recklessreyes

[recklessreyes]

“you’re probably right. the therapist i used to see once asked me if i harbored any resentment. there was a time when i didn’t, but i probably still do to some extent.” adriana bit her lip, ducking her head a little and turning to another patron to quickly assess what they needed before turning back to charlie. “that would be ideal, i think?? but my brother and i combined probably don’t have the income to cover it. one thing about both of us is how stubborn we can be. neither of us admit defeat until the worst possible moment. my brother’s better than i am at accepting help, though.” she winced a little. “i feel a little like i’m oversharing, so sorry about that. but honestly yeah, i think we might just do a smaller version this year. if you’re around would you be interested in stopping by?”

"that's a lot of responsibility for a child," charlie mused quietly, "it does, but you're still young, you've got time, you've got options. a friend of mine had been in a similar position to you and i saw what it did to them — just don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. have you ever considered a care home or even restbite?" the young woman deserved a break, even a weekend once a blue moon. "i am! a niece and a nephew. i've done a lot things in my years but being their aunt has definitely been hands down my favourite." charlie could easily gush over the two for hours on end, lead into another topic that was important to her but she was sure the bar tender heard enough of that from others. "i feel like we all need a holiday from the christmas holiday." charlotte smiled, impressed, "it sounds like your family christmas party gets quite jolly."

[recklessreyes]

“Shit.” Adri ran one hand over her face, grumbling under her breath. “Fine, fine. Sorry for suggesting that.” She immediately barked out a laugh, though, forgetting their current predicament. “Have you met me? I would never. People are weird.” It was true—while she liked working at the bar, she did have moments when she wished she could silence people with the power of a single stare. Sometimes it worked with her brother, anyway. “I think I’m gonna get over easy eggs with home fries drenched in hollandaise. And bacon.” She mused, wondering if it might be a good move to throw in some fruit salad. For the vibes, the sugar rush, or at least pretending to be healthy.

"My friend," she said, placing her hand gingerly on Adri's shoulder with a subtle shake of her head, "this is bona fide toxic behavior." Where Adriana could flirt with a damn wall, Yasemin became immediately flustered, wanting to retreat within herself as if she were a turtle seeking coverage within her shell. "Just don't find yourself in an entanglement or on a billboard at a concert with a secretly married man." Surely, all would be well then for her friend, right? Closing her eyes for a moment as she felt the room spin momentarily, she let out a groan at her friend's stupid questions. "I love my dad, my mom, my sister, and my brother. My job is pretty great, too. So, rather well for me, thank you very much."

[recklessreyes]

Adri let out an incredulous laugh, hand flying to her chest. “Excuse me? You want me to demonstrate the Cupid Shuffle on demand? Out here? No music, no crowd to hype me up? That’s cruel and unusual punishment, cowboy.” She shook her head, feigning exasperation, though the grin tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement.

“You do realize if I do this, I’m never letting you live it down, right? You’re gonna owe me snow cones. Plural.” She shifted her weight to one hip, studying him like she was calculating just how much leverage this gave her. “And just for the record, if I scuff my boots in a field full of cow crap, you’re buying me a new pair. Or at least bedazzling ‘em to apologize.”

"You're nocturnal and I'm an up with the sun kinda guy. Different strokes." That didn't always mean Beck got an early night, though. He tried not to push himself too hard, but it was rough. In agriculture there was always something to be done, but you couldn't keep pouring from your cup if it was empty, or something like that. "Just be careful o' the cowboys. You got some decent folk around. Lot of 'em are good people." Like Kit, who even if Beck wouldn't necessarily want the guy to date his sister, he knew the guy would never hurt anyone or treat 'em bad. "But you got a lotta assholes. Like anything, I guess. Bet you get your fair share of 'em here, too." Beck narrowed his gaze. "They usually happen in an arena or on a ranch, and you shouldn't be wearing heels. Nice pair of cowboy boots, maybe. Sometimes they got a bit of a heel on 'em." Rodeo wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but the image of 'dodging horse shit in heels' made him snicker.

He shook his head stupidly. "Sorry, I don't know any dances that aren't done in a line." If he found his way to a dance floor, he went with the flow. Remembering specific steps with everything else going on in his mind? Impossible. "I'm not very online. You might have to do it for me here, just to prove it." He offered her a mischievious grin. "Love to see how you can make me learn it if you ain't gonna do it yourself."

