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cleverhottubmiracle · 2 days ago

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Every line on your face tells a story, but if you'd rather leave some of those stories untold, then the best wrinkle creams might help smoothen things out. We're not saying these recommendations will leave you completely wrinkle-free, but these are some of the best options for slowing down the signs of aging on the skin.When it comes to anti-aging skin care products—or any skin care in general—active ingredients are key. “I kind of like to break it down with anti-aging ingredients: What happens with age that these ingredients can prevent?" Dr. Muneeb Shah, also known as the “DermDoctor,” a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the new skincare brand Remedy, says. “So, loss of collagen and elastin, thinning of the epidermis, slowing down of skin cell turnover…anything that's going to support collagen and elastin is going to be beneficial with aging.”After months of testing anti-aging products (and some overall guidance from the good doctor), we narrowed down our medicine cabinet to the top 12 best wrinkle creams for nearly every skin type and issue.The Best Wrinkle Creams for Men, According to GQThe Best Wrinkle Cream Overall: Jaxon Lane Relax and Repair, $36 $32The Korean Skincare Favorite: Cardon Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer, $35The Best Luxury French Wrinkle Cream: Beau Domaine The Cream, $99The Best Upgrade Wrinkle Cream: Skinceuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced, $185The Best Retinol Cream: Dr. Loretta Concentrated Firming Moisturizer, $70The Best Night Cream: Geologie Retinol Night Cream 0.1%, $59 $47The Best Morning Cream: Grown Alchemist Skin Renewal Day Cream, $62The Affordable All-in-One Wrinkle Cream: CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream with Sunscreen, $28 $24The Best for Deep Wrinkles: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream, $30 $19The Bets Custom Moisturizer: Prose Custom Moisturizer, $52The Best Wrinkle Cream for Improving Skin Elasticity: Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Cream, $98 $74The Best Easy-to-Absorb Wrinkle Cream: Kiehl's Age Defender Cream Moisturizer, $49In This GuideAccordionItemContainerButtonThe Best Wrinkle Cream Overall: Jaxon Lane Relax and RepairJaxon LaneRelax and RepairAccordionItemContainerButtonProsAffordableGood for sensitive skinLightweightConsPeople with oily skin might find it too heavyIt's amazing how many research-backed anti-aging ingredients are contained in this $36 face moisturizer for men. It's proof that you don't have to spend $100 to start your own anti-aging skin care routine (there's a reason it won a GQ Grooming Award). The ingredients include niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and botanical extracts from ginseng and Indian pennywort. Guys, especially those with sensitive skin types, will appreciate the lightweight formula, which is also fragrance-free.The Best Korean Skincare Wrinkle Cream: Cardon Hydro Boost Gel MoisturizerCardonHydro Boost Gel MoisturizerAccordionItemContainerButtonProsGreat for oily skinHelps rejuvenate the skinConsNot heavy enough for overnight useCardon is a Korean skincare brand that's a favorite of ours here at GQ Recommends. The brand won back-to-back GQ Grooming Awards in 2022 and 2023. We previously named this one of the best moisturizers for oily skin, but anyone can benefit from its potent formulation of niacinamide and botanicals. Apply this anti-aging moisturizer at night to the entire face and neck. For guys in their 20s and 30s who aren't quite ready for a retinol, make this your new everyday moisturizer.The Best Luxury French Wrinkle Cream: Beau Domaine The CreamBeau DomaineThe CreamAccordionItemContainerButtonProsActually results in smoother skinHas a pleasant textureConsSpeaking of $200 luxury French skincare products, Beau Domaine is the result of a partnership between Brad Pitt and famed French winemaker Marc Perrin. Along with the brand's face serum and cleanser, this moisturizer gave my skin an undeniable glow-up in just four weeks. It contains patented antioxidants derived from grapes and other natural hydrating agents. It's a luxe unisex moisturizer and wrinkle cream, and one of the best I've ever reviewed. If you really love skincare and want rapid wrinkle repair with natural ingredients, then this cream is worth the splurge.The Best Retinol Cream: Dr. Loretta Concentrated Firming MoisturizerDr. LorettaConcentrated Firming MoisturizerAccordionItemContainerButtonProsHelps with overall skin textureAbsorbs quicklyOnly need a small amount per useConsNot heavy enough for an overnight moisturizerThis dermatologist-founded brand makes some of my favorite anti-aging products. I recommend this wrinkle cream for anyone dealing with more than just fine lines—although it helps with those, too. It contains retinoid derived from vitamin A to fight wrinkles, improve overall skin brightening, and smooth out skin, while antioxidants such as CoQ10 support your body's natural collagen. The formula isn't oily at all, and I found it absorbed quickly into the skin. Just a couple small drops was enough to keep dryness at bay for my entire face.The Best Night Cream: Geologie Retinol Night Cream 0.1%GeologieRetinol Night Cream 0.1%AccordionItemContainerButtonProsComes in three strengthsDeeply hydratingConsIf you prefer to apply skincare products at night, then go with Geologie's Night Cream. I love this product because it's available with three concentrations of retinol—0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%. You can start with the lower concentration in your 30s, and as your body gets used to the formula, you can increase the concentration for improved results. In addition to retinol, this moisturizer also contains niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.The Best Morning Cream: Grown Alchemist Skin Renewal Day CreamKiehl'sSuper Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging CreamAccordionItemContainerButtonProsHelps with evening skin tonePlumps the skinConsWrinkles and fine lines aren't the only signs of aging you need to worry about. Kiehl's multi-purpose anti-aging moisturizer was formulated with vitamin A, chaga mushroom extract, and hyaluronic acid to even skin tone and improve elasticity on the face and neck. Apply it every day to the face and neck and you should see a plumping and smoothing effect in four to six weeks.The Affordable All-in-One: CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream with SunscreenCeraVeSkin Renewing Day Cream with SunscreenAccordionItemContainerButtonProsAffordableHas built-in SPFConsCan pill when used with certain other skin care productsTired of the sight of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots? You don't need to pay $200 for a luxe French face moisturizer (though we can recommend a few). This affordable drugstore brand face moisturizer is one of the few that combines broad spectrum SPF 30, for daily sun exposure, with retinol to protect and repair the skin. This day cream also uses hyaluronic acid to as the moisturizing agent, and it's suitable for all skin types. For a $28 product on Amazon, it's punching way above its weight class.The Best for Deep Wrinkles: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night CreamRoCRetinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night CreamAccordionItemContainerButtonProsAlso exfoliates the skinMoisturizingConsSome find it to be irritating to the skinNeed a concentrated dose of anti-aging ingredients in an affordable package? Not only does this wrinkle night cream contain retinol to fight wrinkles, but it also contains exfoliating glycolic acid to help with dark spots and other signs of aging. Additional moisture comes from squalane and shea butter. Suitable for men and women, we recommend saving this product for deep wrinkles.The Best Easy-to-Absorb Wrinkle Cream: Kiehl's Age Defender Cream MoisturizerKiehl'sAge Defender Cream MoisturizerAccordionItemContainerButtonProsConsSome reviewers say it feels greasyKiehl's anti-aging moisturizer for men contains two potent ingredients: salicylic acid and caffeine. The former is a powerful exfoliating agent, useful for more than just acne, and the latter helps to energize the sensitive skin under the eyes, just like your favorite eye cream. It also has additional botanicals and moisturizers and a subtle, masculine fragrance. The whipped-cream like texture is soft to the touch and absorbs quickly.More Wrinkle Creams We LoveSK-IISkinpower Face MoisturizerSK-II is a GOATed brand when it comes to skin care, and its Skinpower moisturizer might be one of its most popular products. Why? Just ask the millions of people who use it and have noticed the diminished appearance of fine lines or those who have yet to see any little wrinkles start to crop up. Noble PanaceaThe Exceptional Chronobiology Sleep MaskAre we recommending a single-use product? We sure are. These sleep masks from Noble Panacea contain a hearty recipe for keeping your visage youthful, featuring the gentle exfoliator polyhydroxy acid, the collagen booster retinol, and barrier-repairing ceramides to name a few of the ingredient bonafides. Above all else, your smooth-as-butter face will be the only selling point you need. IliaBarrier Build Skin Protectant CreamIlia's Barrier Cream looks towards oatmeal to help repair the layer of skin that's most likely to be damaged by environmental factors. Its calming and protecting formula work exceptionally well in the cold weather, but manages to stay light enough to work year round.

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norajworld · 2 days ago

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nourishingeyecream · 26 days ago

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Nourishing Eye Cream Benefits You Should Know

Apt for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, this men’s eye cream will work wonders for the guy who wants to look ten years younger (okay, fine, we’ll settle for five) click here.

Extremely hydrating, anti-aging, and overall an aloe vera lotion choice, this is the best under-eye cream for men who need an all-in-one product in a convenient package. It’s definitely on the higher end of the price spectrum in the realm of the best eye creams for men, but it’s a dependable product that’s light on the face while still packing a visible punch. I’ve used this eye cream for a long time and have seen a major difference with the dark circles.

When it’s time to incorporate an eye cream into your skincare routine, make sure you’re choosing from the best natural and organic eye cream. To get you started on nourishing eye cream right foot, we’ve listed the top 14 natural and organic eye creams below. A big part of taking staving off the visible signs of aging is taking care of your skin. But as we learn more about the ingredients in conventional products, taking care of your skin also involves choosing skin-beneficial products that don’t compromise your health while they make you look great.

