#she's also like 'and she's too stupid to realize it's over with her ex but she keeps crawling back to him after almost three months'

[born-to-lose]

Not my mom badmouthing the job I'm really excited to get 🤡🤡🤡

[bbydoll18xx]

An Inch Away From More Than Just Friends

Paige Bueckers x reader

Your ex-boyfriend is quite literally the smallest man who ever lived, and Paige is there to pick up the pieces

Themes: Heavy smut, angst, happy ending <3, friends to lovers

Word count: 3k

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“And you deserve prison, BUT. YOU. WON’T. GET. TIME!” you scream-sing, each word punctuated with a hand slapping the table loudly. Tears fall down your face and you let out a ragged breath, attempting to quell your rage and anguish.

Your stupid ass, idiot of a boyfriend, Connor, had cheated on you with some tramp from Florida, of all places. And he had subsequently dumped you over text, attaching a picture of the girl sucking his cock.

You wanted to murder him. Slowly. With a knife. 

Here you sat, though, after the shock of that text message wore off, sobbing at your kitchen table to Taylor Swift. Your life felt like a terrible sitcom. 

He was your first boyfriend. You didn't really date much in high school. The boys were immature and gross, and the girls were too intimidating to approach in a flirty way. You just wanted to feel wanted, sick of constantly being the third wheel with your friends.

Despite getting broken up with out of the blue, you knew why Connor had done it. It was the reason for your countless arguments you had suffered through the last year.

Paige Bueckers.

Paige was your best friend, and Connor had absolutely loathed her from the moment you had introduced the two blondes. 

Your boyfriend had always been slightly possessive; it was one of the things that had initially attracted you to him. You had always craved an intense and all consuming love, and at first, you had thought you'd gotten that. But fate was tempted as you and Paige grew closer.

As the song you’ve had on repeat restarts for the hundredth time, you recall your last argument. It wasn’t difficult considering it happened just a few days ago. 

You and Paige were hanging out in your apartment like you did frequently. Laying side by side on your bed, a movie played on the TV, sending flickering lights through the dark room. You were both exhausted from the week, but each other’s presence produced a calm energy that washed over all of the stress you had been feeling.

Your legs are tangled up with Paige’s, and your head is nestled in the crook of her neck. The movie is long forgotten, as you relish in the presence of your best friend. She hums in content at your closeness, enjoying your company just as much as you.

You can actually feel your heart cry, realizing that you couldn’t get any closer to the blonde girl. 

You had been having several realizations the last few months: Your fondness for UConn’s favorite star was more than just friendly. Unfortunately, you were pretty sure that Connor had also picked up on this. And if this helpless little crush of yours continued, you’d be in deep shit. 

Contemplating your situation, Paige nudges into you, catching your attention. 

“I can literally hear the wheels in your head turning. Whatcha thinkin’ about, baby?” Paige teases softly.

Baby. 

Your heart flutters, as it always did when she called you little pet names.

You shrug, the movement slightly jostling Paige.

“Just dealing with some stuff,” you mumble, a feeble attempt to minimize what you were feeling. It's not like you could tell her anyway.

Before Paige can goad you into revealing more, the door to your bedroom is ripped open, hitting the wall with a slam and reverberating through the apartment. 

“I fucking knew it!” Connor shouted, pointing at you and Paige. His face was screwed up into an ugly expression of contempt.

“Dude, what the fuck?” Paige yells back, as you simultaneously shout, “Connor you can't just barge in here. That’s so fucking rude.”

“Stay away from my girlfriend, you nasty, little bitch,” Connor sneers meanly. Paige’s eyebrows furrow at this, standing in front of him to look him in the eye.

You try to stifle a laugh as Paige gets in your boyfriend’s face; she was two inches taller than him, and she never let him forget it. 

“I don’t know about ‘little,’” she retorts with a smug expression on her face.

Enraged, Connor spins around, stomping out of the room, kicking your couch on his childish rampage out.

Your breathing is irregular as you try to slow your heart rate. Sobs are already bubbling up inside your chest, threatening to seep through the cracks that Connor had left once more. 

Paige pulls you into her lap, cradling you against her chest in a desperate attempt to comfort you. Little did she know, her touch was all you really needed. 

You are pulled back into the present, feeling empty without Paige. Tears roll down your cheeks and your bottom lip wobbles. You felt like you were never really present anymore; walking through life in a daydream. Pictures of Paige constantly filled your brain, and you knew the unrequited feelings would be much more painful than the harsh termination of your and Connor’s relationship. 

Fuck. You were down bad. 

You take to your couch with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Those were two guys you knew would never fail you. You allow yourself to rot the day away. Episode after episode plays, but you are barely paying attention. You feel like screaming, the feeling of desperation wrestling with your typical sense of composure. 

Your vision slides over to the top of your fridge, where an impressive amount of alcohol sits.

‘Perfect. I can't pine when I’m black out drunk,’ you think miserably. 

You were so, so wrong. 

An hour later you were dancing around in nothing but one of Paige’s shirts and your underwear, using a large bottle of tequila as a microphone. You were usually a quiet roommate, but the empty apartment was the perfect excuse to let out all the emotions you had been holding in for months. 

You were so engrossed in your performance, you miss Paige walking in. When you finally turn to face her in a dramatic spin, hair flying everywhere, you gasp in shock. 

Paige is grinning. “Havin’ fun, babe?” she questions, clearly amused by your drunken antics.

You were too inebriated to feel embarrassed, and you nod with a bright smile. You thrust the bottle towards the blonde, encouraging her to join in your fun. 

“Oh, what the hell,” Paige concedes, taking the bottle and lifting it up to her mouth in a way that had you suddenly feeling sticky. 

She was sinful when she was drunk. It was not your fault that you wanted the clingy Paige that accompanied large amounts of alcohol. 

You spend the next hour taking turns sipping from the bottle, enjoying the feverish burning in your belly that follows each swallow. It doesn’t take much time for Paige to catch up to you, and you know she’s tipsy once she pulls you into her lap and starts drawing shapes onto your thighs. A quiet moan escapes from your lips at her touch; her fingers were fucking magic. 

You turn to face Paige, straddling her on your couch. The tequila in your system was making you bolder than the blonde was accustomed to you being, but she welcomed it. Now face to face, with nothing but your flimsy panties in between Paige’s muscular leg and your slick center, you gaze at her with heavy lidded eyes.

She was so pretty, and her eye contact made you bashful. Breaking away from the heat of those blue eyes, you wrap your arms around her neck in a huge hug, causing Paige to let out a small chuckle at your affection.

You were nothing if not candor whilst drunk, so Paige is hardly surprised when you slur, “Connor hated how I look at you. That’s why he broke up with me.”

Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Paige murmurs, “How do you look at me?”

“Like you hung the fuckin’ moon,” you sigh dreamily, the tequila making you feel warm and fuzzy.

“Oh, really, baby?” Paige questions, her voice growing deeper as you tilt your hips against her thigh once more in an attempt to feel some relief. Her presence was overwhelming your senses, and there was fire deep in your abdomen that was raging.

 You forget to respond to her, too distracted from the way her leg felt so damn good against your clothed pussy. Attempting to lessen some of the desire building up inside you, you experimentally roll your hips, letting out a lustful whine as you realize how good it feels. 

Paige is momentarily stunned at your boldness before she grabs your chin, tilting it up to meet her eyes that were full of want. Your pupils are blown, the irises just a small ring at this point, and she questions if you really want to do this. 

Well obviously.

You nod your head, unsure if you had any words in you to describe just how badly you wanted Paige to fuck you.

“Baby, use your words,” Paige drawls. The huskiness of the term of endearment has you panting, and you struggle to moan out a “Yes, please just fuck me, P.”

That was all Paige needed. She places her hands underneath your ass, and lifts you up, carrying you towards your bedroom. You wrap your legs around her toned figure and meet her lips in a searing kiss. 

In a second, it feels like all the shittiness has evaporated away, leaving you feeling reborn and renewed. Paige was a fucking drug to you, and you needed another hit. 

Setting you down on your bed, Paige wastes no time stripping you of your oversized t-shirt, leaving you in your cotton panties that were now completely soaked. She swirls two fingers across the drenched fabric, smirking to herself that she was able to have such an effect on you. You whine at her deliberate actions and pout like a child who wasn’t getting their way. Paige laughs at your desperation and kisses the pout right off of your lips, licking into your mouth with fervor. 

You tug at her shirt, wanting her to be as bare as you were, and she quickly slips it over her head, throwing it onto the floor. There was still an imbalance of clothing between the two of you, and you finger the waistband of Paige’s sweatpants, wanting to see every bit of her. 

Shaking her head fondly at your blatant lack of shame, she gets off of the bed and shimmies out of her pants, leaving her in just a sports bra and those boxers you loved a little too much. From where you were still sitting on the bed, you shamelessly let your eyes rake over her toned figure. She was stunning, and you felt pride well up inside you, knowing you were finally going to have sex with the tall blonde.

It almost made the years of pining worth it. 

“This better?” Paige asks, gesturing towards her body, and you giggle in response. 

She climbs back onto the bed, a knee placed between your parted thighs and presses it against your soaked heat. You let out another loud moan at the contact, and your back arches off the bed from the pleasure. 

There are no thoughts in your tipsy, drunk-in-love brain, and it shows. You’re mumbling in tangents, now, pleading with Paige to do more. 

She finally concedes and goes to take off your panties. She’s being a little tease, slowly dragging them down your legs, while keeping intense eye contact with you. You are pretty sure the act makes your pussy drip even more. 

Placing a leg over her shoulder, Paige opens you up and takes a second to admire the gleaming wet folds that were hers and only hers. You tremble under her stare, feeling deliciously vulnerable in a way that makes you want to submit to her every whim. 

She inches closer to your pussy, pressing hot kisses all along your inner thighs. You revel in the buildup of it, trying to avoid being pushy. To no avail, your hips jut forward, slightly humping the air in an attempt to get some release. 

Coming back up to nip your earlobe playfully, Paige whispers sensually, “Gotta be a good girl for me.” 

You try to respond, but her use of the phrase ‘good girl’ makes the words catch in your throat. She resumes her kisses, trailing them down your throat to your chest, where she takes a detour in favor of showing your pretty, peaked nipples some attention. 

Another whine leaves your lips like a prayer, as Paige leaves love bites over your tits. That would look like a damn masterpiece in the morning, and you’re already planning to take a Polaroid picture of you topless, covered in Paige’s hickeys. 

Finally, she trails back down your stomach, fingers ghosting over your skin and leaving behind thousands of goosebumps in their wake. Your skin felt like it was on fire. 

“Please, Paigey. Need you, baby,” you whimper brokenly, begging for some respite from the torturous teasing. 

Paige gives in, dying to taste to you, and she licks a fat stripe on your pussy, starting at your dripping hole and ending in a tantalizing circle at your clit. Your hands fly to her head, trying not to pull at her hair too much. 

She inserts her middle finger into you, drawing another slutty moan from your lips as she pumps into you vigorously. 

There really is no way to describe just how good she is making you feel. The past six months of sex with Connor had been passionless and repetitive. You didn’t think you’d ever be able to go without this again. 

Paige inserts another finger in your pussy with a smirk and continues to pummel them against your g-spot. The pressure in the pit of your belly was already building, and you knew it wouldn’t be long until you exploded. Paige had taken a break from eating you out to kiss you once more, wanting you to taste your sweet wetness on her lips. It was possibly the hottest thing you had ever done, and the act pushes you closer to the finish line. 

“Gonna cum, Paigey,” you moan wantonly, your thighs twitching and your back arching once more. The tequila in your system causing you to act especially debauched. 

Paige loves it. 

“C’mon, baby. Be a good girl and cum for me,” she moans in response against your soaked pussy, and you fall apart instantaneously. 

High pitched whines and moans fill your bedroom as Paige continues thrusting her fingers in and out of you, slowing down as you ride out your high. If it wasn’t for the alcohol, you would be embarrassed with yourself, but there was no thought of that. 

You needed to taste Paige. 

Once Paige pulls out of you, licking her fingers off as if she was starved, you reattach your lips feverishly. You taste so good, but you are dying to know what she tastes like, and without warning, you strip the rest of her clothes off. 

She lays her head on your mountain of pillows, blonde hair fanning in all directions. You can see the heaving of her chest, already anticipating your touch. Her lips are swollen in a way that’s positively sinful, and you think you’ve never seen anyone look as beautiful as Paige does right now. 

Straddling her, you lean in to suck at the soft skin underneath her left ear, pulling out moan after moan that went right to your still-buzzing pussy. 

Trailing down to her tits, you knead one before attaching your hot mouth to the other, swirling your tongue around it and then nipping it experimentally. 

“Fuck, babe. Please. Can’t do more teasing,” Paige grits out, trying to maintain some semblance of control. 

Just as yours had, Paige’s hips squirm, and you grin up at her. You press kisses across her toned abdomen, mentally noting that her abs would be nice to ride another time, and finally settle at the opening of her legs. 

Spreading her open, you gaze upon her glistening wetness momentarily before diving in. You could not possibly wait another second to taste her. 

You two both moan at the contact, sending muffled vibrations against Paige’s pussy that brings forth a second, louder groan of pleasure. 

Wanting to make her feel so, so good, you plunge two fingers into her sopping wetness, while flicking the tip of your tongue across her clit repeatedly without ceasing. 

It had been awhile since you had eaten another girl out, but it came back to you immediately; it was like riding a bike. 

Paige’s moans fill the room, and you think you could die there happily. You’re unrelenting. The combination of three of your fingers and that lavicious tongue of yours soon has Paige panting out, “fuck, baby. I’m gonna cum.” 

She rides out her orgasm, switching between moaning your name and naughty words that have you immediately wanting to do a second round. 

You pull your fingers out of her wetness, making a show of licking them off in front of her before meeting her in an erotic kiss.

You lay back on your pillows, stifling your sighs and calming the beat of your heart from what you had just done with your best friend. You look over at her, hoping and praying that the sex you just had wouldn’t ruin your friendship. 

Paige bites her lip, in a not so great attempt at hiding a smile, and pecks you on the lips. “That was way better than that fuckhead, Connor, right?” She was smug as hell. But she was not wrong.

“Considering his dick was three inches, uh yeah,” you laugh. “But joking aside, you were amazing.”

“Just glad I could make my girl feel better,” she replies.

“I’m your girl?” you ask, cheeks ablaze in a fiery heat of desire.

“You are now,” Paige chuckles, interlocking your pinkies together in an earnest proclamation of affection. 

You were hers, and she was yours. 

[ilycosy]

❝ HE LOVES ME , HE LOVES ME NOT ! ❞ | MATTHEO RIDDLE

pairing : mattheo riddle x slytherin!reader , ron weasley x reader (platonicish)

summary — having mattheo riddle as your best friend was difficult, especially when you've been in love with him since the first year. not to mention all the people he's constantly with, you're planning on moving on when you catch wind of a gryffindor party: perfect for a last ditch effort.

warnings : fake dating (not w mattheo) , messy teen relationships , jealousy , ron appreciation <3 , theo n enzo r a little sick of mattheo , pansy n reader r the besties ever

aﾉn — how do u guys feel abt a part 2 of this ?? i feel like it's a little incompleted but im not entirely sure ... also ron haters dni bc this fic isn't for u <//3

you couldn't remember the last time you had actually talked to mattheo. every time he had started up a conversation with you recently, it ended with him telling you about his (quite boring) sex life. and you were rather sick of it, you were supposed to be his best friend.

pansy had told you that he was too stupid to realize he liked you, and maybe you should just ask him out, but every single time you gain that courage— he's got another girl hanging off his arm. each girl lasts a week, maybe two at most but it still stings.

this week, mattheo had a girl. she was beautiful, really, seemingly sweet too. she would constantly wave at you and smile like she wasn't jealous at all, which you assumed she was right. if mattheo really didn't want to be with you, you'd just have to move on.

now, because you hadn't been talking to him recently, your party invites also dried up. you were hot, everyone knew that, but you were awkward and flighty with people. which is exactly why you latched onto mattheo.

many of his exes had called you clingy, so you eventually just gave up engaging with him first— officially starting your 'situationship detox' is what pansy called it.

you barely attempted moving on before you got a small piece of paper slipped over to you to pass to a hufflepuff girl, a gryffindor party invite. the gryffindor boy just awkward gestured to her, but you glanced at another boy.

bright red hair, freckles, and a little bit of quidditch dirt still smudged on his face. ron weasley, he wasn't exactly the most academically gifted, but he was sweet and funny (much to your friends dismay).

ron looked at you with a confused look when you didn't pass the note, but you had other plans. "can i come?" you asked, trying to sound confident and chill while your stomach churned at the idea of being rejected by the gryffindors, that'd be humiliating.

"uh," he said, clearing his throat before nodding. "yeah, the password is tapeworm?"

for some reason, you felt rather excited when you told pansy that you'd be going to the gryffindor party— you had never gone to a party without being invited by your friends first!

"babe," she cut your excited rambling off, looking at you with a concerned look. "you asked weasley. weasley if you could go to a fucking party?" she double checked like it was shocking, but you felt a spark of offense.

you furrowed your eyebrows, "he's sweet," you say, rummaging through your shared closet for an outfit. "you just don't understand because everyone's so obsessed with blood status, he's always been true to himself." you defended.

she went quiet for a couple minutes, watching you spread out dresses that are a little too modest for her liking. "well, if you're going to be going with weasley, then you need to show him how slytherins are better than gryffindor girls." she said with a smirk, patting your back as she pulled out different dresses.

"you gonna slut it up with me?" she asks, showing off a small red dress.

you scoff but take the dress, holding it in your hands as you admire the sheer black lace covering the deep red. "slut it up," you say with an eyeroll, looking back at her with a small smile. "you're going to be all over blaise, be honest."

you didn't bother telling mattheo about the party, assuming that he'd either be single again and looking for another one there or be arguing with his current girlfriend in the common room.

you didn't even know that he was constantly telling theo about how you barely spoke to him anymore, "she won't even fucking look at me theodore! i don't know what i did wrong, she's fucking insane or something!" he would say, dramatically flailing his hands while speaking.

only for theo to look at enzo with an annoyed look, enzo returning it with a brief head shake and ignoring the temper tantrum by reading. mattheo would eventually calm down and say that he just doesn't get why you're like this, then he'd repeat his idiotic cycle.

he really was blindsighted when he saw you at the party, he had just broken up with his girlfriend— apparently she wasn't all the nice after all, hooking up with another ravenclaw while being with him. he was already annoyed with that whole fiasco, so seeing you with weasley?

he saw red. he barely remembers turning to enzo before trying to approach you, only to be stopped by theo grabbing him and telling him to walk it off.

you, on the other hand, were having the time of your life. sure, harry and hermione took a little bit to warm up to you even being around them, but it seems like they're accepting the casual conversation that you're providing, which is a win for you.

ron has a hesitant arm around your shoulders, keeping a respectful distance while still being touchy. everyone saw it as amazing flirting, both of you guys seemed to be hitting it off greatly.

but you just felt awkward. he was lovely and amazing company, but the lack of chemistry was suffocating you. and he felt it too, his eyes drifting to another person every once in a while, wishing it was different.

maybe that's why you proposed something while tipsy, giggling into ron's ear as you talked about fake dating. whispering the silly joke like it was intimate, and maybe if he wasn't also tipsy he would've told you it was a bad idea.

but he didn't, and now you're bundled up in a sweater with a big r on it.

it could be worse, and you aren't complaining. even though it's fake, it was easy to be around him. he was thoughtful and constantly looking for that reassurance that everything was fine with you, it felt refreshing.

you missed mattheo though, and you confinded in him about it. before others arrived at the designated tree, you whispered into his shoulder about how it hurt that you never seemed good enough for him. ron listened, and he cared.

his freckled hands rubbed your side as you vented, comforting you while he whispered back about how he was so insecure about where he stood within his friends and family. you related to each other, and it was a bond you didn't think you could have.

he pretended to never notice how mattheo clenched his jaw and fists whenever the two of you passed by. while he knew that this was to make him jealous, he felt a little vindictive. how could someone like mattheo riddle hurt such a sweet person like you?

mattheo was spiraling, constantly watching from the sidelines as you and ron 'seemingly fell in love out of fucking nowhere' as he said to theo. he constantly ranted about how you'd never stoop that low, dating a blood traitor.

until enzo spoke for once, lifting his head from his book at the library during a study session. "maybe you didn't know her as well as you thought." he said offhandedly, ignoring the way the whole group fell into silence after.

mattheo didn't speak, just slowly sitting down in a seat next to draco. his cousin looks at him with a sympathetic smile before kind of shrugging, basically saying enzo wasn't wrong.

he didn't know you? that was impossible, you guys were best friends. he barely ate at dinner that night, just watching you laugh and eat with pansy while she gossiped about her and blaise. you were with ron weasley, and he was mad, he didn't know you, but why was he mad?

the next day, he couldn't stop himself from pairing up with you in potions. feeling himself get almost embarrassed and shy when he asked you to partner up with him before ron could, he felt a small victory when you chose him before telling the red head next time with a cheery tone.

the entire potions class was spent with you walking on eggshells with him while he desperately tried to get to reknow you, he felt ashamed when he asked about the latest album of your old favorite band only for you to respond that you don't really listen to them anymore.

he sulked the next class, but mattheo wasn't exactly one to back down— he was going to get you back, in more ways than one.

the following week was used as a way for him to worm himself back into your life like an 'annoying zit' as pansy called him, she did love mattheo but she loved you more and that's all that mattered to her.

ron even asked you about it, "say," he mutters as he leans over your shoulder while you're studying, "why's riddle suddenly all over you?" he asks, genuinely curious though his wording was harsh.

you took a moment to recollect yourself, knowing that he didn't mean it that way. "i don't know," you say softly, taking notes about a plant you could care less about. "he's a little odd sometimes, im sure he'll get bored."

but he didn't get bored, in fact it seemed that mattheo only seemed to go harder. constantly taking any moment to steal you away from not only ron, but other people now (not pansy of course, she'd kill him).

draco trying to talk to you about astronomy? mattheo suddenly needed help with defense. blaise needed to borrow something of yours? mattheo needs you to listen to him rant. slughorn even needed you after class, and mattheo was there mean mugging him while waiting for you.

ron talked about it to harry, laying in his friends bed while he read. "he's bloody obsessed with her!" he says a little loudly, almost waking neville.

"i know ron i know, your girlfriend is being hit on by riddle. im sure it'll be fine," he says, stroking his red locks and twirling it. "you guys are basically married with how you act, nothings going to take her away." he reassures ron.

he just rolls his eyes, pausing harry"s hand to look at him. "that's the thing," he says frustratedly, chewing his bottom lip. "we aren't dating, and im just nervous that she'll get hurt again by him."

seamus listened with wide eyes as harry questioned ron, whisper yelling is still yelling to a light sleeper. and seamus finnigan wasn't the best secret keeper.

it only took a couple days for the whole school to know, constant berating from the gryffindors because they thought it was your fault and then the slytherins cheering you on for allegedly breaking ron's heart.

you didn't even have time to talk to ron about what happened since none of the other gryffindors would let you around him, so you were officially and totally alone.

you sat curled up in the abandoned girls bathroom, crying as moaning myrtle cried with you. you almost started venting to her before the door was pushed open, your old best friend staring at you with wide eyes.

"mattheo?" you question, hurrying to wipe your wet eyes as he approached you. "what're you doing here?" you tried to ask, hiccuping slightly.

he just shrugged, sitting down next to you as he wrapped an arm around your waist. "i know you didn't hurt weasley," he says quietly, pulling you close. "you wouldn't do that to somebody."

you could almost cry with happiness, hiccuping again as you smiled and laughed humorlessly. "it was all fake," you confessed, feeling embarrassed but like you just needed to admit it to somebody. "me and ron did it to make people jealous, and i don't know if it even worked so it was useless and im just so tired of people being so, fucking, mean to me about this i–"

he gently shushed you, rocking you back and forth while whispering that you didn't need to explain yourself to anybody. he pressed a soft kiss onto the crown of your head without realizing it, stroking your back.

when you had began to calm down, he awkwardly cleared his throat to ask an even more awkward question. "so uh, who were you even trying to make jealous?" he asked, glancing down at you.

you just rolled your eyes and shook your head with shame, before just whispering in a defeated tone that it was him. you felt the shame rise but you couldn't let it out, it was just too much.

"are you serious?" he asked, feeling relief and surprise rush through his entire body.

"yeah," you say, not looking at him as you shake your head and scoff. "i know it's pathetic but you don't understand i just felt–" the only thing you actually felt was chapped lips against yours.

mattheo fucking riddle was kissing you, his hands delicately holding your face like you were going to slip away from him again.

"don't worry about it, princess," he whispered, pushing his hair out of his eyes so he could look at you fully while calling you a name you havent heard since the third year. "it's not pathetic."

you stare at him in shock, glancing at the lip gloss smeared on his lips— this time from you, and not from other girls.

"are you sure?" you ask with an awkward laugh, feeling a nervous giddiness rise in you. "because i played that one stupid flower game with ron about you." you confess before you realize, accidently oversharing like always.

but mattheo just laughed, kissing from your forehead down to your chin and slowly across your jaw. "he likes me, he likes me not?" he asked, and you could feel the smile against your skin.

"i played it a couple times," he mumbled, pressing his lips against yours again. not wanting to hear the teasing you were about to do.

[bachissidehoe]

“I already have a girlfriend, so stop asking me.”

“Oh you do? Congratulations Itoshi! Who is it?”

“Who is it Rin?”

“Who’s the lucky girl Rin?”

A bother. Rin thought saying something like that would get those damn reporters off his back. Why do they care so much if he has a girlfriend or not? He doesn’t even want one. But somehow not having one is worse than having one.

It may be best just to continue with the charade. Maybe having an actual real person to be his girlfriend would make them stop asking stupid fucking questions.

“Her.” He points to someone, a pretty girl he’s seen quite a few times. He knows her as a journalist for the Blue Lock organization, but he never cared to learn her name.

Seemingly, Rin’s charade worked. The reporters left him alone after that, finally allowing him to exist in peace.

However, Rin was not prepared for the aftermath of articles being sent to him, a meeting with his coach where he was considerably reprimanded, and a barrage of texts and calls from more reporters trying to get the latest gossip on the most famous striker in the world’s new relationship with a hot older journalist.