[recklessreyes]

"You know, you're the second person to mention goat cheese in ice cream. Maybe I should go for it." Adri pursed her lips, huffing out a quiet laugh. "I don't actually know what pandan is, but go off." She rolled her eyes at him, one hand on her hip. "You trying to sell me on a five course ice cream meal? It might be working. But don't distract me. I'm onto you!"

She knew he was watching--so sue her for the exaggerated movements, one hand slowly reaching up totuck her hair behind her ear. "Black sesame, huh? Talk dirty to me."

JC couldn't help but chuckle being thoroughly amused by her. ❛❛Better you know now than later?❜❜ he gave her a cheeky smile. ❛❛At least you know what you're getting into.❜❜ he offered as if that made it any better. ❛❛What are you so worried about, though? Didn't you allude to the fact that you can do this with your eyes closed. Sounds like someone is not as confident as they seemed. ❜❜he sing songed and smirked. ❛❛saving that for later. Doesn't crack under pressure.❜❜ JC made a note in the air as if this was seriously something to contemplate.

His eyes lingered for a bit longer as they stayed on her teeing it up. ❛❛Lavender honey? That's good. I was more thinking more of the lines of Coconut & Pandan, Goat Cheese & Fig, Salted Caramel & Bourbon, Earl Grey & Lemon Zest, and my personal favorite Black Sesame. ❜❜

[recklessreyes]

Adri squinted at him, arms crossed loosely over the neon putter she’d chosen just to match her top. “Hate to break it to you, but that’s cold. Ruthless. Downright unromantic.” Her voice was playful, but her smirk gave away the fact that she was already calculating angles and wind speed like she was lining up a championship shot. “Good thing I don’t choke under pressure.”

She sauntered up to the tee with exaggerated swagger, then paused to glance back at him with one brow raised. “But if I do make it, I want that scoop to be something bougie. Like lavender honey or pistachio gelato. Maybe dark chocolate raspberry. None of that basic-ass vanilla.”

❛❛Here's what I think. Ready? You get that hole in one, and I'll add a double scoop to the ice cream promise.❜❜ Adri was going to get that ice cream regardless. This was just a fun incentive. Since he had come back from his trip down from Austin, he had spent a little bit more time with Adri, doing fun shit that got them away from their normal day to day. He had promised to give Isaac a few days to digest the news before he came down to the winery to have a talk with Laurel. This gave them the necessary space. ❛❛If you don't make it, then it drops down to just one scoop. ❜❜

@recklessreyes

[recklessreyes]

Adri gave him a once over, like she was trying to decide whether or not she truly believed him. "Good with a mop, huh? I'll believe it when I see it. Hope you clean better than you kiss." There she was again, just half daring him to prove her wrong again. She noticed the shift when JC glanced at his phone. It wasn't a big shift, but it did catch her attention. She felt a little sad, but wasn't sure why. PRobably shouldn't get involved, if it was important he'd say something.

Instead, she caught his eye and held it, brown eyes softening. "You okay?" Adri tuned, deciding to busy herself by organizing some freshly washed drink glasses. "I can't tell if you're speechless because I just have that strong of an effect on you or if something's actually wrong." She didn't say that she was worried. She couldn't be. He was just a guy. It was just a kiss, and she wasn't gonna drop to one knee and propose. Adri was too guarded for that shit. But...there was something about him. Made her feel like it might all be okay if....never mind. The brunette cleared her throat, weirdly thinking about how Benny would be satisfied knowing JC was with her as opposed to her being all alone. "Or for all I know, I'm a horrible kisser, and you're gonna never set foot in this bar because of that, but also because I put you to work like you're fucking Cinderella." The vulnerability spilled out, and Adriana ducked her head a little. She was not nervous.

He stared at her, almost like she was being studied. His heart was trying to catch up but his mind kept going back. Blue eyes sparkled with amusement as he bit his bottom lip. ❛❛I'm actually really good with a mop.❜❜ It was hard for him to turn it off. His combative nature shone through. He loved being a contraian. Before Adriana really put him to work, which he was sure Benny would just give him the annoyed care bear stare, he raised his hands up in defense. ❛❛Little Angel,❜❜ he gestured a halo and smirked. ❛❛I'll be good.❜❜

Eyebrows furrowed slightly as confusion etched in his features but made no move to leave. He sat back down and fiddled with his work phone. The new schedule had dropped and saw a trip had been set when he was just about halfway settled into town. He'd give this the necessary attention later when he was alone and back at home.

