#Chief & Spirits

[hilite-head]

NY March ArtXop Highlights

[houseofbrat]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11921479/amp/It-big-mistake-Queen-Consort-Camilla-reject-ivory-sceptre-Coronation.html

Lookie here - our favorite Pearl clutcher in Chief was WRONG again (just like when he exclusively told us the Coronation was in June). His speculation caused so much vile comments towards Queen Camilla from “royalists” and fed the “KC3 is too woke” trolls.

Meanwhile since Eden was proved wrong, the Daily Mail has a new article out to drag Camilla for using the ivory sceptre, which will no doubt keep the hate train going.

The Fleet Street circus rolls on 🎪

There's Richard's pearl clutching article, above.

Camilla will be crowned alongside her husband the King on May 6, during an ancient ceremony at Westminster Abbey featuring deeply symbolic objects representing the royal duties and responsibilities of the sovereign. 

It has now emerged that she will hold two sceptres, will court controversy by using one made with ivory. 

[...]

But despite the Prince's vehement position, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday that the sceptre would be among the regalia used at the coronation.  

The ivory sceptre is part of the crown jewels and regalia held in trust by the monarch for the nation. 

The crown jewels form part of the Royal Collection and have traditionally been held at the Tower of London which is managed by Historic Royal Palaces. 

Kathryn Jones, senior curator of decorative arts, at the Royal Collection Trust, speaking about previous coronation ceremonies, said: 'The Queen is also presented with two sceptres... this is again this symbol of temporal power - so with the cross.

'And the second sceptre, like the King's sceptre, has the dove on the top, (and is) symbolic of equity and mercy. 

And this one the wings are folded, rather than spread, it has the same symbolism - so it's the Holy Spirit.' 

The original coronation regalia was destroyed by order of parliament after King Charles I was executed after the Civil War, briefly leading to a republic with Oliver Cromwell as the head of state.

The regalia was broken up and melted down into gold coins and the jewels were sold. 

The ivory staff which Camilla will use was made in 1685 by Sir Robert Vyner for Queen Mary of Modena, the wife of James II. 

She was the first Queen Consort to participate in a coronation ceremony following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. 

Symbolic of the monarch's spiritual power, it is topped with a distinctive enamelled dove with spread wings. 

The three-foot-seven-inch-long staff cost £440 in 1661 and is encircled in four places with jewelled colours. 

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: 'As with any historical collection of its size, it is to be expected that the Royal Collection includes items that contain ivory as this reflected the taste at the time.' 

The use of the sceptre was confirmed as part of an announcement from the palace on the regalia that will feature at the service, including the Sovereign's Ring and St Edward's Crown.  

I swear that Richard gets paid to pearl clutch every week. He wouldn't have anything else to say otherwise.

We may need to fetch that man some smelling salts if his belt is on too tight and he faints.

[feedingtheflockministry]

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19‭-‬22 amp

[gatekeeper-watchman]

Daily Devotionals for September 22, 2023

Proverbs: God's Wisdom for the Day

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 25:6-7 (KJV):

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

Proverbs 25:6-7 (AMP):

6 Be not forward (self-assertive and boastfully ambitious) in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men; 7 For better it is that it should be said to you, Come up here, than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whose eyes have seen you.

Thought for the Day

These verses advise us not to exalt ourselves in the presence of important people, but to take a humble position. Humility is a virtue that we should strive to develop. Assuming honor for ourselves is unwise. It can cause humiliation in front of the people with whom we expect to impress. It is better to be invited to sit in a special place than to risk taking a seat reserved for another and then be asked to make way for someone in a position of greater importance. Jesus illustrated this principle in a parable: "And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, when thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and he comes and says to thee, Give this man place, and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:7-11).

Anyone who attempts to exalt himself in front of others will eventually be humbled. Allowing ourselves to become prideful, sets us up for a fall, according to the Word of God. "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud" (Proverbs 16:18-19). Those who think they do not need God are the proudest of all. At some point, all people will come to the end of themselves and face the fact that they are not in control of all of their circumstances. We all need God, since without Him, we face an eternity in hell.

The same scriptures that warn against exalting ourselves, tell us that if we humble ourselves, we shall be honored in due season, and recognized by others. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you " (James 4:10). If we boast of anything, it should be our boast of what the Lord has done for us! Without Him, we can do nothing. "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad" (Psalm 34:2).

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for all of the wonderful things You have done for us! we do appreciate every one of them. Lord, we want to always remain humble, not only in Your sight but in the sight of men, as well. May we have the grace to be servants to others and not to think of ourselves more highly than anyone else, as every child of God is important in Your sight. Not one of Your children is more important than another. We are all important because we belong to You. Help us not to glory in that, but rather be humbled by that fact. We ask this in the name of Jesus, and through Him who humbled Himself to endure the cross for each of us. Amen.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA,

Instagram: steven_parker_miller_1956

Twitter: @GatekeeperWatchman1, @ParkermillerQ,

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/gatekeeperwatchman, https://www.tumblr.com/gatekeeper-watchman

#GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller1981

[ao3feedzukka-blog]

Dragon Scales & Other Spirit Tales

https://archiveofourown.org/works/47685859 by abottleofwine "The spirits have chosen you, Zuko." Mother smiled when she said it, but there was a strange look in her eye. And Father's frown made him shudder. And later, he would learn that his fate was no longer his own. The illegitimate Prince Zuko has been cursed by the spirits. He is forced to walk between two forms and hates them both. And now, he's stuck on a boat and bound to put up with the whims of his cousin. "The spirits have chosen you, Sokka," Dad said with a grin. Uncle Bato ruffled his hair and Mom beamed. Sokka felt thankful that the spirits chose him. And later, he would learn that his fate was no longer his own. Sokka, son of Chief Hakoda, has been blessed by the spirits. He walks between two forms, and it's always been celebrated by his tribe. But the war has left him bitter and resentful of the fate he can no longer control. And now, he's stuck with an annoying bald kid who lies and says he isn't the Avatar. Two spirit-touched teenagers, who are on opposite sides of a century-long war, share a common goal. Serve the spirits, protect the Avatar. If only things were so easy. Words: 2539, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Zuko (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Lu Ten Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), The Gaang & Zuko (Avatar), Lu Ten & Zuko Additional Tags: Lu Ten Lives (Avatar), Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Spirit Blessed Sokka, Spirit Blessed Zuko, Morally Ambiguous Iroh (Avatar), Ozai Being an Asshole (Avatar), Zuko Joins The Gaang Early (Avatar), Non-Linear Narrative, Visions, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Imperialism, Dragon Zuko (Avatar), Wolf Sokka (Avatar) June 06, 2023 at 12:19AM

[daveolivetti]

I did this interview for the Drum Media in 1999. Drum Media was a free street press paper at the time. Nunchukka Superfly were an amped-up, in-the-red distortion power trio. They were about to go on the road after a two year break. The interview with Blackie aka Peter Black. He is the chief songwriter, and he seemed pretty pumped to be back playing in this outfit after being away with the Hard Ons. I spoke to him over the phone from my small flat in Balmain. I'd seen the band a few times before, and always admired Blackie's unbridled creative spirit and uncompromising attitude toward the music business.