So he finds himself in her office the next day, his head down as she too reprimands him for involving her in this in the first place.

“That being said, it would make my ex jealous.” She states, leaning back in her office chair as if she’s a principal scolding a student.

And then the charade deepened, drawing new fans to the soccer scene who were just dying to obsess over a player x journalist fantasy romance story. Suddenly Rin realized he had caused the exact opposite of what he wanted, and now he has more reporters on his ass than ever. Who would have guessed that having a relationship would be worse for him than not having a relationship?

“You have to at least look like you want to be around me. People are wondering if we got in a fight.” She crosses her arms over her chest, looking at a picture from a newly released article on the two of them. Rin stands at least 4 feet away from her, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his gaze directed toward the ground.

“I went out with you. That’s not enough?” Rin rolls his eyes.

“No! We have to also look like we’re in a relationship!” She raises her voice, but drops it again when she realizes she may have been too harsh. “Just, you know, hold my hand or something.”

The normally expressionless striker suddenly finds himself beat red with his eyes wide. “Y-yeah. I get it.”

His fake girlfriend stares him down, refusing to let the short display of emotion pass them by. “Rin, have you ever done anything with a girl at all?”

“No.” He answers honestly.

“Ah, I see.”

That’s when she realized she’ll be taking the lead on this “relationship”. She finds herself both planning and coaching Rin through their “dates” and other public appearances, doing her best to prepare him for any questions they may be asked.

Maybe she’s taking this too seriously, but now they’re too deep to suddenly back out. She just has to go with it, wait at least a few months until she can announce a “breakup”. Hopefully then, that’ll be the end of it.

“I just want to let you know, it’s looking like at some point someone will ask you to kiss me for the camera.” She says, drawing her conclusion after reading the latest scoop on the two of them.

“I’ll just say no.”

“You’d refuse to kiss the girl you’re in love with?”

Rin pauses. “Hmph.” He understands his predicament.

“I figured we could just practice here, you know, since you’ve never done it before. That way you’re prepared.” She finds her cheeks growing redder, trying not to let the bottled up feelings from the last couple weeks get to her at a time like this.

It’s the same for Rin, who looks to the floor, the ceiling, and anywhere else besides her pretty eyes. Kissing her may be all it takes for him to acknowledge that maybe this isn’t as fake as he thought.

“Yeah. I guess that’s fine.” He finally answers.

So she balls her fists together, forcing herself to be mature about a measly kiss. “Look at me.”

He looks up with his eyes, though doesn’t raise his head.

So she lifts his head with her finger, just enough to bring it at an angle where she can meet his lips. He’s much taller than her, after all.

“Okay, just, close your eyes.” She whispers, they’re close enough now where she can hear his heart thumping and every short breath that escapes his slightly parted mouth.

Rin obliges, handing control over to his fake girlfriend, leaving his hands resting at his sides. He doesn’t know exactly what to do with them.

And she kisses him, just a lingering, closed-mouth peck. Her lips are so soft and warm, much different than kissing her cheek like he’s been doing for pictures. Even though it’s short, Rin can feel her hot breaths against his face.

“That was pretty good. There’s not much to it.” She says quietly, finding herself unable to move her hand away from its position under his chin.

“Hm.” Rin responds, his gaze still focused on the floor.

“Do you need to try again?” She asks, wondering if his lack of expression is due to him just not getting it.

“No.” He answers flatly.

“Oh.” His answer confuses her. Did he not like it? “Why not?” She can’t help but ask.

“I feel like I won’t want to stop.”

Continued in Part 2.

[actiniumwrites]

MISTLETOE

synopsis: one year after your devastating breakup, you and neuvillette find yourselves under the mistletoe

characters: neuvillette x gn!reader

wc: 1.6k

warnings: angst to fluff, a bit of hurt/comfort, exes to lovers, mentions of breakups, the steambird being exploitative

notes: woooo first christmas fic for this year is done! this definitely could’ve been way longer, but i’ve got like four more to write and i’m pretty happy with how this turned out. this concept was also originally going to go to wriothesley but i think neuvillette suits it better :)

The first thing that makes it really set in that the holiday season has arrived in Fontaine is the pesky decorations.

Everywhere you go there seems to be some sort of string of lights, faux presents, and little snowmen. Don’t get it twisted, it isn’t like you’re some Scrooge when it comes to the holidays, but it hasn’t quite been the same ever since, well, ever since it happened.

Your shoes click and clack against the brick flooring of Fontaine’s main city floors. The same ones that are beginning to ice over from the cruel frost of winter air. And it doesn’t exclude you either, not with the way it snips at your nose and makes it hard to breathe even when you’ve barely stepped foot outside.

“Good morning!” Charlotte calls to you as you walk past her, a hand eagerly waving you down with that mischievous glint in her eyes. Part of you wants to duck behind a bush and pretend you don’t see her, but you’re better than that.

You send her an apologetic smile and pull your coat a little closer. You slow your pace a bit but don’t stop moving as you respond, “Sorry, Charlotte. I know I said I’d interview soon, but I really can’t today.”

“C’mon, the whole world wants to know the tragic holiday tale of you and Monsieur Neuvillette! Let it be a present to the subscribers of the Steam Bird!” She pushes your buttons carefully, camera ready to strike incase you change your mind or make any comment on the matter.

If you hadn’t had any reason to turn that interview down beforehand, you certainly do now.

Even though you hate the way she looks so disappointed when you walk away, it serves all of Fontaine right for meddling with people’s private business. Seriously? Did everything have to be entertainment to these people?

You scoff as you walk away, mumbling something about forgetting that interview if that’s what she wanted all along. Naturally, she doesn’t hear it, nor does she get to see your sour reaction as you desperately walk away from her and that stupid camera.

When you finally make it to the Palais Mermonia, you check in quickly and one of the Melusines, Liath, hands you a few letters that had been dropped off for you prior to your arrival. One carelessly slips from your cold hand before you can even register it happening. When you pick it up, your body had shifted ever so slightly and for a second, just a split second, you shoot a longing glance at the doors to your right. The doors that led to his office. To him.

“Is something the matter? Do those letters not belong to you?” Liath interrupts with a puzzled expression as she tilts her head.

You snap out of your thoughts and quickly scramble to compose yourself. You hold the stack of letters close to your chest as you take a step back and awkwardly laugh, “Oh uh no! I just um, got a little distracted, sorry.”

“You got distracted looking at the Iudex’s…doors?”

You hesitate, mouth agape and unsure of how to respond, “I uh, yeah I guess I was.”

“Interesting,” she says suspiciously, squinting her lilac eyes at you, “he asked about you this morning, actually.”

“He did?” you say all too fast, perking up at the mention of his name. It’s pathetic, really. You internally thank the Archons for Melusines not being all too good at understanding human behavior.

“Yes,” she answers simply, crossing her small arms one over the other.

“And um,” you push further, not realizing the way you eagerly take a step forward, “what did he say?”

“Nothing. He merely inquired when you would be coming in today.”

You can’t help the disappointment in your voice as a quiet, “Oh,” slips out. Part of you wants to ask if there was anything else, maybe some sort of expression or tone of voice she caught, but you hold yourself back.

Get it together. It’s almost been a year.

One tragic year since the two of you split. One long, tragic year since you wished you could’ve worked something out, even if it meant you could’ve had a little more time together. It was mutual, but truthfully, you never wanted him gone. You only wish you could’ve realized it at the time.

“Thank you,” you nod and walk away while trying to hide the dismay you felt. She doesn’t say anything else.

As you walk to the other end of the hall, you notice someone had placed some illuminated garland around the frame of your door and a miniature Christmas tree in the corner a few feet away. It isn’t as extravagant as the decorations they had placed around Neuvillette’s door, but you appreciate it nonetheless.

The inside is a lot less spirited and looks like your normal dreary office. You pay no mind to it as you get to work right away, trying desperately to keep the interaction between Neuvillette and Liath out of your head. You even keep the door to your office open a little bit, letting the hushed voices in the main corridor fade into white noise while you scribbled away at some documents for the court.

And it works. You don’t even notice eight hours pass until it becomes too dark to see what you’re writing. Nor do you notice that there isn’t anyone outside anymore and that the only noise filling the space is the quiet holiday tune your phonograph plays from across the room.

You sigh and set down the pen from your cramped hand. It was December 23rd. Two days before Christmas and here you were, alone and with nothing to do for the holidays but working away in a cold office.

It makes you frown the longer you think about it. So you stand quickly, shutting off the lamps in the room and placing everything away in their files for the night. Quietly, you exit the room and lock the doors behind you as you begin to head out for the night thinking that perhaps you could go and at least treat yourself to a meal or some shopping.

You don’t expect to bump into someone the moment you turn around.

“I’m so sorry!”

“My apologies.”

You both rush at the same time.

You freeze when his deep voice hits your ears and you instantly take a step backward.“Neuvillette..?” you whisper, glancing up into the familiar blue eyes that belong to the man you once called yours. The question is more to yourself than to him. Almost as if you can’t believe he’s actually standing in front of you.

He clears his throat tensely and mirrors you in taking a step back, “Sorry, I was unaware anyone else was still here.”

“No, it’s my fault. I should’ve watched where I was going,” you say, eyes not straying from his, “and it isn’t too surprising, I mean, it isn’t like I have anything to be doing for the holidays since…nevermind.”

Neuvillette catches what you were about to say but saves you the headache of having to do any sort of explaining. Instead, he motions in front of him and pulls the keys out from his pocket, “Shall we go? It’s getting rather late. I can lock the doors behind us.”

Us. It’s weird hearing that again.

You wordlessly nod and follow his lead. Like the gentleman he always was, Neuvillette opens the door and lets you out first. You stand a few feet away by the small set of stairs as he locks it quickly. Gently, you reach your hand out from under the overhang and feel small bits of frost falling onto your hands.

“It’s snowing,” you say wistfully, admiring the delicate snowflakes falling upon your palms. Neuvillette turns to look at the sky as he walks up to stand next to you. Peeling off one of his navy blue gloves, he lets the snow reach him too.

“A rare sight for Fontaine,” he hummed with a small but warm smile on his face. Fontaine didn’t usually get cold enough to the point of snowing. It had been a long time since you had seen it either.

He turns to look at you the same time you turn to look at him. A gentle laugh falls from your lips but it stops the moment he points to something above you, “I believe this is mistletoe. I’m sure the Melusines placed this here. One of them mentioned learning about it in a book to me the other day.”

You’re surprised how conversational he is with you.

“We don’t have to,” you say, voice barely above a whisper. There’s hurt in it, and you have a hard time disguising it. It’s evident by the way his eyes soften as he looks at you.

Neuvillette exhales as he looks to the floor and then back to you, “You know I don’t like to break traditions.”

You take a step closer. He does the same.

“Are you sure? It’s been a year since…you know? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable—“

Neuvillette cuts you off by gently placing his lips on yours, interlocking eagerly. They’re warm and soft like a fireplace as they melt away the frost from your body. You reciprocate easily once you get over the initial shock, wrapping your hand around his neck to bring him in closer.

When you pull away, you feel a burning sensation in your throat and a tingling feeling in your eyes. You don’t know why, but the kiss makes you want to cry.

Neuvillette doesn’t distance himself either. Instead he places a gentle hand on your back as soon as you nod, pulling you into his affectionate embrace. You rest your head in the crook of his neck, just like you used to do, “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

[alcoholfreenayeon]

can you do co worker Irene x fem reader,where Irene secretly has a crush on reader and she waits every time for her.But this day readers ex didnt stop calling reader and ended up waiting for her at work so Irene went to reader and acted like her gf.Later Irene took reader to her home and they made out ,THENN READERS EX CALLED AGAIN.irene told her to answer the call and while they were talking reader couldn't stop moaning (English isn't my first language sorry)

A/N: Well….as I wrote this, I realized it was not so much smut but more fluff that’s a bit suggestive so this will be a bit disappointing for all of you who voted for this expecting smut😭(but also horny jail for you all🚔) anyways, this is probably the last request I’m doing before I finish the Angst April fics unless I get a random burst of creativity.

Stupid Cupid

Irene x fem!reader

CW: Fluff, suggestive

Your phone started ringing, once again, right on time, your ex calling you exactly 5 minutes after your lunch break starts so you have no excuse to not pick up other than that you don’t want to talk.

You sigh and pick up, knowing the calls will continue to come if you don’t pick up. “Hello….”

As you talk with your ex, telling her the same thing you have been for the past month, you are seemingly unaware of an annoyed stare in your direction, albeit from afar. Irene watches you, an exasperated look on her face. ‘The audacity of that stupid woman to keep calling her y/n’, she thought to herself. ‘Well…not her y/n….yet’. She really wanted to walk over, snatch the phone out of your hand, tell your ex to fuck off, block her and then kiss you. But alas, she couldn’t do that. And that annoyed her even more. Regardless, she was about to get on with her work when her ears perked up at something you said.

“What! What do you mean you are on your way here? I don’t want to see you. I already sa-. No, we don’t need to give it another tr-…..fine, whatever”, you sigh and put down your phone, rolling your eyes in irritation, unsure of what will happen next when you feel a gentle tap on your shoulder. You turn and find that it’s Irene, your coworker. Supposedly she’s the scary one but she’s been nothing but sweet to you so you have always chalked it down to her just being more prompt and serious than the rest.

“I, ahem, I did the….”, Irene begins but trails off when you take the sheets of paper from her, your hands lingering on hers for a second. You smile at her and you could have sworn she blushed. “……I couldn’t help it but I overheard you on the phone…”, she says hesitantly.

“Ugh..yea..my ex…it’s just a mess”, you start, “and yeah I know I can just block or her not answer or whatever but like…I think she won’t let up as long as she thinks she can win me back…”

Irene listened to you, a concerned look on her face, a slight frown forming on her face before her expression softened again. “Y/n….maybe…”, she hesitates, you see her cheeks flushing, “you should tell her you are seeing someone else…or something”, she quickly added at the end.

You sigh, “I wish it was that easy, she’ll keep on pressing me even then, who is it, how do they look, why them etc etc. Thanks for the suggestion though”.

Irene stayed quiet, a bit stumped. That’s when you hear a shout, “Y/N there you are!”. And you see your ex walk up and you sigh. This was not going to be pretty….

She walks right up to you and you can’t deny it, she does look really pretty, “Y/n…”, she smiles, “look I’m sorry for being so pushy lately…but I really think we are making a mistake. Like it’s been a little while now and it’s been difficult for me and you said it’s been hard for you too so why don’t we just make out-up, oops”, she giggled.

Irene couldn’t believe what she was hearing, no way Y/N would fall for this trap right? Like it was so blatantly obvious.

You stayed silent…yes she was not completely wrong, you had been feeling a bit lonely lately and you did miss intimacy but you had been focusing on your job lately and that made it much easier, like for some reason you didn’t feel like working was such a burden anymore. But did you really want to start over once again?

As you considered your options, your ex took a step closer, smiling, her hands reaching for your cheek.

That’s when Irene suddenly stood up, a determined expression on her face as she got in between you two. “Stop. And leave. She doesn’t want you. How many times does she have to tell you before you understand huh?”, she says calmly but also coldly.

Your ex seems taken aback for a moment before she chuckles, “Who even are yo-”

“I’m her girlfriend.”, Irene says defiantly.

Now your ex looks stunned. She gives Irene a once over, a frown forming on her face and she faces you back again, “Y/N? What is she….”

You look at Irene and then your ex and make up your mind, “Yea, it’s true….”.

“You both are lying, there’s no way, I don’t believe-”, she begins again but is cut off.

“Believe what you want but that’s the truth. And none of your business anymore anyway so just go away”, Irene snaps.

Dumbstruck, your ex just stares at Irene who grabs your hand takes you back to your desk, as soon she’s out of sight, you notice Irene is completely red faced and she lets go of your hand slowly, reluctantly…and then glances at you, unsure of what of say when you hug her, “Thanks for that, you shouldn’t have…now she’ll be after you too…”

“I don’t think I should worry about that too much”, Irene replies, seemingly unbothered.

“No…I mean like…I’m pretty sure she’s gonna be at the parking lot when you leave, watching us to see whether we were lying or not…”, you sigh.

“Oh”, Irene says quietly as she realizes what you mean, “I…I guess maybe we just…just pretend abitlongerthenright?”

“Huh…oh..oh!”, you are a bit surprised Irene is still willing to continue with this facade, “S-sure…I guess that works…maybe it’ll put her off for good? But…what do we do?”

“……maybe….you come with me…you know instead of taking the bus…just pretend I’m dropping you home or something?”, Irene says quietly.

You consider it for moment before nodding in agreement and that was the plan.

Hours later as you get in the passenger seat of Irene’s car, you notice through the side mirror that a familiar car was in the distance, observing. You sigh and point it out to Irene who says nothing and begins to drive in silence.

A couple minutes in, you notice that your ex is still following and you once again tell Irene who suggests maybe you both go to her house for a bit so the ex doesn’t bother you and has no choice but to believe you both are dating.

20 minutes later, you are sitting awkwardly in Irene’s living room while she gets some snacks. You both eat a few biscuits and then Irene suddenly becomes really quiet, she looks at you and takes a deep breath, “Y/N…..I have something to tell you…”

You look at her, perplexed and tilt your head, “what is it?”, however as you say it, you suddenly become very conscious of her hand on top of yours, the way she is looking at you right now, how you yourself look at the moment and why suddenly it feels like there’s so much tension between you both.

She hesitates…and hesitates again and then looks away, moving her hand and shifting away looking frustrated, “Nevermind…it’s nothing…my bad”.

“Huh”, you feel surprised and a bit hurt that it seems like Irene isn’t completely comfortable around you, “Come on, just say it, you’ve already said you are my girlfriend”, you say smiling and nudge her, “What could be-”, you falter when you see Irene look back up at you, nervously biting her lip and then suddenly putting both her arms on your shoulders, pushing you back a little and she starts to lean in, as if you kiss you.

Not knowing what to do you just shut your eyes and a moment later you felt her lips on yours. She kissed you and kissed you again and this time you kissed her back and before you even realized you both had begun to make out. A minute later Irene finally pulled back, both of you red faced and breathless, panting, looking at the other.

Irene clenched her fists and suddenly blurted out, “I meant it when I said I want to be your girlfriend”.

You slowly blinked, “what…..”

She sighs in frustration, looking away, blushing, “don’t make me say it again…..”

Unbelievable, was Irene really saying she liked you? What! Did she always like you? Is that why it always seemed she was nicer to you? Did you like her too? You didn’t think so but…at the same time why did it feel so good when she kissed you, why did your heart pound when she said she was your girlfriend….why couldn’t you take your eyes off her when she drove you here…..did….did you like her too? Maybe…enough atleast to be willing to give it a shot with her.

You look at her and she doesn’t meet your eyes but you feel her tense up, waiting for your reply and then this time, you kiss her. Irene gasps but then leans into it, melting into your arms. She then caresses your cheek and begins to take off her jacket, “Y/N…..I want you”

Even though that makes you want you bury your face and squeal, you manage to stay somewhat calm, smirking at her, “what are you waiting for then?”, you say moving back and leaning against the sofa.

As Irene gets on top of you, her eyes full of desire, suddenly your phone starts ringing loudly completely ruining the mood…you both sigh and you pick up….

“Hello….oh it’s you…what now, honestly you are just being really annoying now”, you say, annoyed now that your ex is still calling you. “No, I don-ah!”, you cover your mouth as you almost moaned because Irene just began to kiss your neck. You try to give her a look to stop but shakes her head, “keep talking”, she says smugly while continuing to kiss your neck while her hands begin to undress you.

A few minutes later, you were shivering, almost completely naked, your neck and shoulders full of hickeys and your ex almost crying on the phone as she cuts the call, realizing what was happening.

You take a deep breath and toss your phone away, ready to jump at Irene but she beats you to it, getting on top of you, her hand clamping your mouth shut, “you were so bad right now, couldn’t even be quiet while on the phone…that can’t happen, so I’m going to test you now”, she whispered as her hands began to sink lower and lower, “if you stay quiet….I’ll let you off or else you are going to be edged again and again until I get what I want from you ok?”…….

[scuderiahoney]

congrats on 1k girly!! can i askk danny with labyrinth by taylor swiftt?? hope u have a good day!

1k celebration! hiiiii my love thank you loved this prompt sm!!

It hits you like a gut punch. Like a bullet to the chest. Like someone punched you right in your teeth. It’s a shock to the system, cold water over your head, a car crash you should’ve seen coming from a million miles away but somehow you only notice when the airbag goes off in your face.

Danny’s been your friend for ages. He’s been there through all the awful exes, the stupid breakups, the long nights crying over bowls of ice cream. For a much shorter period of time, he’s also been your friend with benefits. A way to let off steam, ease some tension, a safe person to have a bit of fun with. That was the agreement. Those were the terms.

Now you’re laying on the couch with him, his arms around your stomach, and you can’t even tell if you’re breathing, because it’s hit you all at once. You told yourself you wouldn’t do this. Relationships don’t work out for you. There’s a romantic comedy playing on the TV, the main characters are confessing their feelings, and you can’t breathe.

Danny’s nose brushes against the hinge of your jaw. He moves one of his hands and grabs yours- you realize then, that you’re shaking. He presses a kiss to your neck and squeezes your hand.

“You okay?” He asks, quietly.

Yo nod, not trusting your voice. He hums against your skin. You try to ignore him, try to focus on the movie. You’re cursing yourself for letting him choose the film, but normally he’d make a safe choice, something funny and of at all romantic.

“She reminds me of you,” he says, nodding at the screen. Your breath catches in your chest. “Can’t seem to get it through her head that this one could be different.”

You swallow. “Danny…”

“I know. But when you’re ready,” he says, softly, “I’m here. I feel it too. When you’re ready.”

You hold tightly to his hand and try to convince yourself you’re not falling in love with him. It doesn’t work. He knows it, and you know it, too.

“I’m scared,” you admit. “I don’t want… don’t wanna lose you.”

“It’s only this scary right now,” he says. You nod, knowing he’s right. “And I can wait. Been waiting ages, baby. So I’m here when you’re ready.”

[totheblood]

true blue. (three)

pairing: modern!ellie williams x reader

summary: ellie buys a scone and you drink a shirley temple

warnings: suggestive themes, drug/alcohol usage, cursing, descriptions of abusive behavior (neither ellie or reader engages in these behaviors)

a/n: i love writing as ellie writing in her journal... also the ai audios were a bitch to make this time... hope u like them THIS IS NOT PROOFREAD - I apologize.

here is the masterlist where you can read part one and two!

Ellie wanted nothing more than to pretend the last two days of her life didn’t exist.

But that wasn’t possible. This was real life and Ellie had received a booty call from her most recent heartbreak merely hours after she had her fingers tucked inside of her ex. Ellie wasn’t even completely sure why she was entertaining it, but she knew that whatever choice she made she would curse herself forever. 

The truth was that Ellie had missed Cat almost as much as she hated her. There’s a certain kind of comfort that only your first love can bring, and a certain kind of addiction Ellie had for her. But at the end of the day, it always came down to one thing: Ellie wanted to be known by someone.

And she was known by Cat, albeit for only for a few months, but still she was known. Cat saw all the worst parts of her and still held her like glass every night. She saw the things that Ellie couldn’t even imagine liking about herself and turned them into something beautiful. Ellie’s heart had been harbored in the chest of Cat’s for almost a year and that was something you couldn’t just forget.

Then there was you. Ellie had known you all for a few weeks and was already entranced by you. She liked the little things you did, like buy her tea after realizing she didn’t like coffee or how you always printed an extra sheet of notes knowing she would forget to bring hers to class. What astonished Ellie even more was that you did most of this while she was giving you the cold shoulder.

What plagued Ellie about this was that she knew for a fact that if she got to know you, she would fall in love with you. She had already written down a list of things about you in her journal and she was starting to feel like she was going insane.

Likes a lot of sugar in her coffee… too much sugar almost, made a comment about it and she told me ‘that’s why she was so sweet’.. It was corny as fuck. She’s fucking adorable.

This little freak told me how she communicates with squirrels, she waves her arm or some shit, i told her she was clinically insane… AND THEN SHE DID IT??? She moved her arm and a fucking squirrel ran up to us… what the fuck, is this girl magic?

She smiles everytime she sees me, even after I’ve been a jerk.. Dina told me I should drop it but I can’t, when I see her stupid beautiful face I remember Cat, am i the crazy one?

She looked so sad today. I wanted to ask her what was wrong but I didn’t… I’m such an asshole sometimes. I don’t know why I do this to myself. If I was her I’d run the other way but she just sticks around… who does that?

I swear she’s playing mind games with me, her shirt was so tight today that i just

 She smells like cherry and vanilla… almost want to take a bite

She didn’t text me about the project today… is she forgetting about me?

Ellie never thought she would be in this predicament. She never imagined having a sense of loyalty to you, but a part of her felt that if she went over to Cat’s she would be betraying you. 

So she didn’t.

That Saturday morning Ellie went to Bean and picked up the strawberry scone you love so much and your coffee with extra sugar and headed over to your dorm. As she approached your building her palms got increasingly more sweaty. She was quickly losing the confidence she had when she was with you yesterday, but she was determined to start fresh with you. 

She even imagined the two of you bonding over shitty exes, kissing all the places they refused to. She imagined crying in your lap instead of Dina’s and kissing the inside of your thigh when she finally felt better. She imagined taking a bath with you, you rubbing whatever sickly sweet cherry scent you were obsessed with over her body. She was imagining a lot of things, but she was getting ahead of herself. 

Ellie knocked about five times before deciding that you were asleep. Just as she turned to leave she heard a groan from the other side of the door.

“Ugh, hello?” Your voice came out raspy, evidence of last night in your voice. 

“Um, hi… it’s me.” Ellie spoke, her throat getting a little bit dry. “It’s Ellie.”

“Oh shit, Ellie.” You opened the door quickly ushering her in. She stepped in and watched as you put a hand on your forehead, the hangover written all over your face. It was evident that you had slept in your make-up, as she could see the mascara smudged across your face. You looked like a fucking mess, but Ellie thought you looked beautiful.

Suddenly, she was shy again. “Fun night, huh?” She joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah, it was fucking fantastic.” You replied sarcastically, climbing back onto your bed and patting the spot next to you, ushering Ellie to join you. “What’cha got there?” You questioned, eyes glancing at the bag and cup she had resting in her hands. 

