#I know it probably feels like it’s skipping around or something

[pboogerswbb]

SO IT GOES - chapter 7

Paige Bueckers x oc Warnings: sexual content, mental abuse, toxic relationship, language Wordcount: 7.7K A/C: SHE'S BAACKKK!!! omg i missed you guys so much you don't even know! I AM BACK and i'm locked in and i finally got this chapter out for you, ty for being so so patient with me, i will have more time to write for everyone now!! ily guys and tysm for 1k followers, i have a little surprise to you to celebrate that soon :)) ILYM <33

italics are flashbacks

-

Before London

“You buckled up?”

“Yes,” I murmur, crossing my legs and looking out the window. It’s one of those days where it’s been grey and gloomy since the morning. The dark clouds billow in along the horizon, causing an unbearable humidity to fall over Dallas. The weather felt heavy, everyone hoping for a gentle May storm to bring some relief. I could feel sweat growing in my neck, the humidity causing my hair to turn unruly, impossible to manage, dark curls twisting every which way except the direction they were supposed to.

The heaviness was impossible to escape, even in Paige’s car - though I’m not exactly sure if it’s the weather or the tension between us having my stomach doing flips.

“Jesus…” The blonde mumbles to herself when a song by The Weeknd starts playing, nimble hands quickly skipping it.

Since our interrupted moment on my couch we hadn’t talked about it, neither of us wanting to be the first to bring it up. We left it at that, just a moment of weakness between us both, Paige avoiding my gaze whenever she could. The blonde, however, had been growing uncharacteristically more frustrated ever since. Whether because of what happened between us or the game tomorrow, I wasn’t sure.

“So… When’s your dad coming?” I ask carefully, knowing she has been irritated all day. Matter of fact Arike and Lou had warned me about it earlier.

“Tonight, I’ll pick him up from the airport,” she mumbles and then groans, hitting the steering wheel like remembering something. “I was gonna clean before but I forgot.”

“Do you need help?”

“Nah.”

“Paige, I really don’t mind,” I insist, watching the hooper driving with practiced ease in her Nike sweats and a black t-shirt. “I kind of owe it to you since you took care of me…”

Paige’s blue eyes flicker from the road to me, back to the road, face turning red at the memory of us on the couch. Just as she’s about to answer, another song by The Weeknd begins to play.

“This fuckin’ playlist,” Paige groans, quickly skipping every song with any type of sexual implications. It was almost funny, really, the way she was behaving. She’s huffing, fumbling with her phone to change songs before throwing the device to me. “Just put on sumn Iz, please, I’m getting pissed off.”

“I can see that,” I chuckle, picking another list which seemingly is more chill. “Nervous about the game huh?”

“I dunno man,” she mumbles, rubbing her face and leaning back against the seat, jaw clenching. Truthfully, I felt just as frustrated, my mind spinning around how the girl felt on top of me. Everything she did felt so effortless, yet had me probably wetter than I had ever been in my life with such ease. The mere memory had been driving me mad, my own hand trying to relieve the ache between my thighs but with no such luck. Honestly the tension was driving me just as frustrated as Paige is. And God this stupid, overbearing heat, the way it had turned my skin sticky, making it hard to breathe. Paige rubs her own chest, as if feeling the exact same.

Even now, watching the blonde, her veiny hands on the wheel, arms glistening with sweat from the humidity, neck bobbing as she swallows heavily, blonde hair down and straight. all of it had that familiar ache grow between my legs again. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone this much.

I lick my lips and move my eyes to the road, beginning to feel flustered. The temptation of toying with the idea of going to bed with the blonde had been growing stronger and stronger, driving me up the wall. Maybe it was time for me to try on someone else. But I felt afraid, it had been years since I slept with anyone else but Jasper. Maybe this could be a good chance to see how it might make me feel? But then again Paige would need to understand that it has to be just sex. Nothing more. No attachment. 

Memories of her filthy words repeat in my head. I swear no one’s ever spoken to me like that before. No one had ever told me such dirty things. It was exhilarating, it had me soaked. 

The drive is quiet, Paige letting out frustrated huffs now and then and chewing on her lower lip.

“Will we still do the pregame interview for socials tomorrow?” I ask.

“Course,” she huffs with annoyance.

“Okay no reason to have an attitude with me now,” I answer, growing a little annoyed or perhaps frustrated too.

She pulls up to our building’s parking lot, exhaling loudly. “You right,” she mumbles and turns to me, face softening exponentially. Paige reaches over, taking both my hands into hers. It’s enough to make my stomach flip. “You right Iz, I’m sorry. Ion wanna be like that with you I just… It’s this damn heat and everything.”

Our eyes lock, and I consider leaning over the center console and kissing her. But I wasn’t brave enough. Not yet, at least.

“It’s okay Paige,” I hum. Slightly hesitantly, the blonde brings my hands up to her mouth and presses a soft kiss to both of them, eyes fluttering shut. I feel the familiar blush build on my cheeks as I watch her, jolts running through my body. No, I’m done being scared. I need her now.

“Can I come over to yours please?” I ask as politely as I can, though the look in my eyes lets Paige know exactly what’s on my mind. I swear I’ve never seen her nod so quickly, barely letting my words sink in. She clumsily climbs out of the car, practically running to my side to open the door and helping me out. The blonde’s steps are hurried, long strides making it hard for me to keep up as we climb to her floor, a slight grin on my face as I watch the eagerness in which she was moving with. 

Paige’s hands scramble with the lock, the key shaking a little in her hand as she finally opens the door, allowing me in first. My stomach starts to twist, and there’s a burn spreading around my upper thighs as I take off my heels, suddenly significantly shorter than the blonde girl following on my tail.

I hear the door close and turn around, chest heaving much like Paige’s is as I watch her blue eyes roaming my body, the black pencil skirt and the body hugging maroon short-sleeved top, her gaze landing on my face, mouth already agape and breaths growing heavy. 

For a moment we just breathe, our eyes locked on each other, taking the moment in. The tension, the pent up frustration, the need we have for each other, until the blonde snaps and pushes me into the wall which feels cold against my warm back. Paige’s hands land on my waste as our lips crash into a messy, sloppy, needy kiss. A type of kiss I had never had before. It leaves me breathless, my arms wrapping around her shoulders, long fingers wrapping into her hair and pulling the girl closer. She moves her lips off mine, beginning to trail to my neck, hands on my waist travelling downwards to my ass, groaning as she feels it under her grip. 

“W-wait,” I gasp breathlessly, legs already beginning to shake. 

“Mhm,” Paige hums against my skin, lips never quitting working on my neck. 

“I- fuck,” I whimper. “I just need you to know that this has to be just sex.”

Without even thinking I feel the blonde nod, lips sucking right below my ear. “Okay, whatever you want Iz.”

I pull her away from my neck by her hair, meeting her eyes. “I’m serious. Just sex.”

Paige’s eyelids are heavy, the normally bright blue of her eyes turning dark with lust as she gazes down at me. “Izara, I mean it. Whatever you want me to be I’mma be okay?”

When those words leave the blonde’s mouth I nearly crumble to the ground. I can’t wait for a second longer, the wetness pooling between my legs enough proof of that.

“Take me to bed,” I tell the younger girl, who picks me up with ease as my legs wrap around her torso. She kisses me hungrily, our tongues meeting in a battle for dominance which the blonde soon wins as she places me down on her bed softly, my skirt now hiked up halfway up my thighs.

For a moment Paige stands above me, eyes roaming my body as she shakes her head in disbelief. “You’re so beautiful,” she mumbles, then climbs on top of me, her right hand hiking my skirt all the way up, revealing my lacy red panties. When Paige notices, she lets out a groan, practically drooling but working hard to pace herself.

“Take this off,” I murmur, yanking on Paige’s t-shirt.

“Yes ma’am,” she replies, pulling it over her head and onto the floor. I watch the way her muscles in her abdomen clench and I can’t help but drag my fingernails along it as she sits up on top of me, straddling me while I lie flat against the soft blanket.

“Fuck,” she moans hoarsely, throwing her head back, her hands inching underneath my top.

“Would you like it off?” I ask, chest heaving.

“Yes. Please.”

I pull the top off, the blonde’s fingertips leaving tingles as they drag over my ribs. Somehow I don’t feel nervous, all my anxious thoughts left the second I felt Paige on me again.

“Goddamn…” The girl sighs, her hand dragging to my matching lace bra and palming my round breast, making me whimper. I pull her down by the chain on her neck, kissing her feverishly, my underwear growing wetter with every passing moment, mind spinning with need. As I let out a whine, Paige gets the hint, her right hand dragging down my body to my bare thigh and squeezing. 

My back arches off the bed, another whine spilling from my lips but quickly silenced by the blonde’s kiss, her fingers trailing up my inner thigh torturously slowly.

“Paige,” I cry out.

“Tell me what you want?” Paige asks, her voice gravelly in a way I haven’t heard before.

“You to touch me,” I whimper, my brows furrowing with need. “Please.”

“So polite ma,” she grins, beginning to kiss my neck, inching downwards my body to my breasts. “I’mma take good care of you baby, don’ worry.”

My legs spread wider in anticipation as her lips trail downwards along my stomach. I can feel my head spinning, unable to accept that this is real and actually happening. That I would finally find relief to the awful ache inside me.

Faint giggles take me out of the moment, snapping me back to reality. I must’ve imagined - no wait, I can definitely hear giggles. “Paige,” I say.

“Mhm,” she hums, kissing along my inner thighs now.

“You hear that?”

“Hear what,” she mumbles against my skin, nuzzling it, her eyes finally opening when I sit up.

“Listen,” I complain, pushing her off by her forehead to make her pay attention.

“I hear nothin, just lie down and re-”

It’s clear. The sound coming from the front door. Paige’s front door, someone fumbling with the key in the keyhole, turning it and-

“What the fuck?” Paige asks, abruptly getting off me and hurrying to the door of her bedroom, peeking into the corridor in her sports bra and sweats. I get up too, pulling my skirt down, wanting to cry with frustration.

-

There they are. By my doorstep. KK, Ice, Azzi, Jana and Ash, holding balloons and banners and other decorations, giggling amongst each other.

“I- wh- KK? Ice? A- how did y’all get in?” I ask, eyes flickering between the girls and Izara in the bedroom, pulling her skirt down and throwing her top on frantically. 

“Why aren’t you at practice?”

“It ended early,” I say, my voice rising uncharacteristically as I attempt to steady my breathing from what almost just happened. How close I was to getting what I had been craving for weeks. I loved these girls but, God could I kill them right now. “How the hell do y’all got a key to my place??”

“Oh it’s your dad��s,” Azzi giggles. “We were gonna surprise you, he’s downstairs.”

Oh so not only my girls but my dad was gonna arrive at the scene. With a girl in my bedroom. I glance at Iz, who’s fixing her hair in the mirror, but she looks completely fucked out. And I bet I do too. I had no idea how to explain myself out of this one.

“Wh-” I start

“Yeah why aren’t you hugging us and shit? You forget all about us?” KK huffs.

I rub my face, letting out a heavy exhale when Izzie walks out of the bedroom into the eyeline of the group of girls. All their eyes widen, and I can’t ignore the shared looks between them. Quick, Paige, say something.