Nunchukka Superfly Interview - Drum Media (1999)

The dream becomes a reality, or something like that. It's taken two years for Nunchukka Superfly to get their act together. For Blackie and Ray, the past came back to haunt them. The Hard Ons are popular again. However, flying all over the world has not dampened their interest in breaking the sound barrier. Nunchukka Superfly is a three piece reconstructing sound with a brand of terror unique.

Blackie aka Peter Black formed Nunchukka Superfly out of the frustration that plagued his previous group, The Hard Ons. A twitching spontaneity and eagerness was creeping into his songwriting, and a method of attack for the Hard Ons - fast and furious garage punk/pop - had gradually worn thin.

He hankered for a sound he heard in his dreams and on the road that suggested a serious, thought-out approach towards songwriting that coalesces intuitively. Hard Ons bassist Ray Ahn joined his lifelong friend to crystallise his penchant for amplified, riff-based noise. Alongside Joel Ellis, a nervous drummer with a healthy appetite for Jazz replaced the original drummer some months ago. The band has delivered a stunning self-titled EP.

The fact the band's name came to Ray Ahn in a dream, "We did an outdoor festival and our drummer put down his sticks and went 'thanks very much. We're Nunchukka Superfly' is symbolic of a band and its songwriting ideas developing naturally.

"Just after finishing the Yummy album with the Hard Ons, I started getting into the Beatles White Album and rediscovering things like The Birthday Party and P.I.L." says Blackie, who is the chief songwriter of the band.

"One thing that I liked was that they used a lot of stream of consciousness. Like things that don't make sense, they didn't worry about. They just did it anyway. I started doing that as well. It was a real eye-opener."

A fair step away from the adolescent punk of the Hard Ons, and certainly not as odd as Blackie's other project, Chrackie, Nunchukka Superfly showcases Blackie's murderous side. Crunching riffs, lurching bass runs, and a brutal drum sound.

Impressive is their successful combination of controlled feedback, rhythmic agility, and band inter-communication. Ray and Joel play the perfect foil for Blackie's expansive pieces. He says there is room for improvisation.

"It's a pretty creative situation, which is awesome and obviously very important. Our songs have structures but within the structures there are certain elements that we can do what we want with them. Hopefully as we get further along and more comfortable with each other and start to get that telepathic sense we can expand on that."

The project illustrates Blackie's evolving songwriting and guitar playing. He possesses a deep-rooted sensibility to paint pictures through guitar sounds, while lyrically he's learning to trust his initial creative impulses.

Blackie really liked psychedelic music from a young age. "The British stuff like Pink Floyd, and the Chocolate Super Diabetic records, a lot of sixties English stuff, which was just out-there," he enthuses.

"When I first started all I could play was bar chords. I was never able to explore that myself but, now I'm playing a bit better."

The reason for this faith in cosmic sound is a philosophical one.

"It's a sound that I really like and it's just happening. I accept it. To me music is the purest form of magic."

[writer59january13]

Bittersweet pyrrhic victory...

if a 2024 November presidential Biden win pandemonium likely to occur, subsequently figurative tectonic upheaval might set United States in a tailspin. Though discouraged, disenchanted, disheartened, et cetera Democrat, I intend to exercise enfranchisement wherein human made his habitat within Schwenksville, Penna, a washed out town with one laundromat pessimism rains heavy on my heart reverberating a prominent pitapat hoping on a broken wing and a prayer trumpeting Republican theocrat blessedly outvoted videre licet sense and sensibility courtesy electorate. Yours truly attests the candidate signified by donkey the lesser of two evils, a cruel trick doled out courtesy fickle finger of fate braying against lumbering Elephantidae Thomas Nast of Harper's Weekly in 1870 he did illustrate

said animals as caricature he did humorously sketch though expressing tacit approval for elder incumbent octogenarian quintessential statesman, he (a common gentile Joe) exhibits the preferred alternative, though secular Semitic humanist,

I vouchsafe present commander in chief bares the sisyphean onus to foster entente cordiale among various and sundry governments linkedin across the webbed wide world, particularly vocalizing, orchestrating,

invoking dovish overtures unnamed politician obligation his adherents must take a stand and serve as ambassadors representing peace and harmony for instance such as conferring freedom regarding oppressed Palestinian people Israel must liberate

allowing, enabling, and providing their own destiny (lies) to operate versus being humiliated courtesy where boot heel diplomacy of autocrat bully and regulate every friggin action brutally commanding, goading, lording over, et cetera subjects

when, where, and how to breathe or urinate, plus current occupant of Executive Mansion must not resist parlaying olive branch, which amped up energy, would tax even an envoy

even at her/his prime, which younger generation must be entrusted to govern since four score chronological orbitz logically, seriously, zealously... automatically must disqualify office holder/seeker, whose emotional, mental, and spiritual fitness necessitates body, mind, and spirit triage

no more than half life of aforementioned age, cuz youth in general, (and women in particular) bubble with near boundless energy regarding promulgating win/win within realm of conflict resolution emblematic of Lake Wobegon, the little town time forgot,

and the decades could not improve .

[giftexoperfumes]

Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Perfume for Women

Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue  incense for women is a  dateless  scent that captures the  substance of the Mediterranean  life,  eliciting  fancies of azure waters, sun kissed  strands, and  debonair summer days. Launched in 2001, this iconic scent has come a  chief in the  scent collections of women worldwide, celebrated for its fresh, citrusy notes and  royal  fineness.   At the heart of Light Blue is a  stimulating  mix of Sicilian bomb, crisp apple, and bellflower, creating an amping  and lively opening that  incontinently uplifts the senses. The citrusy accord is evocative of a cool  breath on a hot summer day, awakening the spirit and setting the stage for the olfactory  trip ahead.   As the  scent develops, delicate  flowery notes of jasmine and white rose  crop , adding a soft and  womanlike touch to the composition. These  flowery nuances  inoculate the scent with a sense of  love and  complication, while maintaining its light and airy character.   Underpinning the bright top and heart notes is a warm and  voluptuous base of cedarwood and amber, which adds depth and complexity to the  scent,  resting it with a subtle earthiness. This woody undertone lends life to the scent,  icing that it lingers on the skin throughout the day, like a fond memory of a sun- drenched  flight.   Light Blue is housed in a  satiny and minimalist bottle that reflects the simplicity and  complication of the  scent within. Its clean lines and translucent blue  tinge  elicit the  chastity and newness of the Mediterranean  ocean, while the  tableware cap adds a touch of  ultramodern  fineness.   In summary, Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue  incense for women is a  dateless  scent that embodies the  appeal of the Mediterranean  life. With its  stimulating citrusy notes, delicate florals, and warm woody base, it offers a  sensitive escape to sun- drenched plages and endless summers, making it the perfect choice for the  ultramodern woman who seeks  fineness, vitality, and joie de vivre. 

[steveezekiel]

FOREMOST ASSIGNMENT 2

"THEREFORE take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

Acts 20:28 (NKJV)

2 SHEPHERD the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

3 NOR AS BEING LORDS [masters] OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU, but being examples to the flock."