“Oh it’s, uh, it’s that scone you like… and your sugar coffee.” She walked over to where you were, handing you the bag and cup as she sat down next to you. She smiled as she watched your features soften as you blinked up at her, a small genuine smile on your face. 

“For me?” You beamed. Ellie noticed two things right away: you had tears in your eyes, and no one had ever done something like this for you before. It was so small in terms of gestures, but Ellie’s heart swelled with pride as you thanked her.

She watched you take a bite, before you closed your eyes and gave her a fake moan. “This is so fucking good. I needed this.” 

“I’m glad.” She gently nudged your shoulder with hers. 

“Ellie… I don’t mean this to be rude, but why are you here?” You asked reluctantly. She could tell you weren’t trying to be rude so she didn’t take any real offense to it. If Ellie was being honest with herself she couldn’t exactly place why she was here either. All she knew was that she didn’t want to be at Cat’s. She also knew that she wanted to hang out with you, but the more she sat here the more she realized she should’ve asked you. 

“Oh I, I just wanted to talk about yesterday…” She came up with the lie quickly knowing it may be the only thing that made sense. “And what that means for us… not that there is an us but… you know.”

All you did was nod and take another bite of your scone. “What does it mean for us?” 

She took a deep breath as she eyed you. You truly were the eighth wonder of the world to her. It was like there was something that was always pulling her towards you. At first she thought that something was Cat, but there was no way that whatever attraction she had to you was based on Cat alone. 

You were completely different. When she spoke, it was obvious you were listening. It was like you wanted to hear what she had to say. You laughed at her lame joke and never made her feel like an idiot for making them. When she got quiet you would try to bring her out of her shell by telling her stupid puns. She was mad at you at the time, but her heart still appreciated it. You never let her look stupid in class or in public. One time you even got down on your knee and tied her shoe for her. You were heaven incarnate, and you made her feel like she was deserving of that.

“I just… I think when I met you it scared me how much I liked you. I had just gotten broken up with and I couldn’t get into another thing… you know? But there you were with your sweet fucking voice and pens and I just.. I shut down and I pulled away from you and I know yesterday felt so sudden but I had been thinking about doing that for a while now. I think I want to know you more, but in order to do that I think we should start over. Clean slate. Act like my fingers were never inside you and all that. Maybe even let me take you out on a date.” Ellie rambled out, carefully watching your face for any reaction that would give you away. 

“Oh Ellie,” You whispered, your voice soft and tender. You brought a hand up to push her hair behind her ears, ignoring how her face flushed and grew hot. “I would love that. But I refuse to forget those fingers.”

“They’re good fingers, right?” She was beaming up at you, freckled and starry eyed. “How about tomorrow for that date?” 

“Works for me.” You smiled, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. This had felt more like a first kiss to Ellie than anything she had done prior. It was gentle and sweet and left her pulse racing. It was the kind of kiss that she closed her eyes for, hoping it would last longer. It was the kind of kiss you held your breath for.

-

It had been almost three weeks since you and Ellie started going out, and she was on the verge of asking you to be her girlfriend. That title was still sore in her chest but she was fighting through it for you. 

You were someone who had ‘girlfriend’ written all over them. You were the type of person people would want to call their girlfriend. You always kissed Ellie goodbye, held her hand as much as possible, and best of all you gave really good head. Ellie was trying to be less vulgar and more romantic but the minute you started working her with your tongue, she became 16 again. 

Ellie had made it a habit to add more about you in her journal after every date you had, the scribbles getting more frantic as the time went on. She felt like a fucking child.

She ordered a Shirley Temple at dinner today… At first I was like??? What the fuck? But then she took the cherry stem and tied it with her tongue. THEN she told me that she was going to show me again later… and in my head I’m like??? But then later came and… well so did I.

We saw a stray cat on our walk today and it approached us… a cat has never fucking approached me in my life? Maybe I have shit vibes or something.. But not my girl, she’s like a fucking rainbow. She pet it and made a comment about getting pussy. I’m crushing on the girl I’m going out with.

This little weirdo made me a mug in her pottery class, carved her name into a heart and everything. Even said the heart was mine.. It was so fucking cute… her… not the mug. The mug was ugly as fuck. She did her best.

Joel came for family day today and met her. He told me she was cute but a little fucking weird, just like me. What an asshole. I counted the amount of times she made him laugh. It was 24. 24 times in 2 hours. Joel Miller has never laughed that much in his entire life. But the fact that he likes her so much makes my heart warm. I don’t even mind that he might like her more than me.

She had been begging to hang out with my friends so Dina and Jesse and us went on a double date. Her and Dina act like they know each other. They were all giggly. It was gross. Jesse even seems to like her. He gave her the last bread in the basket. JESSE! Jesse did that. It seems small but that’s like something he never does. I’m starting to believe this girl is a witch… I’m starting to believe I’m in love with her.

I’ve been writing her a song on the guitar. She saw the guitar in my room one time and called me “her little rockstar”... what a fucking nerd. She asked me to play for her but I got nervous… that has never happened before… What are you doing to me????

Ellie was smitten. Ellie was so smitten that she almost forgot about Cat. Almost. Because at this very moment Cat was charging towards her as she sat on the grass with her journal in her hands.

“Hey.” Cat sighed, sitting down next to Ellie.

“What do you want, Cat?” Ellie grunted out, moving over so she wasn’t sat so close to her. 

“You never came by.” She sounded genuinely sad, so much so that it threw Ellie off. 

“I got busy.” Ellie wanted this to be over so badly.

“With my ex? If you two are playing the long game it isn’t going to work. I don’t care.” Cat replied, anger almost evident in your voice. 

“How is my relationship about you?” This time Ellie turned towards Cat, closing the journal in your hands.

“It’s obvious what you guys are doing. This little act to make me upset, yeah, it’s not working. You’re both my exes for a reason” She spat.

“Not everything is about you. She doesn’t even know I’m your ex, you have never come up in our conversations.” Ellie was getting annoyed, but instead Cat just laughed, something sinister filling her eyes.

“Oh, you don’t know?” Cat snorted.

“Know what?” Ellie questioned, trying to keep the anger in her voice to a minimum. 

“She hated you, Ellie. Thought you were the one I left her for. Technically she was right, but she called me to curse me out about it. Showed me the birthday post I made you with literal tears in her eyes.” 

And if Ellie’s heart was broken by Cat, it was absolutely shattered by you.

ai audios:

i've reached my daily limit for audios (tumblr hates happy people) so i have attached them as links this time.. cause i did not work so hard on them for them not to be posted.

oh i just wanted to talk about yesterday

i just i think when i met you it scared me

they're good fingers, right?

[harmshake]

The End Game

Months after their hot love affair cooled off, Amanda and Roman start to realize there’s more between them than just sizzling-good sex...

Roman Reigns x Amanda (Fem!Black!OC) | 18+ ONLY, NSFW, drama, smut | ~15k words (Listen, I have a story to tell! 😭)

This is the final one shot chapter in the series, Let’s Play a Game. ❤️

Happy reading! Read all the chapters or my other Roman stories here, if you'd like. ✨

"Cause we're way too in love, just to fuck and let go... Cause we're way too involved, just to cut and not call...way too in deep..."

His big hands were stuck to her thick hips, easily holding her down, holding her close. Right where he wanted her. Amanda liked how strong his grip was on her, how his fingers dug into her soft skin, and how his hips moved with hers. One fluid motion, in and out, a slow dance that he could do for hours, even though he deliciously wore her down. 

But she wasn’t too tired to keep going. He was doing all the work, anyway, as he liked to spoil her, repositioning her thighs against his strong chest as he grinded into her, slowly, deeply, watching her moan to him with admiration in his dark brown eyes. Their eyes locked together as he searched them and she saw a satisfied smirk pull at his thick lips when he found what he was looking for…

“I’m still too much for you, baby?” he whispered, his deep voice heavy with conceit. He could see it as she squirmed beneath him, moan after moan rolling off her tongue. Amanda playfully rolled her eyes, too, and shot him a smirk back before he angled his hips up just slightly, just enough to tease himself along her g-spot, nudging it with winding strokes that made her moans fall into breathy whines. “Mmm…you ’bout to cum for me?” he asked tenderly before leaning down, burying himself deeper inside as their lips touched for a kiss.

“Yesssunhhhhh,” Amanda mumbled against his lips, her arms and legs now wrapped around his waist as she shook with his every slow, teasing, thorough thrust. “Right there, baby, unhh…I’m cumming,” she closed her eyes and whimpered on his shoulder when he moved his lips to her neck to kiss her there, too.

And as she cried out from that first glowing hot pleasure wave that washed over her, making her tremble against him, he softly growled in her ear, “Fuck, I love how this pussy grippin’ on me…who’s pussy is this, baby?”

“It’s all yours, Joe,” Amanda moaned without hesitation, her breath catching as her ecstasy snatched her up.

“What the fuck?” he spat, his luscious thrusts coming to an abrupt halt as he yanked up from her to glare at her with confused eyes.

“Oh, shit,” she blurted, both from the stupid, stupid slip-up and the very, very good orgasm that was still rolling through her body. She was tempted to grind it out by herself since he’d stopped moving, but she knew better than that. Just like she should have known better to moan her ex’s name while another man was inside her.

“Yo, what the fuck, Amanda?” Christian asked again, ripping himself out of her and pushing her thighs off his waist before he hopped off the bed altogether. The world knew him as Carmelo Hayes, but of course, she called him by his real name. Just not tonight. 

No, instead she let Joe, who the world knew as Roman Reigns, poison her mind while she was with Christian. She was ashamed to admit to herself that it wasn’t even the first time that it had happened—but it was a first for her to let her thoughts of him escape out of her mouth.

“I am so sorry, oh, my god,” was all she could say because there wasn’t much else to say. She pulled the bed sheets up around her naked body in shame, feeling exposed in more ways than one. She had fucked up and she knew he was going to hit her with a barrage of questions. And she also knew there was just one answer to all of them.

“You cheatin’ on me?” Christian asked, the betrayal on his beautiful face quickly twisting into anger as he jerked his boxers up to his waist. Amanda could see his hands trembling a little and it scared her. She’d never seen him this upset.

“No.” The single word flew out fast since it was the truth. She’d been exclusive with Christian for about three months and he was the only man she was romantic with. Yet Amanda had heard of such a thing as “emotional cheating”…and if that was a real thing…she was definitely guilty of that. 

Amanda hadn’t really spoken to Joe in over a year, not since their split last summer. And yet her heart would still do a tiny, asinine flip whenever she saw him backstage. If they ever did speak, it was tepid “pleasantries,” and only if they had to be near each other, like during in-ring segments where, as SmackDown’s ring announcer, she would introduce him to the live crowd, or if their friend groups merged at after-work parties.

But even that felt strained and forced as Amanda could feel Joe’s venom for her sting her skin if he ever bothered to look at her. The feeling was mutual as she believed it was his fault they broke up in the first place…

When she decided she needed to finally move the hell on, dating Christian was the final nail in the coffin of what remained of their relationship. For a while Amanda was grateful for the distraction because she liked Christian a lot…but apparently not enough to keep her from reminiscing about Joe…

His full, soft lips on her…his strong arms around her…his warm, hulking body pressed to hers…his deep voice in her ear…his thick dick deep enough to be in her stomach…

It made her feel sick. Didn’t matter how frustrated she was with that petty ass man…even all these months later, she was still just as horny for him. And she absolutely hated herself for it.

“I don’t believe you,” Christian said and she could tell he was trying not to raise his voice. Amanda was certain he already hated her, too, as any fond feelings they’d been nurturing instantly rotted with the mention of the wrong name. “Just be real with me. Is it Joe Joe? You seein’ him again?” he asked with his muscular arms crossed over his chest.

She felt so small with him towering over her as she sank into the bed, wishing she could find a nicer excuse to give him other than, “No. I just can’t stop thinking about him. Sex with you is great…it’s just not sex with him.”

“I swear to god I’m not! I haven’t even talked to him.”

“Bullshit.”

“I’m telling you the truth!”

“You don’t just moan another fuckin' man’s name while fuckin’ your boyfriend unless he was recently fuckin’ you, too!” Christian hissed before he sucked in a big, shaky breath. He was fighting back tears and she despised that she was the cause. It made hot tears spring to Amanda’s eyes and she didn’t bother wiping at them as they fell down her cheeks.

“I haven’t been with anyone but you, I promise! I don’t know why I said that shit…I just know I was dumb to say it and I’m so sorry,” Amanda gasped in one big breath, her voice thick with remorse—and embarrassment for not having the courage to be real like he demanded. But she would not dare, not when it was clear that his name alone had done enough damage.

“Keep that bullshit apology, Amanda, ’cause I know you’re lyin’ to me. Don't think I never peeped how that nigga looks at you. But it's cool. Just stay the fuck away from me,” he replied and swiped up his clothes and shoes from the floor before turning his back to her and storming out of her hotel bedroom. She knew it would be pointless to chase after him, so instead, she hid her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed, and she listened to him get dressed and slam the door shut on his way out.

The worst part about suddenly losing her boyfriend wasn’t even that she felt terrible for breaking his heart—but that she felt terribly relieved to finally stop living a lie.

Because the truth was the demon she’d been fighting off for a while now had a name. And Amanda was ready to give in.

Coming back to her hotel alone was an adjustment Amanda hadn’t quite made.

It had been two months since Christian dumped her, but truthfully, he wasn’t the reason she felt lonely after work. Sure, she thought about him sometimes, but no…it was always him. The same incubus haunting her thoughts and dreams. 

Because there was something about the way things crashed and burned with Joe that still didn’t sit right with her. When it weighed heavy enough on her mind on nights like tonight, it kept her awake with memories of how they used to laugh together, hold one another, and give each other orgasms that felt damn near like spiritual experiences...

And Amanda knew exactly what the problem was: Joe had the audacity to let her go like she was just some random woman.

She didn’t like to think about it too much, but being by herself in her hotel room left her with her thoughts as her only company. She realized that he’d hurt her feelings…feelings that she was afraid to admit to herself were deeper than she wanted them to be. How could her feelings not run deep for Joe when they went from those cute coworkers who’d flirt too often; to close friends who saw and text messaged each other almost every day; and finally as lovers who were inseparable between the sheets? 

And after five months together, none of that even mattered to him. 

He’d gotten her used to his radiant presence, his warmth, his smile, and now he was probably out there smiling all up in other women’s faces while she was standing in front of the bathroom mirror, studying her sad, dark brown eyes and slight frown that had been stuck on her plump lips for months. 

The blip in time that was her fun-while-it-lasted relationship with Christian did almost nothing to separate her from the year she'd spent in grief. She knew she was dead wrong to waste his time like that, but she also didn't know how else to heal. Her friends tried to make her feel better by telling her that hurt people hurt people, but she knew that was no excuse. She couldn’t take back what she did…but she also couldn’t let go of him.

And now she was ready to accept her fate: She wasn’t over Joe and…she didn’t want to be. 

She missed him. She missed everything. Like their post-work routine that they had perfected: They’d wait for the other backstage in his locker room to change out of their gear, hop on Joe’s private bus, grab dinner, and head back to his or her hotel to step into the shower together, cuddle on the couch together, and then crawl in bed together to fall asleep side by side...or not sleep.

Now she was all alone with a new routine: Strip off her dress and underwear to climb in the shower without him; moisturize her deep brown skin with mango body butter without him helping her reach her back; braid down her red auburn afro that fell to her shoulders without him telling her how cute she looked before and after she hid them beneath a cheetah-print, silk bonnet; pull on an oversized, black tee shirt that wasn't his; and order a big bowl of Massaman curry and rice from GrubHub that he wasn't here to steal bites from.

The only interaction with him she could look forward to was at work. And if it wasn’t for his cousins, Sefa, Josh, and Jon, who befriended her and often chopped it up with her before Joe would interrupt them and pull them away for Bloodline business, she was certain he wouldn’t acknowledge her existence at all. 

Which was bullshit, Amanda thought to herself as she stared blankly at the rerun of Girlfriends on the giant television screen in the hotel’s den. While she crushed on him for a long while, it was Joe who made the first move. It was he who went out of his way to make her feel comfortable with him. It was he who proposed they make their sexy little fling something more concrete.

And it was he who fucked it up for them both.

She sat her half-empty takeout bowl of curry on the coffee table and reclined on the couch, letting out a frustrated sigh. It still didn’t make sense to her how he went on a break after WrestleMania last year and never made time to see her like he promised he would. She didn’t think she was being clingy. She just wanted to see her boyfriend. And it wasn’t like she attempted to invite herself to his home. Joe explicitly told her before he left that he would see her as often as he could. 

Yet it was always something that came up or got in the way. If it wasn’t impromptu business meetings stealing the days she planned to visit, it was surprise family gatherings that she couldn’t attend because, weirdly, no flights were available on those days. And that really upset her because Joe seemed so excited for her to meet his parents…and she never got the chance.

The first three delays Amanda chalked up to Joe being a busy man. Yet when a month and a half went by and they still couldn’t figure out a way to get to one another, Amanda started to feel like it was on purpose. She hated the way that exchange had gone down: He made her feel stupid for not comprehending why he still worked on vacation, and she came off as accusatory because of it. As a result, she’d thrown her hurt in his face even when he tried to pacify her and offer a solution, like getting on video calls. 

But she wasn’t trying to hear it. To her, it was too late to make things right when all she’d heard for weeks were what sounded like his excuses. In hindsight, she saw how the distance between them fed her anxiety and made her hostile to him, which Joe noticed on that fateful phone call.

“So, what then? You rather we not talk at all than use this conversation to fix the problem?” Although Amanda could hear his subtle frustration simmering in the depths of his deep voice, he was able to keep his tone steady on the line…which angered her more as her voice rose slightly with the passion she felt for him, the passion she was convinced he abruptly lacked for her.

“It seems like that’s what’s best since it’s been over a month and there’s still a problem…” Amanda spat back. She heard him let out a sigh and then a quick, dark chuckle. They’d had a few minor miscommunications but they’d never argued before this call, yet she’d seen him butt heads with his cousins from time to time. That’s how she knew he didn’t find her words funny, but instead, it was a sign that he was growing more irritated.

“Wow, Amanda. Well, if that’s what you want, I won’t stop you. Do what’s best for you,” Joe replied calmly. That was the final blow to her.

“I will. I hope you do, too.” Once she pressed END CALL on her cell phone, she felt tears sting her eyes. It was like they were the fuel for the fire that burned inside her. She slammed her phone down on the hotel’s nightstand and let out an exasperated scream that she’d been biting back for weeks. 

She liked to believe she was a level-headed, 34-year-old woman who could rein in her irrational emotions. But something about Joe made her feel wide open. She already knew he had that kind of control over her when he could coax out the best orgasms she ever had. It was a revelation that he could also bring out the worst emotions in her.

Amanda threw away her leftover curry and brushed her teeth before she flopped onto her back in bed, her mind still spinning. She found it surreal that she hadn’t received a phone call from him since that day. Maybe it was because she owed him an apology, too, she thought, but she couldn’t bring herself to call him first.

Not when she felt embarrassed like this…embarrassed about how things ended between them…embarrassed about her lingering affection going ignored month after month…and embarrassed about her pussy still getting wet for him even when he wasn’t in the room. It happened every time she let her thoughts run rampant with regret and arousal so deep for him that she resented him all over again for not being here to play with her pussy, leaving her to do it herself. 

And tonight was once again one of those nights… 

Amanda couldn’t help but think about how Joe would walk into her hotel suite behind her, his heavy arms draped around her waist as he pinned her to his thick, warm body that hovered over her. She would feel his dick already growing hard, digging into her backside, as he leaned down to plant greedy kisses on her neck. When he was on her like that, she knew they weren’t going to make it to the bedroom... 

Instead, he would push her up against the foyer wall and bring his lips to hers. She loved how soft his lips were and how smooth his tongue was as he tasted hers before he fell to his knees to taste what was underneath her dress. The way Joe would run his tongue up and down her clit with such tenderness was the same way she ran her fingertips along it now as she spread her legs wider beneath her bedsheets and tried to mimic his technique to make her cum in his mouth. 

However, she didn’t want to cum yet…she wanted to save that for when she reminisced on how when he was finished making her scream from sucking on her pussy, he would instruct her to face the wall and put her hands on it. She’d hear the rustling sound of fabric as his joggers and boxer briefs fell to the floor, the wet sound of his spit as it lubed his long length in his hand. She was so ready for it that her heart would pound loud enough that she could hear it in her ears. 

Joe had a dick that hung between his thighs like a cucumber and she never quite got used to his size. Even though his strokes were gentle, the stretch always had her screaming even louder. “Stop all that whinin’ and take this dick…mmm, that’s it, sweetheart…feels good when I fill up this pussy, don't it?” Joe would groan in between heavy thrusts, his lips on her ear and his big hands on her petite yet wide hips to make her take him deeper, harder until she was crying his name and struggling to stand in her stilettos as his hefty body drove into her. 

“Yeah, oh my god,” she would shout to him. She did love how he filled her up to the brim. And she knew he loved how her pussy gripped him with each stroke that made her throb around him. That’s when he would start moaning back to her as her wet, clenching pussy milked his dick, his voice husky as he grunted, “You gonna make me cum, baby...fuck…”

“Cum for me, Daddy,” Amanda would purr before she felt him squeeze her almost too tight in his hands and nuzzle his nose in the crook of her neck, his warm breath labored against her skin as his fiery pleasure worked its way through him. Even though they were both still mostly clothed, his impossible heat covered her…as did his warm cum as it covered her pussy from the inside out.

He had developed a naughty habit of not pulling out after the first time she let him do it. Yet Amanda had so fallen in love with the feeling of him twitching and spilling inside her, she opted to get on birth control so he could stay close like this…and pump rope after rope of his sticky pleasure deep into her…

 It was that memory that made her arch her back off the bed as she felt her own orgasm shudder through her, her fingers buried in her fluttering pussy like how his dick would be when he came for her.

She moaned louder than she meant into the darkness of her bedroom, his name almost erupting from her throat from the deep longing in her belly. Yet even in the swells of her ecstasy, the painful reality that Joe wasn’t here to hear it made her shamefully choke it down as she collapsed back onto the bed, her heart thudding in her chest. It burned her up that she had to resort to this, something that she hadn’t done since before he got her alone in his locker room and convinced her to sit on his lap to give him that kiss that led them to this hell…

And that's why Amanda couldn’t be the first one to reach out. Didn’t matter how badly she craved him, she refused to let him in on how desperate she was for him. For fuck’s sake, she had to reserve some dignity.

Yet when she went into work the following Friday night and saw him rounding the corner of a hallway as he headed to the Gorilla Position where she stood, her heart did that tiny, annoying flip anyway. As usual. And as usual, he ignored her, even as he approached Kayla Braxton who was right next to her.

“They shootin’ this here or in the ring?” Joe gestured with his eyes to the camera crew nearby, referring to their interview scheduled in about ten minutes, and blatantly cutting in on their chat about where everyone should grab drinks tonight. Amanda had an expert poker face by now, her lips a straight line and her eyes fixed on her cell phone that she whipped out of her bra that acted as a pocket on her pocketless, backless, hot pink, mini dress.

Yet the bass in his voice still made her heart patter in her chest. As did the way his red tracksuit clung to his muscles, accentuating each one that swelled along his broad shoulders, arms, and legs when she studied him through her peripheral vision. And he smelled good, too, damnit. Like warm, bergamot musk, his signature scent. It made Amanda feel warm between her thighs and she silently cursed herself for having such a reaction when he was two feet away.

“Here. I’ll interrupt you on your way to the ring and you have to be super annoyed by it,” Kayla replied to him, oblivious as Joe to Amanda’s plight. He nodded and ran a big hand down his full yet trimmed, salt-and-pepper beard and licked his lips, and suddenly his gaze flitted to Amanda for a moment. She felt her body react against her will again as another warm thrill shimmied down her spine. It lingered even as Joe quickly returned his attention to Kayla, but from the way he tripped a little over his next sentence to her, she wondered if he felt it, too…

“Yeah, I-I can do that.” He recovered by spreading his lips into his gorgeous smile which made her want to melt.

Amanda wished she had the courage right then and there to speak up, but it felt useless. What could she possibly say to break the ice after more than a year of not talking to one another?

"I touched myself to the thought of you last night. And you look so good tonight, I wish I could touch you right now..."

Yeah, right.

Instead, she clamped her lips shut and let the moment die, watching him and Kayla converse for a minute more before she tapped her earpiece and said, "They're ready to shoot."

"Sounds good," Joe said with another nod. And another glance at Amanda. This time their eyes locked as she expected him to turn his back to her and head to his mark on the set in Gorilla. She felt that stupid thrill shake her nerves as his eyes held hers for a second before they both looked in opposite directions and he finally walked off.

She could have sworn for that second she saw that mischievous glint that she knew all too well flash in his coffee-colored eyes. It used to light up his gaze when he was in the mood to make her cum until she forgot how to tell time, the minutes effortlessly turning into hours as she fell into a place where time didn’t exist, only pleasure with him…

Amanda didn't realize she was holding her breath until her chest felt tight and she inhaled deeply through her mouth before she let out a heavy sigh.

"You okay?" Kayla asked. "Was that weird for you? It's so dumb that he won't at least say hello."

"Girl, I don't care," Amanda lied. She and Kayla had become good friends and she was the only one outside of Joe's cousins that she confided in her about the breakup. Yet she hadn't lately as she figured she'd done enough blubbering about that man. "So, um, text me after the show if you wanna Uber to the bar together," she awkwardly changed the subject back to their original conversation before she hurried to the curtains that led to the arena. She was due back ringside to announce for Joe in less than ten minutes.

It was a part of her job to do so and it never bothered her to watch him in the ring cutting his promos as he wasn't himself in those moments. He was Roman Reigns addressing the sea of people who hung on his every word. As he posed in the middle of the ring with a mic in his hand after she took a seat in the timekeeper’s area, his gaze swept the arena full of thousands of fans before briefly landing on her a few times. Each time their eyes met, her body felt warmer until she was certain she was about to sweat through her clothes. She crossed and uncrossed her bare legs, hating that he was making her fidget with only his eyes.

The audience was a noisy cacophony of half-cheers and half-boos from his mere presence, but she could barely hear them as she focused on Joe and his words that felt almost like an innuendo. 

