#Cocktail Bar Hire for Weddings | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bangytell · 1 year ago

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The Perfect Date | pjm M

Summary: Your sister's getting married, hiring someone from the advertising of the magazine doesn't seem like a bad idea even with all the benefits you seem to find along.

Genre: Strangers to Lovers, Smut, fluff

Rated: mature, +18

Pairing: Jimin x reader

Word Count: 6k

Warnings: Pet names, unprotected sex, creampie

a/n: Just wanted to get this out of my drafts, enjoy.

The steam of vape on the shower made you feel at ease just for a little while the razor helped you shave your legs.

The phone rang four times and you answered when that sweet, masculine voice greeted you.

"Hello, it's this [name] Brown?"

"This is me" left the razor aside because you knew it required more concentration that you couldn't get at the moment

"Just to get everything straight, you are sending my ticket and I will see you on the airplane, is that correct?"

"It is" you squeaked and cleared your throat for repeating "Yes, yes it is" he giggles and then answer

"Until then Mrs. Brown" he hangs up.

Once on the plane, you started looking around to find the man on your call, he showed up in a black suit, white shirt, and a blue tie. Very… handsome, you must admit.

"Hello there" he took a seat behind you "It's my first time in first-class" he smiled and for a second his eyes disappear

"Hi, let's get some things on the table" he nods full attention to you "We met at a bar, you're a therapist and crazy in love with me"

"Sounds like a good story to tell"

"Your job is to make everybody believe it, even me" he came closer to your seat

"On the phone, you said that your family are the ones that want you married" you nod, full attention on his plump lips and glowing eyes

"I am the oldest, my sister is the one getting married before me and I am pretty nervous because I had to call for you, my family it's not even a crazy one, it drives me crazy but-..." he placed a finger over your lips

"You also mentioned an ex, am I right?"

"That is like the other… situation"

"Can you talk about it?" you nod, even when it brought you deep bad memories

"His name's Namjoon, we dated for four years later when I graduate, and when I thought he was gonna propose to me, he… dumped me, now he's the best man, best friend of my sister's fiance" the plane started it's way to the sky and he looked at you in a way you couldn't exactly define.

No words came later, so you slept the whole flight given the circumstances.

Once in London, he helped you with your bags and told you of the droll on your cheeks. You flustered.

"I have more siblings, my parents are divorced so please don't bring that up, and-" you stopped because you had to go to the bathroom and change for a cocktail dress.

The public airport bathroom seemed a good option, you chose a blue dress, and once out you remember he had a blue tie.

"Is it cheesy? I think it is, they will think it is"

"We can stop somewhere and get you ready" he suggested

So you did, a bar became your closet and he was outside waiting.

"Do you think this black one is better?" it was option two, the other one was a red dress

He looked at you, head to toe, and denied with his head.

"I wear the red one, also the bartender told me that" you flustered and got inside the bathroom to change and go for the red one.

The ride to the salon where family, friends, among some other people you assumed were friends with your sister, was quick.

On the back, you left your bags and coats, and you gave him his payment.

"Six grand, just like we agreed"

"Okay" he took the envelope and leave it on his jacket

"No, no, wait you have to count it" he stopped his actions

"I believe in you"

"I just want to remind myself that I paid to someone just to get it as a date on my sister's wedding"

"Look, don't be so hard on yourself, the money is in my pocket and all you have to worry is to look pretty, which is not much difficult, I will be by your side" you flustered for a second and then got together just to confront all the people you haven't seen in many years.

You greet everyone, your friends, your family and he seems to be kind to new people.

Your best friend walks up to you, you haven't seen her in years.

"Lizzy, I've missed you" she hugs you tight

"You are the one that lives in New York" both of you laugh

"Lizzy I want you to meet my date, Jimin" he smiles and shakes her hand

"Park Jimin, nice to meet you"

"Oh, a foreign, well nice to meet you I'm Lizzy, or as everyone else know me Elizabeth" her British accent was really pretty, one of the favorite people for you to listen talk to

Your mother came up to you, gave a kiss to your friend, then you, and gave his hand to the man you came with.

"I'm [name]’s mother" he kisses her on the back of her hand and she giggled

He placed a hand over your waist, made you come closer, and then talked again

"I'm [name]’s date" the smile on your mother's face was priceless

He didn't move his hand out of your waist, you went to the bar and asked for a margarita.

More people came and said hi until you saw him. He wore a gray suit, he had no glasses on and looked as perfect as you remember.

A few margaritas later you needed to go to the bathroom.

He was on your way out.

"Hey, [name], how have you been?"

Your cousin showed up.

"Hey, Namjoon since you already stole four years for her, you don't mind if I take her away, would you?"

"Actua-"

"You're so nice, keep going"

You were at the bar again, he wasn't around so you just ordered another margarita.

Surprisingly your father came by and hugged you with a kiss on the cheek and likewise did his wife. Your brother came and hugged you.

"I've missed you" he was taller than you but still young

"Me too Tom" he smiled and left with a sorry

You felt a hand at your waist and jumped scared.

"Oh, there you are"

"Your mother took me to meet your aunts" he giggled when he saw the look on your face

"Oh my Lord, did she?" he nods and you give a sip to your margarita.

"I'm getting some fresh air, wanna join me?" the glass was empty and honestly you think that you couldn't get through without the alcohol.

"I'ma get another glass" he left the warmth of his hand and went outside.

Chatting with your best friend and cousin while the margaritas kept coming you forgot about your date.

In the meantime, your ex and he were having a conversation.

"Friend of the bride or the groom?" he asked looking at him a few inches apart

"I came with the bride's sister" his eyes open up in surprise

"[Name]?" Jimin nodded at his question like he didn't say that you came along with him, but Jimin's expression was neutral

"And are you with the bride or the groom?"

"How is she doing?" he said, not answering his question

"She has been fine, very successful" he nodded and seem… taciturn

"I think I made a mistake…" he said in a very low voice until he saw you coming to meet Jimin.

The drunk you were brave enough to kiss the man, so it happened.

His plump lips tasted delicious as he held you by the waist, your ex left a few moments later.

"Is he gone?" you turned around to find the spot empty "What did he say to you?"

"Are you okay?" you nodded and he continued talking "He said that he made a mistake, then you came along"

Your mother had a microphone, and you knew that didn't mean something good would come along but it seems that your family didn't care.

"Thank you all so much for assisting for the wedding of my youngest daughter Ava, it was quite a surprise when we find out that she was the one getting married, we all thought that [name] would marry Namjoon first"

"Mom!" you squeaked in shame

"Yes, right I was talking about Ava, congrats on the wedding my dear"

Your dad came along and said some words for Ava, as your date held you by the waist.

"I think I'm drunk" you confessed

"Everyone can tell" he chuckled

"Don't be like that, I haven't gotten drunk in a long time"

"And seven mojitos seemed like a good idea"

"I'm not even that drunk"

"You kissed me"

"So? you have plump lips they're pretty"

"Pretty?" he chuckled again "No one ever said that to me"

"How come? They are" you traced them with your finger and he smiled looking at your eyes and finding a glow in them

"You're quite a thing aren't you?"

"I guess so" he chuckled

Both of you were at your dad's house, they gave you a room.

"I'm taking a shower" he claimed as he walked away

They left you with one bed only and you barely knew the man, what were you supposed to do?

It was late so you needed the rest, it didn't matter at the moment.

Finally getting a bed and a good sleep you took it.

When the morning came, you felt the sickness of yesterday drinks, everything kicking in, and you rushed into the bathroom to puke as much as possible, after brushing your teeth you noticed that Jimin had slept on the floor, wearing only the bottom part of the pajama, and the blood run through your cheeks to paint them red. His torso was toned and it literally glowed, suddenly the knocks on the door scared you and made you jump on your place, Jimin started to wake up.

“Get on the bed” you whispered and he got up and layed down with you while you heard on the door your mother asking if you were dressed with a little giggle

“Come in mom, stop embarrassing me” she giggled again and opened the door to the look of you both on bed, with Jimin without t-shirt

“Well, i see you had fun” Jimin chuckled

“Were you going to say something?” you remembered her, annoy by now

“Ah, yes, we are having breakfast at your sister's house, so get dressed we’re leaving in 20 minutes” you nod and agitate with your hand that she could leave.

After she went out, the warmth of Jimin’s body startled you, it was like you weren’t living at the moment until he asked you something.

“Sorry, what?” he chuckled

“Are we going to change?” you got up, quickly and grabbed some clothes from your bag “You can change here, i’ll be in the bathroom” he nods and you got lost inside after closing the door behind you.

The baby blue dress with a cute lace on the back seemed good for breakfast, and after your subtle but good makeup was done you heard a knock on the door, it was Jimin.

“I’m ready, just waiting for you sweetheart” you opened the door, he got startled but maintained the beautiful smile on him “I see you’re all dolled up” you chuckled

“Does this dress say “Look at me ex, I'm better off without you”?” he nods and you make your way out.

At your sister’s house, well hers and her fiance, almost everyone was there, your sister's bridesmaids, and the best man of the groom, the parents of the groom, and everyone was already sitting by the time you got there.

Pancakes, fruit, bacon, syrup, sausage, eggs, oatmeal, coffee and just to name a few, from what your sister told you, her fiance parents had like tons of money so it felt like a private restaurant just at the comfort of your house.

Jimin and you served all you wanted, from that you learned that he also liked his coffee sweet if not he would not have it, you two went to take a seat, in the large table, your ex decides to sit in front of you, Jimin steals your focus, he begins to talk about a business the he participates and his voice sound like heaven, he mentions other job, you assume the one his right now, and he mentions that he met lots of people, with the same intentions, no harm done, that even once they tried to punch him, you chuckled with look of your ex all over you.

Jimin comes close to your ear to whisper something to you, his cologne smells fantastic.

“I think we made your ex pretty jealous” with a soft chuckled you nod

Your mother stands up, with a glass in her hand, you think that 11 am is the time to be drinking wine, but who are you to judge?

“Once again I want to thank everyone for coming, this is very special for me and my beautiful daughter Ava, for her happiness” she extends her glass and all of us says cheers to it”

“At least this time she didn’t talk about how i was supposed to be marrying” you whisper, closer to Jimin’s ear and he chuckled.

“Sissy, remember that tomorrow is the bachelorette party” everyone got up and she was holding you by the hands

“Yes Ava, i know your schedule very well, don’t worry i’ll be there”

You hear shouts from afar, you don’t know how but Namjoon has Jimin by a chokehold, and everyone is trying for him to let go. You step in, no screams or forcing anything, just making him let go, when Namjoon sees that you help Jimin instead of him, he steps back. Jimin is fighting to get air back to him.

“I don’t know what happened, and I don’t want you to tell, just don’t touch him again, you understand?” he was tall, way more tall than you and still you stood right in front of him, and talked all serious. He looked scared, and walked away and your sister's fiance stepped in. Namjoon nods, and walks out.

“Jimin, are you good?” he nods, with more color on his face now.

“He could have looked worse” you chuckle, good thing he didn’t hurt him.

You two went to the bathroom to help Jimin get some water on his face.

“He was jealous, and told me that i shouldn’t have come here” after damping a towel and wring the excess of water you put it on his forehead

“I’m so sorry for all the trouble” you looked anxious, and Jimin noticed, hold your hands down and look at your eyes

“It’s not your fault, okay?” you nod when you hear voices from afar

“No, dude, i’m not jealous” it was Namjoon

“Yeah right, and that was why you almost punched her new date”

“I’m telling you, he looks like a goal digger, like he’s just after her money” they were talking about you two. You just kept quiet and listened.

“Don’t try to project yourself” namjoon chuckled with a grin and then his face was serious

“You know it wasn’t like that, [name] didn’t even had that much money as now”

“Yeah just that she was boring, and not good in bed, i remembered those words after you told me you fucked someone else” your looks changed, Jimin gazed upon you and saw the tears that started to fall out, he hugged you. Not going out still, they’ll have to leave first.

“I was stupid and young, okay? Let’s head back before someone notices we are gone” Namjoon ended, you heard the footsteps as they walked away, everyone after the next hurting you more.

Boring? Was that what he always thought? Were you ever going to even find a man?

You left, with Jimin as company back to your father's house, the whole way back was full of tears, with soft strokes on your hair from Jimin. He knew you didn’t deserve him, but maybe you did need it to hear it from him. What happened before the choking could be a topic for later. Right now you wanted to be curled up in bed. and so you did.

The day after, you got a good eyeliner, even on your lower eyelid, and with a red wine dress you were sipping one drink after the other at the bachelorette.

“Hey [name] what happened yesterday with Namjoon?” you shrugged your shoulders and kept drinking

“I wasn’t there, so I’m not like a fight referee” when you looked at the person asking of course your sister had to invite her, the girl that made your life a nightmare at high school and collage, but her friend after all

“Stop being so defensive, I see alcohol finally got you” you chuckled and ordered another drink, why would she care

“You know what, screw you Georgia, get lost” you don’t know where you got the courage to do that, but she was flabbergasted and left.

It’s been an hour since everything started, your sister was dancing and all you could do was drink by yourself.

“Are you sure you’ll be good by yourself” Jimin nods “He’s going to be there, and drunk, so please try not to, you know, be near him” He chuckled at your worries

“I’ll be good, stop worrying and promise you’ll have fun” you nod, and he caressed your face before leaving with your brother in law into that van.

Why did he do that? and why could you still feel it on your skin, his hands were a little harsh but it also felt smooth, you couldn’t put into a right thought what you meant by that, and while being lost in thought you didn’t notice your sister coming up to you.

“[Name] what made you so lonely and sad? You miss your boyfriend?” you chuckled

“Unlike you, i know how to be by myself” her eyes water a little

“What’s that supposed to mean?” alcohol can not get the better in you

“I’m sorry Ava, go back to your friends and forget i ever said anything”

“You know, sissy, my dad is always worried about you, always thinking what his daughter is doing outside the country, maybe if he knew you could be alone he wouldn’t have to live with the worries on him” the bitter tone and the way she looked at you, you knew it was all with pure hatred of you, but words can’t get that much of you, so she just leaves.

