#GODDAMN WHY DO THEY HAVE TO WAIT SO LONG TO GET EZRA BACK

[engagemythrusters]

so sabines gonna be like. Uhhh 30?

[minimomoe]

Love Bites

Baker Fem Reader x Toji Fushiguro (mafia au)

word ct: 15.1k, 11 Chapters

tags: Fluff, grumpy x sunshine, found family, a little angsty but nothing too bad, marriage proposal, established relationship, (last chapter only: kitchen sex, creampie, oral- fem receiving, other sexxy funtime stuff)

Chapter Ten: Yes

Toji watches in the corner as you talk to your brother the whole evening. You try to beckon him over, calling him to sit next to you but he told you that he’s fine where he’s at. Your eyes would dim, just for a second, but your brother and Megumi would pull you back into the conversation so you wouldn’t stay sad for long. The ring box felt like a brick in his pocket. He has no idea when would be the proper time to give it to you, and it didn’t help that his son glares at him whenever you aren’t looking. 

You are just so beautiful. He didn’t want to interrupt anything that you were doing, no matter how insignificant the task may seem… but that means he has been sitting on this ring for weeks now.

Toji first tried to subtly bring up the idea of marrying you to Sukuna first. First mistake was talking about it to Sukuna. The other man bore a shit eating grin that made Toji want to shove his face into the window while he was driving them back home from a mission.

“I knew it. I fucking knew it! This is good, man. You’re finally ready to settle down and be the perfect househusband I always knew you could be. Did you already get a ring? If so, Gojo owes me $200.”

“Why the fuck would Gojo owe you $200?”

“I said that you would buy a ring and propose by Christmas. Gojo said that you’re slow as hell and it would happen next year,” Sukuna boasted. 

“So y’all bet on me instead of doing your work?” Toji shot a glance at the other man but Sukuna just waved him off. 

“Oh come on. Your eyes grow huge around her and you follow her around like a goddamn puppy. Not that it’s a bad thing, but any idiot could tell that you were gonna marry her.”

Toji shook his head. “It hasn’t happened yet. She hasn’t said yes.”

“There’s no way she wouldn’t say yes. She’s just as in love as you are. And I better be your best man.” 

The same sentiments were shared by others in the group. Nanami wanted to be the one to help Toji with his suit and the others, and had a few bridal boutiques in mind for you. Gojo wanted to help choose the venue. Suguru and Choso gladly volunteered to help with any and all other wedding details. Nobody seemed surprised when Toji said that he had plans on making you his wife. In fact, in most cases, they were telling him to hurry up. They have already accepted you and the kids love you just as much. You are family in their eyes. 

So why couldn’t Toji just pop the question? Well he thought that maybe it was because he didn’t have any of your folks to ask. Toji figures that it was customary, even though he usually doesn’t give a shit about tradition. Even then, it was like the universe gave him a big flashing sign to get on with it because the third time he visited Ezra on his own he woke up and gave his blessing. It couldn’t have been more obvious. 

So Toji sits and waits. And waits, and waits, and waits as you reunite with your brother and play with Megumi until he falls asleep in a heap on the couch. He gathers Megumi up, the little kid flailing around like noodles in his arms while he takes him to bed. You try to take Megumi yourself but Toji tells you not to worry about it, instead telling you to get your shoes and jacket ready when he comes back. You give him a surprised look but agree, and on your behind you Ezra gives Toji an enthusiastic thumbs up. 

When Toji places Megumi in bed he feels an arm tugging him back before he leaves.

“Have you asked her yet?” The boy is hardly awake. His eyes aren’t open yet his eyebrows are scrunched together. Toji sighs and rubs his face down. 

“I’m working on it.”

“Stop being a scaredy-cat.“

“That’s real easy for you to say, kid,” Toji chuckles. 

“She likes you. A lot. And I like her too.” 

“I know.” 

“…I accidentally called her mom and she smiled,” Megumi confesses. “A few days ago. I think she liked it.” 

“You want her to be your mom?” Of course Megumi sees you like his mom. You’ve been there for him since you came into their lives, and you fret over Megumi even when he’s not around. Caring for Megumi came to you easily, from helping him with homework to packing his lunch, or taking him with you when you had errands to do. That tender love also extends to Yuji and Nobara, who flourish under your care. Everyone did. 

“Yeah. I think she'd be a pretty cool mom to have.”

Toji ruffles Megumi's hair. His son gave him the confidence boost that he needs. “Tonight. I’m doing it tonight. Wish me luck?”

“She’s gonna say yes either way. Good luck,” he mumbles, the sleep pulling him back under. Toji leans down to kiss the top of his head and walks back to the living room where you were waiting for him. 

“Ezra, do you think you can watch Megumi for a little while? I still have a present to give her,” Toji asks Ezra and he nods vigorously.

“Go ahead. I’ll be fine here.”

“Really? Are you sure?” You ask. You are all bundled up with the same scarf and gloves Toji gifted you on your birthday all those months ago and fixing the laces on your boots.

“I’ll be fine. I’m sure you’ll be back soon,” Ezra grins. 

“Okay. Thanks,” you say, grabbing Toji's outstretched hand and walking back outside. You had no idea what your gift could be, or why it had to be outside. You hadn’t even noticed that you technically weren’t given a gift by him yet merely for the fact that you felt like you have been given so many by everyone else. Spending this holiday with so many people is a million times better than last year. Ezra wasn’t in a coma yet, but he wasn’t around either. He had his own busy life on the other side of the world and coming back home after your parents’ untimely death was too much to bear. You didn’t blame him, but you couldn’t deny the fact that it was very lonely. Now you had a belly filled with a loving meal, belting out to Christmas carols with the radio while Toji drove you to wherever he was driving, even getting him to sing along with you. 

You notice that the road he took is the same road that your bakery stays. You haven’t been there the whole week, one part because it’s Christmas, other parts because Toji asked you to take the entire week off. Usually you only did three, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the day right after, but he wanted more time with you and you couldn’t say no. Not when he was looking up at you from laying on your chest and his eyebrows tilted up like he was pouting. You were sure that your customers would understand. 

“Watch your step,” Toji says, holding open your door and taking your hand again. He did take you to the bakery, and it only added to your confusion. He ushers you inside to get out of the freezing cold before you could say anything and you stand in the dark of one of your favorite places in the world, second to only wherever Toji was. 

When Toji turns on the light it becomes apparent why he brought you to your store. The place was completely renovated to the layout of your dreams. You always complained how tight the space felt despite having the space to be better, it’s just that you didn’t have the money to fix it. You look back at Toji who nods at you to keep exploring. 

It wasn’t the type of modernization that sucks the life out of the space it’s in with a grey and white color palette. Your store still has character, accents of red and black dancing on the walls and tiles on the floor, now wavy counters, a deep walnut with their rough edges smoothed out but still bumpy to the touch, giving it a unique texture. The two tables you had in the front near the windows were the same. You didn’t notice when you first walked in but even the wording on the windows had changed. It matched the curled logo you have printed out on your boxes finally on the windows. 

You turn to Toji with tears in your eyes and your hands over your mouth. Emotions swirl in your chest. You didn’t know if you wanted to jump into his arms or break down crying. 

“Wh-when did you… how did you—“

“You’ve talked about all the changes you wanted to make since I met you. All I had to do was listen,” he says, gently holding your shoulder to pull you closer. 

“This is insane, Toji. I mean it was only a week.”

“We’re lucky that Christmas lands on a Saturday this year,” he shrugs. You look up at him in awe and let out a breathy laugh. 

“I still can’t believe it.” 

“You wanted this, right? There’s still some things they said need to be cleaned up but it’s safe for you to be here. Do you want to change anything?”

“No! No, this is perfect. I mean, I can’t believe that you did all this for me. I was fully expecting to hold out for a couple more years to save up or try to find a new store. This is… Thank you, Toji.”

You stand on your tiptoes to place a soft kiss on his lips. His eyes flutter close and his arm tightens around your body. You pull away and his eyes are still closed, his lashes fan over his cheeks and you hold his face in your hands. “I love you. This is the best Christmas I have ever had. Not just because of the bakery but because I have you and Megumi and everybody else to share it with.” Tears prick your eyes again and Toji finally opens his eyes again. 

“Can I make it better?” He asks in a low voice, cautiously. A bewildered expression sweeps over your face. How could he possibly top a renovated shop? You give a slow nod since he looks nervous and he kisses the round of your nose, laces his fingers in your hand, then kisses the pads of your fingertips. You giggle in response, still unsure on what “better” could be until he puts his other hand in his pocket and slips out a golden ring. Your eyes bounce back and forth from the ring to Toji’s face, blood rushing in your ears and your heart pounding. 

“I would do anything for you,” he starts, holding the ring up between the both of you. “I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that.” 

You begin to cry. It was long overdue. You’ve  been holding your tears back since you walked in but they could no longer be kept at bay. Toji gathers a heavy drop on your lash line and cups your face. “You don’t have to prove anything,” you choke out. “I want you with me. Forever.”

“Forever?” He smiles. You nod vigorously, whispering yes a thousand times over, and he slips the ring on your finger. The blood red jewel glistens in the new bright lights and more sobs escape your mouth. You smash your lips on his again, throwing yourself on his body and he welcomed it. He grins into your kiss and returns your enthusiasm, lifting you off of the floor as you get lost in each other’s affection. 

“I’ve been wanting to marry you for a while now,” Toji says when he finally puts you back on the ground. Your head spins with giddiness. He kisses you again, and again, and one more time for good luck only for you to drag him back down to deepen it. 

“I would’ve said yes,” you laugh. “Definitely would’ve said yes.”

“Megumi was right,” Toji shakes his head. 

“I can’t believe we’re going to get married. I’m going to be your wife !” You squeal and shake your hand in the air.

Toji couldn’t believe there was ever a doubt in his mind that you would say no. You have always been open and honest with him, and accepted him and everything that he was. It was hard to believe that you came to love him and Megumi as easily as you did. There were only a few vibrant moments before he met you, and there is a clear difference in his time line where you existed versus when you didn’t. He wanted to hold onto that vibrance, that warmth that you brought with you everywhere you went and never let go. He kissed you again, slowly and deep, relishing the feeling of your lips, your body touching his and then rested his forehead on yours. 

“I love you.”

“I’m going to cry again.” 

“My little crybaby.”

“Is my husband making fun of me?” You gasp dramatically, but your arms wrap around the back of his neck and you giggle into his neck. 

“Your husband still has to finish the tour. The kitchen is updated too. No more dented ovens.” 

You grasp Toji’s hand with your newly decorated hand into the back of the bakery laughing. 

Chapters: I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI.

M.list || Ao3 || Twitter || Ko-fi

[by-ilmater]

okay i'm a good ways into my second playthrough of datv and i realized i never posted any of my thoughts after i finished the first time. warning for end game spoilers, like big time, i mean it

many of my initial criticisms still stand, for me. like dai before it, i think datv suffers from some pacing issues. it starts off very slow, and i don't think it really starts to open up until after the dragons. i've always thought dai had the same issue, that the game only really gets going after you get to skyhold.

idk how to really phrase this, but the emotional pacing? feels off for me? does that make sense? like, there's several moments in the game where something absolutely devastating happens, and they did a really good job of capturing that. i think the aftermath of the dragons are a good example of this. in my second playthrough i'm playing a crow rook, so i chose to save treviso (did it the other way the first time) and the moment you fast travel back to dock town after that and half the building is just fucking GONE. that was a gut punch holy shit.

but then, so much of the rest of the game feels.....idk. cold? flat? it just doesn't seem to have a happy medium, there's either huge shit happening or....eh.

i will say, i think i'm enjoying the game more on a second run and that's not super common for me. it has let me pay way closer attention to how they actually handled varric after knowing he's dead the entire time, and there's some surprisingly clever moments.

speaking of the dragons, something i do like that datv did that felt more in line with origins is the game forcing you to make fucked up choices and live with the consequences. there's several moments in origins where you can just straight up lose a party member if you say something wrong or do something wrong, and I think that got kinda lost in da2 and dai. especially in dai, you have to go out of your way to really fuck shit up. i like that the dragons are bad no matter how you choose. i like that, if you choose wrong during the final battle, people will just straight up die (that's also very mass effect 2 and i love it). someone will also die no matter how you choose! there's no way to save harding or davrin after that choice, afaik. i like that.

i wish that we had more freedom over our rook as far as backstory and age and things like that. i really hate that the game basically railroads me into playing rook as young, especially during the emmrich romance. that irritates the fuck outta me. why give us the option to give rook wrinkles and grey hair and whatnot, and then insist that they're some naive twentysomething? haaaaaaaaaate that. i think, for a voiced pc that wasn't just a named person like hawke or shepard, dai struck a good balance. i liked that characters would ask your inquisitor questions, and then you got to decide how they felt. rook doesn't get that.

i miss being able to just talk to the companions whenever. like, i do like that they kinda move around the lighthouse and interact with each other, but i think we also could've been given the ability to talk to them while they did that, instead of having to wait til they have their little speech bubble prompt. idk what inspired the decision to make it like this, idk if people complained that there's too much talking in previous da games. but i loved all the talking and i want it back.

this is a petty personal issue, but i am so so sad we finally got to see weisshaupt in a game and it immediately gets fucking destroyed. literally so heartbroken. i've wanted to see weisshaupt since alistair talked about it in origins.

this feels like a mean criticism but.....some of the voice acting does not hit for me. i chose the american male voice for ezra, cuz he's a city elf from ferelden. and man, it bugged me the whole fucking game lol. but with kai i chose the british male voice and the difference is huge.

goddamn this got long lmao sorry. i'm sure i'll think of more later.

[paisley-print]

11:00pm / Okay

About: While you are at a family dinner, Jack sits at home.

Warnings: Marriage problems, infidelity.

Rating: 18+

Characters: Agent Whiskey x Reader

Note: Thank you all for your support over the past four months! I loved hearing your feedback. Ya’ll kept me going. Please enjoy the last chapter of Midnight. 

Series Master List

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“Okay, I’ll leave the front door unlocked,” Jack said, hanging up the phone and placing it down on the table next to the chair.

The last few hours have been a whirlwind. Seeing her alone for the first time, feeling her, hearing her voice...it felt as if he was waking up from a twenty year long nightmare. His skin still burned, even hours later and although she wasn’t his Emily yet, with time she would come back to him fully. Then they would be happy, and would continue on with their lives as if no time had passed at all. 

Then there was you. Perfect, lovely, innocent you. Although he had the chance to, he refrained from sleeping with her out of respect to you. There were some boundaries he could keep from crossing, but he wouldn’t be able to do it forever. What bothered him the most was that he was growing to resent you a little more each day because he loved you so much and couldn’t bear to hurt you. He also couldn’t bear to lose you, and it was that juxtaposition that made him so frustrated. 

A part of him wished you had carried on a relationship with Ezra. It would have made this all so much easier. Jack hoped that Ezra could make you happy and that his presence would serve to soften the pain. 

Jack had tried to end it several times, but then you would look at him with those big eyes of yours and the words would die on his tongue. Those goddamn eyes. Large, pleading, recklessly optimistic. They held enough power in them to make entire armies surrender with just one glance. 

The end was fast approaching, though, and neither one of you could keep doing this for much longer.

He thought back to the night he met you and that wonderful red dress you wore. By far his favorite out of all the clothing you owned. God, the cheeky little grin you gave after you stole his hat would be branded in his mind forever. 

Then there was that situation on the mountain during the blizzard. He didn’t get much sleep that night; he was far too concerned about your well being. Jack sat up and listened to you breathe for hours, tracing a finger along your bare back and looking out at the snow falling outside. 

Then there was the carnival, and that stupid bear he forgot the name of…. That had been the first thing to inhabit the nursery. You looked so proud of yourself after you dug it out of the attic and placed it on the floor of the guestroom. He wanted that life with you so badly. He still did. You, him, and your little girl. Those blissful mornings spent in bed seemed a world away now.

Why had he been so angry with you the day you found out you were pregnant? Looking back, he wished he could alter that day and make it a happy occasion  Instead of one fraught with sadness, like so much of your marriage had often been. Why couldn’t he just look up and appreciate what he had in front of him when he had it?

You were always the right person who showed up at the wrong time. In another life, he could see something perfect. He always thought you two were meant for something more. There was a reason you blew into his life and made a lasting impact. 

Like that night under the streetlamp or that morning after the accident at work…. he was never able to quite put his finger on why those moments felt so surreal. As if suspended outside this realm of time..... He could still feel the weight of your voice against his back, whispering poetry to him in the bathtub while  dawn broke through the trees.

He toyed with the silver wedding band on his finger, remembering your wedding day as well. He smiled.

The two of you sang country songs the whole drive up to the courthouse. You looked beautiful your dress, bouncing excitedly on your feet as you waited to be called in. There had been a stained glass window behind you, and although he never told you, he swore you had looked like one of those old paintings of angels that hung in museums.

You had been the first person to put color back into his world and make him really live again. Why couldn’t he have done right by you the first time? He had sworn never to end up like his father, and yet he was becoming more like him every day. He never wanted to be that man. Daniel’s men, destined to be fuck ups. 

He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the front door open. Glancing at the clock, he noticed the time. He would sit you down and tell you in the morning when his head was clear and you both weren’t so exhausted. 

[foxymoxynoona]

Amended Ch. 2

Read Chapter 1 here

SUMMARY: Getting into a bar fight is the least surprising part of Isabella's return home. She sure doesn't expect to run into her childhood friend turned high school enemy, now not just surprisingly a law-abiding citizen but a police officer. Things seem to be going great for him, but Isabella is struggling with more than a bar fight. A single mom with a sick grandmother, an alcoholic mother, an abusive ex, and a short fuse herself, matters are not helped that Jungkook seems to be everywhere. All the time. Especially every time Isabella messes up. Can she really believe him when he says he just wants to help?

Police officer! Jungkook x Single Mom Childhood Friend Named OC

CW: abusive parents, alcoholism, abusive exes, descriptions of childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, illegal acts, side character death, discussions/references to underage sexual activity/alcohol use/drug use, teen pregnancy, explicit sexual content

Also hosted on AO3 under foxymoxy. Not sure if I’ll keep posting on tumblr or not, but I thought I’d try it out!

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The morning had not been going well. At all.

The kids had overslept. 

Ok, maybe Isabella had overslept too.

Grandma had not overslept but had been in a bit of a mental fog, so Isabella had plied her with bananas and water as suggested by the nurses, while running around frantically to get the kids’ things pulled together. While they dawdled, of course, as if they had nowhere in the world to be. They couldn’t find their socks. They didn’t want frozen waffles for breakfast. They didn’t want to go to their first days of school, they wanted to just watch cartoons while Isabella struggled to be a morning person like most days.

But she’d done it, she got them dressed and fed and out the door, only having to double back for forgotten bags once. And while it was a whirlwind drop off at two different schools, she made it, and made it home just as Grandma was finishing her morning coffee and ready for a lift to her bible study, and just in time to shower to get dressed for her first day of work.

Except she’d underestimated how far the bible study was, and realized as soon as Grandma was shuffled inside that she was going to be late. For her first day of work. So she booked it into high gear…

And it landed her here. Pulled over to the side of the road with the cop car lights flashing through the back windshield. She let out an angry groan and let her head rest against the steering wheel. Now she would definitely be late.

A knock on her window got her to look up, only to huff, “You have got to be fucking kidding me.” She cranked her window down, actions snappish and pissy, as Jungkook waited with raised eyebrows and a narrow stare.

“Isabella.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” she sighed again, in case he hadn’t heard her earlier.

“That’s my question,” he said. “Do you have any idea how fast you were going, ma’am?”

“Thirty.”

“Bullshit,” he snorted.

“Do you know how fast I was going?”

He glared and answered, “Fifty-four in a thirty.”

“Not me, officer.”

“Isabella--”

“I’d like to see your radar gun readout and a clear photo of--”

“Isabella,” he sighed and made an exasperated noise. 

“There was another car going much faster than me, probably you picked that one up.”

“Used to arguing your way out of tickets, huh?”

“I doubt the other way out of tickets would work with you.”

“Oh? And what would that be? Maybe… not speeding and earning them in the first place?” he suggested. And he just looked so fucking smug. 

She gave him an equally smug grin and prompted, “Radar read out and dashboard cam, please.”

“License and registration, please.”

“Jungkook,” she grunted. “I’m late for work. It’s my first day.”

“Work, huh? Where’s that.”

“Target. Ever been? There’s a pharmacy, they have vaseline that could help you get that stick out of your--”

He sighed and rested his hands on the window frame, “Isabella. Why are you antagonizing me? I’m a cop. You’re speeding.”

“You are a cop, but I was not speeding.”

“Goddamn you are as infuriating as you were in high school.”

“Look,” she sighed, deciding to try a different tactic. “Fine, you want to try the other way? There’s a gas station up ahead, behind the dumpster there aren’t cameras. My backseat has a kid booster but you can probably turn your car cam off, right?”

“Jesus Christ,” he groaned, pushing away from her car and scratching at his hair. “Can you stop trying to bribe your way out of a ticket?!”

“Oh. So you admit that sounds like an appealing bribe? I just meant it as a friendly offer but--”

“Ok, look. I’m going to let you off with a warning this one time. Do you hear me?” 

Isabella bit her tongue so as not to point out that she vaguely thought she recalled him telling her the other night it was her one warning. Instead she made her eyes very big and nodded.

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Officer, sir.”

“Just because if I give you a ticket I have to stand here and deal with you for fifteen more minutes.”

“I am so grateful--”

“But look, slow down, ok? You’re going to hit someone and this tin can you’re driving isn’t going to protect you. You can’t show up here and just break the law when you feel like it.” 

She bit her tongue so hard it hurt. That was rich, real rich coming from a delinquent she’d covered for plenty of times. Probably he knew that, because he arched his eyebrow and waited, as if to see if she could resist. She lifted her chin and set her jaw and held it in. He watched her a moment longer.

“Have a nice day, ma’am. Take it easy.” He patted the roof of her car like a true and genuine police asshole, and sauntered back to his vehicle. Isabella cranked up her window.

“You fucker, you definitely didn’t actually have me on radar and how dare you preach at me about--”

The siren blipped once, cutting off her monologue. She glared at him through the rearview mirror and quickly pulled away, waiting until she’d lost him behind a turn to take off again, in an attempt to make up for lost time and not lose her job on the first fucking day.

It wasn’t until she parked she realized she’d forgotten to take her wallet out of one of the kids’ backpacks before dropping them off.

