bexstlyy

[bexstlyy]

{adam}

Belle should have assumed that would be his answer but she always seemed to have more faith that one day he would lighten up a little bit. After he spoke she exhaled but held her place at his door until he asked about her actions. “I am waiting for you to come to the garden with me,” the girl said plainly. “You need to get out of this office. As much as you might try, you can’t hide in here forever. Come on, just for a little bit.” As stubborn as Adam could be she was entirely capable of matching it. 

Adam rolled his eyes but winced. It hurt, seeing as one of his eyes was still slightly swollen with bruising around it. A lot of him still hurt though-- physically and emotionally. He was certain Alexandre looked worse than himself. Adam threw punch after punch without so much as seeing through his blinding rage. His knuckles were still sore and bruised, and the skin was cracking. He just wanted to go home and drink until he fell asleep. “There’s people in the garden. I’m not going out there.” He set his book aside and crossed his arms. “If you really feel the need for my presence you can sit in here and read. Otherwise leave.”

[bexstlyy]

angeliquemathieu​:

.

Alexandre was filled with rage. It consumed all his body in manners he never knew could happen before. Adam struck a chord. It was bad enough that he didn’t care about his feelings by messing with Angelique, but Fiala was on a different ground. Fiala was someone Lumiere was very protective about. It became clear to him where his heart stands. In a split second, his aura changed and was possessed. He was ready to kill no matter who that person was.

“Don’t you fucking disrespect her.” Alex hit Adam’s face and soon enough they were fighting like mad dogs. Lumiere, who usually avoids conflict, was filled with adrenaline. He knew that Adam had never seen him like this before. He had piercing eyes ready to kill. His mind was fuzzy and for a moment he doesn’t seem to recognize anyone anymore, all he wanted was to break Adam. To regret he even dare speak of her.

Blood was everywhere, whether it was his or not was uncertain. Both of them spare no punches with the attacks until they heard a woman’s pain. Alexandre stopped and felt his body turn cold. Did she got hit by all the commotion? He immediately took a hold of her, noticing all the damage done. He felt his chest begin to get heavy and his hands shake. No, no, no. He thought to himself as he patted her body off some of the glass pieces. Not Angelique, No.

Lumiere listened as Adam spat reassurances at her. From what he had always learned, she didn’t need to hear any more from him. He took off his beloved coat and made her lay on it.  “Give me a sec.” His voice was raspy, hiding fear beneath his straight face. Please be okay, he silently prayed. I promise to never see her again, just please let her be okay. He whispered to himself, and perhaps maybe the universe will grant his wish.

He dragged his shaking body to check his first aid kit in Adam’s room. Lumiere was good at this. He always had to do this for Adam’s fights before, never knowing that at some point, he will be the receiving end. With an ice pack at one hand and some wound solution at the other, he checked in to see what he was working with. He avoided to look at her in the eye as Alexandre moved in silence. Part of him wanted to cry, but no tears were forming in his eyes. It was another day for him to take care of her. He wanted to say his goodbyes, or at least he thought he deserved it. Nonetheless, Lumiere never spoke a word. 

Dear God let her be okay, please be okay. He thought to himself as he checks for signs of internal bleeding, he holds her back for support, waiting for someone to come. If something worse was to happen to her, he won’t forgive Adam. He won’t forgive himself.

He wiped his sweat trickling from his forehead, which he saw from his white sleeves that it was blood. He released a deep sigh. He lost his best friend in one day, and has Angelique hurting in his lap. This is not in his plan. He never wanted this to happen. He wanted to leave. Regret was creeping into him, he blamed his emotions. He was starting to blame everything on himself. Perhaps the universe was a tricky thing, it had the habit of leaving all sins paid for. 

Adam returned and apologized. Well, that’s new. Lumiere thought. Maybe he was in love with her? Nonetheless, things would have been different if he was honest with him. He still badly wanted to break his skull, but the thought of Angelique getting better was far more important.

Angelique nearly doubled over from the pain in her side, and all at once, she was being coddled by the two men who were just beating the living daylights out of each other. She sat herself on the floor, against Adam’s bed, which was now a hot mess from the sheets strewn everywhere,  a reminder of what she’d done. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything, but Angelique nodded along to Adam’s questions, refusing to look to Alexandre until she was forced to, when he came back with a first-aid kit.

As Adam returned, she found the two at either side of her, but her focus stayed on Adam’s words. He was apologizing? That was a new one. She wasn’t even sure who had hit her, and she wasn’t sure that either man did, either. There was too much chaos to tell. “It’s okay,” she said to Adam, on her right, as she let out a cough. “It’s probably just a bruise. The wind was just knocked out of me. I’ll be fine,” she assured him with a small smile.