In the meantime, Jimin is at the stripclub, drinking very slowly and just watching as everyone else haves fun, in their own way, while the groom is very happy with a dancer on his legs, and a few friends around him, cheering and drinking, like if that was the best achievement a man can have. He notices Namjoon up in a corner, drinking and just looking, not moving that much, so Jimin walks up to him, he’s not that scared of big guys.

“What’s on your mind?” Namjoon frowns and looks at him, he’s tall but not that tall, for him at least.

“None of your business” he sounds harsh

“I’m just making conversation”Jimin chuckles, it’s like life is just fun for him, or so Nam thinks

“You’re not mad about what i did” Jimin shrugs

“I can’t be more mad to you than what you’re to yourself” Nam huff and kept drinking

“I don’t understand why would [name] date you”

“And why not?” Jimin chuckles “You gotta stop being so prejudiced, you don’t know me, and me being a few inches smaller than you doesn’t make you any better” Jimin left, he didn’t have anything else to said, he started to get bored, until he gets a phone call from you, he answers

“Jimin, how’s everything going?” he notices Nam approaching

“We’re having fun sweetheart, what about you?” the music was a bit too loud, but with a loud voice he believed you could hear him

“I’m so bored, and all the girlies are leaving for like an after party, but i am soo tired” you sound different, like making every word last longer in your tongue and a little dumb

“Would you like me to go with you?” he feels enthusiast for seeing you more in that amazing red dress, not that he likes you, but he’s a man after all, it wouldn’t hurt to see

“Well, yes, you could if you want” Jimin chuckles

“I’ll be there gorgeous” you hang up, Nam walks away and Jimin calls a taxi on his way out, he remembers the address of the place you were, by the time he’s there you are already outside with a cigarette in between your fingers, anxiety always got the best of you.

You see him, and he comes to take you by the waist. You're drunk enough to tell him that he doesn’t have to do it, so you let the warmth of him hug your body.

Once in the cab, you say the address and he looks at you with a soft smile

“Stop looking at me like that” he chuckles

“What do you mean?” you’re looking at the window, seeing the lights go through

“Like you like me”

“I like you, i think you’re great” you gaze him

“No, not that type of like, I mean like having real feelings for me” Jimin looks at you, not a word and still looking you in the same way

“Is that a problem?” your heart starts pounding hard in your chest

“I mean, i think so, you’re working” he shrugs

“As long as it’s okay with my boss” you chuckle

You got home, and ran to the bathroom to throw every drink to the toilet, why did your stomach had to do you dirty, after brushing your teeth, washing your face and changing clothes, you lied down on bed

“Jimin?” you whisper

“Yes?”

“Where are you from?” he smiles

“South Korea and I assume you’re from here?”

“I lived here my whole life but my mom and dad used to live in California, and what about your family?”

“I only have one brother, and my mom and dad live over there”

“And why did you leave?”

“I have business, and don’t think I don’t want to see my family I just choose a very moved type of life”

“And they understand?” he hums “That must be great, my family thinks i want to be away and not see anyone”

“Do you?” you laugh and he has all the attention on you, even when you’re far apart.

Silence gets through the room, thousands of questions try to escape the bubble in your throat, with softs breathings the sleeps kicks you, the mild light of the hearth on the corner of the room, suddenly a heaviness on the other side of the bed startles you, turning around his face ends up too close.

“No, but my dad is at New York” he looks at you, confused

“But…”

“He’s my stepdad, you know, it’s complicated, my biological father leaves and after all these years try to… bond with me, my stepdad was worried i end up hurt by him, again”

“Everyone can worry, is hard not to” you nod

“I also believe that i was here to look after Ava, even tho we have no blood relation”

“You don’t?” you deny with your head, usually no one knows about this, cause nobody else cares

“We just have been together since very small, she is my sister” he nods, forgetting you cant see him

“I understand, don’t have a step brother, but surely can understand you” you giggle

“That’s why she’s always… fighting to me, everything i did she wanted to do it better, if had a boyfriend, she had to have that guy, ‘m just tired of fighting for that place, so i left” you sigh, he scoops closer to you and cups your face in his hands

“You earn and own every space there is” you grin, this feels weird, as if.. it was part of the money you gave him

You turn around from him, trying to fall asleep forgetting he’s there. He got paid to say that, to behave a certain way.

The next morning was the rehearsal dinner, but you felt uneasy and worried. While getting ready, you barely locked your gaze with Jimin.

First breakfast on that beautiful cabain your parents had, Jimin pulled you away from everyone, and you see his worried eyes for the first time.

“What’s going on?” you shrug as if he couldn’t tell by now

“Nothing, let’s get back” you sound selfless

“What happened to the bubbly and outgoing you?” you shrug, again, he met you like half week and he seems to know you so much

“It’s not part of your job to worry about that” he was flabbergasted

“Wait, so, you think that i’ve been acting like this for my job you so wrong”

“Am I?” he nod and huffed when you crossed your arms in front of him

The dress you were wearing made his cock throb under his pants and pant under his breath, and also because your tits were driving him insane every time he sees you. He licked his under lip and looked at your gaze.

“You have zero idea about me” you nod and your tits wiggle a bit, forgive me ,forgive me for being such a stupid animal, he felt like a teenager boy looking at his teacher's boobs.

“Yes Jimin, i don’t know much, cause this is all a lie” he denies with his head

“Please, watch your tone” you felt suddenly that everyone could be hearing, nobody was even around.

“Jimin, i really don't want to be hurt again, so let's just do us a favor and-...” he stopped you mid speech with his soft lips pressed against yours, the air in your lungs stopped flying through and all you could breathe was Jimin’s cologne, he deepened the kiss, pulling you by the neck, opening his mouth leaving room for his tongue to get into the kiss, it was sloppy and needy, as if he wishes to show you what he means just by that soft lips against yours.

His hands began to wander between your hips and your ass, pulling you closer, as if close wasn’t close enough.

“Jimin…” you gasp between his lips moving “Upstairs” he nods, pulling away and letting you take the lead.

As soon as you’ve entered the room meant for both of you, he begins to kiss you again, less messier and trying to pull your stupid shoes, now the laces seemed a bad idea, the two chuckle as soon as the shoe finally is free of your toe.

He also took his shoes off.

“We have to get back” you gasp when your ass touches the bed, he unbuckles his belt and his pants a little just to be free from his torso till his knees. He helps you pull your dress up until your waist, since you're going commando.

“Damn baby girl, are you trying to kill me?” you giggle as his body hovers over yours and begins his way to kiss you again

“It wasn’t really my intention, this dress doesn’t go with underwear” with a cocky grin you lose breath when his finger touch your clit

Not losing any more time and he’s been really anxious to be inside of you, his cock bullies inside your folds, begins to thrust deep and hard making your mouth leave saccharine and sweet moans with each struck of his cock.

Soon enough Jimin’s moans of his orgasm hits when he’s breathing in the cup of your neck, his cum dripping past your inner thigh and soon after you finish as well.

He pulls away from you, and runs to the bathroom to get you a dry towel to help clean after you.

“Sorry for the mess honey” you giggle and pull your dress for where it was before the horniness got the worse within you.

After returning to the rehearsal dinner and not a single person knowing about what just happened upstairs everything else went smoothly. You went downstairs for another bottle of wine, and soon after behind you, your ex followed you.

After grabbing the bottle you jumped a little at the scare of the presence behind you.

“[name] May I have a word with you?” you nod, in a que for him to continue “I wanted you to know that”

“You know, for many years I wondered why you broke up with me, and if it were me who was wrong but” he looked as if he was the one hurt, as if he wasn’t the one who made you miserable and not the other way around

“I’ve been a complete fool, i agree but there’s something you need to know” you’re confused by now

“Go on then” you don’t notice but there was Jimin following you both, since you’ve already took longer than expected

“That summer where we grew apart, it was because…” he leaned closer, and you took a step back “I’m in love with your sister” you were flabbergasted by this surprise

“What?” you ask, with a nod in your throat

“At first it was only an adventure, something we promised it wouldn’t last…” you’re holding the bottle close to you, a sudden pain in your chest pinching you “But know I only feel a strong desire to be with her, for her not to” you slap him, stopping his words

“Stop, you can’t be this selfish at this moment, my sister seems very fond of who you seem to think as a best friend, so you better not think for a second in hurting my family”

You step away, finding Jimin at the stairs and walk away from everyone leaving the bottle in your way.

Once outside Namjoon and Jimin were behind you.

Jimin rushed to hug you and your sister soon was near the commotion.

“You told her?” he was looking at Jimin and as confused as this has you, you soon understood what it meant. You took a step back.

“You knew?” he denies and tries to hold you “She told you and you didn't?...”

“Sis, I didn’t want to…” everyone else at the party was next to you, seeing what the problem was and asking what was going on.

“She knows?” your cousin asked as she saw the tears streaming down your face

The betrayal of everyone around you soon came to your heart, you ran away while Jimin ran behind you, shouting your name as you ran as fast as you could.

He catch up to you, grabbing you by the arm

“[name] please, wait” your eyes were puffy and full of tears

“Why didn’t you tell me?” you shout with the hurt full in your heart and eyes

“It wasn’t my secret to tell” you nod and hug him

“I trusted them, i trusted everyone they must see me as a fool” he denies and embrace you in his arms

“You didn’t deserve it, I know, and I must apologize to keep the secret but i knew that i wanted to protect you” you nod, trying to see past your pain and sorrow for this matter

You return to the cabin, and sleep in Jimin’s arms when a knock on your door wakes you.

You stand up, and open, the night has already fallen and you could only notice Ava’s blue eyes.

“I’m so sorry sis” you try to close the door again “Please listen to me” you nod

“Go on” her eyes were puffy and the dry tears adorned her features

“I never wanted this to blow up like this, i tried to tell you, several times”

“Trying is nothing worth for me Ava” she nods

“I know, but you have to understand that i didn’t wanted to hurt you” you snort

“Hurt me? or hurt the perfect lie you’ve been living? you know Ava i’ve always tolered that you did all of that before, kissing the boys i’ve told you I liked and stealing my ideas for a project, but i’m tired of that now”

She cries and you closed your door

“[name] please don’t talk to Jeremy about this matter” you open the door again

“No, you’ll have to tell him, and you better tell him before you wed because he doesn’t deserve to marry a lie” she denies

“I’m not ready to…-” you raise your hand

“You better be, cause now that I know he’s going to know” she cries and you close the door for good

“Are you sure you should do that?” Jimin asks, sitting on the bed, you nod, returning to him

“Yes, he deserves the truth” she sighs

“You should be one to talk about honesty, didn’t you brought me here as a paid guest” you snort

“Are you against me?” he chuckles

“I just mean that you’re not exhorted from all sins”

“Are you returning to your work after this?” he denies and chuckles

“I don’t think I should” you sit next to him

“You told me that you usually don’t attend weddings, why did you come?” he nods

“I take more funerals, parties but I try to exclude from weddings” you’re looking at his eyes

“Why 's that?”

“Weddings are more intimate and I tend not to intimate” you nod, agreeing “Funerals are all about accompany those who have lost someone, grieve can make you look for company” he sounds calm

“And why did you accept my offer?” he chuckles

“Something about your voice” you chuckle

“Desperation?” he snorts

“No, more like… hope” the two of you decided that it has been enough for the day, and tomorrow would be a long day.

The day of the wedding was finally upon you, as a maid of honor someone was hired to do your makeup and hair, since you kissed Jimin in the morning before your cousin came to steal you away, you haven’t heard or seen him.

“Why is it that you just know you seem to be in love?” your cousin asked

You laugh to brush it off “You don’t know what you’re talking about”

While being ready and at the small church your gaze searches for the man that knows to hold your heart, by now your sister should be walking down the aisle but she’s nowhere to be seen.

Your mother reaches at where you are, whispers something and you look to where your sister fiance is standing, you know what could be happening.

Once you’re in the room where your sister should be, you find Namjoon kneeling in front of your sister.

“I didn’t thought i ever saw you do that” you greet sarcastically

“[Name]?” he stands and your sister is crying

“Wait in the other room Namjoon” he does as told and leaves you two

“[Name] please don’t tell him” you hug her, and she sighs at the warmth of your body

“I ain’t going to, but I believe you should come clean, before doing the marriage thing” she nods, understanding what you mean.

You call for Jeremy at the little room and leave them to it, they talk, your sister cries and you hope that the wedding finally goes along.

Jeremy gets out and sees Namjoon.

“Hey bud, stay calm would you?” his temple changes and Namjoon makes the run for it

Both are running, he’s shouting how a bad friend he is, and how could you do this to me.

Jimin hopped in the car and chased Jeremy and told him to hop in.

They drive and Jeremy asks “How can I do this now?” Jimin stops the car, and look his way

“She came clean with you, I believe that honesty is what keeps a marriage endure” he nods

“You’re a good therapist” Jimin chuckles

“I believe I am”

They return and have an amazing wedding, the party went smoothly and for once, your life felt great and united.

Jimin and you after returning to New York have a first date, it wasn’t so perfect, but you knew you’ll get better after sharing that trip together, everything with him felt better and he loves to be your date for every occasion.

#bts fanfic #bts imagines #bts scenarios #bts maknae line #bts jimin #park jimin #jimin x y/n #jimin x reader #jimin x you

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darkficsyouneveraskedfor · 1 year ago

Text

Snake Eyes 5

Warnings: noncon, coercion, manipulation. Proceed with caution.

Note: thanks all for reading and I hope you’re excited for this one. All feedback is more than welcome and loved and appreciated. Reblogs are most helpful.