[recklessreyes]

Adri leaned her elbow on the bar, propping her chin in her hand and shooting a clearly unimpressed glance the stranger's way. "Damn, not even a maybe on the concern? That's cold. Or hardcore." Her mouth twitched, like she was trying to suppress a smile. "By the way, you you definitely just called yourself old. That wasn't on me." She gave him a pointed look. "Maybe the therapist bit is part of the job when when you serve whiskey to people who look like they haven't slept a goddamn wink in three days." The brunette studied him, watching for any cracks in between the sarcasm.

She let him have his moment as he took a sip of his drink. Or, at least right up until he tried to play it cool. Part of being a bartender meant having a pretty good sense of reading people for filth. "Hmm, okay. Not a fan, but you're still here."She raised both brows. "I can take the heat better than you thought. So ha." When Isaac mentioned being adopted, she softened more than she would've liked to admit. "Says you probably have more layers to you than you're comfortable admitting." Her voice hinged on gentle as she spoke, but then her lips curved into a small smirk. "Hey, if this is therapy, maybe I should start charging,"

"Worried about making off my drinking habits?" He clicked his tongue in consideration. "Probably not." A spring chicken? Isaac's frown was quick to show, though seeing her own delayed reaction to it pulled some amusement forward. "Oh, no. No offense at all. So, the free therapist portion was part of your job description or you just go above and beyond?"

Isaac was thankful for the other drink she poured, quickly taking a sip. Looking up from his glass, a humorless chuckle followed. "Is this your idea of free therapy? I'm not sure I'm a fan." Not that he cared, it did bruise his ego though. "I'm the oldest of four, the adopted one too, to add to that. I don't know if insults from a kid will get me." Complete lies. Isaac rarely showed it, but even his toddler niece and nephew could properly insult him and it'd get to him. "So, what's that say about me?"

[recklessreyes]

"Well, fair, but maybe it's just the fact that I'm basically a nocturnal being. I can't not appreciate the deep sleep, or the feeling like I'm rising from the dead. She snorted, then nodded. "Alright, I'm down. Maybe I'll throw together a cute lil' outfit." She shot him a look, one brow raised. "You better not be dragging me to some dusty ass field where I gotta dodge horse shit in heels, though. I'm talkin' rodeo adjacent, not full oncowboy cosplay." Still, the idea made her grin. Beck had that effect--getting her to say yes to thinks she normally wouldn't consider, just to see what would happen.

"And excuse you!" She added, feigning offense. "The Cupid Shuffle is a freaking classic. Pre-TikTok. Pre-Instagram. We're talkin' school dances and weddings and sweet sixteens. I commanded that damn dance floor. Everyone was flailing, but me?" She smirked. "I was the moment. So, no, there's no video. Just gonna have to take my word for it. And don't try me, I will force you to learn it."

"Sleeping is literally the opposite of fun. What're you talkin' about? You can't have fun when you're unconscious." Beck slept the minimum amount of time possible. Up too late, awake too early. Never enough hours in the day. "Come on, can't let you continue to live your life in ignorance like this. Y'work at a dang country bar. We're going to the rodeo some time." Of course, Benny wasn't even the most country lovin' guy on the planet either, in spite of owning the dang place, but Beck was convinced Adri would love it.

"What the fuck is a Cupid Shuffle?" Beck asked. "Some kinda Tiktok dance?" Beck was almost chronically offline. He used the internet for business and advertising purposes, mostly facebook and instagram, but they had a social media manager who took care of most of that stuff. "Everyone loved you 'cause of a dance? I'm guessing it's a dance? It's got shuffle in the title. I hope you got a video." The only dancing Beck knew anything about was line dancing. Even then, he wasn't great at it.

[recklessreyes]

Adri's lips turned up in a little grin--almost like she'd been waiting for him to ask that. "Mm," she hummed, giving her cup a little swirl as her eyes fell on him again. "That depends on what you're hoping to get out of this job." Her voice was soft, but there was no mistaking the spark underneath it. Her eyes stayed fixed, focused on him.