She turned back to Alexandre, on her left, and her eyes shot daggers into his as they locked. “Don’t coddle me. You’re really going to sit here and comfort me when you could’ve been the one to throw the punch? Over her?” She let out a laugh, almost finding how ridiculous it was funny as she sat in pain, growing delirious. “You don’t get to be the hero. All of this, and you’re mad because he called Fifi a bitch? Are you serious? That’s what you’re most concerned about? You know what? Yeah, she is a bitch. She stole my boyfriend right from under me, and even now, when you’ve told me so many times how sorry you are and how you wish you didn’t do it … she’s still your biggest concern. You’re more angry about that than that he slept with me. You don’t care about me, and you don’t get to start now.”

Angelique couldn’t tell if it was from the anger, sadness, or the physical pain, but her eyes started to well with tears, and she wiped at them frustratedly. “At least you had the decency to say you’re sorry,” she said, looking toward Adam, “you, on the other hand, can’t even do that much.” She sniffled, letting the tears fall as she clutched her knees in her arms, folding herself into as small as she felt despite the shooting pain in her side. “Will one of you get me a drink?”

~

One moment Adam and Alexandre were fighting like rabid dogs pitted against each other and now they were both knelt on either side of a woman they both cared about. Adam bore no romantic feelings towards Angelique, but during their time together he had grown to care for her well being, always making sure what they were doing was okay and never pushing her too far. Alexandre was different though. Adam knew he still deeply cared for the woman but he had grown to realize his friend didn’t deserve her in his life. It was his choice to sleep with Fiala, who was wonderful in her own ways, but that was a betrayal that Adam didn’t think Angel ever deserved. He would be lying if he claimed to never have been in a similar situation as Alex. When he was in his twenties he was definitely known for his playboy mannerisms. 

Adam hadn’t expected Angelique to blow up so easily. He should have, always knowing she had quite the temper on her, but he could understand. If he had been in her situation he would likely ignore the pain and scream in the face of betrayal as well. His eyes widened as she snapped at Alexandre and when his mouth dropped as she kept going. The longer it went on the more he got a bad taste in his mouth. Then again that could just be blood since he’d been hit in the face a few times. Still, he didn’t want things to end so badly but her points were very valid.

For a few moments he stayed silent, stunned over what he’d just witnessed. “I’ll grab you some water.” He stood up and carefully walked over to the kitchen as there was a shard of glass lodged into his foot. He’d forgotten about all of the pain he was in himself from all the adrenaline coursing through his veins. When he returned with a glass of ice water he knelt back down by her and handed her the glass. “I’m hoping you meant water and not alcohol. I don’t think it’s best to have any of that right now.” 

After what seemed like forever he looked at his ‘friend.’ He looked just as Adam felt. Like shit. He could see a bruise forming from where Adam threw a punch. Ashamed, he looked down at his bruising knuckles. “I think you should leave,” he told Alexandre finally. “You’ve upset her enough.” Neither had any claim to the woman, but Adam felt like he at least should be the one there to support her. All Alexandre was doing was upsetting her further. “Why don’t you go find Fiala. You’re pretty good at that.”

[bexstlyy]

angeliquemathieu​:

alexandrelumiere·:

Alexandre looked at the both of them, quite confident with the cruelty of their own deed. His outburst was starting to fade away. These were two people he valued the most. If they didn’t care enough to consider his feelings, then it wasn’t worth the sweat to waste. Anger was not his nature, this wasn’t him. 

Alexandre heard Angelique speak, the seemingly repetitive words over again in his head. “Tell you what? Angelique?” He looked at her dumbfounded. “I said nothing!” Lumiere looked at her differently now. He was tired of all this bullshit. “If you fuck him, that’s on you! I don’t give a shit about your choices. That’s on you!” It was the first time he raised his voice at her. “Privilege? Take that privilege with you because I want none of it. This is not about you anymore. This is about this selfish man whom I considered my fucking friend.” He scoffed. Averting his eye at the other boy, he released a deep sigh. “You’re insufferable.” Narrowing his eyes at him. So this was what he called a friend for years? This was it? He and his habit of sticking up to him despite his unacceptable behavior. He didn’t care who Angelique slept with, but the last thing in his mind would be his own friend. Lumiere’s anger dissipated. He was truly sorry for the kind of man Adam is. A miserable man who had a habit for self destruction. The first thing Lumiere thought was Belle. He does not deserve Belle in any way or manner. 