Part of The Club AU

The service industry is less than formal. There’s not much red tape in the hiring process and less administrative restraints. So, after a short video interview with Sif, you accept a job for the weekend. It’s not entirely your choice of venue, a yacht, but the pay even before gratuity is enough to convince you.

More peculiar about the job is that it’s not a single night. You’re slated to work through the weekend at breakfast, lunch and dinner. It beats handing out shots to tipsy coeds; these wealthy investors will have deeper pockets.

So much for being destitute all at the whim of that snake. It’s the nature of the business. Gigs don’t last long and when they do, you’re miserable. If it was up to you, you’d be working at one of the upscale cocktail bars in the downtown core but they rarely open up applications.

You pack a bag and take your time getting ready. There’s a dress code of course. All black, no pants. You know these sorts of events. They only hire women and their purpose is more than serving, they have to be nice to look at. Well, you can doll yourself up.

You put on a sleek halter blouses with a leather skirt. You’ll sweat your ass off but it’s what you got. You have just enough outfits to last you through two days. Oh, and some anti-nausea meds to counteract the sea sickness.

The job will reimburse you for the cost of the uber. You don’t think you’ve ever been to the dock. You weren’t a part of the college crowd with their party boats and aren’t generally a fan of being on the water. You tip the driver on your phone as you get out and look around.

There are two other girls in black hovering around. You approach them, assuming they're in the same boat as you. The pun barely worth thinking.

“Hey, um, are you meeting Sif?” You ask.

“You must be the new girl,” they look at you with their drawn on brows, “Tara,” the tall redhead introduces herself.

“Zadie,” the shorter woman with the spiral curls flicks her lashes derisively.

You offer your name in return, sensing their coolness. They’ve worked together a while, that means you’re the rookie, you have to prove yourself. That isn’t difficult, you have faith in your own skills.

“You’re pretty,” Tara preens, “love the gloss.”

“Thanks,” you accept the compliment.

“I could never pull that shade off,” she continues, “very harsh.”

You nod and force a smile. You’re sure that is only the beginning of your act. You shoulder your bag and turn on your heel listlessly. You’re not here to make friends.

“Girls,” Sif’s heels draw your attention as they click across the dock, “thank you for waiting. The captain was a bit late with his safety review. Ugh, so we have to hurry with set up. The investors will be arriving shortly. Can’t have you standing out here like a bunch of stray cats.”

“What happened to Katie?” Zadie asks as she steps forward first.

“She’s at her sister’s wedding,” Sif returns smoothly, “don’t worry, she’s vetted and very capable,” the dark haired woman gives you an appraising look, “you might learn a few things, Zee.”

Zadie rolls her eyes and Tara grins over her shoulder, trying to hide her amusement. You shrug and follow them towards the boarding ramp. Right, just don’t think about the water.

🍸

The boat is a flurry. After you are shown your cramped cabin, leaving your bag on the bed, you are taken to the gala deck. There, you are acquainted with the bar and set to your prep. The familiarity of the work welcomes you in and your nerves calm even as the subtle swell of the water rocks the ship.

As you work in tandem with the other girls, the lights adjust and music begins to waft around the space. You look out at the tables, set and ready for diners. It seems a rather overdone event. You’re not sure if you had yacht money, you would waste it on these pompous displays. Maybe that’s why you don’t have any money.

The first investors begin to trickle in. You hear Sif’s voice rise above the building din as she beckons them in and shows them their seats. Some sort of auction for charity. Funny, how these things are always fundraisers…

As the crowd burgeons in, the first patrons of the night come by the bar. Tara elbows past you to take the lead. You let her. You know her type. They approach the job like a competition. No use playing that game.

“Miss, a drink,” you hear from your left. You turn to greet the man, his silty tone only registering once you face him. Loki smirks as he drapes his arm over the trim, “I believe you know my preference.”

You withhold a scowl. You don’t know how to respond. You can’t scream at him so you turn and begin to put together a dry martini. You feel him watching you. Of course, he’s one of them.

“Mr. Laufeyson,” Zadie comes up behind you, “nice to see you.”

“You too,” he says silkily.

“Hon, why don’t you let me take over for Mr. Laufeyson?” She offers as she touches your arm.

“She’s got it,” he shoos her with his fingers.

You present him the tall glass and meet his eye. He watches you with that imperious gloating grin. He reaches for it, sliding it closer with two fingers around the stem.

“Now I should be suitably bolstered to face my guests,” he declares. You squint at him, his guests? “Darling, should you require anything, you know you only need ask. I do take pride in accommodating my staff well.”

You blink, lips sealed and tight. His eyes rove up and down as he lifts his martini, “cheers.” He takes a sip and winks, before spinning on his heel and strutting off. You should’ve known it was all too easy.

#loki #dark loki #dark!loki #loki x reader #drabble #au #the club #series #snake eyes #avengers #mcu #marvel #thor

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indigosunsetao3 · 9 months ago

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Would It Be Enough?

Chapter 13 - Blown Cover

Masterlist of Chapters

Warnings: 18+ - No minors Rated E - Please read the tags on A03 for any of your triggers

Johnny "Soap" MacTavish x Original FMC 12.9k words - AO3 Link

Snow was falling lightly now as Gaz pulled open the door and extended his hand to Emma, his normally smiling face gone to be replaced with a stern stoic look. They weren’t friends in this role, he was her paid bodyguard and she probably should barely even know his name. Emma took his hand and pulled herself out before quickly letting go and walking to the door, leaving Soap and Crane to get out on their own. Trying not to fidget, Emma waited as Gaz spoke to the bouncer at the door, getting patted down and his gun removed, before they were all let inside. Their car pulled off down the street as they stepped inside and Emma squinted a bit to see.

It was dimly lit inside the jazz club, most of the light only coming from the stage where a live band was playing. There were tables scattered about the place with small candle lamps on them and the bar was directly in the middle of the floor with seating all around it. Despite it being open concept the décor itself was anything but modern, red velvet was the theme for all the upholstery, and gold tassels accented everything, including holding open curtains on the booths along the walls. Easy to drop them off if guests were looking for privacy. The place wasn’t packed per se but there were still plenty of people milling about, all dressed like they had just walked out of a magazine in their expense suits and dresses.

“He’s at a table,” a voice in Emma’s ear said and she nearly jumped. She had forgotten about the earpiece and Alex’s voice had jarred her from her observing. He must have tapped into the cameras because Emma glanced around and didn’t see Mikhail. “Other side of the bar, he’s talking with one of his men,” Alex explained and Emma gave the faintest nod before walking that way.

Crane and Soap had broken off on their own, one of them finding an empty table and waving a waitress over, the other going to the bar so they had a straight-line view of Mikhail and ordering a drink. Gaz had moved off toward the back of the place near what Emma suspected was the kitchen door, standing in a parade rest position with his hands in front of him. He looked the part of a bodyguard as his eyes swept around the room but always going back to Emma every few seconds to clock her movements.

“Cherry vodka cocktail,” Emma stated to the bartender as she leaned up against the bar, careful to bend in just the right way. Mikhail was close to her and she had picked a spot that would be right in his view to see her long legs that disappeared under a short skirt. The move worked because Emma heard the voices behind her stop talking for a second and she peered over her shoulder to see them looking at her. A grin spread across Mikhail’s face and he locked eyes with her for a brief moment, Emma smiled before quickly looking away pretending to act a bit shy. He didn’t move to engage her yet though, instead reverting his attention to his conversation. Now all she had to do was wait.

The bartender returned with her drink and Emma sipped on it casually, her eyes watching the band play as if it were the most engrossing thing in the world. Emma had read in the file that Mikhail loved jazz music, he had hired a jazz band for his first two weddings in his twenties and was often at this bar to listen. After a couple of songs, Emma glanced over Mikhail again to find him watching her from the corner of his eye as he continued to talk with two men. She smiled again, not quite meeting his eyes, before reaching in to swirl the ice in her glass with her fingers before fishing out a maraschino cherry and popping it in her mouth. She was deliberate in the way she ate it before she pulled the stem from her equally red lips and tossed it into the glass. He wasn’t even trying to hide his stare at that point as he shifted in his seat which made Emma laugh lightly before turning around to watch the music again.

“He’s eating this up,” Alex’s voice came in Emma’s ear and she playfully smirked. “Soap’s not too happy though,” Alex tacked on, a chuckle evident in his voice, but Emma didn’t dare turn around to look him across the bar.

When Emma turned to order another drink, a man appeared at her shoulder. “Mister Lebedev would like you to join him at his table,” he stated as Emma turned to look up at him. He was a hulking guy with long hair tied back in a small bun atop his head. His suit looked too small for his body and was in desperate need of a shave, which told her that he was not one of the aristocrats here this evening. “This way,” he stated gesturing for her to walk, he wasn’t giving her much of a choice but that’s what Emma had been going for.

Grabbing her latest drink, this one with multiple cherries in it this time, Emma pushed off the bar the follow the man. She tucked her clutch under her arm took the man’s offered elbow and let him lead her to the table. She could feel eyes on her as she walked, it felt as if the whole club was looking at her. She spotted Crane at that moment over at the stage talking to a band that was about to go on, his eyes trailing over her before going back to his own conversation.

“Good evening,” Mikhail said, his English was perfect but he had a heavy Russian accent nonetheless. “Please join me,” he extended his hand to offer to help her sit. Emma took his hand lightly as she set her drink down on the table before sliding in right next to him. All of the tables were semi-circle booths that faced the stage with low-set tables to hold drinks. Emma was deliberate in her movements to make sure she was close to him, letting her dress ride up her leg a bit.

“What are you drinking this evening?” He asked as he eyed her exposed leg, Emma was certain the clips to her garter were showing, a bit of a tease. He raised his glass in the air to signal to the bartender to order his next drink, a straight whiskey which was odd to Emma since that seemed so American.

“Cherry vodka,” Emma answered him, “I figured Vodka would be the best choice, when in Rome and all that” she mused as the bartender came over with two drinks. One was for her, even though she wasn’t even done with her second, and one for Mikhail.

“Where are you visiting from?” Mikhail asked as he took a sip of his whiskey, sliding his arm along the back of the booth so his hand was behind her. She knew he could tell she had an American accent but he was keeping the conversation going.

“America,” Emma said simply as she raised her glass to her lips, “one last little hurrah around the world on my father’s dime,” She tapped her left ring finger on the glass so it clinked softly. The ring itself was obnoxious, a giant rectangle diamond on a gold band with no other embellishments on it, definitely not something she would ever pick out.

“Ah, you are getting married?” Mikhail asked raising his eyebrow, “I’ve had two of those and I can tell you they aren’t what they say they are. Single life is much more…fulfilling, I would run while you still can,” he glanced down at the ring and seemed satisfied with the size of it. So he now knew she came from money and enjoyed it as well.

“Why do you think I booked this trip?” Emma inquired as the band changed to include a singer this time. “I’m attempting to delay things as long as I can,” she sipped her drink again, “though my father threatened me with disinheritance if I didn’t follow through.” She rolled her eyes at that and shifted again in the seat, her skirt hiking up another inch, her garter was definitely on display now and his eyes zoned right in on it.

“What’s your name?” He asked after a moment of looking her over, swirling his drink in his hand so the one large ice cube bounced inside of the glass.

“Colette,” Emma replied as she sipped her drink, the liquid almost gone. She would need to pace herself, she hadn’t drank alcohol in months and the bartender wasn’t exactly light with his pours. “LeBlanc,” she added after a moment. It was a well-known family in Louisiana with lots of grandchildren and cousins that she could just feign relation to. They were a wealthy family that made their money on investments, construction, and sports teams, the patriarch of the family having owned the football team at one point before he sold it off.

“LeBlanc,” Mikhail mused over in his mind, the name jarring some memory of his. Good. That meant he had heard of them, something Emma was sure was a planned thing. “So a French American heiress running away from her marriage in Ukraine,” he grinned, “seems like an odd place to choose to visit. Wouldn’t you have preferred Paris?”

“When you spent all your summers there growing up, it loses its charm,” Emma answered. “My mother’s family is originally from Ukraine so I thought I’d go see my roots or something along those lines,” she laughed. “It also pissed off my fiancé that I picked here with everything going on, so that was an added bonus.”

“Oh? What does your fiancé do that makes him so important to your father you marry him? Is he in your family business?” Mikhail inquired.

“Oh no, he deals in military contracts,” Emma said offhandedly which caught Mikhail’s attention. “I honestly don’t really know what all he does; I just know he makes money and it eats up a lot of his time. I barely see him anymore, makes for a rather lonely life,” she grabbed the newest glass and slid her empty one away.

Mikhail seemed very interested in her now, aside from the fact he could almost see up to her underwear he had honed in on the military. She knew the cogs were working in his brain if he could get more information out of her, her fiancé worked with the American military, the biggest competition for his Russian military. He didn’t dwell on it though, not yet anyway, Emma had a feeling it would come back up later.

“What brought you into this club of all places?” Mikhail asked as a sultry singer began singing, her glittery dress sending the lights about her like a mirror ball. “It’s not very well known,” he lied. It was one of the top spots in Kiev if you were looking for a quieter scene with live music, and some shady dealings.

“Is it not?” Emma feigned as she turned to face him better and she felt his fingertips graze the top of her bare back, his legs spreading out in a more relaxed state as if trying to touch her bare skin there as well. “It was hard to even get in, I had to have my assistant send a special request,” she stated which wasn’t exactly a lie, it was just Laswell wasn’t her assistant by any means. “I wanted to see for myself if it lived up to the jazz bars back home in Louisiana,” she smiled.

“I rented it out,” Mikhail said casually as someone walked toward the table to talk to him but he waved them away. It was yet another show of his money and power to rent this club out. “Which is why it was hard to get in. I like to conduct my business here sometimes but I don’t want prying eyes,” he grinned. His fingers were still tracing lightly over her upper back before sliding up under her hairline to graze her neck but his eyes were back on the band playing, specifically the singer.