If you’ve got a small budget, try starting with The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution or Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost eye cream. Both eye creams are inexpensive and should deliver noticeable results while being kind to your wallet. There are also quite a few negative reviews for this product (although there are a lot of reviews total), most of which complain that the eye cream burns when it makes contact with your eye.

As someone with genetically dark circles, I know how hard it can be to find an eye cream that actually helps lighten them. As Dr. Song explains, the formula contains vitamin K oxide to target and reduce dark circles as well as haloxyl to improve firmness. The cherry on top is the cooling ceramic applicator, which helps further de-puff tired eyes. Powered by nourishing lipids, this eye cream deeply hydrates, brightens, and reduces the appearance of crow's feet. The lipids are paired with seaweed hyaluronate to plump and refresh and fermented prebiotic yeast to target dark circles.

In turn, your dark circles may get lighter and may reduce their appearance all together. Customers find the eye cream moisturizing, easy to apply, and appreciate its appearance-enhancing effects, with one noting it looks great under tinted primer and foundation. The product receives mixed feedback about reducing dark circles and effectiveness, with some reporting significant lightening while others see no improvement. Additionally, several customers report eye irritation, including burning and nourishing eye cream, and describe the product as unexpectedly sparkly. Customers find the eye cream effective at eliminating dark circles and puffy eyes, with a pleasant light scent and easy application that requires only a little product per use. Moreover, they appreciate that it's not greasy and consider it worth the money.

Through Geologie skincare Reddit threads, you’ll find hundreds of positive reviews supporting the brand. Moisturize and protect like an all-star with the Geologie Essential SPF30 Sunscreen + Moisturizer, a morning face cream that goes on smooth and light. It uses the ultimate hydrator ingredient, hyaluronic acid, with ocean-friendly (reef-safe) SPF. Customers describe this eye cream as the best they've ever used, with one customer noting it's a high-quality skin care product. My eyes tend to react poorly to different products but I have had no problem with this eye cream.

While eye cream is good at reversing the signs of aging, it’s best used as a preventative measure before you have dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles. If you’ve got a bigger nourishing eye cream, give one of Geologie’s eye creams a try. Since these eye creams are formulated with kojic acid, which is a melanin production inhibitor, they pack some serious punch when it comes to getting rid of your dark eye circles for good.

Customers have mixed opinions about the eye cream's value for money, with some appreciating its great price while others find it not bad. Customers find this eye cream to be great, with one customer noting it's particularly suitable for teens. With use on nourishing eye cream, the butter also helped to reduce the discoloration under my eyes but I really saw the best benefits when I combined the gel and butter together. The biggest benefit I noticed from the gel was a reduction in the red discoloration under my eyes.

We have products to suit all skin types, with a massive collection of gels, serums, creams, and balms. Whereas younger people might fare better with light, gel-like textures, he recommends people in their 30s reach for slightly richer, lotion-like eye creams with retinol, peptides, and vitamin C. Elizavecca Gold CF-Nest White Bomb Eye Cream is an exquisite blend of luxury and skincare efficacy designed to pamper the delicate eye area. This eye cream is formulated with swiftlet bird nest extract and gold particles, known for their nourishing and revitalizing properties. The unique formula works tirelessly to combat signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, while also addressing dark circles and puffiness, revealing a more youthful and radiant eye area.

The Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream is a quintessential blend of modern skincare science and nature’s bounty. With snail mucin extract as its star ingredient, this eye cream can tackle many eye area concerns. The formula reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while addressing issues like dark circles and puffiness. The snail mucin extract is revered for promoting skin regeneration, crucial for maintaining a youthful and vibrant eye area. In addition to snail mucin, the cream is enriched with a variety of nourishing ingredients that work in harmony to hydrate the skin and improve its elasticity.

They all come from trusted brands that work with certification agencies, such as COSMOS, ECOCERT, and USDA, to guarantee that they are environmentally safe and gentle on the skin, from the ingredients to the packaging. Overall, we feel that the scaremongering around mineral oil is not justified. However, if you do not like its origin or its heavy feeling or anything else about it, avoiding it has never been easier. Mineral oil has such a bad reputation nowadays that cosmetic companies hardly dare to use it anymore.

We evaluated them based on ease of application, absorption, effectiveness, and overall feel. We then combined these results with our research and tapped dermatologists for expert insight on formulas to help us round up the top eye creams that actually deliver on their claims. The Ole Henriksen Wrinkle Blur Bakuchiol Eye Gel Crème contains bakuchiol, a plant-based alternative to retinol that helps address fine lines and a loss of firmness around your eyes. Fine lines and wrinkles are no match for the Alastin Restorative Skin Complex, which contains peptides and potent antioxidants to improve the area's elasticity. This dermatologist-recommended eye cream is pricy, but it really works. "Since the pandemic, I have been focusing more on skincare and this eye cream has helped with my dark circles and helps me look refreshed without makeup," says one Ipster.

The biggest benefit I’ve noticed from this cream was a firmer and smoother look to my eye area. This was a big one for me because it seemed like my eyes were more lifted and refreshed, and that is particularly something I want to get from an eye cream. The Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter is a very light, airy and buttery texture. This is very nourishing but never heavy and just absorbs into the skin like a dream. Some love them, some believe they don’t work and others just avoid due to high costs.

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The best caffeine eye creams are also great for reducing puffiness, while the best retinol eye creams are good for anti-ageing. Of all the skincare must-haves, eye creams are up there with your moisturiser and face SPF — a crucial, everyday part of your routine. For some people, it simply might not be worth the risk—after all, every product you add to your routine increases the chance of irritation, especially when it comes to sensitive skin. Avocado oil has extraordinary skin penetration abilities and can nourish different skin layers. It's a very rich, highly moisturizing emollient oil that makes the skin smooth and nourished. Thanks to its vitamin E content it also has some antioxidant properties.

It quickly absorbs into skin without pilling or leaving a sticky or greasy feeling. CeraVe anti-aging eye cream can be worn alone or under makeup and is suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers. One of the key factors that sets a nourishing eye cream like ours apart from other skincare products is its use of natural ingredients.

With so many options on the market, choosing the right one for your needs can be overwhelming. Or who doesn’t really have the time for an extensive skincare routine. Finished with a touch of caffeine to stimulate the complexion, this is a worthwhile daily product for the skincare-driven man. This is for those who need a bit of extra moisture in the most sensitive area of the face. It takes away the zombie crust on mornings when you could use some extra sleep and smooths fine lines, too.

Customers find this moisturizer excellent, noting that their skin feels nice and hydrated and is great for dry skin. Darkened, tired eyes are no match for SkinMedica's Instant Bright Eye Cream. It does exactly what it claims to do—instantly brightens the under-eye area. But it also works over time, delivering long-lasting brightening and firming effects, as well as a super-boost of hydration sure to make even the dullest of eyes look radiant and plump. Using the applicator included, roll under the eyes twice a day to rejuvenate skin, leaving you looking wide awake and with a subtle glow.

Protecting this area with a targeted eye cream helps minimize the wear and tear, keeping your eyes looking youthful and refreshed. Choosing the right eye cream ensures you’re giving this delicate area the care it needs without risking irritation. "Loved that this is for both lips and eyes—great to take when you travel," one Ipster writes.

It contains vitamin C, collagen, and CBD to help with puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines. The RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream is a fan favorite for a reason. It targets puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles — three of the biggest undereye concerns. The skin around your eyes is very delicate but this formula has the addition of glycerin to hydrate and cushion the potency of the retinol. The Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Vitamin C Power Eye Cream gives the skin under your eyes a dose of lightweight hydration and antioxidants to help reduce dark circles.

Aesthetically this means it appears to even skin tone and fade dark spots. For that reason it’s often referred to as a skin “lightener.” The key is to be patient. You might see some initial results in the first couple of weeks, but it also might take three to four months for results to fully express themselves. Customers find the eye cream very moisturizing and hydrating, helping with dry skin, with one customer noting it works well for sensitive skin. Customers find this eye cream effective, with one mentioning it works well for sensitive skin and another noting it helps reduce cakey appearance. Customers find this eye cream effective and moisturizing, with one mentioning it works well for sensitive eyes.

One of the things I like most about this serum is the way it tackles fine lines and wrinkles with impressive precision. Customers find the eye cream easy to apply, with one mentioning that it goes on smoothly. Customers like how the eye serum feels, noting it goes on smoothly and is pleasant to use. Customers have mixed experiences with the eye cream's effectiveness, with some saying it really works while others report it doesn't work at all.

Mica Ricketts is a freelance beauty editor, copywriter and regular contributor to Who What Wear UK. She also writes for titles including Marie Claire Refinery 29 and Cosmopolitan, and previously worked at Who What Wear UK as Beauty Editor. With experience in both editorial and content management, she also works with beauty brands and small businesses on brand messaging and content strategy. As a busy mum of two, she is passionate about finding efficacious beauty products that can disguise all signs of tiredness with minimal effort. As well as under the eyes, Dr Dendy recommends applying on the brow bone and down to the crease.