1 Peter 5:2,3 (NKJV)

• If you are active in the Kingdom, the devil would want to fight with you. He would want to distract you by touching your home, people, or things that are precious to you.

- Standing with God to defend the people, praying for them, is an a enormous work. The powers behind the problems of the people you are ministering to, may want to challenge, confront or attack you:

13 THEN some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 ALSO there were SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 AND THE EVIL SPIRIT ANSWERED AND SAID, “JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YOU [to cast me out]?” 16 Then the man in whom the EVIL SPIRIT was LEAPED ON THEM, OVERPOWERED THEM, AND PREVAILED AGAINST THEM, so that they FLED OUT of that house NAKED AND WOUNDED" (Acts 19:13-16 NKJV).

- You have to live right, live a holy life, and be steadfast in the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:19-21).

THE sons of Sceva in the above Bible passage were probably not born-again, or were living in sin; that is why the demon in the person they wanted to deliver dealt with them.

• When you are confronted! Do not be afraid because you have not sent yourself. In other words, you are not on your own, God did send you.

- One important thing that would not make you a casualty is, you should know your assignment, your area of operation, and stay with it.

- God works in diverse ways. He has raised you for a purpose.

- You should also know your place, where God wants you to be, or operate your ministry (Acts 22:18,21; Galatians 2:7-9). You might not be able to thrive in just any place, but your appointed place.

- When you know your appointment place, you will get to know the people you are assigned to minister to (Galatians 2:7-9).

- You are sent to the people, to take them to a place of destiny (1 Corinthians 11:1). Their lives and destinies are attached to yours. Thus, be identify with them and their needs.

They are precious to God, do not take them for granted. God will bless you If you do what is expected of you, in their lives. Therefore, teach them the Word of God, pray for them, counsel them, and identify with them in whatever they may be going through.

- If you are actually called, God will honour your words in their lives. He will not allow your words to fall to the ground—when you pray for them:

19 SO SAMUEL GREW, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM AND LET NONE OF HIS WORDS FALL TO THE GROUND. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba KNEW THAT SAMUEL HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED AS A PROPHET OF THE LORD" (1 Samuel 3:19,20 NKJV).

• The vineyard given to you, to take care of is important; and your working in the field which you are apportioned should not be taken lightly.

- The people given you are God's Vineyard to be tendered for Him:

"FOR we [Paul and Apollos] are God’s fellow workers [His servants working together]; YOU ARE GOD'S CULTIVATED FIELD [His garden, His vineyard], God’s building" (1 Corinthians 3:9 AMP).

- Your material blessings would be channelled through the people you are ministering to, If you could take care of them faithfully: "DON'T carry a bag or extra clothes or sandals or a walking stick. WORKERS [those who work for God] SHOULD BE GIVEN WHAT THEY NEED" (Matthew 10:10 New Century Version).

READ: 1 Corinthians 9:14; Galatians 6:5

- God has assessment cards, or score cards, where He records the performances of each chosen servant of His!

- God will assess your work, and If you did fail, you might not be promoted. THUS, be faithful in the assignment given to you.

"AND say to Archippus, “TAKE HEED TO THE MINISTRY WHICH YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN THE LORD, THAT YOU MAY FULFIL IT.”

Colossians 4:17 (NKJV)

"BUT you should keep a clear mind in every situation. DON'T BE AFRAID OF SUFFERING FOR THE LORD. Work at telling others the Good News, AND FULLY CARRY OUT THE MINISTRY GOD HAS GIVEN YOU."

2 Timothy 4:5 (NLT)

• You will not fail in your assignment in  Jesus' name.

Peace!

[clickvibes]

I Don’t Need Title To Serve In Tinubu’s Administration — Fashola

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) says he does not need a title to serve in the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, which in his view, is birthing the next generation of leaders. Fashola, a close aide of Tinubu, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Lagos State University, Ojo, on Tuesday. He was at the University to deliver a keynote address at the institution’s fifth research and innovation fair. The former Lagos State Governor, who also served as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff when the President was governor of the state. was responding to a question on his role in the present administration at the federal level and possibility of an appointment. He said, “I do not need a title to serve: the president can only appoint at least one minister, for example, from each state which he has done that. “There are just enough places in parastatals, they are doing that; we are estimated to be 200 million, so there are not enough offices to take everybody. “All of us must play our roles as citizens, and a citizen does not need a title to serve. “The biggest title you need is that of being citizen and play our role; we are also talking about the next generation. ”If some do not move on, where is the place for the next batch?” He said there was the need to bring more outstanding public spirited people to occupy spaces as they evolve. Fashola said he looked forward to a lot more youthful people being part of the administration. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/09/i-dont-need-title-to-serve-in-tinubus-administration-fashola/amp/ Read the full article

[benevolentwoman]

Build Your House on The Rock!!!

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; And it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 

" And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: And great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7: 24-27, KJV). 

If you wonder, why many are killing others and themselves? Why is mental instability "the new norm"? Why do so many lack coping skills? 

Here is your answer. "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. This is from the LORD and is His doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This [day in which God has saved me] is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118: 22-24, AMP). 

I was led to add this so that we don't get it twisted. "Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan), and nothing will [in any way] harm you. Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10: 19-20, AMP). 

Jesus is the only Way!!! 

Always coming from a place of love and in truth!!! 

https://benevolentwoman.com/

[woven-in-christ]

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19‭-‬22 amp

[bharatlivenewsmedia]

Implement central & state schemes in letter and spirit: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary

Implement central & state schemes in letter and spirit: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary

Implement central & state schemes in letter and spirit: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Addressing the principal secretaries, commissioners, directors, deputy commissioners and other senior officers, Kumar asked all to take serious note of the policy documents. Addressing the principal secretaries, commissioners, directors, deputy commissioners and other senior officers, Kumar asked all to…

[gatekeeper-watchman]

Daily Devotionals for September 22, 2024

Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living Devotional Scripture: Proverbs 25:6-7 (KJV): 6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

Proverbs 25:6-7 (AMP): 6 Be not forward (self-assertive and boastfully ambitious) in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men; 7 For better it is that it should be said to you, Come up here, than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whose eyes have seen you.

Thought for the Day

These verses advise us not to exalt ourselves in the presence of important people, but to take a humble position. Humility is a virtue that we should strive to develop. Assuming honor for ourselves is unwise. It can cause humiliation in front of the people with whom we expect to impress. It is better to be invited to sit in a special place than to risk taking a seat reserved for another and then be asked to make way for someone in a position of greater importance. Jesus illustrated this principle in a parable: "And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and he comes and says to thee, Give this man place, and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:7-11).

Anyone who attempts to exalt himself in front of others will eventually be humbled. Allowing ourselves to become prideful, sets us up for a fall, according to the Word of God. "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud" (Proverbs 16:18-19). Those who think they do not need God are the proudest of all. At some point, all people will come to the end of themselves and face the fact that they are not in control of all of their circumstances. We all need God, since without Him, we face an eternity in hell.