At this point, he was done. Lumiere was settled on forgetting their existence. They were a matchmade in heaven with pride and anger painted across their chest. Angelique saw nothing about him than a mistake he has made apologies for, and Adam – oh he had no good words for him. He was the worst men of his kind. He heard Adam raging, as was his typical self. Lumiere was tired of his whining. “The hell I care.” He rolled his eyes at him tossing the key on the bed. The was the last thing he’ll ever see of him. The majesty and his whiny ass. Lumiere was about to leave when Adam gripped his clothes. “Don’t you fucking dare, that’s Burberry.” He held his arm to resist, elbowing him on the arm to let loose. “Do what you want, you’ve shown your true colors, beast. Leave me out of your own miserable life.” He insisted. Lumiere kept telling himself that it was not worth the fight until he heard him say one wrong word.

He had piercing eyes as he looked at Adam. The audacity of this man to use that word to describe Fiala. Lumiere was angrier, he was ready to fight till blood was all over. “Who the fuck are you calling bitch?” Alexandre lunged forward and strike him in the face. “C’mon here, asshole. You deserved to be fucking miserable stinky dog.” 

The man Angelique once saw as insufferable was now defending her? Adam’s quick rush to her side was the most shocking part of the entire encounter, if she was being honest. Her sudden burst of anger subsided as she watched in awe as Adam fought his best friend, defending her honor like no one ever had before. It was now more than ever that she found herself attracted to him, but that would have to wait, at least until Alexandre had left the room. Or, maybe, an entire lifetime. 

As Alexandre spat back at her, Angelique felt wounded, like she’d been shoved from behind as she went from admiring Adam to feeling the wrath of Lumiere’s anger. She truly hadn’t seen him this angry in all the years she’d known him, and it was ugly. He was hateful, mean, and everything she didn’t want to see in him. If she’d thought he didn’t care about her before, it was clear that he didn’t now, and it was made even more obvious when the first punch that was thrown was over Fiala, not Angelique.

The realization made her want to cry, but things were turning violent far too fast, and she had to do something about it. Angelique gasped as she saw Alexandre’s fist draw back, and before she knew it, it was in contact with Adam’s face. “Alex!” she shouted, attempting to shove herself between the two men to push Alexandre back. Angelique should’ve seen the danger coming, as both Adam and Alex were twice her size and angry, but it wasn’t until she attempted to shield Adam from the next blow that she felt something, someone hit her in the side. “Shit!”

~

Alexandre’s words rung in Adam’s head over and over again. Beast. Fucking stinky dog. Miserable. Selfish. It was all he could hear and he was seeing red. Is this how his friend truly saw him? After all these years? To this day did he truly, honestly believe that Adam was nothing more than a curse? Fear began to creep up on him as Alexandre continue to speak. Would he truly reveal the truth in front of Angelique? Someone who was oblivious to the literal truth of her ex flame’s words?

“Don’t say another word, you good for nothing, dishonest excuse of a man,” he spat. When he began to defend Fiala of all people though Adam knew what was going to come. He went to dodge his punch but Alex’s fist still collided with Adam’s face. “Fuck!” he shouted. Adam was quick to retaliate though, throwing punches left and right and pushing Alex as far back as he could. After years of friendship is this how it all ended? Is this what it had come to?

Then Angelique was between them. Adam still couldn’t control himself and it seemed that his so called friend couldn’t as well. But when it was clear that Angelique had truly been caught in the crossfire he froze. Pushing Alex aside he went to Angelique. “Are you alright?” No, clearly she wasn’t. He looked up at Alex, his anger still evident in his eyes but there was a much more dire situation at time. “Stay with her. You’re decent enough to do that.” He looked back at Angelique. “Don’t move. It will be alright.” And with that he disappeared out the door, yelling at the first person he saw to get help. 

The pain Adam felt in his face had to be nothing compared to how Angelique was feeling right now. He felt stupid and selfish for his actions, but then again he normally did. At this rate that damned curse would never be broken. Adam would be doomed to a life of anger, resentment, and misery. Perhaps Alexandre was right about everything he said, but that didn’t make the blow hurt any less. 

When he returned he went back to Angelique, kneeling down beside her. “Help is coming,” he told her. “I’m so sorry.” And he truly was. It was a rarity that the man apologized, but to apologize and mean it? Perhaps a blue moon was upon them. “It’s going to be okay.” He glanced at Alexandre from the side of his eye, not daring look him in the eye nor say a word. “You’ll be okay. Just don’t move.”

[bexstlyy]

{belle}

closed starter for adam [ @bexstlyy​ ]

Word spread fast around the hotel about what happened, it would’ve been impossible to think no one heard. Belle had been stuck in the middle of it all but from an outside perspective. All these people she’d grown to care about and it was ripping apart at the seams. She didn’t want to push him away, not right now. As tough as Adam seemed she knew he must be hurting, even if he would react differently. Belle braced herself for whatever she would face behind these doors as she gently pushed open the door to his office. The girl held a few books to her chest as she stood in the doorway, biting the inside of her cheek. “Care to just read in the garden with me today? It’s been awhile since we did that. I’ll even be quiet, just how you like it when you’re reading.” 