When it comes to skincare, the eye area often gets its own attention — and maybe you’ve wondered what eye cream does and why it’s considered essential in so many beauty routines. Effectively reducing the effects of aging, this is the best under-eye cream for men who want a visible difference fast. Aside from the strong dose of retinol, this serum also uses caffeine and thermal spring water for their antioxidant effects.

This cream melts into the skin and visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Use it for the day (makeup layers on top of it like a dream) or night as you wind down for the evening. That’s because this vitamin is typically used to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and ideally prevent them from happening (to a certain extent). While I don’t have issues with wrinkles just yet, I figured a nourishing eye cream couldn’t hurt. Especially when I apply a lot of makeup and concealer to my under-eye bags. The real heavy-lifting benefit of this product comes from its superior hydrating and depuffing effects.

This vitamin C-rich eye cream is also formulated with hyaluronic acid and polypeptides that can help to firm up, brighten and smooth out the tender eye area. It's great for all skin types and those who want to address dark circles, skin texture, sagginess and more. It's a favorite among HuffPost readers, beauty writers and editors (like myself), who keep turning to the brand for high-quality, reasonably-priced products. Like the CeraVe eye cream, this one is also free of added fragrance. Bid fine lines and wrinkles adieu with this aptly named eye cream from French skincare brand Caudalie. If your main concerns are dark circles or puffiness, pick a product packed with caffeine and antioxidants like vitamins C or E, says Gohara.

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numberonehideoutfart · 1 month ago

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10 Must-Have Skincare Products Every Woman

Introduction

A consistent skincare routine is essential for maintaining healthy, glowing skin. Whether you're focused on feminine wellness, natural body care, or organic skincare, the right products can make all the difference. Your skin type—whether oily, dry, combination, or sensitive—plays a crucial role in determining which skincare products for women work best.

With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve curated a list of the 10 must-have skincare products that every woman should incorporate into her routine. From cleansing to sun protection, these essentials will help you achieve radiant skin while keeping it simple and effective.

Gentle Cleanser

Cleansing is the foundation of any skin and hair care routine. A good cleanser removes dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping the skin of its natural moisture.

Best for dry skin: Cream-based cleansers with hyaluronic acid

Best for oily skin: Gel or foaming cleansers with salicylic acid

Best for sensitive skin: Fragrance-free, sulfate-free formulas

Natural body care tip: Look for organic skincare cleansers with ingredients like chamomile or aloe vera for a soothing effect.

Recommended products:

VCare Products Hydrating Cleanser (for dry skin)

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser (for oily skin)

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and promotes cell turnover.

Chemical exfoliants (AHAs/BHAs): Gentle, great for acne-prone skin

Physical scrubs: Instant glow but avoid harsh scrubs if sensitive

Feminine wellness tip: Over-exfoliation can damage the skin barrier—limit to 2-3 times per week.

Best picks:

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner (chemical)

Organic skincare option: Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream (gentle physical scrub)

Toner

Modern toners hydrate, balance pH, and prep skin for better absorption of serums and moisturizers.

Hydrating toners: With glycerin or rose water

Exfoliating toners: With witch hazel or niacinamide

Skincare products for women should avoid alcohol-heavy toners that dry out the skin.

Top choice:

Serum (Targeted Treatment)

Serums are powerhouses packed with active ingredients for specific concerns.

Vitamin C: Brightens skin and fights aging

Hyaluronic Acid: Deep hydration

Retinol: Anti-aging and acne control

Natural body care alternative: Rosehip oil (a natural retinol substitute)

Best serums:

VCare Products Brightening Serum (Vitamin C-based)

Moisturizer

Moisturizing locks in hydration and strengthens the skin barrier.

Gel moisturizers: Best for oily skin

Creams: Ideal for dry skin

Night creams: Richer formulas for repair

Organic skincare lovers: Try shea butter or jojoba oil-based moisturizers.

Recommended:

Neutrogena Hydro Boost (gel)

Organic option: Pai Skincare Chamomile & Rosehip Cream

Sunscreen (SPF 30+)

The most crucial skincare product for women—prevents aging, dark spots, and skin cancer.

Mineral sunscreen: Zinc oxide (gentler for sensitive skin)

Chemical sunscreen: Lightweight, no white cast

Feminine wellness tip: Reapply every 2 hours if outdoors!

Best picks:

La Roche-Posay Anthelios (mineral)

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen (chemical)

Eye Cream

The delicate eye area needs special care to combat puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines.

Caffeine: Reduces puffiness

Peptides: Firm skin

Hyaluronic Acid: Hydrates

Natural body care option: Cold cucumber slices for a DIY treatment

Top choice:

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment

Face Mask (Clay, Sheet, or Hydrating)

A weekly treatment to address specific concerns.

Clay masks: Detoxify oily skin

Sheet masks: Instant hydration

Sleeping masks: Overnight repair

Organic skincare favorite: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

Lip Balm with SPF

Lips need sun protection too!

Look for: SPF 15+, hydrating ingredients like shea butter

Avoid: Flavored balms that encourage lickin Best pick

Aquaphor Lip Repair + SPF

Night Cream or Retinol Treatment

Nighttime is when skin repairs itself.

Retinol: Fights wrinkles and acne

Ceramides: Strengthen skin barrier

Feminine wellness tip: Start with a low retinol concentration to avoid irritation.

Recommended:

VCare Products Renewing Night Cream

Bonus: How to Layer Products Correctly

AM Routine: Cleanser → Toner → Serum → Moisturizer → Sunscreen

PM Routine: Cleanser → Exfoliator (2-3x/week) → Serum → Eye Cream → Night

Cream

Avoid: Mixing retinol with vitamin C (use at different times).

Conclusion

Investing in the right skincare products for women is key to long-term feminine wellness and radiant skin. Whether you prefer natural body care or high-performance organic skincare, these 10 essentials will help you build a foolproof routine.

For trusted products, explore VCare Products for high-quality, skin-loving formulas. Your skin deserves the best—start today!

FAQs

What are the most essential skincare products every woman should have?

A basic routine includes a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, exfoliator, and serum. For a complete regimen, add a toner, eye cream, face mask, lip balm with SPF, and night treatment.

How do I choose the right skincare products for my skin type?

Dry skin: Look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

Oily skin: Opt for oil-free, non-comedogenic products with salicylic acid.

Sensitive skin: Use fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formulas.

Combination skin: Balance with lightweight moisturizers and targeted treatments.

Are natural and organic skincare products better?

Organic skincare can be gentler and free from harsh chemicals, but effectiveness depends on ingredients. Look for certifications (USDA Organic, COSMOS) and avoid allergens if you have sensitive skin.

How often should I exfoliate my skin?

Normal/Oily skin: 2-3 times per week.

Dry/Sensitive skin: Once a week with a mild exfoliant. Over-exfoliation can damage the skin barrier, leading to irritation.

Why is sunscreen necessary even indoors?

UV rays and blue light from screens can cause premature aging and pigmentation. A broad-spectrum SPF 30+ protects skin daily.

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biokosmetikoftexas · 2 months ago

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Dr. Grandel HYDRO ACTIVE Hyaluron Filler Caps: Instant Hydration and Youthful Glow

If you're looking for a solution to plump up fine lines and restore a youthful glow, Dr. Grandel HYDRO ACTIVE Hyaluron Filler Caps (GLOW) may be your new go-to. These innovative skincare capsules provide targeted hydration and smooth away dryness wrinkles in minutes, leaving your skin feeling firm, fresh, and velvety soft. Perfect for sensitive, aging, and combination skin, the formula is enriched with premium ingredients like Algae Sea Water Complex and Filler Hyaluronic Acid to deliver visible, long-lasting results. Available through Biokosmetik of Texas, these capsules offer the ultimate skincare boost for those seeking a radiant, youthful complexion.

Why is Dr. Grandel HYDRO ACTIVE Hyaluron Filler Caps?

These capsules go beyond simple hydration. They are formulated with advanced skincare technology to not only boost moisture but also smooth, plump, and refine skin texture. Whether you're dealing with dryness, fine lines, or a lack of firmness, these easy-to-use capsules offer a quick and effective solution.

Key Benefits of Hyaluron Filler Caps

Intense Hydration HYDRO ACTIVE Hyaluron Filler Caps deliver moisture exactly where your skin needs it most. The formula penetrates deep into the skin, providing long-lasting hydration and preventing dryness.

Wrinkle Plumping Say goodbye to fine lines. These capsules work to reduce even pronounced dryness wrinkles by filling and plumping the skin, leaving it noticeably smoother and softer.

Instant Firmness Within minutes of application, the capsules enhance your skin’s texture, giving it a fresh, firm, and youthful appearance. Perfect for an instant pick-me-up before a big event.

Convenience and Precision Each capsule is pre-measured to ensure you receive the perfect dosage with every use. No mess, no waste—just glowing skin.

Star Ingredients that Deliver Results

Filler Hyaluron This powerful serum uses Hyaluronic Acid to deeply hydrate the skin and fill in fine lines and wrinkles. It promotes a plump, smooth complexion and restores your skin’s natural bounce.

Algae Sea Water Complex Known for its revitalizing and nourishing properties, this complex provides essential minerals that strengthen the skin’s barrier and protect against environmental stressors.