“Did you rent her too?” Emma asked as she looked at the singer on the stage, her ample figure filled out her dress in all the right places.

“I have no need to rent women,” Mikhail said after a moment cutting his eyes back to Emma. His hand moved to tug lightly at one of the curls at the nape of her neck so it forced Emma’s head back gently. “Especially when I have a beautiful one sitting right here with me. One that I think needs a little attention since her fiancé mistreats her so, always too busy working,” he smirked and let go of her hair but still kept his hand on her.

Emma gasped a bit at his sheer boldness but she played it off, acting as if the hair tug itself was what she was pleasurably gasping at. “I believe you are misreading the situation here,” Emma teased as she sipped her drink to draw out time. “I am merely here to enjoy the music,” she smirked behind the glass, “and company.” In her quick glance around she spotted Soap again, his eyes were narrowed and he was holding his beer so hard his knuckles were white, if he gripped much harder Emma was certain the glass would break.

“Am I?” Mikhail asked as he slid his hand to the side of her throat, his thumb pressing down lightly on her pulse causing Emma to swallow. Her eyes darted to the side to see Gaz in the shadows talking rapidly into his microphone, obviously communicating with Alex or the rest of the group there. Crane had also reappeared, walking close enough to their table that one of Mikhail’s men stepped forward to run him off, to which Crane held his hands up innocently and went to the bar.

Emma lowered her glass down to the table and gently grabbed Mikhail’s wrist to pull it off her neck. “You’re making my bodyguard nervous,” she laughed, covering up her nerves before nodding her head in Gaz’s direction. He indeed did not look happy about the situation, his shoulders tense as he stood and stared blatantly. “He doesn’t like when people touch me,” she explained and lowered Mikhail’s hand down from her throat into his lap. She moved to pull her hand away, but he flipped his hand and grabbed her wrist pulling her forward a bit so she was leaning into him.

“No?” Mikhail asked as his thumb rubbed along her wrist before he slid his hand up her arm and brushed away some hair on her back. “Then how did you get these bruises lisichka, was he not doing his job properly?” He touched the mark Soap had left where her neck met her shoulder, one Emma opted to not cover-up. It had been a dark hickey a few days ago but now it had faded to a faint yellow blemish.

“What I do in the bedroom is none of his concern,” Emma answered, her voice a bit breathless as his thumb swiped at the spot again. “His job is just to make sure I don’t get hurt or make a scene in public. Need to keep up the family appearances and all that,” her grin was a bit devilish as she downed the rest of her drink in one go. She needed something to stop the nerves that were beginning to make her hands shake.

“Then let’s go somewhere private,” Mikhail said after a moment and waved over one of his men. They conversed in Russian for a moment and Emma took that chance to find her companions, her eyes wide in a silent plead for someone to come get her. Soap was already on his way, his hand moving into his pocket as if to grab something. Crane quickly intercepted him with a chest bump, his hand going to his shoulder to hold him back. They exchanged some hard words and Emma was certain Soap was going to deck him before he stood down. She was glad this was happening behind them because if Mikhail had seen it there would have been too many questions.

“Come,” Mikhail said as he moved out from the table. It wasn’t a request, it was an order and Emma hesitated as he curled his fingers toward his palms twice, impatient.

Emma froze, her eyes darting over to Gaz who was already walking over but Mikhail’s man intercepted him, clearly by Mikhail’s orders. Gaz halted and he rolled his neck, the irritation in his body language palpable but he couldn’t disobey an order and risk blowing their cover.

“I can’t stay for long,” Emma said blithely as she slid out of the seat, “my companions will get antsy, they are my fiancé's lapdogs.” Despite the fear, she took Mikhail’s hand. She had no idea how she was going to get out of this, Mikhail’s men were all over the club and she could see a few of them watching. None of them could make a scene now because she was effectively trapped.

“Your companions will find something else to do to occupy their time,” Mikhail mused as his hand rested on her lower back to push her along toward the stairs. They walked right past Crane who had been accosted by a woman and he stared at them for a brief second before darting his eyes over to Soap.

“Emma, don’t,” Alex suddenly cut in but Emma didn’t respond, what choice did she have? “Emma. We don’t have eyes up there and I won’t know what is going on. Duck out, come up with a stupid excuse and we’ll recoup.” Still, Emma didn’t answer or stop walking. “If you go up those goddamn stairs Soap is going to murder him and we’ll all be fucked.”

She knew Alex was right but she climbed each step anyway, not wanting to risk what would happen if she bolted. Mikhail was multiple drinks deep and he stumbled a bit as they cleared the landing using a keycard to open the door. Emma set her drink down on the wide railing, opting to leave it behind before she muddled her own mind too much. She wasn’t planning on doing a single thing with the man but she could tease him into oblivion and keep plying him with drinks. If she played her cards right maybe she could just get him to pass out and she could run out the door.

Slipping inside Emma shut the door behind her to find the room was a small office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the club below, the music pumped in over some hidden speakers. There was a couch by the window and she slowly walked over to it as Mikhail did something at the desk, her fingers walking along the back of it as she watched the floor below. She couldn’t see too much but people were milling about and she thought she spotted Soap’s stocky figure heading toward the kitchens.

“Emma, talk to me. What is happening?” Alex came over the earpiece, though it sounded a bit garbled. “You have got to give me something, I’ve barely got the reigns back on the guys downstairs”

She opened her mouth to answer Alex, pretending to talk to Mikhail about what the office looked like when Mikhail suddenly came up behind her. His hand was on her neck as he forcefully pushed her forward over the couch causing Emma to shriek and throw her hands out to catch herself on the cushions to stop herself from toppling all the way over. “What are you doing?” Emma demanded as she pushed back against him and he pinned her hips against the couch with his own. “Get your hands off of me.”

“Emma what the fuck is happening,” Alex cut in again, his voice panicked and she could hear him cut over to another microphone to talk to Gaz but the voice was distant and garbled.

“I should ask you the same question. Who are your friends?” Mikhail stated as one hand slid over her body, patting her down as if he were looking for something. Shit, he was suspicious. He kept his hand on her lower back as he bent down to feel up and down her legs, his fingers pausing on the garters to search for any weapons strapped there.

“Satisfied?” Emma spat when he didn’t find anything and he finally let her go to stand up fully. “My friends? You mean my fiancés spies and my bodyguard?” Her heart was pounding, not only from the rough handling from him but the fact he was implying he didn’t trust their cover. “I don’t know who you think you are,” she started but Mikhail grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back hard so she was staring up at his face, “let go of me.”

“You truly have no idea who I am do you?” Mikhail asked, the seductive flirtatious voice from downstairs was gone. This was pure lethal loathing, “typical idiotic American,” he spat as he shoved her hard away from him causing her to stumble over her heels. He moved to a drink cart by the door poured another drink for himself and downed the two fingers of whiskey in one go before making another one, his body swaying a bit. “I know your friends aren’t who they say they are. I recognized one of them as soon as they walked in.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Emma said as she moved toward the door, preparing to wrench it open and leave, but the handle didn’t budge as she jiggled it. She looked for a lock and didn’t spot it and Mikhail just laughed at her feeble attempt. Apparently, you needed to badge in and badge out and he had the key card. “I’d like to leave,” she stated, for both Mikhail and Alex to hear, “now.”

“No,” Mikhail said simply and set his glass down with a rattle on the cart.

“No?” Emma answered with a small laugh, sounding much braver than she felt as he stalked toward her. “You are mistaken, I wasn’t asking.”

“I’m trying to hack the system. We need to cut the power,” Alex’s frantic voice came through, but once again his voice was garbled and cutting in and out. “They’ve got,” it cut out before it came back, “intricate,” then it was quiet again.

“You practically threw yourself at me. It was a weak distraction but I let it go on because I wanted to know what you were trying to get out of me,” Mikahil stated as he backed her up into the door with his body and grabbed her jaw hard, “you have to be careful what you are willing to do lisichka, not all of us are gentlemen.” He laughed and spun her around against the door so her chest was pressed against it as his hands slid down to pull at her dress hem and yank it up over her backside.

Emma shrieked as she fought back against him, pleading in her mind for Alex to finish whatever he was doing so she could get out. The sounds from downstairs were getting louder, she could hear it through the door that her ear was pressed against and in the background of the music coming over the speakers. Thrashing a bit, she attempted to stamp on his foot but he knocked her foot away and wedged his knee between her legs to keep her still. “When my fiancé finds out what you’ve done,” Emma threatened. While she didn’t have a fiancé she knew that Soap would rip his throat out for what this man was attempting to do. “You won’t live long enough to regret it,” she finished, before driving her elbow back to knock him in the ribs. That hit had found purchase.

Mikhail doubled back, his grip on her loosened as he snarled a curse word at her. Emma quickly turned around and ducked as he made another grab at her, all the alcohol in his system made him sluggish. Pushing up off the door Emma grabbed at the discarded glass on the drink cart and threw it as hard as she could at his head. It hit its intended target causing his head to snap to the side before the glass fell to the floor with a shatter, glass pieces scattering everywhere. She needed to get to her clutch, she had a knife in there but Mikhail had kicked it away when he pinned her against the door. Diving for it on the ground she grabbed it but Mikhail was back on her, his hand ripping hard at her hair to drag her backwards. She felt the glass cutting into her legs as she scrambled and screamed at the pain in her head as he continued to pull.

“Sleeper!” There was a loud shout on the other side of the door followed by what sounded like a kick. Then another kick and the door shuttered on its hinges. Emma knew it was Soap, he had thrown all caution to the wind and had come for her.

“Who’s Sleeper?’ Mikhail snarled, a smirk on his lips as he finally let go of Emma’s hair and flung her toward the ground. Her palms shot out to catch herself and she felt the glass bite into the skin. “Are you a fucking agent?” He asked as he made his way over to the desk and pulled open a drawer, rustling around for a bit before Emma heard the telltale sound of a gun being loaded.

“Soap he’s got a gun,” Emma yelled out right as the power cut. Screams erupted all around the club followed by gunfire which made Emma flinch, thinking Mikhail had shot off his gun only to realize it was coming from downstairs.

“Emma stay low to the ground and get to the door,” Alex’s voice came in, clearer than he had before now that the power was out. “Soap is there, Gaz went to get the car and Crane is keeping Mikhail’s men occupied.” So that had been the gunfire.

The door banged open on its hinges on another one of Soap’s kicks, the frame splintering and wood joined the glass scattered on the floor. Ducking Emma quickly crawled toward it, toward Soap’s shadowed outline from the emergency lights that had kicked on. Soap stepped into the room and she reached for him, her fingers finding his slacks as he extended a hand down to pull her up. Her knees and hands were screaming at the glass and cuts on her skin and she could feel the blood running down her legs.

As Emma moved toward the door so had Mikhail and this time the gunfire was in the room which made Emma scream as three shots went off, it sounded like they were right by her head. That was all it took. Soap let go and stepped around her, shoving her behind him and out the door, and went right for Mikhail now that he had given away his position. There was a scuffle and Emma crouched her hands holding onto the shattered doorframe to try and see what was happening. She heard grunts and thuds before the sound of the gun hitting the tile floor met her ears followed by a sickening crack of someone’s head on the tile.

“Soap?” Emma hissed as she moved to stand up and see, her whole body shaking from fear. A shadow in the dark room moved toward her and she flinched until it stepped into the dim emergency light to reveal it was Soap. “Oh my God,” she breathed out in relief and reached for him, her fingers gripping the front of his shirt.

“I’ve got her Alex,” Soap said into his microphone as he pulled Emma tight against his chest. “Tell me Gaz is ready.” He pressed a hard kiss to the top of her head as he listened to Alex talk in his ear before releasing her. “We’ve got to go lass,” he breathed, “Gaz has the car and it’s only a matter of time before the lights come on.”

Emma nodded and followed Soap to the stairs, having to squint to try and see, her free hand going out to the stair railings to steady her as she held onto Soap’s hand. They were down the steps quickly and practically ran out the front door into the full-on snowstorm that had kicked up outside. The bouncer that was there before was gone and Emma saw drops of blood in the snow that led down toward the alleyway.

“Get in,” Soap instructed as he pushed her toward the car they had come in. Gaz was in the front seat, both hands on the steering wheel though one hand also held a pistol. “We have to go right now before they catch up,” he said as Emma wrenched open the door and climbed in. Inside she found Crane already sitting there and gasped at the sight of him. He had blood on his shirt, face, and hands as he dug around in a duffle bag at his feet pulling out pieces of a gun and screwing it together.

“Go Gaz!” Soap yelled as he slammed the door shut behind him and looked out the back window. Emma stared at him as he discharged the magazine from the pistol and checked the amount of ammo he had before he shoved it back in again and chambered a shot. “We were fucked before we even sat down,” Soap cursed as he looked out the back window once again, “Alex said he heard Mikhail tell you he recognized one of us.”

Emma nodded, “yes but he didn’t say who. He said he wanted to see what our play was. He searched me for weapons or a radio when he got me upstairs.” Emma hissed as she bent down to pull some glass out of her shin, her fingers shaking as she dropped the bloody piece into the cupholder. “Where are we going? Back to the safe house?” Emma asked as the car took a sharp turn causing her to topple to the side.

“Can’t,” Gaz answered, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror every few seconds before back to the road, “we’ve got a tail and we can’t trust the valet didn’t plant something on the car.” He swerved down another road, the back tires fishtailing out in the snow before Gaz got control again and pressed his foot to the pedal hard.

“Still on us,” Crane said as he finished assembling the gun and turned to look toward the window.

“I fucking know,” Gaz snapped as he took a speed bump fast, causing them all to rattle around in the backseat, Emma’s teeth clicking together hard. She had her hand pressed against the large cut in her knee before Crane leaned over and handed her a rag out of the gun duffle to press against it. “Hold on,” Gaz called before he hit the brakes hard and turned the wheel to the right to spin them into a u-turn using the slick road to their advantage. He hit the gas again and flew past the car that had been behind them and turned down another road.