The same scriptures that warn against exalting ourselves, tell us that if we humble ourselves we shall be honored in due season, and recognized by others. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:10). If we boast of anything, it should be our boast of what the Lord has done for us! Without Him, we can do nothing. "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad" (Psalm 34:2). Prayer Devotional for the Day Dear heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for all of the wonderful things You have done for us! We do appreciate each and every one of them. Lord, we do want to always remain humble, not only in Your sight but in the sight of men, as well. May we have the grace to be a servant to others and not to think of ourselves more highly than anyone else, as every child of God is important in Your sight. Not one of Your children is more important than another. We are all important because we belong to You. Help us not to glory in that, but rather be humbled by that fact. I ask this in the name of Jesus, who humbled Himself to endure the cross for each of us. Amen.

[queerasfact]

This shirt and badge were created by the WeWah & BarCheeAmpe organisation, a group of Two Spirit people founded in New York City in 1989. The group was named after two famous Two Spirit individuals.

Wewah (or We’wha) was a lhamana - a Zuni gender including both masculine and feminine roles. In 1885, We’wha travelled to Washington DC as a representative of the Zuni people, where they worked with anthropologists and the Smithsonian museum to demonstrate and share information about Zuni crafts and culture. You can learn more about We’wha in our podcast!

BarCheeAmpe, a Crow woman, appears in the memoir of fur trapper James Beckwourth, where she’s described as serving as a warrior and chief, both traditionally masculine roles. We talked about BarCheeAmpe, and Crow gender roles more generally, in our podcast on Bíawacheeitchish, another female Crow chief and warrior.

[Images: source; Yellow badge with an image of a person dressed half in feminine and half in masculine clothing, text reads ‘WaWah & BarCheeAmpe Native 2 Spirits in NYC’; t-shirt printed with an image of We’wha and text reading WE WAH & BAR CHEE AMPE NEW YORK CITY’]

[lucky-catttt]

Maxwell Lord’s Aphrodite - Pt 1

Summary: When Maxwell Lord’s world comes crashing down, you, his personal assistant bring him back from the pits of despair.

Pairings: Maxwell Lord x Reader (female), Maxwell Lord x You

Rating: Mature 18+ ONLY - I’ve also put a smut alert ahead in bold if you want to skip straight to the good bits ;)

Word Count: 7,381

Warnings: Sexual intercourse, foreplay, mentions of domestic abuse, trauma, drug/alcohol abuse.

A/N: This is my first fan-fic, so the writing might not be fantastic, but if you have any pointers/advice please tell me! I always read stories about Maxwell being a domineering guy and never stories about how he can be romantic and soft. When I watched WW84 especially at the end I saw how emotional and vulnerable he was with Alistair and wanted to write a story that portrayed him as a big cuddly teddy bear under all that masculine exterior. Enjoy!

You’ve worked for black and gold corporation for the better part of 7 years. You were hired as an intern assistant at just 21, soon after the company jettisoned from its humble beginnings inside a matchbox office suite on the corner of a strip mall, to a stock market listed company leasing the top floor in the tallest high rise office building in Los Angeles. Soon after moving in, the top floor office was packed with young, vibrant men and women who helped profits soar. But even at its busiest, Maxwell always made time for his staff. No matter what he was going through, he would give his staff his undivided attention and empathy. If they were having personal or professional problems, he would do everything he could to help. It aligned with his company motto, “life is good, but it can be better”.

He believed it was important to be as personable and helpful to others as possible, he felt that it was imperative to his own success. Only you knew this really stemmed from his less than favourable upbringing, being abused by his father, bullied by his peers and having to work hard for his achievements. He could be having the worst day, but he would never make it known to his team, all except you of course, being his personal assistant. As you spent a large amount of time together, Maxwell confided in and involved you in many personal areas of his life. 6 months after you started working for Max, he invited you and your then boyfriend to his wedding, stealing a waltz from you at the Reception. A year later, when his son, Alistair was born, he would show you picture after picture of baby photos, gushing about how proud he was to be a father. 3 years later when the company had its first day on the US stock exchange, you and Max stayed up all night at the office running through press releases, interviews and planning the next 6 months of his now very hectic schedule. When Alistair would come to the office to visit, you would babysit and play with him, change him, feed him, read him stories and sing him to sleep.

As he started to grow up, you soon rivaled Max in Alistair’s favourite person to spend time with at the office. Two years ago when you ended up in a very bad car accident and broke your arm, Max showed up personally to the hospital looking frantically worried about you. He even brought along Alistair who was helping carry a giant bouquet of flowers, a teddy bear and balloons. He stayed overnight after your surgery, sleeping in the most awkward positions on the single armchair next to your hospital bed. While you were in surgery, he made sure your work health insurance covered every cent and even provided company paid physiotherapy so you could get better properly. You knew you were in love with him since that dance at his wedding, but you had too much respect and adoration for him to be a homewrecker. Plus, you just assumed as he was so involved with all of his staff, that it didn’t mean he would be into you romantically.

As you were required to attend many of the shareholder and CCO/CEO/CFO meetings to take minutes, you became intrigued with the world of business and economics. So you enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree part time through a local University. At the time, women in business was largely unheard of, and to avoid sexist comments and discrimination, you told no one. When the Global Financial Crisis hit, it slammed into Maxwell’s dreams like a meteoroid. Overtime was required at the office and you spent most of your time in Max’s office doing paperwork for staff that had been laid off due to the budget cuts. Each day he would be on the phone, yelling at other business men on the other side of the world. You watched his positive energetic demeanor slowly chip away, as his drinks cart full of spirits and liqueurs dwindled alongside. Not long after, Black and Gold’s Chief Financial Officer and advisors within the company were arrested for Insider Trading and other shady business dealings.

Throughout all of this, you had given Max as much support, personally and professionally as you could, while still being respectful and platonic as he was a married man. With most of the staff gone and the company’s finances in disarray from the GFC and mismanagement, the universe dealt Max the final blow, his divorce. His wife, who was clearly only interested in him for his money and how it could provide her a cushy lifestyle, filed for divorce as the company was failing. She tried to take him to the cleaners financially, but Max was smart enough to have a prenuptial agreement and keep what was left of his dwindling fortune. So she used their son, Alistair, as a pawn in her game. The courts granted Max shared custody, but only one visit per fortnight. This devastated him as his son was his whole world.

He didn’t want to become destitute by giving up his fortune to his wife, but he didn’t want to lose his son, either. It started to tear him apart, leading to drunken nights in his office, alone. Except, he wasn’t totally alone. Every night, after everyone had gone home, you would stay back late each night to check on him and make sure he hadn’t done anything stupid. You would sit in one of the barren office cubicles with a vantage point to his office, but invisible to see from his desk. With tears sitting at the edges of your eyes, you silently watch him drink enough alcohol to chill out a bull, take some pills, flip through photo books of Alistair and start to sob. This went on for months. Overdue bills and foreclosure notices started to pile up on his desk. Egregiously inflated child support payment requests from his ex-wife littered the coffee table in his office.

Today was an exceptionally hard day, Max had received a resignation letter from his second last employee, leaving just you and him in the office. He slept on the futon in his office the night before, waking up looking disheveled, his tie pulled loose, shirt half tucked, suit jacket on the floor and his shoes god knows where. He looked awful.