How to Use Dr. Grandel HYDRO ACTIVE Hyaluron Filler Caps

Achieving radiant and hydrated skin is easier than ever with these simple steps:

Twist or Cut the Capsule Tip Start by twisting off the tip of the capsule or cutting it with scissors.

Release the Serum Squeeze the contents of the capsule gently into the palm of your hand.

Apply on Clean Skin Ensure your face, neck, and décolleté are thoroughly cleansed. Apply the serum, focusing on fine lines and wrinkles.

Massage Gently Massage the product into your skin using gentle, upward motions. This helps the serum absorb better and boosts circulation.

Seal with Moisturizer For best results, follow up with a Dr. Grandel moisturizer suited to your skin type to lock in hydration and enhance the plumping effect.

Packaging and Safety Tips

Packaging: Each capsule is carefully packed in a convenient dispenser to ensure product freshness and ease of use. The gel-like formula glides effortlessly onto the skin, leaving it feeling silky and hydrated.

Safety Precautions:

For external use only. Do not ingest or swallow.

Avoid direct contact with the eyes.

Keep out of reach of children.

Ingredient Breakdown for Skin Nourishment

These capsules contain a well-balanced combination of skin-friendly ingredients, including:

Isoamyl Laurate and Dimethicone: Creates a smooth, non-greasy texture.

Sodium Hyaluronate: A form of Hyaluronic Acid that penetrates deep into the skin to hydrate and plump.

Silica Dimethyl Silylate: Provides a silky, velvety feel to the skin.

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luxetings · 2 years ago

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Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: 🆕{Dr. Martens} Blaire Slide Sandals.

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healthandbeautyproducts91-blog · 5 years ago

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The 19 Top Community Advertising Skin Care Firms

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cincycinner · 3 years ago

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Chapter 6

Trans-Humanism, in the mid 21st century, became a dominant thread of cultural normalcy.

Eventually it became realized that prejudice, bigotry, irrational behaviors, and pre-disposition towards destruction and dissolution were traits that could not be uprooted or subverted from humanity’s coat-trails. It turns out, these were inextricable fibers that directly caused a worldwide, man-made, mass extinction.

Although this outcome potentially, although not assuredly, could’ve been avoided, ultimately this forlorn disaster proved the final breaking point for what had become fairly ubiquitous global standards of living by the early 21st century.

The massive die offs across kingdoms and phylum of life coincided with food shortages that had been predicted and warned of for decades. Global food supply chain decisions required creating an entire industry of Aero-Agriculture and Aqua-Agriculture whereby large swaths of global food production were scaled and grown over the Mid-Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as in solar-plane hydro-gardens.

Simply put, with land based food production in a crisis it became a massive humanitarian effort to maintain food chains across almost all of the globe’s ecosystems. Never before had man’s architecture of knowledge on the tree of life been more important.

As species after species found its way into extinction a group of research firms started a Re-Speciation 2100 campaign. They were maneuvering to use deep-learning techniques via their patented “DIVERSICLONE” ‘toolkit’ that allowed them to extrapolate out the many genetic variances and quirks that would make up a healthy, robust, re-populated species.

Ultimately the ethics of re-speciation were quickly disparaged and panned, with government agencies working in international accord to uproot any and all efforts to do so. Yet, once a species had been re-entered into the population the general public’s response was adulation and adoration. The Re-Speciation 2100 campaign had turned these researchers into global icons, and global criminals. Having admitted to seeding clouds decades ago, governments released perfectly created designer clouds that made the likeness of all the animals intended to be reincarnated like the phoenix. To be clear the phoenix was not genetically created and put on earth during this campaign, despite the prior sentence’s syntax disspecifications.

Most recently the African elephant, hyena, lion, cheetah, gazelle, giraffe, rhino, and various fowl were reintroduced to what had become a mammal-less savannah. A full scale drop of hundreds of thousands of cloned animals had been performed seemingly overnight. As Africans awoke mid-summer 2087 they realized a part of the Old-World had returned to them.

This campaign for re-speciation was a rousing success, a “Guerilla War” to bring Gorillas back from extinction. One of the leaders of this group was also, at the time, the world’s most renowned TransHumanist – Dr. James Ratheneau.

“Are you okay?” asked Ivan, shaking Einstein, collapsed on the stairs leading up to his apartment.

Einstein, awake, looked around at his surroundings and then himself, “Yes, I appear to be alright.”

“Let’s get you up then,” spoke the lumbering Ivan as he grabbed Einstein and up-righted him.

“Did you see who dropped me here?” asked Einstein, very confused and out of sorts at what had happened to him.

“I didn’t, but I do have security cameras and will pull up the footage. Why? Did somebody knock you out? You don’t look bruised or hurt?”

“Someone confronted me after my presentation at the University. I was walking towards my bicycle. Speaking of, where is my bicycle?”

“I’m not sure, but probably still where you left it. It’ll be fine, I’m sure,” replied Ivan.

Ajit ran out from inside the apartment to find Einstein and Ivan on the stoop. “Oh Thank God! We’ve been so worried, we haven’t heard from you since yesterday. We were starting to think you had been kidnapped!”

Einstein rubbed his read, “I think I was.”

“Kidnapped?” asked Ajit, laughing as if Einstein was joking, Ivan, however realized something was amiss.

“Let’s get you inside,” spoke Ivan softly, as he shepherded the confused genius inside, “Medenov is here, we were about to file a missing person’s report and start a full-scale search for you.”

“I appreciate that I have so many people looking out for me,” spoke Einstein, truly appreciate of all that these 21st century friends had done for him, and would do for him.

The three men worked up the stairs, a light wind rolled across the way, only giving a faint reminder of all the autumnal offerings that used to demarcate the arrival of fall. Down the avenue a man was working on selling his last turkey and, in turn, was looking at the one he had set aside to take back to his family; it was the day before Thanksgiving.

Einstein was far too old to be a father, and yet he found himself surrounded by his large family on what was turning out to be the best Thanksgiving he could ever remember. He had reestablished himself authentically, and intelligently, back into a world that really did need him.

Thanksgiving had been turned into a global holiday celebrating the nuclear disarmament that was always unbelievably necessary, but only recently realized. Thank God the world hadn’t been blown up in a nuclear holocaust. Amen.

“Here’s to Albert,” spoke Ivan as he lifted a full glass of red wine, “the 20th century man who has shown the future why the past is always needed in the present. You have left an indelible mark on all of us.”

“Thank you my friend,” answered Einstein with gratitude, “but it is truly all of you I should be thanking. You have all shown me over the course of time just how innovative and technologically superior the modern brain can be.”

“I don’t know about that Albert,” replied a young beautiful woman, clearly in love with him.

“That’s the beautiful part about inquiry, you don’t ever have to know a thing at all to take part in true discovery,” Einstein commented.

“What is the craziest thing you felt when you were at the edge of the universe? The spatial plateau?” asked Dr. Medenov, carving away at the turkey.

“My particles thought for me in a plural singularity?” replied Einstein as he continued the procession of passing side dishes in front of him.

“Explain that so it makes sense?” asked a confused Amit.

“There, in reality, is no such thing as a solitary singularity,” replied Einstein as he realized the group he was speaking to hadn’t really been fully brought up to speed.

“The beauty of light being characteristically particle and wave is that it becomes increasingly impossible to capture all of it once is has started to disperse, simply being as fast as it is. Exotic, faster than light particles absolutely exist and permeated our universe before normal particulate matter began manipulating energy exchanges in real time and space. Able to exist pre and post space, these exotic particles are quantum entangled embodiments of a whirlpool of near infinite energetic capacity that in turn spurn the a rotational spectrum of randomized physical properties and realities depending on configurations over unrealized time, meaning they all happen instantly if necessary.”

“If necessary?” asked Ivan.

“Theoretically, all of these configurations are observable via non-embodied conscious interactions. Done properly, we could recreate the wave function of the plexiverse.”

“How could we accomplish this?” asked Dr. Medenov, growing increasingly worried.

“We’re going to need Mitchell Alford,” replied Einstein as he began to eat his Thanksgiving meal, “we’re going to need to find some nuclear materials.”

“This is a bad joke, I can assure everyone,” spoke Medenov.

“It most certainly is not,” replied Einstein, “Time travel requires an energy signature by which to identify and correlate past positions across the galactic plane. Seeing as the earth and sun are constantly moving across the galaxy, there is never simply a super easy explanation of where the planet will be.”

“Isn’t the earth a nuclear signature, in and of itself, depending on when we travel back in time to?” asked Ivan.

“Yes, absolutely!” exclaimed Einstein, “If we were to travel back to the nuclear age we would easily be able to locate planet earth without any problem. However, seeing as we very recently entered the age of nuclear disarmament and decommissioning of all nuclear energy plants across the globe, the time period we will be required to enter into would have no nuclear signature.”

“Sorry, but isn’t easier to just let our universe be all there is?” asked red headed girl name Cat.

“Fatalistic as this sounds, the cosmological consequences of there being no one and nothing to observe the plexiverse at all are incredibly scary,” replied Einstein.

“So nuclear materials and Dr. Alford are our grocery list?” asked Medenov, unfortunately convinced.