“You think it’s over ’cause you said so? You think ’cause you run your mouth, that makes it the law? I still run this ring. I still run this show. This whole company? That's all me,” he said to the camera with his deep voice thundering through the stadium. She knew he was sticking to the script to call out Seth Rollins who became the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion last month at SummerSlam, but his tone seemed pointed at her as he said, “I get what I want when I want it, you know why? Because it’s still mine, aaaall of it. And it ain’t over until the Tribal Chief says it’s over.”

He glowered in her direction after the cameras pulled back from him to survey the crowd’s deafening reaction. Surely her mind was playing tricks on her, she thought, as this would be the most attention Joe had shown her in months…and she didn’t understand why. He’d been a pillar of nonchalance towards her until now. Maybe he did feel that same heated pull that she did…

And as she walked into the upscale lounge with Kayla and Zelina Vega at her side, there it was again. 

That smoldering pull…the bar was crowded with their coworkers who beat them here, but she could already feel Joe’s eyes on her from the left side of the room. From the corner of her eye, she saw him with a whiskey glass hiding in his large hand as he posted up with his cousins on the white leather sectional sofa. The lights were low and hazy with a purple tint and hookah smoke but when Amanda caught a glimpse of his eyes, his lusty glint was darker, headier. She looked away, feeling hot in her clothes again as his gaze seemed to follow her on her way to the bar through the throng of Los Angeles locals. 

She had to take a deep breath to cool down and collect her thoughts. That’s when she finally heard Kayla’s voice slightly shouting at her over the Solange song blaring through the overhead speakers. “Are we having wine tonight or are we drinking?” her friend repeated for the third time.

Amanda blinked and forced herself to concentrate enough to reply to their inside joke. If they wanted to keep it cute and avoid hangovers the next day, they’d order a glass or two of rosé. But if they wanted to party and get loose for the night, they’d order two Barbie shots each before sipping on whatever else they’d acquire a taste for.

“Oh, we’re drinking,” Amanda declared, feeling like she could use the help to unwind her nerves from Joe sitting less than fifteen feet away. He didn't often attend these after-hours get-togethers since their split, and his presence, his pull, was all she could focus on. 

She heard her and Zelina let out a woot before Kayla flagged down a bartender, and Amanda wished she could share in their excitement. Yet even after her first shot, her nerves had her a bit fidgety, making her feel like his eyes were still studying her.

And when Josh appeared next to her and clapped his hand on her shoulder, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Damn, did I scare you?” he said with a friendly grin on his face, holding back a giggle. He threw a wave at Kayla and Zelina before he said to her, “Just wanted to say hey ’cause I ain’t spoke to you all night.”

“You’re good…and hey to you, too,” Amanda replied and took another sip of her strawberry cocktail. 

“Thank you ’cause you sho’ll ain’t speak when you came in earlier. Just ignored me and my brothers. And I know you saw us.” Josh’s tone was playful and it made her crack a tiny smile. 

“I’m sorry. But you know why I didn’t approach y’all.”

“Yeah, I figured that…but maaaan, it’s time to cut alladat out,” he said and slashed his hand around in the air. He took a peek at her friends before he leaned in closer to her and said in a lower voice, “I think y’all need to just kiss and make-up already. I know he misses you.”

“Did he say that?” Amanda blurted. She was thankful Kayla was too busy talking to Zelina on the other side of them to notice. It felt like a hundred butterflies were set free in her tummy at the potential news.

Josh’s eyes appeared a little cagey before he said, “All I’mma say is…I think y’all need to talk.”

“Wait a minute. Did he send you over here?” she asked warily. 

“No,” he said quickly. “I told you, I just wanted to say hey.”

“Josh…”

“I’m just sayin’, Amanda…y’all should work it out,” he said and held his hands up in defense. “I miss when we all used to get along,” he added and patted her on the shoulder again with a big smile before he walked back to his table. 

“Me, too,” she said under her breath. She dared to peer over her shoulder and saw him plop down next to Joe who first glared at his cousin and then at her. She snapped her head back around and took a big, anxious sip of her cocktail. When several minutes passed and her nerves hadn’t settled, she went for another sip but realized she’d downed the last of it.

“She’ll have another one of those and I’ll have another Scotch neat. You can put it on my tab.” 

His deep voice was smooth like silk and caressed her like the fabric slipping across her skin. Her body heat rapidly rose from the luscious sound of it, from his body heat radiating closely next to hers as he slid onto the barstool beside her. Amanda found the courage to meet his gaze and felt that warm thrill take over her body as his deep brown eyes bore into hers. He was unbearably beautiful with his raven hair slicked back into a tight bun that showed off his chiseled face, even though his handsome features were pulled into a stern look, a slight scowl on his full, sexy lips. 

“So. What did he say to you?” Joe asked in a low, brusque tone after the bartender placed their drinks on black napkins in front of them. He grabbed his glass and took a slow sip, his eyes still on her as he waited for her response. Amanda was nearly speechless. A year of awkwardly avoiding one another without so much as a “hello” and this was the first thing he said to her? She couldn’t believe her ears.

“Why don’t you ask him?” she curtly asked back, neglecting the cocktail he’d ordered for her. She didn’t need it anymore, not when her nerves gave way to her blood starting to sizzle in anticipation of hearing what the hell he had to say to her.

“I did and now I’m askin’ you,” Joe said coolly. 

“Why do you care?” Amanda genuinely wanted to know why talking to Josh, something she did pretty often, suddenly made him approach her now after all this time—and if the real reason he was talking to her had anything to do with the way his eyes fell on her ample breasts in her draped-front dress that bared her cleavage…

She felt that heat ripple along her skin where his eyes lingered for only a brief moment before he quickly brought his gaze back to hers. She wasn’t sure what pissed her off more: The fact that Joe could make her feel hot so easily or that he continued their conversation like he didn’t just stare at her titties.

But he remained nonchalant as he let a small smirk tug at his lips before he snickered softly and said, “I’m just askin’ a simple question. It requires a simple answer.”

The sound of his humorless laugh reminded her of their very last phone call. She wondered how he had the nerve to be irritated with her right now, especially when he was being a bit of a condescending jerk and not answering her question. 

“You’re right. It is simple. Why can’t you tell me why you all of sudden care to ask me anything when you haven’t talked to me in months?” Amanda tried once more, sitting up straight in her seat and crossing her arms over her chest when she caught his eyes flit there again.

“Alright. Fair enough.” Joe held a hand up to signify that she had a point. “To answer your question…I just didn’t want Josh all in your ear startin’ up shit. I can speak for myself.”

“You’re the one who’s over here startin' shit,” she retorted. He scrunched his nose at her words like they weren’t true, like him prying her for information on her and Josh’s conversation was any of his business—especially when there was a lot more they should talk about. She watched him take another sip of his Scotch yet he didn’t reply. “Sooo, is that all you have to say for yourself?”

“Yeah, it was.”

“Wow, what the fuck, Joe?” Amanda struggled not to raise her voice as her aggravation flooded through her. She took a peek at Kayla and Zelina to make sure they hadn’t heard that and saw them still giggling together, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing behind them between her and Joe. Before she said another word, she took a breath and decided to finally take a sip of her cocktail to steady herself.

"That’s some bullshit and you know it."

“How?” He looked at her incredulously with a grimace on his lips. He wanted to appear stoic but Amanda could tell she had struck a nerve. “What do you want me to say, huh? Sorry? That’s what you wanna hear?” He snickered again and the sound crawled under her skin as he knew that’s what she wanted to hear. From the corner of her eye, she saw him polish off the last sip in his glass, his eyes on her. She knew Joe didn’t drink often yet on the rare occasion that he did, he knew how to handle his liquor. Yet she knew he had to be drunk if he thought he could try her patience like this.

“It’s the least you could do.”

"You want me to be sorry for you dumpin’ me?" Joe said. If she listened hard enough, she could have sworn he sounded almost hurt by it, and that surprised her.

"You kinda gave me no choice when you refused to make time to see me," she said anyway. She thought if he was truly as hurt about it as she was, why did he never make an effort to get back together? 

"Here you go. Same talking points," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "I already apologized for that. And I tried to make it work but that wasn't enough for you. So I'm not sorry you decided to do you...which you absolutely did. How are things with you and Chris?" The shit-eating grin that suddenly spread on his lips made her want to smack the shit out of him.

"Fuck you," she said, avoiding his eyes as she tossed back the last sip of her drink.

"You wish."

"Excuse me?" She whipped her head back to look at him with that shit-eating grin still on his face. Did he know about her unrequited lust? Was he mocking her for it?

But then that smile slowly faded as he added, "Forget about it. Sorry I even came over here. There's your apology." Joe slurred his words a little and slid out of the barstool as he started to walk away. She'd never seen him actually drunk but that wasn't an excuse for his bullshit. And she wouldn't let him get off the hook that easily.

"That's how you wanna end this conversation? Really?" Amanda spat over her shoulder at him.

He stopped in his tracks and sighed before he faced her again. "You wanna keep fighting? Here?"

"No one is listening to us," Amanda said and shot a look at Kayla and Zelina to check and caught them snapping their heads back around to fake a conversation with each other. She was too tipsy to care at this point. "I just want to know the real reason you're talking to me. Be fuckin' honest," she added. 

"I'm always honest. But I'm not doin' this with you. Not here." He put extra bass in his voice to sound authoritative but it didn't phase her. Joe had started this and she was going to finish it.

"Then let's go over there," she said and went to stand. She felt even tipsier on her gold, open-toed stilettos and she was grateful for the straps tied around her shins to keep her in them. Amanda yanked at Joe's sleeve to make him stumble behind her until they stood in the back of the hallway near the restrooms. It wasn't much quieter, but at least there weren't people swarming in and out of the single stalls so they could have a little more privacy.

She felt her nerves again, making her heart pound as it felt unreal that they were having this moment. It was definitely the alcohol, she knew it, but as she stood before him, even as he towered over her, she felt the fuel she needed to confront him once again.

"I know this isn't the ideal setting for this but you can't...you can't just come up to me like that and act like shit is normal. Because ain't shit normal about this." She paused to find the words...and her bearings as she grabbed hold of the end table thankfully nearby. Joe reached a hand out to help steady her but retracted it once she was upright again. The fact that he thought to touch her made her head spin more than it already was.

"Yeah. It's normal for us not to talk, I get it. But I already told you. I just didn't want Josh in our business." 

"He's my frieeeenduh, Joe. And your cousin. He's in it. And he told me we should figure this out," she blurted and slapped a hand to her mouth.

"I fuckin' knew it," he looked down and muttered under his breath to himself before he caught her eyes again. "We really shouldn't do this here..." he said again but softly.

"But you do wanna talk about it? About us?" she said just as softly, trying not to let dumb hope slip into her tone.

"I'm not sure." She could hear the battle in his deep tone and it upset her. She had never been unsure about anything concerning him until he gave her a reason. And yet after a year apart, each day taught her just how damn sure she was about her feelings for him. They were scorched upon her heart, his name branded there. And he seemed to still be lukewarm on her.

"Then why did you even approach me tonight?!" she asked, frustrated and a bit heartbroken.

The way Joe's eyes landed on hers again as he parted his lips to speak before briefly falling over her body like he couldn't help it made that even dumb, hot thrill rock through her. It made her shift uncomfortably in her heels, losing her grip on the table, and she started going down. His arms were around her waist before she hit the ground, pulling her up to his chest. For a split second, Amanda almost found herself melting into his warmth, his muscles surrounding her, his scent filling her nose...but she jerked herself away, her heart racing and her pussy purring with heat. Her back hit the wall behind her which was closer than she thought, but she was grateful because it kept her on her feet as his gaze on her threatened to make her knees weak again.

"Don't touch me." The words were weak and an obvious lie but she felt she had to protect herself from further heartbreak.

"You sure about that?" That glint, that conniving little glint shone in Joe's beautiful eyes, almost teasing like he knew something she didn't. Her immediate thought was that Josh or Jon's well-meaning but chatty asses had told him what they shouldn't have because Sefa would never. Yet her immediate physical reaction was biting her bottom lip. He noticed and smirked and she quickly stopped.

"Shut up," Amanda replied, uncertain what else to say, afraid to confirm her lust, even as he slowly licked his lips and took one step with his long legs to close the space between them.

"So now you want me to shut up after fussin' at me to talk to you?" Joe chuckled darkly. He was close enough that his body heat washed over her..."Hmph. I think you want me to do a whole lot more with you than just talk. Don't you?"

"Why would you say that?!"

"I can see you tremblin' and it ain't cold in here." He suddenly slipped his hand around her waist, his fingertips grazing the patch of bare skin on her back. It made her quiver. "Want me to stop touchin' you…?" he asked, his fingertips swirling circles along her lower back.

"...W-what about you, huh? Since you think you know every fuckin' thing about me," Amanda managed to retort but found her hands pushed to his strong chest as she looked up at him. She wanted to shove him away for being such a jerk but her body wouldn't let her do it...not when his fingers dug into her skin, inching onto the globes of her round ass as he looked down at her with that heated gaze.

"I want you to take your ass into that restroom and pull your panties off."

Amanda thought she misheard since the words were so unexpected. But then he glanced down the hallway to check if any eyes were on them before he went to open the restroom door to her right and said, "Get inside. Now."

She did as she was told but she felt like she was in a daze, an excited, flustered, annoyed, delightful daze. She watched him close and lock the door behind them. "You ’bout to try and give me some dick to make things right? That's not how that works," Amanda said wearily, her body still trembling at the thought as she wrapped her arms around herself to hold it together.

He chuckled again with a hiccup as he replied, "Yeah, I know. I'm just givin' you what you want in the meantime. Now take them panties off before I make you."

"Make me, then," was all Amanda could utter before he was on her, his big hands on the sides of her face as he pressed his lips to hers for his hurried, hungry kisses that tasted like spicy Scotch and desperate desire. The heat between them imploded in a frantic collision of their mouths as she closed her eyes and flung her arms around his neck as he kissed her roughly, their teeth slightly knocking together, his bulky, warm body crashing into hers and pinning her to the door, his heavy hands then greedily running over every thick curve along her body that lit up from his touch.

Nearly fourteen lonely months made her feel like his body on hers in this public restroom was all a dream. But when Joe wedged his strong thigh between her own and pushed them apart to make space for his wandering fingers, he felt very real and she let out a very real, surprised gasp at his strength. He wasted no time as he slipped his hand beneath her skirt, his fingertips skimming along her clit in her lace thong for a second before he hooked his thumbs around the fabric and snatched them down her thighs. They barely hit the floor before he let his thick, middle fingers delve between her slick pussy lips that swiftly grew dripping wet for him as he remembered how to stroke her clit the way he knew would make her moan to him. 

“Shhhh,” Joe growled at her, his lips still mashed to hers, but she squealed again as he rubbed his thumb over her clit and slid those fingers inside her pussy. She tried to suck in another moan but it was futile when he set her on fire with how he alternated between slow and fast taps on her g-spot. She felt like she was being swallowed whole by him and his heat: His warm tongue swirling on hers, his hot body surrounding hers, his prolonged, probing caresses on her sweet spot with the base of his soft, warm fingers.

He hushed her but she could feel his warm breath on her face, hitching with what she knew was focus as he sought her orgasm which he knew would be loud. And when Amanda started to helplessly moan to him as her pussy fluttered around his fingers, he let out a pleased sigh before he teasingly said, “Be quiet…” but gently pushed in his index finger and watched her sob a long, shaky moan. He covered her mouth with sloppy, sweet kisses to absorb her orgasmic sounds that surely would alert the entire bar of what was going on in the restroom. 

But Joe felt too damn good on her to care.

"You're gonna cum on my dick like that," Joe grunted softly in her ear before pulling his fingers from her wet warmth. He then pulled down his pants and boxers to wobbly step out of them before he grabbed her thighs to balance. Her stickiness touched her from his grip as he hooked them one by one around his waist to crush her between him and the door. He knocked some of the wind out of her, the giant, tipsy brute, but Amanda didn't mind when she felt his dickhead nudging into her slick opening. She wanted to be alarmed that neither of them thought to put on a condom, seamlessly falling back into their old, naughty habit...but it allowed her feel every inch of his naked, smooth, thick dick so she didn’t complain...

"Mmmm, Joe..." the words spilled from her lips with a low sob, her hands back on his chest to cling to his jacket. He just had his fingers in her but it did nothing to prepare her for the stretch as Joe gently thrust inside, making her sharply gasp and groan in one breath. She knew he had a big dick, the biggest she ever had…but only fantasizing about the memory of how it felt versus refreshing her memory as he stuffed it inside of her had her whining like it was her first time.

"Goddamn, this pussy tight...open up for me, baby," he groaned back as she wrapped her arms around his neck, their groans mingling together on their tongues as they kissed and he slowed down even more, pushing with a few more tender strokes to make her make room for him.

She almost blurted it was because she'd been essentially saving herself for this moment, but he was one step ahead of her when he mumbled, "I can tell Chris wasn't doin' his fuckin' job because—mmmm, shit—the way you squeezin' around me already...you been needin' me," as he nestled his dick deep inside her. 

"Whyyy the fuck are you bringin' him up right now?" she slurred angrily but he made her moan again as he held her up with handfuls of her round ass as he slowly pumped in and out, making her feel full on him, drunk on him, as he caressed her g-spot each time he buried himself in her, her moans echoing throughout the small restroom. 

His mouth moved on hers as he still talked his shit, "Because your pussy is talkin' to me...tellin' me you missed this...tellin' me you're about to cum on this dick."

"Ohhh, sh-fuck," Amanda cried, her rebuttal tongue-tied by her second orgasm threatening to make her scream. She hated that his big, drunk ass was right as he squeezed her ass in his hands and grinded on her spot, making the door rattle each time he shoved her up against it as his thrusts grew deeper, harder. 

"Cum, Amanda...cum," Joe moaned softly against her neck. Hearing her name in his mouth as he pleaded for her pleasure made her pussy throb around his dick, her orgasm creeping up on her with every thrust.

The door shook once more as he fucked her into it but then the doorknob shook, the sound making Amanda's eyes pop open and shattering her orgasmic build. Another sound then intruded, a few banging knocks, before a familiar, male voice quietly but angrily said, "You guys should know better than to have sex in a goddamn restroom. I could hear you when I was in the stall next door."

"Get the fuck away from here, Mike," Joe snarled after removing his lips from her throat, but his hips didn't stop grinding up into her. She heard Mike mumble something rude as his voice trailed off, but her nerves were shaken from being busted.

"He's right. We should stop..." she whispered, her mouth falling open as she fought back a moan when Joe shook his head and made her take his next thrust.

"Fuck him. We'll stop when you cum for me again," he said but then slipped out of her, leaving her feeling empty and dizzy with need as he dropped her back down on her unsteady feet. "Come here..."

Joe took her forearm and pulled her over to the sink, his whiskey brain probably thinking if they fucked here they'd reduce the noise, she thought. "Turn around and put your hands on the counter," he demanded but grabbed her by the waist to do it for her when she took too long. She saw her doe-eyed expression as she watched his reflection behind her, hiking up her dress to her waist, unzipping his jacket, and pulling the black tee shirt beneath it over his head with the sleeves still on so she could see his tatted chest and yummy abs. He slapped his hands to her ass before he picked up his heavy dick to push back inside her. They both groaned but Amanda's was louder, and he reached a long arm in front of her to smush his hand over her mouth. "Hush. I don't want any more interruptions. I want you to cum on this dick. Right now," he demanded gruffly.

Her orgasmic build soared up quickly as Joe knew her spot, knew how to massage it with his thrusts as he gripped her ass as it bounced off his groin each time he went deep. Her first orgasm was strong, lapping at her with heat, but this was fresh fire, making Amanda sob over and over into his palm that slightly cut off her airflow and made her feel deliciously dizzy again, her eyelids fluttering closed as she hung her head down and felt her body tremble anew with luscious flames swelling and contracting around his thick dick. 

Joe felt those contractions, too, and let out a soft moan as she came to pieces, her juices spurting onto his groin and running down their thighs. "I just know Melo wasn't makin' you cum like this…this pussy only responds to me. Just like this…" he said as he dragged his length along her sweet spot and made her clench him, forcing her to cry out more muffled, panting moans as another stream of her nectar coated him and his dick, making his thrusts into her gushy, tender pussy sound squishy. She hadn’t cum this hard, let alone squirted, in ages…

Yet even in the midst of her high, he still found time to be an arrogant idiot and ruin it, she thought, and she found the time to let it infuriate her as she bit down a little on his palm to make him snatch his hand away from her mouth so she could take a deep breath and chastise him. 

"Ouch! What the hell?" Joe nearly screeched.

"Can you just shut up and fuck me?" Amanda moaned before he retaliated with the hand she bit smacking her ass hard and making her inhale sharply. Their gazes met in the mirror and she saw the same fury she felt flash across his face as he knitted his thick eyebrows together. She also saw within his dark eyes for the first time in a while the same raw passion burning like a torch in the night for her...

"That's what you want, huh? How fast? How hard?" he asked as he snatched her hips to him and picked up the pace of his hips bumping against her until he was pummeling into her. Her moans couldn't keep up with his strokes, especially when he made her throw it back on his dick to hit harder until she felt it in her stomach. She went from holding onto the counter to her upper body being splayed out on it as he pounded her out, shoving her cheek up against the mirror. He felt scarily good in her like this and he knew it, watching her in the mirror just as she squeezed her eyes shut to whimper his name. He grabbed hold of her afro that fell to her shoulders to make her look at him behind her. "What? Speak up. Mmm...now you wanna act like you don't know how to take this dick," Joe said in between rumbling groans. 

"I…I can take it...can you?" Amanda rasped, lying, and it made him breathe a snicker at her question. Yet she could feel him starting to throb inside her as his pounding thrusts lengthened—and she remembered that was his giveaway that he wouldn't last much longer. "You gonna cum for me, Daddy?" she tried him, half-shook that his old nickname tumbled out of her so naturally, half-shook that it seemed to naturally accelerate his pleasure as he tore out of her with a sexy, deep groan.

She felt his warm cum land too high on her backside and she craned her neck to see him with his head thrown back as he stroked himself, another long rope of his cum flying haphazardly onto her shoulder blades and dripping down her back to her dress. "Joe, you're getting it on my clothes!" she yelped in a rage. 

"Oh shit, I'm sorry. Here, let me get it." He stumbled back to snatch a few paper towels from the dispenser on the wall before he wadded them up in his big hands and blotted them where he made a mess. As he did it, she could feel his cum seeping through to her skin, and she jolted upright from the counter.

"No, no, you're making it worse," she hissed before she turned around to examine her dress scrunched up around her waist in the mirror. It looked like someone threw paint on it and she gasped. How the hell was she supposed to blend back in at the bar like this? "Oh my fucking god, it's everywhere," Amanda groaned. 

"My bad. You wanna wear my jacket?" he offered, already shimmying out of it. His orgasm seemed to cool him down but she felt her blood boil as it was already embarrassing to be caught fooling around, and to be covered in his cum for everyone to see or smell because he was too sloshed to aim right made her feel downright stupid.

"No! I’m just gonna go," she said, yanking down her dress and storming over to the door. 

"Amanda, take the damn jacket," Joe said behind her but she ignored him, already bracing herself to just yank open the door and make a beeline to the exit. She walked as fast as her shaky legs in her stupid heels would take her, flying past Kayla at the bar who called out to her and followed her through the crowd before she burst through the doors of the venue and stood outside.

She was breathing heavily from the damn sprint she broke into hoping to get away from everyone's prying eyes, but then tears started streaming down her face. "You forgot your purse," Kayla said behind her, dangling Amanda's gold clutch strap from her fingers, before she added, "Oh, no, babe. What did he do?"

Her friend tried to pull her into a hug but Amanda stopped her and wiped at her tears with the back of her hand. "What he always does. Make me look fuckin' stupid.”

Showing her face at work the next afternoon was excruciating, but it wasn’t like Amanda could call out for the day. Everyone had to have heard by now about what happened at the bar last night, and hiding from it would only make her look even stupider. 

She was grateful that at least Joe didn’t work house shows. His schedule had slowed down since he lost his championship, and she didn’t think he’d make the five-hour bus trip to San Jose just to support the locker room. Not when they were all likely gossiping about them. 

She’d ducked away into the hair and makeup studio that was one of the several little rooms the arena offered as a part of the makeshift backstage area. As she sat on the padded stool, she scrolled through her Instagram feed as she waited for Kayla to write her back. She was thankful for how her friend took care of her drunk ass last night, helping her into an Uber, letting her cry on her, and riding with her to make sure she made it inside her suite. Yet when her phone pinged, it was another message from Josh.

Amanda had ignored the first three, as well as the ones from Sefa and Jon. She read them, though. They were just concerned for her after seeing how she nearly ran out of the bar. She knew they had to know the whole story from their cousin by now, or at least Josh did as his message read: You ain’t gotta talk to me, but please talk to Big Uce. Y’all gotta clear this shit up asap.

And you gotta mind your own business, Amanda thought before her, well, everyone’s stylist, Cassandra, snatched her thoughts with a wide tooth comb through her afro as she put the finishing touches on her hair for the show tonight. She’d already done her makeup with pastel hues of blues shading her eyelids and cherry red on her thick lips. The way she blew out her afro made her feel like Donna Summer when she looked up from her phone to check herself out in the Hollywood vanity mirror.

“You like it?” Cassandra asked in her cute, Puerto Rican accent, meeting her reflection’s gaze. When Amanda smiled weakly, she frowned. “You don’t like it.”

“It’s beautiful, actually. I’m just…I don’t know.” Amanda sucked in a sigh and stared down at her phone, hoping to hear from her friend. She needed her advice on how to proceed: She wanted to talk to Joe, but once again she felt like a dummy to reach out first. He had embarrassed her and, while she knew she could probably blame a lot of it on the alcohol, it made her feel like all he wanted from her was what he got between her legs…

Kayla had reminded her that she, too, wanted him in the same way, but Amanda reminded her that while that was true, she wanted him in every way in the worst way. She was ready to have that talk with him, about where they went wrong and how to fix it because her feelings for him weren’t only tied to his body, but his heart. 

Yet it didn’t feel like he reciprocated that energy with the way he brushed off having a real conversation to rail her against the restroom sink instead.

“I think I know,” Cassandra piped up and Amanda sighed again.

“Oh, I bet you do,” she groaned, ready to hear her come down on her about the incident in the bar.