Adam had mostly spent time in his office when he was at work after everything that had happened. He didn’t want to see anyone and the bruise on his face from the fight made him stick out. When Belle entered his office he was sitting in his chair, leaning back, and reading a book. He tilted it down when he was done reading the page and looked at her. “No.” Was all he said before going back to reading. It did sound nice going to the garden to read with her, but he just wanted to be alone for a long, long time. After he was done with the next page he looked up again. “You’re still here. Why?”

[bexstlyy]

angeliquemathieu​:

alexandrelumiere·:

Alexandre saw another wine from Ella’s family and thought it might be best to have some taste test with his good friend, Adam. He has been distant lately so Lumiere decided to pick up the wine and bring it upstairs to his den. Besides, he has a key to it. Choosing the perfect wine for the hotel was a state of emergency (in his opinion) and he needs the owner’s approval for it.

Walking along the corridor with a bottle of wine at hand, he whistled nonchalantly. Alexandre texted Henry to come along. It might be about business but in all honesty, Alex was just trying to find an excuse to get together with his friends. After everything that has happened to him, the comfort of his trusted people was all that mattered to him. Looking at the door, he fiddled with the keys with one hand and opened the door to Adam’s room. 

“Adam, I got–” He paused, a sudden confusion caught him for a moment as he saw the scene at hand. Were his eyes playing games on him? Alexandre froze at the door, deciphering the face of the woman he seems to be in bed with. “What the fuck?” He shouted, staring at the both of them. It felt like his heart sunk low. “What the fuck is happening?” His tone was desperate as if trying to find an excuse, an escape from the incoming storm. A part of him begged that he was wrong, that all of this was some misunderstanding. 

Alexandre watched them squirm underneath the sheets. He stared at Adam as he had the audacity to call him off. There he was, standing in front of his friend’s door trying to entertain the life out of him while he fucked the soul out of his ex. As they hide behind covers, he felt his blood boil for the first time. Alexandre knew Adam and Angelique inside out. The thing that makes them the same, and oddly tolerable for him, was their own temper. Lumiere was always the first one to control their temper when it arises. He was the first one to stop a fight and the last one to be provoked. He was a pretty chill guy all the time. However, what he saw changed him forever.

“You truly are a filthy animal, aren’t you Adam?” He mocked, his voice cold and menacing. Anger manifests beneath the heartbreak to come. Alexandre felt disdain, the core of his being fueled by anger as he looked at him dead in the eyes. Adam knew what Alexandre felt about Angelique. He saw him at his worst when she left. He witnessed them, from the start to the end. There was no excuse. All Alexandre could think of was that Adam knew, and he still decided to choose this.

In a fit of anger, Alexandre threw the wine across the floor, startling both of them. “Why? Did I mess up your little party, huh – Prince Adam? Do you think I’m afraid of you? Why don’t you come here and rage like the rotten child you truly are.” He felt numb to the core. The amount of betrayal was too much for him. He couldn’t even recognize himself. “Do what you do best, you fucking trash.” Alexandre squeezed his fist, ready to get his knuckles dirty. He didn’t care about the curse or anything else in particular. All he felt was rage and disgust all at the same time. Alexandre thought, he was no brother to him, all this time truly was a beast.

For a moment he caught Angelique’s eyes, a momentary weakness is seen on his face. He looked at her in silence. Was this her revenge? Does she think that he deserved all this? To ruin a relationship she knew mattered most to him? To his best friend who he had for years? His boss and colleague? For a minute his eyes conveyed a question, Why? Out of all people? Why choose his best friend? He remembers that time he saw her last time at the hotel, it finally made sense to him why Adam was out all night despite Alexandre looking out for him. In an instant, Alexandre’s eyes turned cold. All he could muster was four words. “I hope you’re happy.” His voice was rough. This time it was clear to him that despite the years they’ve been together, he never knew her at all. 

Angelique had been having a fine time with Adam. She was honestly enjoying decorating his suite; it was a fun project that she’d been waiting to do for a long time. The sex that came after a long day of work didn’t hurt, either. In fact, it was a relief, especially after the level of stress she had after facing Alexandre. She tried to avoid him by spending the night every once in a while, as she knew her ex typically worked during dinner. The last thing she wanted was to see him, especially after coming downstairs from a night with Adam.

She knew, though, that someday, Alexandre would find out, and then the small secret she kept would blow up in everyone’s face. Angelique felt bad, of course, for sleeping with her ex’s best friend, but after what he did to her, it made her feel better about the whole thing. They weren’t together anymore, and he had no right to tell her who she could and couldn’t sleep with.