"Because..." She trailed off, tapping a manicured fingernail to her lips like she was offering some overly thought out idea--she was not. "If you're looking for easy, you might wanna reconsider the assignment." She gave him a tiny smirk, punctuated by a wink. The tension was almost too thick--she didn't really want anyone else to barge in on this moment they were clearly having. "You don't take the easy way out, am I right? You look like the kinda guy who works for what he wants."

“More than I ever wanted to know,” Javi confirmed, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He’d learned a thing or two about a lot of things over the last seven years– restraint being just one of them. He wasn’t totally sure that he’d sharpened into a skill yet, though, but he’d take any compliment however he could get it, “Guess I’ll add that one to my resumé,” he teased, his lips twisting into a wry smile. As she eased back, Javi almost found himself following, but he refrained– or, more appropriately, he restrained…putting that skill to good use. “Can’t judge a book by its cover,” he supplied, shrugging his shoulders as he raised his coffee to his lips.

This…wasn’t exactly how he’d seen his morning playing out. He figured she’d be a hardass, read him his rights like everyone else usually did, and then they’d get to work. But this banter…it’d come out of left field and Javi wasn’t angry about it. If anything, he just found himself leaning into it even more than he probably should have. He lifted a brow, wondering if there was some double meaning in Adri’s words. Deciding to throw caution to the wind and just blur the lines a little, he smirked softly, “We still talking about work?”

[recklessreyes]

adriana nodded contemplatively, a ghost of a smile setting on her lips. it seemed like charlie got it. growing up, adriana wondered how much people genuinely did get it. the relatives that had been around from the time her mom had suffered the stroke seemed to walk a fine line. and she knew grief wasn't linear. didn't make it any less weird.

"oh good, good for you! i hear the 405 is a beast. my road rage would never survive." adriana laughed, playing with one of the rings on her finger. it was a blue metallic fidget ring, moons and stars etched into it. usually, adriana relied on sewing to keep her steady, but this ring was one of her favorite pieces of jewelry, and it was even better that it was only $9. "if i had my choice, i would be long gone. never look back. I started having to make more not-selfish decisions when I was thirteen. sometimes it makes me wonder. I don't really know where i'm supposed to be sometimes. happens to the best of us, right?" she smiled a little sadly, then listened to charlotte speak. "oh, you're an aunt! that's so cool. my brother and i don't have kids, but we still have some young cousins. when christmas time rolls around? very fast paced, people to go and parties to be at. I make coquito every year. it's probably the best part. the bartender bit comes in handy there."

with a tight lipped smile, charlie nodded, "it usually does only to go through days where you feel like you're back at square one, not knowing what to do." taking a sip of her drink, she agreed, "it's a little weasel but it's yours to understand, some people might not get it and that's okay. you have to do what's best for you."

"i had networks in los angeles doing their best to win me over, make the west coast switch but i think there's an opportunity for a nice life here," she explained, her mind full of thoughts of one person in particular. "you moved around a lot? i can't imagine how hard that would have been." a brief chuckle fell from her lips, "it's an extremely weird feeling, there are so many people i've never seen before that have probably lived here longer than me, know the cool spots. i have always made an effort to visit, especially after my sister had her two kids." charlie took another sip along with the young woman, "a name to a face, it's nice to meet you, adriana. i'm charlotte."

[recklessreyes]

"Oh, for fuck's sake. I gotta stop doing that out of habit." Adriana scoffed at herself, shaking her head before glancing back up at Mickey and instead letting her hand flex free before it went back to her side. "My brother started pinky swearing me when he was six and I was eight. Still does 'em to this day, which...is a little lame. But he's my brother and as much of a pain in the ass he can be, I love him. And I'm probably more of a pain in the ass than he is, so. I guess that's the Reyes family balancing act for ya." Adri rolled her eyes fondly and tapped her number into Mickey's phone. before handing it back to her

When Mickey asked how old she was, Adriana snorted. "Thanks, I think? I'm twenty-four. Twenty-five in October. Either I was a witch in a past life or maybe I've just hit the clear skin and good gene combination jackpot. Either way, can't complain too much." She cracked the last of her lollipop and tossed the stick in a nearby trash bin. "What about you?"