Night falls, shrouding the office in darkness. Apart from a few desk lights, the floor is cold & dark. As you start packing boxes with office paperwork and belongings, you glance over to see the outline of Max at his desk, with his back turned, silently smoking a cigarette and drinking a glass of whiskey on ice. He reaches back for a brief moment, to press the answering machine, illuminated by his desk lamp. *beep* Message received, Wednesday, 4:33 pm “Hello Maxwell this is Brittany from AMP investments, your lease agreement with us has been defaulted for 6 months now with $150,000 in rent arrears. If it is not paid by the 30th of this month, building management will deactivate access to the floor and repossess any remaining belongings on the property. *beep* End Message. Message received Thursday, 5:43 pm “Max it’s Barb, I’m cancelling Alistair’s visit this weekend, seeing as you don’t want to pay me any extra child support.” *beep* End Message. Message received today, 7:02 pm “Hey Daddy, it’s Alistair, Mommy said I can’t come over because you’re working too much to see me. I wish you weren’t working all the time so we could play together and go to the movies and-“ you hear Barb, Max’s ex wife cut him off with “Alistair? What are you doing on the phone?! Who are you talking to?” Alistair whines, “I wanted to talk to Daddy” suddenly the sound of the receiver slams into the phone. *beep* End Message. You have no new messages.

The office is dead silent, but you can audibly hear the sound of Max’s heart shattering into a thousand pieces. He begins to cry, slowly shrinking in his chair, slumping down with his forearms on his knees and his head bowed. The cries slowly become more intense, with Max gasping for air between the long loud shrieks as his whole body shakes. “Alistair! My Alistair! My boy! I’ve failed you! Your Daddy failed you!” He wails, tears freely flooding down his face and snot dripping out of his nose, both like endless waterfalls. He drops to his knees and collapses onto the carpet, like he’s been shot right through the chest. He continues to sob & wail, forgetting that he isn’t alone in the office. You walk to the doorway of his office, frozen with indecision. Your heart was pounding and eyes on the verge of tears from what you just heard. On one hand you feel like you’re intruding on something extremely personal and maybe somewhat embarrassing for Maxwell, but you’ve never seen him like this and he looked like he was physically dying.

“Mr Lord, is everything okay?” Your soft voice quietly called out from the doorway of his office. Your medicated voice jolts Max out of his catatonic state and into a sitting upright position, as he quickly wipes his face and fixes his hair. “Oh, Ug-I’m so sorry for you to see me like this, it’s quite unbecoming of me” Maxwell apologises, trying to play it off with a light hearted chuckle between quiet heaved sobs. You catch a frozen stare, peering straight into his soul past the bloodshot, weepy but warm, brown irises.

Your heart is thumping hard, as if to try and break out of your ribcage and fly over to him. Max had been there for all of his staff, especially you. You couldn’t walk away after everyone else in his life had abandoned or given up on him. “You don’t need to apologise, Mr Lord.” You slowly reply, stepping over the booze bottles littering his office floor as you walk over to him. He’s frantically adjusting his outfit and hair, to look as put together as possible before you sit down beside him on the floor. You both sit there in silence, with the odd sniffle coming from Max’s nose. You finally pucker up the courage and say “I didn’t want to intrude but I heard the voice messages, I’m so sorry all of this has happened to you, Max”.

He had never heard you say his name before, it was always “Mr Lord”. It felt like honey soothing his dry strained throat as it rolled off your tongue. You continued, “You’ve always been there for me”, you paused to redirect attention, “for all of us. What can I do to help?”. You reach out and place your hand on his. Your warm, soft touch sends a shock wave of emotion through his body. No one has cared about him like this before, let alone touched him in such a gentle way. Max stares at your now teary eyes, realising he can be vulnerable and trust his longest and closest friend.

He collapses by your side, crying into your shoulder “I’m a failure” he sobs “My business, my marriage and most importantly I’ve failed my son. I just hope one day that he can forgive me and love me and be proud of me. He is my whole life, I just want him back”. You start to choke up but you have to remain composed. You look up and away, silently biting your knuckle and blinking tears back into your eyes before responding. “Max, you are not a failure, you are an exceptional human being. You built this company from nothing and you changed peoples lives. And don’t even get me started with Alistair, you’re the best father a kid could ask for, it’s not your fault your ex wife is being abusive”. He continues to sob, so you wrap your arm around his side and let him cry for a few minutes. The smell of his chemically lightened & straightened dark blonde hair filled your nostrils as his forehead pressed against your chin.

His large fingers and palms grip your free hand. They’re surprisingly soft & very warm. You freeze as his touch sends zaps of electricity up your arm and down your body. As Maxwell leans against you, your perfume overloads his senses, bringing him back to a conscious state. What was he doing? He thought to himself. I’m a failure, and everything I get close to fails or leaves. He looks down at your hands. I can’t hurt such an amazing person. I have to rip off the metaphorical bandaid and be cruel to be kind. “Thank you” he sighs, catching his breath after minutes of sobbing “You can go home now. In fact, I want you to take a redundancy payout so you can find another job. There’s nothing left for you here. I’m a failure and I don’t want you drowning with the ship” he says, in a clinically professional voice. Max hands you a company envelope with your name on it. He sits up to take a sip on the remaining whiskey left in his glass.

Your ears begin to burn and your cheeks redden with anger. Tears prick at the edges of your eyes, begging for them to flow. “Alfred will take you home in the company car, or wherever you want to go”. He continues, now smoking a cigarette.

“But what If I don’t want to go?” You whisper, trying to hide the sobs that are trying to break through your voice. “Please, I just want you to be happy” Max replies. You take great offence at his ignorant statements, as if he knows what makes you truly happy. “How do you know what makes me happy, Max?” You huff, standing up abruptly and folding your arms. “Well, I don’t know, but I can’t exactly see how you would be happy staying here while my company fails” he answers, shrugging. You feel your heart begin to break, realising that even being single and having such a close professional relationship with you, Max seemed to hold no deeper feelings for you and was almost starting to turn on you. You stand there wanting to run for the door but trying to think logically. Men are dim, maybe he doesn’t realise your true feelings? Maybe he’s preoccupied with his own and too overwhelmed to face them?

Max’s embarrassment from being caught in such a vulnerable state compounded with offending you takes its toll and he starts to get frustrated and impatient. “I think I just want to be alone now”. He sighs, looking away. The words cut deep, slicing you apart like ribbons. You begin to feel yourself fall apart, your emotions and thoughts spilling out with force. “I can’t leave” you sob, hanging your head in shame. Hearing you start to cry, he starts to hate himself more as he's clearly made you upset. With emotions bubbling over, he stands up, looking at you with tears in his eyes. “Why? Why can’t you leave!?” He shouts, a pained look of frustration and confusion on his face as he puts his hands on your arms, gently shaking you to get you to speak.

The last of the ribbons tying up your words from coming out fall down around you. You look deep into his crazed brown eyes, longing for an answer. “Because I love you!” You blurt out, sobbing. The tension in the room is now thick enough to cut with a knife. “I’ve loved you since the night we danced at your wedding. I fell in love with one of the most empathic, intelligent, hard working and compassionate men I know. You changed my life and every day I wish I could’ve shown you the love & kindness you deserve. That you need”. You step back from his grip, straightening your pantsuit as you compose yourself. “But I guess if I’m not needed anymore, I’ll leave you alone, Mr Lord”. The duality of your emotive declaration of love against the rigid clinical final words lurched his heart forward like a freight train and then slammed against his rib cage with the force of 100Gs.