“I don’t judge you, mami. I think you two will work it out at your own pace.” Cassandra was barely a decade older than her and yet something about the way she spoke to her felt motherly, especially as she ran her fingers through her hair to comfort her. It did cheer her up a little.

“Thank you, girl,” Amanda mumbled. Her phone went off again on her lap and she prayed it was finally Kayla. The number that scrolled across her screen was unsaved but her heart pounded as she knew exactly who it was. 

Can I call you?

Yeah.

She sent the reply quickly and he called immediately. She excused herself from Cassandra and eased up from the stool to step outside of the room. It was still a few hours before showtime so the backstage area wasn’t crowded yet, give or take a few wrestlers and crew hands, and she could hear Joe’s deep, irritatingly melodic voice fill her ear. It threatened to disarm her when she wanted to be mad with him.

“This a good time to talk?” he said.

“As good a time as any, I guess.”

“Yeah, right. You know we had no business talkin’ last night after that many drinks.”

“We didn’t really talk about much from what I recall,” Amanda murmured with slight bitterness seeping into her voice, neglecting the slight thrill that tried to crawl down her spine at the same time at the thought of him making her pussy talk to him...

“Again…we had too much to drink. I’m sorry about your dress.”

“Thanks. Is that it?”

“No. But do you even wanna hear it? You sound like you don’t wanna talk to me.” He sounded frustrated but also hurt like he did when he mentioned their breakup last night. It pierced her heart with self-awareness that made her feel guilty.

“...I do wanna talk to you. I’m just hurt,” she confessed.

“Me, too.”

“Why?” 

“I think you already know. My cousins don’t know how to keep their mouths shut.”

“Joe. Just tell me.” She wanted to hear him say it.

“I’m sick of the games. We been playin’ them for over a year. I’m over it.” She heard Joe let out a sigh before he continued. “I know what happened last night was a mess...but it happened because I missed you. I still miss you.” 

Amanda felt that pang in her heart again but this time from disbelief. She’d been wanting to hear those words from him for so long, but before she could respond, she let her doubt speak for her. “Did you miss me or my pussy?”

“Are you bein’ serious?” Joe’s calm tone rose a bit like he was offended. “I just told you I’m done with the bullshit games, Amanda. Are you?”

She knew he was right. She was letting all the resentment and hurt she held onto for the last year sting at her. It may have made for some good, angry, drunk sex last night, but she didn’t want it to sabotage the conversation she had been yearning to have with him. She bit her tongue while she tried to muster up the words to do what she used to swear he should do before her.

“I’m sorry,” she grumbled softly. “I keep lettin' my feelings fuck with me. It’s just…it took us this long to talk. And before we could even do it, we were doin’ each other. It felt like that’s all it was gonna be and that hurt…because I feel like there’s more here.”

It came out rushing like word vomit. She indeed felt sick to be this vulnerable with him all of a sudden, but she couldn’t deny it felt good to get it out of her system. She worried maybe she bared too much as Joe went silent on the line. She leaned against the wall with her hand over her face, embarrassed all over again. 

“I’m sorry, too,” he finally said. “We were both petty but I know I dragged it. Especially when you got with Melo. That shit ate me up. You know...when you dumped me, it made me feel like you ain’t see it for us the way I did. I know why you did it, though. I made you feel neglected…and I’m sorry, Amanda. And I hope you know why I wanted to talk to you today. ’Cause you’re right…there is more between us. And I want to explore it all.”

Now it was Amanda’s turn to be silent as she fought back the tears welling in her eyes. If he was saying what she thought he was saying…

“Sweetheart,” he said gently in her ear and made a few tears roll along her cheeks to hear his old pet name for her.

“You know I want that, too,” she replied slowly. “So…where do we go from here?”

“I know we can’t exactly pick up where we left off…but I’d love to take you out. On a date. No alcohol or funny business. Just us. A fresh start, in a way.” It made her almost giggle to hear him sound bashful. “How’s that sound?”

“Just tell me when and where…”

Joe told her he’d arrange for a ride to pick her up tomorrow afternoon and bring her to Emerald Bay where he was renting a vacation beach home for the next few days. He apologized for it being an hour ride for her but promised he’d make the first hour she arrived “special” to make it up to her. 

She was hesitant to gush over him so soon, but everything in her wanted to tell him, “Anything with you is special to me.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget to bring a swimsuit,” he told her before they hung up, making her smile big to herself. Amanda blotted at her cheeks and hoped she didn’t ruin her makeup, but decided to switch around and go back to Cassandra, anyway, for a small touch-up. As she did, she spotted Christian across the hallway as he stood at the catering table with Bobby as they filled their plates with fruit and cheese. 

She felt herself jolt a bit at the sight of him as she’d forgotten he worked the show tonight. She barely saw him since they split as he worked Tuesday nights and she worked Friday nights. Yet when they did house show tours, they would cross paths like this. And mercifully he kept it moving. Until now. He caught her eyes on him and a smirk danced on his lips before he hung his head and shook it.

He threw two fingers up in a little wave at her before he approached her. Amanda had a feeling she knew what he wanted to talk about, and she felt the urge to run into Cassandra’s studio before he could utter a word, but she stood her ground. If he had something to say, so did she…

“What’s up witchu?” he said nonchalantly, smacking on a piece of cheddar he just popped into his mouth.

“Nothing much. You?” she replied quickly.

“You sure? Look like you been cryin’.” She didn’t know how to read his tone. It wasn’t quite mocking, but didn’t feel quite sincere, either.

“I was. But they were happy tears.”

His eyes widened a bit as he feigned surprise and ate another piece of cheese. “Well, I’m glad to hear that…considerin’ what I heard happened last night.”

“Really, Chris?”

“I just wanted to see if you were okay,” he said, raising his hand. The look in his eyes seemed shockingly genuine out of nowhere.

“I am…thanks. Are you okay? How’ve you been?” Amanda asked timidly. She was stubborn about giving Joe an apology, but she knew she owed Christian one…

“Uh, yeah. I’ve been good, actually.” Her change in attitude seemed to catch him off guard. 

“Good. I’m glad to hear that…and, um, thanks for checkin’ on me.” She met his gaze and her heart thudded to say, “I'm sorry. You know. I don’t mean to bring it up out of the blue like this…I just know you didn’t deserve that, and I’m sorry.”

Amanda prepared herself for whatever clapback he’d sling at her because she knew she had it coming. But she’d take it because she’d been denying for too long the role she played in her own grief—and how it affected other people. She was ready to stop letting her emotions run her in the wrong direction and make things right.

“Wow…I definitely didn’t come over to talk about that,” Christian said and she nodded her head. “...But I appreciate that. For real.”

He paused before he moved in a little closer and gave her an awkward, one-armed hug while holding his plate of food. It made her smile all the same as she hugged him back. 

“Take care of yourself, alright?” he said before he let her go.

“You, too,” she replied as he shot her his pearly whites before heading back over to Bobby. She knew they weren’t going to become friends, and that was okay. Amanda was just satisfied to properly close one chapter of her life so a new chapter could begin…

The dry heat in California was fierce today, the sun hanging in the cloudless sky as Amanda walked out from her hotel lobby. She was from Atlanta so she was no stranger to heat but this was next-level hot. Even her yellow, halter top sundress couldn’t keep her from sweating already. She was outside because got a notification that her Uber was here, and she pulled her cheetah-print luggage behind her as she scanned the curb for her ride.

When she spotted the sleek, black Range Rover, she hurried over and prayed the driver had the A/C cranked to the max. She heard a door on the other side of the truck open and she waited for the driver to come around and open the trunk so she could throw her bags in. Yet when it was Joe who appeared around the corner, her heart leaped in her chest like it always did. 

He looked beyond handsome with his dark hair pulled into a messy ponytail with his black Shady Rays atop his head so she could see his pretty, deep brown eyes on her. His intricate tribal tattoo that covered his right arm was exposed in his white tee shirt that hung onto his every muscle...as did his dark gray joggers. She had to pry her eyes away from his thick print clear as day in them as she met his gaze and made him smile.

“Hey, beautiful. Figured I’d keep you company,” Joe said and put his arms around her for a tight, long hug that made her want to swoon as she inhaled his scent. They took their time pulling apart, the hug feeling like the official kick-off to their reunion, one they didn't want to end so soon. Yet when they finally did, he looked down at her like he wanted to kiss her but refrained. 

“Is a kiss a part of the ‘funny business’?” Amanda asked quietly.

“Hmm, yeah. I think so. If we’re goin’ for a fresh start, we were friends first, remember? And friends don’t kiss,” he taunted and made her return his cute smile. He popped open the trunk and loaded it with her few but big pieces of luggage as she checked out of the hotel, per his request, to spend the next few days with him until her next house show on Wednesday.

“Oh, damn. I didn’t think we were startin' waaaay over like that,” she replied. He chuckled as he opened the door for her and let her slide into the cool backseat before him. The driver had a friendly voice as he greeted them, offering them bottled water as he pulled the truck away from the curb—and Joe pulled Amanda close to him with his arm over her shoulder. Her body flashed with tingles as she felt his fingers caress her beneath her chin as he steered her face up to meet his lips for a brief yet tender kiss. 

“That’s all you’ll get from me because from here on out, we’re havin’ the most innocent and adorable date you’ve ever been on in your life,” Joe said with his sexy smirk. 

“Such a gentleman,” Amanda laughed. “We’ll see how long that lasts...”

Yet the challenge landed solely on Amanda to behave as Joe evidently meant what he said. He planned their date in three parts: A light picnic on the peaceful shores of Emerald Bay, a private beach; a trip to the Pageant of Masters to experience living works of art as they recreated famous paintings; and dinner at the Selanne Steak Tavern where Amanda marveled at how upscale yet cozy their section of the dining room felt—which she learned was because he reserved the room for just the two of them.

It was indeed the most adorable, and well-thought-out, date she’d ever been taken on. Yet as she lounged on the beach in her black bikini after a dip, she found herself shooing away non-innocent thoughts as she admired Joe’s silky, wavy hair that was wet and clinging to his burly, muscular, half-naked body, his navy blue swim trunks barely hanging on around his hips, and revealing his dick print to her again when he came out of the glistening, clear waters to rejoin her on the oversized beach blanket where she was plucking white grapes from the charcuterie board to munch on. 

It didn't help that he dared to crawl to her on his hands and knees and nestle himself between her sandy, thick thighs…only to lie there and grab a few crackers to eat instead of her. It made her giggle, anyway, as they talked. He was such a tease and a goofball as he asked her to time him on how long he could balance a pepperoni stick on the bridge of his nose.

He was also a surprising art connoisseur. Amanda knew Joe had a love of the arts, from music to theater, but she gazed over at him in awe when he was able to name each piece of art the performers on stage brought to life when she was unfamiliar and asked. “I think this one is called ‘A Winter Scene.’ I think, don’t quote me on that,” he whispered in her ear as they sat in the dark arena in opera seats, the spotlight fixed on the stage where Japanese dancers donned vibrant kimonos as snow fell around them. 

She wasn’t sure which moved her to tears, the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the koto that filled the room, or the talented dancers portraying a brilliant resilience to a cold winter, but when she started to sniffle, she felt Joe’s hand slip onto her lap where she rested hers, lacing his big fingers with hers that looked so small with his. His gentle caress as he rubbed his thumb along her skin made her look at him again, and he planted a light kiss on her forehead to make her grin.

When they rolled up to the steak house around seven p.m., the blaring sun was graciously gone. The moonlight was soft as it touched Joe’s face when he hopped out of the Range Rover and extended his hand to help her down safely in her tall, black, strappy heels. Amanda couldn’t take her eyes off how luminous his skin looked even in the night, and how dapper he was in his baby blue suit jacket that struggled to hide his brawny shoulders and biceps. But she loved how the color brought out more of his natural glow. 

She didn’t intend on matching with him, but she just happened to pack a powder blue, silk evening gown that touched the floor yet revealed a peek of her right thigh with its high slit. She did purposefully style her afro into two big afro puff ponytails on her head since she knew it was his favorite look on her. “You look so damn good tonight that it should be a crime. Officer!” Joe called out with his hand next to his mouth and she chuckled, playfully slapping his chest. His other hand didn’t let go of hers on their way inside, and Amanda felt butterflies in her tummy. She hated to feel so sappy but she knew those same feelings had been simmering deep within her for the past year—and now they were bubbling to the surface as Joe made her feel more than just special…but loved.

The “L” word tiptoeing across her mind made her palm feel a bit sweaty in his. They’ve never said that to each other, ever. Amanda sometimes felt it was because they split before they ever got the opportunity…

Because the way they were all day was reminiscent of the soft, delightful vibes they used to be on when they first became friends and then lovers. It was easy to be themselves, share lots of laughter, shy but big grins, and fall into spells of flirting that teetered onto teasingly fondling…

It reminded Amanda of all the reasons she cared for Joe and all the reasons she missed him. She was over the moon that he missed her, too.

“Remember the time I bet you a steak dinner if I spanked you in Uno?” Joe asked after he swallowed a piece of his filet mignon. The chandelier lighting was subtle and allowed the candle on their table to illuminate their plates and faces as they gazed at each other. 

“Oh, yeah. I’ll never forget how you cheated. No one plays Uno like that but you,” she said and he breathed a cute laugh. She moved her fork around her plate as she gathered up another bite of mashed potatoes along with a piece of broccoli. “Didn’t you admit that it was all just a trick to take me out to dinner?” she asked mid-chew.

 “I don’t recall admittin’ that so bluntly, but if you must know…yeah.” He took a sip of his iced water before he added, “I was feelin’ you and I knew you were feelin’ me. But I didn’t wanna just come out and ask you on a date when I knew you worried how’d that look to Hunter.”

“And then look what happened, anyway. Now everyone has an opinion about us,” Amanda sighed. She felt Joe reach his hand across the table to put on hers. His touch made her tingle again.

“I don’t care what anyone has to say about me and you,” Joe said softly. “That shit don’t matter. What matters is how you feel about me and you.”

He looked at her like he expected her to say something like there was a secret question in his words. She knew exactly what that question was…but she was afraid to answer it so soon after they just began to amend things.

But she felt it. It swirled in her heart and made her feel warm all over from his hand still on hers, his eyes holding her gaze. There wasn’t another man alive that could make her feel this way.

“How do you feel?” Amanda asked quietly. She had her own question lingering between the lines of the one she already asked, and when Joe looked at her with slight confusion, she elaborated. “I hope this isn’t the wrong time to bring this up, but I’m curious…I think we both know I got with Chris to try and get over you. Which didn’t work. Was there a time…or a woman…that made you feel like, ‘Damn, I miss Amanda?’ Because I had plenty of those times about you…”

A small grin tugged at his sexy, pink lips as he listened to her nervously ramble her thoughts to form a question. He pulled his hand away to take another sip of water and stared at her with those enticing eyes as he said, “One woman. Only once. About five months ago. It was trash because every time I looked at her, I wanted her to be you so bad. Didn’t bother tryin’ again with anyone else because I knew it’d be the same story. I missed you the entire time…I was just a stubborn asshole.”

“Me, too,” she breathed, feeling her cheeks warm as she blushed at his confession. She was grateful her deep brown skin hid it from him.

“Pinky promise we’re off that shit now?” Joe held his long pinky finger out with another grin. Amanda grinned back as she wrapped her little one around it.

“Pinky promise.”

When they arrived back at Joe’s huge vacation beach home after dinner, Amanda already knew her way around as they’d stopped in and out earlier that day to freshen up after the beach and change into their evening wear for the museum before they had their steaks. She headed upstairs and past four bedrooms before she reached the master bedroom he let her claim. He even gave her privacy to shower and get dressed before they went out. She went now to close the bathroom door, strip, and pad to the grand waterfall shower to climb in. She didn’t really need another shower today, but something about pounding, hot water flooding over her skin soothed her and made her ready for bed.

Although, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to go to bed just yet…

After she finished bathing, she ran through the rest of her nightly routine, moisturizing her skin, brushing her teeth, and pulling on her pajamas. She skipped braiding her hair as she took down her puff ponytails and combed her fingers through it until it framed her face and sat on her shoulders, feeling cute as she looked in the mirror. 

She felt a little odd to do her entire routine with Joe downstairs when back in the day he'd be all over her offering to rub her feet with her body butter. She wondered if he was still being "innocent" or if he'd fallen asleep. Amanda quietly came down the stairs and rounded the corner of the den, and her heart instantly warmed to see his giant body nearly hanging off the little cushions of the sectional sofa.

“You still up?” Amanda called out softly as she neared the back of the sofa. It was only ten p.m. after all. She couldn’t see his face yet as it was pointed to the large, flatscreen television mounted on the wall that played the movie Love Jones. She’d seen it a hundred times and wondered if Joe was actually watching or if it was watching him as she leaned over the couch to inspect.

Suddenly, a pair of big hands flung up and around her waist, pulling her over the backrest. Amanda laughed wildly as she landed on top of Joe, his hands pinning her against him and wiggling along her sides and back to tickle her. “Stop! Stop it or I’m gonna pee!” she warned with rowdy giggles, playfully fighting back as she tried to wriggle free from his grasp.

“That’ll be what you get for sneakin’ up on me,” Joe said with a giggle of his own when she finally gained some control and straddled his lap, tickling his shirtless torso with both her hands. She was grateful she opted for a pink spaghetti-strap tank top and black Soffe shorts instead of the big tee shirt she was going to wear, or else he would have gotten the full view of her the way his hands accidentally lifted her tank. And that wouldn't be very innocent...

“Alright! Truce, truce,” she yelped when she couldn’t take anymore. He stopped attacking her with tickles but kept his hands on her waist, holding her upright as he gazed up at her. It made her skin tingle with that smoldering pull of his and she bit her lip before she said, “Don’t look at me like that, sir. You the one that said this is supposed to be an innocent date.”

“I don’t know if you noticed, but, uh, the date is over. We’re home now…” He squeezed her gently in his hands and slowly rolled his hips beneath her, making her feel him between her thighs as he grew hard behind his black sweatpants. He watched her fight back a moan as he kept grinding his hips to make his stiffness rub along her clit in her shorts before he ran a hand up her chest, palming her bralass, big breasts that fit in his delicate grip along the way to her neck. When he squeezed her again with his big fingers around her throat, they locked eyes as she let out a soft moan, putting a devilish smirk on his lips. “We can be good, though, if that’s what you want…" Joe said as he applied a little more pressure to her throat, right beneath her jaw, watching how it made her whimper to him as she closed her eyes. "...but good girls don’t moan like that ’cause they like bein’ choked.”

“Joe, you play too much,” Amanda moaned again as he gripped her throat and nudged his now fully hard bulge to her clit. She wrapped her hands around his wrist but made no effort to pull him away as he knew as well as she did that there was too much heat rising between them to stop now.

“I’m not playin’, sweetheart…” he replied before he lifted her into his arms and sat her on the sofa. She saw that mischievous glint fill his dark eyes as he slid off the cushions and to the floor. He planted himself between her thighs and slowly ran his hands up them until his fingers met her shorts that he slowly rolled down her legs. His eyes never left hers as he did, their gazes fixed on one another, her heart racing, as he spread her thighs apart and pressed soft kisses along her skin that made Amanda shiver. When he put her thighs on his broad shoulders, he leaned in closer to graze his lips on her lower lips, taking a moment to inhale her intimate scent before he said, “You know what’s crazy? I missed you so bad that I even missed how you smell. You still smell the same…and good.”

Amanda mumbled her thanks as Joe left a delicate kiss on her pussy lips as he breathed in her scent again. When his long tongue slid from between his full lips, she felt herself quiver in anticipation to be devoured by him…and he didn't disappoint as he gently split her and tasted her in one fell swoop, letting his tongue slowly crawl along her slick folds as he got his mouth reacquainted with her pussy that was sticky and wet for him before he hardly even touched her. 

The sight of him with his large hands around her thighs, his eyes closed as he concentrated on lapping at her and licking up the wetness he made, was just as sexy as the feel of him curling his tongue all over her pussy. “I missed your mouth, oh, my goood,” Amanda whined, gripping the backrest of the sofa with one hand while the other laid on her chest as she lightly pinched and pulled her nipple through her tank top.

“I missed how you taste…” Joe murmured in between pressing his mouth to her and licking in and out of her little entrance, his tongue long enough that she could feel him on her g-spot as he fucked her with it. She shook with a moan, her orgasm trying to hunt her down as she watched him pull back to bring a hand to her pussy and tease his middle finger into her. He twirled it on her g-spot, continuing the work his tongue started and making her whine softly to him. “I didn’t even think to eat this pussy the other night ’cause I was stupid and drunk,” he added in a whisper. “But I need to taste your cum, sweetheart. So, you better cum for me.”

He pushed his finger inside more as he spoke, deeper until only his knuckle was visible before he slowly pumped it in and out, twisting it with each thrust to knead her sweet spot and make her body tremor with moans that grew louder. Their eyes fastened together as he did so before Joe put his mouth back on her clit to suckle it onto his tongue, surrounding her sweetest spot with his lips and licks that made her squeeze her eyes shut as her heated orgasm finally took her down. 

“Joe! Don’t stop...unhhhh,” Amanda cried as she came, her body moving on its own as her hips bucked uncontrollably. She put a hand on the back of his head, grabbing at his ponytail to wrap around her wrist as she grinded on his tongue. Joe let her ride his face for as long as she wanted, enjoying himself as he greedily slurped on her and held her to his mouth by her thighs as he sipped on her nectar that tried to ooze down his beard until she was overwhelmed with pleasure.

She knew her face gave it away that he had her pussy reeling from his relentless tongue as her mouth hung open and her eyelids hung low, but Joe didn’t let her rest for too long. He pulled his finger from her depths to lick away the rest of her cum before he stood and tugged off his sweatpants that had no boxers underneath...just hard, long dick and taut balls that all bounced against his muscular thighs. Amanda didn’t get to see it much when they fooled around in the restroom because, like Joe said, they were being stupid and drunk, but taking it in for the first time in a long time made her pussy clench around nothing. She knew he was huge, felt that for a fact when he tore up only a day ago and she was still slightly sore, but to see all nine beautiful, chocolate brown inches of him as his blunt dickhead dripped with a thick string of pre-cum that stuck to his thigh was something magnificent to behold.

“Unnhhh, baby, damn…this pussy still tight,” Joe cooed to her when he got back on his knees and pushed into her, her pussy clamping around him along with her thighs around his waist. “You been doin’ kegel exercises?” His deep voice rasped like he was on the edge of his orgasm already, his body hunched over as he trembled slightly with each hefty thrust. It made Amanda both giggle softly and moan with him as she slipped her arms around his big body to hold him closer to her.

“No, baby. You just have a big ass dick, fuuuck.” She tried not to scream it in his ear as he broke her in again on his thick dick, his girth easily expanding her tender pussy walls as he dug deeper and deeper inside. He fit perfectly, even if he had to make himself fit, and she groaned his name as she lightly scratched her nails along his spine as he began to tap on hers.

“And you have good ass pussy. The best pussy. Got me wantin’ to cum…but not yet,” Joe moaned as he straightened up and brought her thighs together to pin them to the cushion she lay on. He used his other hand to gently roll Amanda onto her side, all while still throwing deep strokes in and out of her that felt even damn deeper once he hit from this angle. She snatched a squared, decorative pillow nearby into her hands for something to hold onto as Joe now gripped her thigh with both hands and thrust harder, but not faster. “Look at me, baby…look at us,” he commanded when she smothered her face in the pillow to scream and bite at it. She felt his big hand slip up her body and to her throat again as he made her meet his eyes with his strong grip before she stared down at his hips knocking on hers, his dick disappearing inside her and filling her stomach. "Look how good we look together, baby," he whispered.

“Unnhhh, shit, Daddy,” Amanda squeaked as he choked her just enough to make her pussy flutter once around his dick as he started to pound her out. He seemed to refuse to hurry his pace, but she didn't mind as he made her eyes roll in her head as he hammered his heavy dick into her like the strokes of the second hand of an analog clock. Slow...steady...over...and over…

“That’s right, baby…Daddy's here now. And he ain't goin' anywhere. Mmm...I make this pussy feel good, baby?” Joe said, his tone saturated with his usual haughtiness that reminded her of how he was talking that shit the other night. And even though he was absolutely right, she didn’t want him to have the last word…not this time.

“Yessss…you make me feel so good...that’s why I wanna feel you cum in me. Mmm, it feels too good, Daddy,” Amanda purred. She loved how that made his eyes widen before a moan escaped him. She knew he loved the sound of that and she was just being honest. It did feel amazing when he poured into her like that. Physically…and on a strange level, emotionally. She never let a man before or since him do that to her. It was only for Joe because she was only for him…

And as she started to feel him throbbing in her just from her mentioning it, she purred again, “I want to feel you cum in this pussy, Daddy. Right now.”

“Yeah? If you want Daddy’s cum, you have to cum again, sweetheart,” Joe grunted as his hips jerked back with another twitch of his dick. She knew he was hanging on by a thread, she could feel it…and it made her pussy flutter again as he wedged himself into her. She needed to feel his pleasure flood her so she obeyed him and shifted her thighs until she was able to squeeze them together and put pressure on her clit. She moaned gruffly as she found the right angle, making him moan, too, as he watched her flex her thick, brown thighs to match the rhythm of his thrusts. “There you go, baby…fuck, you’re so beautiful like this,” he softly growled. 

He kept his hands on her throat and thigh, encouraging her orgasm further when decided to swivel his dick slowly to tease her g-spot. “Cum for me, Daddy…cum with me.” Amanda’s needy moans touched the ceiling high above as she felt her heart thrum with warm waves of pleasure that crashed into her. She felt her pussy contract and pull around him as she came hard, her nectar spilling all over him…which made him throb and shoot his warm, stringy ropes of his cum into her. "Yesss, Daddy, give it to me...who does this dick belong to, baby?" she found the nerve to say in between spasms of her delicious climax making her shudder beneath him.

Joe shuddered, too, with the fiery orgasm that he pounded into her, his fingers gripping her so tight that she'd probably have bruises. It made her moan all the same as he moaned to her, "It's yours, baby, unhhh…and this pussy is all mine. I love this pussy...I love you.” 

Her heart thundered in her chest at his words as surely she misheard him…but when he leaned over with one hand remaining on her thigh and the other caressing her cheek, he kissed her lips softly and whispered again, “I love you, Amanda.”