“Happy Thanksgiving everybody,” spoke Einstein as he smiled warmly and ate what must’ve seemed like close to his weight in festive food, “it is quite a delight to be a part of this nuclear family on such a joyous day.”

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myriskelashes · 3 years ago

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undercoverwatermoon · 7 years ago

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Unexpected Dreams- CH. 2 (Jalton)

WARNING: The rating has been updated to a solid "Explicit" you guys. You've been warned :)

A million apologies for taking so long to update this story. To make it up to all of you, I am posting an extra long chapter, with an added bonus towards the end! (Hint: German Professor Adam!)

There is a lot more of Adam POV in this chapter, and we delve a bit deeper into Jaz's dreams.

SO MANY THANK YOUs to the rest of #TheFab5 ( @icarryyourheart16 , @chibisere23 @stupid-jeans and @kyrieanne) for putting up with ALL my rambling and crazy thoughts about this story. They helped so much that I don't think this chapter would be posted, ever, without them :) And as always, thanks to the awesome Nicole for the detailed and super fast beta!

Enjoy!!

AO3 Link Here

Exhausted, they all tumble out of the humvee and walk towards the picnic area by the Quonset hut. A long, competitive afternoon is behind them, and Team Patton is ready to celebrate their drill day win.

Despite the underlying awkwardness from that morning - that elephant in the room both of them have avoided since Tehran - Adam and Jaz are still a force to be reckoned with as a team on the training field, prompting some griping from the others about unfairness and team assignments being rigged.

Jaz walks ahead of them, muttering something cooking related to Amir. When she huffs out a laugh at Amir’s response, Adam lowers his head with a fond smile. Maybe he’s been reading too much into her actions, or lack thereof. Maybe he’s being paranoid and she’s just going through the normal phases of recovery after Tehran. Maybe none of it has to do with him. Feeling the frown on his face, he schools his expression as he catches up with the team.

“Patton, you’re such a cheater.” McG says, flinging a tactical glove at the dog’s head. Immediately after it lands, Patton snatches it up and runs.

“NO! Patton! Son of a--”

“Let it go, McG. It’s history,” Adam says, beaming proudly as he watches the mutt disappear into the hangar. “Besides, it’s not his fault you couldn’t hold your position quietly.”

McG turns to Adam. “He tickled me with his stupid nose!”

Apparently no one is done enjoying this because they erupt into laughter again, Amir and Jaz holding their stomachs and leaning shoulder to shoulder as they struggle to breathe.

Minutes later, once the jokes have died down, they stand around the picnic table, discussing possible options for the traditional team night out. Team Patton - Adam and Jaz today - is ready to enjoy the spoils of war.

Reaching into her camo backpack, Jaz pulls out her bright turquoise Hydro Flask water bottle - it’s new, and it makes her smile - and notices four pairs of eyes follow her movements as she takes a swig.

“What?” Jaz says warily, wiping at her mouth and eyeing her teammates standing across from the table she’s perched on. Adam is to her left, and as he crosses his arms over his chest, Jaz pivots in the opposite direction. It’s something she’s been doing - standing or sitting with her back to him when they’re not on mission- and Adam frowns, staring at her profile.

“That’s…” McG waves at her water bottle, “...colorful, Jazzy.” He tries to keep his voice neutral but fails miserably. Jaz rolls her eyes, her standard response to most things McG says when they’re not taking fire, but internally she flinches a little.

McG can be ridiculous, but they all seemed to notice the same thing- that the cheerful color is just not her. She remembers handing the $40 to the cashier with such excitement, but now she wavers as her hands wrap protectively around the bright bottle. Is this the new her? Is she now the soldier that wears hot pink underwear to feel feminine and buys eye-catching accessories to...what? Stand out? Hide? Pretend she’s fine? Whatever the answer is, she still has one more question: Why?

Jaz’s body language betrays her thoughts so subtly that only Adam picks up on the slight hesitation - because he notices everything about her these days- before she fires her witty comeback at McG.

“So are your canary yellow Spongebob boxers. What’s your point?” McG points at her, an affronted look on his face.

“Those were a gift, first of all--”

“From your mom,” Amir interrupts with an explanatory nod to the group, and they all chuckle because it’s probably not wrong. McG, however, is undeterred, so he speaks louder over the laughter as he punches Amir in the arm.

“And second...turquoise? Can’t you get your sniper card revoked for that? I thought only black, camo, and army green were approved colors.”

Jaz regards McG, unfazed for a second, then taps her chin and nods.

“Yep. I’ll just order you one then. You’re obviously jealous. Maybe in neon yellow, to match your underwear.”

McG’s grin is wide and triumphant.

“Why are you checking out my underwear, Jazzy? You interested?” His eyebrows raise suggestively, and Jaz’s eyes sparkle with the challenge. Just as she readies her response, a shadow expands in the corner of her eye and a familiar voice interrupts.

“So, Jaz. Are you? Interested?” Dr. Xander Martin points at McG as he asks, and awaits Jaz’s response with a teasing smile.

“In his dreams,” Jaz scoffs, and McG holds a hand to his heart. Laughing now, she turns fully toward Xander and greets him warmly. He says something about a Call of Duty rematch and Jaz asks if he’s prepared to lose again.

Adam watches the interaction with interest from his place now behind Jaz, and he doesn’t know why, but something about it unsettles him. Jaz and McG have always bantered like siblings, and Amir is fitting in better and better each day that passes by.

Preach however, seems a little off- Adam’s caught him giving Jaz that “knowing” look more than once today. Maybe Preach’s insight is exactly what he needs. Making a mental note, Adam shifts his attention back to the group as they start heading inside.

Xander hangs back, arms crossed, probing green eyes focused on Adam as he comes closer.

“Top.”

“You come around looking for patients?” Adam jokes, and Xander chuckles with a nod as he gives the outstretched hand a firm shake.

“Like you? No thanks.”

“You know, screwed up people like me are the reason you have a job. I’d be more careful with the insults,” Adam replies.

“Ah, yes. Supply and demand. I owe you my livelihood.”

“Damn right.” They both smile at that, but Adam knows they’re beating around the bush. Xander sees all, and in a much more infuriating manner than Preach, because observing and analyzing is his job. Adam braces for the question, but is surprised that he finds himself anticipating, rather than dreading it.

“In that case, care to tell me what’s on your mind? We haven’t talked since...” Trailing off, he waves in the general direction of the team walking away, but they both know what he means. Losing Hossein, surviving Iran, and...Jaz.

Adam stuffs his hands in his pockets and averts his eyes. This dynamic between them is always fascinating to him. They can joke one second and discuss the meaning of life the next, and it never feels forced or out of place, even in an open, dusty road in the middle of an Army base.

Over the years, he’s learned two things about Xander Martin: that avoiding him is a waste of time, and that everything he does is always with his best interests at heart, Army requirement or not. When he’d said to Jaz that Xander is good people, he’d meant it. So, he doesn’t deflect or lie.

“Honestly? I’m...I don’t know...I think I need a little time.”

Xander regards him for a second. It is not an overstatement that Adam Dalton has had a rough go in life. Being a special operations psychologist -so focused around post-mission diagnosis, solutions, and results- it’s sometimes easy to forget the incredible hurdles some people overcome just to get here. Nevermind the strength required to recover from the invisible wounds that war can inflict.

The Sgt. Dalton he’d met 15 years ago at SFAS -the one who’d already survived so much grief in his young life- isn’t even in the same galaxy as the Army Captain staring at him now with honest, thoughtful eyes. A true leader, in every sense of the word. So because of this, he lets it go.

“Understood.” Xander finally says, and Adam gives him a grateful smile. “You know where to find me.”

As his long-time friend walks away, Adam looks up at the sky as he exhales a long, slow breath.

It’s time for team night out, and he is ready to unwind. Or at least try.

__________________________________

“You didn’t.” Amir’s horrified expression causes more howling laughter around the high-top table where they’re standing in the crowded bar. Jaz is telling the story of that now-legendary prank she’d pulled on McG after she’d caught him stealing her iced tea, and the medic can’t help but laugh along with them.

“Alright, alright. That was brilliantly evil, Jazzy. I taught you well,” McG says, patting Jaz on the head. Swatting at his hand, she laughs and starts toward the bar in search of another beer.

Adam watches her. Preach watches him.

Amir and McG spot a pool table opening up, and are off to claim it as Adam hangs back, eyes still on Jaz. The bartender says something, and Jaz leans forward on her elbows, most likely to repeat the name of the beer she wants, this weird concoction they import, Adam thinks, rolling the standard IPA bottle between his palms. Predictable Jaz would say, and that makes him smile.

Long moments pass, and then the loud opening chords of the next jukebox song jerk him out of his trance. He looks around quickly, trying to recover from the momentary lapse, and is relieved when he finds Preach apparently immersed in something serious-looking on his phone. Lucky Adam thinks. If Preach had seen him spaced out staring at Jaz, he’d never live it down.

“Hey, Top,” Preach says, patting the stool beside him as Adam approaches him. Noticing the barely touched, almost warm beer in Top’s hand, Preach smiles to himself. It’s about time for some friendly advice, maybe even a little tough love.

Adam considers jumping straight into the topic that’s been dominating his thoughts the past few days. He is no stranger to PTSD, and while he’s not sure Jaz’s odd behavior stems from that, the possibility alone has him on alert.