---------------------

Isabella’s legs hurt. Her back hurt. Her head hurt. She was too tired for this. She kept glancing at the clock, but there were hours left in her shift still. Ezra and Lily would have arrived at afterschool care by now. The nurse would have picked up Grandma from bible study long ago. Everyone was fine. But she was tired and desperate for coffee and didn’t have a break coming up any time soon.

She plastered on a smile, ringing up the woman in her line, but the woman was on her phone and not paying attention anyway so she let it slide away. The woman bought razors, deodorant, several bottles of wine, a carton of Goldfish, and a box of tampons. Isabella rang everything up, turned the bags on the carousel so the woman could loop them over the hand holding her car keys, and held the receipt out. 

“Have a nice day,” she said.

“Uh huh,” the woman nodded and walked away, flicking her hand a little like Isabella was a gnat. 

She hadn’t looked at the next person in line yet, just reached for the bag of shrimp chips and then immediately froze.

“Are you fucking--” She looked up as she spoke, knowing instinctively it was Jungkook, but trailed off upon finding him holding a little girl. He raised his eyes and gave her a crooked grin.

“What was that?” he asked. The little girl stared at her with similar wide eyes.

“Uh… are you following me?” she asked, deciding to ignore his look. “I told you where I work. Are you checking up on me?!”

He gave her a teasing glare, “Are you always this paranoid?” She rolled her eyes. “You didn’t card that woman.”

“Oh my god, are you kidding me right now? She was clearly over 21.”

“I don’t know,” he tsked, looking after the woman. “White people, it’s hard to tell your ages.”

Isabella licked her lips in annoyance to keep from saying worse, and then smiled at the little girl, “Your dad is a real charmer, huh?”

The girl’s face instantly screwed up and she argued, “He’s not my dad, he’s my uncle!”

“Ah. Oh!” Before she could even ask, Jungkook’s older sister set one final thing on the belt, then did a double take.

“Isabella!” she greeted. “Hello!”

“Um, hi Youngsoon.” Isabella immediately blushed. Youngsoon was even more beautiful than she’d been as a young adult. Youngsoon had always been so beautiful and cool. Isabella had spent a lot of years lamenting she couldn’t be a beautiful Korean woman like her, certain Jungkook’s older sister belonged in the movies. Embarrassed, she quickly began scanning items.

“Jungkook didn’t mention you were back in town. How are you?”

“I’m well,” she answered reflexively, only glancing up. She did not appreciate the smug grin Jungkook still had. What did he have to be smug about? She glared at him.

“She thought Uncle Gukka was my dad,” the little girl giggled, flinging her arms around Uncle Gukka’s neck. 

“Yuck,” Jungkook teased, scrunching her face up at her. To be fair, the little girl was clearly a Jeon. But it made sense that she was a baby Youngsoon; she was beautiful, just like her mother, not goobery like Jungkook… well, like he had been when they were younger, anyway...

“Sora, this woman is an old friend of Uncle Gukka’s,” Youngsoon said with a smile. “She was Uncle Gukka’s very first friend in America.”

“Your first friend was a girl?” Sora asked with surprise.

Jungkook gave her a serious look and said, “I didn’t know it at the time.”

“Hey,” Isabella glared. But she didn’t stop scanning items, in a hurry to finish up so they could go away. She was very nervous now having Jungkook and Youngsoon both here. Jungkook she didn’t mind aggravating but seeing Youngsoon left her feeling… insignificant.

But Youngsoon, perfectly at ease chatting, continued, “Have you moved back permanently?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “We’re here with my grandmother right now. I just-- it was easy to transfer to the store since I already work at Target, so I’m just picking up some shifts…” God, it was mortifying. Mortifying. Not only was she standing there scanning their items in her stupid khakis and red polo shirt, but talking about picking up shifts… Youngsoon had been in medical school back then. And now Jungkook was a cop. 

“We?”

“Oh, um… me and my children.”

“Oh! How old are you children?” Youngsoon continued. “I have two --Sora here is--”

“I’m five,” Sora announced.

“Five,” Youngsoon finished with a fond smile. “And I have a two year old boy.” The last item had been rung up and placed in the bag and Isabella had succeeded in not looking at Jungkook for several minutes now; even when Sora had spoken and she’d reflexively look at the little girl, she’d managed to blur his face from view. Gukka’s very first friend in America. What a silly thing to mention. Pokemon. They’d bonded over fucking Pokemon.

But Youngsoon looked at her expectantly and Isabella had always admired her so much and found herself admitting, “I have two. Eight and four.”

“Oh, are they in school? Or will you not be here that long?”

“Yeah, I-- they started school today actually. Since I don’t know how long we’ll be here, I didn’t want them to miss out.”

“Is your younger one in kindergarten?”

“No, Pre-K still but through public school.”

“It was their first day today?” Jungkook asked, tricking her into looking at him. She gave a nod and turned to push the button on the screen as Youngsoon pulled out her wallet to pay. She tried not to sulk but thought that might be why he snorted and then sighed, “You shouldn’t have been speeding.”

“It’s my first day of work too and I was going maybe three over--”

“Twenty-four over,” he clarified. 

“Show me the radar receipt.”

He let out an exasperated sigh, “I let you off with a warning, didn’t I?”

“Yeah because I said--”

“Not because of anything you said,” he corrected instantly, giving her a wide-eyed and pointed stare. 

“--you wanted me to shut up,” she grinned cheekily, grabbing the receipt as it printed out. 

Youngsoon gave her a gentle smile though, because she’d always been kind, and assured her, “Mornings are hard. Sorry it sounds like a tough one.” She took the receipt. “I’m really glad to run into you though. We should get our kids together for a play date! Sora and your youngest are so close in age.”

“Oh. Um…” She hadn’t expected that. Why would she suggest that? She’d hurried so Youngsoon could finish being polite and leave.

“Let me give you my number,” she said instead, digging around in her wallet and then pulling out a business card. “You can text or call my cell that’s listed there.”

“Ok. Um, thanks, sure. Things are a little busy right now but--”

Jungkook snickered and made a face at his sister, “Soona, she doesn’t want to bring her kids around.”

“My kids are wonderful,” Isabella defended hotly, feeling anger charge through her body. Her cheeks flushed with it. It surprised him, he didn’t hide that from his face.

“Uh, I-- I didn’t mean it like that,” he assured her. He shifted Sora to his other arm and scratched his cheek. 

Sora seemed oblivious to the awkward exchange as she asked Isabella, “Do you have a boy or a girl?”

“I have one of each. My daughter is the one close to your age.”

“Does she like princesses or cars or both?” Sora asked. Youngsoon laughed gently and pressed her hand to Jungkook’s arm to nudge them along, but motioned to the business card in Isabella’s hand.

“Do call or text.”

“Ok. Yeah. I will.”

Jungkook didn’t say anything more, even goodbye. He’d picked up both bags though after dumping Sora to the ground; she took her mother’s hand and waved to Isabella as the three of them left the store.

Isabella’s cheeks blazed as she turned her attention to the next customer, an older woman who looked vaguely familiar but didn’t seem to recognize Isabella. That was good. She hadn’t thought about how many people she’d see at Target, she’d just been thinking about the ease of picking up shifts and making money because she needed to. 

Embarrassed, she tossed the business card in the trash under her till.

-----------------------

Isabella stretched out on the couch next to Grandma once the kids were in bed a half hour later than she had wanted. That wasn’t too bad. The house felt strangely silent without their voices and pounding footsteps rattling the walls, but it was nice to be able to let out her breath and relax and not try to look like a Responsible Adult. 

Grandma hummed happily and laced her fingers into Isabella’s hair, holding her tea mug in the other hand.

“That better be decaf,” Isabella warned.

“My, you’re a bossy little thing,” Grandma chuckled. 

“I just don’t want you having caffeine nightmares, and you’re barely sleeping as it is--”

“Yes, yes, I know. Nothing but sleepy herbs in this. Would you like some?”

“I’m so wiped, I won’t need any help falling asleep.”

“Go to bed now.”

“Nah, I’ll sit up with you a little longer,” Isabella insisted and sat up, certain the way her grandmother stroked her hair would put her to sleep otherwise. She’d gone so many years without getting to sit with her grandma like this, she wouldn’t trade it for a little extra sleep now that she could.

“Well I heard all about the first day of school from the children at dinner, but how was your first day of work?”

Isabella shrugged, “It’s just Target. It’s the same everywhere you go-- hey, you know who I keep running into?”

“Who?”

“Jungkook. Do you remember him?”

“Of course I remember him.”

“Did you know he’s a cop now?”

“Yes, I knew,” her grandmother confirmed, smiling and nodding. “Why is that so surprising? He’s a sweet boy.”

“Uh, he was sweet when we were eleven. Then he became a raging asshole…”

“Bella,” Grandma scolded, giving her a look about her language.

“Grandma, he was a troublemaker in high school. What the hell made him become a cop? He hated cops! He never showed the slightest interest in becoming a cop and now suddenly he’s lecturing me about…” She trailed off, not wanting to admit to her grandmother about what she’d been up to and realizing she almost had.

Grandma gave her a coyly arched eyebrow and pressed, “About what, my darling granddaughter?”

“Nothing.”

“Maybe the fight you had last Thursday--”

“Grandmaaa,” Isabella sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I’m sure you don’t! But I know what a hangover is, my dear, and I don’t think you were using make up to cover bites from an amorous lover--”

“Grandma!” This time she broke off with a laugh and gave her grandmother a gentle, playful shove. “What do you know about amorous bites?”

“Oh, to be young and think you know everything--”

“I’m not young, I’m old,” Isabella sighed and let her head drop to her grandmother’s shoulder. “I stopped being young when I was fourteen. I just have a hard time believing Jungkook grew up enough to be a cop. He still seems like a smarmy asssss...” She’d tried to change the word to something else and couldn’t think of anything on the spot, just dragged the s out awkwardly long.

“Nonsense. Being a cop doesn’t mean you grew up, it just means you passed some tests and they gave you a badge and a gun.”

“Oof. Careful, Grandma! That sounds remarkably progressive. What will the old ladies in your bible study group say? How dare you flaunt authority?”

Grandma laughed and admitted, “Perhaps it is a little tough when you find yourself so much older than authority.”

“I bet he can’t even grow a beard yet.”

“He tried, briefly, a few years ago,” Grandma admitted, grinning when Isabella giggled. “You’re still very young too, sweetheart, you just grew up fast. But someday you’ll look back in disbelief of how young you still were right now, thinking like that.”

“Don’t talk cryptically, Grandma. You’ll make me panic.”

“No, no, I won’t die on you tonight,” the older woman teased, earning a glare from Isabella. “I just find your disbelief he grew up and started a career is amusing. You grew up and got a career and have two children!”

“I hardly think working at Target counts as a career. I’m not even a manager.”

“You could be!”

“No,” Isabella sighed. “I can’t be. I take too many sick days. I mean honestly I was probably about to get fired at my store in New York. It’s a blessing you wanted me to come home. Don’t think for a second I did it for you.”

Grandma grinned, “Oh yes, of course. My selfish granddaughter, only ever doing things for herself.”

Isabella sighed. She knew her grandmother was teasing her. But she did feel selfish. All the time. Every part of her life felt like jumping from one selfish decision to the next, hurting everyone within reach. That was her legacy, wasn’t it? Even her two children, who she would have moved heaven and earth for, suffered because she just couldn’t quite get her shit together. And why couldn’t she get her shit together? Because she kept making bad decisions. Even now, she really had uprooted her children to move home because selfishly she wanted whatever time she had left with her grandmother, even if it meant dividing what little energy and attention she had for her children even further. And selfishly, too, it was a break on rent, which she’d been struggling to make before.

“I didn’t mean that,” her grandmother whispered. “I’m teasing you, Isabella. You’re a good girl with a big heart. Be kind to yourself. I’m glad you’re home, I’m just sad a mini seizure is what brought you home.”

“It wasn’t mini, Grandma.”

“And don’t be too hard on Jungkook. I think he’s made a sincere effort to leave his high school behavior in high school.”

“It would be easier not to be hard on him if he would stop following me everywhere. I swear, he’s like a plague. A shadow!”

Grandma grinned, “Then it’s just like when you were twelve again.”

“God, I hope not. Twelve is the worst age when you’re a girl.”

“It’s not too kind to boys either.”

“Jungkook came out on the right side of it.”

“Oh, do you think he’s handsome now?” her grandmother asked, and Isabella felt the snicker against her scalp.

“No. I meant after puberty, the girls in high school did! He’s ugly now.”

“Isabella.”

“So ugly. Stupid face.”

“Isabella,” her grandmother laughed.

“What! He was probably thinking the same things when he saw me. Wow, she got ugly and old and fat--”

“Ok, missy, I’m cutting you off,” her grandmother said, nudging her to get her to sit up. “Go to bed.”

“What! Cutting me off from what, I’m not drinking anything.”

“From thoughts like that. You are beautiful and hard-working and you have two perfect children.”

“I know, I know.”

“You are kicking ass.”

“Grandmaaa,” Isabelle laughed. 

“I’m eighty-six, I can say ass for once.”

“That’s twice!”

“Ah, better call Officer Jeon to arrest me--”

Isabella pretended to vomit, “Never call him Officer Jeon again. He’s an idiot. He’s so… smug. He thinks he’s better than me--”

“Bella, honey.”

“Hm?”

“You’re not sixteen anymore and neither is he. Let it rest.”

Isabella didn’t quite know what her grandmother meant by that. There was plenty she could imply. But while she had no problem assuming intent on Jungkook’s part because he’d been such an absolute asshole in high school, she didn’t want to read anything in what her grandmother said now that could either defend Jungkook or embarrass herself. 

“Fine,” Isabella conceded. “Anyway, I probably won’t see him again. Unless he really is stalking me and then I’ll get a restraining order.”

“That’s my girl,” Grandma laughed and kissed her forehead. “Now to bed. We have to do this all again tomorrow.”

“Wait, the kids have to go to school again?”

It made Grandma laugh, and Isabella was glad to see that. Honestly maybe it was all a little hammed up, even talking about Jungkook, because her grandmother was in constant pain at this point, and any little smile she could get from her was a victory. 

“Ok, let me help you up to bed, Grandma. Tomorrow is another day. I’m sure it’ll be better.”

“So, guess who’s back in town?” Youngsoon brought up at dinner. Jungkook groaned and threw his napkin at her before she said anything further, earning a pinch on the arm from his mom. It wasn’t even weekly family dinner night, so Jungkook had thought it would be safe to go to his parents’ place to mooch food, but Youngsoon had also decided to come over with her kids because her husband had a night out with the guys or whatever. 

She’d waited until they were halfway through the meal, once the kids had finished and run off to play noisily in the living room, to bring it up. As if just to lure Jungkook into the false sense of getting away with it. But at his parents’ curious prompt, Youngsoon answered,

“Isabella Desmond. She’s staying with her grandmother.”

“Isabella Desmond! How is she?”

“Why are you looking at me?” Jungkook grumbled, shoving tempura in his mouth. 

“You already knew?”

Jungkook made a face and admitted, “Yeah, I already knew… she’s… struggling, it seems.”

“Struggling how?” his mother pressed. “It must be hard with her grandmother in poor health…”

“Working at Target doesn’t mean she’s struggling,” Youngsoon countered, leveling a look at Jungkook.

“No, I think she’s struggling because-- I don’t know,” he shrugged. On second thought, he didn’t want to get into it. “Just seems like she has a lot on her plate.”

“She’s got two kids,” Youngsoon informed his parents. “Eight and four, she said. I asked her to give me a call for a playdate.”

“Ah, that’s good. It would be good to see her again. She was always such a good friend to Gukka,” his father said. Jungkook sighed and rolled his eyes, earning a swift kick from his mom beneath the table even before his father teased, “Even when Gukka was not a good friend.”

“I was always a great friend. I’m still a great friend. I let her off with warnings twice.”

“Twice? One was for a speeding ticket. What was the other one?” Youngsoon immediately caught because of course she did.

Jungkook gave her a smug grin, “Sorry, can’t disclose, official police business.”

“Well if she calls you, please invite her over to supper,” his mother suggested. “Her and the children and her grandmother. It would be good to see them all again.”

Jungkook clicked his teeth and said, “She’s not going to call you, Soona. And it’s for the best, just let her be. She’s not in a good place right now.”

“Ok.” Youngsoon gave him a serious look. “Then… help her.”

“I did. I gave her warnings twice.”

“That’s not helping, that’s enabling--”

Jungkook sighed, “She’s not my responsibility.”

“It’s not good,” his mother argued. “She was such a good friend to you when we first moved here. It felt like I didn’t even have a son anymore because you were always off in that treehouse playing together. We bought that Nintendo just to lure you both into the house.”

“Ma, we were twelve and also it was a PlayStation, you can’t just call all video game systems Nintendo. And we don’t owe each other anything because we were old Pokemon buddies. She’s not doing me any favors either.”

“What favors do you want her to do?” Youngsoon asked, bright-eyed.

“Ma, Soona’s being dirty.”

“Soona, behave.”

“I’m just--”

“Yes, I know, I know.”

“She’s pretty, mom. You should have seen Gukka’s grin when we saw her in Target--”

“Bull--- hockey,” Jungkook glared. “She’s a menace. You should have heard her talking her way out of the parking ticket. Demanding to see the radar gun…”

Jungkook’s dad grinned, “Well? Did it work?”

“Wha-- it worked because I was being nice and gave her a warning.”

“You didn’t have a radar gun,” his dad nodded.

“She was clearly speeding but… no… I didn’t…”

“Ah, she was always a clever girl,” his mother laughed. “I hope she is ok. Keep an eye out for her, Gukka. You say you don’t owe her anything? We always owe kindness to the people who were kind to us.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he sighed, shaking his head. “I let her off with a warning twice… I don’t know what more you want me to do…”

“Whatever your heart says you should,” his mother beamed at him. Absolutely infuriating. 

Fortunately Soona’s kids ran shrieking into the room, bickering about who broke the TV remote, and Jungkook was saved from further interrogation.

[waywardodysseys]

Caprice - Oneshot

Pairing: Ezra x female reader

Warnings: cussing, SMUT, unprotected sex (wrap it up), oral receiving (m & f), mixed emotions

Requested?: Yes from this ask - Hi! Can you do an Ezra x reader where it’s kinda like the movie where the reader is kind of afraid of Ezra after being stranded on the planet but starts to develop and show feeling for him and NSFW things happen between them? Please and thank you!

Author’s note: pic by @letaliabane 

~   ~   ~

Your legs and back are screaming in pain as you trek your way across the Green. The landing pod you descended in from the station malfunctioned on entry and now you were stranded, alone, on this alien moon.

You were sent down alone to find another group of diggers. You were meeting them at the Queen’s Lair, and with your pod malfunctioning you were miles away from the famed dig site and had to move across this foreign terrain blindly without knowing what awaits you.

The map in one hand is battered and the compass in your other hand isn’t much help. The dial keeps fidgeting every time you stop and check the direction you are heading. You cuss your boss for making you come down here.

“They need extra protection Y/N!” He had hissed at you.

“The group has enough! I was to stay here because I am going on another expedition with another crew!” You had grounded out.

“That crew is going to have to wait. You are the best gunny, and I need you down on the Green with your exceptional weapon skills. Coms have already come through there are independent diggers clamoring for the Queen’s Lair!” He had risen his voice over the course of his little spiel.

You had sighed, fucking wishing you had never agreed to come to the station. You should’ve stayed home – on Earth.

“Goddamn it,” you hiss at yourself now as you check the map and the compass.

Your eyes move between the battered paper and the compass. You blink multiple times hoping the dial stops fidgeting, stops ticking every millisecond trying to find which way is north.

“Fuck my life,” you sigh as you begin walking.

You hear the crack of a branch and stop. You heart pounds inside your chest as you slowly put away the map and your compass. You hear another crack of a branch.

“Still don’t know why you can’t talk?” Drawls a deep voice yards in front of you.

Your eyes land on two figures making their way towards you. You slowly backup and take cover behind a tree with an enormous trunk. You swallow as sweat begins to roll down your back.

“Had to place me with a fuckin’ mute,” the voice drawls as the two make their way past your hiding spot. “Where were you pointing again? ‘Cause I don’t see anything, or anyone.”

Seconds tick by slowly.

“Well,” the voice drawls angrily, “there’s no one here. I don’t know. Maybe they vanished? Been down here too fucking long man! Mind playing tricks on you.”

Silence fills the air.

Your hand moves to your rifle as you feel something against your helmet. You move your rifle at lightning speed, pressing it against a chest.

“Came prepared I see,” the voice drawls out.

“I’m not here to cause any trouble,” you remark as your finger hovers over the trigger.

“What are you here for?” He asks with a grin.

You take in the man pointing his pistol at you. You can make out his brown hair with a single patch of blond hair. He has a full mustache and fuzz covering his cheeks and jawline. Your mind races through the people aboard the station. His face doesn’t look familiar.

“Who are you?” You hiss out.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“I think it does!”

He grins, “part of security? Rifles are given to those with security and military clearance. Which means you’re here to help with protection.”

“It doesn’t matter,” you ground out. “Who are you?”

He shakes his head and laughs, “I’m here to find gems and make bank.”

You sigh heavily, “doesn’t answer my question.”

“And you didn’t answer mine!” He retorts. “Look light is fading, and trust me, a woman alone on this moon is danger. I recommend you follow me and my mute partner to our tent.”

“I can handle myself.” You remark.

“You might be security, or military. I don’t care. There are men who have settled on this moon and when they find you, they will not hesitate to do things to you a sex deprived man like myself wants to do to you.”

You instantly take a disliking to this man even though he’s being honest with his words. You know there are settlers on the moon along with diggers looking for the Queen’s Lair.

“What says you won’t do the same?”

He grins, “I’m not a monster like they are.”

Your eyes are on him as he lowers the pistol.

“Come on, if you want to survive,” he turns and begins walking.

The mute partner glances at you and turns, following the talker.

Your stomach growls as you lower your rifle.

Damn this, you think as you begin following them, damn him.

-------

Two. Goddamn fucking months. You’ve been stranded on the alien moon for two months with Ezra and the now deceased mute companion.

Things went sideways one day when the three of you came across a father and his daughter digging for gems in an area Ezra had claimed as his own.

“It was my area Y/N,” Ezra had seethed at you.

You had rolled your eyes, “this isn’t Earth ya know. This is all free land. The Green isn’t something you can just claim Ezra. They wanted to dig so let them dig.”

“I need to make bank,” Ezra had hissed at you.

You were both grabbing the mute’s pack as his lifeless body laid between the two of you arguing.

“You could’ve gotten her,” Ezra had remarked.

“I was not shooting a fucking teenage girl Ezra! Are you out of your goddamn mind?” You had shouted at him as he stood.