“Get Price on the phone and find out what he wants us to do,” Gaz yelled as he threw a phone over his shoulder and aimed for a tunnel, cutting the lights on the car as he did so before slamming on the breaks to hold their spot. “We need to ditch this car and find a place to hold up for a few hours,” he kept his eyes on the road as Crane dialed Price.

“Duck down,” Soap said suddenly and they all crouched down as headlights swept past them before it turned dark inside the car again.

Crane was talking quietly with Price, his eyes level with the back window as he watched the car that went by circle back once again. “He said to find a place to stay for the night, that Emma had plenty of cash on her to get rooms,” he looked at Emma who just nodded. “Ditch the car in a well-lit parking lot so they find it and stay off the radios. It’s too much of a risk using them long-range, they could tap them now that they know. He wants us to stay in groups of two in case they come back we’ll be harder to corner.”

Soap nodded before he looked at Emma who was digging in her clutch for money, “they’re going to question when they see us walk into a hotel looking like this,” Emma breathed as she indicated to herself all cut up then at Crane who was covered in blood himself. “How are we going to get around that?” She pulled out a wad of cash and moved to start counting it up before realizing she had no idea what the denominations were.

“We’re not going to be staying at a five-star hotel,” Soap answered as he snatched the phone from Crane and started looking up hotels close by. “I can go in for us,” he stated as he scrolled, he looked the least bloodied of the four of them, “you pay cash and give them a good tip no one will ask any questions.” He found a place and leaned forward tapping Gaz on the arm to take the phone for the directions. Gaz took the phone and quickly pulled out of the tunnel and headed back down the way they came, taking side roads and doubling back a few times.

“Take this,” Crane said as he handed Emma a pistol from the duffel and then tossed her an extra magazine clip as well. Emma checked the gun before stuffing it into her clutch, it was too big to close the flap on the small purse but it was concealed enough, she had nowhere else to put it otherwise.

A few minutes later they pulled up outside of a hotel, which more or less looked like something you’d see when the characters were in a shady part of town in a movie. There were no streetlamps outside, the windows were dingy and the light coming from the inside was a dim yellow. Soap quickly climbed out and went inside to book rooms as the rest of them sat inside in silence waiting for him to return. Emma was constantly looking out all the windows like Crane and Gaz but no one was out in the snow, not a single car came up the street.

When Soap wrenched open the door again Emma jumped, the blast of cold air sent snow swirling into the backseat. “Here,” he handed Crane a key before extending his hand out to Emma, “guy said there’s a grocer about two blocks away. Shouldn’t be too long of a walk for you two, your room is on the second floor facing the back. We’re on the third facing the front, wanted to make sure we’ve got eyes on the whole place.”

“So what we are going to do? Just wait out the night and have Price pick us up in the morning?” Emma ventured looking between Crane and Gaz, the latter merely shrugged.

“He’ll reach out when he’s got a plan,” Crane said, “he’s probably got Alex pulling cameras all over the city to try and track them down and see what they are doing. Or he set Ghost on them,” he grinned a bit, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

At that, Emma climbed out into the freezing air and carefully walked with Soap, heels in the snow were not the best combination and she had to lean into him heavily to get inside the front door. The hotel itself seemed like some mom-and-pop place that may have been a family house at one point. It was run down inside and there wasn’t even an elevator to get up to the upper floors. She glanced down at her legs in the light and saw they were streaked with blood under her ripped hose and Soap quickly tilted her head back up to watch where they were walking. If she stared at herself, others would as well.

“Lots of stairs,” Soap stated as he helped her up the steps, his eyes watching her as she gingerly took each step. “Sorry,” he added as he watched her struggle a bit climbing the steps, “it’s just a better vantage point.”

“I’m fine,” Emma breathed as they cleared the third story and turned toward a room at the end of the hallway that faced out the front of the hotel. When Soap opened the door Emma looked inside to see a basic room with a large bed in the center a small dresser in the corner and a bathroom off to the side. She moved to flip on the light but Soap stopped her, covering her hand with his own. He deposited her down on the bed before going to the window and peering out of the sheer curtains.

“Leave the light off for now, and take out your earpiece and mic. Flip them off,” Soap stated as he looked up and down the street, removing his audio equipment and setting them on the window pane. “It’s late and we don’t want to draw any attention as the only room on the street with a light on,” He further explained his first instruction as he kept his watch at the window.

Emma quickly removed the earpiece and microphone from her bra strap, triple-checking they were off before bending down and removing her shoes. She sighed in relief as she freed her feet before she threw the heels toward the door before moving to unclip her garters. She hissed as she slid the torn-up hose down her legs and Soap abruptly turned around at the sound to look at her.

“Shit, sorry I should have…” he cut himself off as he went right to the bathroom. Emma heard running water and a moment later Soap returned with a wet washcloth and some other dry towels. “How did this even happen?” He asked as he knelt down to gently wipe at her legs. Just the soft touch was enough to make Emma hiss again and she grab at the sheets, but Soap didn’t stop cleaning her up.

“I threw a glass at his head,” Emma replied, trying not to smile at how ridiculous it sounded, “it hit him then shattered everywhere. He wasn’t a fan of that so he dragged me through it by my hair,” she explained and felt Soap tense up at that. “I’m fine,” she stated after a beat of silence, “I mean I’m cut but I’m fine. I’m not dying.”

“You never should have been alone with him,” Soap stated quietly, his fingers gently holding up the back of her knee as Emma’s legs shook a bit. “Alex said you ignored him when he told you to call it,” he snapped his eyes up to her, a demanding look on his face, “why did you ignore a direct order?”

“What was I supposed to do?” Emma asked, “run? I wouldn’t have gotten very far with all of his people around me,” she stated, “you certainly couldn’t have done anything. They probably would have just shot you right in the middle of the club.”

“You’re underestimating what I can do,” Soap answered simply, his hand moving to her other leg where the deeper cut was. Emma cursed as the wet washcloth hit that cut and Soap finally hesitated with his cleaning to give her a moment to breathe before going back to it. “We could have gotten you out of there before he was able to get his hands on you.”

“I wasn’t going to put any of you at risk,” Emma answered back as Soap held his hand out for her hands now. She leaned forward and gently gave them to him, her eyes watching his as he worked over the raw skin on her palms. “I got out, didn’t I? We’ll call that enough of a win,” she reasoned.

“When I heard you scream in there,” Soap started before he cut his eyes up to her, “and I couldn’t get to you,” he swallowed for a moment as if temping down his anger. “Don’t ever do something like that again,” he finally stated.

“It’s part of the job, Johnny,” Emma reasoned with him, knowing full well she was throwing his own words to her back in his face.

“Don’t,” Soap said as he tossed the wet red-tinged washcloth onto the nightstand. “It is not part of your job; your job is to patch us up. My job is to keep you safe and dispatch the threats,” he stated as he dried her hands off and then let go of them to stand up again to tower over her. “You shouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

“I’m okay,” Emma reasoned again as she stood up, ignoring the tinge of pain in her legs. ��I have minor injuries that will heal in a couple of days, that is nothing compared to what could have happened. He had a damn gun Johnny, and you walked in there like it was nothing.”

“Because it was nothing,” Soap said as he produced the pistol he had taken from Mikhail from the back of his pants and set it down on the nightstand next to the washcloth. “I’m trained for that, I am trained to disarm, to overpower, to kill. This was another fucking ambush and we just waltzed you right into the middle of it.” He huffed, disgusted with the whole situation, and went back over to the window to look out, leaving Emma standing there staring at his back.

“Johnny,” Emma stated after a moment, walking over to him and gently placing her hand on his back to get his attention. He didn’t turn from the window though, his eyes locked on the area outside, scanning the snow swirled air and buildings around them. He was looking for threats, for anything that could possibly come for them. “We’re okay, we got out and we shook off our tail,” Emma stated as she pulled a bit on his shoulder to try and get him to look at her.

“We thought were okay when Alex got shot, we thought we were okay when we walked into that club, I’m not taking any more chances Emma,” Soap said when he finally moved to look at her. “Please just let me do this okay?” He sounded defeated and Emma sighed as she reached up her hand to his cheek and pulled him down for a quick kiss. He didn’t fight her on it and he returned it softly, his hands moving to grab her waist before he rested his forehead on hers. “You should rest, I’d suggest a shower but I doubt they have any hot water and it’s already freezing in here,” he stated as his thumb came up to brush over her cheek. “I’ll take the watch.” He jerked his head toward the bed.

Emma nodded as she gently pulled away from him before turning and giving him her back, sweeping her hair off her shoulder. “Can you just get the zipper?” She asked and peered over her shoulder at him, he was already staring out the window, probably looking for Crane and Gaz to get back so he knew they were safe. He blinked as if pulled from a deep thought before abruptly reaching up to slide the zipper down her back before popping the clasp of her necklace as well. Emma debated on teasing him a bit but he was so locked in what was happening outside she opted not to. Instead, she stepped away and slipped out of the dress, tossing it onto the small dresser, and made her way toward the bed.

Standing in the cold barren room in such nice undergarments felt so out of place as she tugged on the quilt and multiple other covers to get down to the sheets. The room was freezing but the hotel had provided them with an ample number of blankets and tucked them in so damn tight she had to wrench all of them free.

“They’re back,” Soap said suddenly which caused Emma to stop moving, “Crane and Gaz,” he clarified. For a split second, she thought it had been the people chasing them and they had found the hotel they were in somehow. “They must have hoofed it,” Soap stated before he turned from the window and spotted Emma still in her lingerie wrestling with the bed. “Fucking hell,” he breathed as he looked at her bent over at the waist untucking the top sheet. The underwear was a poor excuse for a thong and left nothing to his imagination. “Get into bed Emma,” Soap demanded after a moment, flexing his hand a bit before fisting it again.

“What?’ Emma asked as she stood up and faced him to find him leaning up against the window openly staring at her. A thrill of excitement went through her at the look and command, her eyes darting down to his hand before back to his face. “I was working on it when you interrupted me,” she explained before sitting down quickly and sliding her legs in, a smirk on her face. “Better?”

“Not really,” Soap answered before he turned to look out the window again, “but it’ll do.” He pulled the curtain back with his fingers to look down the street again. Even from the bed, Emma could see how heavy the snow was coming down outside now, the wind was howling and causing the glass panes to shake. “I can’t see shit,” he grumbled, pressing his head closer to the glass to look down the street.

“If you can’t see anything, neither can anyone else,” Emma reasoned as she shimmied down further into the sheets and pulled them up to her chin. “Come lay down for a bit,” she prompted before flipping a corner of the quilt up for his side. “I’m frozen,” Emma added, which wasn’t a lie, she had to clench her jaw to keep her teeth from rattling, the bed hadn’t warmed up yet and the stiff sheets were cold.

“If I get in that bed with you, I am not getting out of it,” Soap muttered but he had begun to undo the buttons on his shirt and untucked it from his belt. “And I can’t risk missing anything,” he stated as he shrugged off the shirt to reveal the white undershirt below. It was too tight on him, the shirt looked as if he were to move wrong it would split at the seams and as he bent down to undo his shoes Emma watched his back flex under the material.

“Crane and Gaz are here,” Emma tried reasoning, “they aren’t going to let anyone in. We lost our tail a while ago, they ditched the car and it’s a blizzard outside. It would be a waste of their resources, and a risk, to send anyone out to try and find us.” She swallowed as Soap moved to the dresser yanked the belt out of his belt loops in one swift motion and tossed it on top of her dress sitting there.

“I hate this fucking dress,” he muttered as he laid his button-down shirt atop everything as well. “As soon as Mikhail looked at you bent over at the bar and licked his lips, I wanted to burn the damn thing,” he explained before he yanked the undershirt over his head and began work on his pant button and zipper. “I hated watching him touch you, how he acted like you were something he could even have. Alex was in my ear all night talking me off the ledge,” he looked over his shoulder at Emma before grabbing the whole dresser itself and sliding it in front of the door. It was loud as it scraped against the floor and Soap grunted a bit at the weight; it was solid oak. Someone would be able to get in the door if they really tried but that would at least slow them down a bit.

“I didn’t enjoy it myself,” Emma agreed as Soap slipped out of his pants and walked over to the bed now. He paused at the edge staring down a her, as if battling with his last bit of resolve, knowing that he could just walk away now but if he sat down, it was over. “I wanted it to be your hands, all I could think about was I wished it were you,” Emma breathed as she lifted the sheets to push him to join her, knowing it was revealing her upper body to him, to the lace that stood stark against her skin. He swallowed hard looking over her before his eyes met hers “Please?” She asked quietly.

Soap gave in at her please. He sat down and slipped into the bed next to Emma before reaching out and pulling her tight against him. Her skin was freezing against his and he rubbed his hands up and down her arm and her back to generate some heat. She twined her legs into his and pressed her head against his chest as he continued his ministrations, his hands moving down over her backside and thigh before he hitched one of her legs over his hip to pull her closer. He felt her breath catch at the movement and he grinned leaning down to kiss the top of her head before tilting her head up to look at him, his fingers under her chin. “Something the matter?” He asked teasingly.

“Nothing,” Emma answered back, her fingers moving to wrap around his back, to which he flinched since they were like icicles. “I just seem to remember a certain promise you made me just a few hours ago,” she wriggled her hips against his and watched as his eyes fluttered shut for a moment. “Something about peeling my lacey undergarments off when you got me alone.”

“Aye, well, things have changed in a few hours,” Soap reasoned as he danced his fingers down her leg and back up. “A few hours ago we were planning on being back in the safe house and not in this place after getting chased,” he grabbed her hip and pulled her tight against him. He let out a soft groan at the pressure he created. “And you weren’t injured.”