A dozen questions race in his mind. Has Preach noticed the weirdness with Jaz? What does he think it’s about? Does he think she’s having second thoughts...about the team? About her life here? About him? Instead, he settles for the safest topic he can find.

“Hey, um, the change you made to the comms malfunction drill was clever. No question, the new gear could go haywire during an op like that.”

“Yeah, well. Not like the disruption worked on you and Jaz. From now on, we’re banning telepathy during team competitions.”

Adam’s wistful smile comes and goes in an instant, as he darts a quick glance at his sniper just feet away, waiting on her drink. He wonders if the thoughtful look on her face means she’s considering hopping up to sit on the wood bar top. Distracted, he absentmindedly starts responding.

“We can’t read each other’s--” stopping abruptly, he clears his throat, then mutters, “Well, I can’t…”

When he trails off, Preach notices the clenched jaw, the strain in his forearm muscles. Adam relaxes almost instantly, tapping his fingers against the colored glass, but it’s too late.

“Adam.” The use of his given name always has the desired effect. Top sighs, wondering why he even tries. Preach can read him like a book, and isn’t that why he walked over here in the first place?

“I’m worried, Preach.” That catches the older man a little off guard. Adam’s not even trying to be subtle, which speaks volumes about his state of mind. Still, Preach doesn’t press too hard.

“About what? McG’s susceptibility to street dogs during close quarter combat?”

Adam huffs out an obligatory laugh with a sideways look, and Preach nods as he raises his hands in acquiescence. It’s only been two weeks since Tehran, and Jaz’s recovery has been on everyone’s radar. Even without the intel he’s gathered by watching Adam and Jaz interact recently, Preach would’ve guessed what he’s concerned about.

“Alright. So, you’re worried about Jaz. What’s new?” Adam rolls his eyes, and against his better judgment tries to defend himself.

“I’m not always worr--”

“Top, this conversation will be a lot easier if you at least try to be honest--”

Adam flares. “Hey, I’m not-- ”

“--with yourself.” Preach finishes, knowingly. That seems to halt Adam momentarily, so he continues. “I don’t care what you say to me. I already know the truth. Do you?”

Adam seems to deflate visibly at that, running an impatient hand over his beard. Preach waits, and when Adam doesn’t speak, he prods.

“Tell me about the worst case scenario in your head.”

Adam doesn’t expect that. “What?”

“You’re worried. About Jaz. But what specifically about her? You think she’s slipping? Or you think she’ll shoot you in the ass accidentally?” Air quotes accompany the last word and Adam begrudgingly smiles.

“McG’s rubbing off on you,” Adam mumbles, but Preach knows he’s made his point. None of this conversation has to do with Jaz as a soldier, a professional, a member of the team. Jaz is the best sniper in Special Forces, and they are damn lucky to have her back. What happened in Tehran? It can’t touch any of that.

For a few seconds, Adam looks down, turns the green bottle fast in his hands, watches it spin like his mind.

“What truth?” he finally asks. “What truth do you know that I don’t?”

Preach considers that. It’s possible he might’ve overplayed his hand using that particular phrase. But after witnessing a completely spaced out Jaz that morning, oblivious to everything but Top, he feels a responsibility to the team, to them. Wisdom is knowing when to speak and when to let things be. And Preach is wise. It’s time for a nudge.

“You and Jaz...you trust each other when your lives are on the line. That’s the job. But real life? It’s...not that.”

Preach stands, strolling away casually towards his teammates, leaving Adam to mull over his words.

Real life. What does that even mean for him now? This is his real life. Is it not?

From experience, he knows there’s an ocean of difference between the connections that form after trauma, and the organic nature of normal friendships. So, him and Jaz. Are they bound to each other due to circumstance? If they weren’t soldiers, teammates, commanding officer and subordinate, would they meet at a bar or a restaurant and bond over everyday things?

Whatever the answer, Adam only knows one truth. Real or not, Jaz has become an essential piece of this pie chart he thinks of as his life. Obviously, a much larger piece than he’d realized. And the idea that the fallout from Iran might threaten that? He won’t allow it.

Jaz’s distant laugh interrupts his escalating thoughts. Startled, he lifts his head, eyes searching for her. He finds her leaning casually against the rounded edge of the bar, staring up at some stranger’s face.

The tall, well dressed guy -probably some IT contractor or a businessman- smiles down at her, his body language making his intentions clear as day. When he reaches inside his jacket pocket, Adam jumps to his feet, but freezes when he notices a harmless pen emerge. Not a threat.

Oblivious, Jaz looks down, clearly radiating amusement instead the annoyance Adam finds himself hoping for. The clean-cut man scribbles on the white napkin next to her beer. Adam shifts uncomfortably on his feet, taking a couple steps toward the pool table where Preach and McG are standing, as if he was headed there the whole time.

Surely, Adam thinks, Jaz will offer a polite smile and chuck the napkin when the guy turns around, like he’s seen her do countless times. But she tucks it safely in her jacket pocket instead, zipping it closed with a curious smile on her face, and it’s the second time tonight Adam has to force his body to relax.

Jaz is quiet, but pleasant, the rest of the night. Adam steals quick glances in her general direction, pretending he’s keeping watch over the front door to their left. She seems lost in thought, occasionally chuckling or interjecting one-word answers.

Since he’s known her, Jaz has always been an all or nothing kind of girl. Present or absent, engaged or disengaged. As her CO, his entire management strategy around her is based on this fact. Jaz is black and white. No gray area. No compromise.

But this Jaz, the one weaving in and out of his private thoughts, this is not the Jaz he’s used to. A whole new side of her is starting to show -since Iran- and it makes him wonder if a real friend would behave like him, watching from the sidelines while she morphs into whoever she’s gonna be.

As his internal dialogue takes on a life of its own, Preach regales Amir with more old team stories and McG tells inappropriate jokes. Before they know it, it’s time to head back to base.

Outside, they near their SUV parked on the street, and Jaz moves to take a seat in the back.

“Your long legs fit better in the front,” she tells Preach as she closes the car door.

Because he’s wise, Preach doesn’t miss a beat. McG and Amir follow his lead. “Not gonna complain.”

Adam hides his disappointment well as he climbs into the driver’s seat, but his hands tremble almost imperceptibly around the wheel.

On the ride home, it takes all his willpower to stop himself from looking back at her through the rearview mirror.

____________________________________

It’s late, and Adam tosses and turns in bed. Sleep has slowly returned to normal for him since Tehran -although the nightmares are not entirely gone, they are manageable now- but tonight, his mind is wide awake. He refuses to think about why, knowing it will take him down a path he just doesn’t feel ready to consider yet.

Jaz, standing at that bar tonight, smiling -genuinely this time- at another man. It’s not like she’s not approached on a regular basis when they go out. Jaz is beautiful, and there’s never a shortage of men circling around. Still, she’s never entertained any of them. Not on deployment. Or at least, not when she’s out with the team. With him.

Enough. God, he needs to clear his head. Shuffling out into the hallway, thinking a quick walk outside will help, he’s puzzled when he finds her door across from his slightly ajar.

A faint noise from the kitchen draws his full attention, and he quietly moves in that direction, reaching the living area in time to see Jaz walking away, crossing the plastic strip curtain, headed outside. Indecision paralyzes him briefly, but he follows her, feeling silly about spying, but unable - or unwilling- to make his body turn around.

He finds her sitting on the picnic table, legs crossed, her profile visible to him from his hidden spot by the door. Briefly, he worries she’ll notice him -because ninja skills- but after a few moments he thinks he’s safe, and finds himself just watching her. Memories of their talk by the fire wash over him, unabated, as he takes her in. When did this start to happen exactly? This need to be around her, understand her? Have her understand him?

The late evening breeze blows softly, the hair around her face fluttering, and his eyes focus on something square and white in her hand, the soft edges flapping lightly in the wind. From his position, he can’t read her facial expression, her long thick hair covering most of her profile, but her head is tilted down. The way his stomach drops when he realizes what’s in her hand doesn’t entirely surprise him now. A napkin. Most likely the one from the bar, with someone else’s phone number scribbled on it.

Preach’s words from earlier ring in his ears…what exactly is “real”? And if it’s not this... does Jaz want whatever real may be? Does he?

_____________________________________

The next morning, Jaz walks back from her morning run, and the 12’ x 12’ plankwood square that serves as their storage space on base catches her eye. The door is ajar, and seconds later she finds herself inside. Shuffling around the grimy, dark room, breathing in and out, gliding her fingers over the dusty edges of the cardboard boxes neatly piled and catalogued.. Not looking for anything in particular, she wonders what she’s even doing here.

A single box she finds halfway open draws her attention- “Undercover Props / Accessories” it reads in scrambled sharpie ink on the outside. Adam’s scribble. A few rows of bulk cleaning supply boxes are lined up next to it, and that old couch Elijah had begged them to replace frames the back wall. When she inches closer, a flash of light reflecting on something like glass catches her eye, and she reaches inside for it instantly.

Staring at the rimless, fake reading glasses- Adam’s- in her hand, her mind flashes back to that busy Tehran airport, the smell of jet fuel, sounds of rolling luggages and high pitched chatter. Closing her eyes she can recall every detail. It makes her stomach flutter, but not from the thoughts she expects- the botched jump from the hotel window, the torture room designed to strip her raw, or the almost impossible rescue by her guys.

