try. I needed her, this too much. I positively devoured her, driven on by her hands helping move my head where she wanted me, and by following the moans. She was extremely responsive, it was wonderful really, and it drove me crazy. I kissed over her skin, feeling how hot and slick she was on my fingers, more than ready, more than eager. It was all too much. "Please," she sounded like she was terrified, "don't wait, I don't want to wake up too soon again." Holy shit, the fact she dreamed about this, us, was. Holy shit.

I groaned, I couldn't stop myself, as much as I wanted to make this perfect, because I couldn't come back. I slid into her, not even knowing what was going on, what had happened or why I had let this all happened, why the fuck wasn't I using a condom? Everything slipped away as she pulled me down to kiss her, her legs wrapping around my hips and her tight wet pussy clenching down on my cock. I almost came right there like a desperate teen. That, would most assuredly not do.

I pinned her hands above her head, watching with a feral smile as her eyes flashed, widening, and feeling her clench down on me. "Stay." I could barely get it out past a snarl as I thrust into her. My eyes couldn't stay locked to hers anymore, I watched, hungrily, as her breasts heaved up and down. It was erotic beyond any fantasy I had hoped of. Watching her pale and succulent skin beneath my tanned one, watching her curves press into the muscles of mine. It was so erotic.

"Oh, yes," her voice was the faintest of moans in my ear, "just like that." I thrust into her harder, desperate for her softness. I could feel my hips crashing into hers with the wet smack of flesh on flesh, the primal stacatto of lovers, and unfortunately, this wasn't going to be a long performance. "Oh, I am going to cum!" Music to my ears, "I'm going to cum!" She wrapped her legs tighter around me, pinning me in place as I came with her, hard, my entire body shuddering and shaking. Our cries entangling in the room as sensual as we were bound. I collapsed onto my forearms but she pulled me down even more, lying my head to her breast. Her fingers running their way through my hair in soft delectable motions. "That," I breathed, "was incredible." It seemed like such a trivial word, but again, not a poet.

"Stand up, very slowly." The voice was coy, flirty even and I looked over to see one Brianna in the doorway. I felt Rochelle stiffen but her fear kept her from crying out.

"Shh," I kissed her lightly on the lips and winked, "it'll be okay precious."

"Big talk for someone who is a dead man." I stood, slowly, fully naked, and turned to face Brianna, her eyes were cool, her smirk not reaching her eyes as she pointed a small Glock at me.

"I knew I should have stayed in my bulletproof vest." I sighed. "Shows how little I know." I smiled at Brianna and watched as it unnerved her. "So, who sent you?"

"You killed my brother you bastard!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Stephan was your brother? My deepest apologies, if I had known that that level of crazy ran in the family I would have taken you all out." Her eyes flared, her smile tightened as she clenched her teeth and she moved the gun to point at Rochelle who whimpered.

"Any more smart talk and I'll blast the fat bitch's brains out." She was shaking so badly she really might do so damage by accidentally pulling the trigger.

"You just made two fatal mistakes." She looked at me, her eyes cold, fearing nothing, well, chalk that up to a third, always be afraid that someone bigger and meaner exists in the world. "One, you ruined an amazing night. And two," my muscles tightened just slightly, "you took the gun off of me, that was your only chance." I launched myself forward and knocked her back with me, ignoring the sting of pain that came as thunder exploded in the room, dark spots danced in my vision as I connected with the small body and sent her to the ground. I heard Rochelle scream, I saw the blood and I smiled even more down at the terrified face of Brianna as tightened my hands around her neck. "And you do not call her fat."