Now you watched as he sat on the cot across from yours. You two had become friends.

Nope, you think, not friends. More like acquaintances.

You two bickered about everything. You had become like an old married couple but without the sex.

You lie down on the bunk thinking about sex. Thinking about a man’s hands on your body, his mouth moving against yours then his mouth moving down your naked flesh, licking your nipples. His mouth would then move down across your stomach then he’d dip his head and lick up your folds.

You moan loudly at this picture inside of your head.

“You okay over there?” Ezra asks in his deep drawl of a voice.

You sigh and turn to your side, making sure your back is to Ezra. “I’m fine.”

You close your eyes and think about a man’s tongue against your clit. Your mind flashes to him between your legs thrusting in and out of you.

Fuck, you think as your body heats up.

In your mind, your eyes move up this man’s body and your eyes land on Ezra’s face. He’s the one giving you pleasure, he’s the one fucking you.

You sit up, turn, and face Ezra.

Ezra notices your movement and glances at you. “What?”

Are you really wanting to know what his mouth against yours will feel like? His mouth against your naked flesh? Against your core and on your clit? Are you wanting to feel his cock inside your slick walls?

He had been so blunt and brazen the first couple of days. You got used to it, you had gotten used to most of the men in your security unit being the same way. You weren’t afraid of them because they were your team, they’d never mistreat you like the man you’re looking at now would. Yet he was the only means of sexual release on this planet. The only means you felt comfortable with anyways.

“What’s going through your mind Y/N?” He asks in his drawl of a voice. It’s airy, seductive.

You squeeze your legs together as your core floods with pleasure from his voice alone.

“Nothing,” you whisper as you lie back down.

Your ears listen as Ezra moves in his bunk. You try to stay awake as he falls asleep. You need release even if it’s from your own hand, and even if you’re picturing Ezra eating you out with his tongue and fucking you endlessly with his cock.

-------

Five months. Your eyes roam over the tick marks in your journal. 150 days on the Green with Ezra.

You need to get off this moon, you need to get back to the station. You need to get back home.

“What are you doing?” Ezra asks as he hands you a bar.

“I’ve been here five fucking months Ezra. I’m ready to go home.”

“Five months?” Ezra laughs. “Means it’s been close to eight for me.”

“Eight months? And you aren’t itching to go back to the station? Back to Earth?”

Ezra shrugs as he bites into his own bar, “like I’ve said, I need to make bank to get back to Earth. You are security you get paid no matter what! Whether you are on the station or down here on the Green. Me? I’m just a lowly digger who gets paid by the gem. I need money to go back home!”

You had told Ezra what your job was – doing security for digs and expeditions to moons. You had told him your boss had sent you down to find your team because of distress coms the station had received. You left out two little details – you had the map to find the Queen’s Lair and you were here to protect the team from people like him.

You wonder why you hadn’t told him about those two details. Were you protecting him? Were you protecting yourself?

You do know if the two of you come across the Queen’s Lair and the team, they’d welcome you, not him. Ezra would cease to exist the moment they saw him. The team would see Ezra, an independent and lowly digger, as a threat. They wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of him in a heartbeat however you’d probably defend him and try to keep him alive.

Your eyes roam over Ezra. Was he becoming a friend? Someone you cared for? Someone who mattered to you?

Your mood towards Ezra was becoming sudden and unaccountable. Were you desiring him when you didn’t want him? Were you willing to trust him with the one intimate thing you could give a man?

The bickering between the two of you still happened on occasion but it wasn’t constant like it was for the first two months you had been stranded on the Green.

Ezra looks over at you, “what?”

“Nothing,” you mumble.

Ezra smirks, “you have your deep-thinking face on Y/N.”

You have been with this man too long.

You sigh and lie back on the cot. “It’s nothing Ezra.”

“I’m the only person here,” Ezra drawls in his deep seductive voice.

The only one within reach, you think. The only one I trust between my legs.

Did you really just think of Ezra as trustworthy?

Your body floods with heat as you imagine his head between your legs and his cock thrusting in and out of you. Those two pictures haunted your dreams and made you cum against your fingers in the middle of the night. Maybe tonight should be the night he makes you cum with his tongue and his cock.

You inwardly moan as you squeeze your legs together.

Fuck, is all your mind screams. Fuck me. Fuck me Ezra.

You want to say those words, need to say those words to him.

“Ezra,” you whisper as you sit up. You hear the lust in your voice.

Ezra looks over at you and raises a brow. “Y/N.”

You hear the seductiveness his voice has as he says your name. You know he wants you too.

“I need help with something,” you whisper, “I need you to come here. Please.”

Ezra raises a brow but gets up.

Your eyes look up at him as he walks over and closes the distance between the two of you. You reach up and cup his cheek. You pull his head down and brush your mouth against his.

Ezra moans against your mouth as you pull him down on top of you. He reaches down with one hand and palms your core. He grins as his fingers teasingly rub your core over the material of your pants and hears you inhale a breath.

Minutes later you pull away and look at Ezra.

Ezra looks down at you and smiles, “I’ll be glad to help you.”

You moan, “Ezra.”

Ezra dips his head down and nuzzles your neck. “Say my name again.”

“Ezra,” you sigh contently as you feel his mouth against your skin.

“Y/N,” Ezra moans back as his hands find their way under your shirt and onto your stomach.

You can’t wait. You need him now.

You sit up in the bed and remove your top. You take his hands and place them on your breasts.

Ezra moans as his hands cup your breasts. He’s wanted you naked since the day he first came across you on the Green.

“Don’t take your time Ezra. I need release,” you lean forward and lick his lips, “I know you need it too. I’ve heard you in the middle of the night.”

Ezra growls as he strips himself of his shirt then claims your mouth again.

“You little devil,” Ezra mumbles as he pushes you back against the cot. His mouth moves ferociously over your skin.

He flicks his tongue over one nipple then the other, moving back and forth between the two. He moves one hand down and snakes it under your pants. His fingers find your folds. He can feel you’re hot and wet. His cock hardens as he pictures himself thrusting in and out of your depths.

You roll your hips as you feel Ezra finger your folds. “Oh, yes.”

Ezra kisses his way down your stomach. When he reaches your pants he scrambles out of the bunk, making quick work by removing your pants and underwear in one swift motion.

“Show me Ezra,” you moan as kneels on the bunk. “I want to see you.”

Ezra stands back up and pushes his pants down.

You moan and lick your lips at seeing his hard cock pop out. “Come here.”

Ezra steps forward as you lean up and reach out. He hisses as your hand wraps around his cock.

“Fuck!” He moans loudly as your tongue swirls around the tip.

You run your tongue up and down his length before you take the tip of his cock into your mouth. You swirl your tongue slowly around the tip as your hand strokes his cock.

“Oh, fuck!” Ezra hisses as his orgasm builds inside of him.

You release his cock from your hand and mouth, “return the favor.”

Ezra moans as he kneels on the bunk between your open legs. He dips his head and licks up your folds.

“Oh, fuck yes Ezra!” You nearly shout as his tongue flicks your clit.

You look down at him as he eats you out. His brown eyes are on yours as you bite your lip and move one of your hands through his hair.

“Mmm—yes,” you hiss as tongue circles your clit faster.

Your orgasm rises inside of you quickly. Your toes curl as your hand pulls tightly on Ezra’s hair.

“Ezra,” you moan loudly as your orgasm hits and rolls through your body.

Ezra keeps his tongue against your clit as he feels your body tremble under his tongue. He inserts two fingers into you. He slowly thrusts them in and out.

“Ezra!” You shriek as your pleasure sensors begin to build another orgasm.

Ezra pulls back from your clit but keeps his fingers inside of you as he kneels between your open legs.

“Fuck me,” you moan as Ezra withdraws his fingers and strokes his cock with your juices.

Ezra places his cock against your folds and thrusts into your pussy in one swift motion.

You arch your back as you feel his cock enter you and your pussy welcoming him. Your hands claw at his chest as Ezra begins thrusting in and out of you fast and rough.

“Fu—yes,” you moan as you roll your hips trying to meet his thrusts.

“Mmm,” Ezra moans lowly as your pussy wraps around his hard cock. He takes in your tightness, wetness, and warmth. Your pussy feels way better than his hand.

Ezra’s orgasm is still rising inside of him. Feeling your pussy around him is driving him quickly to the edge.

“Fuck,” Ezra moans as he thrusts deeply inside of you once, then again.

You pull Ezra down and brush your mouth against his. You look into his eyes and smile. “Cum in me Ezra.”

“You little devil,” Ezra growls as he thrusts into you and explodes inside of you.

You moan as you feel him cum inside of you. You reach down and rub your clit, sending pleasure throughout your body. “There’s something about you Ezra.”

Ezra thrusts into you again, making sure he empties all his seed inside of you.

“I hope it’s a good thing,” Ezra utters before capturing your mouth.

You smile against his mouth, “your voice is seductive. Your cock is magnificent.”

Ezra grins, “and here I thought you didn’t care for me.”

You shrug, “maybe I do. There’s plenty of time to figure it all out.”

Tags: @pascalisthepunkest​, @cosmo-bear​, @kaelyn-lobrutto24​, @knight-of-heart44​, @ezraslittlebirdie​, @jokersdoll​, @caitlincat-95​, @random066​, @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead​, @longitud-de-onda​, @earl-01​, @readsalot73​, @arrowswithwifi​, @stardust-and-starlight​, @x-wingwarriorbbpoe8​, @halefirewarrior​, @bonkybaaarnes​

[lannister-slings-and-arrows]

Which of pedros characters would be the best cook?

Lol ok see this is a tough one because we have evidence of the Man Himself admitting freely on multiple occasions that he is a shit cook and has no idea what to do in a kitchen so my answers are being swayed by outside influences.

Din is terrible. Like to the point that he has honestly never even TRIED. Why should he? He was raised in a tribe where other people cooked for him and then when he was finally sent out to go hunting bounties he could just eat ration bars/packs what have you and get all the nutrients he needed, no muss no fuss. It’s not like he ever had the opportunity to learn or experiment and what fun is that to do for yourself anyways. Of course, now that the little womp rat will be staying with him permanently, he’s going to have to learn pretty fast. Even he knows that babies need a little more than freeze dried protein.

Whiskey is surprisingly competent. You are actually shocked. With his bachelor playboy lifestyle you kind of assumed that when he said dinner at his place he meant “I will buy dinner and we will eat it at my place so we are closer to my bedroom where I will eat you for dessert”. Apparently that is NOT what he meant. You show up and he is actually cooking. Like with stove burners and an oven and everything. He laughs at your surprise and tells you that that surprise on your face is why he knows how. If it’ll impress a lady of course Jack Daniels knows how to do it. He does however have you for dessert. Baking requires a little too much discipline for him. And you’re just sitting there looking so pretty- as if anything else is gonna compare.

Javi is less shit at it but he’s faaaaaar from what anyone would claim was higher than a college dorm room level. He can do pretty much anything with eggs (except poach them. Which is fine with him because if god had intended him to eat runny egg yolks he wouldn’t have him cooking them in the first goddamned place.), and he can put together a mean sandwich. He can grill a burger, most of the time doesn’t incinerate steak, but the one thing he is actually proud of in the kitchen (not that he would ever say so out loud, but you can tell from the way he carefully makes this and then gently sets it in front of you, watching you eat it and waiting quietly and intently for your verdict) is his chili. It IS really good chili. Like probably the best you’ve ever had, and once his shoulders relax and he turns around to hide the pleased smile on his face at your compliment you ask him about it. It was his mom’s recipe. It’s one of the only things of hers he kept after she passed.

Oberyn is an amazing cook. Of course he is, you think to yourself as you watch him at work. Because what can’t this man do? It makes sense you suppose that cooking is something he excels at. He is famed the world over for his potion and poison making, and what are the culinary arts but another form of chemistry? Watching him handle all of the different pots and pans is like watching him train in the yard every morning- it’s a dance to him, he knows exactly where he wants to be and knows exactly how to get there in the most elegant, attractive, and dazzling way possible. You know he is showing off for you and Ellaria as you sit together in the shade, eating the pieces of fruit he hands over occasionally- you’re sure that there was no real reason for him to flambé that dish, but you’re impressed and more than willing to admit that the grin that lights up his face when he sees how impressed is stunning, that you can only bring yourself to roll your eyes and smile back at him. Your meal is excellent, the dessert tart and crisp, and when he takes the two of you back to his rooms both dishes taste excellent on your partners’ lips.

Ezra is worse than Din. He is the shittiest cook in any galaxy, on any planet in any of those galaxies. No one besides Ezra likes those chocolate protein/ration bars. They are disgusting and that might be the source of his complete lack of skill. He has horrible taste. That man has travelled near and far in every manner of ship and circumstance for his entire life and hence learned at a very early age not to be picky where his calories came from. He will eat anything- you think he must not actually be able to taste anymore. So when you asked him once when you were sick to make you some soup, he readily complied and you pretty instantly wished he hadn’t. He laughed at the face you made after one spoonful and didn’t take offense when, despite your greatest of efforts, you couldn’t eat any more of it. He slurped the whole thing down himself and opened a ration pack that wasn’t one of those awful chocolate things.

Max does not cook. Ever. Why should he cook when he has people to do that for him? When he could go to the best restaurants in the city and eat michellin star rated cuisine? He doesn’t make a habit out of taking you out to eat- that’s not really the kind of relationship you have- so when he does you know you’re in for A Night. He wants to make sure you’re well fed and have the energy for him to put you through all the paces he wants. Otherwise why should he be providing meals for basically a sex toy? He calls you into his office, he fucks you, he marks you up, he gives you a slap on the ass, and he sends you on your way. What you do for meals in between those assignations is your business, as long as it doesn’t involve another man.

Catfish is average. He has to cook, he can’t afford to be eating out constantly, especially with that new baby. You know that first time you were living on your own and you kept your meals pretty simple bc you were still feeling your way around not having them provided for you? You knew you wanted real food but were kind of limited to spaghetti and meatloaf and casseroles and maybe some dishes with chicken breast? That’s Frankie. He’s gotten better since he left the military, but he still has quite a long way to go. But he’s determined to keep learning. The kid deserves that much from him at least. And it’s pretty cute the way he sets dinner on the table in front of you, so very proud at what he’s accomplished. You don’t really care that you had pretty much the same thing four nights ago.

[soccialcreature]

rebels s4 first-time watch liveblogging! (just jedi knight on bcuz i only wanna watch the good eps of this show)

sorry. the hair is bad. maybe dont let a blind man give himself a haircut

kanan and hera r the only too bitches i care about in this house

theyre soooo cuuuute ugh

y go to the fuel depot tho that seems like a recipe for disaster

kanan didnt have to b dramatic about it i think they all cudve gotten away if he had just got in the ship. theyve been in tighter situations before

can kanan b a force ghost tho? just to talk to hera. idc about the others. hera seems rly broken up about this

hera: *crying*.  chopper:  bur bur. bur bur bur bur bur.    hera: *sniffles* youre right

ezra and hera reminiscing about kanan is actually really good and really hits :(

the side plot is stupid. y not just use a bomb-bomb and kill that little grey bitch. a fuckin paint bomb? r u serious?let zeb kill him bitch goddamnit zeb deserves a little murder. as a treat

what the fuck is happening

god fucking damnit dave u fucking furry ive had enough of these fucking wolves

i hate how they talk

EZRA SAID “AHSOKA” <33333

leave hera alone she needs like 5 fucking minutes to grieve her baby-daddie’s death goddamn

FUCK YEAHHHHH WE R GOING BACK TO THE JEDI TEMPLE i love the jedi i miss the clone wars :(

im gonna say it. the loth-cats cudve been cuter

ohmygod dave finally made his dream come true of having his characters ride wolves (bcuz he said he wanted ahsoka to ride a wolf at some point. but these guys riding wolves r fine too i guess. ahsoka makes anything cooler tho... jus sayin)

AHSOKA

this is some force-power-bullshit that i can GET BEHIND. TELEPORTING WOLVES HELL YEAH

WHY CUDNT THEY JUST FUCKING KEEP THE STORMTROOPER OUTFITS THAT THEY STOLE THE FIRST TIME WHY. DO THEY HAVE TO DO THIS SAME BULLSHIT EVERY. GODDAMN. EPISODE

they literally have no asses

who the fuck is this crusty bitch

COURUSCANT lets go there. i miss the clone wars :(

wait wheres rex. is he safe? is he alright?

y does sabine have to b here

good job ezra u got it. u cracked the code. ahsoka is the daughter <3

sorry nothing was happening so i blanked out for a bit but now we are in the world between worlds AND I AM HEARING THE VOICES OF ALL OF MY FRIENDS GOD I LOVE U GUYS OBI WAN AHSOKA ANAKIN I LOVE YALL

this scene is very cool tho

ugh stop can i skip the sabine scenes? i wanna hang out w ezra in the world between worlds

AHSOKA AHSOKA AHSOKA AHSOKA AHSOKA AHSOKA AHSOKA

SO FUCKING COOOOOOOL

she shud do the thing again where she falls onto her back and kicks the enemy away i think thatd b rly fun

hellooooo hottie

ahsoka  <3

does she know shes the baddest bitch in the galaxy? i feel like she doesnt know. i feel like sabine thinks SHES the baddest bitch in the galaxy but rly its ahsoka

is it like ahsokas job is to dramatically go “anakin...” 

when did she name the fucking bird

ok god complex ezra

ahsokas been through so much shit in her lifetime. she can literally understand any trauma just name it

cud we not have done one more take to have my guy palps say ahsokas name correctly? i mean its not a huge deal but like. was he payed by the second???

“i will. i promise” ahsoka ur so fucking cute

wh

whered it go

how can the entire temple just skrrt away

REX

KALLUS

AHHH MY FRIENDS

WOLFFE AND GREGGOR

HONDO

okay what the fuck is happening y did everyone just show up

ahsoka said “ima take a nap hmu after the finale”

i hate this fuckin grey dude

hondo ily

sorry i stopped paying attention but wolffe just had a line so im back now

OHMYGOSH

BOYFRIENDS

KALLUZEB IN THE SAME FRAME OHMYGOODNESS

oh my fuck this next episode is HOW MANY MINUTES LONG?????

hera in this ep b like ‘am i gregnant?’

kallus ur the coolest bitch in this whole show (minus ahsoka)

go hera <3

yo what the fuck

this episode is 47 goddamn minutes so that we have time for this pig catapulting bullshit?

the whole second half of this show is just the writers making excuses to have thrawn do absolutely nothing while still pretending like he’s a threat

why r there 2 separate animal dues ex machinas in this finale?

yoooo ezra i actually rly like u bro :(((

hey where the fuck is darth vade y did he just dip out of the show. i feel like he cud help the empire out in this situation

very weird that thrawn supports sabines patreon or whatever the fuck

heyyyy palpatine what the fuck

they were rly broken up about kanans death for like. an episode. but theyre chill now theyre over it

y is palpatine into ezra?

can kallus and zeb smooch? just once? please? wud that b so hard?

how is this pig not dead

oh lmao he is dead hahahahahahah

im still confused about how greggor didnt die in clone wars. i thought he died? was i tripping?

palpatine is trying so hard not to saw “dewit” right now

what does destroying the temple accomplish?

HOW R THEY STORMTROOPERS MISSING THESE SHOTS WHAT THE FUCK HE IS A STATIC TARGET

oh so NOW ull kill the little grey bitch

GOD FUCK THE PIG IS ALIVE????? ARGH U AINT CUTE BITCH. JUST DIE

y cant he get out of there tho

bro a bitch is crying

yooo

theyre dating

hera’s makeup

the way i broke down when i saw ahsoka

tears

[mygalfriday]

like fresh plates and clean slates, our future is white

Third in the blind date au series. 

{ao3}

Crowley has never seen the point of Christmas. Growing up in a children’s home, he had never had much reason to give any thought to the holiday. It was a day mostly like any other, lonely and unremarkable. Maybe the caretaker might don a Santa suit and hand out cheap little trinkets from the pound shop that broke by the end of the day. He’d go to bed empty-handed, the hole in his chest just a little wider with every passing year.

As an adult, not much had changed. He tolerated most every holiday season by drinking too much and looking for someone to warm his bed until the snow melted. The crowded stores made him irritable and there always came a point in the middle of December where he knew with visceral certainty that if he heard “All I Want For Christmas Is You” one more time he’d lose his goddamn mind. He spent most of the month just waiting for it to be over.

Ezra Fell, on the other hand, was made for Christmas. The cold air makes his cheeks rosy and turns the tip of his prim nose pink. Snowflakes catch in his white-blond hair and his eyelashes. The brightness of his smile against a backdrop of twinkle lights and snow-blanketed streets is so dazzling Crowley usually has to look away for fear of going blind. Ezra hums along to Christmas songs in the stores so sweetly that Crowley doesn’t actually mind hearing the same ones over and over again. He’s like an angel amidst the madness — a light in the heavy darkness and a kind smile among a sea of frowning, impatient faces jostling for the best gifts.

For the first time in his life, Crowley is starting to understand the point of all this Christmas nonsense. With a warm hand in his and a pale head on his shoulder it’s never been easier to see the truth of it. Ezra is the point of everything for him now. Always will be.

“What do you think of this? Be honest.”

Crowley blinks, pulled from his embarrassingly sappy thoughts to find Ezra holding up a scarf with a rather unfortunate pattern and smiling hopefully at him. “Umm…”

He grimaces when Ezra’s smile drops. “You hate it.”

“I don’t hate it…” He wavers, squinting. “I just think we can find something better, is all.”

Ezra stares at him, waiting patiently.

Crowley groans. “All right, it’s bloody hideous.”

“Was that so hard?” Ezra places the scarf back on the shelf with a little pout Crowley does his absolute best not to find charming. Brow furrowed, Ezra wrings his hands together and asks, “What am I going to do? The party is next week and I haven’t found a single thing for this blasted Secret Santa nonsense.”

With a sigh, Crowley follows Ezra past a rack of discount jumpers. “What’s the big deal? This girl isn’t your boss, angel.”

“No, but Uriel can be quite intimidating when she wants to be.” Ezra pokes at a hideous jumper with a tartan pattern until Crowley makes a noise conveying ugh, not that either. He huffs, moving to the next rack. “I just want to get her something she’ll like.”

Crowley frowns, shoving his hands into his pockets and wondering not for the first time why Ezra cares so much about what his coworkers think. Crowley himself has never felt the need to be liked by anyone — coworkers or otherwise. Ezra’s deep-seated desire to be liked by absolutely everybody is bewildering to him and none of Crowley’s assurances that he hasn’t encountered a single person who knows Ezra and doesn’t adore him have had any effect. So instead of going through the whole tired argument again, he shrugs and says, “So we’ll get her something good.”