You start to stride towards the door, but Maxwell follows behind you quickly, grabbing your hand, where you turn around on your heels. He grabs both of your hands and brings them up between you, squeezing them gently. “Pl-please don’t, don’t leave me” he begs, “you-you’re all I have left”. His dark brown eyes shimmer with tears as he shoots you a pleading gaze. He drops to his knees, wrapping his arms around your legs and squeezing tight like he's hanging on for dear life. You stand frozen on the spot, feeling Max’s warm breath on your legs as he heaves a few more cries. As you start to run your hands through his dark blonde locks, the sensation calms your mind and you reach your hands down to cup Max’s face, tilting it up to look at you. “I won't, Max” you say with a concerned gaze. “As long as you don’t push me away”. Max nods silently as he reaches into his jacket pocket to pull out his pocket square. He stands up and starts to gently wipe your tears away. “I’m so sorry” he apologises “I lashed out because I felt like a failure and I didnt want to let you down anymore and disappoint you.” he continues while making sure he’s wiped all of the tears from your cheeks and cleaned up some of your smudged makeup. “You’re not a failure, Max” you reply, “You’re an incredible man and you should be proud of everything you have achieved”.

Max gives you a small smile, blushing slightly as he gently embraces you with his big arms, pulling you close against his chest. His strong cologne masked the slight tinge of body odour from not showering mixed into a masculine and attractive scent. You quietly inhale as much as your lungs will allow, savouring every smell. As he starts to brush through your curls with his large fingers, he plants a small kiss on your head, making you feel like you could melt out of his arms and into a puddle on the floor. “I’m sorry, too.” you whisper. “Sorry for what?” he quizzes, looking down at you, puzzled. “For telling you that I love you. It’s true, but I feel like it was not the most appropriate time to tell you with everything that’s going on with Alistar, the company, your-” Max interrupts your sentence “Come with me”. Max strides you across his office floor with his arm around your waist. You both walk over to an unassuming door, which you always thought led to a supply closet. Upon its opening, you step into the room to reveal a whole bedroom, complete with a dining table, sofa, TV and ensuite. You had been Max’s personal assistant for 7 years and had no idea such a room even existed. “Wow” you manage to blurt out in complete shock. “I had this room made so that when I was working long hours my ex-wife and Alistair could stay here” Max explained, adjusting bits and bobs around the room “Although my ex-wife never stayed. She always accused me of sleeping with other women in this bed when in fact I was actually working. I kind of live here now, having sold my estate to pay to keep the company running”

He gestures to you to sit on the timber art deco dining chair, as he picks up the phone on the coffee table. “Alfred. Can you please take a drive and bring back any decent takeout food you find. Make sure to get some for yourself, too”. Max hangs up the phone before turning on the radio and then grabs two wine glasses from the small bar by the lounge and a bottle of red wine. He places both glasses on the table and fills both half way. You pick up your glass and walk over to the floor to ceiling window, overlooking downtown LA. As Max is fussing over tidying and making the room perfect, he glances over to see you standing alone, looking out the window. Lost in your own little world, you feel Max’s large soft hand intertwine with your free hand. “I started black and gold in a shoebox office inside a strip mall, over there, in South LA” he points just in front of the hills. He pauses. “I expect that after I get evicted I won’t even be able to lease that same office”. You give his hand a small squeeze. “Maybe I could help you”. Max looks at you dubiously. “How do you mean?” He inquired.

Just as you were planning to answer, Alfred arrives with some food. Max walks over to your dining chair and pulls it out, gesturing for you to sit. You take your seat and he flaps a linen napkin into your lap, before sitting down adjacent to you. Alfred had bought some delicious Mexican food, the intoxicating smell of meats, cheeses and spices filling the room. “Thank you, Alfred. I’ll call you again if we need anything” Max smiles, patting Alfred on the back as he leaves. You both sit at the table for hours, eating, drinking and talking about the company. Max finally learns the secret that you’ve been hiding about studying at University. “I haven’t officially graduated yet, but learning what I have, I could probably help Black and Gold get out of its current predicament. I also might know some investors that I befriended in the same units as me from the University”. Max shoots you a soft smile. “You really are the best assistant and friend anyone could ask for” he beams, placing his hand on yours. Embarrassed by his compliment and burning with desire to want to kiss him, you stand up and head over to the couch to distract yourself from your intense feelings. Max realises the use of the word friend was probably a poor choice. He must be honest with you and tell you how he feels. Max joins you on the couch where your arms are crossed and you’re staring ahead. You’re trying to avoid eye contact else you’ll burst into flames.

********SMUT ALERT********

“I hope you don’t think I’m rude or ignoring the impassioned declaration you made earlier” Max smiles “I just wanted to give you a semi-decent first date”. You feel your cheeks begin to blush and you unfold your arms. “The truth is” Max continues, resting his hand on yours. “I feel the same way about you. Even before my ex-wife divorced me, I started to fall in love with you. The way you are with Alistair, how committed you are to helping me. I just didn’t think you’d wanna be with an older man like me and even more so when everything started to go downhill”.

You place your hand on top of Max’s, both now staring at each other softly yet intensely. “Max” you turn to face him, edging closer. Max nervously places his hands on your cheeks. “I’ve waited for 7 years, please kiss me”.

Max finally kisses your lips, setting your whole body alight. Dizzy from the sensation, you lay back on the couch as Max follows down on top of you. He begins peppering slow, thoughtfully placed kisses down your jaw and neck. You let out a whimper as your hands twirl through his hair. Every movement he makes is slow, as if he is trying to slow down time and make this moment last forever. Max comes back up and passionately kisses your mouth, your tongue begging his for entrance. As your tongues intertwine, he holds your head and neck with one hand, while stroking your hair with the other. Max holds you gently yet strongly in his arms, like he’s holding onto a fragile Fabergé egg. With the position you’re in on the couch and the impracticality of your work attire in non-work sitting positions, he senses that you’re uncomfortable.

“May I?” He asks, holding the zipper to your dress as he places his arms behind your back. You nod and he slowly unzips it, gently slipping it off you and carefully folding it over the armrest of the lounge. Overcome with passion and desire from Max’s romantic gestures, you blurt out “I want you to take me, Max”. Without a word, he scoops you up in his arms and walks you over to the bed, placing you down gently in the middle. Max sits at the foot of the bed, marvelling at your stunning body. You’re wearing stockings and a purple lingerie set, coincidentally Max’s favourite colour.

Max leans down and kisses the top of your foot, peppering kisses up your legs before reaching the clips of your garter belt. He unclasps them before rolling down the stockings, kissing back down your legs. Burning with desire, you unclasp your bra and garter belt, throwing them to the side of the bed. Max looks up from kissing your legs to see your breasts exposed in the moonlight, your nipples hard from his gaze.