What Angelique didn’t expect, though, was for that day to come so soon, so unexpectedly. She snapped out of her trance the minute she heard his voice, one that she knew better than anyone else’s. Her heart stopped, and so did Adam, and Angelique flipped herself around to look up at the man hovering over her, both of their eyes wide with panic. Adam was quick to rush to pulling a sheet over the two, but she knew that it wouldn’t be enough once she inevitably had to get up and hold Alexandre back from beating the shit out of Adam.

Angelique stared, frozen as Alexandre ripped into Adam with his words, but from the look of him, she could tell he was about to physically do the same. His words stung like a slap, but what hurt more was the look that he gave her when he finally finished, deep disappointment in his eyes. “Alexandre, I–” she began, fumbling to throw her shirt over herself as she gathered herself to stand. He opened his mouth again, and the words he said made her jaw drop. “Are you serious?” she spat as she approached him, her face turning red in both embarrassment and anger. “Don’t talk to me like that. You have no place to tell me who I can’t sleep with after what you did, not even your best friend. No right. You lost that privilege when you fucked her.”

Everything was happening so fast. Adam was being called cruel names, Alexandre was shooting daggers at Angelique, and she was snapping right back at Alex. Adam’s temper was not one to be messed with. It quickly skyrocketed and his face turned red. Not from embarrassment, but from pure, raw anger. As Angelique and Alexandre shared their exchange Adam was quick to grab his pants and pull them on. “Stop it!” he screamed. 

“You can go fuck yourself if you think you’re going to come into my place and talk to me that way!” Adam took a few steps forward. “You don’t have to talk to her that way. She did nothing wrong. She’s free to fuck whoever she fucking pleases. You, on the other hand, never caught that memo.” Adam was heated and he could feel himself shaking. “You think you get to decide what she gets to do, but you don’t. You lost that right the moment you went and fucked another woman while claiming to love this one.”

Through it all Adam had grown a fondness for Angelique. He may have found her insufferable before but the more time he spent around her the more time he actually began to like her as a person. She did not deserve the way Alex was treating her now nor did she deserve it before he cheated on her. Should Adam have still slept with her multiple times? Probably not, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered in that moment except how angry the two men were.

He began walking towards Angel and Alex when he stepped on part of the wine bottle that had shattered everywhere. ‘God dammit!” Now he was raging. “You piece of shit. Learn to fucking control yourself, asshole. It’s bad enough you’ve ruined the new flooring by throwing a fucking temper tantrum but now I’m fucking bleeding.” 

Alex’s words rang through his head and the more the other spoke the angrier Adam got. “STOP IT!” he screamed. “You can go fuck yourself. Or your other bitch since clearly Angelique wasn’t good enough for you. Apparently no one else in the fucking universe can touch her though because you couldn’t keep it in your pants, you piece of shit.” Adam was only seeing red now and he wasn’t even fully aware of what he was saying. 

Despite the cut on his foot he walked up to Alexandre and grabbed him by the shirt. “Your feelings don’t matter. They didn’t matter the minute you broke her trust. You lost that right a long fucking time ago. And you don’t have any fucking right talking to me the way you are right now.” He gives him a small push as he lets go of his shirt. “Get out of my sight.”

[bexstlyy]

@angeliquemathieu & @alexandrelumiere

Things were never supposed to have gotten this far. It started with a midnight kiss after too much wine then one thing lead to another that night and Angelique was leaving Adam’s suite the next morning. Adam thought it was a one time thing until she had agreed to remodel for him. Well, every time they tried to get any progress done it turned into chaos and being wrapped up in bed sheets. The deeper they got into things the more Adam craved. He wasn’t particularly fond of Angelique’s personality, but god could she do things to him that drove him crazy. Then there was the issue of Alexandre. First he was Adam’s friend and second, Angelique’s ex. One can see how tricky this makes a situation. 

Every time they were together though it seemed that the thought of Alexandre was the last thing on Adam’s mind until the deed was over. Then it was guilt and regret and promises of never doing it again. For so long though Adam was touch starved. And with Angelique he could get out so many desires and frustrations.

His lips were on her neck as his hips thrust into hers from behind. Soft moans came from his lips but grew louder and more frequent the closer he came to orgasming. His thrusts became faster and his hands ravaged her body as he grew closer and closer. “Fuck, Ang, I’m close.” The last thing he had expected after saying that was hearing a loud “what the fuck” from a familiar voice that wasn’t the woman he was currently having sex with. 

Adam all but fell off the bed in attempt to grab the cover sheet to cover both himself and Angelique. He didn’t have time to think of excuses. And the typical ‘it’s not what it looks like’ was all bullshit anyways. “Why the fuck are you in here? Key is for emergencies only!” he snapped at his friend but did not dare look at his face. He felt humiliated, sure, and feared what was to come. Never had he expected things to get so far that Alex would find out. Every week he swore he would cut things off with Angel and go back to a business only relationship but he got in far too deep and was now faced with a dilemma he thought he could avoid. 