“Uhh, guys this is Iz- I mean, Zari, she uh, was over to uh…” I scratch the back of my neck, KK already covering her mouth trying not to laugh.

“I just needed to borrow…” Izzie’s eyes scan the room. “Paige’s lamp! Mine broke, so. Couldn’t see to read my book.” Her face is bright red, the usual composure with which she presented herself completely gone. I almost groan at the excuse but realise that would just make the situation seem a million times worse.

“Yes! She was! Uh let me get it for you,” I mumble, about to walk into the bedroom to actually grab a lamp for the girl.

“No no! You say hi to your friends, I can do it myself!”

I wanna bury my face into my hands and go back into the bedroom and lock the door and never come out. All the girls are staring with amused faces, hands holding balloons and flyers and little decorations in preparation for my first game tomorrow, clearly suspicious of us two. Just when I think it can’t get worse, my dad - yes my dad - walks in.

“Why are you girls all- Oh hi, don’t you have practice?” He asks, holding a cake.

I rub the bridge of my nose, not sure whether to laugh or cry at this point.

“Got home early,” I sigh, too flustered to even enjoy the fact that my best friends and my dad were here to see me.

“This girl here is borrowing a lamp,” KK mumbles under her breath to my dad, trying to hold in her snickers. What a stupid excuse. I thought Izzie was supposed to be smart. Borrowing a lamp, what kinda excuse was that?

My dad’s eyes land on Izzie, flickering between me and her and the awkwardly large distance between us as if that might help us look less suspicious. Though based on the small grin on my dad’s face, I can tell it’s doing the exact opposite.

“I’m Bob, Paige’s dad,” my dad slides inside through the girls who are eyeing the situation with amused expressions, shaking hands with Iz like I wasn’t just between her legs ready to do something unimaginable.

“Hey, I’m Izara. I’m a friend of your daughter’s.”

“Izara huh?” He turns to me with a sly grin, something I’d inherited. “You haven’t mentioned an Izara?”

“She prefers Zari,” I correct, trying to avoid his eye. “She does media for the Wings.”

For a moment everyone’s quiet, multiple pairs of eyes staring at me, then Zari, then me again. The silence lingers, bordering on uncomfortable when to everyone’s relief KK speaks.

“Bro we don’t even get a hug or nothing?”

-

She’s there, sitting on my couch, in between Ice and Azzi and laughing that sweet giggle of hers. She looks comfortable, already gaining the approval of my friends with ease. We’re sitting in a circle around the coffee table eating pizza, easy conversation flowing between everyone. But all I could pay attention to was the brunette girl, how easily she fit in, how she had already charmed the hell out of my dad. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, the way her eyes sparkle when she laughs at my friends’ stupid jokes, or the coy smile on her perfect lips when my dad asks her a question. I needed her, badly, even more than before if possible. 

“Excuse me, I need some water,” Izara catches my eye and excuses herself to the kitchen. Without a word I get up, following on her trail like a puppy. I know everyone notices us leaving, but I don’t care. I wanted to take every second to be with her, to touch her, to have her to myself.

“Hey,” I mumble, leaning against the doorframe and watching as she looks through my cupboards for glasses.

“Hey,” she hums with a smile. I walk to the girl, pressing my front into her back as I reach for a glass in the cupboard above us.

“Oh, thank you,” Izzie says, her voice shaky as my hand lands on her waist. The girls’ voices are loud but distant, echoing around the sparsely furnished living room. So in a moment of weakness I allow my head to tilt down into the crook of Izara’s neck, inhaling the fruity, gentle jasmine scent of her perfume, nuzzling my nose against her goosebump forming skin. I feel her shift, the curve of her ass pressing against me as I allow my lips to press soft kisses onto her golden skin.

The dark haired girl lets out a shaky breath and the sound drives me wild, it taking every drop of my self discipline not to make everyone leave just so I could have my way with her, just to make her feel good. Izzie’s head tilts back, resting against my chest as I bite on her shoulder, my lips gliding and leaving sloppy kisses on her neck.

“Paige,” she whispers chuckling, clearly torn between asking me to stop and asking for more.

“You’re fucking killing me,” I murmur into her ear, my voice hoarse and trembling with need. 

The girl turns around, her green, emerald eyes wider than usual looking up at me as her hand moves onto my chest. I let my fingertips slide underneath the hem of her shirt, feeling the soft skin there. “We’ll have time. Later,” she comforts me softly, but it’s not enough.

I throw my head back in frustration and groan, like a child not getting their way.

“Izzie I’m so forreal, I need to have you before the game tomorrow or I’mma be so out of it.”

The girl giggles, shaking her head, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Come over in the morning?”

“I gotta leave at 10. Needa take my time with you.”

Izzie chuckles. “Okay, 8:30?”

“8:00,” I argue, though no amount of time would be enough.

“Do you need two hours?” The girl laughs but I shake my head, trying to stifle the grin on my face.

“Ion need more than five minutes ma, trust,” my words make Izzie’s cheeks turn a shade of red. “But need to take my time. Wanna do it just right.”

Izara might be poised and have a great poker face, but I can tell she needs it as bad as I do. It’s in the way her chest is heaving, the way her pupils are wide and the way her mouth is parted. So I lean in, my lips hovering over her ear.

“Gonna eat that pussy so good ma, gonna have you crying-”

“Yooo…”

I pull away urgently, helped by the fact that Izzie practically pushes me off her, both our heads turning to KK standing in the doorway, trying not to laugh.

“Uhh, I’mma be back,” she says turning around but I grab the shorter girl by the arm and pull her back in.

“Whatchu need?”

Izzie is blushing, trying to hide the smile growing onto her face by holding her hand over her mouth and staring at the wall.

“A tissue, I dropped some food,” KK says.

I gasp. “Bro not on the rug right?”

KK scoffs, grabbing the tissue from me. “Dallas changed you already ‘cause why you care about a rug more than me?”

-

Paige

Yo I’m so sorry I gotta head in early

That’s okay Paige, good luck. I’ll see you before the game, yeah?

I reread the texts on my screen that I never got an answer to. I’m not worried, she’s probably nervous. Or busy. But it’s so… unlike her. Paige was usually the one to message me back the moment I texted her. I was probably overthinking. I hated how I got when I liked someone. Not that I liked Paige. I wanted her badly. But there were no feelings involved and there surely could never be. I wasn’t even close to being ready.

Despite all that I could feel an uncomfortable twist somewhere deep in my stomach watching the way the blonde girl had left me on read. Like I always did when I began to get feelings. I was painfully aware of how scary it was, those feelings stirring within me again. I just had to keep them in control. I know how these things end. I know Paige seems amazing right now - unreal almost. But it was just an illusion. Soon she’d be bored of me, leaving me in tears, crying myself to sleep at 3am. That’s how it always ended up. I promised myself I’d never be that girl again.

-

“Jasper, please, could we just sit down and communicate?”

My voice is steady, gentle, like it had to be when he was in one of these moods. I sit on the couch, watching as he paces around me, trying not to blow up. I try to make myself small, breathe quiet, not look him in the eye, anything that might set him off. Once Jasper was set off there was nothing to do. I knew that better than anyone.

“Here we go again,” he groans, throwing his head back in frustration. A bitter, sarcastic laugh escapes his mouth.

“No, not like that, please. I swear I just want to talk-”

“No Izara you want to bitch about my drinking again. You’re behaving like a controlling bitch-”

There’s a pang of pain in my chest, the tears I’ve been swallowing making themselves known as my eyes grow wet.

“Please, Jasper, I’ve asked you before not to call me that,” I plead, my voice still soft but growing weaker.

The man rolls his eyes at the sight of me. “Wow, here we go again. Poor Zari, always perfect, always the victim.”

“I never said I was perfect, far from it! I’m just asking you to not call me a bitch,” I debate, my voice rising in response to feeling defensive.

“I didn’t even say you were a bitch! I said you’re behaving like one!” His voice is harsh, cutting through the air and ringing my ear painfully. Familiarly. This was a discussion we’d had about 15 times before. And it always went the same. I don’t even know why I was still trying. 

“God, you’re so manipulative, trying to put words into my mouth,” he murmurs under his breath. He’d said those words so many times part of me had started to think he might be right. Maybe I am manipulative. Maybe I need to just let him be. I’m being dramatic and his drinking wasn’t an issue. Jasper never physically hurt me or hit me. It could be so much worse. Words can only do so much.

I feel the tears spill over finally, dripping down my cheeks. As Jasper notices he lets out a laugh, shaking his head. “What, you’re crying now? Like you’re the victim here?”

“Jasper, please, I’m tired,” I cry, my voice shaky as I bury my face into my hands. “Can we just forget this and go to sleep? I’ve got that important meeting tomorrow.”

“Well probably should’ve thought of that before, huh? Before starting all this drama for nothing!”

“I just wished you wouldn’t have been so drunk tonight! I was having a hard day, I needed you with me!” I finally snap, yelling back. I never yell, but sometimes with Jasper it felt like it was the only way for him to hear me. Even though I always hated myself afterwards.

“So what? I’m a bad boyfriend? Worst boyfriend in the world?”

“No, that’s not what I said-”

“Fine, if I’m so bad I’ll leave,” Jasper simply says. walking to the entryway, grabbing his coat off the coat rack. Urgently, I get up and run after him, panic spreading all over me. He knew this triggered me. He did this every time he was about to “lose” one of our fights. Because it hurt me the most.

“Wait, wait wait wait,” I cry, my voice weak and trembling as I grab his arm. “Please no, don’t go, please, Jasper, please.”

He ignores me, pulling his arm out of my reach and looking for his keys.

“Jasper,” I sob, legs too shaky to hold me up anymore. I fall to my knees, trying not to throw up all over the man. “Jasper, please. I’m sorry. You’re right, I’m too hard on you. You’re so wonderful to me. I love you okay, I love you. I’m sorry. Please don’t leave me.”

The man finally turns, looking down at me and shaking his head as my wide eyes blink up at him. With a deep sigh, he puts down his keys and lifts me up from the ground.

“Are you done?” He asks, voice frustrated and tired.

I nod, tears still spilling from my eyes. “I’m sorry, please don’t go. Please.”

“I won’t Izara, but these fits of yours need to end,” Jasper says as his comforting, familiar arms wrap around me.

“You’re right, Jasper. It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”

-

My cab finally pulls up to College Park Center, and I quickly slide in through the side door, making my way through the confusing corridors with practiced ease now. I wanted to find the blonde girl, just to make sure she was okay. Just to see her before the game. I check the gym, the weight room, the dining hall but see no sign of her. Finally, as a last resort, I knock on the door of the dressing room, shifting on my feet and smoothing over my black mini skirt and the red sweater hanging off my right shoulder nervously. At last the door opens, Lou peeking her head out with a smile.

“Oh hey.”

“Hey Lou, happy game day!” I greet her, trying to not make it obvious I was looking for someone. Like I was just casually there to wish the girls good luck.

“Thanks Zari, big day,” the girl smiles, looking at me expectantly.

“Oh, uh, is um, is-”

“Paige is here, you need her?” I don’t miss the grin on the brunette’s face, the knowing look she has in her eyes. Thought I had been hiding it better with Paige, apparently not.

“Yes, actually I do,” I chuckle awkwardly, clasping my hands in front of me, acrylics scratching against my skin. My heart races as I wait, my stomach turning at the idea of seeing her. Seeing Paige.