“It’s a few cuts!” Emma admonished before rolling her hips against him, “you had broken ribs and came into my room to seduce me in the middle of the night. I think I’ll be just fine,” she huffed as Soap grabbed the back of her hair gently and tilted her head even further back so her lips parted slightly as she looked at him. “Plus, we are alone so we won’t have to be as…quiet,” she grinned and that was all it took. Soap leaned down at captured her lips in a crushing kiss, his hand gripping the back of her head as his tongue swept in.

Emma reached down and pushed at his boxers, her fingers still a bit numb as she scrabbled at the material before Soap helped her, pushing them down to get lost at the foot of the bed. He was already growing hard and she gripped him gently with one hand and pumped, causing him to arch his hips up to her. She repeated the movement for a bit, her thumb teasing his head slowly and she felt precum gather and smear. Her hands were aching at the movement, the skin still tender from all their cuts, and she gently let go before moving to inch down him, rustling a bit under the sheets.

“Lass, you do this and I am not going to be able to,” Soap muttered, his words trailing off, as she pushed on his hip to get him to lay back. He moved easily with her before shifting up a bit in the bed so his back was up against the headboard to give her more room. He was grinning from ear to ear as Emma maneuvered her way between his legs, slowly so as not to irritate her raw legs. Once she was settled she gripped him again and leaned down to run her tongue from base to tip on him. Soap’s hands gripped the sheets as his head slammed back onto the headboard, letting out a loud groan as Emma slipped her mouth around him before he lifted his head back up again to watch her.

“Fuck,” he groaned as he reached his hand out to push her hair out of her face to see her better, his fingers winding it up and away. He took a few steadying breaths and Emma began to move on him, her eyes looking down before Soap tugged slightly to catch her attention “eyes on me,” he ordered.

Emma felt another thrill straight to her core at the order before she instantly flicked her gaze up to him. He grinned at her following his direction before he gently pushed at the back of her head as a silent command to continue. Emma did as was asked, bobbing her head over him as she worked herself up to relax her tongue and throat before sliding down him fully, feeling him nearly suffocate her before going back up. Soap let a strangled noise out of his throat at that action and Emma repeated it, settling all the way down and nearly gagging before coming back up again and pulling off of him to take a breath, grinning a bit as she swirled her tongue over the tip.

“You like this don’t you?” Soap inquired and Emma merely nodded as she stroked him again, the pain in her hands forgotten. “And you like me telling you what to do,” he stated, it wasn’t a question. It was a fact. He had seen the way she had reacted to him just now, in the warehouse and even in other situations that weren’t purely sexual. She followed anything he told her without hesitation and seemed glad to do it. “But you’ll tell me if you don’t want to,” he stated as Emma squirmed a bit under the sheets, he knew she had to be on fire and dying to be touched. But she nodded her agreement and Soap gripped her hair a little tighter. “Well then, I wasn’t done,” he said as he moved her head back over him again and pushed her head down, groaning as she took him fully to the base again.

Using his hand in her hair he moved her head at the pace he wanted, moving her faster and harder, groaning as she gagged around him the vibrations sending shockwaves throughout his whole body. He was panting as he watched her with tears in her eyes as she kept up the pace without complaint before he pulled her off him fully and dragged her up his body to kiss him. It was a sloppy one as she caught her breath and Soap wiped the smeared makeup away from her eyes as he looked up at her, adoration on his face.

“My turn,” he stated before he gently pushed her off of him so she was on her back on the bed. Emma was grinning ear to ear as Soap rose over her before he roughly grabbed her hips and flipped her over onto her stomach. She let out a shriek at the movement but didn’t fight it as he grabbed her hips and lifted them up and back toward him where he was knelt and she pushed up onto her hands. Emma felt exposed as she looked over her shoulder at him taking in the view and she bit her lip willing herself to not feel embarrassed.

“These are such a poor excuse for undergarments,” he tsked before his hands grabbed the lace of her thong and tore at it easily, the straps over her hips ripping and falling to the side. He balled up the material in one hand and threw it across the room. Emma gasped as his knee wedged her legs apart a bit before his hand moved to cup her, her head dropping down as his fingers slid along her entrance but pausing before he made it to her clit. “You’re always ready for me aren’t you?” Soap nearly groaned as he ran his finger through the slickness.

“Always Johnny,” Emma gasped out as he finally found her clit and he rubbed small circles. She rolled her hips against him but he quickly grabbed her with his other hand and held her still. She whined a bit but he merely chuckled before running his hand up her spine and pushed on her upper back so she dropped down to her elbows. If she felt exposed before it was nothing like she felt now and she could feel a blush creeping up her face as she hid her face.

“None of that,” Soap said, picking up on her tell of how she always hid her face when she was feeling embarrassed. He adjusted to bend his body over hers to push some of her hair off her face and press a kiss between her shoulder blades. His finger was still making slow antagonizing circles over her clit and Emma fought to not move her hips as he had ordered. “You’re beautiful,” he complimented as he kissed a little further down her back, “I never want you to hide yourself from me.” With his free hand, he undid the clasp of her bra, letting the material fall away as he kissed along her spine. He planted another kiss on the small dimple of her back as he kept moving down, shifting his body weight. Emma nearly hummed in anticipation before he gave her what she was looking for.

His mouth was on her in an instant and Emma nearly fell into the pillows at the feel, her body shaking on her elbows. He had grabbed her hips with both of his hands now, his fingers giving up on their prior ministrations, and pulled her back into him as she arched herself to give him better access. His tongue swept through her slowly, teasingly, as she moaned out his name before he plunged his tongue into her without warning. She wanted to move her body so badly on him but he held her fast, taking control of the situation himself as he taunted her with his mouth, one hand on her hip slipping under to her clit again to give her the friction she was desperate for. He continued his slow torture of sliding his tongue in and out, his fingers working her up into a frenzy.

“Fuck Johnny,” Emma gasped out as he finally yanked on her hips giving her permission to move again. Without thinking she began to rock her hips into his hand and against his face, needing more of him, needing that release. He was taunting her right up to the edge and she was going to scream with frustration if he didn’t give it to her. “Please,” she begged, actually begged, her voice nothing more than a whimper.

Soap chuckled at that, his breath vibrating against her before he pulled back and licked a stripe straight up her center, over her asshole, and then bit into the soft skin of her ass gently. She certainly wasn’t expecting that and Emma hitched her hips forward a bit at the new sensation. “Did you not like that?” Soap asked, as he pulled her hips back toward him again and slid two fingers into her without warning, or resistance, his head resting on her ass to watch himself work and admire how his fingers glistened on each pull out.

Emma groaned and dropped her head into her forearms, biting her lip to keep from being too loud since the walls in this place had proven how thin they were with how cold it was. “I did,” she breathed finally as his fingers pumped, curling into her at just the right angle, ”I’ve just never,” Emma groaned again as he picked up the pace with his fingers in her.

Soap just nodded as he pushed her toward the edge, his teeth grazing along her skin before he bit down. His mouth was dangerously close to her hole again but he didn’t move, waiting to see what she did, before Emma arched up to him in silent permission and curiosity. Not needing to be told twice Soap’s tongue darted out graze over her hole, gently lapping and pushing against it before Emma shattered around his fingers in a stream of moans and curses a minute later.

He continued to move his fingers so she could ride through the high, his tongue probing ever so slightly into her before finally pulling back as he felt her body shaking to hold herself up. Emma felt him move away, felt the bed adjust as he rose onto his knees behind her and grabbed her hips with both hands to pull her right onto him with one swift jerk. She collapsed forward on her chest, her arms fully giving out for a moment as he slid home and she pushed her hands against the headboard as he began to thrust, her cheek resting on the bed.

“Fucking hell,” Soap groaned out as his hands moved her on him, his fingers digging hard into her ass as the sound of slapping skin filled the room. “Fuck you feel good Emma,” he continued, “so good for me,” his praises were like lightning along her body and Emma shifted to look back at him to find his eyes were locked on her face. He continued to thrust into her, his arms flexing as he moved her just how he wanted and Emma saw the sweat break out over his face. “You like watching me don’t you?” He inquired after a moment and Emma nodded, biting her lip.

A feral smirk came across his lips as he bent down a bit and slid his hands along her ribs before grabbing at her shoulders to pull her up, up and back toward him so she was kneeling, her back pressed against his chest as he held her there. This angle was hitting a different spot and Emma reached one of her hands around to grab the back of his head to pull him tight against her. She moaned as his teeth sunk into the soft spot at her neck and shoulder. Both of their bodies were slick as they moved against one another and Soap’s hands were all over her as her breath started to become ragged, another climax threatening to take hold of her.

“That’s it,” Soap muttered as he himself was losing the ability to talk, “fuck I need you to come for me,” his voice was strangled as his fingers found her clit again and began to rub furiously, his other hand on her breast holding her tight against him. “Now Emma before I do,” he demanded as his hips snapped into her, his climax right there. He wasn’t going to finish first though, he was determined she would and at the command, Emma felt herself come undone for the second time. Her hands were scrambling for purchase behind her to hold onto Soap to keep herself up but Soap’s arms held fast so she wouldn’t fall forward.

“Fuck,” Soap moaned out into Emma’s ear as he felt her clamp down on him and he reached his release, spilling into her as he rode her through it. He continued to move until Emma’s head tipped forward onto her chest and he could feel her shift her body weight fully into his hands, unable to keep herself upright any longer. Gently he slipped out of her and helped her lay onto the bed before moving to lay next to her. She was face down with her cheek pressed on the pillow and Soap propped himself up on one arm and drew lazy circles on her back with his other hand. “You alright?” He teased, knowing full well she was perfectly fine, just so thoroughly fucked she was exhausted.

“I feel boneless,” Emma answered as she took a deep breath through her nose and pushed some sweaty hair off her face. “I’ve never done that,” she gestured vaguely, “position and other…thing before. I didn’t even know you could hit those spots,” she laughed a bit and turned to hide her face in the pillow for a brief second trying not to be embarrassed by her lack of experience compared to him. She certainly was not a naïve woman but she had always been with men who seemed to just want to get themselves off and certainly never tried anything new.

“Never? Lass, you have been sorely mistreated then,” he grinned and leaned over to kiss her gently on the lips, “good thing I’m here now.” He smirked to himself, glad to know that he would be the first for a few things with her. He wasn’t someone that necessarily ‘got around’ but he had a few partners and was someone that did his research and learned a few tricks.

Emma smiled at his words before yawning a bit, using the back of her hand to cover her mouth to try and hide it. She didn’t want to sleep just yet, she wanted to bask in this moment they had where they weren’t in a rush to leave. The warehouse certainly left no chance for pillow talk and she wasn’t sure when she’d get it again with their current situation.

Soap caught it though and reached out to her. “Come here,” he pulled her gently to him, curling her back against his chest, and reached down to drag the blankets up over them. “I think you should be sufficiently warm now so you can sleep,” he teased as Emma pinched his arm gently before she settled in against him. They lay in relative silence, listening to one another breathe as Soap’s fingers still caressed her arms, dancing them up her bicep then back down to her wrist and up again.

Emma was lulled to sleep by the movement, her hand resting atop one of his as it splayed against her stomach. She felt peaceful, warm, and most importantly protected as she rested against his body. It wasn’t much longer after Emma fell asleep that Soap did as well, though he was still on high alert. Every noise caused him to stir and listen before falling back into a doze, but he never let Emma go even as she rolled over to face him and curl up into his chest. He grinned to himself a bit as she burrowed into him and watched her for a few seconds before she settled again and he fell back asleep.

Some time passed before Emma awoke to the still dark room, blinking a bit as she remembered exactly where she was. After everything in the past two days, it was a bit disorientating waiting for all her memories to catch up with her sleep addled brain. Shifting her head back a bit to look up, she found herself curled into Soap’s chest, one of his arms was locked around her waist the other tucked under the pillow to prop his head up a bit. Not wanting to disturb him she stayed there looking at him, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest and how relaxed his face looked in his slumber. She had seen him taking catnaps and he had even passed out on her bed one night when they were reviewing intel but this was different. He looked perfectly at ease and she found herself grinning happily to herself before he opened his mouth to speak.

“Something the matter mo cadalach?” Soap murmured, his voice deep and raspy from sleep, his Scottish accent thick, as he blinked his eyes open and tilted his head down to look at her. “Did I wake you?’ He asked after a moment, his fingers on her back gently moving to draw circles again.

“No, I just woke up on my own,” Emma answered before asking, “what is mo cadalach?” She knew she butchered the words and Soap grinned with his eyes closed again, as if sleep were fighting to take him back under.

“Mo cadalach,” he said a bit slower then sighed happily, “it means ‘my sleeper’, just a little play off your callsign.” He cracked open his eyes again when she didn’t respond to find Emma staring up at him, her face unreadable and he hesitated, “I…can not use it if it bothers you.”

“Say it again,” Emma breathed and that caught Soap’s attention. He opened his eyes fully now to look down at her before repeating it. Emma smiled finally before scooting up his body to kiss him, her leg wrapping around his waist as she cupped his cheek. “I like it,” she kissed him again and pushed her body against him, “I like it a lot.”

“I should have said it sooner then,” he answered before groaning a bit as she pushed her hips against his already hard length. “Keep doing that and you aren’t getting back to sleep,” he muttered before Emma pushed his shoulder so he would lay back on the bed, moving her body to sit on his hips.

“I wasn’t planning on it,” she responded as she rose on her knees to grasp him. She was still pleasantly sore between her legs as she rubbed him along her entrance but she wanted more. Watching him sleep peacefully, knowing she had done that for him, hearing him use his nickname for her in his native tongue then his hard length pushing into her side when she woke up had been enough to get her going again. She notched him at her entrance before slowly sinking down, biting her lip at the stretch. She was soaked, a combination of their tangle in the sheets earlier and her need for him now, which allowed him to slip right in.