"Well, shit, if he gives a damn about you guys, I guess that's nothing to complain about. I mean, he puts off the vibe that he doesn't, but I always thought he did. He has to have a soft spot somewhere." She said it knowing damn well she hadn't been the sort of person who liked to admit it about herself, especially not before Aslan came into her life. "Well, at least you've got Javi around now, too. He's definitely got a good head on his shoulders and plenty of practice kicking ass."

"Yeah, I don't do pinky promises," she said, laughing before pulling her phone from her back pocket and unlocking it. "Here, plug your number in." She held it out for Adriana to take, flicking the ash from her cigarette in the opposite direction. "How old are you, anyway? You have a young face, but one of those wise soul vibes, so I can't pin you down."

[recklessreyes]

🌧️🧩🍻

[ 🌧️ ] What pain does she refuse to heal from?

The slow unraveling of her mother’s health and the grief over the parent she once knew fading away. She also says she's healed from her father's abandonment, but most nights it's a lie.

[ 🧩 ] Truth she won’t admit?

She’s scared that no matter what she does, she’ll never be enough for her family or herself. More often than not, she feels like she's not doing enough for her mom. Or, conversely, worried too much about herself. It's a battle.

[ 🍻 ] What kind of drunk is she?

Quiet and contemplative at first, then blunt and biting if pushed—she's snarky on a regular day, but alcohol definitely heightens that. Thankfully, she's never gotten to the point of being downright mean.

[recklessreyes]

🖐️

[ 🖐️ ] What do their hands feel like?

Adri’s hands are roughened from years of sewing, but beneath the wear is a surprising softness—calloused fingertips paired with careful, deliberate movements. Those hands have held more than just drinks and spools of fabrics; they’ve carried the heavy weight of family responsibility since she was young.

[recklessreyes]

✎ㅤ. . .ㅤ𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑪𝑨𝑵𝑶𝑵 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺.

₊˚⊹ ㅤa collection of character analysis/headcanon questions to learn more about your character and your partners'! writing/headcanon prompts requested by anonymous. feel free to edit these as you see fit.

[ 🖐️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat do their hands feel like: soft, calloused, trembling ? [ ☂️ ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they crave touch or fear it ? [ 🎐 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a sound, like a song or voice, that they associate with peace ? [ 🕊️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen did they feel the safest ? [ 💤 ]ㅤ.ㅤhow do they sleep ? curled up, sprawled, holding onto something ? [ 🦇 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is a fear they never talk about ? [ 🔒 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is a secret they’ve sworn never to tell ? [ 🪢 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen was the last time they broke a promise ? [ 🫳 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho do they feel they owe, but never paid back ? [ 💼 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat do they always carry with them ? [ 🧨 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat’s the quickest way to set them off, even if they hide it well ? [ ⛓️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat does guilt feel like to them ? [ 💢 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho have they never forgiven and never will ? [ 🩸 ]ㅤ.ㅤis there something or someone that, if lost, would break them ? [ 🌧️ ]ㅤ.ㅤis there a pain they refuse to heal from ? [ 🪞 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen have they looked at their reflection and hated what they saw ? [ 📿 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat superstition or ritual do they cling to ? [ 🌊 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen was the last time they cried ? [ 🐾 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo animals like them instinctively ? [ 🪶 ]ㅤ.ㅤhow do they laugh ? [ 🫀 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho taught them what love is ? did it hurt ? [ 💭 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they believe they’re worthy of being loved ? [ 🎀 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is their main love language ? [ 🔦 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho do they search for ? [ 📜 ]ㅤ.ㅤis there a story they love sharing with others ? [ 🌒 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a dream or goal they have given up on ? [ 🕯️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat memory do they replay when they’re alone ? [ 🌪️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat’s the one choice they regret (not) making ? [ 🧩 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat’s a truth about themselves they refuse to admit ? [ 🍻 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat kind of drunk are they ? [ ✉️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat kind of letter would they write but never send ? [ 🗡️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is a scar that they have but never talk about ? [ 🕸️ ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a favourite lie they like to hear ? [ 🪦 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat would they want on their gravestone but never admit aloud ? [ 🎱 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat kind of future do they crave, and who’s in it ? [ 🌀 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a recurring dream or nightmare ? [ 🍃 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they feel like they belong ? [ ⚓ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat does “home” mean to them ? [ 🧭 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhere would they go if they could disappear tomorrow ?