Soon the blonde girl arrives at the door, but the familiar wide smile isn't there. Her eyes look red, tired, the skin darker than usual underneath, mouth in a straight line. 

“Paige, are you okay?” I ask, taken back by her appearance.

She looks at me for a while, blue eyes landing on mine, big hand rubbing her jaw. “I’m alright.”

I can tell that she’s not. 

“Paige,” I repeat, looking at her challengingly. The blond sighs and shrugs and it’s then I notice the shaking of her hands. Uncontrollable, clearly visible. “Whoa, what’s going on darling?”

She looks back into the changing room before stepping out, shaky hand rubbing her eyes. I don’t miss the slight tremble of her lower lip, the way her blue eyes grow glossy.

“Whoa, hold on love,” I coo, grabbing a hold of her hand and pulling her into a new corridor, opening the door to the often empty media team office to find it desolate of people once more. “Come on.”

I close the door behind us and watch closely as the blonde plots herself down on the couch, chest heaving fast. 

“Paige, talk to me,” I comfort her, following behind and sitting next to her. As the blonde lifts her blue eyes off the floor, I see she’s tearing up avoiding my gaze.

“I’m so fucking scared Iz,” she admits, lower lip quivering. My heart fills with affection, and instinctively I wrap my arms around her broad, bare shoulders in her sports bra. 

“Of what?”

“Of screwing up, everyone got crazy expectations. Everyone gonna be watching,” Paige sighs, sniffling weakly. I had never seen her like this, in my head she wasn’t afraid of anything. Guess I was wrong.

“Paige,” I begin, pulling back and grabbing hold of her warm hands. “It’s a big moment, it’s okay to be nervous, to be scared even. But you’re not gonna fail. The only expectations that matter are the ones you put on yourself.”

“I don’t know, I love my girls y’know but fuck I don’t need em here today,” she sighs, wiping a tear from her left cheek. I let my thumb help her a little, brushing against her soft skin. 

“They wanted to surprise you, they love you very much, you know?”

“I know,” Paige murmurs, her thumbs rubbing the skin of my palms. “But I just needed to focus on myself today. I dunno, just feel really fucking overwhelmed.”

“Hey,” I stop her, chasing her gaze. The blonde’s blue eyes meet mine, finally softening. “You’re going to go out there, and you’re going to pretend it’s just you and your team at practice. No audience today, no one you know watching. Just you. And whether you get none of your shots in or all of them, it’s okay. And you get to try again. You’re just dipping your toes in okay? This isn't the defining moment of your career. It’s just one of many.”

Paige listens and takes every word in, processing as her eyes remain locked in mine. Finally her brows soften and she lets out a final, relieved breath. 

“My dad really liked you, talked about you all night after you left.”

“Really?” I grin, making the blonde nod with a smile. 

“My friends too, they wanna get to know you better,” Paige adds. I feel a slight panic in my chest for a moment, the fear of what Paige might’ve said to her friends about us. After all, we had agreed to be just friends despite everything. I hope she didn’t have the wrong idea that I might change my mind.

“Wish I had time to come see you this morning.”

I feel my cheeks heat up immediately. “Yeah?”

She nods, a small grin growing on her face. “Yeah, wouldn’t be feeling so tense.”

I chuckle as her hands let go of mine, landing on the back of my head and pulling me into a sweet, caring kiss that takes me by surprise. But I can’t bear to pull away, nor do I want to. So for a moment we kiss, our lips moving together sending jolts all over my body as the blonde’s hand lowers to my waist and pulls me closer to her. Without a thought my body obeys, skirt hiking up as she pulls me on top of her to straddle her.

Both of our breathing grows heavier as the kiss turns more urgent, Paige exhaling loud through her nose as her hand finds the soft skin of my bare upper thigh, grabbing it needily making me wince. I could feel my arousal pooling between my legs once more, the blonde’s hand sliding upwards until her thumb meets the sheer fabric of my panties, pressing against my clit. We both let out a quiet, desperate whimper, me from the contact, her from how wet I already was. 

This wasn’t sensible, anyone could walk in. Paige’s first ever game in the league would start in only a few hours and she had just been crying from feeling so overwhelmed. But both of us had forgotten, too consumed by the lust that had been eating us alive. I needed her. She needed me.

Paige pulls away from the kiss, long eyelashes blinking at me and pink lips slightly parted. She looked beautiful, like she was already completely out of it. 

“Need to feel you ma, please let me,” she whines, looking for any sign of approval on my face. “Need to feel this pussy around my fingers.”

No one had ever spoken in such a filthy way to me before. And it drove me crazy. The sheer dirtiness of the things Paige said, the way her voice turned hoarse and whiny, the way she really, truly behaved like she would die unless she got to fuck me. I had never experienced it before. Everything about it intoxicated me, my soaked panties prove of how much so.

“Paige, are you sure this is smart?” I ask, my voice weak and shaky.

“Ion care about smart, need to fuck you before my big game,” the blonde murmurs, beginning to kiss my neck, fingertips rubbing gentle circles on my clit against the fabric. “Please mama, need to make you cum, that’s all I want.”

I let out another whimper, her words winning me over.

“C’mon ma, can feel how wet you are for me. Lemme help baby, lemme take care of you.”

Finally I snap, desperately nodding. Without missing a beat, Paige’s fingers hook around the edge of my panties, pulling them to the side as I stay straddling her, feeling the cool air on my dripping cunt.

“This ain’t right. I gotta see that shit,” Paige murmurs and before I understand what she means, she’s pushing me back, my spine hitting the couch as she remains still, my thighs spread wide for her as she sits in between.

Paige’s blue eyes are nearly blown out black with lust as her gaze travels slowly from my flushed face, to my heaving chest, down my stomach, all the way to the panties slid to the side, finally landing on my core. I swear I have never seen the girl so dazed, like everything around her disappeared, her lips parting further, tongue darting out to lick them.

“Fuck,” she whispers, fingers spreading my lips apart to see my wetness glistening in the lighting of the office. To see my folds and the way I was already throbbing for her. I had never been looked at like that before, yet didn’t feel shy or unsure. Because I could tell Paige was in absolute awe.

“So fucking pretty, huh?” The blonde asks, finger carefully brushing up and down against my folds and clit, making my whole body shiver. She was barely touching me yet I couldn’t fight the whine spilling from my lips. This was so unlike me, spread out in overhead lighting in a room anyone could walk into at any moment with a girl I hadn’t even been out on a date with. But it was the last thing I cared about. I needed Paige Bueckers to fuck me now.

“Paige, fuck me,” I demand, my voice breathy and brows furrowed as I watch her.

A sly grin forms on her lips as she gathers wetness through my folds with ease, beginning to circle my clit lazily. The sound is obscene, caused by how slick I had grown for her in the past few minutes. I moan softly, covering my own mouth and letting my eyes fall closed.

“What do you need? Tell me baby,” Paige coos, but she knows. She can see the way my pussy is clenching around nothing, crying for her, begging to be filled. 

“Baby,” I whimper, bucking my hips but the blonde’s free hand brings me down by my thigh.

“Use your words ma.”

“Inside,” I whisper, cheeks growing redder at having to tell the girl with words what I needed from her.

“Yeah? You need my fingers inside your pussy?”

I nod, the words making my arousal grow even more.

“Please,” I add, hoping to hurry the blonde along.

Suddenly, Paige’s fingers slide downwards towards my entrance, circling before two of them begin to break into me, painfully slowly. A loud gasp threatens to spill from my lips but the blonde covers my mouth quickly, her fingers sliding into me all the way. 

It’s impossible to describe how good it feels, to feel her touch me like this. The stretch of her fingers making my body tense and relax simultaneously. I was in heaven, surely sex never felt like this before. Only with her.

“Oh fuck you’re so tight,” Paige hisses, beginning to curl her fingers against me. The sound of squelching quickly takes over, only joined with both our moans. My back arches desperately, and I feel myself writhing for more, for the blonde to move faster.

It’s in the moment I’m about to start begging for more, the familiar sound of a keycard being slid against the reader takes over. Someone’s about to open the door. Both of us panic, Paige pulling her fingers away and quickly getting up from the couch as I struggle to get off my back, pulling my skirt down eagerly right as Trey walks in.

“Oh hey!” He smiles widely, oblivious to the heavy breathing me and Paige are both trying to get under control. “Oh Paige! Whatchu doing here?”

“Uh,” she murmurs, fingers still glistening with me before she wipes them on her thigh. “We uh,”

“We were planning that pregame interview! Should we film it soon?” I quickly interrupt, noticing Paige’s flustered expression. The shake in my legs is obvious, so I lean against the wall next to me.

“Yeah yeah, the interview,” the blonde murmurs which makes Trey’s brown eyes light up.

“Well great! Why don’t you go change and we film after.”

Paige glances at me as I do her, both of us trying to ignore the tension in the room that the man seemed to not recognise.

“Uhh yeah, lemme go do that,” the taller girl mumbles and leaves, my heart pounding faster than ever from earlier. As she closes the door, Trey turns to me.

“By the way Zari, we shouldn’t let anyone back here that isn’t part of the team, okay? Linda would freak.”

“Oh,” I say, brushing my hand through my hair. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

Trey looks at me for a while, leaning back against the desk behind him.

“You know, it’s okay to be friends with players but I think it’s better to keep things at a professional distance. Don’t wanna be getting too close, you know what I mean?”

I can tell he’s digging for something, trying to get me to fess up. Instead I cross my arms over my chest and nod. “Agreed, shall we prepare the interview?”

-

“Okay, Paige, stand here.”

Trey is maneuvering the blonde around, trying to find the best lighting as I check my notes over and over, my mind still swirling with all the interrupted moments that are growing tiresome. Paige is fiddling with her hands, staring at anything but me feeling just as frustrated by the interruption.

“Ahh, got it. Zari, would you.”

“Yes,” I murmur and step next to the blonde, a slight awkward distance between us. Every cell in me was itching to get closer, to press into her. I was dying for her. But it wasn’t the time. I had to focus on work. It was just hard to look away from her. That’s it.

“Closer Zari,” Trey chuckles, reaching for my shoulder and pushing me closer to Paige. We exchange an awkward, slightly giddy smile and I can tell the girl is beginning to blush, our shoulders pressing together. The blonde gazes upwards towards the low ceilings of the corridor, trying to kill the smile growing on her face.

“Okay, we good?” Trey asks, and I let out a soft giggle. Paige looks at me and giggles too, confusing the man behind the camera. “Something wrong?”

“No, no, we’re good,” I giggle, looking to the floor. The blonde nods in agreement, licking her lips to stifle the grin.

“Whenever you’re ready ladies,” Trey says, pressing record.

I take a deep breath, turning my eyes to the blue ones beside me. The ones I could get lost in forever. But now wasn’t the time. Not the time Izara. Work.

“I am here with our dear rookie, Paige,” I smile, licking my lower lip and looking away from the blonde, her intense gaze becoming too much. “First game today, how are we feeling?”

Paige kisses her teeth and sighs. “Oh man,” she starts, blue eyes boring into the side of my face. “It feels surreal, I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life and now it’s finally here. Feelin’ really blessed and fortunate for sure. Playing my first against the Lynx just feels right, you know.”