Ezra pauses, casting Crowley one of those shy, sideways glances that never fails to make Crowley’s heart skip a beat. “We? Really?”

“Course.” He shifts uncomfortably, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “S’important to you so… it’s important to me too. Or whatever.”

Ezra beams at him, bright enough to make Crowley feel a little less ridiculous. “You know,” he begins, abandoning another eyesore jumper to step closer to Crowley with twinkling eyes. Crowley catches the scent of his cologne and feels his mouth go dry. “Since we’re on the subject, I’ve wanted to ask you for several weeks now but — well, it never seemed like the right time and I know your feelings about this particular holiday are less than benevolent-”

Crowley quirks an eyebrow. “Out with it, angel.”

“Would you come with me?” Ezra bites his lip, briefly distracting Crowley from the matter at hand. “To the party, I mean.”

Normally, the thought of enduring an office Christmas party — especially someone else’s — would make Crowley balk, scrambling for an excuse to get out of it. But this is Ezra and for the entire six months they’ve been together, there hasn’t been a single thing Crowley has been capable of denying him. He isn’t about to start now.

Besides, he’d never say no to spending more time with Ezra. If it were up to Crowley, they’d spend every waking moment together. He’d drag Ezra into work with him and sit him in the corner of his office with a book so he could look up throughout the day and see him there. He wants to wake up in the same flat together. He wants his black jeans in a drawer alongside Ezra’s pressed trousers; his leather jacket hanging in the closet beside Ezra’s old-fashioned waistcoats. Books on his nightstand and too many sweets in his kitchen. It sounds like everything he could ever want but Crowley, still sure on some level this much happiness can’t possibly last, is still working up the courage to ask for it.

For now, he slips his fingers into Ezra’s coat pockets, tugging him close enough to kiss. He pauses briefly to enjoy the sudden flush of Ezra’s cheeks and his surprised, shy smile before their lips meet in a warm, tender kiss right there in the middle of Harrods. When they part, Crowley noses gently at Ezra’s pink cheek and murmurs, “Love to, angel.”

Ducking his head to the crook of Crowley’s neck with a delighted grin, wide enough that Crowley can feel it even though he can’t see it, Ezra sounds adorably relieved as he breathes out, “Oh. Lovely.”

Yes, Crowley thinks, glaring briefly over Ezra’s shoulder at the old biddy gawking at them. He waits until she turns away with a startled flinch before he bends his head for another kiss. Lovely.

-

It takes Crowley all of thirty seconds after meeting Gabriel the museum director — Ezra’s boss, for all intents and purposes — to decide the man is an arrogant prick who probably bullied his peers throughout his entire childhood and just never bothered to grow up and stop. He greets Ezra with a wide, fake grin that doesn’t come even close to reaching his eyes and doesn’t bother shaking Crowley’s hand when they’re introduced. He only stares, like he can’t quite believe sweet, soft Ezra Fell is hanging off the arm of some lanky, tattooed man swaggering about in leather trousers.

It wouldn’t have bothered Crowley normally. He’s used to the curious glances he and Ezra tend to garner when they’re out together, but there’s something about Gabriel’s Armani suit and cashmere scarf that sets his teeth on edge. The feeling only grows as he lets Ezra tug him further into the room and he sees the place is full of Gabriel lookalikes — beautiful, stuffily dressed people cradling flutes of champagne and eyeing him like gum sticking to the bottom of their Gucci loafers.

Ezra doesn’t seem to notice the stares or the whispers, smiling brightly at everyone and waving occasionally as they make their way to the drinks table. He keeps his hand tucked snugly into Crowley’s and the warmth of him against Crowley’s side is comforting enough to help him unclench just a little. Ezra passes him a drink and as their fingers brush, Crowley winks at him.

“Flirt,” Ezra mutters fondly, sipping his champagne.

Crowley scoffs. “Says the man who can’t go five minutes without batting his eyes at me.” He arches a brow and assures under his breath, “Not that I’m complaining. Just keep those eyes on me, angel.”

Six months in, Ezra still blushes so beautifully. He sways into Crowley like he can’t help himself and their fingers brush again as he promises, “Only for you.” He lowers his voice, blue eyes twinkling with mischief when he adds, “My eyes and everything else.”

Crowley swallows, wondering how soon is too soon to drag Ezra out of the party and find a broom cupboard to ravish him in. “Ngk. I-”

“Ezra?”

Ezra startles, the warmth of him so near Crowley disappearing as he takes a step back and pastes on a polite smile for the tall, slender brunette approaching them. “Michael,” Ezra greets, and mutters curator under his breath for Crowley’s benefit. “Don’t you look lovely, my dear. Happy Christmas.”

Michael leans in to kiss his cheek and while she seems a bit stiff, Crowley can tell she’s making an effort so he doesn’t hold it against her. “Happy Christmas, Ezra.” She glances questioningly at Crowley and asks, “Is this him then?”

“Oh, yes. Do forgive me.” Ezra beams, threading his arm through Crowley’s. “This is my Anthony.”

Everything goes a bit fuzzy around the edges the moment Crowley hears Ezra refer to him as my Anthony and he doesn’t hear a single thing Michael says in reply. He can barely make his tongue work long enough to utter a simple greeting and decides to go with a reliably basic, “Hey.”

Michael arches an eyebrow, lips quirked in amusement as she confides, “I’ve heard a lot about you these past few months. I dare say our Ezra smitten with you.”

Ezra chokes on a sip of champagne, darting a weak glare at Michael.

Crowley grins, intrigued at once. “Oh?”

With a hum of assent, Michael eyes him over the rim of her glass and admits, “You’re not quite what I pictured.”

“Too tall?”

“Too… worldly, I suppose.” Michael leans in conspiratorially and confides, “Ezra’s usual type is the professorial sort. Tweed coats and elbow patches. Greying around the temples. Boring tales of guided African safaris.”

Crowley grimaces. “Mm. Disappointed?”

“Not at all.” She smirks. “This is more fun.”

“Oh honestly.” Ezra huffs, staring into his champagne like if he just concentrates hard enough, the floor will open up and swallow him. “Aren’t there more interesting things to discuss than this sort of salacious-”

“Salacious?” Crowley leers, thoroughly enjoying himself. “My, my, angel. What have you been telling people about me?”

Michael sighs, apparently pleased, and declares, “Yes. Much more fun.”

Just about to pry a little more into the details of Ezra’s “usual type”, Crowley scowls when Gabriel appears out of nowhere and hovers at Michael’s elbow. Dropping a firm hand to her shoulder, he says with another of those eerily vacant smiles, “How’re we doing? Having fun yet?”

Michael’s easy smile falters and Ezra goes stiff beside Crowley, leaving him with no choice but to vow hatred of Gabriel the museum director forever. Before either of them can recover from the sudden appearance of their boss, Crowley eyes him with barely concealed disdain and says dryly, “Oh, just tickety-boo.”

Gabriel points a finger at him and Crowley twitches, suddenly itching for a fag. “Ha. Someone’s been spending a little too much time with their new beau.” With a nudge to Michael’s ribs, he asks, “What do you think? Is he good enough for our Ezra?”

Still looking like she’d enjoy nothing more than shoving Gabriel out of her personal space, Michael sips at her champagne and pastes on a polite smile. Her eyes meet Crowley’s as she says, “He’ll do, I think.”

Gabriel’s smile remains frozen on his face and Crowley wonders if he might be some sort of automaton. There is absolutely no feeling in those eyes whatsoever and it’s starting to give him the creeps. “Good, good.” He steps back from Michael with one final tap to her shoulder. “I hate to break up the fun but I need you for a sec.”

Michael nods, setting aside her drink and smiling faintly at Ezra’s commiserating glance. “It was lovely to meet you, Anthony. Perhaps we’ll talk later.”

At Crowley’s nod, Gabriel grasps Ezra by the elbow and suggests, “You two should visit the dessert table over there. But don’t go too crazy.” He lands a light, playful punch to Ezra’s stomach and laughs. “You’re starting to go a little soft around the middle there.”

Ezra somehow manages to smile and grimace at once.

Too busy gaping at the exchange in shock, Crowley doesn’t gather a resounding fuck you on his tongue until Gabriel has disappeared through the crowd with Michael. “Did he just-” He turns to look at Ezra, too stunned to trust his ears. Avoiding his gaze, Ezra wring his hands in embarrassment and Crowley realizes that yeah, he’d definitely heard correctly. “Ezra, what the fuck-”

“Shh.” Ezra swats at him gently, with a warning glance to lower his voice. Crowley scowls. “It’s nothing, darling. He’s always like that. Nothing to fuss about.”

Crowley opens his mouth to argue that yes it very much is something to fuss about but Ezra sways into him again and his smile is soft and hopeful. He struggles to cling to his indignation on Ezra’s behalf. “Angel, he can’t just-”

“Let’s not let him ruin the evening.” Ezra’s fingers brush his and he inclines his head in the direction of the dance floor. “Shall we?”

There’s an underlying request for Crowley to please drop the matter and though he definitely plans on bringing it up again, he allows himself to be distracted long enough to escort Ezra onto the dance floor. He draws Ezra into his arms and they sway together, Crowley occasionally offering guidance murmured low in his ear. Ezra has come a long way since that first dance at the Serpent but he still forgets himself every now and then, trying to lead instead of follow or looking down at his shoes instead of into Crowley’s eyes.

He doesn’t mind playing teacher — any reason to stay pressed close enough to whisper instruction and watch Ezra lick his lips. He does so like to be told what to do. And Crowley has always been rather bossy. They fit beautifully.

Despite their closeness and the soft music playing, anger still simmers under his skin, ready to boil over. How dare he. How dare anyone talk to Ezra like that. Perfect, kind, lovely Ezra. He knew that Gabriel was a wanker right from the start. He fucking knew it. No one who smiles like that while wearing Armani can possibly be trusted.

Silently fuming, he spends half of their first dance conjuring fantasies of cornering Gabriel in a dark alley and making him regret ever opening his stupid smug mouth. And then Ezra rests his head on Crowley’s bony shoulder and all other thoughts but him go spinning away, scattering like snowflakes.

There was a time, not so long ago, when Crowley thought intimacy like this was far beyond him. He refuses to waste a single moment of it thinking about that utter twat. With Ezra in his arms and the smell of his cologne tickling Crowley’s nose, there are far more important things to dwell on.

“So,” he drawls, forcing himself into the present. A smirk curls his mouth. “Been discussing me at work, have you?”

Even without looking, he can sense Ezra’s pink cheeks. “Oh, do shut up,” he says, and there’s laughter in his voice. “You’re hardly innocent of that yourself. Don’t think I don’t remember all those pointed comments about the man who tamed Anthony Crowley.”

Crowley makes a noise of agreement in the back of his throat. “Well, yeah. Not sure if you’ve noticed but I am a bit of a hopeless sap about you, angel.” He shrugs and glances down, silently enjoying Ezra’s ruffled expression. “I’m pathetic, really. Hardly counts. You, on the other hand-”

A soft hand cups his cheek, stalling the rest of Crowley’s words on his tongue. Difficult to concentrate anyway with all that warmth and softness directed at him. Ezra sighs quietly and says with a smile, “Just as hopeless and pathetic, I’m afraid.”

“Right.”

Crowley clears his throat, cursing inwardly when he feels his own cheeks grow warm. Ezra has never been shy about voicing his adoration but Crowley has gotten no better at receiving it, always stuttering through some garbled response and trying not to let Ezra see him blush. He takes a moment to process the twinkle lights and Ezra’s soft smile and Judy Garland singing her heart out over the speakers. It’s all too much and he still doesn’t quite feel that he deserves any of it but he’ll be damned if that stops him from grasping it with both hands anyway.

“Well,” he finally manages to croak out. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

Things are better after that.

They dance a bit more and Crowley actually manages to coax Ezra underneath the mistletoe long enough to steal a kiss right in front of everyone. Someone whistles and Crowley laughs, relishing Ezra’s embarrassed smile as he hides his face in the crook of Crowley’s neck.

Eventually they do investigate the dessert table, with Crowley making certain Ezra has a generous helping of cake because seriously, fuck Gabriel. They linger over new glasses of champagne and Ezra leans into Crowley’s side, whispering office gossip and pointing out some of his other coworkers.

“That’s Sandalphon.” Ezra surreptitiously points out a portly, balding fellow trailing after Gabriel like a puppy. “He’s a docent but Gabriel favors him so I dare say he’ll outrank me in another year or so.”

Watching Ezra wrinkle his nose and furrow his brow as he observes Sandalphon pant after Gabriel, Crowley grins. “You hate him, don’t you?”

Ezra blinks, lips parting in shock as he turns to stare at Crowley. “I do not.” He straightens his bowtie and sniffs. “I don’t hate anybody, thank you very much.”

“Mm.” Crowley nods, keeping his mouth shut, and arches an eyebrow. “Right. Course.”

“Although…” Ezra hesitates, glancing at Crowley out of the corner of his eye. He purses his lips, prim as anything, and Christ does Crowley love him — the prissy little hypocrite. “I do have trouble understanding exactly the sort of underlying genius Gabriel seems to see in him.”

Still grinning, Crowley curls a hand around the back of Ezra’s neck and leans in to press a lingering, adoring kiss to his temple. Nosing at his blond curls, he murmurs giddily, “You hate him.”

Ezra sighs. And to Crowley’s delight, doesn’t bother denying it again.

Near the end of the night, Gabriel announces the start of the Secret Santa gift exchange and everyone gathers around the Christmas tree in the corner of the room to watch one another open presents. Crowley hovers just behind Ezra, watching the proceedings with increasing boredom. He glances at his watch, beginning to count down the seconds until he can drag Ezra back to his flat and into bed.

Uriel, Ezra’s Secret Santa recipient, loves the expensive leather gloves Crowley had talked Ezra into buying. Ezra tosses a grateful glance over his shoulder at Crowley when she thanks him, stroking the supple leather with her fingertips, and Crowley winks at him.

And then it’s Ezra’s turn to open his gift — an envelope from Gabriel.

The moment Gabriel hands it over with that same caricature of a smile, Crowley tightens his grip around his champagne flute and takes a step toward Ezra. Something primal and protective unfurls in his gut as Ezra slips his thumb beneath the flap and gently pries open the envelope to slide out the card inside. Crowley holds his breath, peering over Ezra’s shoulder.

The card seems harmless enough, displaying a glitter-covered snowman on the front. The inside is blank save for Gabriel’s signature. A gift card slips out into Ezra’s palm and before Crowley can even make out what it’s for, he hears the soft hitch in Ezra’s breathing and goes still.

“A gym membership,” Gabriel announces to everyone with a triumphant laugh. He glances around at his employees, clearly looking for some fellow co-conspirators, but the only one to laugh is that worm Sandalphon. “Got to stay in shape for that new man of yours, right Ezra?”

Ezra laughs weakly and mutters, “Yes, I suppose I do.” Ezra who had tried so hard to find the right gift for Uriel only to be handed this abomination in return. Ezra, who is the kindest, sweetest human being Crowley has ever known and who doesn’t deserve a single mean-spirited word spoken to him, let alone this thoughtless excuse for a gift.

No one else says a word, all of them staring at the floor or into their drinks or even at each other in clear discomfort. But no one says a word. And Crowley has a feeling it’s always like this — Gabriel being a shit to Ezra and absolutely no one speaking up for the sweet-natured man too polite to say anything on his own behalf.

Well, fuck them.

Crowley is here now, with no intention of going anywhere. And it just so happens, he’s been itching to tell this prick off all night. Fuming, he plucks the membership card from Ezra’s numb grasp before stepping in front of him like a shield. With a snap of his fingers, he flicks the card violently right into Gabriel’s face. He recoils as it flutters to the floor at his feet, blinking at Crowley like a startled bird.

And Crowley smiles, sharp enough to cut. “You know what I think, Gabe?” His expression flickers and oh, he doesn’t like that nickname. Good to know. “I think you look at Ezra and see someone infinitely more likable than you. Someone kind and intelligent and with better hair. Someone who could easily take your place if he wasn’t content exactly where he is. And that just scares the shit out of you, doesn’t it?”

Gabriel stiffens, his eyes narrowing as Crowley saunters forward and crowds right into his space. Crowley curls his hands into fists, telling himself no matter how many scuffles in pubs and nightclubs he has emerged from bloody but victorious, his wiry limbs and sheer determination are no match for Gabriel’s solidity. He still really wants to punch him anyway.  

“And then on top of being threatened by him professionally,” Crowley goes on, fighting to keep his voice just this side of nonchalant rather than hissing through his teeth like he wants to. “Ezra starts talking about someone new in his life. Someone who thinks he’s perfect just as he is. And since there isn’t a gym where you can go and work on your shitty personality, you’re probably stuck being an unloveable fuckwit forever.” Crowley tilts his head and sticks out his lower lip, affecting a little pout. “Course that’s probably why you felt like lashing out, yeah?”

Considerably paler and no longer smiling that stupid smug grin, Gabriel avoids the fascinated gazes of his employees and glares at Crowley. “Listen” he begins, clearing his throat. “It was just a joke-”

“Well it wasn’t funny, Gabe.” Crowley sniffs, watching in satisfaction as Gabriel deflates like a balloon. “And just a piece of advice. The next time you think about taking out your own deficiencies on Ezra or sharing your shitty sense of humor at his expense?” He leans in, finally allowing his words to hiss through his teeth. “Fucking don’t.”

Gabriel breathes in sharply, nostrils flaring.

Under Crowley’s narrow gaze, he nods stiffly. Crowley flashes him a grin, clapping him on the shoulder and relishing Gabriel’s flinch. “Brilliant. Thanks.”

Gabriel shuffles away with his tail between his legs and the crowd around them begins to disperse, murmuring excitedly to one another about the whole spectacle. Crowley, realizing Ezra has been rather quiet, turns to check on him. Maybe he’d like to ditch the rest of this disaster of a party and hit that pub over on Oxford Street before they head back to Crowley’s flat. Except the space where he’d been is empty now and one quick glance around reveals Ezra isn’t actually in the room anymore. And Crowley has no idea when he’d managed to slip out.

“Shit,” he mutters, and stalks off after him.

At this time in the late evening, the museum has been shut down to the public for hours and consequently, Crowley wanders aimlessly through darkened corridors calling for Ezra and hearing only his footsteps echo around him. He passes through a room of old Greek vases, another of Egyptian sculptures, and what seems to be an entire area dedicated to Alexander the Great before he finally stumbles across the only room Ezra could possibly be in — the Enlightenment Gallery.

The long, vast space doesn’t even look like it belongs in the museum. City lights slant in from the windows of the balcony overhead and the whole room looks like it must have been lifted from some posh git’s 18th century mansion, filled as it is with bookshelves stuffed with aging manuscripts and brittle tomes. Statues dot the space, along with marble busts on pedestals and glass cases filled with curiosities. When Crowley finally spots Ezra sitting at a gleaming mahogany bench in the middle of it all, dressed in his usual old-fashioned clothes, he can’t help but think he looks perfectly at home here.

The ancient wooden floor creaks beneath Crowley’s boots as he moves closer but Ezra doesn’t glance up from his careful study of a massive stone monstrosity just ahead of him. The plaque beside it reads Piranesi Vase. Crowley sniffs at it and drops down beside Ezra, legs stretched out in front of him and hands curled over the edges of the bench to brace himself. What he wants more than anything is to sit close enough to drape an arm around Ezra’s shoulders and tug him close, to bury his nose in pale hair and whisper just how perfect he is. In the time Crowley has been with Ezra, he’s gotten a bit better about saying how he feels but he can’t be sure such affection would be welcome just now so he keeps to himself and glances cautiously at him.

“All right?”

Ezra hums, glancing away from the vase to meet Crowley’s uncertain gaze. “Oh yes, just dandy.” He lifts one shoulder in an elegant but uncharacteristic shrug. “Gabriel has always been…”

“A complete tosser?”

A weak, grateful smile curls his mouth. “Yes. That.”

And the words won’t be contained another second, spilling past Crowley’s lips in a breathless rush. “You’re perfect, you know.”

“You’re sweet, Anthony.” Ezra reaches across the space between them to pat his knee fondly when Crowley grimaces. “You are, hush. But we both know I’m hardly your type.”

Crowley bristles. “Well according to Michael I’m not yours either. But I don’t think either of us were particularly happy with our type, were we?”

“Well…no.” Ezra concedes, folding his hands in his lap. “No, I suppose not.”

Having been fairly confident but still relieved to have it confirmed, Crowley leans in close enough to bump his shoulder gently against Ezra’s and is further delighted when Ezra leans in too — just enough to make sure they keep touching. He ducks his head to hide a grin, studying his fingers curled tightly around the edge of the bench.

“You’re clever though. And kind — kinder than you should be, really. And you make me laugh.” He blows out a soft breath, lifting his head again to stare fixedly at the stupid bloody vase as he pours his heart out and hears it echo in this great empty room. “I hate tartan but on you it looks downright sodding edible. You’re a snob about so many things — music and wine and books, for a start — and I don’t know why but I find that really hot.”

Ezra makes a faint noise, half amusement and half protest.

Crowley ignores him, determined to finish now that he’s gotten started. “You actually look like an angel, I swear you do. Your hair and those cheeks and your eyes. You smile and it’s like a new sun.” He swallows, licking his lips. “I like how soft you are when we curl up in bed together. I like how broad your shoulders are and I like draping my arms them when we dance. I like how deceptively strong you are.” He smirks suddenly. “And I really like it when you use that against me in bed.”

Ezra makes another strangled noise. “Anthony-”

“I mean it, Ezra.” Crowley finally forces his gaze away from the towering vase to look at him and finds Ezra staring at him with flushed cheeks and glittering eyes. “I wouldn’t change one single thing about you and anyone who would can fuck right off.”

Wordlessly, Ezra reaches out and gently pries Crowley’s hand away from the bench. He twines their fingers together and squeezes, his lashes fluttering as he blinks back the tears in his eyes. His mouth opens and closes more than once before he finally settles on a quiet, overwhelmed, “Thank you, darling.”

Crowley lifts their joined hands to his lips, mouth brushing his knuckles. “My pleasure.”

“Not only for all those lovely things you just said.” Ezra inclines his head behind him, silently indicating the scene Crowley had made right in the middle of the party. Crowley might have been embarrassed if Ezra wasn’t looking at him with clear admiration in his gaze. As it is, he’s starting to feel a bit hot under the collar. “You were rather magnificent back there. No one has ever stood up to Gabriel like that before. Least of all for me.” Ezra smiles, looking at once scandalized and adorably giddy. “My knight in shining armor.”