Glancing up from the corner of his eye at his friend for a brief second was more than enough. He could see the looks of hurt and anger and betrayal on his friend’s face. He wanted to just simply pass away in that moment. He also wanted his clothes as the sheet did not do justice in covering them both up. But, hey, they were silk and Angel had picked them out so it could have been worse. Right?

[bexstlyy]

slurred words (henry)

“Fucking Henry.” Adam rolled his eyes as he sipped on his umpteenth glass of wine of the night. “He’s a great manager for the hotel. I owe him a lot for what he does. But,” There was always a but, wasn’t there? “He needs to loosen up. Let go a little more and not be so stressed and high strung all the time. Maybe he just needs to get laid or maybe I’m the one stressing him out all the time. Well, partly me and partly Alexandre. I know we both can stress him out so I guess I can’t blame him. But also...someone give this man a drink! Tell him to relax and maybe even take a day off once in a while. The hotel won’t go under if he doesn’t come for one day.” Adam finishes his wine and immediately begins pouring another glass. “I do appreciate him though. And I care about him. He’s one of my closest friends. And I hope he doesn’t mind me drunkenly texting him at four in the morning when he has to be at work at nine.”

@hcogsworth

[bexstlyy]

{angelique}

Angelique wasn’t quite sure what was in the water in this hotel, but God, the men were smooth. Both Alexandre and Adam were incredibly skilled (and oddly similar, but she couldn’t think about that) in bed, and she wasn’t about to complain. Her mouth dropped open as he spoke in French, and Angelique hid a smile as she kissed him back, stifling a laugh. “Connais le français?” she asked between breaths with a smirk. “Or just words that are …  explicite?” Angelique teased, beginning to undo the buttons of Adam’s shirt.

“Fluent in four languages, actually. Five if you count Latin. But that’s a dead language so I’m not really sure if that qualifies,” he explained between kissing her. Adam let her undo his shirt buttons and once she undid the last one he slipped his shirt off and found her lips again. One of his hands ran up her thigh while the other moved to cup one of her breasts over her top. “We should really get you out of these clothes. I’d hate to wrinkle such a great outfit,” he said with a smirk. He pulls away from her lips and pulls her shirt off, tossing it to where his shirt was as well. “That’s a little better.” His lips go back to her, but this time her neck. First gentle and slow but as he kisses along her neck but then he starts to rub his hips against hers and the pace and harshness of the kisses increase. 

[bexstlyy]

slurred words - angelique

“Don’t get me started on her. She pisses me the fuck off. So bad. But like...she’s also really hot. And great in bed. I mean she’s great at what she does. Especially with her mouth. She’s an excellent designer with a lot of potential. She also had some sort of thing with Alex that ended badly. Don’t really care for the details though. Over all she’s just like...a sexy but mean and talented person? I think that sums it up.”

@angeliquemathieu

[bexstlyy]

[text] I have cramps and a migraine so you do NOT want to mess with me right now - Belle

[text]: Message received loud and clear.  [text]: Maybe take some of those special pain killers for cramps and eat some chocolate and get drunk. Chocolate and alcohol usually make me feel better at least. Can’t give an opinion on that first bit though as I do not relate. [text]: Feel better though?

[bexstlyy]

{alexandre}

.

Alexandre continued to drink his beer and listened, “Very Alpha.” He chuckled, chugging more of his beer as he sat across him. He couldn’t seem to understand him, and he wasn’t going to keep poking around. That’s the role of Henry, not him. Alexandre has his own share of emotional turmoil to even attempt to understand Adam’s, and besides, he’s never really good with making decisions. Look at what happened to him, caught in a net between two great women.

“I love the enthusiasm.” He remarked, staying still from his seat. Alexandre felt like Adam wanted to leave immediately, but where the fun in that? “And I ran into Belle and attempted to make her drunk. You should really date her. She’s awesome.” He continued as he drink his beer. Oh Adam was gonna sit there and he has to until Alexandre could no longer feel his face from the amount of alcohol he consumes. 

“I cannot believe the amount of times I told you to date her.” Alexandre kept going, he’ll keep talking until Adam participates. You’re not going through this alone, buddy. He may not need him, but Alexandre doesn’t need to be “needed”. He’s just there.

“The party already started when I approached the Whoo-girls at the back. They sure do know how to have some fun.” 

~

Adam finally notices the beer, which was now nearly empty, in Alexandre’s hand. “Are you...drinking on the job?” Adam couldn’t really condemn his friend for it as he was often found with a glass of wine in his hand when he was at the hotel. The difference was that he owned the place. “Please do not get drunk while we have this stupid party to deal with.” Adam glances in the direction of the kitchen, praying silently that everything is running smoothly while Alex is out here with him.