I watch as her lips move, the way the edges of them curve when she speaks, barely registering the words coming out from how badly I needed her. 

“Favourite thing about Dallas so far?” I ask, crossing my arms and smiling up at the blonde. Her blue eyes are sparkling, a slight glimmer in them as she watches me with a smirk. As if the camera wasn’t filming every moment.

“Oh definitely the ribs,” Paige grins, suddenly interrupted by Arike standing at the other end of the corridor.

“Yooo, bro what?!” 

Me and Paige both begin to laugh, leaning into each other as we do. My hand instinctively graces her forearm as Trey pangs the camera to Arike.

“Alright, alright. And Arike,” Paige chuckles, making me scoff.

“Oy!” I shout, slapping her arm playfully.

“And you!” She grins, raising her hands in defeat. I can’t help the blush covering my face or the stupid smile stretching across.

“As I should be,” I joke, taking a deep breath and trying to remind myself of the planned questions and of Trey’s watchful eyes. It felt impossible under Paige’s gaze so intensely roaming my face, eye fucking me.

“You’ve got some friends and family in the audience tonight, who are you most excited to see you play tonight?”

The blonde looks at me for a meaningful moment, and I don’t miss what she wants to say. What she’s trying to express with her eyes. What she can’t admit in front of Trey.

“Uhh,” she blinks stupidly, finally breaking eye contact. “Probably my dad, yeah. But I’m excited to play for all the Wings fans too, needa impress them.”

“I’m sure you will,” I smile, my tone clearly flirty yet I don’t even recognise the fact. “Happy game day!!”

“Happy game day,” Paige echoes my words, wrapping an arm around my shoulder just as Trey puts the camera down. Yet the man keeps staring over at the two of us, studying every move, every exchanged look.

“Paige! Go change and let’s start warming up, c’mon!” Chris nods the blonde towards the lockers. I see her eyes turn to me once more, softening. 

“Wish me luck ma,” she murmurs, wrapping her arms around me and pulling me into a hug. I let her.

“Good luck Paige,” I mumble into her eyes, letting go and watching as she walks into the dressing room, leaving me alone with Trey. I could feel nerves bubbling in my stomach, heart beginning to pound in anticipation for the game. The man watches me for a while, deep in thought.

“Zari…. I gotta ask you something,” the man starts, his voice echoing in the corridor. He walks us to our office letting me know this wasn’t going to be a light subject, which made me nervous.

I sit on the desk, my legs hanging off as I cross them and watch the brunette pace around the room for a moment before turning to me. 

“Is there something going on with you and Paige?”

Fuck.

I think about lying, looking through my brain for any cover up story. There isn’t one. I was a horrible liar anyway. So I just sigh, looking down before nodding.

“Yeah, I didn’t mean for there to be but I like her. She likes me,” I admit, carefully looking at the man. “Look, it’s nothing though. Nothing serious, just fun.”

“For fucks sake Zari,” Trey sighs, rubbing his forehead.

“Excuse me?” I ask offended. Sure, it wasn’t great, but he was hugely overreacting.

Trey walks over to me and grabs a hold of my hands, stopping much too close to my liking.

“Zari, Linda is very… strict. You know this. But she does not allow anything like this, she must’ve told you? She gave me this big speech too when I came in.”

I blink at him, my lips parting a little. It wasn’t allowed. That’s it. That simple.

“Wh- no she never said,” I murmur. Trey nods, letting out a sigh.

“Zari you have to end it. You could get fired.”

My heart drops, mind starts spinning. I could get fired. Have to go back to the UK. Just like that. Fired. Just because I didn’t have the self-discipline to resist Paige.

“Trey, you’re not going to-”

He shakes his head. “No, of course not. Linda won’t know. But only if you end it now, okay? If she finds out I know I could get in trouble too.”

I look at the walls, covered in pictures of the entire Dallas Wings overtime, faces changing and some persisting year after year. I finally land on this year’s picture, on the blonde standing on the right side, smiling that familiar, wide, charming smile. It didn’t matter how much I liked her, how badly I needed her on me. None of it would matter if I got fired, if I got my visa revoked. I couldn’t do this dance we’d been playing the past month anymore. I had to end it.

-

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[ikkyfics]

Wasn't it obvious?

Dave Lizewski x f!reader

Summary: For a moment, Dave stayed quiet, his gaze fixed on you. The expression on his face wasn’t judgmental or angry but simply confused. “Wait...” he began, hesitantly. “You’re telling me you thought we weren’t dating?” You stayed silent, the weight in your chest tightening at his question. “I... I didn’t know.” “But...” He ran a hand through his messy curls, looking lost. “I thought it was kind of obvious."

Warnings: mention of sex (not explicit), insecurity, est. relationship, hurt comfort, a little angst

A/N: anon, I hope you can like it <333!!

Masterlist

The room was still bathed in the dim light of morning, with the curtains barely drawn, letting streaks of sunlight spill across the space. You woke up slowly, feeling the warmth of his body still so close. Dave’s breathing was soft and steady, the rhythm of someone deeply asleep. A heavy arm lay draped over your waist, a silent reminder that he had no intention of letting you slip away anytime soon.

Your eyes wandered around the messy room, clothes scattered on the floor—your shirt precariously hanging off the edge of a chair, his pants on the rug, half-hidden under the bed. You knew you needed to leave. There were commitments, schedules, things waiting for you out there. But the weight of that moment, of his warmth, seemed to beg you to stay.

“You awake?” Dave’s husky voice broke through your thoughts. He didn’t open his eyes right away, but the grip around your waist tightened slightly. When he finally looked at you, his blue eyes were clouded with sleep, dark curls falling a little over his forehead. “Stay a little longer. It’s still early…”

“I have to go,” you murmured, even as his fingers lazily traced the curve of your arm. His touch was so light, as if he wanted to draw out every second.

“No, you don’t.” He smiled in that way that always made your resolve waver—that small, crooked smile, almost boyish, but filled with something he probably didn’t even realize he carried. Propping himself up on his elbow, he looked straight at you, his eyes shining even in the faint light. “Who’s gonna care if you skip, huh?”

You laughed softly, knowing he was teasing, though there was a hint of truth in his words. Dave had this way of making you feel like the rest of the world didn��t matter, like that moment—just the two of you, tangled in messy sheets—was the only thing that did.

“You’re not going to make me stay,” you warned, but your voice didn’t sound as convincing as you’d intended. He seemed to catch on, because his smile grew wider.

“What if I hold you down right here?” He stretched his arms dramatically, trying to pull you closer, but you slipped out, laughing again.

“Stop it, Dave,” you said, trying to get up, though you could feel the weight of his gaze following you. You grabbed your shirt first, pulling it off the chair, and started putting it on with your back to him, all too aware of his eyes on you. When you turned around, he was still there, propped up on his hand, his hair messy, his eyes fixed on you with an intensity that made warmth creep up your face.

“You’re really gonna leave me here all alone?” His tone was playful, almost pouty, but there was something else beneath it—something that was always there in the spaces between words, something you never quite dared to name.

“I am,” you replied, trying to keep your tone light, though something inside you tightened. You knew he wasn’t holding you there, that you were free to leave. But you also knew there were unspoken things between you, things that made moments like this harder than they should be.

He let out an exaggerated sigh, flopping back onto the pillow, though his eyes never left you. “Fine. But only because I know you’ll come back.”

You paused for a second, still holding onto the waistband of the pants you’d just pulled on. His gaze seemed to carry more weight than his words. But, as always, you let it pass.

“Maybe,” you said, trying to hide the smile tugging at your lips. And before he could respond, you grabbed your things and started moving toward the door, feeling his eyes on you until the very last second.

“Hey,” he called out, just as your hand touched the doorknob. You turned to look at him one last time. He looked so at ease there, so comfortable, with his messy curls and that smile that always made your heart race. “You look amazing in the morning, you know that?”

“See you later, Dave,” you said, trying to ignore the way your heart skipped a beat, and left before he could trap you with another comment.

The café was just busy enough that the hum of conversations and the clinking of cups against saucers created a constant noise, but not so much that it stopped you from relaxing for a few minutes. You sat near the window, the warm coffee cup in your hands, trying to organize your thoughts. There was so much to do, so many things you were trying to ignore—and one of them seemed to have a face framed by dark curls and blue eyes that took up far more space in your mind than you cared to admit.

"Hey, is that really you?"

The familiar voice pulled you out of your thoughts, and when you looked up, it took a second to recognize the person standing in front of you.

"Katie?" The surprise was clear in your voice, but a smile quickly appeared on your lips. It was her, without a doubt—the same Katie Deauxma from high school, though now her features seemed more mature. Her hair was a bit shorter, but the easy smile she always had was exactly the same.

"Yeah!" Katie laughed, looking just as surprised to see you there. "Wow, it's been ages! How are you?"

"I'm good. Wow, it really has been a long time," you said, standing for a quick, slightly awkward hug. She seemed as comfortable as ever, and the conversation flowed naturally as the two of you sat down together.

Katie asked about college, what you were studying, and shared a bit about her own courses and what she'd been up to since high school. It was pleasant, even nostalgic, talking to someone who knew you from before.

Until she asked, casually, "So, are you dating anyone? Or just enjoying the single life?"

You hesitated for a second that felt like an eternity. The words formed in your mind before you could fully think through their weight, slipping out before you could stop them.

"Actually… I am dating someone."

It was a lie. Or wasn't it? You didn’t know anymore. But the sound of the word in your mouth brought an instant pang of guilt, something that tightened in your chest as Katie’s smile widened.

“Oh, really? That’s great! Who’s the lucky one?”

“Dave Lizewski,” you replied, trying to keep your tone casual. Katie blinked, surprised, before letting out a short laugh.

“Dave? Wow! I haven’t talked to him in ages. We dated, remember? Back in high school.”

You nodded, feeling your stomach sink. Of course you remembered. Everyone remembered. Dave and Katie had been the cute couple in school, the kind everyone thought was improbable, even cliché—the nerd with the popular girl.

“He was so sweet. A little awkward, but always so thoughtful,” Katie continued, oblivious to the storm of emotions building inside you. “You two must make a great couple, I’m sure.”

You smiled, or tried to, and murmured something vague in response. But all you could think was that she was right. Dave was sweet. He was thoughtful, even with his goofy comments and the way he looked at you when he thought you weren’t paying attention. He held your hand in public. He made a point to walk you home when he could.

But he had never called you his girlfriend.

And now you were sitting here, listening to Katie talk about what he was like when they dated, and something inside you was breaking into pieces you didn’t even know existed. You remembered them together—how she’d hold onto his arm in the school hallways, how happy he looked next to her. And suddenly, you couldn’t help but wonder if he looked at you the same way he looked at her.

You finished your coffee as quickly as you could, saying goodbye to Katie with a smile that felt increasingly forced. She hugged you again before leaving, promising that you should meet up again sometime.

When you were alone again, the noise of the café felt louder, like it was echoing inside you. The empty cup in front of you felt like a weight holding you there, while your thoughts spiraled endlessly.

Girlfriend.

You’d said it. And now the word felt like it was haunting you, something far too big to carry. You never wanted to be this person, the one who lied or twisted things to fit into something that might not even be real.

But you couldn’t help it.

Because deep down, you wanted it to be true.