“Fuck Emma,” Soap ground out as he arched his back a bit, his hands finding her hips as she settled herself down on him fully. He seemed shocked at how easily he was back inside of her and he had to breathe for a moment. “You’re insatiable,” he stated, though it didn’t sound like a complaint. Instead, he used his hands to help her move on him, acutely aware that she was still injured, his fingers digging into her hips as he ground her down on him. The rest of his words were a mix of moans and Scottish words that Emma didn’t know and couldn’t discern anyway.

“Just for you,” Emma said as she threw her head back, her hands planted on his stomach to help hold her balance. She kept this slow and soft as she moved on him, grinding herself down into the perfect spot, and watched his face as she rode him. Soap’s eyes kept darting between her own and down where they connected, a determined sort of concentration gracing his features. Eventually, the burn in her already tired muscles got the best of her and Emma slid her hands up his body before coming to rest on either side of his face bracing herself.

Soap’s arms instantly wrapped around her as he adjusted himself, moving so he could arch his hips up into her as she came down on him. He could feel her arms shaking to hold her weight and he lightly tapped one of her elbows, “lay down. I can take it from here,” he grinned cockily as Emma let her body go to relax on him, her hands finding their way into his hair and gripping. Soap picked up the pace now, his hands back on her ass to pull her down into him.

Emma was a moaning fumbling mess in Soap’s ear as he fucked up into her. Her nails dug into his head and shoulders as she kissed at his jaw and at one point bit him hard enough he cursed and she instantly flinched back afraid she had hurt him. But Soap just turned his head a bit to the side to give her more access to his neck, silent permission to bite him all she wanted, and she did just that before licking the spot. It didn’t take long for her to be close to a climax and she wanted to see him this time so she pushed up on her shaking arms, just enough that her face hovered over his.

“I can feel you’re close,” Soap breathed as he leaned up to give her a few quick and rough kisses, “you’re already so tight but I can feel you start to clench on me as if you don’t want to let me go,” he grinned as Emma slammed her eyes shut moaning at the way he was talking to her. “Look at me,” he said for the second time that night and Emma obediently opened her eyes, “that’s my girl.” He gave her a crooked grin before he picked up a ruthless pace, his hands slamming her down on him before he came right as Emma toppled over the edge again, her arms giving out as she collapsed onto him none too gently. He rolled his hips a few more times before gently sliding out and cradling her body against him, both of them laying in silence enjoying the moment.

Sleep found her faster that time as she curled into Soap’s side, her head resting on his chest listening to his heartbeat as it went from erratic to slow. She didn’t wake again until there was light outside and she stretched her hand out across the bed expecting to find Soap there but it was cold and empty. A jolt of fear caused her to sit up, afraid something had happened in the middle of the night that they were found or he had left to go take care of something. But she found him leaning on the wall by the window looking outside, dressed in his clothes from the night before.

“Storm’s let up,” Soap stated as he looked over at her, smirking at her sleep and sex-mussed hair. “Price checked in; Ghost’ll be here in about an hour to take us back to the safe house.” He pushed up off the wall and moved to sit on the bed next to her, “Alex was able to keep track of the men most of the night. They gave up their search pretty quickly after they found the abandoned car. We’re going to regroup and figure out the next steps, Price’s been in touch with Laswell and has more information.”

“I, right,” Emma said as she looked around for her discarded bra finding it in a heap on the floor. “Have you talked to Crane and Gaz?” She asked as she worked on the clasp behind her back to secure the bra before looking for her underwear and realizing it was torn to shreds like her pantyhose had been. She was going to have to get back in that flimsy dress and it felt so out of place, almost dirty, to even think about putting it on.

“I have, they didn’t see or hear anything last night either, they gave up their watch around one am. Crane said he didn’t get much sleep thanks to Gaz’s snoring though,” he laughed before gently reaching his hand out to pull her in for a quick kiss on the lips. “I’ll leave you to get dressed and freshen up, I’m going to see if I can find some coffee.”

Emma watched Soap pull the dresser back to its rightful spot before disappearing out the door, noting the pistol was tucked under his shirt as he went. She did her best to clean up her face, her makeup was everywhere, and finger combed her hair until it was passable. She hoped Price had more information about everything that had happened at the club the night before, especially on how Mikhail had recognized one of them.

She wanted to know who it was Mikhail had known and how he knew them. A feeling of unease settled in her stomach on the thought that maybe there was a mole leaking information to the Russians. She pushed the paranoia aside going with the more logical thought that the Russians also had intelligence agencies and they could spy just as well as anyone else.

#fanfic #fanfiction #call of duty fanfic #cod fanfic #ao3 fanfic #ao3 writer #ao3 author #my fic #soap fanfic #call of duty #cod #johnny soap mactavish #john soap mactavish #soap cod #soap x oc #would it be enough?

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bunbeeplays · 8 months ago

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The Lemon Legacy: Generation 1, Chapter 67 - Late Night Venting

After another day of recovery, Ophelia is suddenly woken up by a call from Hilary. Xander had told her that Hilary and Hector were spending that day settling things for the divorce, so why would Hilary call to chat at 1 AM? If it were an emergency, wouldn't she call Xander?

Ophelia keeps her voice down, but Xander sleeps like a rock.

Ophelia: Hilary? Is-

Hilary: Ophelia, can you… can you please come to the restaurant? I need to talk and you're the only one who'd understand.

Hilary sounds on the verge of tears.

Ophelia: I'll be right there.

Ophelia throws on some sweats, leaves a note for Xander and teleports as fast as she can to the restaurant. She finds Hilary upstairs at the bar.

Ophelia: Hilary? It's me. Are you alright?

Hilary: I'm wearing a base game sweater. Clearly I am not alright.

Hilary downs her nectar like she thinks someone will snatch it from her.

Ophelia: I didn’t mean to start all this.

Hilary: You didn’t start anything, Hector did.

Ophelia: I could have left.

Hilary: Don't let that man place the blame at your feet.

Hilary finishes her drink.

Hilary tries to make another drink, but a cocktail is much more complicated than pouring a glass of nectar.

Hilary: Watcher damn it! Xander makes this look so easy!

Ophelia: Forget the drink. Let's sit down and talk.

Ophelia: I’m really sorry.

Hilary: You didn’t-

Ophelia: I know I didn’t do anything wrong. I do, deep down. You didn’t either, though. I’m just… I’m sorry this happened to both of us. It sucks.

Hilary: …I’m sorry this happened to both of us too.

Hilary: I do owe you an apology. I didn’t step in as soon as I heard what he was saying to you. I’ve always considered myself a feminist, and yet I just stood there and let that man treat you like trash. It's one of the most cowardly things I've ever done.

Ophelia: Xander told me you were in shock and, after the week you've had, I believe it. Your body was probably just focusing on keeping you from completely losing it. For what it’s worth, if you interrupting meant I didn’t get to slap that jerk, then I’m glad you didn’t.

Hilary genuinely smiles for the first time in days.

Hilary: You know, when we first met, I wasn’t sure what to make of you, Ophelia, but you’ve proven to me time and time again that you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, and an even better heart. I’m so happy Xander has you.

Ophelia: That means a lot. Xander's told me lots about you. Like that time you told his bully you were an undercover cop that was going to arrest him cuz being a little jerk is illegal!

Hilary: I can’t believe he remembers that!

Ophelia: The kid peed himself! Pretty memorable!

Hilary certainly appreciates the distraction, but a question Ophelia asks catches her off-guard.

Ophelia: Any chance you’re hiring? I’m kind of out of a job right now.

It’s lighthearted in nature, but just reminds Hilary why she was trying to drink her woes away.

Hilary: You don’t need to worry about being blacklisted, dear. Any ounce of credibility Hector has is going out the window when the news spreads through the Grapevine Gossip interaction. People won't care about his opinion on the weather, let alone you.

Ophelia: Are you sure? I mean, it’s my word versus his and he’s a big deal around here. I know a divorce doesn’t look good for a man in the wedding business, but people get divorced all the time.

Hilary: Trust me, proof of his true nature will be made public soon enough.

Hilary: I’m sure Xander told you I spent today settling the divorce with Hector.

Ophelia nods.

Hilary: He finally confessed something to me. Do you want to know why he did what he did?

Ophelia: Uh, because he’s a slimeball?

Hilary: Yes, that too. But he told me that he had nothing left to lose, he considered it his ‘last hurrah’ before his life changed forever.

Ophelia: What the hell does that mean?

Hilary sits in silence. It looks like the thought of whatever she’s trying to say makes her physically ill. Ophelia allows her the time she needs to tell her.

Hilary: The day the kids and I left for the funeral… Tiff told Hector she’s pregnant.

He wouldn't… Would he?

Ophelia: I… She could be lying to get back at you for firing her. Maybe her garbage husband is the father!

Hilary: Ty is infertile. He can’t be the father… Even if she was lying, Hector admitted to sleeping with her. The pregnancy just worsens it.

Hilary: He's going to marry her, make 'an honest woman' of her. Maybe he's doing it because it looks better to the public than having a baby mama. Maybe he really does love her. That's what he told me, at least. That I basically pushed him into her arms.

Ophelia: What a douche. I'm so sorry. I can't imagine, but you know what? Those two deserve each other. This probably isn't what you want to hear right now, but you're so much better off without him. You didn't push him away, you threw out the trash.

Hilary: Deep down, I know this divorce is for the best, but… I’ve never been so scared in my life. I have to take over my parents’ restaurant, which just lost a good chunk of catering gigs from La Coppia Serena, and now I have to be a single mother? I don’t know how I’ll do it.

Ophelia doesn't know what to say but tries her best.

Ophelia: I know how. You’ll do it because you’re a strong, brave, amazing woman. Taste of Tartosa is already the best restaurant in town. Now that nothing's holding you back, you can focus on making it even better. If you need help, you know Xander and I will do what we can. We love spending time with the kids, so if you ever need anyone to keep an eye on them, call us. Whatever you need, we’re here for you.

Hilary can’t put her gratitude into words, so she doesn't try. She just lets Ophelia hug her. The two silently hold each other, trying their best to let the hug heal some of the pain they've gone through.

For the first time in a while, things feel like they're going to be okay.

By the time Ophelia gets home, the sun is out. Xander is waiting for her on the couch, having found her note. He wants to know what Hilary said, but she doesn't tell him much before falling asleep on his shoulder.

He pulls her closer and allows her to rest. She earned it.

#The Sims #The Sims 4 #The Sims 4 Legacy #The Lemon Legacy #TS4 #The Sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 #generation 1 #ophelia #xander #hilary

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rey-jake-therapist · 1 year ago

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Lost Souls chapter 8

If you missed the beginning

Chapter 7 on AO3

SUMMARY CHAPTER 8

We're back in the present. Jake hasn't forgotten the night he spent with Mina, but she seems determined to keep their relationship platonic. Sasha and Ari are already making bets about Jake and Mina, while Jake doesn't know how to behave with Tess. Notes: I just want to say that to those who don't like Tess very much because of what she did at the end of Sweetbitter season 2 not to worry: as I'm telling the story from Jake's point of view, who still knows nothing about what she did, I'm still cuddling her... But I promise that when the day of revelation comes, she'll get her due!

AO3 link to chapters 8, 9 and 10 if you prefer reading them there

New York, February 2019

Despite a rocky start, Mina quickly proved to be a competent and efficient partner for Jake. As they navigated the lunch shift together, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her unfamiliarity with some basic aspects of bartending. Her lack of knowledge about cocktails in particular surprised him, considering her years of experience in a high-end Los Angeles restaurant.

Their shift coming to an end, they went out to smoke a cigarette. Jake chose this moment to voice his concerns but she responded defensively, claiming that in L.A., her role had been more specialized and she hadn't been required to work behind the bar often. Her irritation was palpable as she brushed off his questions.

Jake let out a chuckle, breaking the tension. "No need to get so defensive. Howard was probably desperate to find a replacement for Nicky, or..."

"Or what?" Mina prompted.

"Or he had some ulterior motive when hiring you," Jake mused.

Taking a step closer, he couldn't help but be drawn to the curve of Mina's neck. Leaning in, he whispered near her ear, his voice low and playful, "Not that I blame him..."

Mina shot him an irritated look, her cheeks tinged with a blush, and her breath slightly hitched. "I'm sure he did a background check before hiring me back. Now back off, playboy. Your girlfriend's watching," she retorted, nodding towards Tess, who was indeed keeping an eye on them from a nearby table she was cleaning.

Jake let out a sigh, his playful demeanor fading. He wanted to respond with something witty, but Tess's gaze held a mixture of pain and unrealistic hope that gave him a pang of guilt. He had hoped that Tess might have been too high the night before to remember the confession of love she had made. He could choose to pretend that he hadn't heard anything, but that might not help if Tess decided to bring up the subject again.

"And the other woman, the one who didn't bother to say hello but instead quizzed me about wines during the... What do you call it? "Family lunch"?" Mina inquired.

"Family lunch, yep, we've got family dinner too. That would be Simone. She loves terrorizing newcomers, asking them wine-related questions," Jake explained with a touch of amusement.

"Oh, I thought she was probably that Simone," Mina replied, casting a curious glance at Jake. He suddenly realized he had mentioned Simone to her before, multiple times even. Anxiety crept in as he couldn't recall everything he might have said.

Mina continued, her tone sly, "She kept giving me those death stares when she came to the bar later. Quite the welcoming party. Did you spill the beans to her already? I could practically feel the jealousy radiating off her."

Jake frowned, taken aback by Mina's assumption. His response carried a casual tone, though he was slightly unsettled. "Nah, you've got it all wrong. Simone couldn't care less about who I fuck. Our relationship is... different. And no, I haven't told her anything about you."

"But she knows something happened, right? You two seem pretty close, the type that shares everything," Mina probed, displaying an unexpected astuteness that caught Jake off guard. Not ready to delve into the topic just yet, he subtly gestured toward the wedding ring adorning Mina's left hand.