He was definitely caught off guard when his friend mentioned Belle. “I’m sorry, you what?!” Adam was a bit dumbfounded. Alexandre’s comments about Adam dating Belle didn’t bug him as much as they used to. He had grown tolerant of them. “You always say that and it’s never going to happen.” Adams sighed. It wasn’t a thought that had ever really occurred to him but maybe going on a date with her would get his friends to shut the fuck up for a little while. Besides, it might be fun. Maybe. 

“I don’t need to hear about any girls you’re wooing or whatever. As long as the party is running smoothly I don’t care.”

[bexstlyy]

{angelique}

Forgetting about Lumiere was difficult when she was about to hook up with one of his best friends, but Angelique supposed it was the least she could do for Adam. “Mhm, forgetting …” she hummed, returning the kiss. “It is just us right now, isn’t it?” she asked, pulling back for a moment. “I know we’re not as … intoxicated right now, but you still want this?” Angelique questioned, running her hand through his hair. “I’m just making sure, as your professional help.”

~

“Mhm, just you and me. No one else to worry about,” he said as he locked his gaze with hers. “Well, yeah. If that’s alright with you.” He slowly rubs his hand up and down her thigh, inching a little bit higher every time his hand goes up. “Just forget about that too. For a little bit.” He gets to his feet and scoops her up into his arms. “This couch is a little small, don’t you think?” he asked before walking towards the bedroom. “Just, shh. Arrête de parler et laisse moi te baiser,” he whispered in her ear before tossing her on the bed and crawling on top of her and kissing her again.

[bexstlyy]

{belle}

His inability to accept his own fault sometimes made her grimace. It had to come from insecurity but he was better than that. She tried to not let it get to her and just shake it off. Growing up with barely enough some years, she never thought she’d be as fortunate as she was now. She remembered only have 3 forks when she was at her smallest, right after her mother died, before her father figured out how to hide those things from her. Belle never felt a need for money, but more to provide for her father. “I knew you’d benefit from that.” She quietly mumbled back. “No, just that the people around you now are the ones that care and aren’t going anywhere.” The girl pulled her things into her arms a little tighter. “I know… How could I not?” As hard as she tried to be his friend he refused it most of the time. “You do certainly always remind me of that, don’t worry.”

~

Adam stayed silent for a long while. Belle was reading him like, well, a book. He didn’t like it and he didn’t need her stupid opinions or facts or whatever the hell it was she was spewing out at him. Then she was making he little remarks again and he was angry all over. Angry and...hurt. “I didn’t mean you,” he finally said. “Don’t know why you stick around though.” He shrugged and looked away. Eye contact was just difficult sometimes. “I guess I don’t mind your company though. When you’re not staining my new carpet, that is.” It was a small attempt at kindness and she probably wouldn’t get much more at that moment, but it was still a start.

[bexstlyy]

{angelique}

Nodding her head, Angelique felt herself lean her head into Adam’s shoulder, looking up at him with a grin. “He’s not?” she asked, mostly to confirm. There was nothing she dreaded more than running into her ex-boyfriend in the lobby of the hotel. “That’s good. Though, he doesn’t really have a say in what I do anymore,” she added with a shrug. Though she’d been hoping things would go this way again, she didn’t think Adam would be this easy to convince. “I’m glad you agree, because design talk gets me going. Lame, I know, but everyone has their thing,” she admitted, pressing a quick kiss on his cheek.

~

Adam smiles and shakes his head. “Nope,” he confirms. He bites down on his lip and nods. “You’re right. Though I don’t really think he would be thrilled with, well, this.” Adam holds his hand up. “Forget about everything right now. Him, wallpaper, patterned curtains...just pretend it’s us right now.” He can’t help but chuckle at her design talk comment. “Yeah, yeah. Just stop talking for like two seconds so I can do this,” he said before pressing his lips against hers. 

[bexstlyy]

{alexandre}

.

“People change, mate. One day you like soup, the next day you got a salad on your plate.” Alexandre explained nonchalantly. “It’s like relationships, one day you have them beside your bed, the next day they’re off to another man.” He added, the sting of meeting Angelique still clouded his thoughts. Was she seeing someone else? He caught himself thinking about it and he shook his head. He had another problem in front of him and it deserves his full presence. Alexandre looked at him, worry reflected on his face. It wasn’t his game to keep asking questions, but he knew that something was off about Adam and he felt it. 