“Y-you look absolutely beautiful” he chokes before climbing up on top of you to reach your face. You blush, feeling Max’s extremely hard cock straining in his suit trousers against your thigh. “Kiss me, Max” you moan, brushing your lips against his and moving your hand down towards his crotch. Max slowly and passionately begins to kiss you, your tongues swirling in each other’s mouths, the taste of wine and chilli making for a sensual combination. As your hand reaches Max’s crotch, you begin to grope and rub his sizeable length, causing him to let out a loud moan. You shoot him a cheeky sexual gaze, but he grabs your hand and brings it up for you to cup the side of his face. “Not just yet my little dove” he whispers. You pout but decide to put your hands to better use and unbutton his shirt, revealing his strong chiseled chest. Max starts to breathe deeper from arousal as you unbuckle his belt and throw it to the floor. “I want to take my time with you” Max whispers “You’ve waited so long and I want this moment to be everything you deserve. I want to worship and pleasure you completely”.

Your pussy is now completely soaked, the faint squelches from your juices against your panties sounds in the background of Max kissing your neck. Maxwell is more preoccupied with taking his time in a combination of making up for lost time with you, giving you the best first time with him and making this moment last as long as possible. “Guide me” Max sighs between kisses, giving you his free hand. Holding it with both hands, you guide him down your neck and to your breasts. Max traces your breasts, flicking your nipples as he watches you whine with pleasure. Slowly he leans down and begins to suck on them, gently swirling his tongue and flicking. He kisses from one breast to the other, squeezing them in his hand. “Your body is perfect. Your skin is so soft.” he moans. By this time you’re rubbing your thighs together in an effort to stimulate your clit without your hands as they’re gripping Max’s dark blonde hair.

“Max, take off your pants” you pant, becoming overstimulated from all this teasing foreplay. He stands up off the bed and unzips his trousers, pulling them down to reveal his rock hard cock. “Oh Max” you moan, reaching down under your panties to touch yourself as his cock twitches. Max hurriedly crawls onto the bed and back up to your face, pulling your hand out of your panties. He brings your fingers close to his mouth and rubs them on his lips before bringing his tongue out to swirl around them, sucking your juices off them. “Touch me Max” you immediately whimper “I need your touch”. Max moans before kissing you passionately. As you both enjoy your tender kiss, Max traces his hand down your body, over your breasts, along your stomach and reaches the edge of your panties. Max reaches into your panties and gently places a finger at the top of your pussy, gently but firmly pressing down as he traces over your clit and down to your opening. Your wetness has coated every inch of your pussy. “You’re so wet” he pants, the sensation starts to send some beads of precum out the tip of his cock. “For you” you moan, writhing in pleasure at his calculated & lingering touch.

Looking deep into your eyes, Max rubs your folds slowly before he inserts two fingers gently but deep inside you. He begins to switch between a circling and a come hither motion on your g-spot, sending sparks shooting up through your body. You arch your back and let out a moan, while Max kisses your neck. “Oh Max baby that feels so good” you moan, gripping the sheets. “You feel amazing” Max sighs, brushing your hair out of your face so he can study your facial expressions as he pleasures you. Just when you thought it couldn’t feel any more amazing, Max places his thumb onto your clitoris, bringing you closer to climax in a matter of milliseconds. “Oh my god Max, Max I’m gonna cum” you moan into his neck, biting him. Max continues fingering you, intently watching your face waiting for you to reach orgasm.

Between Max’s fingering, his kisses and eye contact it doesn’t take long for it all to send you over the edge, riding into a full body orgasm, squirting all over Max’s hand. “You’re so beautiful baby” Max coos, holding your body close with his fingers still inside you as your back arches and your body trembles while you let out a long loud moan. Despite this exquisite display and sensation happening between your legs, Max keeps eye contact with you, peering deep into your soul, completely enamoured. As you start to come down from your orgasm, Max slowly removes his fingers and sucks them clean. “You taste incredible, so sweet baby” he moans, licking the squirt off his hand. As you begin to catch your breath, Max kisses down your body and reaches your pussy, where he begins to lap up the rest of your juices. Very gently, Max parts the puffy pussy lips covering your clit. He starts to lick in between the folds, avoiding your clit as it recovers from the intense orgasm. He travels down to your entrance where he sticks his tongue inside, tasting your juices inside you.

The hum from his moan as he eats you out relaxes you like a lullaby. Max then comes back up to your face, kissing your forehead. “That was incredible Max” you pant, staring up at the ceiling. He rests his lips against your neck, cupping your breast and gently squeezing it and thumbing your nipple. “Let me pleasure you Max, please” you beg, giving him a pleading gaze. Max obliges as you change positions with him now lying on his back. You cup his face with one hand, giving him a loving smile as his hand grabs yours. He starts to kiss you as your hands both guide down his chest, stomach and reach his groin. You begin to tease him, tracing your fingertips around the base of his cock, then up the shaft. Your light touches cause his cock to twitch. “Your touch is magical'' Max groans as your hand grips his shaft and travels up to his tip. His precum has soaked the head, giving you enough lubricant to slowly jerk your hand up and down, gripping tightly.

The sensation for Max is heavenly, panting and moaning between kissing your cheeks and forehead as you concentrate your gaze on his pulsing cock. Your jerking movements become more intense as you look up to see Max with his eyes closed, like he’s dreaming and if he opens them you’ll cease to exist. You continue to jerk him as you kiss his neck, feeling his cock harden even more and begin to pulse rapidly, like he’s getting close. “W-wait” Max whimpers. “I want this night to be about pleasuring you. Your mere presence pleasures me enough.” He kisses your hand & cups your cheek, looking deeply into your eyes. “What can I do to please you? Would you like t-to make love?”. Your heart bursts with emotion as this man is so set on pleasuring you so much. “Yes Max, I would love that very much” you sigh.

You lay back down on the bed, Max lying by your side. He begins to embrace you, running his hands over your body before kissing down your neck and chest as he rubs your clit. Max stops for a moment, studying your beautiful naked body. He then moves down and pushes your legs up, exposing your pussy. As you squeeze your breasts and look at his chiseled jaw, Max nervously lines up his cock before rubbing it on your clit, soaking the tip in your wetness. Impatient with how he’s teasing you, you whisper “Fuck me Maxwell”. Slowly, he pushes his cock down your clitoris and through your folds before the tip pushes inside. Without even being all the way inside, he moans “this must be what Heaven feels like”. With one gentle thrust, he’s completely inside, shuddering as your warm, tight, wet walls squeeze his cock shaft and tip. “Oh my god Max. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment” you moan, as he starts to slowly thrust. “M-me too beautiful” he grunts, feeling pure ecstasy wash over him as your pussy tenses, massaging his twitching length. A few minutes go by of you both silently staring intensely into each other’s eyes, kissing passionately. With every thrust you begin to connect deeper to Max, your bodies intertwining on a physical, emotion and spiritual level. Max’s cock twitches inside you as he watches you moan and bite your lip, squeezing your breasts.