"I see the ring's still on… Is your husband coming to New York?" He inquired.

Mina, taken aback, fiddled nervously with her wedding ring, sliding it up and down her finger as she responded with evident anxiety, "Johnny, in New York? Good Lord, no. He has never left California, probably never will! I needed time far away from him, and I think he felt the same way about me. Hopefully, we can figure it out! We probably just need time."

Jake suspected that she was trying to convince herself that her marriage was not over yet, but he didn't feel that it was his place to tell her otherwise. Even if he had wanted to say something, he wouldn't have had the opportunity because Sasha, a Russian server with a distinctive accent, burst onto the scene, his voice loud and slightly high-pitched, and interrupted their conversation to complain about Howard. Throughout the shift, Sasha had been somewhat rude to Mina; Jake assumed it was likely due to the stress of the job.

Others had also shown a mixture of curiosity and skepticism toward Mina as she stepped into Nicky's former role. Mina was still unaware that they were mourning Nicky's absence due to his wife's illness. Only Heather and Tess had welcomed her, with Heather being a mutual connection through a friend who had tipped Mina off about the job opportunity.

Sasha's interruption continued as he exclaimed, "Awwww! Pussy Cat and Baby Jakey! Taking a little break together, huh? Did I catch you two in the act?" He grinned suggestively at them before lighting his own cigarette. Jake rolled his eyes at Sasha's teasing, refusing to take the bait. Mina, on the other hand, simply shrugged and responded with a mix of annoyance and curiosity, "We were just smoking. And what did you call me?"

"You got a problem with Pussy Cat? Prefer Big Whore? What's your preference?" Sasha shot back.

Mina grumbled, "I don't know, do I look big to you? You could just call me Mina, that's my actual name, but whatever."

Sasha didn't seem to take a hint as he continued his teasing, "So, when's the big event happening? Need to know so I can win my bet against Ari. I could use some new shoes, but I have no money!"

Jake groaned, a mix of annoyance and amusement. The topic of his romantic life had been a favorite subject of speculation among his coworkers for years. He retorted, "Screw off, Sasha," though his tone held more exasperation than actual irritation. They were all behaving like children, he thought.

Mina's response jolted him, making him feel like he had stepped on a landmine. "Been there done that already! You won your bet, go tell her!" she declared, her face deadpan and seemingly unfazed.

Both Sasha and Jake stared at her, their expressions a mix of surprise and disbelief. Jake, in particular, felt his heart skip a beat. He wasn't prepared for the world to learn about him and Mina like this, especially from Sasha, of all people.

Sasha couldn't contain his excitement. "Really? That was fast!" he exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Yeah, you know, just a quickie in the locker this morning! Jake is just that irresistible," Mina retorted, a playful tone in her voice.

Jake immediately realized that Mina was joking, and his tense shoulders relaxed. He decided to play along, trying to mask the relief in his voice. "Why the surprise, Sasha? That's me!"

Sasha squinted at them suspiciously, sensing their exchange of complicit looks. "You guys are messing with me!" he accused, his tone a mixture of amusement and annoyance.

Mina giggled while Jake playfully blew a puff of smoke in Sasha's direction. Sasha responded by blowing a playful kiss back at Jake.

Sasha then offered Mina a piece of advice, "I should probably warn you not to get involved with this slut. He's dating Tess, and Tess is my friend. But honestly, I don’t care."

Mina stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray, moving closer to Sasha with a mischievous smile. "What a caring friend you are! But don't worry, even if it were your concern, you'd have nothing to worry about," she replied, her gray eyes fixed on Jake, a hint of challenge in her gaze. "I don't sleep with coworkers."

We'll see about that, Jake thought, while keeping a straight face.

Mina then walked back into the restaurant with a confident stride. Jake's attention was momentarily drawn to her graceful movements before he realized Sasha was still looking at him.

"You're not planning to let this go, are you, Baby Jakey?" Sasha asked with a sly grin.

Jake sighed. "Does Tess know about your bet?" he asked Sasha, his concern evident.

"Nah, we're not assholes! But she knows who you are. We all do!" Sasha replied.

"Yeah, everyone thinks they've got me all figured out," Jake muttered under his breath. But the truth was, nobody really understood him.

As he finished his cigarette, he flicked the butt into the ashtray and headed back inside the restaurant. Upon entering, he spotted Howard conversing with Mina in the dining room. Jake could feel Howard's eyes on him, assessing the situation. When he walked by his boss, Howard didn't say a word to him.

Jake wasn't just joking about the possibility that Howard might have ulterior motives for hiring Mina. He had once viewed Howard as a tightly-wound, overly serious man and a hopeless romantic mourning his wife's death for years. However, the revelation of Howard's affair with Becky, the previous manager, had cast a different light on his boss.

The way Howard had treated Becky was repulsive. After seducing her, he had orchestrated her transfer to the Smokehouse, a barbecue restaurant with TVs plastered on its walls. For Becky, it had felt like a downgrade even though the wages were rumored to be better there compared to what they offered at the 22W. Still infatuated with Howard, she had continued seeing him until it was painfully apparent that he was using her. At least, this was what the grapevine said; not much was heard from Becky after her departure from 22W. There were whispers that she had recently left the Smokehouse as well, but Jake wasn't invested enough in her personal drama to keep up with the latest gossip. He had never been particularly close to Becky, despite having shared some heated moments with her a few years back. Their interactions had been more physical than verbal. After a few weeks of casual encounters, she had ended it with him, citing a "serious" relationship with a guy she had refused to name. When Jake had later learned about her affair with Howard, he had wondered if Howard was the same guy she had dumped him for. The timelines seemed to align.

Not wanting to appear nosy, Jake decided to head to the locker room. Inside, he found Heather and Tess preparing for a shopping trip with Ari waiting for them outside.

"Hey, handsome!"

Tess called out to him, her arms encircling his neck as she placed a tender kiss on his lips. Seeing the affection in her eyes, Jake felt both touched and uneasy. Gently pushing her away while he loosened his tie, he responded,

"Hey, princess. What's going on?"

Tess sounded casual, but there was a hint of fading happiness in her smile, as if she had sensed his hesitation.

"How's the new girl doing?" Tess asked, keeping up the pretense. Her smile was fading, a mix of curiosity and worry flickering in her eyes.

"Fine, I guess," Jake replied, maintaining the facade. "You can ask her yourself when you see her. She's still talking with Howard."

"Really? What are they talking about?"

Jake detected a slight flinch in Tess's eyes, but she quickly brushed it off, murmuring that she was just curious. He wondered if Tess was worried that Mina might outshine her as a server. She had mentioned previously that she was hoping for a promotion from Howard.

Offering his professional analysis, Jake quipped, "If you want my expert opinion, she's about as good at bartending as you were at waiting tables when you started." This made Heather laugh, who chimed in,

"Oh, she's that bad?"

"Hey!" Tess playfully protested before joining in the laughter.

"Honey, nobody thought you'd last a week," Heather confessed.

"I didn't even think I'd last two days," Tess admitted with a grin.

Jake found himself reminiscing aloud,

"I remember the first time I saw you. You surprised me."

Why did I say that? Jake immediately questioned himself. It had just slipped out, but now he was second-guessing his choice of words. He remembered Tess's arrival vividly. At the time, he hadn't thought much of her, aside from noticing that she seemed as innocent and vulnerable as a deer caught in headlights. She didn't seem to fit into the atmosphere of the restaurant. Yet, he couldn't deny finding her cute. He had seen the way she looked at him, a mix of curiosity and attraction, and he had known that winning her over wouldn't require much effort on his part.

Tess responded with a soft smile, gazing at him fondly as he changed into a black shirt. "I remember you too." The memory brought a smile to her lips.

"You liked that oyster, didn’t you?" Jake teased. Tess had once shared that while tasting the oyster he had offered her, she had wondered if his kisses would be as salty.

As their playful banter continued, Ari's impatience finally interrupted them. Her head popped into the locker room, her voice laced with annoyance.

"Are you done? Where's Sasha?"

Ari's attention then shifted to the entrance of the room, and she adopted a sultry tone. "Oh, hello there, new person!"

All eyes turned toward Mina, who made quite the entrance, her embarrassment evident. With a soft-spoken "Hey!" she slipped into the room, throwing Jake a fleeting glance before heading to her locker. Unaware of Ari's appreciative look as she scrutinized her from head to toe, Mina's focus was elsewhere. Jake couldn't help but smirk at the situation. He had a hunch that Ari might soon make her move on Mina – a pattern she had followed with other newcomers, those who were backwaters like her at least. Ari liked to regularly remind her friends about not dating coworkers who had a different position in the hierarchy.

Frankly, Jake found that logic hard to grasp. Among his friends, like Tess and Simone, the distinction between being a server and a backwater was a big deal. It wasn't just about the better pay at month's end; they believed it gave them a certain status. Simone believed that her extensive wine knowledge and her 15 years at the restaurant made her indispensable. Jake thought it was a naive error in judgment. No one was truly irreplaceable, especially in a place like 22W. Customers and the director saw no real difference among servers, bartenders, and backwaters – all were just serving staff to them.

Heather extended an invitation to Mina, inviting her to join her, Tess, Ari, and possibly Sasha for a shopping trip. Caught off guard, Mina glanced hesitantly at Tess and Ari, both awaiting her response. Ari seemed enthusiastic, likely sensing a chance to uncover more about Mina's sexuality. For what felt like an eternity, Jake held his breath, fearing Mina might accept. It was clear that she had no intention of revealing their intimate connection established just a week ago at the Omega Lounge. But Ari had a knack for reading situations. If she sensed their secret, Jake was certain she'd spill the beans to Tess, driven by her bet with Sasha and Scott that Jake and Tess would break up within a month.

Finally, Jake suppressed a sigh of relief as Mina diplomatically replied, "Sounds nice! But I promised Keisha I'd babysit Zahra so she could hit the hair salon. Can you believe she hasn't had time to cut her hair since the baby was born?"

"Oh, poor thing! That's exactly why I'm in no rush to have kids. They're amazing, but say goodbye to your free time," Tess chimed in.

Mina nodded and bid them a pleasant shopping trip before Ari declared she wasn't waiting around for Sasha any longer. Mina's smile seemed sincere, yet Jake couldn't quite gauge if she was truly disappointed to miss out on the outing. He wondered about her typical social dynamics at work – was she more of a loner like him? She felt different from the Mina he met at the Omega Lounge a week ago, appearing more reserved, even cautious.

As Tess left the locker room with Heather and Ari, Jake and Mina were finally alone. Lost in his thoughts, he watched her as she undressed. With her back turned, he caught a glimpse of her cherry tree tattoo running down her spine and felt a sting of desire.

"I know you're ogling, you perv," Mina playfully called out, still facing away from him.

"Not my fault the men and the women’s lockers aren’t separated," he retorted in the same teasing tone. Shrugging into his leather jacket, he added, "Besides, I saw you sneaking a peek while I was still sans pants. You naughty girl."

Mina giggled, slipped into a white tank top and black jeans, and quipped with a grin, "What can I say? You were just in the way!"

As she untied her hair, Jake's desire surged, ignited by the tantalizing perfume that wafted from her. The room was empty, everyone else seemed to have left – so what was holding him back? Closing the distance between them, he took a few steps towards her, observing her reactions intently. She maintained an artful pretense of not noticing, retrieving a gray pullover from her locker. When he gently brushed her hair aside to gain access, she momentarily froze. The absence of protest encouraged him, and as he let a finger trail down her alluring neck, he detected the telltale quickening of her breath. The attraction was mutual, he knew it. His lips hovered tantalizingly close to her neck...

"Don't."

The single word, delivered with a cold and resolute tone, landed on him like a bucket of ice. He immediately stepped back, though he inquired, "Why?"

"Earlier, I was serious. I don't date coworkers. Especially not you," Mina retorted sharply. "I have enough problems of my own; I don't need to deal with yours."

"Understandable," Jake conceded reluctantly. "But who said anything about dating?"

He craved physical contact. Feeling a surge of boldness, he slipped his hand under her tank top, grazing the velvety skin of her back. He knew he'd found a sensitive spot when she shivered beneath his touch. She eluded his grasp quickly, pulling on her pullover. Gazing into his eyes with an unwavering resolve, she issued a clear statement, "No dating, no sexing. Just work."

Jake's jaw clenched, and though he yearned to assert that he didn't care – a blatant falsehood – he was interrupted by the abrupt intrusion of Sasha, his demeanor sour.

"Is it just you in here?! Where are the other bitches?" Sasha blurted out angrily.

"They left already. Where were you, anyway?" Jake responded, equally irritated by the Russian's untimely intrusion.

"I was on the phone, damn it! I swear, Baby Jakey, they're going to pay for this!" Sasha raged.

"Baby Jakey…" Mina echoed, thoroughly amused.

"That's my nickname for him; no one else can use it! Still need to come up with a new name for you," Sasha quipped.

"Anything but PussyCat works for me…" Mina countered. While Jake stewed in his grumpiness, Mina seemed to relish Sasha's entrance, effectively breaking the thick tension that hung in the air. She mentioned she was running late, exchanged a quick farewell, and hurried out of the locker room.

Sasha's giggles rang out as he taunted Jake, "Oops, let me guess – you were about to fuck, and I ruined it?"

Jake managed a wry chuckle and retorted, "You're the one in this room who needs to get laid, Sasha."

"Oh Baby Jakey, sweetie, that's sweet but you know we're incompatible!"

Jake slipped behind Sasha and replied with a teasing voice, "Your loss… Anyway, I've got to run. I promised Chris and my goddaughter I'd meet them after my shift."

Without a parting word, he exited the locker room, ignoring Sasha's playful complaints, "Yeah, sure, just abandon me here, like the others!"

Want more? Chapter 9.

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