“I love you, too,” she breathed between his sweet kisses, cradling his face in her hands and stroking her thumbs over his soft beard as he gave himself to her, as she gave herself to him. It reminded her of the first time all those months ago they entwined like this and how she knew then what she certainly knew now: Amanda was deeply, wildly, unequivocally in love with Joe. She had never stopped loving him.

And like the first time they shared this experience, he rested his heavy body on top of hers as they panted together and held each other in their arms. She snuggled her nose to her chest, getting high on his god scent as her fingers found themselves on his head to play with the hair of his loose ponytail.

They stayed like that for hours or until their breathing returned to normal, whichever came first. As Joe gradually pulled out and leaned back slightly to look into Amanda’s eyes, he kissed her again before he said, “I meant that, by that way.”

“I did, too,” she replied in a hushed tone. She propped herself up onto her elbows which brought her lips to his again that of course she kissed, and she gave one to the tip of his nose, too. “You know what this means now, right?” she asked.

“What’s that, sweetheart?” he said with a grin that made her light up with a smirk, too.

“This means we’re dating again. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.”

The laugh that rumbled through him made his shoulders shake before he hugged her tighter in his arms. “I can live with that,” Joe said. “I’ve been yours for a long time now. And you’re mine.”

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Thanks for reading! 🖤

Better late than never, right? 😅

Thank you all for your patience and love for this series!

It makes me wanna cry cuz "The Quiet Game" was my first fanfic that I ever shared online and I was NERVOUS, but you all made me feel like a part of the community immediately. 🥹

I've met soooo many amazing people, friends, and writers because of my silly lil Roman smut, and I couldn't be more grateful for ya'll. 💖

This series is my baby and now it's finished. 🥲 I hope ya'll enjoy!

Tag squad 🫶🏾

@harlem11680 @mzv11 @miyuhpapayuh @cyberdejos2 @thesamoanqueen @angelreigns444 @niknakbucks92 @vebner37 @flawlessvictory2020 @dreamsinfocus @fame-ass-ers @southerngirl41 @jeyusos-girl @nayys-world @msbigredmachine @purplehairgawdess @dayjlovesromance @solosikoasgf @mohawkmama @smuts-whore @po3ticb3auty @alyyaanna @murrylove  @papireigns-05 @thewarlordsworld @vintage-pvssy @christinabae @hennyyybarb @visionarymode @itsautomaticfaegirl @jstarr86 @bebesobrielo @urasunflower @jeygif @iguessilikewrestlingnow @seeingstarks @555sage

[soyeonsbabygirl]

Hear me out

So y/n broke up with her boyfriend not long ago, and minnie (g!p) tried her best to see her smile again, happy and all cute again. But nothing worked she cried every night in her arms how she hated her ex boyfriend and how she wishes she never met him, she hated that. She hated that her bestfriend cried so much over a stupid men, so she took her way and made her feel like she's the most important person in the world in that moment. She made sure to make her feel good and to forget about that stupud ex boyfriend wich she did bc minnie showed her all the stars that he couldn't do, she fucker her with nothing but love and a promise to keep her bestfriend the happiest person in the world. But she couldn't keep her feelings anymore and she let them spit out like a river and thats when they became a thing

Or

Minnie fucking y/n roughly but with a care so that she forgets about her ex stupud boyfriend and she confess to reader

(i'm sorry i needed to send this request it's stuck in my head since yesterday)

-the mimin x reader anon (also can i be your 🦤 if it's not taken?)

Hi honey! Sorry it took me so long to reply to this but ofc you can be 🦤 Anon! (My first anon this is so cool whatt)

I can be a better boyfriend than him.

G!P Nicha Yontarak/ Kim Minnie x Reader

Minnie sighed as she heard you crying again. It had been 2 weeks since you and your boyfriend — who Minnie personally never liked — had broke up. He had cheated on you which caused you to break up with him. Minnie was upset to see you so upset but was happy that you had finally left him.

She had known for a while that he was a player but she never said anything since she loved seeing you happy contrast to how you were now.Ever since you guys had broken up she would hear you crying, especially at night which made her hate for him grow even more. She wanted to see you smile or better yet just forget him and date her.

She knew how to treat you better and knew what was best for you, she was your best friend but in her mind she was your girlfriend. I mean you guys have slept in the same bed cuddling more times than she could count and each time you guys would cuddle it felt more intimate than the last time even if that wasn’t the goal. You would always kiss her cheek sometimes being too close to her mouth almost as if you meant to kiss her, she would dream of how your lips would feel against hers multiple times often getting hard from just the thought. And when you wore her clothes it made her even crazier imagining multiple scenarios of you being hers and not having to share you with anyone else because you’d be hers and hers only.

One night she had enough, you were in her arms as she held you crying your eyes out. Sobbing saying how you weren’t good enough for him, how everything was your fault, you were just a terrible girlfriend. She got tired of it and grabbed your face kissing you, the kiss was filled with love and passion. She pulled away quickly when she realized what she did.

“I’m sorry- I-I should've asked first I didn't mean to-” before she could finish you pulled her back in to another kiss. This time it had more lust than passion, Minnie’s hands went under your shirt her cool fingertips against your hot skin sent shivers down her spine.

Her tongue dancing with yours as you guys made out on your bed. You both pulled away breathing heavily as Minnie flew to your neck applying kisses to it, you let out soft moans and sighs after each kiss she left. “M-Minnie…please..I need you so badly..” your voice was no louder than a whisper. Minnie smirked against your skin as she lifted your shirt off your body, moving down to kiss your collarbones muttering small praises about how pretty you were, how long she's been waiting for this, and how she loves you.

Minnie took your sweatpants off while you pulled her shirt off her body. “You know,” she said in between kisses “I can be a better boyfriend than him.” She pushed your panties to the side as she slipped a finger inside you smiling at how much you whined. She went back up to your face kissing your cheeks as she began to move her digit in and out of you.

You moaned with every thrust of her finger she made loving the feeling already getting obsessed with how her finger felt inside her. By the time she added a second finger she took in your facial expressions and how pretty you looked like this. Your reactions told her enough of how your ex treated you during sex, and it made her upset. She was gonna show you how much better she was as she sped up making your face contort to pleasure, your walls tightened around her fingers making you mewl.

She knew you were close but if anything that just made her speed up even more til she heard you let out a loud moan your orgasm coating her fingers as she pulled them out. She saw you panting with a wide eyed star struck look as if this was your first time and then came to another conclusion that upset her.

“He’s never made you orgasm? was that your first time ever orgasming?” your shy nod told her everything. The idea of her being the first one to make you orgasm made her harder than she already was, “fuck I need to be inside you right now.” she murmured.

You bit your lip as you looked at her “Do it. I want you to fuck me Minnie.” That was all she needed to hear. She immediately took her pants off as she rubbed her tip on your lips, “how many inches are you used to?” you were silent for a few minutes before answering “I think..5..” Minnie was a bit dumbfounded by this.

It made her feel happy that she was bigger than your ex boyfriend but also a bit astonished. Seriously what did you see him? it doesn’t matter now since she was gonna make you forget all about him. She pushed into you making you count each inch til she was fully inside you. She smirked as she saw your reactions, the way you gripped her hand trying to adjust to her size, the whiner your voice got the more she entered inside you, all of it was beautiful to her.

She was smiling when she saw you take all of her dick in your pussy, once she was sure that you were used to feeling of her inside her was when she started moving. Her hands gripped your hips as she fucked into you. “Fuck, you're so tight. Your pussy feels so fucking good.” you could barely respond only moaning as your vision blurred from each thrust. Minnie began taking up speed as she went deeper and faster inside you.

One of her hands held you down by her hips while the other groped your boobs roughly enjoying how they felt. She felt you get wetter and wetter with each thrust making her moans mix with yours, all the times she would hear you moan for your ex during sex she’d never heard you moan like this. She went rougher even as she felt you orgasm coating her dick, but she had no plans of stopping.

You began to cry from overstimulation as it felt like she had only gone faster when you orgasmed, at one point only driven by lust as she hooked her arms under your legs placing them on her shoulders. With this new angle, she was able to reach even more deeper inside you loving the new angle.

Your moans were so loud that anyone who were to step inside the apartment would be able to hear you guys , the sounds of her thrusting in and out of you echoed throughout the room as both of your moans got louder.

She watched as your walls began clenching on her cock indicating you were close, she was also close and got an idea as she leaned down to your ear “cum for me baby, cum all over my cock. I want us both to cum at the same time.”

She went faster and deeper til she moaned your name in ecstasy painting your insides white, she looked down at you as she stayed inside you slowing down her thrusts, at one point she pulled out a bit and looked at your face.

She was confused as she saw you had a weird facial expression but then saw your eyes squeeze shut tightly as a clear liquid shot out of you. Minnie had a shocked look on her face as she looked down at you. She just made you squirt. Not only was she the first person to make you orgasm but she was also the first person to make you squirt.

You were panting as you looked like you were about to say something but before you could Minnie latched her lips on your clit lapping up all your juices harshly sucking on your clit. You moaned loudly gripping the sheets and due to how sensitive you were you orgasmed again in her mouth as she lapped it all up.

She came up to your lips and kissed you as she laid down moving you to lay on her chest. Once you both caught your breathes she spoke, “Y/N, I’ve been in love with you for so long. I know you just got out of a relationship but can you please give me a chance?”

It was quiet for a few minutes which to Minnie felt like hours. You pecked her lips as you smiled. That was all she needed to hear as she held you impossibly closer to her.

-

This requested me think of boyfriend by Dove Cameron and now I can’t unsee it😵‍💫 I hope you liked the request lovey and I promise I’m working on that Mimin request💋💕

[fromxxthexxashes]

Okay, this is kind of long, but just hear me out:

I keep seeing people say Eddie saying he ‘moves too fast’ seems out of character, but I don’t think I agree.

For one, he proposed to Shanon after she got pregnant, and when she came back in his life he immediately started sleeping with her and immediately moved to re-propose when he thought she was pregnant again.

With Ana, he did take things slower at first, but he did introduce her to Chris pretty quickly (at least I think so). Though, I will admit he didn’t introduce her without thinking about it because he did go to Bobby and Athena for advice. However, after he introduced Ana to Chris, they seemed to get a lot more serious fairly quickly. They hadn’t even said ‘I love you’ before Ana was stepping into this sort of ‘motherly’ role. After all, she was over at Eddie’s house cooking meals (ex: the dinner with/ Carla) and she looked after Chris for days during the blackout, when Abuela or Pepa could have helped out. Eddie described it as a “ready-made family”, which for me translates to ‘things went too fast and got way too serious before I knew it’. When he realized just how serious things were getting, he started panicking. She was enveloped enough in their life that Chris thought they would get married someday. And when the reality caught up to him that he was building this family unit with a woman he didn’t love, couldn’t love, it scared him and he broke it off.

Then he rushed things with M*risol and he freaked out again. The whole (admittedly stupid) nun storyline was there to show us that Eddie didn’t know anything about this woman (and that he has catholic guilt), yet he asked her to move in before he even said I love you. Why? Well, it goes back to Eddie’s age-old enemy: obligation.

For one, he feels obligated to have this permanent mother figure in Christopher’s life (and someone on here made a great post about how Eddie’s decision to ask M*risol to move in tied back to Chris’s storyline in 7x01 which I agree with with 100%). I also know that Eddie has never had a healthy romantic relationship in his life. He has never gotten with a woman without something pushing him to do it. With Shannon, it was a teen pregnancy and the church. With Ana, it was his (well-meaning) friends who pushed him to move on from Shannon. With M*risol, it was Pepa (with good intentions) who pushed him to start dating again, otherwise he might end up alone.

Marrying someone is something one does because one loves someone. Eddie proposed because he was afraid of what the church would think. Letting someone step into a mother-like role in a child’s life is something one does when one loves someone. Eddie did it because he was afraid he and Christopher were never going to be able to move on from Shannon. One asks someone to move in because they love them. Eddie did it because he was scared of having someone else walk out of his and Chris’s life.

Eddie has never followed his heart when it comes to his relationships with women. He has never dated someone casually before. He always tries to commit way before his heart is in it. He goes through these really long stints of being single, followed by relationships that do, admittedly, move really fast. He thinks he’s following his gut, but in truth, he’s following his misguided sense of duty.

The only time Eddie has made a serious commitment that wasn’t born out of obligation, was when he wrote Buck into his will. No one told him to do that. He did that because he wanted the best for Chris, sure, but more so because Eddie doesn’t trust anyone as much as he trusts Buck. And he did that knowing that his parents would disapprove. He did it despite his obligations to his blood family. Eddie followed his heart and tied himself and his son to Buck for the rest of their lives. (And notice how Buck has been a borderline co-parent to Chris for years, and that has never freaked Eddie out before)

So, yeah, I think he does move too fast in his relationships with women because he always takes serious steps before he develops serious feelings for these women. And he probably knows, deep down, that he’ll never be able to develop serious, romantic feelings for women. This is why he jumps into the deep end, because if he doesn’t, then he’ll never get there.

He has wants. He’s just not ready to acknowledge them yet. So, for now, he’ll just keep on doing what he feels he’s obligated to do.

[btsgotjams27]

don't push your luck | knj

you’re asked to present at an important meeting, but of course, your rival has to come along for the ride.

✨ title: don't push your luck | one-shot ✨ pairing: namjoon x f!reader ✨ genre/au: angst | ex college rivals, e2l, co-workers, one-bed trope ✨ rating: pg-18 | ✨ word count: 6.4k ✨ warnings: language, joon loves to call reader a lot of pet names, suggestive language, they're both kinda jerks to one another, they've also known each other for a long time (and slept together once), both are literary agents, mentions of surgery and cancer, banter, mentions of alcohol, they sleep in the same bed, there is a small hug, reader has misconceptions of joon, did i mention angst?, reader likes to blame namjoon for her shortcomings ✨ a/n: hi--so this was originally supposed to be out for joonie's birthday lmao and here it is a few weeks later. don't be afraid to let me know what you think. i love hearing from readers.

“Hold the door!”

A heaving sensation fills your chest and you feel out of breath. Everything you could imagine going wrong before a flight happened—your alarm wasn’t set, the Uber arrived late and hit every traffic light, security ‘needed’ to rifle through your suitcase for suspicious items, and the stupid expensive carry-on you purchased has given up on you.

“You made it just in time,” the attendant smiles and scans your plane ticket.

“Oh, thank god.”

You’re grateful to be in first class and now you can finally relax. It’s even better when you look at your row and the seat next to you is empty. There are a few glares from other passengers, but you don’t care–you’ve made it, and that’s all that matters.

When you settle into your seat, you check your phone for any last-minute work emails. The flight attendant announced the plane was ready to taxi for take-off. They ask everyone to be seated and buckled.

As you’re ready to plug your earbud in, you hear a muffled bang from behind. Peering over your shoulder, you realize you’re in the row before the bathrooms. Great, you think, that’ll be fun. You can hear clinking and clanking from the bathroom door along with someone shuffling out as the door slam shuts.

“Sir, please take your seat. We’re ready for take-off,” the flight attendant says.

The man clears his throat. “Oh, yes, of course. My seat’s right here.”

You look up to see none other than the person who has become the bane of your existence, Kim Namjoon. They say keep your friends close, but your enemies closer and he loved to be so close to you alright–everywhere you are to be exact.

Your jaw clenches as he plops down beside you. A few seconds later, a woman emerges from the bathroom. She brushes past the attendant, holding a card between her fingers as she peers down at Namjoon. “That was fun. Call me sometime,” she grins while walking away.

“You’re disgusting.” A shiver runs down your spine as one can assume what they were doing in there.

Namjoon gives you puppy eyes. “You’re so mean to me,” he pouts, folding his arms against his chest as he looks down. Not a split second later, he turns to you with a smirk. “I can rock your world whenever you want, angel.”

If only he could see the smoke fuming from your ears. He would never let that one time you slept with him go, would he? It was a moment of weakness you wish you could take back.

You scoff at his comment. “I can’t believe they just let anyone on airplanes now.”

His eyes rake over you. “I could say the same about you,” he retorts.

“What are you doing here, anyway?”

“What do you think I’m doing here, darling?”

Your body cringes at the stupid pet name. “Oh, I don’t know, to annoy the fuck out of me?” you say, flashing a wry smile.

“Ah, yes. That’s on my itinerary too, but you know I can’t resist an all-expenses-paid trip when it’s offered.”

This was your chance to make an impression on one of the biggest publishing houses. But with Kim Namjoon tagging along on this little trip? He will consume your thoughts because you can’t think of anything else when he’s around–plotting and scheming ways to take you down.

“Just stay out of my hair tomorrow.”

Namjoon sucks his teeth. “Wish I could, sweetheart. But, whatever Ms. Davis wants, she gets.”

A part of you wondered if Namjoon was sleeping with her to get to the top of the food chain, like the vulture he is. You shivered at the thought of the two in compromising positions. Namjoon’s college shenanigans were something that continued even into adulthood, you guessed. 

The blinking cursor in this blank Word document has been mocking you, thinking you’re a clown. But you blame Kim Namjoon. He’s pushed his seat back, legs crossed and reclined, hands behind his head as he’s laughing obnoxiously at the movie on his computer screen. Every stifled laugh and clap has you rolling your eyes.

You can’t concentrate when he’s around, and that’s how it’s always been since sophomore year of college. The countless conversations with yourself because you had to be ready with a witty remark in case he is a smart-ass about anything and everything.

It was a sweet relief when you walked across that stage to shake the president’s hand and retrieve the rolled-up paper. And when you lifted your tassel from one side to the other, you exhaled because you never had to cross paths with him again.

That is four years into your job, and who shows up sitting in your office? None other than Kim Namjoon–your old academic rival.

You’re 29. No man should have you gritting your teeth, ready to claw at him. Then again, he’s no ordinary man–more like the devil incarnate. He makes your skin crawl. His presence makes you want to jump out of a window–because he’s suffocating, and the air in your lungs doesn’t exist.

Okay–maybe you’re exaggerating. But right now, you want to spill your glass of red wine just so he’ll have a stained shirt.

Your mouth twists as you nudge the giggly goon head. He takes off the noise-canceling headphones. “What?”

“Can you zip it? I can’t concentrate,” you say, repositioning in your seat.

Namjoon snickers. “Aw baby, you weren’t able to concentrate before I even started the movie. What makes you think me turning it off will help now?”

With a click of your tongue, you’re unsure why you even bothered asking him, so you return to your blinking cursor and blank document.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent into New York City….” the announcement continues.

Guess it didn’t matter, anyway. You’ve spent two hours unproductive on a flight while Namjoon lollygags. At least you’ll have time to work on your presentation in peace when you get to your hotel.

You notice the way he walks and the way his bag is slung over his shoulder-practically about to drop, and you can’t forget the stupid overcoat that’s a tad too big for his frame. The crooked black tie contrasts against the crisp white button-down, and you want to help him fix it, only to make it snug enough to choke him a bit. It’s the way his cheeks lightly push against his thick black-rimmed glasses when he smiles, and his crescent eyes disappear, then immediately he widens them. It’s the way his hair falls perfectly above his glasses, and he daintily moves it away like the unflawed prince he is.

You hate you notice all these details about Kim Namjoon, but you’ve been around him long enough to have your guard up in case he pulls any funny business.

He doesn’t even care to check in at the front desk. Instead, he runs off to the bar when he sees a beautiful woman walking the same way.

You’re third in the check-in line, and you can’t help noticing the crowd hanging out in the lobby. Everyone’s dressed as some kind of anime character. It almost makes you feel underdressed in your plain white tee that’s tucked into your jeans.

A nudge from the side causes you to catch your footing. You clench your jaw before breathing out a sigh of frustration. He’s like a fly that won’t leave you alone.

“Want a sip? I think you could use a drink,” Namjoon says, tipping his glass toward you.

“I don’t drink on business trips.”

“Damn, baby. Lighten up. One drink won’t kill you,” he raises a brow and smirks. “Maybe it’ll even warm you up to me.”

If only your eyes could shoot laser beams every time he opened his smart mouth. Facing him, you took a step toward him, pretending to pick off lint from his coat. “It’s cute you think I’d warm up to you,” you pout.

Namjoon gives a lopsided grin, licking his lips. “Don’t worry, love. I’m sure we’ll become real cozy.”

When it’s your turn at the front desk, the receptionist flashes a warm smile, asking for your information. “Is this man with you as well?”

“No,” you say.

“Yes,” Namjoon chimes in.

You roll your eyes, glaring at the man who is the bane of your existence. “No. Nope,” you say, shaking your head. “He is not with me. He needs his own room.”

The receptionist doesn’t respond. She types and clicks around on the computer, her eyes darting around the screen. “I’m sorry ma’am, but it looks like we only have one room left,” she says, avoiding your gaze.

“What do you mean there’s only one room left?” you articulate, gritting your teeth.

The receptionist clicks around her screen again. “Again, I’m so sorry, ma’am. But we’re overbooked because of the anime convention in town. We can book this room for the two of you or give you a free hotel stay for another time to compensate for the inconvenience.”

Free hotel stay for another time? It wasn’t an option at the moment. You needed this hotel room to prepare for your presentation tomorrow.

Someone cosplaying as Sailor Moon walks past you and Namjoon. His elbows are propped on the counter as he faces toward the lobby. He turns to you. “Guess we’ll just have to share,” he raises a brow and licks his lips.

“You cannot think I’ll sleep in the same bed as him. I’d rather burn in hell instead.”

Namjoon turns to the receptionist. “She’s joking. She doesn’t want to sleep in the same bed because she knows she can’t control herself around me,” he grins, holding his hand out for the key card. “We’ll take what you have, love.”

You grumble, muttering curses under your breath as you grab your things, heading toward the elevator. First, he shows up unannounced, and now you have to share a room with him. Let alone a bed? What’s next? He’ll take over your presentation, you bet.

Namjoon whistles a cheerful tune while strolling down the hallway. How is he like a ray of sunshine right now? But to you, he is like a lingering cloud ready to rain on your parade.

When he reaches the door, he turns to you, still whistling, tapping the keycard against the sensor. The door almost slams in your face. You’re struggling to keep the heavy door open while dragging in your luggage.

“Really?” You huff with irritation in your voice.

Your eyes follow him as he makes himself comfortable on the bed. He’s lying down, his legs are dangling off as his feet touch the floor. And you hope the phone screen illuminating his honey skin drops on his face. You’re vile, you know. But Namjoon’s like an itch you can’t seem to reach.

Setting down your things, you walk over to him, slotting yourself between his legs, arms folded against your chest. “What are you doing in my bed?”

He chuckles, placing the phone beside him. He props himself up on his elbows, eyes raking over you. “Waiting for you to hop on, baby,” he sneers, patting his thigh.

How are you supposed to get any work done if he’s around invading the very air you breathe?

“In your dreams, Joon. You’re sleeping on the couch.”

“Oh, baby girl. You don’t even wanna know what you do in my dreams.”

His dreams, huh? You’ve wondered how many times you’ve shown up. “Let me guess, am I strangling you?”

Namjoon sits up, pushing himself off the bed to stand. It forces you to take a step back. There’s a moment of silence before he speaks, “Actually, you’re the one who likes it, remember? Not me, princess.”

You’re inches away from him and you hope he doesn’t see you visibly gulp. It’s like everything is stripped away when Namjoon’s around. As much as you try to hide it, you hope he can’t see through your bullshit.

Clicking your tongue, you try to compose yourself, tilting your head as you gaze into those dragon eyes. “Keep dreaming, Joonie because that’s the closest you’ll ever come to fucking me.”

“Again—” he corrects you. His gaze turns dark as he scans you from head to toe. He grasps your chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Come on, love. Don’t you want another taste?”

You roll your eyes, pushing away his hand. “Another taste of Kim Namjoon?” you tut. “Please—I eat boys like you for breakfast.”

A stupid grin spreads across Namjoon’s face. His scent invades your space again, making you step back. “Well, I’ll be sure to serve you breakfast in bed tomorrow. I hear the sausage is great.”

You huff a breath, glaring at the tall, beefy man. “I swear to god, Kim Namjoon if you don’t stay on your side of the bed—there’s gonna be hell to pay!”

Namjoon puts his hands up in defeat. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll keep my package safe, but it's cute you think your mouth is big enough for me.” He raises a brow, gently nibbling on his bottom lip.

You scoff. “Don’t flatter yourself, Joon. Always talking a big game, but you gotta put your money where your mouth is love.” You almost retch as the last word rolls off your tongue.

The night you slept with Namjoon was a hazy one. You blame the wine that was coursing through your veins and the critique you received from your professor—it messed with your head and you wanted nothing more than to get your mind off it. Namjoon was in the right place at the right time—annoying you like always. Naturally, he wouldn’t shut up, so you shut him up. One thing led to another and before you knew it, you had slept with your rival.

Walking away, you grab your bag, breathing a sigh of relief once you’re out of the room. It’s a stupid game the two of you have played since college—he riles you up, and you retaliate, but you would try your best to not let him get to you. 

You spent the last few hours sitting in the hotel’s bar, with headphones on as you clicked and clacked away at your laptop, finally getting your thoughts onto this Word document. There’s no music playing. You wanted to drown out the noise of the crowd.

As you’re facing out toward the lobby, you look up, glimpsing the bane of your existence, Kim Namjoon. You watch as he makes his way out of the hotel lobby, and now is your chance to sneak back up to the room and have some quiet for once.

When Namjoon’s out of view, you gather your things, making your way back up. As the door closes, a breath expels from your lips and you can finally breathe again.

Sitting down at the small table, your stomach growls, a reminder that you had ignored for the past hour because this presentation was more important than nourishment. You’re more than halfway finished, and your reward would be a delicious meal.

It’s nearly 9 o’clock, and your meal is nowhere in sight. The outline is finished, talking points are ready to go, but your laptop is dead, and with your luck, you forgot to pack the charger.

You want nothing more than to disappear and crawl into a hole and never come out of it. You’re ready to jump ship without a lifejacket—it’s practically what you’re doing going into this presentation. If only you had more time to prep instead of being thrown into this so last minute. Maybe you shouldn’t have told your boss you’re always ready for whatever’s thrown your way.

The rumbling in your stomach continues, but you’d rather wallow in self-deprecating thoughts than fill your belly with a delicious meal.

Why can’t things go your way for once?

As you’re sitting on the couch beside the window, a sprinkle of rain falls, and it’s perfect, actually–matching your exact mood. You place your chin against the jade-green velvet-colored couch, breathing a sigh of frustration.