It takes a considerable amount of Crowley’s willpower to ignore what the thought of being Ezra’s knight does to him. Plenty of time to revisit that later. “So you’re not…embarrassed by me?”

Ezra stares at him. “Why on earth would I be — Anthony, what are you talking of?”

He sighs. “Surely you’ve noticed I don’t exactly fit in here. I’ve been ignoring stares all night. Feels like I’m at a zoo, not a museum.”

With a hum of understanding, Ezra squeezes his hand again. His thumb caresses Crowley’s knuckles soothingly. “That’s rather how I felt when you took me to your club,” he confesses with a wry smile. “We don’t look much like a couple, do we, my dear?”

“Maybe not.” Crowley shrugs, clenching his jaw. “But I don’t care what anyone else thinks. So long as you don’t either, I mean.”

Ezra scoffs. “Of course not.”

“You sure?” Crowley hates himself for pressing the issue, for not grabbing the reassurance with both hands and clinging to it. But he needs Ezra to be certain. Because if he falls any further into this and Ezra changes his mind… Crowley isn’t sure he could ever recover. “Because I’m not… I’ll never be-”

Ezra turns to face him, sacrificing his perfect posture to look at Crowley properly. He does not release Crowley’s hand. “I wouldn’t change a thing about you either. You are —“ He purses his lips, glancing away briefly to gather himself before he risks meeting Crowley’s open, hungry gaze again. “Crowley, you’ve become…essential to me. You’re my best friend. My lover. My…family.” He smiles when Crowley falters, fingers going lax in Ezra’s grip from the shock. “Mine, in every way that matters. I feel as though I belong with you. I have since the day we met.”

“You do, angel,” Crowley says hoarsely, and slips his hand from Ezra’s to press his palm to a soft cheek. “You do belong with me. Always.”

Ezra leans into his palm and then into Crowley’s eager kiss. His arms wind around Crowley’s neck and his lush mouth is open and hot, lips parted readily for Crowley’s impatient tongue. They trade heated, greedy kisses right there in the middle of all of history — dusty books and centuries old statues bearing witness to the greatest love Crowley has ever known. And it just tumbles out, between one trembling kiss and the next.

“Move in with me.”

Ezra freezes, pulling back just enough to stare at him with wide blue eyes. “What?”

Crowley swallows, darting a glance away and licking his lips. “I want you to live with me.” He huffs out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “No, that’s not it. I want to drag myself home from the Serpent at two am and find you asleep in our bed. I want you to kiss me on your way out the door in the morning. I want your stupid chipped tea mugs next to my crystal wine glasses in the kitchen cabinet. I want your books all over my living room and your stuffy old Oxfords lined up beside my boots in the closet.” He takes a deep breath, turning pleading eyes to Ezra’s stunned face. “You said yourself you belong with me, angel. So just…stay with me.”

For a moment, Ezra simply stares at him blankly and Crowley steels himself to be summarily rejected. He’s already planning to spend his evening drunk and alone in his flat when Ezra throws his arms around his neck and nearly sends Crowley tumbling arse over head off the bench. Warm lips press against his and Ezra beams into an exuberant kiss as he breathes, “Yes, darling. To all that and more.”

And Crowley laughs.

“What, really?”

Ezra nods, still grinning widely. And for no good reason Crowley can think of, considering they were about to have another extraordinarily thorough snog right there on the bench, Ezra climbs to his feet and holds out a hand to him. Crowley shrugs and takes it. Ezra leans into his side and his smile is bright enough to light their way as they stroll toward the exit pressed snugly together.

Feeling light-headed and more than half sure he’s dreaming, Crowley asks dazedly, “Back to the party then?”

“Oh no.” Ezra shakes his head, his warm hand finding the small of Crowley’s back. “I want to go home and pack.”

Unable to bite back the grin taking over his whole face despite how ridiculous it feels, Crowley throws back his head and laughs. It rings out, echoing in the empty corridor as he drags Ezra in and kisses him again. Exhilarated and bruising and with a little too much teeth. “Christ,” he breathes, scattering kisses over rosy cheeks and down a posh nose just to hear Ezra giggle like a schoolboy. “I love you.”

For a moment, Crowley almost panics. He’d never intended to say it like that — he’d wanted it to be a moment. He’d wanted to say it over flowers and champagne and those hopelessly fancy little strawberry tarts Ezra likes. He looks up, eyes wide, and finds Ezra gazing tenderly up at him like he’d already known. “I love you too,” he whispers, and it soothes some empty place inside Crowley he hadn’t even realized was there. It heals over like it never existed at all. Crowley has never felt so full. “Happy Christmas, Anthony.”

With a blinding smile, Crowley slings an arm around Ezra’s shoulders and steers him toward the door — toward a cab, his flat, their future. “Happy Christmas, angel.”

[beautcous]

Thread 06 - (Ringing In The New Year)

While he normally preferred to spend New Years Eve in the comfort of his own home, tonight was too important for Ezra to miss. He was taking Sydney to the Stonehill Beach soiree, and to his utter surprise, she’d agreed to go with him without much of a fuss. Ever since the day that he spent at her home, they seemed to be making strides forward. There was still a little resistance on her end, but with time, he was more than positive that he would be able to change her tune. But that was a problem for another day, for now, he was focusing on tonight. He’d brought along a bouquet of roses with him and while he waited for her to open the door, he breathed in deeply in an effort to calm his rapid heart rate. His eyes went wide once she was in front of him, his jaw growing a little slack. It took a few ticks before he was able to address her, but not before he blinked his eyes a few times. “You look great, Syd.” Before Ezra could get swept away again, he presented her with the bouquet. “These are for you. Whenever you’re ready to go we can leave…”

Sydney had done it again, broken every rule she had set forth for herself in her interactions with Ezra. Going so far as to sleeping with him yet again, and not once but three times and try as hard she could, she still couldn’t resist him. It was so goddamn frightening how easily he was able to gain the upper hand by simply putting his hands on her. But still, that day she had spent with Ezra had been quite possibly had been one of her best ones. It was in a moment of weakness that she had agreed to do the New Years with him but more so because she couldn’t bring herself to say no when she still wanted to go with him. When Sydney saw his car pull up, she was ready to go, opening her door to find a rather dashing-looking Ezra with a bouquet in hand. She felt herself go warm all-over at the way his gaze lingered on her then came his compliment and in turn, she smiled at him taking the bouquet. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” She teased before nodding, “These are so gorgeous…” she murmured inhaling the flowers before disappearing inside to place them on her table and appearing again, “I am now, thank you for the flowers.” She met his gaze a bit shyly before walking towards him to his car.

Ezra knew that his soulmate was beautiful, had known it even before he came to know the woman behind that Twitter photo. But this was beyond what he could ever imagine. Donned in a long navy blue dress, she was a vision. For a moment, all he could do was stare, like one of those star struck teenagers who were constantly approaching him. It was a wonder he didn’t end up drooling as his hues took in every inch of her lithe frame. He finally snapped out of his stupor when she spoke to him, the right corner of his lip lifting to form a smirk. “I look normal compared to you. You’re just spectacular.” And he really meant that. He didn’t get tongue tied very often and for Sydney to be able to pull it off effortlessly was a huge feat. “I’m glad you liked them.” He waited for her to put the roses away before taking her hand in his and lacing their fingers together; as if it was the more natural thing for him to do. “There’s no need to thank me.” They fell into step easily, their strides unhurried as they walked towards his car. “I hope you can dance in that dress because I plan on dancing the night away with you.” That and stealing a kiss at midnight, but that was a given. What else would he be doing on the first minutes of the New Year?

Sydney admired his lean yet muscular built, in that form-fitting tuxedo, and dare she say she almost had half a mind to pull him inside so no one else would see him looking as he did tonight. Where that possessive thought came from, Sydney had no clue but she quickly pushed it away simply at how ridiculous she was being. It had to be a result of his own staring, she hadn’t missed the way his gaze lingered on her that she felt warm all over as a shiver went down her spine. Her smile growing a bit at the word he used to describe her, but even after receiving so many from it she was still not used them mostly because she had no clue what to do with them. “You look handsome, dashing.” She told him firmly and then she let him take her hand, surprised when she felt him link them and for once Sydney didn’t pull away. Long making up her mind that she’d enjoy his company yet again tonight. At his remark, she looked over at him curiously she’d heard him but the words made her nervous for some odd reason. “What if I told you I’m not much of a dancer?” Raising a brow at him, she knew how of course but it wasn’t something she did often. “The dress is comfortable, the heels not so much, you might have to re-think that plan.” Sydney deadpanned just as they arrived at his car, she climbed inside and then waited for him to come around. Once he was inside, the brunette turned to him, “Actor, chef, and a dancer too? What other talents does the Ezra Meyer posses huh?”

“Then I guess, I’m lucky to have you by my side. Dashing and spectacular, makes for a perfect pair, don’t you think?” Ezra said in returned, teasing Sydney with a smile that he knew would be able to melt anyone’s heart. He had to force his mind from veering to the erotic, so he mentally slapped himself a few time. Try as he might, every time he would see her long legs peek out of her navy blue dress, his heart would pound behind his chest and his mouth would water. Who could blame him however? He was a red blooded man who’d already gotten a taste of his soulmate and despite it not being her attention, he could still remember what it felt like to have her legs wrapped around his waist as he took her. Whether it be gentle or hard and fast, the memory was still fresh and whenever he peered at her legs, he was tempted to drag her back into her home and have his way with her again. But nope, not tonight. He was intent on showing her good time. “If you can’t dance, I’ll just show you.” He retorted without any hesitation. “You don’t have to wear your heels to dance with me. We’ll only dance to the slow songs.” Plus, he took up a few classes in ballroom dancing for a role, and had gotten really good at it. He would be able to lead without much trouble. “I’m a man of many talents, but for you to learn all of my secrets, you’ll just have to spend more time with me.” As if luck was on his side, they arrived by his Porsche. He went to open the passenger door, but as he reached for the latch, he had a change of mind and instead, barricade her body with his own, gently pressing her lithe frame against the door. Leaning forward, he spoke to her in a tone that was filled with desire as his gaze flickered between her eyes and plump lips. “I forgot to do this…” his words trailed off as his mouth found hers in a gentle yet passionate kiss.

“As I said before, you have a slick response to everything.” Sydney quipped with a grin now lingering at her lips and try as she did to not react to his gazes. The entirety of their walk to his car, she felt his eyes on her and Sydney honestly counted lucky her stars that she managed to keep her embarrassment off her face. But she couldn’t deny she liked the effect she had on the man. Not that she had went out of her way to entice him but as she had readied herself, Ezra’s face appeared in her mind for some odd reason. But as him, Sydney wasn’t immune to him either and how she managed to keep herself composed she had no idea. At his reassurance of showing her how to dance, she chuckled a bit, “You promise you won’t be angry if I ended stepping on you over and over?” Sydney wasn’t a klutz by any means but she didn’t trust herself to move with him without inflicting some sort of bodily damage. It was his words of spending time him that had her look over at him, “Is that right?” Why did his words thrill her yet again? They shouldn’t have and nor should the prospect of spending more time with him should be something she wanted still. Hadn’t she selfishly spend already spent more time with then she allowed herself to? Sydney didn’t get a chance to think on it when she found herself pinned between the door and his taller frame, her pulse picked and so did her heart as his face dry closer, the look of desire in his eyes sending her own flying as her breath caught in her throat. Yet again, Sydney didn’t stop him and instead let their lips mold together, it was gentle but she felt the passion Ezra poured into to it that had her suddenly wished they were going and instead let him do this to her some more. Eventually, Sydney broke the kiss mostly due to lack of air and soon they were on their way. The car ride had been pleasant enough and soon they had arrived at their destination. Sydney climbed out first but before she could make a move to walk, she felt Ezra link their hands together once more and once more had her heart founding at the gesture.

“I wouldn’t call it slick. I suppose I’m just talented that way.” Ezra was obviously pulling her legs, he actually had no idea why he could easily flirt with Sydney. Maybe it had a lot to do with how he felt about her. There was always this magnetism between them–whether she wanted to acknowledge it or not. He felt it, and was more than certain that she did too. Although in her case, she was trying to fight it. He could tell that she was starting to lose her willfulness, so perhaps the way to placate her was simply to be there. In a way, he was a little worried about giving her space, because if he did that, she might take that opportunity and run with it. On the other hand, if he gave her enough freedom, and yet, was still a constant presence in her life, she wouldn’t have such negative thoughts, and that in his book was win. “I promise that I won’t be mad if you step on my toes. I never took you for a klutz to begin with.” The Sydney that he knew was graceful and beautiful, but even if she was a klutz, he would view her in the same light, and would love her the same.

“Come on, don’t tell me that you’re not a little excited to unearth all of my secrets. After all, you did say you had a crush on me.” Someday very soon, he was going to turn that crush into something more; something that had his heart beating faster as he thought about that one word, love. Yes, she was going to love him someday, the way that he loved her. He wouldn’t accept any other conclusion. They were meant to be together, to fall in love and have a great future together. For now, he just had to bide his time. It wasn’t so bad when she was kissing him, just like she was doing right now. Their lips and tongues moving together in a slow and passionate dance. He could stay here, kissing her for the rest of the night, but the lack of oxygen forced him to pull apart, and before he could allow himself to get carried away again, they were on their way to Stonehill Beach. The drive there was filled with easy conversation, and before he knew it, they had arrived. He took her hand then, fingers intertwining with hers as they made their way to the tents where the party was being held. Once there, one by one, strangers approached him asking for photos. He had to let go of Sydney’s hand then, and excused himself. For the next ten minutes his attention was focused away from her and he felt guilty for having to leave her alone. “I’m sorry about that.” He apologized after the last of his fan was gone. “Would you like to dance now?” He offered up his right hand then, a wide smile ever present on his face.

Sydney playfully rolled her eyes at his comeback but really by now she didn’t expect anything less and found herself grinning at his words. Oh, the man was talented, in many ways and she had a feeling she was only seeing part of his talents. That train of thought caused her cheeks to heat up for a moment when she realized where she had experienced most of his talents. Quickly pushing the thoughts away as quickly as they came when Ezra reassured her, he wouldn’t be put off if she happened to step on him during their dance. Once more, she wasn’t surprised, Ezra kind as always still did his best to make her feel at ease, but really he had no idea how easily he did that. His bright smile was enough to ease her worries away, god, each time he smiled at and he gazed as he was now nothing in her world seem so out of place. “Hold that thought until you’ve danced with me.” She told with a short chuckle before she heard his next remark, but she gave him an innocent smile, “I do want to know about you, but I think you might be stretching it by saying “all”, what I want to know, I’ll know. Oh and Ezra, I wouldn’t use the word crush.” She was just pulling his leg, and once more the two fell into a conversation during the car ride. Sydney continued her train of thought form the day she had spent with him and fired more questions in his direction to which he easily answered. Sydney wasn’t going to lie and say she didn’t like how he took her hand when they arrived, still keeping her by his side until the hoards of fans spotted him and somehow she found herself stepping aside while he posed for fans and signed autographs.

This went on for about ten minutes or so and while she did miss having his attention, she wasn’t annoyed by any chance. Until she spotted a stunning woman approach him, she was a fan but one that seemed to want to get cozy with Ezra, placing her hand on his arm and leaning in to speak to the actor. What she felt in that moment something she couldn’t name all she knew was that watching the two laugh and talk made her want to punch something. Sydney was not a violent person, so then why did she feel like physically moving the woman away from Ezra? Was she jealous? She shook the thought off, what reason did she have to be jealous? She wasn’t with him and that was her choice but still, the sight of had her ire rising. She hadn’t realized until now that her fingers had curled up into her fist but forced herself to relax when he made his way back to Sydney. The brunette stared at him for a few seconds, her eyes then darting over his shoulder to see the gorgeous women’s eyes still on Ezra before she spotted Sydney furrowed her brows. Oh, Sydney had no interest in keeping Ezra around this woman, so she turned to him and gave him a small smile before reaching up to cup his neck to tug his head lower. Her lips right by his ear, “We can dance after, there’s something else I think you might like first.” Pressing a kiss to his jaw, she linked their hands together and proceeded to tug him away from the crowds and into a secluded corner area where the trees began behind the tent. She could feel his confused gaze on her and Sydney forced her nerves away before she had him pinned against one of the trees keeping them hidden. Still, for a second she found it hard to meet his gaze because she was afraid she would lose her nerve. Thus, giving him in a quick but passionate kiss pulled away and settled herself on her knees, rearranging her skirts so it didn’t ruin in the dirt. She then swiftly began unbuckling his dress pants ( that he looked absolutely sinful in) and loosened it enough to free his length. Sydney then gently wrapped her hand around his cock, letting her fingers feel it’s shape and within a few seconds, she felt his cock began to stiffen under her gently pumps. Seeing his reaction honestly made her a grin a bit, relishing that even after being in the presence of the stunning woman minutes before, Sydney sill had this effect on Ezra. “Relax, Ezra.” She murmured to him, finally meeting his gaze her own hues dark with lust as she admired his impressive length in her hands and then began pumping his stiff length.

Although Ezra felt bad for having to ditch Sydney in order to sign autographs and take photos with his fans, it could not have been avoided. This was his life. As much as he wanted to be selfish, his fans mattered and he could only hope that his other half could forgive him. Tonight was all about her, he wanted to show her that he could give her everything that she ever desired. Not only was he her soulmate, but he could make her very happy as well. And he planned on doing just that by dancing with her. He tried being charming with the way he asked her, but even then he could clearly tell that she was upset. Oh boy, this was not a good start for him. He was only trying to do the right thing by entertaining his fans, but he supposed he could have excused himself, and told them that he was with Sydney. She had every right to be pissed off, and it was now his job to grovel. However, his brows furrowed in confusion at what happened next. His other half smiled at him before tugging his head down and whispering that there might be something else he would like. What did she even mean by that? He was still confused when she kissed his jaw and even more so as she took his hand and led him away from the event tent and to a secluded area of the beach.

“What’s going on, Syd?” He asked when his curiosity got the best of him. Ezra was now standing under one of the palm trees, his eyes still questioning, and watching his soulmate intently. He didn’t get an answer. However, what he did get was a kiss that lasted too short for his liking. When Sydney got down on her knees, his heart began racing and his mouth grew slack. No. She couldn’t be. Could she? He finally found clarity as she unzipped his pants and took out his semi hard cock. “Christ, Syd…” He murmured, watching her with darkened hues as she stroke his length to its full mass. A part of him wanted to question her, but her remark about him relaxing stopped him from doing so. Instead, he allowed himself to enjoy the moment, and he reached out to stroke her cheek, letting his thumb trail over her full red lips. “Show me what you can do with your mouth.” He encouraged, keeping his gaze on her. What brought this on, was still a mystery to Ezra, but for now, he was going to enjoy what she was offering him. Those questions would be answered later, he kept that as a mental note and waited for Sydney to react.

Sydney hadn’t missed his confusion nor his shock once she had him pinned against a tree in a secluded location. And truth be told, she was still mildly at what she was about to do once she had herself planted on her knees. Not that this hadn’t occurred to her before, oh, she had wondered plenty of times of what his cock would feel like in her mouth. The previous times they were together, Ezra never gave her the chance to explore him and now she was getting that chance to do so. Right now, it had been her jealously that drove her to do this and while Ezra hadn’t been interested in that woman it was still a chilling reminder that he could lose interest in Sydney quickly- not that she’d blame him. Now, normally that thought would’ve relieved her even as it ached her but now that she had his interest, Sydney had gotten a bit greedy. Her jealousy was irrational but it looks like at this moment it was winning as was her desire for him. She kept her eyes on him once she had his impressive length free as she stroked and pump once his cock grew to it’s fully aroused state. Her green eyes, she was sure, were dark with desire, letting the man see exactly the sort of effect he had on her. She could still the question in his eyes but it appeared her request of relaxing worked and she saw the look of anticipation on his features as if knowing what was about to come as soon as he urged her on. She leaned into his touch and she gave him what she hoped to be was a coy smile, “My pleasure.” She whispered out huskily before her mouth descended on his shaft but not before pressing a kiss at the tip. Then letting her lips down his length, nibbling along the thick veiny sides before she took him fully in her mouth. Now, she was certainly not used to having such a size in her mouth but it felt so good - he felt so good in her mouth that a deep moan vibrated from her throat as she began moving her mouth over him. Tongue stroking his length inside of her as her teeth also nibbling before she reverted back to the deep sucking motions. It was his moans that encouraged her to continue, the sounds so deliciously erotic in her ears and she snuck a peek at his pleasure-filled expression before focusing on the task. It was a few minutes later did her hand, cupping his balls in her hands and gently massaging them as her mouth never ceased its sucking.

What was going on? His Sydney acting really strangely. Not that Ezra was complaining. Of course he wouldn’t dare do that, but as he looked down upon her beautiful face, questions kept emerging. The first thought that went through his mind was that she might be angry with him. But if that were the case, why would she be pulling him aside to give him a blowjob in the middle of Stonehill Beach? So it clearly wasn’t anger. If that wasn’t the answer then what was? He supposed he could have easily questioned her, but that would require that he stop her from what she planned on doing, and he wasn’t dumb enough to do that. No, his questions could wait till later. For now, he was trying not to lose it before she even wrapped her pretty little mouth around his cock. The hot hand of lust trailed to his veins and throughout his body. His gaze darkened and he kept stroking at her smooth ivory cheek that now held a hint of redness to it as her hues clashed with his. He couldn’t read her expression. The only thing that was clearly visible to him was her desire; it was evidently featured in her eyes, and as she lowered her head, taking the tip of his shaft into her mouth, a strangled moan was ripped from his diaphragm. “Fuck, Syd.” He murmured, his hands balled into fists as he resisted the urge to grab a hold of her locks and ultimately messing up her hairdo. Although he had received blowjobs before, nothing could compare to what he felt at this very moment. There was something alluring about the whole act. Perhaps it had a lot to do with how much he loved Sydney, or maybe even the bold way she had taken charge. He’d never seen this side of her, and to be on the receiving end of her passion made the act all the more pleasurable in his eyes. “Just like that.” He hissed as his gaze took in the sight before him and his hips jerked forward to feed her more of his length. “Take all of me into your mouth.” If he was the sort of man who would easily lose control, he would have released prematurely, but Ezra wanted the experience to be memorable, so in spite of the urge to climax growing with every hot lick of her tongue, he resisted.