“I can’t believe you love a man, a man like me” Max says still in disbelief, watching your body motion up and down as he slowly strokes in and out of you. He studies your body intensely, watching the moonlight and shadows play across your curves as your breasts bounce with every thrust. “You’re so beautiful Hermosa”, his mother tongue now coming through “como una diosa, like, A-Aphrodité.” he sighs, cupping your face with both hands. You cover his hands with yours, interlocking your fingers, turning your face each way slightly to kiss his palms and stare back at him lovingly and seductively, feeling like you could float away. “Your Aphrodite” you sigh, arching back slightly in pleasure, gripping his hands to guide them down to your breasts for him to lovingly caress and fondle. In slight shock at your romantic response, he immediately leans down whilst thrusting and peppers kisses all over your lips, letting out a sniffle.

With his eyes closed, focusing on lasting to bring you pleasure and to hide his emotions, a few tears drop onto your cheeks as he continues to thrust, now grunting each time into your neck to cover up the small sobs. You kiss his cheek, to take his tears away, the saltiness turning into sweet nectar on your tongue. “It’s okay baby, you can be vulnerable with me, I will protect you. I love you”. You choke, now crying also. Both sharing a connection transcending physically, in that exact moment, without an increase in volume, the lyrics of the Bob Dylan song playing on the radio seem to stand out and ring true in this very moment;

Storm clouds are raging all around my door, I think to myself I might not take it any more. Take a woman like your kind, To find the man in me. But, oh, what a wonderful feeling, Just to know that you are near. Sets my a heart a-reeling, From my toes up to my ears...

Your foreheads now together, staring deeply into each other’s eyes, Max whimpers “I love you so much” as his whole body begins to tense, signalling he’s on the precipice of an orgasm. Feeling his cock become even harder as it thrusts into the deepest part of your pussy, slamming the extra nerves to unlock your powerful orgasm. “Oh my god Max I’m gonna cum” you moan, slamming your eyes shut as you begin to try and slow down so this moment can last forever. “Cum mi reina” Max pants, keeping the tempo of his thrusting steady as the waves of your orgasm reach its peak before crashing down & flooding your entire body. Your body arches and trembles as you scream “Oh Max!” while your pussy clamping down & releasing in pulses on Max’s cock. The sight of you orgasming tied with the sensation around his cock sends Max over the edge. “Cielo” Max groans, shuddering all over as his cock spurts thick ropes of cum against your sensitive cervix. You both share a passionate kiss as Max’s cock softens inside you. “That was amazing Max” you pant, your body weak from the two mind blowing orgasms Max gave you.

Max collapses on the bed beside you, kissing your neck and running his fingers through your hair. “I can’t wait for us to do that again” Max chuckles against your neck. You kiss Max’s forehead, sighing as your body still slightly shakes from the two powerful orgasms Max just gave you. “I think a shower is in order” He embraces you momentarily before scooping you up in his arms and carries you off the bed, walking towards the ensuite. “Are you ever gonna let me walk again?” You giggle, nestling into his neck. “I like feeling you be as close to me as possible” Max laughs, before your feet land back on the tiles inside the bathroom. Max turns on the water and you both step into the shower, the steam now filling the room. Max has an assortment of body washes and shampoos, ranging from musky to citrusy and floral scents. You step closer to Max as he takes some lavender body wash and begins to rub it down your back, his hands dancing over the rest of your body as he starts to wash you. “I know I keep saying this, but you are so beautiful” Max sighs, running his hands over your ass, grabbing a cheek in each hand. “You’re not too bad yourself, handsome” you giggle against Max’s neck.

You both spend at least an hour in the shower, washing each other, chatting and sharing a few more intimate moments. Soon, the wine from dinner, the warm shower water, the scent of lavender and your fatigue from your orgasms starts to take its toll and you feel your eyelids drooping. Max finishes washing you and grabs a towel to help you dry off with. As your eyelids close completely Max has already scooped you up and walked back to the bed, placing you in the middle before wrapping you up in blankets and placing a small kiss on your forehead. “Goodnight my love” he whispers. “Mmmm” you moan, already in a dream state. Max soon gets under the covers with you, embracing you tightly as he watches you sleep, twirling his fingers through your hair. The smell of lavender on your skin soon lulls Maxwell to sleep.

The next morning you wake up, dazed and a little hungover, but well rested. As you look around the room, you survey the many pieces of clothes, miscellaneous items and wine bottles strewn across the floor in a tornado of passion from the night before. As your eyes adjust to the sun, you see Max in an under-shirt and pyjama pants over by the dining table. Max, in his own little world, frantically setting the dining table with some breakfast Alfred had brought up while you were sound asleep. He’s making sure everything is laid out perfectly, straightening the cutlery and pouring Orange Juice and Champagne into a glass from the bar. He hears the cotton sheets move behind him, immediately turning around to see if you’re awake. “Good morning beautiful” Max hums, rushing over to the bed to pepper your cheeks and lips with hundreds of little kisses. “Morning handsome” you giggle, running your hands through Max’s hair, in an attempt to match your bed hair. “Are you hungry, mi amor?” he asks between kisses. “I’m famished” you reply, stretching to help you wake up more. As you writhe around in the sheets you notice you’re wearing a chiffon baby doll.

“I hope you don’t mind I uh, had it in the wardrobe & wasn’t sure if you liked to sleep naked so I put it on you just after you fell asleep.” Max laughs, scratching the back of his head. You blush, feeling embarrassed that you got that drunk, but Max’s reassuring smile makes you feel at ease. “I do usually sleep naked, but I like it, it makes me feel beautiful”. Max sighs “so beautiful”, wrapping you up in a tight embrace and planting a single kiss on your forehead. Max scoops you up and carries you out of bed before you lightly plant your feet onto the carpeted floor. As you glance over to the dining table, Max comes up behind you and helps you slip on a long beautiful chiffon robe, accented with feathers on the hem.

“Another little something for my beautiful mariposa” Max coos, kissing your cheek before pulling out your chair at the dining table. You feel like you’re walking on clouds as you step over to your chair and sit down, Max flapping a napkin onto your lap. “Oh my goodness Max you’re such a gentleman” you blush. “My mother taught me to show women the highest level of respect and care. She made me the man who I am today.” Max replies, looking out the window momentarily. You outstretch your arm across the table to squeeze Max’s hand “And she would be so proud of the man that you’ve become” you beam with a sweet smile. Max soon draws your attention to the diverse spread of pastries on the table, pointing out the different fillings of each and asks if you would like coffee. You nod before noticing a large bouquet of red roses in the middle of the table. As Max places a few pastries on your plate, you feel a sense of intense attraction wash over you like a wave.

Your internal monologue starts to read back to itself, reflecting on how loving, generous and respectful Max is towards you. How much he takes care of you and oh god, how handsome he looks…you start to feel aroused by this somewhat submissive gentleman, sensing a rising heat from your core. Max submitted to your every want and desire last night, raising you up and worshipping you like a goddess, now you wanted to submit to him. Knowing now that you can be vulnerable and honest around Max, you lean back in your chair, biting down on a blueberry pastry.

To be continued..... ;) muahahahaha

a special thanks to the users below for the inspiration and encouragment!

@pintsizemama @anaaaispunk @maxlordsgf @rav3n-pascal22, @pedrostories, @absurdthirst @pedrosbrat​