How are you meant to get others to care when you're apathetic about why you got into this profession in the first place? You remember discovering your first author and how they made you kick your feet and giggle all night. The feeling of watching someone grow from a small audience into a commercial success made you love your job, and when you and an author are on the same wavelength and both so passionate about a story? You were unmatched when the stars aligned.

But this trip was a different story. You had been working with this author, but Ms. Davis asked Namjoon to chime in, and once something is in Namjoon’s hands, it’s never yours again. It was like a repeat of your college years.

So when Ms. Davis asked you to fill in for Namjoon, you jumped at the chance because you had missed this story and this author, and you hoped Namjoon didn’t distort the beautiful story and world that she had built. You get why everyone fawns over Namjoon. Admitting it crushes your soul just a tad, but he’s smart, charming, suave, and not that bad to look at. You just wished he’d let you have a win now and again. You’re tired of being second best.

When you hear a beep from the door, you sigh, throwing your head back. You don’t acknowledge your roommate for the night and instead focus on the rain droplets hitting the window. Pulling your knees toward your chest, your arms rest on them along with your head as you stare outside. You’re not in the mood to deal with Namjoon right now.

A delectable aroma fills your nose when Namjoon’s presence occupies your space. He sets something next to your feet while on the couch. You look at the box and then at him.

“What’s this?”

“You need to eat.”

“I already ate,” you lie, and your stomach growled, loud enough you’re sure Namjoon heard it too. You make a face, clenching your stomach, hoping it doesn’t do it again.

“Just eat,” he says, bending down to grab the box for you.

“Is this your way of poisoning me, so you can do the presentation tomorrow?”

Namjoon scoffs. “No, actually. It’s me being a decent human being. I saw you at the bar, and I know how you are when you’re in work mode. You forget to eat.”

There’s a fire rising in your chest, and you want nothing more than to be left alone. “I didn’t think the devil had a heart,” you quip back. It’s easier when he isn’t, makes you feel less of an ass—and so much for not being in the mood to argue.

He tuts. “Why are you always like this? Even when we were in school together. You’ve always hated me.”

Maybe it’s how everything’s been handed to him on a silver platter–like how he doesn’t have to work his ass off just to get a sliver of recognition. Maybe it’s because he could be the good guy, but he chooses otherwise. Maybe it’s because somehow he always shows up wherever you are, ready to take things from you.

“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

“Fine, starve. I don’t even know why I tried.”

You groaned. “Can you just go away? You’re so annoying.”

“Me? Annoying? You’ve had a stick up your ass ever since you saw me on the plane, and I haven’t done shit to you. I’m here out of courtesy for our boss. What am I supposed to do? Say no?”

“Yeah! You should’ve.”

Namjoon shakes his head. “God–there’s no winning with you, is there?”

You ignore his comment, shifting in your seat, eyes focused on the rain again.

His jaw clenched as he backed off. “I was trying to be nice–break the ice, but it’s useless when I keep hitting a wall with you. See you later. I need a drink.”

Your eyes squeeze shut when the door slams. Sometimes you wonder if you’re too harsh or if you channeled your hatred toward something else, if it would benefit you more. But this was the circus of you and Namjoon–mortal rivals, nothing less, nothing more.

It’s well past midnight when you illuminate your phone for the third time. You’ve been tossing and turning, panicking about tomorrow’s presentation. Maybe you’d have to forgo using a slideshow and go off your outline. Graphic design isn’t your passion anyway because Canva was your best friend for presentation templates.

You had prepared yourself for having to share a bed with Namjoon, but you can’t help but notice that he hasn’t returned from wherever he went. You wonder if this was it–if it was the final straw for him, with you and your bitchy attitude.

As you’re on your phone, going over your outline, a beep from the door alerts you that Namjoon is back. You quickly stuff your phone underneath your pillow, turning in the opposite direction with your back facing him.

“Yeah, mom. Don’t worry. I’ll be back.” His voice softens when he sees the lights are out.

An indistinct voice is heard from the other end, but you close your eyes, pretending to be fast asleep.

“Yes, I have it on my calendar and already asked for the days off. I’ll be back before your surgery.”

You feel bad listening in on his conversation and even worse when you realize his mother is having surgery.

Namjoon hums. “I love you too, Mom. I’ll see you next week. Mm–bye.”

He sets his phone down and cards his hand through his dark hair, but it softly falls back in place. You can hear him ruffling through his bag before he walks off to what you guess is the bathroom to wash up.

You turn over when there’s a sudden ache in your side. Your eyes open to see the light shining from underneath the door, and he’s pacing around as he brushes his teeth.

When the water shuts off, he opens the door, turning off the light. The darkened curtains eliminate all light sources in the room, save for the bit peeking through from the moonlight shining on him, revealing his broad shoulders and honey-skin chest. Thank god it’s dark, otherwise if Namjoon saw you ogling him, he’d have a field day. But the gawking ends when he slips on a shirt.

You shift back to the side that’s still aching and Namjoon slips under the cover, keeping his distance. You’re facing away from him, and you can’t help but hear the frustration when he huffs a breath.

Of course, the stupid ache doesn’t dissipate, and you’re back on your side, facing Namjoon. You peek an eye open. His phone is dimly lit before he turns it off, setting it on his chest. Both of his hands are laced behind his head as he stares at the ceiling, and you’re fighting the urge to say something.

What you overheard was personal, something you weren’t meant to hear. After all these years of being academic rivals and co-workers, you knew little about his life except that he was a trust fund baby and had a younger sister.

“Namjoon?” You quietly croak out.

He quickly gazes in your direction. “Sorry—did I wake you? I didn’t mean to.”

“No, I couldn’t sleep, and then I heard you come in.”

A muttered apology escapes his lips along with ‘Night,’ as he turns on his side, facing away from you.

His demeanor is different, almost as if he’s let down his guard. You’ve never seen him distraught before.

“Namjoon?”

He hums but doesn’t turn around to face you.

“Is everything okay with your mom?”

Namjoon clears his throat. “Yeah, she’s okay. At least, I hope so.”

You’re nibbling on your bottom lip. “I couldn’t help but overhear she’s having surgery?”

“Oh—yeah, we, um, recently found out she has breast cancer and has to have a mastectomy.”

“Joon,” you utter. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay? How are you feeling?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he stammers, shifting himself into a more comfortable position. “Everything happened so fast, and I feel like I haven’t had time to process my thoughts. I’m trying my best to stay strong, you know?”

You place your hand under your cheek as you’re staring at his backside. The two of you stay silent for a moment.

“I get that,” you say, lying on your back, bringing the duvet to cover you. “Um, my mom also went through breast cancer a few years ago, if it’s any consolation, I suppose breast cancer is one of the better ones to have? If that’s such a thing—I mean, there’s a lot of research that’s gone into it, and there’s so much support out there if she wants it. So, um, yeah, just keep your head up. Your mom will be okay.”

Namjoon mumbles, “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

He doesn’t turn to you, and you don’t blame him. You have been a bit of an ass to him, but you’re not made of stone—there’s a heart buried somewhere inside.

Flipping on your side, your backs are facing one another, and you hear a sniffle. Immediately, you turn back, hesitant about being in this position. In the time you’ve known Namjoon, he’s never cried in front of you. There are more sniffles, and you can hear him holding back whatever’s caught in his throat.

Your heart’s racing, your breath is slow and controlled. You shift closer to him, removing the pillow you had placed in the middle to separate the two of you.

“Joon?”

He wipes his nose and clears his throat. “Yeah?”

“Would it be okay if I hugged you?”

Namjoon hums in agreement, and you take it upon yourself to inch closer to him. Somehow he seems so much smaller when you’re this close. You snake your arm underneath him, wrapping it around his waist, pressing your body against his. It takes a moment for him to register what’s happening, and then his hand finds yours, entwining them together.

You’ve been where he has and any kind of surgery is scary, especially when it’s a loved one. Your mind can only wander to the worst-case scenarios.

Your bodies are in sync as you can feel his chest rise and fall. But his breath is ragged and shaky. You suppose he’s fighting off any tears threatening to fall.

“You can tell me to fuck off.”

He chuckles. “No, I like this. It feels nice.”

Your mind finally settled during the night, and you could fall asleep. Namjoon’s snores were your alarm clock this morning. The weight of his arm draped over your waist. It was a familiar feeling—just like the day after you had slept with him. Only this time, all your clothes were on, and there was no accompanying headache.

Peering over your shoulder, he was still fast asleep, so this was your chance to sneak away. You were hoping to go over your presentation a few more times before your meeting today with the publisher. But as soon, as you decide to slip away, a buzzing from Namjoon’s side causes you to close your eyes and pretend like you weren’t trying to get up.

It buzzes a few times before Namjoon stirs awake, fumbling around to find his phone. “Hello?” he says in a groggy, raspy voice.

You shift away from him, snuggling underneath the duvet. The conversation is indistinct, and you can’t hear anything but Namjoon’s responses.

“Wait—” Namjoon sits up, turning away from you, his feet planted on the ground. “You want me to do what?”

He’s frustrated by whatever he was told.

“No, I can’t do that to her.” He quickly peers in your direction, and he sees you fast asleep. The voice on the other line continues along with Namjoon’s frustration. He’s rubbing his temple and sighs. “Please don’t make me do this. She already hates me as is.”

You can’t help but wonder who’s on the other line and who the ‘she’ is.

Namjoon shakes his head, and his voice quiets down. “She’s been working so hard on this presentation. I can’t just take this from her.”

Your heart sinks when you realize he’s talking about you. There’s no one else doing a presentation, and Namjoon was working with this author before they were handed back to you.

“Okay, okay. I’ll let her know,” he said dejectedly. Namjoon doesn’t even say goodbye. He’s crouched over, elbows on his knees as his head hangs low.

The soft chimes of your alarm go off. You wait a few seconds before reaching for your phone to silence it. Sitting up, you glance over at Namjoon who’s looking right at you.

“Morning. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“No, my alarm woke me up,” you say before flipping the duvet over. You stand, smoothing down your hair. “Big presentation today. I should get ready for the day.”

You’re ready to run to the bathroom, but Namjoon stops you. “Um, about that.”

Slowly, you turn to him. “What about it?”

Namjoon’s hands are entwined, and his thumbs fiddled out of nervousness. “Ms. Davis called and wants me to do the presentation.”

You suck in your lower lip, gently chewing on it. “But I worked on it like a madwoman last night. Why would Ms. Davis ask me to do it and then go back to asking you?”

A buzzing from your phone interrupts you. The screen flashes ‘Ms. Davis.’ You peer at Namjoon, then answer the phone. “Hello? Ms. Davis?”

“Good morning, ____. I hope you slept well.”

You hum in response.

“I know I asked you to go to New York, but now that Namjoon is there. I think it’ll be better if he does the presentation. He just has a way with words, and I think he’ll be able to land this deal, don’t you think?”

Namjoon avoids your gaze by scrolling on his phone. You remember Namjoon’s words from the day before, ‘What Ms. Davis wants, Ms. Davis gets.’

You take a moment before responding. “Why yes, Ms. Davis, I agree. Namjoon would be perfect for this presentation.”

She continues about supporting him in whatever way he needs today, and you’re seething like a teakettle that’s ready to burst. You agree with everything she says.

“Mmhm, yes. I’ll make sure he has everything he needs.”

You bid her a chipper farewell before hanging up. Your phone’s clenched in your hand, and your chest is heaving. Thoughts are running rampant—you’re ready to quit on the spot.

Licking your lips, you look at Namjoon. “Well, good luck with your presentation today. Don’t ruin it for our author and Ms. Davis.”

Namjoon shakes his head. “No–you worked hard on it. You should do it.”

You scoff. “Don’t act like you don’t want to take this from me, Joon. It’s what you’re good at. You always get your way—just like when we were in school and now even at work. No matter how hard I work for everything, you’re there to reap the reward.”

His jaw clenches. He stands, walking to you. “You’re so fucking exhausting,” he spits out. “You think I’m some guy who’s out to get you or wants the worst for you–it’s like whatever preconceived notion you’ve fabricated has overlooked the fact that I’m a pretty decent guy if you could get past whatever thing that I’ve done to tick you off.” He sighs. “I’m telling you to do the presentation, but here you are blaming me.”

The warmth from his body is scorching as he nears you–it matches the energy firing inside you. Here he is, allowing you to shoot your shot, but you’re stubborn and temperamental.

Your gaze pierces through him. “Do whatever you want, Joon. I quit.”

Quickly, you gather your things, stuffing them into your carry-on. You know how ridiculous it sounds, but Kim Namjoon tends to bring out your foolishness. You’ve had seven years of him right by your side, which was too many for you. Maybe it was time to find a private island with no form of communication to escape him.

Namjoon doesn’t stop you, he lets you leave. He knows how strong-willed you are and once you’ve decided, there’s no changing it.

You wash up in the hotel lobby’s restroom, rushing off to nowhere because well–you had quit and home was two hours away by flight and it wasn’t leaving until tonight.

Cars and buses screech to a halt along with the sounds of never-ending honking. Chattering from tourists and bicyclists whiz by your side. There’s never a dull moment so you can get your head on straight. 

A buzzing from your bag goes unnoticed because you’re too busy figuring out the next steps. You don’t know what you’re doing. Quitting, so suddenly? Was it out of spite? If you couldn’t even handle Namjoon, how would you handle the next prick that came along? 

You held your arm out, trying to hail a cab, but no one stopped. Well, it was probably the worst time to grab one, anyway. Checking your phone, you noticed a missed call and a voicemail, and it wasn’t from anyone you were expecting.

It was from Noa Skye, the author you were trying to get published.

“Hey ____. I know I’ve been working with Namjoon for the last several months, but when I heard that you’re doing the meeting with HarperCollins instead, I screamed! I know you’ll be able to pitch my book well because you love this story as much as I do. So, yeah, I just wanted to call and wish you good luck. You’re going to do great. Talk to you soon!”

Your heart sank to your stomach when you heard Noa’s voicemail. It was true–you loved her story, and you wanted the entire world to read it so they could laugh and cry along with you. Her book deserved to be on bookshelves and New York’s best-seller list.

Should you buck up the courage and walk in with your head held high? And for once, maybe Namjoon was right–that you were looking for someone to blame and he was conveniently the scapegoat.

Noa deserved better than this ongoing battle between you and Namjoon; maybe more you than him–but regardless, you needed to set aside your ego for the sake of your author.

Huffing out a deep breath, you pulled your hair back, ready to fight for this presentation.

Namjoon was typing furiously, looking through his previous notes on Noa’s novel. He wished he had spoken to you about what you had outlined to get a better grasp. You and Noa had been working on her novel for a couple of months before Namjoon came into the picture. Surely, he knew how to charm the pants off publishers, but sometimes he felt like you captured the heart of these stories better than he did.

You’re jabbing the number seven several times, encouraging the elevator doors to close. Looking at your phone, there’s half an hour before the presentation. You hoped it was enough time to sort things out with Namjoon and go over your outline.

Turning the corner, you find Namjoon sitting with a laptop. He looks up, almost relieved when he sees you, but of course, he doesn’t make it known.

“Thought you quit,” he says when you’re near.

You flash a thin smile, sitting beside him. “I never waste a moment where I can rescue you, because it looks like you need my help.” A glimpse of a nearly empty page proves your point.

In normal Namjoon fashion, he’s ready to bite back, but he holds his tongue. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

You scoff, rolling your eyes. “You can say ‘thanks’ and I’ll call it even.” He mumbles something indistinct and you cup your hand up to your ear. “I’m sorry. I can’t hear you over the sound of your ego.”

His shoulders slump, and he cocks his head. “Thanks, ___. I owe you one.”

Wiggling in your chair, you’re smiling proudly because this is the first genuine show of gratitude from Kim Namjoon.

“Here’s what I have. Can you tell me what you and Noa have been working on?”

Even without visuals, you felt the presentation went well and did Noa justice with her novel. Namjoon was another surprise. He didn’t interrupt, waited until you finished before adding in his two cents.

Although the presentation and trip to New York were short and sweet, it was eye-opening for you because you had been toying with the idea of opening up a literary agency. The sound of being your own boss sounded lovely.

“We did good, huh?” Namjoon says as he stands beside you.

“We?” You quirk an eyebrow.

He tilts his head. “You. You did a good job.”

You stand proud outside of the hotel’s driveway as the two of you wait for an Uber. “I know. I always save the day.”

Namjoon chuckles. “Well, have a good flight back home.”

Whipping your head back to him, your brows stitched in confusion. “Are you not going back to Chicago?”

He shakes his head. “My mom’s surgery got moved up, so I’m flying straight to Seoul. I’ll be back in Chicago in two weeks.”

“Oh,” you mumble. “I hope everything goes well.”

“Thanks,” he flashes a small smile. A car pulls up to him. “Looks like my ride's here. I’ll see you.”

Namjoon grabs his carry-on, ready to leave, but you stop him. “Joon–” He turns back around. “I’m sorry about what happened this morning. You’re right. I haven’t treated you nicely and have blamed you for a lot of things over the years, and it’s no one’s fault, but my own. I hope things go well with your mom, and if you ever need anyone to talk to, you can call me.”

He lets out a soft chuckle. “Call you, hmm?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I don’t, actually.”

“Just–” you groan. “You know what? Never mind. I don’t even know why I tried.”

Namjoon lets go of his carry-on and walks back to you. “I’m messing with you.” He chuckles lowly, taking another step closer to you. He lifts your chin with his forefinger, his dragon eyes gazing into yours. “It’s our thing, isn’t it? You hate me, I hate you. We find some kind of common ground, then fall in love. Isn’t that in all the books we read?”

You lick your lips and nod, pointing to yourself. “Me? Fall in love with you? Don’t push your luck, Joon.”

--

read 'under the mistletoe' (a don't push your luck drabble)

[oddlittlestories]

Okay but actually if House and Wilson are having sex the whole time… it’s bleak.

- you fall in love with a man after his divorce. maybe he loves you too?

- he gets married to a woman. he doesn’t even like her. she knows about you two.

- you meet someone. she seems great, until she overrides your consent to save your life. it saves your life. it destroys your life. it ruins your ability to trust.

- you basically give up on looking for someone else. you can’t really be with your boy best friend, but at least he’s protective in a way you trust.

- wife # 2 comes and goes. wife #3 comes and goes. she’s never more important than you. except for being the wife.

- you think he’s stopped trying to find a long-term partner other than you. it only hurts a little when he finds stupid short-term flings.

- you offer to be a sperm donor for a friend / former flame trying IVF. she excitedly involves you in the process even if she doesn’t want your sperm. maybe this is how you get a family.

- she stops.

- your boy best friend starts seeing someone new. he actually likes her this time—because she actively reminds him of you. you can’t decide whether this is better or worse.

- you decide it’s better. you come to a “strange detente” with her. he’s happy. you’re mostly happy but you sabotage them a bit. lightheartedly. mostly.

- she gets in an accident because of you. your boy best friend is trying to protect you until you all realize it’s her.

- he asks you to risk your life to save her. you’ve always needed to go to extremes, in a desperate situation like this. he knows that. but he may also value her life over yours.

- you do it. it fails. he leaves.

- at least your old flame is there and you’re not completely alone.

- you’re bad at being vulnerable, but you ask him to stay. he leaves.

- you figure out that he is just scared. you make up.

- your old flame adopts a child, but you are not involved in any way.

- you begin to hallucinate. you fear this will result in losing your boy best friend. when you check into Mayfield, you believe that it has.

- but when you move out, you move in with him. you don’t really care if he has sex with the neighbor. you’ve been having sex with other people the whole time, and honestly the competition is kind of hot.

- you settle in. no more dating. he furnishes your apartment, and the one thing he picks? a way of saying he wants you.

- you don’t have a conversation about the relationship, but you’re pretty sure you’re essentially married now. you two have always felt that actions speak louder than words anyways.

- then he dates his ex-wife who used the hell out of him. you spiral, hostile and angry.

- he’s never going to see you and him as a real relationship. you’re never going to be good enough in that way. never never never

- your old flame is falling in love with someone else. you get jealous.

- she decides her feelings for you are greater. it’s your one last shot at a partnership. you can’t screw it up

- but deep down you know

- you know you’ll never be good enough

- she just hasn’t figured it out yet

- she figures it out

- you spiral, but this time it’s a free fall

- by this point, you know the dirty little secret of your life. your boy best friend will never be with you, but he’ll never leave you either. you tell him to do whatever he needs to do to get over it. he does.

- he has cancer. treatment doesn’t work.

- you’ve lived in pain, physical and emotional, for decades. he won’t live in pain for two years for you.

- you believe a miserable life is better than a miserable death. he believes a merciful death is better. you have never been able to reconcile this one fundamental difference between you.

- you never will

- the repetition becomes trite: you spiral

- it’s going to cost you everything. you should just give up.

- you find another way out. you fake your death to share his last five months with him.

- you run away together

- everyone will say you were selfish. an ass. they will say you never thought of anyone but yourself. they will say your boy best friend sacrificed and sacrificed. they will never see what you gave to him.

- story of your life

[itneverendshere]

should've said it. ii - rafe cameron (one shot)

requested: "a Rafe x reader smut where she cheats on her bf with Rafe and at an event where she's with her boyfriend she notices Rafe staring at her and all the flashbacks leave her horny and needy for his touch and his touch only. Maybe some angst with her boyfriend catching them in the act."

part i.

warnings: cheating; smut; p in v; rafe being hot; ex friends with benefits; friends with benefits to lovers; angst!!; heartbreak; think that's it. ENJOY

After that night, every day felt like someone took a fire to the inside of your stomach.

It was hot, burning even. You were uncomfortable whenever it came because it was a feeling you couldn’t suppress. You’ve felt it ever since that night, and it only ever grew as the days progressed.

You’d think a smart person like yourself would stop. Realize that what you did, what you were doing to Blake was wrong, but alas…It was hard to make any coherent thoughts or decisions when you were full of Rafe Cameron. As in every day, every time you two crossed paths, even when you woke up, all you could do was think about him.

And that stupid mouth. 

So, it’s not exactly a surprise to you when it happens again, and again, and again. 

Really, at this point, you should know better. You should’ve left this forsaken town the moment you fell into his trap. 

You didn’t intend to spend another night with Rafe’s cock inside you, pistoling his hips back and forth vigorously. You couldn’t remember how you ended up with him again. His hand was wrapped around your throat, squeezing just enough so you would keep quiet, for your own sake. You’re sure he wasn’t the least bit concerned about getting caught.

Your lips broke away from his, but you were still an inch apart.

“We, we can’t–“  You tried to say, but words turned to mumbles as he closed the gap, hips grinding into yours. His free hand tightened around your waist as your hands found home in his hair. You wanted to tense up, push him off you, to give a speech about how good your life had been since he broke your heart, but you also wanted this, again. 

You wanted more. 

The first-floor bathroom you stumbled in, in the country club, was dangerously close to where everyone, all your friends and boyfriend, were hanging out. You could faintly hear the music blaring from the other room, the chatting, but you knew you would’ve been heard over all of that if he wanted to.

The squelching noises were probably loud enough to be heard just outside the door. This time, the sex was messy, quick, sloppy but so fucking good you could feel your toes curling. Rafe’s mouth was attached to your neck, biting down to try to muffle his own noises.

You almost came on the spot every time he’d accidentally let out a moan.

You were too far into your own pleasure to care about anything else at the moment, more specifically the set of knocks at the door. It wasn’t until Blake’s voice sounded through your ears you snapped your head up, eyes wide.

“Baby, everything good in there? You’ve been gone for ages.”

Fuck.

Rafe lifted his head from your shoulder, merely looking at you. You could read him like an open book, so you mouthed a quick “Don’t.”

Which he ignored. You could see it in his eyes, they had this mischievous tint to them, one you hadn’t seen in years. You would’ve cursed him right out if it wasn’t for the fact your boyfriend was just inches away while your ex-fling was inside you.

“Baby?”

Every nickname that came from Blake’s mouth felt like a stab to Rafe’s heart. If he didn’t care about you as much as he did, if he wasn’t in love with you, he’d go back to his old ways and make sure your boyfriend heard you cum around his cock.

But he played good for you…As good as Rafe Cameron could play.

He loosened his grip on your throat and nodded his head at your unsure, terrified expression.

“Y-yeah. Everything’s fine!”

“You’re sure? Want me to get you some water?”

Rafe brought his thumb down to your clit and you gasped before you could even process his actions. His smirk was telling enough that he was enjoying this a lot more than he should.

You bit into your bruised bottom lip so hard you felt like you drew blood, “I’m fine! I’ll be out in a second.”

“Okay. By the way, did you see Cameron? That Topper dude is looking for him.”

Oh, you’ve seen him all right. 

“Better answer, pretty,” Rafe whispered in your ear, amusement lacing his tone. As if he wasn't dragging his cock inside you just the way you liked.

Your eyes were so far at the back of your head, you shouldn't be that aroused. Your hands clamped down on his firm biceps, pussy squeezing his cock like a vice.

“Haven’t seen him.”

You answered with whatever self-control you had left. 

“Alright, well, I’m gonna go back inside. Hurry up, you’re missing all the fun.”

You were not missing all the fun.

Rafe let out a huff of amusement at that because he knew. One look into your fucked up expression and he knew the damn fun in question was right there, between your two bodies.

That should’ve been the last time.

You should’ve seen it as a warning, but you didn’t. Because whatever you and Rafe had was too good to let go. You barely spoke to each other, only lingering looks and then you found yourself on top of him, under him, on top of a counter, wherever, whenever. 

You were doing more damage to you and him than you’d like to admit, but at least you had something.

Attempting to convince yourself it was a meaningless fling was stupid.

Attempting to convince yourself that you didn’t love him anymore was even more stupid. You made sure he never got the chance to open his mouth again and confess his undying love for you, otherwise you’d walk out the door.

Your mother, save her terrible kook tendencies, always told you: love was comfort and protection, nurture, and acceptance, calm and passionate, stoic, and spontaneous, generous and forgiving. Somehow, even with no words, only actions, that’s exactly how you felt when you were with him, dreading the moment you had to make your way back to Blake’s arms.

Truth to be told, you hadn’t touched Blake in months. It was a miracle he was still around. Sometimes you wondered if he got his fair share somewhere else, which you didn’t care if he did.