Thursday nights always held a special weight. It was an unspoken tradition between the two of you. No matter what happened during the week—piles of work, tough exams, or tight deadlines—Thursdays were reserved for you two. And no matter how hard you tried to focus on something else, the memory of your encounter with Katie had been pounding in your head ever since you left the café.

You had tried to shake it off with a stack of required reading, loud music through your headphones, and even a spontaneous apartment cleaning spree, but nothing worked. Katie's voice kept echoing, her smile, the way she talked about Dave. The way she referred to him as someone who used to be hers, as if there was still a part of him trapped in the past that might never belong to you.

And then there was you. And the lie. Or was it the truth? You didn’t even know anymore. The weight of the words that had slipped out before you could stop them—they felt heavier now, like stones sinking in your stomach. You said it because you wanted to believe it was real. But what about him? What would he think if he knew?

The sound of the doorbell yanked you from your thoughts. It was him.

You took a deep breath, trying to quiet the chaos inside, and opened the door. Dave stood there, as he always did, with his messy curls and a small smile that grew wider just for you. He held a plastic bag with a pack of fries and two sodas—the kind of thing he always brought because he knew you loved it.

“Hey,” he said, leaning in to give you a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping inside. His touch was warm, familiar. But tonight, it felt harder to relax around him, like the storm in your head was keeping you from grounding yourself in the moment.

“Hey,” you replied, closing the door as he made his way to the kitchen, putting the sodas in the fridge without even asking. He’d been doing this for so long that it was second nature.

“You okay?” Dave asked, opening the bag of fries and tossing one into his mouth. He looked at you with those blue eyes, his forehead creasing slightly with concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” you answered quickly—maybe too quickly. He noticed. Of course, he did. Dave had always had this uncanny ability to sense when something was off, even when you tried to hide it.

“Are you sure? You seem kind of...” He gestured vaguely with his hand.

“I’m fine,” you insisted, a bit more firmly. “Just tired, that’s all.”

“Okay.” He shrugged, but the way he kept watching you while munching on a fry made it clear he wasn’t entirely convinced. “Wanna watch a movie or something? I brought that one you said you wanted to see...”

“I’m not sure I feel like watching a movie tonight,” you replied, trying to keep your voice neutral as you grabbed a glass of water for yourself. It was a small response, almost insignificant, but the tension was already starting to build.

“Alright, so what do you want to do?” He leaned against the kitchen counter, his gaze calm and his relaxed posture a stark contrast to the knot tightening inside you.

“I don’t know, Dave!” The words came out sharper than you intended, and the tone in your voice made his eyebrows lift.

“Okay, easy,” he said slowly, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I was just asking. No need to bite my head off.”

You sighed, guilt starting to creep in. But instead of stopping, the words began spilling out before you could catch them. “I’m sorry, okay? It’s just... I don’t know. I’m tired. I had a rough day, and then you show up with your fries like everything is so simple, like... like I just need a movie, and everything will be fine.”

He blinked, visibly confused, but his tone remained calm. “I was just trying to help. I didn’t know you were feeling so... like this.”

“Like this?” You crossed your arms, the tension in your stance growing. “What’s that supposed to mean, Dave?”

“You know what I mean,” he said, but now there was something in his tone that suggested he was trying to keep his patience in check.

“Actually, I don’t,” you shot back, your voice rising. But as soon as the words left your mouth, you felt the sting of tears welling in your eyes, and the lump in your throat that had been forming all day was now nearly unbearable.

Dave noticed immediately. Of course, he did. He might not have been great with words, but he never failed to pick up on when something was wrong with you. His expression shifted in an instant, confusion giving way to a concern so genuine it made you feel even more vulnerable.

“Hey, hey,” he said, stepping closer, his voice softer now. “What’s going on? Are you crying?”

“I’m not,” you lied, turning your face away, but he didn’t buy it.

“Yes, you are,” he insisted, and before you could step back, Dave was already close enough to gently take your hands in his. “Look at me.”

You hesitated but finally lifted your gaze. His blue eyes met yours, filled with so much concern it was almost impossible to hold the contact.

“Talk to me,” he said. It wasn’t a command; it was an invitation. “Please.”

The weight in your chest felt like it was about to explode, and the words came out before you could stop them.

“I ran into Katie.”

Dave blinked, visibly surprised. “Katie?”

“Yeah,” you confirmed, trying to look away, but he stayed close, holding your hands with almost unbearable tenderness. “We bumped into each other by chance. Talked for a few minutes.”

He tilted his head, his blue eyes narrowing slightly, now a mix of curiosity and concern. “And?”

“She asked about you,” you said, your voice almost a whisper. “And I... I told her I was your girlfriend.”

Dave went quiet for a moment. Not the heavy silence of judgment, but the kind of pause he always took when he was trying to fully understand something.

“Okay,” he began cautiously. “And... why does that seem to be hurting you?”

“Because I don’t know if it’s true!” you burst out, the confession hitting with a force that made you flinch. “I said I was your girlfriend, but I didn’t know if I was lying. We’ve never talked about this, never put a name on what we have. And now all I can think about is whether I said something that wasn’t real.”

For a moment, he stayed quiet, his gaze fixed on you. The expression on his face wasn’t judgmental or angry but simply confused.

“Wait...” he began, hesitantly. “You’re telling me you thought we weren’t dating?”

You stayed silent, the weight in your chest tightening at his question.

“I... I didn’t know,” you admitted, your voice weak, barely a whisper.

“But...” He ran a hand through his messy curls, looking lost. “I thought it was kind of obvious. I mean, we see each other all the time, spend nights together, you steal my shirts...”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” you cut him off, frustration mixed with nervousness. “People do that all the time without dating, Dave.”

“But I don’t do that with just anyone,” he countered, his blue eyes locking onto yours, as if he wanted to make this point crystal clear. “I do that with you because I want to be with you. Because I thought... well, I thought it was obvious.”

“But you never said it,” you argued, feeling the tears starting to return. “And I never said it either. And that’s what’s been driving me crazy. I didn’t know what we were.”

Dave sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. He looked like he was processing everything all at once, and for a moment, you thought he might argue. But instead, he stepped closer until he was near enough to hold your hands again.

“Okay,” he said softly. “Then let’s make it clear now.”

His tone was calm but firm, and when he spoke again, it felt like every word had been carefully chosen.

“I’m with you,” he said. “And I thought that was obvious, but if it wasn’t, I’m saying it now: I want to be with you. Just you. And if that means we’re dating, then yeah, I guess we’re dating.”

Your heart was pounding so hard you were sure he could hear it.

“But...” you began, the word almost lost in the lump in your throat. “What about Katie?”

He frowned, clearly caught off guard by the change in topic.

“What about Katie?”

“She was your first girlfriend,” you continued, your voice cracking slightly. “And I remember how you two were. Everyone thought you were perfect together. And now, seeing her again, I can’t stop thinking that...”

“That what?” He tilted his head, his blue eyes filled with concern.

“That I’ll never be good enough,” you confessed, the words spilling out before you could stop them.

Dave was silent for a moment, but before you could say more, he shook his head with a soft, incredulous laugh.

“Are you serious?” he asked, his voice full of almost overwhelming tenderness.

You looked at him, confused.

“I broke up with Katie years ago,” he said, as though reminding you of something obvious. “And yeah, it was important to me. She was my first girlfriend. But that doesn’t mean anything now. She’s part of my past, that’s all. You’re my present. And my future, if I’m lucky.”

You tried to process his words, but the lump in your throat only seemed to grow.

“But what if I’m not enough?” you asked, your voice trembling.

“You already are enough,” he answered immediately, without hesitation. He stepped closer, so close that you were almost nose to nose. “More than enough. And you don’t need to compare yourself to Katie or anyone else. Because no one comes close to you, got it? No one.”

His eyes were so intense, so full of emotion, that you felt tears slipping down your cheeks.

“I’m here because I want to be here,” he continued, his voice now softer. “Because you’re who I want. And nothing—absolutely nothing—is going to change that.”

You closed your eyes, trying to hold back the tears, but it was impossible. When you opened them again, Dave was already pulling you into a tight embrace, wrapping you in a tenderness that felt both overwhelming and comforting all at once.

Dave’s arms tightened around you as if he were trying to shield you from the outside world—or maybe from yourself. The warmth of his body surrounded you, and for a moment, the only sound you could hear was the steady beat of his heart, like a reassuring rhythm that seemed to absorb all the anxiety that had consumed you until then.

“You’re more than enough,” he repeated, his voice low and steady, as if it were something he needed you to believe more than anything else. And you wanted to believe it.

Minutes passed like that, in a cocoon of quiet comfort, with him holding you as if the whole world had disappeared. And you stayed there, letting yourself surrender to that sense of relief, of not needing to worry about anything else. Just the present. Just him.

Finally, you lifted your head, your face warm and your eyes still a little teary but calmer. You looked at him, and he looked back at you with an intensity that made you feel as if you were being seen in a way no one else ever could.

“Do you really think I’m enough for you?” you asked, your voice softer now but still tinged with uncertainty. You knew he’d answered, but you needed to hear it again, to be sure.

Dave smiled, a smile that made his eyes shine with a mix of affection and certainty. He brushed a strand of hair from your face, his fingers lightly grazing your skin, and answered with a tenderness that warmed your chest.

“I don’t just think,” he said, his voice warm and sincere. “I know. And if you let me, I’ll show you that every single day. Because to me, you’re everything. And nothing, no one, can change that.”

His words echoed softly but with a force that was impossible to ignore. And in that moment, with your heart racing and your breath unsteady, you finally understood what he was trying to tell you. It didn’t matter what had happened in the past or the insecurities you carried. What mattered was what he was offering you now. It was real. And you wanted to believe it. Wanted to allow yourself.

You gave a small smile, the tears still falling but now accompanied by a growing sense of peace that began to fill the spaces left by doubt. “I don’t want to compare myself to anyone,” you admitted, your voice trembling slightly. “But sometimes it’s hard.”

Dave gave a small laugh, gently cupping your cheeks. “I get it,” he said. “But never forget: you’re who I chose. And you don’t need to be like anyone else. You’re unique to me, and that’s all I need.”

He pulled you closer again, and this time, instead of insecurity, the embrace was filled with something softer yet stronger—a sense that you’d found your place, a safe place full of care.

Time passed slowly, and you felt calmer, as if his words had cleared the chaos in your mind. When you looked into his eyes, you no longer saw doubt or fear—just certainty. And you felt it too. The certainty that, with him by your side, everything would be okay.

“I love you,” you whispered, not thinking too much, but with a truth that burned through your skin and filled your chest with something so profound that words couldn’t fully translate it.

Dave smiled, that genuine, happy smile of his. “I love you too,” he replied, before leaning in for a gentle kiss that made the world seem to pause for a moment. A kiss that needed no explanations. A kiss that said everything about who you were—and everything you were still about to become.

[goldenhazelnut]

Pit Stop || Lando Norris

summary: Lila Ricciardo’s quiet night in Monaco takes a turn when she bumps into Lando Norris. After an evening that feels full of unspoken chemistry, Lila’s heart sinks when she sees Lando with another girl. As jealousy bubbles up and her brother Daniel gets involved, Lila wonders if what she feels for Lando is just a fleeting moment—or something more.