[recklessreyes]

Adri scoffed, but didn’t bother hiding the grin that tugged at her lips. “Kiddo?” She repeated, biting back a comment about using the so called fists of fury on him. She wouldn’t—not only did she need the job, she cared about Benny. “Maybe I should go as Megara, but Latina, for Halloween this year. I feel like I bark out enough ‘I don’t need saving’ like it’s a life raft. Apple wouldn’t fall far from the tree.” She shrugged her shoulders a little and met his gaze. “I’ll be fine, I promise. Worse things have happened before.” She reached out to squeeze Benny’s shoulder lightly, letting him know that beyond her sarcasm, she really did appreciate his company.

"Trust me, it feels better when it comes from someone who isn't a piece of shit," Benny said with a smirk, knowing all too well just how much someone hitting on you could change just by how that person interacted with others around them. Benny watched Adri closely while pretending he wasn't. The thing about his bartenders was that Benny wasn't some out-of-touch asshole. He'd been young and jaded and broken once too—he still was, at least when it came to two of those things, even if he pretended not to be. He noticed the way Adri's voice softened and he did his best not to feel a rush of protective instinct course through him again knowing that he'd be here to keep her safe—even if she didn't claim to need it. "Yeah, yeah, yeah," he said as he waved her statement off. "Real badass, with your tiny little fists of fury. You're like packed-tight dynamite, kiddo, the smaller the package, the bigger the boom."

[recklessreyes]

"Believe it or not, not here. I went road tripping with a friend up in the Northeast, and one of the restaurants we stopped at had 'em. I have yet to find a place that knocks 'em out of the park, because these? The stuff of dreams. I didn't even think pulled pork and nachos belonged together, but it's one of the times I'm okay with being wrong." Adriana glanced at Beck with a small smile, picking absently at her nail polish. That place had been nestled between one too many Dunkin' Donuts, but if she ever found her way back out east, she'd go.

"Well, fine, but at least I didn't card you." Adri narrowed her eyes playfully at Beck, remembering their previous conversation. "If you don't like the drink, just be honest about it--I'll find something else that's fruity enough to chase it." She thought for a moment. What did she do for fun? Lately it seemed like her whole life was either working or making sure her house stayed in one piece. "I sleep. Sleeping's fun." She retorted weakly, then tucked her hair behind her ear. "And if you must know, I once requested the Cupid Shuffle at the club one night. Everyone loved me. Short lived, but nice."

It was pretty Texas to be sitting here in a honky tonk bar, talking about drinks and pulled pork nachos. "Naw, I don't think I ever had 'em. Where d'you get 'em? Somewhere in town?" Beck liked pork, BBQ sauce, and nachos, so everything in that sentence sounded pretty good to him.

"I'm not makin' any judgements about who's innocent or not," Beck said with a snicker. He'd got that young face, too, the short stature that meant he got carded all the time. Wasn't sure he was in any place to be judgin' this kid's age, but they seemed too young for him to be making innuendos with, so he let that one slide right on by. "I'm still hung up on the ain't been to a rodeo thing. What do you do for fun? We gotta go to a rodeo some time. It's a blast."

[recklessreyes]

She took a breath that tasted like him. Then another, steadier one—tucking her hair behind her ear like it hadn’t just gotten mussed by that kiss. Her lips tingled. Her heart was doing something deeply unprofessional. Adriana didn’t move back right away. She lingered in the space between them, swearing her ears were popping like fireworks. “I’m gonna need you to stop being so distracting, or I’m gonna have to really, actually cut you off and make you mop.” Her voice was light, teasing, but there was something real behind it. Her smile stayed, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes the way it had before. Because now? Now she felt him. Not just the kiss—but the weight of the moment.

She cleared her throat and took a single step back, smoothing her clothes, already pretending like she was fine. Like she hadn’t just broken her own damn rules. “ Um, you… sit tight. I’ll be back.”

JC felt that smirk turn into a lopsided smile. Adriana was intoxicating, like he'd gotten drunk just off her perfume alone. Absolutely noneed for alcohol in his system. As he had her close, he felt the entire room consume her energy. ❛❛Oh yeah?❜❜ he whispered softly as lips met hers in a faint kiss.

He closed the gap and took her hands in his, pulling her in for a kiss. Soft lips met his in a brisk yet unnerving kiss. A kiss he shouldn't have given into, but he did and let his hands roam down to her hips. It was slow like she was the only person in the room, hell in the planet.