“Hey, look, Adam. I want you to know that I’m here for you.” He smiled, gently patting the other man’s forearm. Perhaps it was about his curse? Or was it a personal issue? Alexandre felt guilty about leaving his friend alone. “I don’t know how to make you feel better, but I ran into Angelique and I made cry….again. Talk about tough luck.” He added, still deeply affected by their conversation. “So if you do feel miserable, well, remember that you’re not alone.” releasing a sigh. This was his sorry attempt to open up and comfort his friend at the same time. 

~

“I suppose you’re right.” Alexandre’s next comment caught Adam off guard. Did he know? No, surely not. There was absolutely no chance in hell that he knew. Still, a pit grew in his stomach and his heart skipped a beat. Adam told himself that Alex could never know and he was going to keep it that way. Besides if he did know, which as far as Adam knew he did not, their conversation couldn’t have been going as ‘smoothly’ as it was. 

“I don’t need anyone or anything. I’ve always managed to get by just fine.” Not really, but he had to at least try. Then he mentioned Angelique, and this time hadn’t just hinted about her but used her name. “Oh?” he asked. “That...is some bad luck. That’s, yeah, that’s a bummer. Sorry to hear that, I guess.” Adam doesn’t make eye contact with him for a brief moment and glances at the clock. “We really need to get this party moving along.”

[bexstlyy]

{belle}

“Not everyone grew up with more than one size of a fork, you know.” She sighed while she looked at the man. He was a confusing one, she’d give him that, didn’t change the fact that he had the tendency to drive her a little bonkers. “Oh, stop it. I’m not laughing at you. Not everything is meant to be insulting or against you. Can a girl not find happiness in the little things? You’d benefit from that too.” Belle held out her hand for him. “Not everything needs to be so serious, Adam.” A frown was present and her words firm yet somehow still gentle. He was a tough one, but she still held out hope for him, even though he tested it constantly. “Maybe you just aren’t around the right people, the ones who are good, truly good, never will. You’ll see, not everyone leaves.” Belle offered a small smile to him. It wouldn’t be returned but she thought he could use one more than her right now.

“Well-- I-- Whatever.” Adam was at a loss for words. Sometimes it didn’t occur to him that people hadn’t lived as privileged of a life as he had. Expensive cars and fancy dinners and every thing he could have ever wanted in life as a child. Until things changed and his mother passed. Sure, he still had everything at his father’s expense but the man was not friendly. “You don’t know what I would benefit from. Right now it would be a drink.” He mumbled the last bit under his breath. When she frowned he almost felt a bit guilty, but the feeling passed as quickly as it had arrived. “Are you saying I surround myself with bad people?” He rose an eyebrow. “I like to think I surround myself with a select few that seem decent. The less people the better.”

[bexstlyy]

{alexandre}

There were a couple of new folks coming to town just to experience a private party at the hotel. As he was busy preparing the food and assigning sections to every staff, Alex noticed a couple of models come in. Of course, it was typical of him to greet his “favored” guests. He took his time chatting, and they were enthralled by his hospitality. He was about to ask for their numbers when he heard a faint shouting coming from the kitchen. 

“One moment, mademoiselle.” He said, taking his hands off the woman’s shoulder as he headed towards the kitchen. There he was, Adam, almost red in anger staring at him right in the eye. Alexandre just chuckled, obviously amused by his friend’s state. “Look brother, you had a long night. Why don’t you sit down and relax while we take care of it, alright?” He said as this time, he put his arm around his shoulder and motioned him to sit. “And no, we’re not having soup. We’re having salad. You’d know if you were here last night.” Alexandre sat in front of him, obviously concerned. Alexander was lackluster, but he and Henry knew how to work together and they had already anticipated the outcome of this day.. “Where were you even? We had a couple of drinks at the bar. Seems like you had a pretty rough night. You with Belle?” He teased.

~

Adam did not take kindly to people telling him what to do. Nor did he take kindly at any sort of snide dig intended to be thrown his way. This was Alexandre though. Things were different. He was quite possibly Adam’s best friend along with Henry and the three could not have been any more different from each other. Still, when it came down to the end of the day they had each other’s backs. Adam took a deep breath and sat down, still silently seething. “Why?” he all but snapped. “The other day they said they wanted soup,” he muttered. Maybe they just changed their minds, he told himself in attempt to stay calm. “I was at home. Alone.” He wanted to make it very clear that he was alone. Adam was his own worst enemy, always beating himself up over things he didn’t have much control over and especially when it was something he had done that he shouldn’t. Like a stupid comment or a fit of anger. 

“My night wasn’t rough.” Any fool could have known that was a lie. He looked exhausted and had barely woken up by the time he arrived to the hotel. “I don’t have to justify myself though,” he said. “I didn’t want to be here ‘having a couple of drinks at the bar.’ I just wanted to be alone. I didn’t know that it was a crime.” By alone he meant drinking at his house and wallowing in self pity. He glances back at his friend. “Sometimes I just need space, okay?”