Lila Ricciardo had always known Monaco was magical—under the bright lights, the bustling streets, and the fast cars that roared through the narrow alleys. But tonight? Tonight was something else entirely.

It was the night after the Grand Prix, and the usual post-race chaos had settled into a more subtle hum. People had begun to scatter, retreating to their hotels or diving into the after-parties. Lila, however, had no intention of joining any of that. She just wanted to breathe in the cool night air and escape the noise.

That was when she spotted him.

Lando Norris, the golden boy of McLaren, stood across the street with a small group of friends. He was leaning against a lamppost, his trademark grin lighting up his face, the slight tousle of his hair adding to the perfect picture of “I didn’t even try, but here I am, effortlessly cool.”

Lila’s heart skipped. She had known Lando for a while now—thanks to her brother, Daniel—but it was never like this. She never imagined the electric tension that hung between them when they were alone. The playful banter. The subtle glances that lingered a little too long. Tonight, though, there was something different in the air.

Before she could talk herself out of it, her legs carried her over to him.

"Lando," she said, trying to sound casual, but her voice came out a little breathier than she intended.

Lando looked up, his eyes instantly softening when they landed on her. “Lila! Didn’t think I’d see you out here alone. Thought you’d be with Danny or—” He cut himself off, his smile widening as if a mischievous thought just crossed his mind. “Or maybe you’ve finally had enough of him?”

She laughed, the sound light and unguarded. “Could say the same about you.”

“I don’t know what you're talking about,” he teased, pushing off from the lamppost and stepping toward her. “So, what’s up? Wanna grab a drink?”

Before she could answer, someone else walked up, slipping into the conversation with the ease of a regular. A tall, platinum blonde girl with a radiant smile and a way of carrying herself that immediately screamed high society. Lila could already feel the blood drain from her face.

“Lando! There you are,” the girl said, looping her arm through his. She looked at Lila like she was the most inconsequential thing in the world.

Lila forced a smile, but her stomach twisted in a way she wasn’t prepared for.

“Oh, um... hey,” Lila said, trying to sound casual even though the knot in her chest was growing tighter.

Lando glanced between the two of them, clearly noticing the shift in the air. “This is Isabella,” he said with a shrug, a little too easily. “She’s... here for the race, too.”

Isabella’s smile never wavered, and as Lando’s hand rested on her waist, Lila felt an uncomfortable heat rise in her cheeks. She was that girl now—the one left on the sidelines.

Before Lila could think too much about it, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Oi, Lila, what’s going on here?"

Lila turned to see her brother Daniel strolling over with a knowing smirk on his face. He was already well aware of the situation, probably having seen everything unfold from a distance.

“Danny, please,” Lila said, her voice a little too sharp. “Don’t.”

But it was too late. Daniel had already slipped into big brother mode.

“I don’t know, Lando,” Daniel said with a chuckle, slinging an arm around Lila’s shoulder. “Do you need help getting away from this... uh, very interesting situation?”

Lando raised an eyebrow, his grin still playing on the edge of his lips. “What are you implying, Ricciardo? You think she’s in trouble or something?”

“Oh, not at all,” Daniel said, the mischief clear in his voice. “But I have a feeling Lila might want to escape before you end up in trouble.”

Lando’s eyes flickered from Daniel to Lila, an amused glint in them. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Daniel leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping to a low, teasing whisper. “Don’t pretend like you don’t see it, mate. I’m not blind.”

Lando’s expression faltered for a second. That tiny moment, that slight shift in his usual confident stance, made Lila’s heart race. Was it possible? Was he actually aware of how much she was feeling?

Isabella, sensing the rising tension, took the opportunity to speak up. “Lando, are you coming?” she asked, her tone sharp, possessive.

Lando didn’t even look at her as he responded, his gaze locked on Lila for a second too long. “Yeah, in a minute,” he muttered, his voice almost too quiet.

Isabella blinked, clearly irritated, but with a graceful roll of her eyes, she turned on her heel and left.

Once she was gone, the atmosphere shifted again—this time, Lila felt like she could finally breathe.

Daniel shot Lila a teasing look. “I didn’t know you were into the McLaren boys, sis. Since when?”

Lila rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Danny. This is your fault.”

But Daniel, sensing the tension between his sister and Lando, dropped the teasing act. He turned to Lando with a slightly more serious look. “Lando, don’t make me get the dad talk with you.”

Lando grinned sheepishly. “I’m not making any promises, Ricciardo.”

Lila couldn’t hold it in anymore. She sighed dramatically, throwing her head back. “Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m getting upset. It’s not like he owes me anything. I’m not the one with a possessive streak—”

Daniel raised an eyebrow at her. “Lila, you’re literally standing here talking about him. Don’t play it cool with me.”

She shook her head, trying not to laugh despite the emotional chaos inside her. “Fine. Maybe I did want to spend more time with him. But now... now it’s just awkward.”

Lando seemed to have heard enough. “Okay, look.” He stepped closer, his eyes locking with hers. The teasing in his smile faded for a brief moment, and in that instant, Lila saw something real. “I didn’t mean for you to feel like this. I just... didn’t know what you wanted.”

Lila’s heart raced, her thoughts swirling as she fought against the wave of feelings that suddenly rushed over her. But she couldn’t deny it. “And what do you want?”

Lando’s smile softened, and for a moment, there was no one else in the world but the two of them. “Maybe I want to figure that out with you.”

Daniel, sensing the tension was reaching a breaking point, let out a dramatic sigh. “Okay, okay. As much as I’d love to play matchmaker, I’m gonna leave you two to it.” He winked at Lila, adding with a grin, “But Lando, if you hurt her, I’ll be the one with a very fast car.”

Lila turned to look at her brother, rolling her eyes as he walked away. But as she looked back at Lando, something in her shifted. This wasn’t just the sibling teasing. This wasn’t just some random flirtation. There was something here. Something neither of them had said yet.

But maybe—just maybe—that was the fun of it.

As Lando took a step closer, she smiled. "Guess we’ll figure it out."

[apomaro-mellow]

Hawkins Confidential 6

Part 5

Dustin settled back into his bedroom like he never left, like he hadn’t just spent months in a hospital bed. It made Steve glad that he’d been scenting his things everyday in anticipation for his pup’s return. He walked in, seeing that Dustin was already in the process of building the dragon that Eddie had gotten for him. 

“Is dad coming by today? I wanna make this with him”, Dustin said.

And that word made Steve’s heart clench while making his stomach drop too. He came inside, closing the door behind him and getting on the floor with Dustin. He cleared his throat as he composed his thoughts.

“Look, Dusty, I know he’s really your dad. And everyone else in this house knows. But you can’t call him that.”

Dustin frowned. “Why not? He is, isn’t he?”

“He is”, Steve assured him. “But things aren’t that easy. If people know the truth, well, they’ll talk. And think of how it would make your-” Steve couldn’t call Tommy his father. Not anymore. “Of how it would make Tommy feel.”

“He’s a jerk. To you and to me.”

Steve couldn’t hold back the small smile he got from that. “Even so, this is a secret we’ve all been keeping. Even Eddie. And we need you to keep the secret too.”

Dustin huffed, but nodded. “Okay. So I just call him Mr. Eddie? That’s weird.”

“I know.” Steve patted the top of Dustin’s head. This whole thing was weird. If Steve was being honest, he never thought he’d see Eddie again. He thought that even if he ever told Dustin the truth, it would have been when he was older, an adult, and able to make his own decisions about whether or not he wanted to reach out to his true sire. But of course, life had to throw another wrench in the works.

Now he had to face the things he’d been hiding from for years. Steve wanted to talk to Eddie about them, but it was hard to get a moment alone. And also, he wasn’t sure if he trusted himself to be alone with the alpha. With that conversation done though, Steve left Dustin to it and went back to his own bedroom where Tommy was rushing to get ready. He was spending more and more late nights at the office, almost everyday at this point.

Steve knew it was probably because of Eddie. Eddie had already returned to where he was living now, he couldn’t stay at a motel forever. But he promised he’d be waiting on bells and whistles for that first dinner and Dustin’s weekend trips. It amazed Steve how quickly Eddie took to being a dad. But he realized he shouldn’t be surprised. Back then…Eddie had been happy, excited even.

Steve paced back and forth in the school bathroom. This couldn’t be real, it couldn’t be happening. He heard the bell ring and quickly stuffed the pregnancy test into his bag, tossing the box into the trash and rushing out before anyone else could come in. It was midday but when Eddie came by his locker, suggesting they skip, Steve agreed easily.

Eddie put his arm around Steve’s shoulders as they walked out of the school and towards his van.

“Something up angel?”, he asked once they were inside.

Steve thought about the test, sitting in his book bag like a hundred pound weight. He held it tight to his chest. “No, nothing. Hey um, let’s hang at the mall, okay?”

“Yeah, okay”, Eddie said, taking them there.

Steve wasn’t sure exactly what he was going to do or how exactly he was going to tell Eddie, but at least going there would keep him from having to refuse beer and weed for now.

Steve was knocked out of his thoughts by Tommy slamming the door as he went out. Steve sighed as he saw how the room was left in disarray from his hurrying. Maybe he should have been nice and actually attempted to wake him up. He made the bed and then picked up Tommy’s clothes from last night. He was about to drop them into the hamper when he caught a whiff of something. Something sweet.

He brought the clothes up to his nose. He mostly smelled Tommy’s teakwood scent. But there was something else there. Something familiar that he just couldn’t put his finger on. He was about to dismiss it when he saw it. There on Tommy’s collar. Just the slightest smudge of lipstick. Steve’s blood ran cold and he tossed the clothes into the hamper before he could think more about it.

He went into the kitchen, searching for a drink when the phone rang. He didn’t feel up to talking, but picked it up anyway.

“Hey sweet-cheeks.”

“Eddie? How did you know it was me?”

“I didn’t. Just rolled the dice with that one.”

“Please remember that your son could also be the one to pick up.”

“Ah, shit, well, good thing it didn’t happen this time”, Eddie laughed nervously. “Anyway, you free today? Dustin too? I want you both to meet me by those apartments in Forest Hills.”

Steve wasn’t able to get anything out of him besides that it was supposed to be a surprise. He called out to Dustin, telling him to get ready to head out. He could think about the lipstick on Tommy’s shirt later.

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

There was a sort of unspoken hierarchy among them all. Whoever had the most money was usually at top and that was the Harringtons. But reputation also played a role. So even though the Carvers weren’t quite as wealthy as the Harringtons, clean and pure and elegant Chrissy was more or less on the same level as Steve. 

The moment Steve was available, Tommy snatched him up, raising himself from the pitiful Hagan name and basically leaving Carol behind. She had no choice but to marry Andy just to stay relevant. Essentially Jason’s underling, that put Carol under Chrissy. It burned Carol inside. But soon enough she would be the most influential of their little town. In the meantime, she could entertain herself by stirring the pot just a bit.

So when she went to the club and saw Chrissy walking around with mousy Jonathan Wheeler, well it was like dangling a toy in front of a cat.

“Well, well and my, my. Now Chrissy, I could have sworn that the club was members only”, Carol said, smiling. As predicted, Jonathan closed in on himself, not meeting her eyes.

“As a matter of fact, Jonathan and Nancy are considering becoming members. I was just giving him a tour”, Chrissy explained, putting a reassuring hand onto his arm.