Instead, she recalls unexpected images, grainy black and white daydreams. Adam’s strong hand on the small of her back, his warm breath on her cheek, the intoxicating feel of soft lips and his scratchy beard against her skin. None of these are details she consciously noticed at the time -her focus had been on playing the role, making it through customs untouched.

A mild sense of unease creeps in as she becomes aware of her thoughts. Her dreams- and fantasies lately -have been full of... this, she thinks a little bitterly. Loaded with an undecipherable fusion of images and thoughts and feelings that feel disjointed and unnatural to her.

Memories after a traumatic event can be a tricky thing, Xander says. It appears he’s right again.

She remembers sitting in her room that day, staring at the clothes she’d picked for their flight into Tehran, and feeling nervous and a little excited about the undercover assignment as Adam’s wife. The memories are murky- chronological snapshots of that morning’s events flashing in her mind -but what strikes her now is the feeling that comes with them, the emotion that floods her so unexpectedly as she stands there, lost in thought, in the middle of that dusty room with Adam’s glasses in her hand.

She’d felt...safe that day; walking through the shiny white corridors along the crowded airline terminals, Adam by her side, holding her hand. As dangerous as she knew it was, she couldn’t recall a mission where she’d felt more prepared. A 650 yard shot- she could execute that in her sleep. An airtight escape plan- undercover couple assignments were practically their specialty by now. The world a little safer with Jarif dead - finally getting justice for her fellow servicemen fallen at that beach.

The humorless chuckle escapes her as her focus returns to the present, a fingertip tracing the edge of the lenses’ frame. How wrong had she been.

Chatter from some soldiers discussing the lack of adequate soap choices at the PX makes her snicker, and she wonders how long she’s been in the storage room. With a quick shake of her head, she moves toward the open box to put away the glasses, but her hand freezes just above the opening.

No one will know if you take them.

The thought - and the accompanying chill down her spine- startle her. Jaz is not sentimental about these things, so it makes no sense that she can’t make her fingers loosen around the folded thin temples of the glasses. Even more illogical is that leaving them in that box feels like leaving him .

You’re being ridiculous she chastises herself, forcing her fingertips to let go, but the moment the glasses fall between Top’s go-to gray scarf and that curly hair wig she hates, she knows they’re going with her.

Walking out of the storage room, one hand wrapped around the smuggled prize in her pocket, Jaz runs straight into Adam.

“Hey,” Adam says. Calm, collected and steady. Under his piercing stare her cheeks start to burn.

“Hi.” Jaz says, scanning the space around him as if assessing threat levels. Adam wants to touch her shoulder, get her attention, so he shoves his hands in his pockets instead.

“You find any treasure?”

“What?” It’s a little too quick, and Adam’s eyes narrow. Widening his stance, he considers her for a moment before waving a listless hand at the structure behind her.

“In the storage room?” Jaz just stares, so he continues. “You just walked out of--”

“Ah, yes.” She interjects, recovering with a nod. “No, I didn’t.”

“What were you looking for? Maybe I can help.” Damn him and his perseverance. The hand in her pocket squeezes involuntarily, reminding her to relax.

“Oh no. I found it.” Adam is visibly confused, so she amends, “I mean...I have what I need. Back in my quarters. I don’t even know why I...went in there.” The last few words uttered as she moves to walk away.

“Okay…” But it’s not, he thinks, and his brow furrows further. What does she have back in her quarters? And for what mission? DC hasn’t called in the three days since they’re last mission. On instinct, he takes a quick step to the side and blocks her path.

Jaz feels her temper begin to wind. All she wants is to be left alone with her illogical thoughts and inconvenient feelings, and yet, here’s Adam, being his steady, thoughtful self and her hand is burning in her pocket, and she just wants to snap.

“Did you need something, Top?” A bit sharper than she intended. Adam straightens.

“No, I just--”

“Because it seems you were waiting for me. Out here.” Adam starts to smile sheepishly, but stops at her look.

“Yeah. Listen, Jaz--”

“I’m fine.” Jaz interrupts, calmer now, realizing that flipping out on him only increases the chances he’ll figure out what she’s carrying in her pocket, and in her mind.

“Last night you were pretty quiet.” When she meets his eyes he feels the need to clarify. “At the bar.”

That catches Jaz off guard. Of course he meant at the bar , where else would she have been quiet last night that he would’ve noticed? Her head tilts, processing the information, and he swallows before averting his eyes so briefly she almost misses it. Whatever that’s about she’ll have to find out another time. Right now, she needs some space.

“I was tired. Listen, Top...” Adam waits.

Taking a deep breath, Jaz blinks a few times. She doesn’t want to have this conversation- about her fruitless attempts at distracting herself from thoughts of him- but if she doesn’t give him something concrete, they will dance this dance until she loses her mind. So, just like the morning before, she decides a partial truth is better than a lie.

“I just feel...different. That’s all. I’m working through it.”

“Different how?” There’s something like distant panic in his chest at her explanation, and it all starts to jumble in his head -Preach’s words about real life, spying on her under the stars, visions of her calling that other guy- but he catches himself, and offers an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to--”

“It’s fine,” she dismisses with a wave, and vaguely registers that her temper has all but vanished at the depth of his concern. “Just...you’re gonna have to trust me.”

“I do.” The lack of hesitation draws out a small smile as she looks up at him.

“Thanks.” Adam nods, and steps out of her way, following her with his eyes until she’s out of sight.

_____________________________________

The rest of the day is mostly routine. A solid morning run, sparring with her guys, chores and maintenance checklists for weapons and equipment, a short trip into the city for lunch and supplies. But now, as Jaz moves through her room preparing for bed, she feels anything but normal. Slipping on a worn long sleeve tee and tugging up her flannel pants, the barrage of thoughts and feelings that have swirled within her the past few weeks weigh heavily on her mind.

Tying her hair up in a pineapple bun, she plops down on the edge of her bed and her eyes can’t help glancing at the bedside table compartment where Adam’s glasses are now stashed away. She tells herself that she should be sleeping already, but her hand pulls the drawer open and a second later her finger traces the metallic edge around the lenses. Unbidden, a soft memory from hours before that fateful flight into Iran floats through her mind.

“Hey, Mrs. You ready?” Adam walks in, dressed in his preppy professor outfit, and Jaz grins.

“Well, well, professor. Been a while since you’ve gotten to play dress up.” Jaz eyes him up and down, and he smiles indulgently.

“Been a while since you’ve gotten to play wife.” She catches the smirk on his face as he turns to drape his jacket over the kitchen table chair.

“Such a privilege.” Jaz deadpans. Adam simply raises an eyebrow at that, and gestures toward her hand.

“The ring to your satisfaction, dear?” Jaz stretches her hand out and eyes her ring finger suspiciously as she shrugs.

“This cracker jack ring?” Adam chuckles. “It’s okay. For a professor’s salary, I suppose.”

When he doesn’t reply, she looks at him, and finds him lost in thought - that soft “Adam smile” she rarely gets to see visible on his face. Preach’s voice as he walks into the kitchen breaks Adam out of his trance and he walks away quickly, without meeting her eyes. Before she can process those last few seconds, Preach distracts her with talk about comms and Iran’s latest airport security protocols, and Jaz never gives Adam’s hasty exit a second thought.

Until now. The easy banter between them that day belied the seriousness and danger of the task they were about to take on. But it hadn’t mattered. Not then. Those moments - memories - feel so precious to her now. A reminder of a time when she could be around Adam, casually, without every nerve ending in her body awakening; without her thoughts drifting to the future possibilities, or lack thereof, between them.

Them. A kind of sadness swells inside her as she considers that. Somewhere deep down she knows the idea of Top as more than her CO has been dangerously hovering near the fringes of her conscious mind longer than she’d care to admit.

These days, though, it seems like the proverbial Pandora’s box has exploded inside her, and all the wishes she’s spent her life holding at arm’s length are now roaming around freely, mockingly staring her in the face.

She wants her simpler life back. The one where she felt balanced, prepared, in control. That black and white life where all but her next breath was expendable. This desire growing inside her- the idea that she could have more than just the Army as the backbone of her life - it translates into one thing and one thing only in her mind: risk.

Shaking her head, she stuffs the glasses in the drawer and flops backwards on the bed. Sergeant Khan, she mentally admonishes herself, get your shit under control. Now.

Satisfied with her stern internal dialogue, Jaz burrows under the covers, but as she reaches to turn off the lamp, she catches a glimpse of her bright turquoise water bottle and smiles. Maybe some changes haven’t been entirely bad.

The darkness and quiet seep in slowly as sleep overtakes her. And in spite of her logical conclusion that a simpler life is what she should want, the last conscious thought that swims in her mind’s eye is of Adam’s smile.

_____________________________________

“Jaz, what the…” The words die in his throat as his capable, lethal sniper struts into the room, wearing the shortest skirt he’s sure she’s ever owned, and a white button down shirt that barely covers her midriff.

“Yes, professor.” Adam’s hands ball tightly at his sides at the sultry tone in her voice, and he watches Jaz advance toward him. Slowly. Eyes on him.