Normally, Sydney would never pluck up the never to do the sort of thing in public. But maybe it was the adrenaline that gave her the courage to do this while there was an entire crowd gathered. Along with the paparazzi, all of whom were hoping to score scandalous phots of the who’s and who’s of society. That fear was there that someone would discover the two in this position but she easily pushed it aside to see Ezra’s look of absolute pleasure thanks to her mouth. Even with the questions raised in his eyes, she could see him start to lose focus once her lips closed over the tip of his cock. Licking the drops of pre-cum that had appeared before she slowly began taking him inside of her mouth, inch by inch. He was so well-endowed and it wasn’t until she had him in her mouth halfway did she appreciate just how well he endowed he was, feeling his cock growing hard the longer her tongue and teeth moved over it. If her mouth wasn’t occupied she’d been smiling at his response, as he Ezra continued to encourage her. Tongue licking and lapping up his entire length while her teeth gently nibbled the sides. It was then Sydney heard his demand of taking him in all the way and she did exactly that. Rising a bit on her knees to sliding her mouth forward until his entire length was buried in her mouth causing a moan to reverberate from her throat as soon as she felt the tip of it brush in her throat. She would be lying if she said this didn’t arouse her in return, feeling her folds start to moisten as she continued to pleasure him with her tongue and mouth. Her head bobbing as she made suction with her mouth, her eyes darting upwards to see his expression every so often she felt his hips jerk forward urging her to push himself deeper into her mouth. Every now and then moans still vibrated from her as Sydney took her own pleasure by fucking him with her mouth. Ezra’s pleasure groans were more than enough for Sydney to want to continue this for as long as she could, relishing in the exquisite sensation of his thick hot length inside of her mouth and look of pleasure was etched onto his features.

As if Ezra’s encouragement was all that Sydney needed, her actions amped up by a mile. He tried to keep his eyes open, wanting to watch her every movement, but the pleasure coursing through his body made him close them. At this point, his focal point was how well her hot mouth worked at his cock as she slid her tongue back and forth along his length. Try as he might, he quickly lost the ability to hold back and before he could control his urges, he was shifting, hips thrusting, feeding her more of his cock. His heart was racing now, breath coming in ragged as he felt his desire mounting. Sweat beaded along his skin–all this in spite of the cool air that desert weather brought them. “So fucking good.” Ezra groaned, his eyes popping open finally, needing to watch the scene unfolding before him. That had been a bad idea because the moment his gaze locked with hers, he was done for. The tell tale signs of his climax intensified as he watched her normally subdued eyes filled with desire. Never had he witnessed such a breathtaking sight that all of his resistance snapped. With his hues still trained on hers, he growled her name quietly and spilled his seed into her mouth.

Sydney noticed him struggle to keep his eyes open and it pleased her to see him struggle to keep himself composed. Thus, she continued her ministrations, sucking, biting, and licking his shaft whilst her hand massaged his balls which had gone stiff under her hands. Her head still bobbing up and down and as his hips still moved, essentially fucking her mouth in an effort to push himself deeper into her mouth. Sydney moaned against as she squeezed his balls and sucked him harder than before, the more frenzied his hips grew the harder she sucked him. By now, she felt his cock began to glide along her throat and she moaned again, surprisingly not having any sort of gag relax. Her body felt heated against the cool air and god she was so turned at both the taste of him in her mouth and the way he was responding to her. And Sydney swore she never seen anything hotter than the sight of Ezra completely immersed in pleasure all thanks to her. She would have smiled at his compliments had her mouth not been busy and then she felt him growing near to her climax. To help him along, she increased her speed sucking even vigorously because she wanted Ezra to come in her mouth, she then squeezed his balls harder. It was then she felt his gaze on her and then met it, her own eyes still dark with desire, a desire she didn’t bother hiding as she met his haze and continue to suck him. Then in an instant, she felt his hot seed spill into her mouth which caused another moan to leave her lips, she held him in her mouth as he growled her name and it was when she saw body slump against the tree did she finally release him. The movement making an audible ‘pop’ sound with her gaze locked on his, she slowly locked her lips, licking every drop of him as she swallowed. As she gently began to stand, she could feel her heart thumping hard against her ribcage but still, she cleared her throat and smile at him, taking a step closer to him. “So, it’s safe to assume you enjoyed that?” Her eyes twinkling and she hoped her nervousness wasn’t displayed in her features as cupped his jaw and let her thumb brush it.

Seeing the absolute pleasure in Sydney’s eyes as she took him into her mouth, her hot tongue lavishing its attention on his hard cock was the catalyst to Ezra’s climax. Never had he seen such lust in a woman’s eyes as she pleasured him and not only that, the innocence that she exuded was completely gone, in its place was a vixen. He had always found his soulmate desirable, but not to this extent, even now in spite of his recent release, he wanted her again. “Christ, Syd. That mouth of yours is going to be the death of me.” He growled as she stood up once more, her dark hues meeting his as she gently ran her thumb over his jaw. He closed his eyes and burrowed against her soft touch, loving the fact that not only had she given him so much pleasure, but just moments later, she was being tender towards him. Her question had him reacting instantly, pulling her against him, his fingers tightly gripping at her soft waist and he lowered his head, “Enjoyment is too small of a word.” He murmured along her lips before his own crashed with hers, tongue colliding against hers hungrily. Although he could taste himself in her mouth, it didn’t repulse him, if anything, it made him ravenous for her. For a time, he allowed the kiss to be prolonged until he had to pull back for a breath. “God, you have no idea what you do to me.” He said with his heart hammering loudly, his forehead now pressed against hers while he tried to calm the raging desire still burning within him. It took a few minutes before he was calm enough to ask her the question that had been stuck in his mind, “What brought this on? I thought you might be angry at me for leaving you. I would’ve understood if you were, but this? This came as a complete surprise to me.” His tone was gentle and beseeching as his hues peered into hers needing to understand what was going through her mind.

Sydney had no doubt that her sudden actions had surprised him, she who was always so shy towards his advances and even when they were tangled in each other’s arms her shyness always lingered. She had no reason to be embarrassed of course, Ezra always made her feel so beautiful and wanted - with his gaze alone, the way he looked at her as if she was the only thing worth looking at. Still, this was something that was new to her but she was thankful her courage hadn’t failed her while she had pleased him with her mouth. Smiling at his words and she loved how breathless he sounded in that moment and how his pleasure still lingered in his voice. And she stood and stroked his jaw, her eyes still studied him whilst her heart hammered against her chest, then he leaned into her touch and her pulse raced even harder. Really, the brunette was still in shock she was doing any of this going down on him and then being so tender, something she’d never done with him but for reason she felt guilty for. He was always so good to her and she had given him nothing but aloofness and harsh words.So, when he tugged her closer, Sydney leaned into him for once allowing her to be near him and as their lips met, she chuckled, “Not to be cocky of course, that’s your field of expertise.” She murmured just before she kissed him hungrily as he was kissing her but when it broke she found herself peering into his eyes once more. Sydney found herself lost in his gaze, almost mesmerized that she hadn’t even heard his question until he had pulled back from their eye lock. “Why would I be angry? You have fans, I wouldn’t want you to ignore them nor would I ever ask you too.” She told him sincerely, that bit was the truth she was always happy seeing him surrounded by his fans because she could see how much he cherished them all. “You adore your fans sincerely, I admire that about you. As for this, well, I just wanted to.” Still, Sydney felt a bit nervous not all wanting to admit it was her jealously that drove her. “I surprised myself too.” she muttered under her breath. “I just saw something earlier with you and I realized…nevermind, it’s not a big deal because I wanted to do this for awhile now…” The temptation to avert her gaze was strong but still he kept her trapped and she was sure her nervousness was evident now.

Not that Ezra was complaining, but there was something off about how Sydney was acting. He couldn’t deny that he enjoyed this bold part of her, of course he did. He was a red-blooded man who desired his soulmate. However, there was a difference between him desiring her and her sudden need to have an erotic interlude out in public no less. Was it a kink of hers that he didn’t know of? For some reason that didn’t sound right. But then again, how would he know, they were just in the beginning stages of getting to know each other. There was no telling what his soulmate liked sexually. So far, from what he could tell, she had responded well to everything that he’d done to her, whether it be soft or hard, not once had she complained. Still, until he got a full explanation, he would keep wondering, needing the answers that only she could give him. At least she wasn’t angry with him for spending time away from her earlier while he was meeting his fans and signing autographs for them. “I’m glad that you understand, but please know that no matter what, you will always come first.” She might freak out on him for what he just told her, but he couldn’t regret his statement, not when he meant them wholeheartedly.A quizzical brow rose and he tilted his head while he inspected her features. There was hesitancy in her remark. Why did she look so nervous? “You just wanted to…?” For some reason he couldn’t bring himself to believe that her need to give him a blowjob overtook her out of nowhere. There were a million places she could have done that, but she chose tonight, right here, where anyone could walk pass and catch them, to do it. “That’s all?” He heard her trying to explain herself further, and yet, before everything was revealed, she stopped herself. Reaching out, he placed a hand over her cheek, and gently caressed it with his thumb. “There’s more to this, isn’t there? You said there was something you saw earlier. What was it, Syd? You know you can tell me. I won’t judge.” He kept his voice low and coaxing, hoping to entice her into making a full confession.

She could see the relief that crossed his features when she reassured she wasn’t angry for giving some of his time to his fans but it was his next words that had her almost flinch. She stared at Ezra for a few seconds longer, not quite sure how to respond but she could feel her panic return but she pushed it down. “You don’t owe me any of that, Ezra but I appreciate you saying that.” But her words were gentle this time because she didn’t intended to start an argument with him or worse, hurt him. Now, Sydney wasn’t sure how convincing her words were but admitting to him she’d been jealous for no reason sent another wave of embarrassment to her. Now, she knew Ezra wouldn’t make fun of her per say, she imagined he’d only be more confused perhaps as to why she was jealously. Especially considering she had no reason to be when she’d told him over and over she would not be with him. But still, the artist found it a bit difficult to confess such a thing to him. She could hear the question in his response, but of course her own words didn’t sound convincing in her own ears. She was silent for some seconds until she felt his hand on her cheek and she could see his gaze probing hers for answers, but she suppose the least she could do is be honest with him.She knew Ezra didn’t mind her stunt just minutes ago but he deserved to know and his assurance that he wouldn’t be upset nor would he judge her what she had to say, so Sydney took a deep breath. “Yes, Ezra, I wanted to but also because I was…jealous.” She bit down on her lip before she straightened her posture, and still met his gaze. “When you were with your fans, towards the end there’s was another woman, gorgeous one too I might add, trying to get your attention. You didn’t notice her?” She raised a brow at him, “The way she was putting her hands on you, leaning into you while you were speaking to her…she was still watching you when you walked over to me.” Really, Sydney fought back at her wince at just how ridiculous she sounded to herself, “Now, that I’ve officially embarrassed myself, shall we go inside?”

Ezra hoped that his gentle coaxing might help Sydney feel a little more comfortable and in turn would make her want to make a full confession. There was still hesitation in her eyes, and he could tell that she was unsure whether or not she should confide in him, but eventually she relented, and the answer behind her strange behavior, stunned him silent. His mouth opened and closed, eyes blinking a few times as he stared at her in awe. She was jealous. Sydney was jealous! He I was at a loss for words. A part of him wanted to jump in joy. He felt like he had just won the lottery knowing that his soulmate was jealous of some woman who didn’t even cross his radar. The way she described this woman, while her voice dripped with annoyance, made his heart fill with joy. He had to stop himself from smiling, so instead, he shook his head and answered her question. “No, I didn’t notice her.” God, watching her now, she had never been more beautiful with her cheeks slightly tinted red as she tried to steer the subject away from her jealousy. Was it bad that he was turned on by her? Not in his eyes. “We’re not going back inside.” Came his response before he took her hand, once more lacing his fingers with hers and headed straight to his Porsche. Once outside his vehicle, he heard the loud cheers of party goers ringing in the New Year, so he stopped short, pulling his soulmate into his arms and kissing her senseless. “Happy New Year, Syd. I’m taking you home with me.” He told her hoarsely, his lips nipping at hers for a few moments before he helped her into the passenger side, hopped in as well and drove to his house. There was no attempt at a conversation as he broke the speed limit to get home, his heart beating a mile a minute as his desire mounted. When they got there, he led her inside and straight to his bedroom which was where his passion was finally unleashed. His lips found hers immediately, hands pulling her close as he backed her onto his bed where they both landed not too long afterwards. “I want you so fucking badly…” He growled against her lips while his hands greedily mapped out every inch of her exposed skin and his erection rubbing along her panty covered pussy.

Sydney held her breath as she watched Ezra’s expression carefully, her heart still pounding harshly against her rib cage almost expecting the worst. But really, she knew just how ridiculous her words were and how she was feeling, jealous over a man whom she continued to push away. Well, that as a bit of lie she wasn’t doing job considering she had yet to stop sleeping with him. Finally, after what felt like ages did he speak and his words had her gaze at him curiously, and she assumed it was because he was now annoyed and needed to be away from her. Sydney tried not to let those thoughts enter her mind but her worries were short-lived as he grabbed her hand and led her to his car, she had no chance to ask before this mouth descended on her in all-consuming kiss. She hadn’t realized the countdown had begun until she hard the shouts coming from the tent and Sydney kissed him back with equal hunger and passion. “Happy New Year.” She managed to get the well wishes in before she heard his last bit and froze. Still she had no time to process the words before they both had climbed into his car and the ride was silent but most because Ezra seemed determined get them to his place within a few minutes. Sydney felt the world around them fly by at the rate he was driving but despite her racing her heart she smiled a little to herself. Relieved that he hadn’t been put off by her somewhat ridiculous behavior and dare she say, he had looked pleased at her confession? They arrived within in minutes, or what it felt like to Sydney at the speed in which he was driving in and before she knew it, his large frame covered hers and their lips met in a ravenous kiss. Sydney grew wet in anticipation both at his words and the look of hunger in his eyes that a soft whimper left her lips. Her arms coming around him as she felt his hands explore her body and then she felt his hot cock rubbing against the lace of her panties. Thanks to the thin material she felt the heat of it despite the annoying fabric in the way. “Ezra, I want you.” She managed to breathe out as felt herself grow wetter, tugging him on her while her hands tired to remove his blaze and as his shirt. “Get this all off.”

The tug and pull that Ezra had been subjected to since coming to know that Sydney was his soulmate was enough to push any man away, and yet here he still was, standing firm, not wanting to give into defeat. There had been a reason why he was so attracted to his soulmate to begin with. It started physically, he noted her beauty and radiance, but the longer he got to know her, the more he fell. It was as if everything had been laid out for him. Sure, his path was not going to be easy, but he couldn’t even begin to conceive a life without his soulmate, and so he decided to wait, to allow her time to get used to being with him. Over the past couple of days, she had slowly opened up, and tonight having to witness how she reacted to some insignificant woman, how her jealousy had reared its ugly head, it all made Ezra feel as if his efforts were not spent in vain. Sydney cared. It had him reacting, allowing his hunger for her to take over. Once he got her to his house he didn’t spare another minute giving her a tour–even though he knew she hadn’t been there before. He quickly took her to his room, and it was there that he ravaged her mouth, growling out how much he wanted her. When he heard her response, admitting that she wanted him too, all bets were off and without thinking he ripped her clothes off her body and had his way with her. His lips descended down to her pussy where he ate her out until she was screaming his name. Then he demanded that she take him in her mouth again, taking him just close to the edge before he pushed her onto her back and fucked her senseless. He didn’t know how long the session lasted, all he felt was complete and utter ecstasy. Their moans echoed throughout his room as he took her over and over that night in every position he knew. They had to take a break in between to hydrate and as they stood in his kitchen their eyes meeting, he attacked her once more, lifting her up onto the kitchen island and fucking her senseless yet again. Somehow, they ended up in his living room in front of his lit fireplace and it was there that he took her without hurry, his thrusts slow but deep. Their lips never parted until they both were overtaken by their orgasms. Seeing how tired Sydney was, he curled up next to her, and with their bodies still tangled in an embrace, they both drifted off to sleep. If what transpired the night prior was any indication, Ezra could tell that the year 2020 was only going to bring good things for their relationship.

COMPLETED

[picturetoburnnn]

Like To Be You (Ch. 2)| Ashton Irwin x Reader

word count - 2.1k

warnings - mentions of harassment and/or assault. fluff pursues.

taglist - @songforhema @asht0ns-world  @lukesflaredpants @sunflowerxcal @lover-calum @cxddlyash @emomack @merryblueberry02 @kinglyhood @caswinchester2000 @babe-babylon @irwinkitten @1delicate-fangirl

requested tag for LTBY series - @biddyboi5000 @cashtonsbetch @ghostofcth @kikii-stfu @lockthisheartinchains @charlyssacook @imadontstopacoustic @afuckingunicornn @claredolphinbear24 @carostar2020

author note - y’all are cool. sorry this took so long. a bit hard to write with a broken wrist :// hope yall enjoy this!! 

PART ONE // MASTERLIST

It’d been three weeks since she’d last seen or heard from Ashton, but only days since an envelope filled with cash appeared in her mailbox with a snake stamped in the corner. It had no address, return or delivery, leading her to believe that someone had placed it there in the middle of the night or while at work. 

But tonight wasn’t the time to think about that. Y/N was out with her friends, and she was damn sure gonna have a good time. 

The club was dark, with neon lights flashing every few seconds. The bass beat thrummed through Y/N’s body, convinced it was her heartbeat. She smiled with her best friend as they danced, swaying hips like nobody’s business. 

“Want a drink?” Her friend’s voice was hardly even audible over the blasting music. 

“What?” Y/N yelled over the crowd.

The question was repeated louder; Y/N heard it this time, nodding in response and watching as her friend squeezed between people to head to the bar. 

As soon as she was out of eyesight, Y/N felt hands on her hips. She spun in place to find a mousy looking man smirking, hands still on her waist.

“Hi baby.” His voice was scratchy, grisly. 

Y/N’s expression twisted into one of disgust. 

“Get off me,” she simmered, spinning back around and dislodging the wandering fingers. 

“C’mon sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear, replacing his hands. “Don’t be like that.”

She fought against his hold, but to no avail. He was determined to keep his palms precisely where he wanted them. Y/N began to panic, but shoved it down. She would not allow this man to control her that easily.

“I can fuck that mean right out of you.”

Y/N brought her foot up sharply, then jabbed the heel of her pumps on his foot. He released her with a cry of pain, balancing on one leg as he held the injured foot. 

With him distracted, Y/N tried to fight her way through the crowd, to little avail.

“You bitch,” he seethed, reaching out for her again. But before he could grab her, a hand clamped around his wrist. 

“The lady said no,” came a familiar voice. “No means no.”

“This doesn’t concern you,” Handsy hissed, half-limping as he tore his hand away. 

“This is my club, and you’re harassing my patrons. Pretty sure I can step in.” Y/N stood tall behind this new redheaded defender, who looked quite good in his white tank top and dress pants.

“My girl and I were about to head home.” Bullshit-Man beckoned to Y/N. 

Y/N stepped forward, surprising both the males. She gave the assaulter a sweet smile before shoving her knee upward, watching as he crumpled over in pain. 

She crouched over his figure. “Don’t fucking touch me.” It took all her willpower not to spit on him as she stood and walked away. 

“Y/N!” Her friend appeared in front of her, a drink in each hand. “Took forever to get them.”

“I think I’m gonna go home,” Y/N sighed. 

“What? This drink cost five dollars alone! Please?"

"Sorry ma'am." the man who had come to Y/N's rescue spoke again. "She's not suited for a night out this evening. I'll have the bartender refund the drink. Tell him Ash said it's alright."

Without further conversation, he guided Y/N to a side exit she didn't know existed. 

"What the hell, Ashton?" she hissed once the door had shut, the light rain falling between them. "You flirt with me for a few days, then you fucking ghost me, then you show up on my night out? This is my first night off in weeks, and you show up and ruin it!"

"I'm sorry, would you rather I hadn't have stepped in?" Ashton's hiss made Y/N flinch, but she hid it well. 

“I was handling it just fine.” She turned on her heel, raindrops flying from her hair.

“Wait,” he sighed, grabbing her arm.

She wrenched herself free of his grasp. “You don’t touch me either.”

He immediately withdrew his hands, holding them up, palm facing out, by his shoulders. His red hair clung to his forehead in cute little strands.

“I just wanna talk to you.” His face held some sort of emotion Y/N couldn’t name. She considered for a moment.

“I still carry that pepper spray in my purse,” she said, signalling for him to start speaking. 

“Didn’t expect any less,” he acknowledged, dropping his hands. “I’m sorry for just dropping out of your life like that. I just--” He couldn’t seem to find the right words. How could he explain how he was trying to ensure your safety by keeping you out of gang business without revealing how much he liked you?

“It wasn’t safe if I kept hanging around you. If anyone from the other gangs in town thought I had some connection to you, they would target you. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t deal with the thought of you getting hurt because of me.”

Y/N stepped closer to him. “But what if that was a risk I was willing to take? Did you think for one second that maybe I liked being around you?” She jabbed a finger in his chest, getting up in his face. “I am well aware of the people you are friends or enemies with. It was a risk I was willing to take. You’re entitled to be worried, but you can’t just drop off the planet then resurface looking like this and take my goddamn breath away when I’m trying to be mad at you.”

She hadn’t meant to say the last part, but he heard it anyway. In an instant, Ashton was cradling her face in his hands, and pressed his lips harshly to hers. Y/N let out a squeak of surprise. Ashton pulled just inches away, breathing heavily. Y/N stared into his eyes, and when he opened his mouth to say something she pulled him back to her. 

The kiss was fiery, like the floodgates holding every emotion the pair had bottled up over the past three weeks were opened. The searing intensity was almost overwhelming. With the rain falling, it was like a scene from a movie.

When the couple finally split, neither felt they could breathe properly. 

"Sorry," Ashton breathed raggedly. "I had to do it just once."

"Shut up," Y/N whispered and pulled his lips back to hers.

"Let me make it up to you," he whispered. "I will. There's a little place I know not too far from here. Are you hungry?"

Y/N nodded.

~~

"So what is it that you do?" He asked gently as they walked through the city.

Y/N swung their intertwined hands. "I'm a pediatric nurse at the hospital. I take care of the kids when they're not immediately in the doctor's care."

Ashton smiled softly at her. 

"What?" She half-chuckled.

"That's so adorable," he giggled. "Like, I can't explain it. Picturing you and little kids -- it's just so cute to me."

"Wow, buy me dinner before you talk about kids to me." Y/N smirked deviously.

The redness that overtook Ashton's face made any ounce of uncertainty she had about this 'date' disappear.