“Did you happen to tell him that a new member must be sponsored by two families?”

“Yes. And I am one of those sponsors.”

“And what about the other one?”, Carol pressed. After all, what was the point in being exclusive if you couldn’t rub it in the face of your lessers?

“Oh? Are you volunteering?”, Chrissy asked, then she continued before Carol could even respond. “That’s so nice of you, but I was thinking of suggesting the Harringtons. Dustin will be back in school soon, and that means Steve and Tommy will be around more. It could be just like high school.”

“Just like high school?”, Jonathan snorted, speaking up for the first time.

“Better than high school”, Chrissy amended. “Anyway, it was nice talking with you Carol but we’ve got to keep this tour moving.” With that, she and Jonathan moved around her but not before Carol got the final word.

“Be sure to show him the daycare. It’s the best place in Hawkins to leave your pup~”

She didn’t wait to see either of their reactions. She knew, based on the hospital gossip she had received, that it would have struck a chord with Jonathan. And that was enough. Over her dead body would Nancy Wheeler and her mutt of an omega join this country club.

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

Steve and Dustin got to the apartment complex, which Eddie was standing outside of. He held his arms out wide.

“Ta-daaaa~”, he sang.

“Tada what?”, Steve asked.

“You didn’t think I was gonna make either of us drive that long way back to my place for Dustin’s visits, did ya?”

“Wait…did you….?”, Steve trailed off, catching on.

Eddie took them up and led the two of them to his new apartment, right in the middle of town. It was pretty modest, especially compared to the literal mansion they lived in, but to Dustin’s child eyes, all he saw was the place his real dad lived. He even freaked out appropriately when Eddie showed what would be his room. There was already a fully dressed bed and a desk with a DnD manual on top. While Dustin explored his space, Steve pulled Eddie to the side.

“Just how much did all this set you back?”, he whispered.

“Don’t worry about it, precious”, Eddie whispered.

Steve sighed. “You can’t keep calling me things like that. And I can’t let you spend all this money.”

“I can’t just call you ‘Steve’ when my heart knows you by so many other names. And it’s my money to spend. I meant what I said back then. I don’t want a single dime that belonged to your father.”

Steve suddenly realized how close they were, how his senses were suddenly filled with Eddie’s scent, how much he longed for him, and how it would be the perfect poetic justice if he acted on his feelings now when Tommy was almost undoubtedly cheating on him.

“Hey, Mr. Eddie!”

Eddie raised a brow at Steve for that. “‘Mr’?”

“Well he can’t call you ‘dad’ in front of everyone”, Steve said as Dustin came up to them. “People will gossip.”

“What about Uncle Eddie?”, their son suggested.

“Oh that gossip’s just gonna be worse for you and me”, Eddie grinned at Steve.

Steve ran his hands through his hair. “Okay, how about this. When it’s private, you can call him dad. But out in public, Mr. Eddie.”

“That works for me”, Eddie said, crossing his arms.

Dustin mirrored him, crossing his arms too. “That also works for me.”

“Alright kiddo, tell me about everything you haven’t already told me while I fix you up a Munson special.”

“What’s Munson special?”, Dustin asked as he was corralled into the kitchen.

“That’s code for ‘make something out of whatever’s in the kitchen. You love it”, Steve said as he watched Eddie get to work.

“You’re gonna love tonight’s special, sweetheart”, Eddie said, breaking out a pan and what looked like a dish of leftover lasagna from the fridge. There was also bread and a can of sardines.

“Eddie…I’ve got something to tell you”, Steve said as his boyfriend fixed up dinner. He was thinking of escape routes. He’d driven here, so he could drive himself back. Worst case scenario, the trailer park was only about six miles from his house. He could walk that. 

“What’s up?”, Eddie asked, eyes focused on his cooking. 

“I should’ve told you sooner. I’ve known for days, but I wasn’t sure how to tell you, how’d you react”, Steve said, wringing his hands together.

Eddie turned the burner off and gave Steve his full attention then. “Tell me what?”

Steve took a deep breath, knowing this would change things forever. “I’m pregnant.”

There was a beat before Eddie threw his hands up in the air, tossing the (thankfully still closed) can of sardines in the air and picking Steve up to swing him around. “Baby! This is great! Holy hell we’re gonna be parents!” He set Steve on his feet then. “Holy shit, I’m gonna be a dad.”

Steve nodded, eyes tearing up. “You’re gonna be a dad.”

“This calls for something better than a Munson special. Hold on”, Eddie started rummaging through kitchen drawers. “I’ve got a coupon for Tonio’s somewhere. A coupon to Un Petit Bite too.”

“Eddie…”

“I know, stupid name, and somehow I’m the one that’s failing French in this town?”

“No, Eddie”, Steve grabbed his hand, making him pause his search and kissed him, his hands coming up to cradle his boyfriend’s face. “We don’t need to go anywhere. I think a family recipe like the Munson special is perfect for a night like tonight.”

Eddie smiled before bringing Steve in for another kiss. “Can’t wait.”

“For what?”, Steve giggled.

“For everything. Seeing you get big and round”, he tickled Steve’s sides. “To meet this pup, to be a dad. I’m gonna be a good one, Stevie, I promise.”

“I know you will.”

Part 7 coming soon

[soleilpinto]

Cruising in Papaya: Recalculating the Strategy ˚‧｡⋆🍁

“Life’s Better on Saturn ” ˙✧˖° ༘ ⋆｡˚ (Saturn, SZA)

Synopsis: Y/N Laurant, a glamorous socialite, meets Lando Norris during a race weekend, sparks fly between the two, but as their feelings deepen, they struggle to balance their secret relationship with their public lives, all while navigating the pressure of the fast-paced F1 scene.

Genre: (Some) Angst, Fluff, Romance

AU: Social Media and Written!au

Pairing: Lando x Afab!Socialite!Reader

Warnings: They fight and Lando’s an asshole, that’s really it

Note: This feels so real and true to life because shit like this happens all the time 😭 Like Lando and Magui rn because tbf she’s so problematic that’s why I guess they both chose to be private as hell because that girl is a mess.

Cruising in Papaya Masterlist. (Prev./Next.)

The warm hues of the Monaco sunset filtered through the curtains of your suite, casting a soft glow over the room.

You were seated by the window, absently scrolling through your phone, when it buzzed in your hand. The screen lit up with a familiar name, and your heart skipped a beat.

Lando.

For a moment, you hesitated. You hadn’t spoken to him since the British Grand Prix, and even though you tried to move on, his absence lingered in the quiet moments. But something compelled you to answer.

“Hello?” you said, your voice steady despite the swirl of emotions brewing inside.

“Hey,” came Lando’s voice, softer than you expected. There was a tentative edge to it, as if he wasn’t sure you’d pick up. “I, uh, heard you’re in Monaco.”

You blinked in surprise. “Who told you that?”

“Max and Pietra. And I might’ve heard from Alexandra too. They said you were planning to spend time with her.” He let out a small chuckle, though it sounded strained.

You exhaled, leaning back against the plush seat. “Yeah, I’m here for the break. Alex and Jade invited me to a couple of things.”

There was a pause on the line, and you could almost picture him running a hand through his curls, trying to find the right words.

“Look,” he started, his voice heavier now, “I know I’m the last person you probably want to hear from right now, but... can we talk? In person.”

Your grip on the phone tightened. “Lando—”

“Please,” he interrupted, his voice bordering on pleading. “I need to see you, Y/N. I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But I can’t leave things like this between us.”

You chewed on your bottom lip, your mind racing. Every instinct told you to say no, to guard the fragile walls you had built around your heart. But something in his voice—raw, earnest—made it impossible to refuse.

“Fine,” you said after a beat, your voice quieter now. “I’ll text you where I’m staying.”

Relief flooded his tone. “Thank you. I’ll be there soon.”

The call ended, leaving you staring at the screen. Your heart felt heavy, torn between the familiarity of his presence and the wounds that hadn’t fully healed.

You sighed, standing up to pace the room. It wasn’t just the thought of seeing him again that made your chest tighten—it was the uncertainty of what this meeting might bring.

When a knock came an hour later, it wasn’t unexpected. But as you opened the door to find him standing there, looking slightly disheveled but heartbreakingly earnest, the emotions you had fought so hard to bury came rushing back.

“Hi,” he said softly, and the vulnerability in his voice was enough to make you reconsider the walls you had so carefully constructed.

“Hi,” you replied, stepping aside to let him in.

Once inside, the air between you was heavy with unspoken words. Lando’s gaze flickered over you, his eyes filled with emotions he didn’t know how to express. Finally, he broke the silence.

“I’ve been a mess without you,” he admitted, his voice raw. “Seeing you in those headlines, looking like you’ve moved on... it’s been killing me.”

You crossed your arms, trying to keep your composure. “What did you expect, Lando? We can’t keep living under a microscope. It’s exhausting.”

“I know,” he said quickly, stepping closer. “And I don’t want you to feel like that. But I can’t pretend I’m okay with losing you either.”

Your chest tightened at his words, but you held firm.

“Then how do we make this work? Because I can’t keep pretending I’m unaffected when people dissect every move I make. I’ve been living with that my whole life, Lando. But this... this is different. It’s personal.”

“We don’t have to pretend. We don’t have to hide. Not like before. I think... if we’re honest about what we mean to each other, maybe it’ll hurt less. I’m willing to take that risk if you are.” Lando reached out, his hand brushing yours.

You looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity in them. “You think being open about us will make the pressure disappear?”

“No,” he admitted. “But I think it’ll be easier if we face it together.”

Your defenses softened as his words sank in. For the first time in weeks, the weight on your chest began to lift.

“Okay,” you said quietly. “But we set boundaries. We do this on our terms, not theirs.”

Lando nodded, his relief palpable. “Anything you need, Y/N. As long as you’re with me.”

A small smile tugged at your lips. “I’ve missed you, Lando.”

His arms wrapped around you in an instant, pulling you close as he whispered, “I’ve missed you too. So much.”

At that moment, the noise of the outside world faded away. It was just the two of you, choosing each other despite the chaos. For the first time, it felt like you were finally on the same page—ready to face whatever came your way, together.

@F1GossipHub 🚨 Lando Norris and Y/N Laurant were spotted together in Monaco earlier today! 👀 The pair were seen leaving a hotel, looking... tense? Fans are speculating—are they back together or just clearing the air?

@MonacoSocialiteLife Y/N Laurant seen with Lando Norris in Monte Carlo. Are we witnessing a reunion or closure? Either way, these two can’t seem to stay out of the spotlight.

@mclarenlover95 mixed emotions seeing lando and y/n together. like, are they good? are they not? either way, if she’s the one making him smile again, i’m here for it 🧡

@gridtalk24 i’m sorry, but after all the drama, how is y/n back in the picture? they literally SCREAM messy. i hope lando knows what he’s doing

Racing Rumors Weekly

Love on Track or Off? F1 star Lando Norris and socialite Y/N Laurant reunite in Monaco, fueling relationship speculation.

Monaco Times

Back Together or Final Goodbye? Lando Norris and Y/N Laurant were seen leaving a Monaco hotel, sparking rumors of a reconciliation after their rumored split.

Elite Society Daily

Spotted: Lando and Y/N in Monaco The high-profile duo has fans guessing—are they reconciling or simply tying up loose ends?