“You don’t have to call me--”

“I want to.” Well damn. Adam swallows and manages to point at the classroom chair a few feet in front of him, but his eyes are locked on the exposed skin of her legs.

“There are… um, papers, uh, that list of...things for, um, today…” German language prep, is what he means to say -Jaz has been working on German quals and he’s been helping her in their free time- but his brain is scrambling to stay somewhat focused and the pitiful attempt is not successful at all.

Alarm bells start ringing in his head as she bypasses the chair and comes around to sit on the corner of the desk.

“I thought maybe we could...improvise.” It has the desired effect and Jaz smirks as she watches him take in a shaky deep breath. Momentarily, a fleeting thought reminds her of the last time they’d improvised. In Tehran. But right now, Adam is standing there in that checkered button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up with his veined, muscled forearms flexing as he tries to reign himself in, and Jaz just can’t find it in herself to give a fuck about Iran.

Still staring at his hands, Adam replies, “Uh, yeah. Well, no--” he shakes his head “--we should follow the---”

“Adam.” At the sound of his name, he turns his head to look her in the eye, gripping the edge of the desk almost painfully now. Jaz leans her upper body closer, staring up at him through thick, long lashes. She’s got him right where she wants him, and the anticipation bursts in her chest as her eyes explore his familiar face.

When she scoots over to the right, closer and closer to where he’s standing, Adam instinctively lets go of the desk and plops down on the chair behind him.

“Jaz, we should probably---”

“The door is locked. The guys are out at that beach soccer tournament.” Methodically, she’s been rearranging her position so that she’s sitting on the edge of the desk now, right in front of him. Long, lean legs crossed at the ankles, swinging back and forth playfully.

“It’s just you and me.”

Adam tries to speak, but no words come out. Instead his eyes roam over her, hungry and dark, and Jaz has to press her thighs together to stave off the want. Adam is slowly unraveling, fidgeting a little wildly and squirming in the leather chair, and Jaz thinks he’s never looked more unpredictable.

“Will you do something for me?” That gets his attention and his eyes fly up to hers. She reaches inside her white button shirt between her breasts, eyes never leaving his, and pulls out the familiar pair of glasses he’d worn that day in Tehran. Adam’s mouth opens slightly, and when she bends down to place the glasses on his face, Adam freezes as his gaze locks on the visible edges of the white lace bra under her shirt.

Jaz hums appreciatively at the sight of him and licks her lips on instinct, tracing her fingers lightly down along his cheeks, over his beard, caressing that distracting bottom lip of his with her thumb as she straightens.

“Where, um…how did you get…” Right now, he couldn’t string a sentence together to save his life.

“Lucky treasure hunt. Adam...” The soles of the white tennis shoes she’s wearing are now resting on his knees, and his body just moves on autopilot, leaning towards her like metal to a magnet. The leather chair slides forward as Adam runs his large calloused hands softly over her shins, around the back to cup her calves, squeezing involuntarily as he looks up at her, questioning.

“Jaz?”

“Please,” she breathes while leaning back, hands on the desk behind her for support. When he pushes her legs back and open, and anchors her feet on the edge of the desk, her head falls back with a slightly desperate moan. The sudden rush of air over her hot, aching center shocks her, but Adam’s deep raspy growl drowns out her strangled cry as he takes in the full sight of her.

“Fuck, Jaz…” Feeling the suddenly intense grip of his hands around her ankles, she chuckles triumphantly because that’s the exact reaction she’d imagined when she’d chosen to forego wearing panties under her bright pink tennis skirt.

“Surprise.” Jaz’s voice trembles with anticipation, and because she can feel his warm breath so close to where she needs him, her hips roll forward on instinct, back arching, searching for the feel of his mouth on her. It’s his turn to grin now at her disapproving whine, because payback is only fair and he’s going to take his time savoring this. Her.

Closing his eyes for a second, he takes in her scent- she’s been wet for him for hours it seems, and it makes his cock painfully hard. He’s immersed in the experience of her, the sighs and deep breaths as he rubs his beard over the perfectly smooth skin of her inner thighs.

Traveling up her silky tanned legs, his hands come to rest over her knees for a second before pushing gently, opening her wider to his gaze.

“God.. Adam, please…” Jaz has been planning this for days, dreaming about it, and if he doesn’t touch her soon- really touch her- she will implode.

“Shhh… Sei geduldig .” He tells her to be patient, in fucking German, and Jaz feels the heat low in her belly grow into wildfire. Without warning, he runs his tongue from her opening up to her clit and closes his lips around it, sucking hard.

The incoherent rambling coming from her lips is enough to make him lose some of his self-control, but he’s ready for her, and holds her in place easily as she jerks against his mouth, chasing the pleasure, moaning his name.

“Adam...I need.. Please… now.” Two fingers slide inside her, rough and fast, curling as he feels her clenching, and not a minute passes before stars explode behind her eyes, body going limp.

“Wow.”

“Just wow? Ouch.” Adam jokes, looking down at her, relaxed and beautiful, thick black hair fanning around her on the desk.

Jaz rolls her eyes and offers a mischievous grin. “That was a good start.”

It reminds him there’s still way too many clothes between them, and his eyes darken behind the glasses as Jaz hooks her legs around his waist for leverage, comes up to snake her arms around his neck, and pulls his face down for a kiss.

Adam makes quick work of her shirt and bra, and when she moves to take off the skirt bunched around her waist he breaks the kiss and stops her with his hand. “Leave it.”

At her raised eyebrow, he touches a finger to the glasses on his face and explains, “You’re not the only that’s fantasized about this...us.” He emphasizes that last word with a pointed look - his attempt at communicating so much more than he’s able to verbalize just then- and Jaz bites her lip.

“Good.” That’s all she can manage, because his familiar piercing stare that’s always felt a bit unnerving but reassuring, is doing nothing but making her wet and desperate for him again.

“So, professor,” her wicked smirk sends a blinding spark of need straight to his groin, “you gonna stand there and talk, or show me how it’s done?”

“Jesus, Jaz…” Adam growls as he threads his fingers through her hair, closes his fists around it, and proceeds to devour her mouth. Jaz never knew a kiss could feel like this, and while her head is swimming in delirious bliss, her hands are busy ridding him of his clothes.

The moment she wraps her fingers around his cock, Adam opens his mouth and inhales sharply, lips still brushing against hers.

“Fuck, Jaz...yes, baby….” Jaz hums her approval as he sweeps her tongue inside her mouth, and sucks on his bottom lip one more time before breaking the contact.

“Condom. Now. Drawer.” Adam fumbles to find it, too blind with desire to even register that she’d put it there purposely. Just how long has she been planning this?

“Let me.” Taking the foil square from him, Jaz rips it open. Adam brings his forehead down against hers, wide blue eyes focused on her slender fingers rolling the condom over his cock, and he thinks he won’t live another minute without burying himself deep inside her.

“Fuck me, Adam,” Jaz whispers as she looks up at him with hooded eyes, and that hot coil of desire low in his belly grows so strong he feels like a geyser on the inside, ready to erupt.

Spreading his legs wider, he leans his thighs against the desk, and brings his cock to her entrance. With a rough desperate hand on her ass, he pulls her forward to the edge, and then finally sinks into her, hard and fast.

Holding her head firmly in place with his other hand, Adam thrusts his tongue into her mouth in a blinding kiss. Jaz holds onto his shoulders for leverage, nails digging in, begging for speed as she tightens her legs around his waist.

The need for air forces them apart briefly as the pleasure and sensations overwhelm them both. Slurred, incoherent half-words mix in with the sound of their hips slamming against each other, filling the silence in the room.

“Oh, god. Jaz…you feel… incredible.”

“Don’t stop, please...Adam… more...”

Adam tucks his face in her neck, sucking and licking at her sweet-scented skin, and Jaz bites down on his earlobe, whispering unintelligibly as she nears her breaking point.

She meets him thrust for thrust a few more times, and together they slam into oblivion.

Later, Jaz lays straddling Adam’s thighs, sated and content. He traces small circles on her back, restless fingers teasing the hem of the pink skirt gathered around her waist.

“Don’t think my brain can take any german right now.” Adam’s laugh rumbles in his chest and she rubs her nose against the hollow of his neck.

The silence stretches between them. “I can hear you thinking, Top.”

The sound of his nickname on her lips is jarring. Reality explodes around her. God, what has she done? But she is frozen now, unable to make a sound as her brain runs through the countless ways this could go so very wrong.

Jaz is still, her insides now cold as ice. Adam shifts slightly in place, and exhales an agonizingly slow breath.

“I think---”

_____________________________________

“What? You think what?” Jaz murmurs as the embers of the dream dissipate and her eyes open to the stark, cold darkness of her quarters. A deep sense of dread envelops her as she registers the way her thighs are pressed together, her soaked underwear, and the vivid images in her mind of pink skirts, those damn glasses, and Adam’s face buried between her legs.

“God…” She breathes, still so aroused, and horrified. She rubs at her eyes with one hand as she fumbles for her phone to check the time. What the fuck was that, Jaz?

4:55 AM.

Time for a damn run.

#Unexpected Dreams #The Brave #NBC The Brave #Jalton #Adam x Jaz #Jaz x Adam #Preach #Amir #McG #UndercoverWatermoon Fic #German Professor Adam #Adam's Glasses

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