"That-tha-that wasn't what I meant, I'm so sorry Y/N, I didn't mean to imply--"

"Ashton," she cut him off. "I'm teasing. It's okay."

The redhead looked at her, wide eyed, before letting out a nervous laugh. The rest of the walk was in comfortable silence, with the occasional point and saying "that dog is so cute!"

A diner came into view: an adorable retro design in all black, white, and red. Y/N couldn't help but chance a peek at the gang member beside her. He looked so soft in the yellow glow of the streetlamps. His smile was so wide. She almost wondered how he could have looked frightening that first night. 

"I used to come here when I was a kid," he mumbled. "Me, Lauren, 'n Harry would walk here when mum worked late. It's been years."

"Well they better be good." Y/N grinned as she tightened her grip on his hand, pushing open the doors.

~~

Laughter filled the diner, with furtive glances across the table. With only themselves and the waitress there, the whole place felt like theirs. 

Halfway through a shared chocolate shake (“What do you mean you’ve never dipped your fries in a chocolate shake?” “I mean I’m sane!”), the opening notes to George Ezra’s Hold My Girl played softly through the diner. Ashton’s head whipped up from his straw when he heard her gentle gasp.

“Oh my God, I love this song,” Y/N breathed.

The redhead watched in awe as the girl closed her eyes and whispered along to the words, swaying side to side ever so slightly. Before he can think about what he’s doing, he stands from his side of the booth and holds his hand out for her.

“What are you doing?” Her question was laced with nervous giggles as she opened her eyes.

“C’mon, trust me,” he muttered softly. Y/N put her hand in his.

He pulled her up from her seat, chest pressed to his. She automatically pressed her cheek to his chest, though she had no idea why.

“Sing it to me,” he muttered into her hair as he began swaying them back and forth.

For a moment, the song was only heard through the speakers of the diner. His heart dropped as he thought he may have moved too fast. Then--

“I’ve got time, I’ve got love.”

He let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding.

“Got confidence you’ll rise above. Give me a minute to hold my girl, give me a minute to hold my girl.”

They danced through the tables to the soft love song, getting faster and wilder with the music. He spun her in circles, giant smiles on both their faces.

My girl, my girl.

It takes one hot second to turn it around.

It takes one hot second to turn it around.

As the song gently slowed down, so did their dance. The closing notes played quietly as the couple swayed back and forth, all thoughts of whoever else may be in the diner forgotten. The moment of silence between songs was all Y/N to break out of her trance. She pushed herself off Ashton, wide eyed. The boy confusedly watched the girl of his dreams sit back in the booth, dazed. 

“Everything good? Can I get you two anything else?” The elderly waitress that appeared at the table pulled his attention away. Agnes, her name tag read.

“No ma’am, just the check please,” Y/N muttered softly.

“Oh, don’t you worry about that,” she said in the most grandmother-like way possible. “It’s on the house. You two-- I’ve never seen anyone as in love as you are. It’s the most lovely thing I’ve seen in years. Beautiful couple, you are.”

“Oh, we’re not-- I- I’m not--, Ash and I, we--”

Agnes gave a knowing smile. “Of course not.” She walked off without another word.

Ashton said nothing, but brought his wallet out and carefully placed a hundred dollar bill in the center of the table.

“Ashton,” Y/N hissed, eyes wide. “The total was less than twenty.”

“She was sweet. She complimented you,” he said without looking up at her. 

Wrapping her fingers around his, Ashton once again pulled Y/N from her seat. “It’s late, I should take you home.”

~~

The walk to Y/N’s home was filled with quiet, both lost in thought as the rain faded to mist around them.

“Here we are,” he breathed when they arrived on the doorstep. 

“It was good to see you again.”

“Yeah, it was, wasn’t it?”

Neither dared speak louder than a whisper, afraid to lose the moment. Afraid to lose the butterflies in their stomachs.

“Do you wanna come in?” Y/N offered, desperate not to let the night die.

“I don’t think I should, doll. Next time, I will. I promise.” He held her cheek with one hand, fingertips brushing the nape of her neck. Their faces were inches apart.

“Am I gonna see you again?” Y/N asked, finally letting her vulnerability show.

“Without a doubt,” Ashton whispered before sealing his lips to hers gently.

[teamoliv-archive]

Cutscene: The Key

Melina had no idea how long she had laid there on the ground. The unearthed ground and the remnants of Zarla’s mechanical beast laid broken on the ground. Darcie’s “Magician” had done brutal work this time around. She mentally went through the list of things that went wrong: 

The downed aircraft had been a ruse. If there were any crew aboard the old Atlas ship, they were likely long dead or missing. This was a trap to lure her in and finish her off. Second, Morado had managed to buy her time and a chance to escape despite not standing a chance against Roland the “Strongman”, another of Darcie’s team of “frontliners.” He had been captured for his efforts; a foul trade in her eyes. Ezra, her enigmatic “Jester” had done little more than scare away the remains of Morado’s squad and drop a key in front of her after the others had cleared out. She didn’t assume any extra motives out of him- this was a taunt, a lure to keep coming after them. That left only the “Ballerina” Amrin missing. The woman was a sniper could have been anywhere, but if they wanted to kill her now they could have done it at any time- so why haven’t they?

Part of her knew she had to keep going. Jade Leroux was long dead but his old partner was still operating in full. More important than that, one of her daughters had survived- and they knew where she was, and were sickeningly responsible for what Molly had become. She didn’t expect the girl to embrace a mother she never met, but she needed to see her and hopefully see her chasing her own path instead of the one chosen by the people who stole her.

She barely heard the muffled screech of a hawk overhead. Forcing herself to look at the sky, it was coming right for her. She only took in a shakey breath and closed her eyes. “Fine... I’m not dead yet, but I may as well be. Feeding the forest isn’t a bad fate.”

The bird perched nearby and a voice echoed from it. “Been there, done that, wouldn’t recommend it. Geez, you went and got your ass kicked out there, huh?”

Robin Goodfellow. Once again the fallen “Prodigy of Mantle” returned to haunt her. For a moment she wondered if she was hallucinating, but the green glow in the hawk’s eyes wasn’t her imagination. He was somewhere nearby, immobile and controlling that creature from somewhere. “You were watching the fight.” She forces out.

“Damn right I was.” Robin himself was a roughly a few hundred feet away. Making sure to obscure himself during the fight so he could watch from a distance was the trickiest part when dealing with Darcie’s weird clown. Sometimes he swore Ezra wasn’t human, and not in a ‘faunus’ kind of not human. Thankfully he’d pulled it off. “Part of me wants to ask if you knew that was a trap, but I have a feelin’ you two would be there even if you did. Hold still, comin’ to you.”

Melina worried about what Robin could possibly want. He was strangely on his own after Jade had left, last she knew he had been seen with a small band of his own now- his old team and that strange girl from Ciar. “On your own again?” The hawk’s eyes faded back to normal and the creature squawked and flew off. That could only mean he was going to get up and move as he said he would. The dead silent wait was eerie and she had to force down her paranoia over what could happen next. Robin Goodfellow was an enigma when it came to his motives- one of the unpredictable ‘on their own side’ sorts. He’d just as easily help or hurt whomever he wanted to in order to get what he wanted and his loyalty was only to himself.

As she laid there on the ground her thoughts were broken by a loud thud next to her head. She snapped her vision in that direction and could make out a bag of some kind.

“Get up.” Robin says harshly, “I’ve fought you. You’re better’n this shit. Or are you tellin’ me you’re too old to be doin’ this anymore?”

Every inch of the old huntress’s body still ached from her injuries. Was he really going to force her to push herself to her feet and dress her own wounds? “This is probably the most heartless aid I’ve ever received.”

Robin walked over to a tree and leaned against it. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and tapped it against his hand to push one out. “Yeah, well, it’s what you get. See, the way I see it, you fucked up pretty bad.” He lights it and plants it between his lips, sometimes moving the smoke from one end of his mouth to the other.

“But, you’ve got yourself a key to Pandemonium and I want it. See, once I finally decided to tell Jade to take his new plans and shove ‘em up what was left of him, I wasn’t thrilled to hear Darcie just swooped in and took it all back. No one robs me of an accomplishment. I killed Jade right out from under that Cheshire fucker’s big scowlin’ face and they’re gonna goddamn remember that!”

Melina shook her head and fell back down as her arm gives out under her. She lets out a small yelp and grits her teeth, “Not even you can single-handedly barge into a place like that and destroy it. You’re not a one-man-army, Robin.”

Robin smirks, watching her fall again and again trying to even sit up. “You think I don’t have backup? Well they don’t know they’re backup yet. I spied another little group tryin’ to find the place. Besides, didn’t you just get an invitation? If I show up with the key, I’ll have the whole gang on the front door. You? They’ll want to play with you. That’s my avenue to sneak in.”

“Besides, it’s gonna take me time to find the place. A key’s useless if you can’t find the door. So while you’re reachin’ for that bag and seein’ to your wounds, I’ll start lookin’.”

“And if I fail it looks like I was only struggling to crawl and no one knows you’re here...” She returns in a shaky biting tone. For now she stopped struggling for the medical bag and just focused on breathing. She had to keep herself willing, to want to reach for it so she didn’t just collapse out of exhaustion. “Tell me something. Did you know? Did you know about Molly?”

“Course I did.” Robin replies, pulling the cigarette from his mouth and tapping it gently against his knee to remove the lingering ashes. “Jade almost had a fuckin’ heart attack when he found out you were alive, though. I didn’t know who the fuck you were. That’s why you’re gonna keep goin’ ain’t it? She probably doesn’t want anythin’ to do with you and she ain’t what you would have hoped, but she’s still your kid, right?” He didn’t give her room to reply, “My old man said the same thing to me. Bless his fuckin’ heart, he still thinks I can be a good man. He’s dead wrong, but that’s just how parents are, I guess.”

Melina plants her hands onto the ground and tries to shove herself upward again. “I just... want to know what happened to her. I need to.” If she had to endure this ridicule and torture to patch herself up or die trying, she would. If she couldn’t handle this, she’d be dead once she reached this Pandemonium anyway.

[creedslove]

Awkward Dinner?

Ray Donovan x Reader

Summary: It is your time to get revenge for being stood up by your ex-boyfriend.

Warnings: smut aka: written porn

A/N: This was written with someone else in mind, it was just a treat for a dear friend of mine, but I think it is too good not to share it with you, my Ray lovers. That's why the plot doesn't actually match Ray's background at all, but who cares about plot when there's Ray smut, right?

When Y/N accepted the request for a dinner with her friends, she already had an idea Ray would be there with his 'current/ex-wife'. She had reassured all of her friends they were on good terms and it wouldn't be awkward or anything to see her ex-boyfriend there. Even after the couple’s break up, their friends in common remained in touch, they all worried about the two of them and were sure sooner or later, they'd get back together, after all, if there was something that was always said about Y/N and Ray, was the fact they were perfect for each other. That was until he showed up carrying that stuck-up, annoying and decadent Abby of his. They were all shocked and speechless, but never questioned him. At that point, Y/N was minding her business, focusing on her career and having very little time to go out with the rest of the group. Those weeks became months and everyone got used to the new couple and the man's friendly ex.

When Ezra's birthday came, they all decided it was time for the group to hang out again, and they decided to attend a new fancy restaurant for the special occasion. Everything was just going okay, until about a week before the event, Y/N got a call she was not at all expecting. The girl answered the phone just to greet a very drunk Ray, who claimed he still loved her and missed her everyday. Y/N was shocked for a moment. What was she supposed to do after that? Should she just ignore him and hang up or should she open up to him and confess she shared the same feeling he did and breaking up was a mistake? According to him, what motivated the call was the fact he saw Abby texting that goddamn cop again, and that just destroyed him. It was such an absurd and random situation, Y/N was confused; she battled herself between the urge to stay home or run to his place, soothe his broken heart and help him through his drunk night. They decided to go out for a coffee then, a couple of days later, at the same cafe they used to go for their dates.

When the day came, she got quickly dressed up and in less than ten minutes she arrived at the address she knew so well. Grabbing a table, she order herself a cup of hot chocolate and also Raymond's favorite, knowing he wouldn't take long to arrive.

But he did.

It was odd and not right, she knew perfectly how methodical and punctual he truly was, so after she waited for more than an hour, the girl decided to call him and see if something had happened. When she checked her phone, the reason why he wasn't there left a bitter taste in her mouth: according to Conor's social media, the Donovans were celebrating Abby and Ray getting back together, with a beautiful and huge family dinner.

Y/N couldn't believe the humiliation, she could never expect something like that from him, she was ashamed and angry, and she definitely wanted to get back at him for that. She left the small establishment already thinking of revenge.

***

Y/N considered for a long time to give up the party she was supposed to attend; after what that asshole had done to her, she was sure she had absolutely no way to go there and act normal towards him or that little bitch of his. But there was also another part of her, a perverse and evil side that was burning in desire to show him he had plenty reasons to miss her and remind him once again why his little wife was never going to be as good as Y/N was. She decided to go then, picking her outfit carefully, using all the knowledge she had in his preferences to choose to wear something that'd definitely caught his attention. She was willing to seduce Ray like he had never been before.

Y/N picked her most provocative dress, as well as her highest stiletto heels, chuckling at the memory it brought her.

“I love when you wear those heels because I can fuck you standing up on the counter”

Ray had whispered to her once, right before doing it as promised. The kinky motherfucker always loved fucking her while Y/N was wearing nothing but her shoes. Boots, heels, anything that could turn him on.

Around her neck, the beautiful necklace he had given her for their first anniversary, and on her lips, a flaming red lipstick, the kind he loved to have her wearing while she was blowing him.

She felt ready and getting in the cab, she eagerly waited to arrive at the destination.

***

Dinner had been going on for a couple of hours now and nothing unusual had happened; apart from her friends giving Y/N a discrete pity look when Ray arrived with his girl and the fact that the man nearly choked when he saw her, looking absolutely sexy, while he pretty much undressed and fucked her with his eyes. They greeted each other normally, but there was a connection sparkling between the two of them that night. They sat at table and the celebration started. Y/N knew Raymond couldn't take his eyes off her but she pretended she didn't care, it was all part of the act. The man, however, looked completely bored by his wife's long and fussy conversations. It baffled it him how she could never say something that sounded remotely smart and that was just embarrassing him more and more. He decided to excuse himself and head for the restroom, he wanted to breathe and didn't want Abby following him around.

Y/N noticed everything and smiled at herself, she knew it was time for her to act; she was going to solve two things at once: get back at Ray but also show him how much she missed him - without humiliating herself to him.  

Ray sighed and stared at his reflection in the mirror, he had washed his face and was now analyzing what kind of deep shit he was in; why did he have to forgive Abby? Why did he have to call Y/N and drunk and pathetic, just to stand her up when she waited for him? And now, to his misery, she looked every bit of a dangerous mixture: gorgeous and extremely fuckable. He couldn't get his eyes off her, and even the most disgusting guest, - Stu noticed that, discreetly sending him a text telling Ray to go after Y/N. He knew that jerk's moral wasn't the best, so if he ever did it, Feldman would have no problem in supporting him. Raymond quickly shook his head, dismissing the idea, he wasn't like that anymore, he was trying to respect the women he was with - Colleen, Y/N, and even Abby - no matter how much they didn't deserve it (Abby, for instance) or how bad the relationship was. He was ready to leave the place when he heard someone opening the door. He was still too distracted to see who it was and he couldn't care less.

“Occupied, pal”

He said absently, but when he heard the door being locked, he started getting pissed. “what the fuck?” he asked. He didn't want to be locked in a restroom with a stranger, he wasn't in the mood for dealing with stupid, invasive clients, nor inconvenient people at that moment. Ray was ready to put on his best 'fixer' face and scold whoever it was there, but when he faced the one girl that was haunting his thoughts.

“Y/N? What are you doing here?”

He asked her a little confused, watching her walk to him and stop just inches from him. She was so close, and those goddamned stiletto shoes, making her almost as tall enough to face him. He could feel his cock twitch.

“First, you don't show up for our friendly coffee, then you want to kick me off the restroom too?” Y/N asked with a cynical smile, as she pressed her body purposely against his. Her hands went for the collar of his shirt as they soon after went for his hair, caressing softly. Y/N smiled at him, even though she was taller than usual because of her shoes, she still couldn't reach him properly, so getting in the tip of her toes, she felt his arm around her waist. His big, warm hand resting against her naked back. Just preventing her from falling, Ray lied to himself.

“Listen, I am very sorry, I was on my way to meet you when Abby showed up at my place with the kids and pulling all that scene and I was going to call, but my phone’s battery died and…” Ray stopped himself when he felt her hands gripping his cock.

“Oh no, Daddy. I'm not here to hear any excuses or hear her name” Y/N tightened the grip around his hardening cock, making him bite his lips “got it?”

She saw him nodding and caressed his cheek, while her lips traced an invisible, wet path around his neck. She could feel his erection poking her leg, while his hand went for her ass, rubbing and squeezing it.

“Stop, Y/N… You know I can't…” He purred against the side of her head and closed his eyes.

“Oh you can't? Then why are you so fucking hard right now?” She undid his belt and started opening his fly. She was angry with him, yes, but she couldn't deny she was crazy to touch him.

Ray pulled her harshly and attacked her mouth with his. Their kiss was rough and urgent, he couldn't express how much he missed her body, her touch. Her. He knew it was insane, his wife was just a few meters away from him but it didn't matter, he just needed to quench his thirst for her, Y/N. His girl.

The kiss lasted until both of them ran out of breath; but he wanted more, he bit her lower lip softly and groaned in her ear, knowing what that did to her. “You are so fucking good”

Y/N smiled at him, noticing his mouth red with her lipstick. Her hands quickly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his broad chest and a slight fat belly, which only added more sexiness to him, in her opinion. She licked her lips, her mouth watering at what was coming. The girl got on her knees in front of him, she spread lots of small, little kisses all over his torso, licking and nibbling her way down his crotch. The girl licked around his belly button area and bit him softly. Raymond was rock hard and in need of her touch, his hand gripped her hair harshly and made her face him.

“Stop teasing”

Y/N smiled and freed his throbbing, thick cock. She saw his tip glistening with pre cum and that was enough for her to press her thighs together, she was watering for him. Her hand caressed his cock, while her tongue licked the top of it, gathering his sweet juice and making him moan.

“I missed this so much, daddy, your thick cock, face fucking me” she teased with her words. He grabbed his own dick and traced her lower lips with it.

“You know what I fucking miss?” he saw her biting her lips and shaking her head. “This” he told her, slapping her face with his cock. She widened her eyes in surprise, but before she could say anything else, he hit her again with his length, and once more. Until her cheek was red and she looked at him puzzled.

“You know, there isn't any girl in the world better than you at this. I never found any other little slut who can take a cock slap as deliciously and gracefully as yourself”

Ray teased and that was the fuel Y/N needed to start working on him. She wrapped her lips around his tip and suckled it, earning moans from him. He cursed himself in silence, remembering they were in public and he needed to control himself, but he couldn't. She sank her head towards his hips, managing to get as much of his cock as she could into her mouth. Her hands caressed his balls and stroked what she couldn't reach of him.

Ray was almost there, he pulled her hair, moaned dirty words at her. He was impatient however, he held her head in place and thrust into her mouth, seeing her getting red and flushed, only to let her breathe again. Y/N knew he was close to cum, so she managed to stop him and gave his cock one last lick, from its base to its tip. He was panting and ready to shoot his seed into her mouth, one of his biggest kinks was definitely seeing her swallow his cum eagerly.

To his surprise, however, Y/N stood up and wiped her lips, she stood next to him and looked at herself in the mirror, organizing her hair and reapplying her lipstick. Ray looked at her with disbelief. He grabbed her by the arm harshly and impatiently.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing?”

"Oh, I'm sorry” she smiled cynically at him “does daddy want to cum?” she was satisfied seeing him nod with lap dog eyes “then you can call your wife”

Y/N gave him a peck on his lips “maybe next time, if you show up, I can finish you off” she teased and got rid of his grip, leaving him there.

Ray was angry but also even more aroused by her attitude, she was one dirty little whore and he loved it! His big hand wrapped around his cock finished the service, making him spill his cum hot and fast, thinking of her. It was wrong but he didn't care, he needed to have her again.

_________

Tag list: @bun-dpdbny @skylar-mickey

Idk who else I could tag? Does anyone else want to be tagged in other daddy Ray pieces? Let me know 😊

I hope you liked it. Feedback = LIFE

[justice-for-shayla]

Survivor’s Guilt Part One

A/N: I’m so pleased to finally have this done. It took ages and I have so many drafts of it, but I’m finally happy with it. So far I have two parts of this, and I would probably write more in this universe if you like it! The next chapter is shameless smut.

Summary: You’re an actress whose been through something horrible and tragic, finally starting to get her career and life back on track. Josh is assistant directing a movie with his father, starring you. The two of you recognize each other as survivors, and it unites you in an unexpected way. 

Word Count: 1800

Tag List: None, feel free to ask to be tagged!

Warnings: Panic attacks, violence mention, blood, 

You’re not the type to sleep with the director’s son, or the assistant director, so when they’re both rolled into one, it should be obvious that Josh Washington is a bad idea.

But he’s a goddamn gorgeous bad idea, and you’re known for being a little reckless.

The tabloids liked to say that your ‘incident’ as they liked to call it, pretending to care about the seriousness of the matter, had left you as a shameless adrenaline junky, addicted to bad choices.

That pissed you off; you’d been an adrenaline junky for a long time before what had happened to you, but no one had paid attention before that.

The first time you saw Josh was like looking in a mirror. Not because the two of you resembled each other at all, but you recognized the look in his eyes perfectly; you’d seen it in your mirror every day since you woke up in that hospital after being rescued. He flirted and joked, hiding his pain well, but you saw through him.

That didn’t stop you from flirting back, hiding behind it just as much as he was.

“Morning, Josh,” You said, smiling brightly as you walked by him on set.

He lifted his head off the table and gestured vaguely at you with his cup of coffee. “Too early.”

Laughing, you pull up a chair and sit next to him. “The trick is to never sleep, then you can’t wake up too early.”

“That… sounds wrong, but too tired,” Josh muttered.

Reaching over, you ruffle his hair, something you hadn’t tried before; the two of you joked with each other, but didn’t really touch. The gesture perks him up a little, and he lifts his head all the way off the table to look at you.

You smile back. “It works for me. You should try it.”

Slowly, he manages a smile in return. “What would I do all night?”

“I’m sure you could think of something.” You decide that winking would be over the top, but your tone does the work for you; he knows what you mean.

For a moment, he’s speechless, but he recovers quickly. “Are you, um, ready for today?”