You’ve only found love with Rafe Cameron, and even then, you’re not sure if you can call it by its name since the outcome was disastrous. In your terrible efforts to cage your heart from his touch, you’ve come to describe Rafe as a monster but now…now that you’re gambling with so many hearts, you’re not sure if you are any different. Worst of all things? You don’t feel an ounce of regret in your heart. That flash of love, anger, lust, with him…how can you regret something you’ve been longing for? How can someone regret something that felt right? 

No matter how fleeting the moments with him were, you’ve never felt so close to your element, in years. Rafe always brought your true colors, the part of you that’s hidden from others to the surface. The thought of him, all of him, just the whisper of your imagination is enough to leave you in shambles. 

You had no thoughts, no focus, only desire and the pain of waiting since that night. You’d get your refill, and then you were back to aching. 

But the big question remained: Were you two fucking in love or fucking each other up?

Honestly, you should be mad. Furious. How could you let him stroll back into your life with absolutely no consequences? No fight? So easily? 

After the last time, your phone rang for days. Missed calls, voicemails left unanswered, texts left unread. You weren’t sure how he got a hold of your new number. You weren’t keen on finding out either. You couldn’t bear facing him. If you pretended he didn't exist, maybe it would ease the pain.

You’d never be embarrassed about being with someone you love, but being caught cheating on the man you’re dating, a rich, influential man, wouldn’t look too good to the public eye. 

Sarah’s wolf whistle shattered your daydreaming, heart jumping right into your throat, heart beating even more rapidly than when you two had been running to the party venue. 

Another stupid kook event. Can’t say you missed them. 

“Are you even listening?”

“No? I can’t believe you dragged me out. You know I hate the country club.” You grumbled as Sarah Cameron dragged you through the doors. 

The flimsy light blue sundress suddenly felt tight around your torso and limbs. Although she guaranteed you that Rafe wasn’t attending, you couldn’t help but scan the room for his face. The last time you were here…A faint blush dotted your face as you walked past the so-called powder room and recounter a much more intimate meeting with the older Cameron sibling just days ago.

No. Stop thinking about him. 

“The country club hates us back, so what? It’s summer, you’re finally back and we’re going to get shit-faced now that I’m legal.”

“Because you’ve never had a drink before,” you sighed, sarcasm lacing your tongue as you loosened your hold of her arm. Your body automatically rested against the bar’s counter, “You forced me to come, you’re paying.”

Sarah gave you a look at that, “You’re older.”

“And?”

“Fine,” She rolled her eyes as she turned her attention to the bartender, “Two pornstar martinis, please.”

You didn’t have the heart to tell her you to needed something stronger. It’s not like you could tell her you’ve accidentally fucked her older brother, more times than you could keep track of...in a stranger’s bedroom, in a bathroom, in the out open sea, while your current boyfriend at the time was somewhere close waiting for you. You really needed something to stop you from thinking, but the martinis would be sufficient for a while.

She sat beside you, leaning into your left shoulder close enough to smell her sickly-sweet perfume. Some things never changed.

“So…” Sarah paused, taking a sip from her drink, honey-brown eyes seizing you up.

“So?”

“Can’t believe Rafe had to do the walk of shame because of you.”

A little embarrassment you could take. Not that though. You felt like you couldn’t breathe, something thick and rough curling around your stomach.

“What?” You tried to keep your voice light, steady even. You played nonchalantly with your fingers, trying not to pick your nails. A nervous habit you had yet to grow out. 

“He told me.”

You struggled to keep your face neutral, feeling the sinking realization that this, whatever this was, was no longer your dirty little secret. The Rafe Cameron you remember despised his little sister and would’ve never confessed something so personal to her. 

“Told you what, exactly?”

You could barely focus on the conversation, your mind racing as Sarah moved in her seat to explain.

“I know what happened between you two when you were in college” She was frowning even as you tried to give her a trembling, sad smile, “And trust me when I say you had every right to walk away. He was a train wreck back then, as awful as they come.”

“Sarah..”

“He’s different now. Better, he even stood up to dad you know?” Sarah chuckled, knowing there was no other reason for you to be drinking that fast unless you were upset or mad, “So imagine my surprise when he barged through my bedroom last night, completely shitfaced and crying his heart out.”

Each word felt like a knife sinking into your chest. The realization that you’d hurt him suddenly, thick and sour. He cried? God, what were you thinking. You opened your mouth, but no words came out, you know you have fucked up majorly.

“He didn’t go into details, obviously,” She assured you, taking in your frenzied expression, “But I think you should talk to him.”

You felt bile rise in your throat, “I don’t think I can.”

“I love you, you know that. And I know that he hurt you, but hurting him back isn’t going to do any good to your sanity, or Blake’s.”

You grimaced, closing your eyes at the way her voice seemed to boom in your ears, “I can’t.”

You stood up then, the floor shaking beneath you. Your hand was tight around hers, your knuckles white but with every silent second that passed your fingers loosened, falling limp.  

“I don’t want you and Rafe to hurt again,” Her voice was sharp, and in your overthinking moment, it almost sounded critical.

“I can take care of myself.”

“Do you love my brother?” She asked, attitude easing up. “If you don’t, it’s not worth it. It’s not worth ruining a relationship for someone you don’t love, trust me.”

Your shoulders sagged. You felt so tired, defeated. 

You softly smiled at your friend, and she smiled back, but you could see the concern in her eyes “'Course I do.”

You’d been good at pretending with Blake. Pretending you were happy when you were clearly not, pretending you were calm when you were downright furious. You pretended because, sincerely? It didn’t matter. As harsh and cruel it may sound to someone else, Blake didn’t matter. You could no longer lie convincingly to yourself.

“Have you told him?" 

“Don't need to,” you said, defensiveness creeping into your voice.

"I think he would like to know."

“We’re not really on speaking terms.”

Sarah clasped a hand on your shoulder, she knew better than to argue.

She was sure you were going to figure things out for yourself, but she couldn’t help but push you in that direction, “He’s home.”

A spark of hope and fear appeared within you, waiting to ignite into a flame. You expelled a shaky breath.

“Sarah,” You said, frustration rising in your belly, breaking your barely composed face, “I don’t know.”

She only hummed in response, compassion clear in her warm brown eyes as she studied you, “Just think about it.”

And think about it you did.

For another entire week. You’ve always known what you really wanted, at this point you were just making up excuses to avoid the inevitable.

In the meantime, breaking up with Blake was easy and the smartest idea you’ve had in years. Straight to the point, understanding even. It’s not like he was head over heels for you either, but you could tell he was still hurt, so you chose to omit the entire truth. You’re in love with someone else, that’s more than enough to end a relationship and should’ve been more than enough to not start one. 

You’re a terrible person. But you were much more worried about Rafe than you’ve ever been about your ex. You played him along the entire summer, for sex and he obeyed. Didn’t even question you or the situation once. As if he’d take whatever you gave him.

But you’re going to fix it.

It’s dizzying, it’s terrifying, and entirely disarming. Your frantic eyes sweep back and forth between the keys in your hand, the ones that grant you access to TanneyHill’s front door and the road behind you.

In disbelief or denial, perhaps. 

How many times had you walked in here for a family dinner, betting on who would start a fight that night? How many times had you walked into this house together, bumping his shoulder playfully as you chuckled at a joke he told? How many times had you both drunkenly shushed each other, trying not to laugh too loudly after a party?

Everything in this house reminds you of him.

The fight is lost the moment you walk in. Your footsteps echo on the marble floors as you make your way to his bedroom, trying to ignore the thoughts that hound you. You reach the hallway, intending to have a very long inner dialogue before knocking on his doors. 

But then, you hear your name uttered so softly, from his lips. 

You freeze. That voice, a baritone that awakens so many memories, and your heart speeds up. Slowly you turn, afraid that if you do so too fast the vision is going to disappear from your eyes all at once. You see him standing at the threshold of the room as he has done so many times before.

A shy smile pulls at his mouth as his shocking blue eyes lock with your own.

Running a hand through your disheveled hair briefly, you breathe slowly. I’m going crazy. You think to yourself. I’ve officially lost my mind.

Rafe steps into the room with you, closing the distance, “You’re here” he breathes in disbelief. 

His bedroom used to be familiar and comforting, but now it reminds you of the years you’ve spent apart. You remember you’d sit by his window when you were fourteen and in your hunger games phase, reading the books whenever you had a free moment. 

You’re his girl, and he wants to hold you, but he fights the urge to relax into you. He didn’t realize it was going to feel like this, like his heart was screaming and wailing until it could no longer, only to start back up again as soon as it could.

You try not to look at him, staring down at your hand instead. Your chest is heaving, and your expression has morphed from frustrated anger to one of disbelief, as you stare down at your palm. You try to ignore the anxious thoughts as if they are some kind of distant radio. 

“Sorry, I’m –I’m sorry,” You’re muttering, voice timid. Thick with something uncomfortable. “I shouldn't have – sorry. I shouldn’t have– ”

Rafe wraps his arms around you in a moment and you let your head rest upon his chest. All your thoughts stop as if your heart takes over your head when you’re this close to him. Next, he squeezes you as if he needs to check you are real, that you are really here with him, and you are, body and soul. Rafe holds you so close that your own chest rises and falls with each breath he takes. 

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for, pretty,” he mutters into your hair, “I was the one who fucked up everything. I'm sorry. I hate that I didn’t fight for you. I hate that I wasn’t enough, I hate that you had to see me at my lowest point. I hate that he was with you all nights. I hated that we didn’t speak and that you didn’t look at me and that you were looking at him and–”

He’s rambling now, all nonsense and tight breaths. It’s heartbreaking how messed up this whole situation is. He shakes his head almost mournfully, like no matter what he’ll say to you, you’ll never forgive him, almost as if he’s preparing himself to say goodbye to you and the possibility of the two of you if, that’s what you want.

You smooth your hand down his back, following the curve and dip of his spine, rubbing soothing circles into the base. He seems to melt into you at the touch, though he’s careful not to rest his weight on you.

You don’t think you’d mind it, really. You tug him closer, still.

“I broke up with Blake.”

Rafe can’t help his soft gasp. Because everything he’s ever wanted is now closer than ever. But despite the growing giddiness, he needs to know what it means, what it means for you, for him.

“What? When?”

“A week ago, after the last time we–,” you pause and sigh, involuntarily stroking his back with your thumb, “I realized that this is what I want.”

“I–" he coughs, clearing the heaviness out of his lungs, “I love you. I loved you then, I love you now, and I know I didn’t deserve you, I don’t think I deserve you still, no one does. And I’ll understand if you walk away.”

His voice is so soft, and without looking at him you know that there are tears forming in his eyes. 

“Don’t say that.”

“I was– um…I was an addict, pretty, you know that. I was drowning and I couldn’t let you join me,” He trails off, timid and low as if he’s afraid of scaring you off again, “I understand now, that I should’ve let you make your own decision, but I knew you were hurting, I felt it. I hated that you had to see the things I did to myself, the way I treated people.”

“You were hurting,” you grumble, eyebrows furrowed as you place your hands on his strong chest, pushing yourself away from him, as if his words inflicted pain in your heart. You watch a frown take over his pretty face at the loss of contact, missing your touch already, “I’m not making excuses for your behavior, you should’ve done better. But you’ve always been good to me, despite everything.”

“Not good enough baby,” He takes a step forward, bringing your body flush to his once again, his hand drops to his side as his pinky brushes delicately just across your hip bone, “I’m sorry.”

“When I returned home that night, I cried my eyes out. I sat on that couch forlornly, staring at the door, half-expecting you to burst through the door at any moment with an apology and kisses.”

Rafe’s eyes well up as you speak, biting down hard on the inside of his cheek to stop himself from crying. He almost did exactly that. You were, you are, the most important person in the world to him and he’d hurt you so much. You know your own tears threaten to spill.

You feel his heartbeat pound again as your hands rest on his chest, “But I understand now, it’s okay.” 

You whisper, pushing your body onto your tip toes to bring yourself closer to his face. His arms find home around your waist, resting his rough hands on your lower back, now with the physical ability to hold his world in his arms, you. 

“I don’t deserve you,” Rafe admits as if you’re in your own little word. He’s staring down at you, reaching down so his fingers ghost over your cheek, brushing a piece of hair back behind your ear. You feel the flush in your cheeks instantly as if he’s never seen you naked before.

“But if you let me, I’d like to spend this lifetime and the next, proving I’m good for you.”

“I’d like that Cameron,” your heart rate is so loud it would be embarrassing at any other given moment, you feel like you’re going to run out of excuses and just let him take you. 

His lips twist, trying to stop them from trembling. He’s been trying so hard, for years, to be better, to keep himself gathered, to find himself again. At the sound of his name falling from your mouth, sounding so much like love, he’s able to pull himself together.

“Yeah?”

His head is swirling with a newfound desire and relief to hear you admit your feelings for him so willingly, that what he feels for you is requited in the same amount.

“Yeah.”

His hand drifts up until it cups the side of your face, overwhelming you as he cradles you so gently. His thumb traces your jaw as his eyes bore straight into your being, “Lemme hear you say it.”

“I know that I’m selfish and I will never be able to express how sorry I am for that. But I want to be selfish one more time. I want to be happy, I want to be loved. And you’re the only person I’ve ever seen that happiness with. I love you.”

Both of you close your eyes, your lips barely brushing over each other.

“It’s always going to be you, Rafe.”

In a strained voice, he asks, “Really?”

You look into his ridiculously blue eyes and nod before he loses any sense of reality. Your heart clenches in sync with your thighs and suddenly there's nothing left to say, no other excuse to be had. 

He can’t stop himself as his hand firmly takes a hold of your neck and pulls you forward. His lips find yours and for a second you barely register the pressure. It’s delicate as if you’re both sixteen again, trying to savor the first touch. 

His lips move effortlessly against yours and you feel yourself melting in his arms, legs close to buckling beneath you if it wasn’t for his stronghold. His lips are soft, demanding, and teasing.

A whimper escapes from your mouth and at the sound, Rafe presses his lips harder against your own. You can’t stop yourself from letting your head lull back as you feel his thumb press against your pulse. 

The urgency builds up just as the throbbing in between your legs. The feeling engulfs you, you can’t help but arch into his chest. 

With a flick of his tongue, your hands dig into his back, and it pulls a groan from the back of his throat. Your hips buck forward into his, desperate to feel anything, everything. 

At the feeling of your movement, his teeth take a firm hold around your lower lip and pull back, releasing it with a pop. His eyes trace the way some of his saliva pools along your lower lip. He wants nothing more than to have this view for the rest of his life.

“I love you, pretty,” he whispers lowly, finger twisting around the string of your mini skirt, as his eyes scan your face with the utmost softness you’ve ever seen, “But I’m about to fuck you against the wall.”

As his lips find your collarbone, his hands take hold of your thighs before you can process his words and you’re up, around his hips. A small noise escapes your mouth at the sudden feeling, your feet coming off the ground, his core meeting yours. 

“Is that a threat, Cameron?”

Teasingly, his hands trail down the outside of your thighs before firmly wrapping around your ass. He glances up at you and smirks as you arch into him again, his breath fanning across your breasts through the thin material of your top.

“It’s a promise, pretty.”

[remusluvr]

everybody wants to rule the world | steve harrington

summary: Sometimes it takes a life-threatening event for people to finally admit their feelings. content: female reader, jealousy, angst, Vecna, a singular kiss, a love confession, unedited, usage of y/n

He's protective of her. You notice it right away, the way that his eyes linger longer on her when she's walking away. When something bad happens, he glances over to see if she's okay. He doesn't do that with you. No, not even after months of you don't even know what to call you and Steve.

You two are not dating, but you're also not hooking up. You go to each other for comfort, especially after everything that happened at Starcourt Mall. Maybe he had never even seen you as an option for romance. Maybe you're simply just friends. Friends that have so many sleepovers it should be illegal. Friends that cuddle up together at usually any chance they get. Friends that go off just them two during hangouts with others to be alone. Friends that call each other the sweetest nicknames. Just friends.

But you watch the way Steve is with Nancy. It's so obvious how much he misses her. It makes your entire body ache at the idea of not being just friends with him anymore because he's realized he still loves his ex-girlfriend.

Why shouldn't you think that? He's barely even spared you a glance at all during your adventures around town trying to figure out a way to defeat Vecna with El out in California. Nancy is always right there, soaking up his attention.

When he gets pulled down into the water, she's the first to jump right in as you fumble around, trying to calm your heartbeat. Steve could be dying and you are trying to not have a panic attack instead of doing something about it like Nancy. He deserves someone like Nancy, is what you tell yourself over and over and over again. Steve and Nancy deserve each other. Secretly, you wish that they won't figure that out. That he won't leave you completely in the dust.

"Maybe after we're all done saving the world, we could all go out or something. Y'know, me, you, Robin, Jonathan, when he gets back, and (Y/N)," Steve suggests to Nancy as she picks cobwebs out of his mess of hair. You're just around the corner and hear me fumbling over his words. He must really miss her.

Ignoring the sting of tears that are fighting to escape you come into the room, following after Robin. Steve looks at you for what must be the first time in days but you can't look at him. It makes your stomach twist.

You feel stupid for thinking that you and Steve could ever be more. Swallowing the lump in your throat you mumble how you're gonna take a step outside. No one acknowledges you.

It's absolutely disgusting out here and you take a seat on the upside-down version of the house's front step. You wrap your arms around your knees, laying your cheek on them just to get a moment's break from everything. You want to sob your entire heart out. Everything has been way too overwhelming lately.

"What are you doing out here?" Robin asks as she steps through the front door. You glance back and shrug.

"Don't know. Just needed a break," you sigh, turning back to lay your head down on your knees again. She hums, sitting down beside you. You enjoy her company but right now you just wish you were alone. "Hey, do you think-"

"(Y/N)?" Robin calls out as she turns your body towards her. You're frozen, eyes rolled to the back of your head. She screams for Steve and Nancy who come barreling out.

"What happened?!" Steve shouts, rushing toward you. He's shaking as his hand press down onto your shoulders. "We need music. Please tell me someone has some type of tape."

He can't stop looking at you hoping that you can see him despite knowing that you can't. You're somewhere else completely.

--

There are vines covering the walls of your childhood bedroom and you can hear your father calling from downstairs. You're freaking out because this is not where you just were, sitting outside with Robin.

The realization of what is happening kicks in. You need to get out. Going for the window, you find it boarded up. You race down the stairs, past your "father" who is screaming at you like he always did when you were little and your aim is for the front door. However, boards fly over it just as you get close enough.

"It's going to take a lot more than that to get out of here," an eerie voice calls out. It's booming and you wonder if the others are also able to hear it. Despite Vecna's warning, you try at the door anyway.

--

"Please tell me someone has the new Tears for Fears album! Please!" Steve shouts, looking frantically at Nancy and Robin who shake their heads. "No, no, no."

--

"Baby?"

"Steve?" Despite all that's happened up to this moment, hearing Steve's voice is like a miracle. You rush through the newly unboarded back door of your house. "Steve!"

Vecna is playing games with you, now putting you at the edge of Lover's Lake. You see Steve's car, rushing toward it when you notice people inside. For just a moment, there is visible relief in you but it drains quickly as you notice who the people are. Steve and Nancy.

Tears spring into your eyes as you notice they're making out. Your voice is quieter as you call out for him. He looks over, smirks before turning to kiss Nancy one last time.

"Why would I choose you over her? I love Nancy, not you," Steve taunts, walking toward you. You cry as he approaches you, cradling yourself in your own arms. "You mean nothing to me."

--

"Max!" Steve screams as she, Lucas, and the rest of them show up. She runs up, frantic. "Do you have the new Tears for Fears album?!"

"I-I have their one new song. Fuck, it's um- it's Everybody Wants To Rule The World."

He practically rips it from her when she holds it out, shoving the headphones over your ears. Steve wants to throw up, and cry, and throw himself into the nearest body of water. He'd do anything to make sure you were safe right now. He listens to the faint sound of your favorite song, hope filling his body.

--

You look around as the opening to your favorite song booms out. And then, suddenly, everything is red and there are spikes everywhere.

"Welcome to your life. There's no turning back. Even when we sleep, we will find you."

Spinning around you notice an opening out in the distance. It's now or never. You see your friends surrounding you, Steve with his hands pressed over the pair of headphones over your head.

"There's a room where the light won't find you. Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down. When they do, I'll be right behind you."

You watch as your body starts to float into the air and Steve goes crazy.

"Steve!" you scream but nothing comes out of the body he can see. The opening back to safety opens up more and you start to sprint toward it, not stopping even as Vecna tries to stop you with falling rocks.

"All for freedom and for pleasure. Nothing ever lasts forever. Everybody wants to rule the world."

--

You focus on running, jumping through the opening as the last of the song plays. You fall from the sky but Steve is there to catch you, cradling you into him. His eyes clench shut as he holds you to him, both of your breathing still not returning to normal.

"You're okay, baby. You're okay," he whispers, kissing the top of your head. The others back off a little as Steve helps you calm down. You cry into his chest and he wishes that he could comfort you for as long as you need. But, you're still in the upside down and Vecna obviously knows that you're here.

You've gotten so lucky and both of you know that. He could've easily never been able to hold you ever again. He vows to never take an eye off of you again.

Steve knows he's been preoccupied. He knows he hasn't been treating you the best. And there is nothing more he wants than to tell you how he feels. He doesn't love Nancy.

He loves you.

You come out of your hiding place that is his chest and wipe at your tears. His hands are firm at the sides of your face as his eyes do a scan over your whole self.

"I-I'm sorry, Steve," you whimper out and his heart breaks.

"Why are you apologizing, sweetheart?"

"I don't know. For worrying everyone, I suppose."

"Don't apologize. It's not your fault. Holy fuck, don't you dare apologize. I'm so glad you're okay," he says whilst smiling down at you. You smile back but pull away from him.

"I'm just gonna take a minute to myself," you mumble and start walking in the opposite direction from him but he's quick to catch you.

"If you think I'm letting you out of my sight ever again then you're crazy. I didn't even know you were out here. When Robin screamed that something was wrong with you, it felt like I was going to die. I can't let something bad happen to you again."

"Steve. I'm okay, thank you for helping me. I just need a minute. You can go back to talking with Nancy." You don't believe him. Yes, he was probably scared but so were Nancy and Robin. Everyone was scared. You wouldn't want that to happen to anyone standing around the front of this house but that doesn't mean you love them in that way. You pull your arm from his grip continuing to walk away from him and it takes him a minute before he jogs to catch up with you.

The two of you are further from the group now. Your conversation is more private.

"(Y/N), I don't want Nancy. I thought I did, I won't lie. I did think that but I want you. Not her. We never worked and we won't ever work. You mesh so well with me, perfectly if I say so myself. We work. And I love you. I need you to know that because I love you so much and thinking that I'd never be able to tell you that made me want to join you in Vecna's trap just so he could take me too," he confesses. You stare at him, his hair all messed up and his clothes dirtier than ever. He thinks he's said the wrong thing and just as he thinks to backtrack on his confession you kiss him.

His head is spinning, but in a good way now as you kiss him and he kisses you. He smiles against your lips and it's like you're in a dream.

"Stevie, I love you too."

He feels like the king of the world.

[stainedstardom]

Hey I would like to request a Chad x reader! There are very few and he’s like so underrated.

I was hoping for like Chad has had a crush on you since you’ve comforted him after losing his ex and you have always been there for him. So you and the and the group(tara, Mindy, Anika, Quinn, and Ethan) go to a party. At the party Mindy and Tara convinced him to tell you how he feels bc they know you feel the same(like y’all are obsessed.) so when he goes to find you, he see’s this random guy flirting and touching you. He can also see that your very uncomfortable and you tell him to leave you alone in the guy doesn’t listen. Soo full of angry and jealousy he walks over to you guys grab you by the waist and just kisses you harshly infront on the guy. And the kiss turns into a heated MAKEOUT session.

If you want you can turn it into fluff or smut it doesn’t matter!

YES YES YES, SECOND CHAD ASK. I LOVE YOU

SHES MINE

chad meeks martin x reader!!!

when chad lost her, he felt lost himself. like he was gone and never going to find himself and that's when you showed up, let him in and took care of him. he liked it, that's why he liked you. you cared and trusted him. you've been there for him for everything

including this stupid party, why were you here? why didn't you stay home in your dorm? oh I know why, chad. it was always chad, you would probably jump off of a cliff if he asked you too.

you stood in the corner as you sipped out of the cup that chad had handed you as you looked around, at least everyone else was having fun.

"jesus chad just tell how you feel" mindy told her brother who stared at you with heart eyes.

"what if she doesnt feel the same way?" he asked as he looked at mindy. they didn't see you stand up from the corner to get a drink but ethan did and so did another boy.

"you dumbass i can guarantee you she feels the same way, you should see the way she looks at you" anika said

"or talks about you, its so cute its gross" tara exclaimed and ethan smiled at her.

"okay yeah i can do this, the worse she can say is no right?" chad said as he hyped himself.

"yeah yeah now go get your girl" ethan stated and chad nodded.he turned as he went looking for you, he soon found you in the corner with boy. his hands were on your waist but you looked uncomfortable and like you wanted to leave

"oh come on, come with me" he said as he tried to bring you towards the stairs but you held your ground.

"no leave me alone, i dont want to go anywhere with you" you exclaimed and chad smiled softly. he was happy to see you defend yourself but it didn't last long

"oh dont play hard to get" the guy said, he wouldn't leave you alone. chad felt his hands clench and he didn't stop himself. you shoved the guys hands off of you as chad came over. he shoved you against the wall and put his mouth to yours. your eyes widened before you realized it was him.

you calmed down as you kissed him back and you felt him calm down too. his hands drifted down to your waist as he tugged your waist to his and you could feel his groin against yours.

"chad" you said into the kiss and he hummed only confirming the truth that it was him. you smiled as you ran your hand up to his hair and the other held his bicep. he smirked as he felt your grip tighten on his hair.

"jesus" the guy said and you two finally pulled away from each other. you felt chad remove his hand from your waist but he held your hand and kept the other on your waist as your other hand stayed on his bicep.

"i didnt know she had a boyfriend" he told chad and he laughed

"okay well , shes mine and she told you to leave her alone so walk the fuck away" he told the boy who stared at you. you didn't look at him, you wouldn't. you stared at chad in surprise,

"Im yours?" you asked and he turned to you once the boy left.

"youve always been mine and ive always been yours" he said and you smiled as you brought him in and kissed him again. he groaned into it but he held you close.

you were his and he was yours.

A/N: ugh chad, i want him so bad.