You’re so surprised by the question that you ask honestly. “No. I’m nervous.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, what about it?” The words come out harsher than you mean them, and you hate your defensive tone.

He shrugs, backing down. “I guess I just thought you were fearless.”

Tears prick at the back of your eyes and you blink furiously for a moment. “I guess I’m a better actor than I thought,” You say with a hollow laugh.

“After everything you’ve been through—” For once, he’s not joking. His eyes are wide and sincere and he stands up to step closer to you.

“Y/N!”

Both of you jump and turn towards the PA that had called you, stepping apart. “I’ll be right there! Sorry, Josh, I should go, but um, catch you later?”

“Yeah, definitely. You know where to find me.”

Filming goes well for the first half of the day. Your stress is rising the more time you spend in the woods, which feel too similar to the ones you almost hadn’t made it out of, but you fight the feeling, pushing it far to the back of your mind and focusing on work.

It gets worse when you see the blood. It’s not real, and it looks too red when it’s sitting in buckets and bags lying around next to lighting rigs, but your stomach still turns.

Josh seems just as uncomfortable around it, stealing glances like he thinks it might come to life at any moment.  

“You okay?” You ask quietly in a spare moment.

He looks lonely and far away when he answers. “Yeah. Fine.”

“If you want to talk,” You offer lamely, “You know where to find me.”

He attempts a smile. “You have your own shit to deal with.”

He’s right, but you don’t want to agree with him. You’d rather talk about his shit than yours. Whatever it is, surely it’s not as bad as what’s haunting you? You can’t think of anything worse than your kidnapping, than the man who had killed your friend and tried to kill you.

“There she is!” Ezra walked over and tossed an enthusiastic arm around your shoulders. “Our very own Final Girl, how are you feeling?”

“Dad,” Josh hisses, but Ezra doesn’t seem to hear him.

“Good thanks.” Your smile is stiff on your face, but you would rather chew off your own toe than tell Ezra that you’re scared to film the next scene.

He smiles benignly and turns to go. “You’re going to kill this, Y/N, it’s why I cast you.”

You can’t help but glare at his retreating back. You know why he cast you, and it was because of the media attention this film was getting for casting a real life serial killer survivor as its leading lady. Part of you was disgusted, but the other part was thrilled at the opportunity it presented for your career.

Someone calls five and you look at Josh, forcing a slightly better smile. “Guess it’s time to capitalize shamelessly on my trauma.”

He laughs, but somehow you don’t think he found your joke funny. “Be careful, okay?”

“Yeah, of course. I mean, it’s all fake anyway, right? It can’t hurt me.” You hope that saying that will make it true. He doesn’t answer as you walk away to do your job.  

Jerry, the guy playing the killer, smiles at you before lowering the spooky mask he wears throughout the film. It should be comforting to know that the nightmare man of the film is actually a forty-something guy with a wife and two kids who unironically likes pro wrestling, but it isn’t. Already, in the dim light of the forest, things are starting to feel real. Too real.

It’s the blood that finally snaps you. It comes from off camera, soaking you while you run, and that’s when you start to scram. Dimly, you can hear Ezra’s enthusiasm, he loves what you’re doing with the role, but you aren’t doing anything. You’re horrified.

This is real. The blood is Emma’s, and she’s dead. That man—you won’t even think his name—is distracted for a moment and you seize the chance to hit him and run into the woods. You don’t know where you are and the blood is in your eyes and your lungs and running down your skin.

You keep screaming after Ezra calls cut, only stopping when you run out of breath.

Everyone is staring at you.

You can barely see them, still too trapped in your own memories.

“Y/N, sweetie?” Ezra starts, but Josh cuts him off.

“Fuck off, Dad,” He crosses over to you, taking your hands in his and rubbing them gently. “What street did you grow up on?”

It’s an odd question, but you answer him, voice timid and foreign in your ears.

He nods, “That’s good. Did you live on any other streets?”

You shake your head; your parents didn’t move until after your ‘incident’ as they called it.

“What high school did you go to?” You tell him that too. “What street was it on?”

Again, you answer, and you realize that slowly the set is starting to feel real again. The memories are going back to the dark place in your mind where they usually are, rather than right at the front. You look down at your hands, still held in his and gag when you see the blood. You know its fake, but it looks real enough. Clawing at it, you try to get it off, to get yourself clean.

Josh grips you hands. “Stop, Y/N. It’s not real.”

“I need to get it off, I can’t… It’s too—”

“Come on.” He lets go of one of your hands and leads you away, past the cameras and the people and his father. He barely looks at them, only stopping to look at his father and say calmly, “Y/N is taking the rest of the day off.”

His father nods mutely and lets the two of you go.

In a better frame of mind, you might have felt bad about walking off set in costume, and about sitting in Josh’s nice car while still soaked in fake blood, but you’re took out of it to care right now, instead storing it to apologize later.

“I rented an apartment in the area so that I wouldn’t have to commute to set,” Josh explains as you drive. “It’s closer than anywhere else I could take you.”

You nod, still mute and lost in memories. On closer inspection, the blood doesn’t really look like Emma’s did, but that doesn’t make you feel much better.

The drive passes in a silent blur; you’re glad Josh doesn’t try to push conversation. After parking, he leads you up to a small, simply furnished apartment and locks the door behind him.

You stand frozen in the middle of the room, not sure what to do now.

“Y/N?” He seems to realize that you’re not able to do anything, so he gently leads you to the bathroom with a hand on your back. He turns on the shower and waits for it to get warm. “You can wash the blood off if you want?”

You still don’t move, feeling stupid and confused and more than anything you don’t want him to leave you alone. That’s what they did when they first rescued you. As nice as those nurses had been, they left you so you could wash off, probably thinking that they were doing you a favor, but you remember screaming as soon as you saw the blood in the water.

“Y/N?” He sighs when you don’t respond and carefully starts to undo the buttons on your shirt, peeling it off you all while assuring you that you’re safe, that everything is alright. He removes his own shirt and jeans and guides you into the shower.

The process of washing all that blood off is slow, and you feel yourself waking up gradually as it happens. Josh runs a washcloth over you, and you watch as the red runs pink and trails down your skin and into the drain. It’s a disgusting relief.

Several minutes into it, you start to realize how strange this is. You’re half dressed, standing in Josh’s shower in shorts and a bra while he washes blood off of you. In a better mood, this would have been a nice fantasy; Josh is gorgeous. As it is, it’s mostly just extremely weird.

“You must think I’m insane,” You finally say, your voice barely above a whisper.

Josh doesn’t take his eyes off the patch of skin on your shoulder where he’s meticulously scrubbing the dried-on blood. “No, I don’t.”

You put your hand over his to stop him, forcing him to look at your face. “Thank you.”

He nods. “Do you want me to go? You can finish—”

“Stay.”

[waywardodysseys]

Untouched - Part One

Pairing: Ezra x virgin female reader

Warnings: sexual tension, cussing

Requested?: Yes from this ask - Gods! Wish I've found your blog sooner... I LOVE the way you write! You deserve all the best things, hope ya know that. I've been having a hard time for so long now, and your writings make me go all giggly and happy... Anyways, would you ever be willing to write a virgin and inexperienced reader x Din or Ezra ? A oneshot maybe or even a mini series. I'd die for that!! But I don't want to make you uncomfortable or anything.

Author’s note: right now I am looking at this as a 3 part mini series

~   ~   ~

You’re working on the station’s data system when your name is called over the PA.

“Tech Y/F/N Y/L/N. Please report to the bridge.”

You sigh and put down your tools. You’ll be back for them. No one else comes down here except you.

You make your way down a long metal corridor, past the docking bay and med clinic. You climb the steps up to the bridge where the captain turns and smiles. Her white hair is short, and her blue-green eyes sparkle under all the light.

“I need you to go down to Jade,” the captain remarks in her light English accent.

Jade was the name they were calling the green moon which was just beyond the red planet.

“Why? I’m no digger. I do tech.” You reply.

“You’re the only one who hasn’t been down on a mining mission. Everyone needs to go.”

“I’m no digger.” You repeat.

“I know you are tech Y/N. There are others aboard who can handle it while you’re away.”

“Who are you placing me with?” You ask, curious.

“Ezra.”

You swallow. Your heart rate increases. Not him. “Why him? People say he’s a bit off the books. Does things his own way.” You shake your head. “I don’t think him, and I would be a good match. A good team.”

“He’s experienced. You’ll be fine.”

You rub your inner wrist. You’re nervous, anxious. You don’t want to go down to Jade. Well part of you wanted too but part of you wish it wasn’t with Ezra. You had a crush on the man since the first day abroad the station. He would smile at you, talk to you but you kept your distance, stayed focus on work.

“You leave tomorrow.” The captain’s voice cuts through the quietness.

“Tomorrow.” You repeat.

“Ezra will be double checking the departure routine. You should join him.” The captain stops outside the docking bay.

You had been wrapped up in your own thoughts you hadn’t realized you had moved your feet, walking beside the captain towards the docking bay.

“Right,” you say as you look between the docking bay door and the captain.

The captain touches your shoulder lightly. “You’ll be fine Y/N.”

You smile weakly and nod before the captain turns away and heads back towards the bridge. You look at the circular docking day as your heart continue beating rapidly inside of your chest.

You can do this, you think, you must do this.

You press on the keypad and the circular door opens in the middle. The top half goes up, the other half goes down. You walk into the docking bay. The smell of oil and gas are prominent as you hear drills and torches working on metal.

You look around and find Ezra.

He shies of being six feet tall. His hair is short and brown, and he has just a small patch of blond hair on his right side. You take in his long neck and wonder how many women have placed their head against it and inhaled his scent, licked his skin.

Oh, god, you think, this is a bad idea.

He’s holding a clipboard in one hand as his eyes skim the list. He looks up and sees you, smiles. “Y/N.”

Your heart quickens just a beat and smile. “Ezra.”

“Captain says you’re joining me.”

“I am.”

“Good. You’ll be fine. You’ll have me as your guide.”

“This will be my first time from the station.” You say lightly.

Ezra raises his eyebrows, “I thought everyone on the station has gone on some type of dig on Jade.”

You purse your lips. “Not me. I do the tech on the station. All the tech.”

Ezra smiles, “we won’t be gone long. I’m sure they’ll survive without you.”

-------

The next day you and Ezra are descending in the pod, heading towards the alien green moon.

You’re strapped in your seat as your heart beats fast. You’re still unsure about this, still unsure about spending time with Ezra. You wonder if he’s going to do his own thing down on the moon or teach you how things should be done correctly, when the fuel gauge begins blaring.

“What is it?” Ezra asks.

“Fuel gauge. We’re losing fuel at a high quantity.” You reply.

“Fuck,” Ezra hisses. “I double checked everything before we departed. Fuel’s full.”

“It’s indicating a leak.”

“Tripe fuck!” Ezra shouts.

The pod makes it through the atmosphere of the moon and continues on its projected path to the landing site.

After the pod lands safely and in one piece, both of you scramble out of your seats, hook up cords and the oxygen tubes to one another then don your helmets and head out into the atmosphere of the alien moon.

You find the compartment of the fuel tank and unlatch it. Liquid spills out onto the ground.

Ezra sighs angrily from behind you, “fuck times infinity.”

“I’m sure it can be fixed.” You say as you look it over.

“We don’t have any fuel!” Ezra barks.

You knew that, you were just trying to ease him.

“I know Ezra. Just calm down before you waste our oxygen,” you say lightly.

Ezra looks at you, “why aren’t you freaked out?”

You stand and look at him, “I am freaked out. But I don’t need to show it because you’re obviously doing that! Goddamn! This is why I didn’t want to come down here especially with you.”

Ezra glares at you. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing,” you say as you turn away.

Ezra grabs your arm, “Y/N.”

“Nothing,” you hiss as you yank your arm from his grasp.

Minutes later you two are lugging out supplies from the pod and setting up a tent about 30 feet from the pod. You’re quiet, Ezra’s quiet but he’s seething with anger now you and he are stranded on this alien moon.

-------

It’s been months since you and Ezra have been stranded on the alien moon.

There are times you two are fine with one another, then there are times you can’t stand to be in the same vicinity with one another.

Majority of the days are spent digging, sometimes Ezra goes off alone while you try to fix the tech and coms because those busted and shorted one day.

Ezra had been angry and punched some of the controls while he was inside the pod.

“Great Ezra,” you had barked when he had seen what he did, “now we’ll never leave.”

Ezra had shrugged and walked away from you.

And now since you two had been on this moon together for too long, Ezra can’t control himself any longer. He wants you; he needs you.

He wants to kiss your mouth, see how soft your lips are. He wants his hands to travel your body, to see if your skin is delicate. He wants to be inside of you, to see if you’re as tight as imagines when he jerks off when he’s alone.

Ezra watches as you walk into the tent and begin unhooking yourself. He stands as you remove your helmet and walks over to you.

You turn and face him. You take a step back and look at him.

“Ezra,” your voice is airy and filled curiosity.

Ezra cups your cheeks and brushes his mouth against yours.

He inwardly moans. They are soft like he imagined.

You feel Ezra remove his hands from your cheeks and then wrap his arms around you, pulling you up against him.

Ezra begins pushing down your spacesuit.

Yes, your mind screams. But wait, he doesn’t know you’re...

You pull back breathlessly, “Ezra.”

“Y/N.” He presses his forehead against yours. “I want you; I need you.”

You had been with this man for months. Were you ready to give him yourself? Were you wanting Ezra to be your first?

You had heard him on rare occasions in the middle of the night moaning your name. You would sneak a peek over at his bunk. See his hand moving up and down under the sheet. He was getting off to you, not another woman. It was you he was getting off too.

But he needed to know. He deserved to know.

You look into those deep, dark brown eyes of his. You cup his cheek.

“I do want you Ezra. I need you too.”

Ezra kisses you again and pushes your spacesuit further down your body.

You pull back and look at Ezra. “I need to tell you something.”

Ezra raises his eyebrows. “What?”

You swallow as your heart quickens. “I’m a virgin.”

Tags: @pascalisthepunkest​, @kaelyn-lobrutto24​, @jokersdoll​, @knight-of-heart44​, @mandadl0rian​, @random066​, @earl-01​, @caitlincat-95​, @longitud-de-onda​, @cosmo-bear​

[booksaremyoxygenn]

The Beginning of Everything: Best Quotes

By Robyn Schneider

“I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity and her flaming self respect and it’s these things I’d believe in even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn’t all that she should be. . . . I love her and that’s the beginning and the end of everything.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald (pg 0) 

“Sometimes I think that everyone has a tragedy waiting for them, that the people buying milk in their pajamas or picking their noses at stoplights could be only moments away from disaster. That everyone’s life, no matter how unremarkable, has a moment when it will become extraordinary - a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen.” (p 1)

“There is a type of problem in organic chemistry called a retrosynthesis. You are presented with a compound that does not occur in nature, and your job is to work backward, step by step, and ascertain how it came to exist - what sort of conditions led to its eventual creation. When you are finished, if done correctly, the equation can be read normally, making it possible to distinguish the question from the answer. Is still think that everyone’s life, no matter how unremarkable, has a singular tragic encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. That moment is the catalyst - the first step in the equation. But knowing the first step will get you nowhere - it’s what comes after that determines the result.” (p 12)

“The funny thing about gold is how quickly it can tarnish.” (p 16)

“If everything really does get better, the way everyone claims, then happiness should be graphable. You draw up an X axis and a Y axis, where a positive slope represents a positive attitude, plot some points, and there you go. But that’s crap, because better isn’t quantifiable.” (p 44)

“(Here) no one went looking for adventure: they chased it away.” (p 64)

“There was this philosopher-slash-historian called Foucault, who wrote about how society is like this legendary prison called the panopticon. In the panopticon, you might be under constant observation, except we can never be sure whether someone is watching or not, so you wind up following the rules anyway.” “But how do you know who’s a watcher and who’s a prisoner?” “That’s the point. Even the watchers are prisoners.” (p 69)

“Like Hamlet, my madness is fleeting.” (p 99) 

“There is this poem,” Cassidy finally said, “by Mary Oliver. ANd I used to write a line from it in all of my school notebooks to remind myself that I din’t have to be embarrassed of the past and afraid of the future. ANd it helped. So I’’m giving it to you. The line is, ‘Tell me, what is you plan to do / What your one wild and precious life?’” (p 114)

“And out of all the thing I wanted but knew I couldn’t have, part of me hoped that Cassidy would be the one exception.” (p 169)

“Because simply saying sorry was to normal for a girl like Cassidy Thorpe.” (p 174)

“The world tends toward chaos.” (175)

“But the point isn’t whether or not you believe in imaginary people; it’s whether or not you want to.” (p 175) 

“In French, for when you have a lingering impression of something having passed by. Sillage. I always think of it when a firework explodes and lights up the smoke from the ones before it.” “That’s a terrible word,” I teased. “It’s like an excuse for holding onto the past.” “Well, I think it’s beautiful. A word for remembering small moments destined to be lost.” (p 178)

“Wouldn’t it be incredible,” I said, “if you could send secret messages with fireworks? Like Morse code.” Why? Cassidy asked, her face inches from mine. “What would you say?” I closed the distance between us, pressing my lips against her. “ (p 178 - 179)

“All of our longings are universal longings.” (p 185) 

(Speaking of Banksy a graffiti artist) “He printed up all this fake money and threw it into a crowd. people thought it was real and tried to spend it in shops, and they were so angry when they found out it was fake. But now, those bulls sell for a fortune on eBay. It’s simultaneously real and not real, you know? Worthless as currency, but not art.” (p 187)

“All around us, strangers paired up and danced together, laughing. I was overwhelmed by the number of people recording video of the event, unable to be present in the moment. .  .but the flash mob wasn’t about the banana-suit guy, or the people standing awkwardly with video cameras, or the gawking crowds that had come out of the stores to see what was happening. It was about being able to dance like Cassidy did, as though no one was watching, as though the moment was infinite enough without needing to document its existence. And so I closed my eyes and tried.” (p 190)

“Going to the movies always makes me strangely exhilarated. . . it’s as though everything is more vivid, and the line between the probable and the cinematic becomes blurred. You think big thoughts, like maybe it’s possible to move someplace exciting, or risk everything for a chance at your dreams or whatever, but then you never do. It’s more the feeling that you could turn your life into a movie if you wanted to.” (p 206)

“How could it have been you? My God, Ezra, look at yourself. You’re a washed-up prom king who lost his virginity to some cheerleader in a hot tub. You take me out for burgers and Friday-night movies at the multiplex. You’re everything I make fun of about small hick towns like this one, and you’re still going to be here in twenty years, coaching the high school tennis team so you can relive your glory days.” ( p 244) 

“it was as though I’d gone off on an epic adventure, chased down fireworks and buried treasure, danced to music that only I could hear, and had returned to find that nothing had changed except for me.” (p 260) 

“By the time I packed up, I wondered if I’d really been looking for Cassidy after all, or if I’d been hoping to find myself.” (p 263)

“(You) forgot how to be awesome because you were too busy (trying) to be cool.” (p 270)

“Realizing she was the sort of girl who got upset when someone used an unfamiliar word, rather than learning what it meant.” (p 283)

“I left Jill’s party thinking that sometimes it isn’t worth confirming what we already know about people we understand so well. Because what Charlotte had wanted that night wasn’t me. It was some imaginary version of the boy she used to date but never bothered to really think about as a person.” (p 285)

“I realized there was a big difference between deciding to leave and knowing where to go.” (p 287) 

“Life is the tragedy,” she said bitterly. “You know how they categorize Shakespeare’s plays, right? If it ends with a wedding, it’s a comedy. And if it ends with a funeral, it’s a tragedy. So we’re all living tragedies, because we all end the same way, and it isn’t with a goddamned wedding.” (p 296) 

“We’d been so good together once, and then we’d rotted, like some corpse with a delayed burial. I read somewhere that the hair and fingernails on dead bodies don’t actually grow, it just looks like they do because the skin contracts as the body dries out. So it’s possible to lie even in death, to deceive people from beyond the grave. I wondered if that’s what this was. If I was staring at the rotting corpse of what Cassidy and I had once had, wrongly convinced there was still life in it, grasping onto an uninformed lie.” (p 301)

“Because the way I figure it, everyone gets a tragedy. And all things considered, I’m glad that car accident was mine.” ( p 329) 

“But I didn’t do any of that,” Cassidy insisted. “Ezar, the girl you’re chasing after doesn’t exist. I’m not some bohemian adventurer who takes you on treasure hunts and sends you secret messages. I’m this sad, lonely mess who studies too much and pushes people away and hides in her haunted house. You keep wanting to give me credit because you finally decided you weren’t content with squeezing yourself into the narrow corridor of everyone’s expectations, but you made that decision before we’d even met, back on the first day of school when you shot your mouth off in AP Euro.” ( 329) 

“The smarter you are, the more tempting it is to just let other people imagine you. We move through each other’s lives like ghosts, leaving behind haunting memories of people who never existed. The popular jock. The mysterious new girl. But we’re the ones who choose, in the end, how people see us. And I’d rather be misremembered. Please, Ezra, misremember me.” (p 330) 

“To Cassidy, the panopticon wasn’t a metaphor. It was the greatest failing of everything she was, a prison she had built for herself out of an inability to appear anything less than perfect. And so she ghosted on, in relentless pursuit of escape, not from society, but from herself. She would always be confined by what everyone expected of her, because she was too afraid and too unwilling to correct out imperfect imaginings.” (p 330) 

“I wondered what things became when you no longer needed them, and I wondered what the future would hold once we’d gotten past our personal tragedies and proven them ultimately survivable.” (p 333) 

“The finality of her leaving allowed me to reclaim the places that had once been ours as mine. . . rather than grasping for lost moments with a lost girl who refused ot be found.” ( p 333) 

“She was right, though, in the end. I never should have given her so much credit. It all got tangled together, her appearance and Toby coming back into my life and the first time I ever read a book that spoke to me, and the question of who I wanted to be in the aftermath of my personal tragedy. Because I made a decision that year, to start mattering in a way that had nothing to do with sports teams or plastic crowns, and the reality is, I might have made that decision without her, or if I’d never fallen in love with a girl who considered love to be the biggest disaster of all.” (p 335) 

“ The truth of it was, I’d been running the wrong experiment my whole life, and while Cassidy was the first person to realize, she didn’t add the elements that allowed me to proceed down a different path. She lent a spark, perhaps, or tendered the flame, but the arson was mine. Oscar Wilde once said that to live is the rarest thing in the world, because most people just exist, and that’s all. I don’t know if he’s right, but I do know that I spent a long time existing, and now, I intend to live.” ( p 335)