You adjusted the brightness of the photo one last time before hitting "post" on your Instagram story. It wasn’t anything overt—just an artfully angled shot of Lando's hand resting on his leg. The dead giveaway was the bracelet he always wore catching the glow of the light. Next to it, the sleeve of his hoodie—one his fans would instantly recognize—peeked into the frame.

It was subtle but unmistakable to anyone paying attention. You smirked to yourself, knowing exactly what kind of reaction this would stir.

Across the table, Lando caught the faint upward curve of your lips as you locked your phone.

“What did you just do?” he asked, suspicion laced with amusement.

“Just posted a cute picture of your hand when we were in the car,” you said nonchalantly, sipping your espresso.

He leaned over, trying to glance at your screen, but you tilted it away with a teasing smile. “Cute? Or you’re making the entire internet lose its mind again?”

“It’s just your hand,” you countered with a playful shrug. “And a tiny bit of your hoodie. Relax.”

But neither of you could relax as your phones buzzed with notifications almost immediately. Twitter, Instagram, and every gossip forum were alight:

@f1girIies is that LANDO’S hand on Y/N’s story??? that bracelet is a dead giveaway

@papayacorner okay, the hoodie? The BRACELET?? this is literally confirmation. she’s soft-launching him, and i’m living for it

@gridrumors No way Y/N just gave us this much in one picture. The hand, the bracelet, AND the hoodie? She knows EXACTLY what she’s doing

Lando’s phone buzzed incessantly, and he rolled his eyes, his lips quirking into a grin. “You’ve done it now. The detectives are already on it.”

You tilted your head, your expression pure innocence. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’re impossible,” he said, shaking his head but unable to hide his amusement. Reaching across the table, he lightly brushed his fingers over yours, a subtle reminder that he didn’t mind the chaos, not as long as it was with you.

“You’re the one who wore the bracelet,” you teased.

“And you’re the one who posted it,” he countered, laughter in his voice.

As the soft buzz of notifications continued, you set your phone down, determined not to let the world’s reactions dictate your lunch. Lando watched you closely, his expression softening as he leaned back in his chair.

“It’s weird, isn’t it?” he started, his voice thoughtful. “How one little picture can feel like such a big deal.”

You glanced up at him, your lips curving into a small smile. “It’s because we’ve been trying so hard to stay under the radar. But maybe…” You hesitated, your fingers tracing the rim of your glass. “Maybe it doesn’t have to be that hard anymore.”

Lando’s gaze didn’t waver. “I was thinking the same thing,” he admitted.

“I mean, I get wanting to keep some things just ours. But hiding? It’s exhausting. And honestly,” he added with a teasing glint in his eye, “you’re terrible at it.”

You laughed, the tension melting away as you playfully tossed a napkin at him. “I am not terrible at it! You’re the one who kept showing up in my private stories. If anyone’s bad at hiding, it’s you.”

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “Fair enough. But seriously, maybe we don’t have to hide anymore. Be private, yeah, but not secret. I don’t want us to feel like we’re always sneaking around. It’s too much pressure.”

You nodded, his words resonating with the nagging thoughts you’d had for weeks.

“It was so hard pretending not to care when people speculated about us. Like, I couldn’t even react when they’d say things that weren’t true. And don’t get me started on how many times I’ve had to dodge questions from my family and friends.”

Lando reached across the table, taking your hand in his. “We don’t owe anyone every detail about us,” he said gently. “But we shouldn’t feel like we have to pretend we’re strangers, either.”

You looked down at your intertwined hands, his thumb gently brushing over your knuckles.

“You’re right,” you said softly. “We can set our own boundaries. Let people see just enough to stop the speculation, but keep the important stuff between us.”

“Exactly,” Lando said, his voice warm with reassurance. “We’ve got nothing to prove to anyone else. As long as we’re good, that’s all that matters.”

You smiled, the weight of the conversation lifting from your chest. “Okay,” you agreed. “We’ll be private, not secret. But if you think I’m suddenly going to start posting couple selfies, you’re delusional.”

Lando laughed, the sound easing the last of your lingering doubts. “Noted. No couple selfies. But maybe the occasional hand shot? Or a glimpse of my hoodie?”

“Deal,” you said with a grin.

As you clinked your glasses together, a quiet understanding settled between you. For the first time in what felt like forever, you both felt like you could finally breathe.

liked by lando, francolapinto and others

yvesaintlaurant a little something for those paying attention❣️

lando ❤️

lettiemng she's not secret anymore! congrats baby x

iamrebeccad cuties

@f1gossipgirI Lando and Y/N soft-launching their relationship? The hand pic? The hoodie? WE KNOW 👀💅 #F1 #WAGwatch

@papayalando4ever guys... i’m not ready for y/n and lando to actually go public. they’re like the blueprint of private-but-perfect relationships 😭

@monacodreams_ If Y/N and Lando are finally going public, I’m here for it. They’re literally the power couple we needed 👏🔥

@f1stan123 Soft-launch confirmed?! Y/N posted the hand pic and that hoodie is 100% Lando’s. Not me crying in papaya 🧡😭

@ynsluxury Imagine being Y/N. Beautiful, stylish, AND dating Lando Norris. She’s living the dream life I scripted for myself 😩✨

@norrisupdates Prepare yourselves, Lando and Y/N are going public soon. The fandom is NOT ready. #ProtectThePrivacy

The Daily Chicane

"Love on the Grid? Y/N Laurant Posts Subtle Clue Suggesting Romance with Lando Norris" A close-up of a hand with that bracelet has F1 fans spiraling. Is the sport’s favorite bachelor off the market?

Monaco Confidential

"Y/N Laurant Sparks Rumors with Soft Launch of F1’s Rising Star" The socialite posted a glimpse of Lando Norris’s unmistakable hoodie. Are they preparing to take their relationship public?

Celebrity Circuit

"From Secrets to Subtlety: Y/N Laurant Drops a Cryptic Relationship Clue" Her latest story featuring a familiar bracelet and hoodie has everyone talking about a soft launch with Lando Norris.

The Papaya Insider

"Is Lando Norris Off the Market? Y/N Laurant's Instagram Post Says Maybe" Fans spotted a bracelet identical to Lando’s in her story—coincidence or confirmation?

© soleilpinto 25’ -. no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any manner without the permission from the publisher.

Taglist: @bakingpiastries @linnygirl09

[multifandomwriter126]

Jealousy||Liam Mairi x fem!reader

Smut p in v

Not edited so this probably sucks ass💀

I did post this on my old account that got deleted a while back

“Have you ever thought about telling them how you feel instead of, you know, telling us about it?" Violet said from beside you as if it was obvious. The two of you had stopped your training to ogle at her boyfriend Xaden and his best friend Liam.

“ Um, no, because I don’t want to embarrass myself and I’d rather fangirl over him from a distance.” You countered sarcastically, wincing as Xaden landed a blow to Liam’s ribs.

"That has to hurt," you thought to yourself.

"I’m not sure he’d take me seriously anyway,” you added as Liam stumbled backward, catching himself before falling off the ledge.

Violet rolled her eyes at you. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, “You’re beautiful, smart, and fiercely intelligent.” Her words were sweet, but you couldn’t push away the negative thoughts.

"Yeah, well, he’d probably find me annoying. Besides, even if he does like me, I doubt he’d ever make a move.”

Violet sighed, shaking her head. "You shouldn’t speak so negatively about yourself," she scolded. "Xaden sees how great you are, and so does Liam."

Your heart skipped a beat as butterflies fluttered within you. "Wait, your grumpy hater of a boyfriend thinks I’m amazing?" you asked, not daring to get your hopes up.

Violet chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, he does," she confirmed. "He’s always been observant, even when you don’t think he is. And he notices how sweet and good you are for Liam."

Your cheeks flushed at her words. It was one thing for Xaden to think positively of you, but Liam too? The feelings within you grew stronger by the second.

Your heart began racing, but you tried your best to act indifferent at the suggestion. "yeah, and how am I supposed to do that?" you asked, your voice rising a few octaves.

Violet smirked. "There’s always the direct approach," she suggested. “Or," she continued, her smile growing wider, "I have an even better idea." You raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Oh, yeah?" You inquired, not knowing if you should trust her. "And what might that be?"

She leaned in closer, a wicked glint in her eyes. "Why don’t you and I make him jealous?" Your heart skipped a beat. Making Liam jealous sounded like a dangerous game. “What do you mean?” you asked a mix of excitement and worry coursing through you.

“Well,” Violet explained, “If Liam sees you with other guys, he might realize what he’s been missing and finally make a move.”

You bit your lip, unsure if you should go along with her plan. “But what if that just drives him further away?” you voiced your concern, “I don’t want to lose his friendship completely.”

Violet put her hand on your shoulder, reassuring you. “Trust me, you won’t. Men are competitive by nature. If he sees you giving attention to someone else, it’ll ignite something within him.”

You thought it over for a moment before nodding reluctantly. “Alright,” you conceded, “But if this blows up in my face, you’re the one responsible.”

Violet grinned triumphantly and patted your back. “Don’t worry, everything will go according to plan.”

Over the next few days, you found yourself spending more time with other male cadets. You sat with them during meals, trained with them, and even laughed at their jokes.

Every time Liam was around, you could feel his gaze on you, but you acted as if you didn't notice.

Each time you smiled or laughed with another guy, you could see the flicker of jealousy in Liam’s eyes, just like Violet said.

One night at dinner, you sat with a group of male cadets. They all seemed nice enough, but you couldn’t shake the feeling of Liam’s steely glare from across the room.

As you continued to chat with them, you felt a presence behind you, and a shadow loomed over the table. You turned around to find Liam standing there, the muscles in his jaw clenched. The table grew silent as everyone waited to see what would happen next. You swallowed hard, trying to maintain your composure, but your heart was racing.

Liam leaned down, his face just inches away from your ear. "Can I talk to you?" he asked, his voice gruff. You nodded hesitantly, feeling the intense gaze of everyone at the table.

Liam took your hand and led you away from the group, away from the curious gazes and hushed whispers. He didn't stop walking until he'd taken you far enough away from the others, to a quiet corner of the dining room where you were alone.

Finally, he let go of your hand and turned to face you, his expression serious. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked bluntly.

You feigned innocence, even though deep down you knew exactly what he was talking about. "What do you mean?" you asked, trying to keep your voice even. Liam scoffed and stepped forward, closing the distance between you. "Don’t play coy with me," he said, his voice low. "You've been spending all your time with random guys, laughing and joking with them." You clenched your hands into fists, the mix of emotions inside you growing overwhelming. "And if I have?” you asked, trying to sound defiant. "It's not like you're my boyfriend or anything.”

A flash of hurt crossed Liam's face, but he quickly hid it behind his usual stoic expression. "You're right, I'm not your boyfriend," he said, his voice laced with bitterness. "But that doesn’t mean I like seeing you with other guys." Your heart skipped a beat at his words. So Violet was right, Liam was jealous.

You stared at him, unsure of what to say. Part of you wanted to tell him the truth, that it was all a ploy to make him jealous, but then again, what if he didn’t believe you? What if he thought you were just playing games? As the silence stretched between the two of you, Liam ran a hand through his messy hair, his frustration evident. "Why are you suddenly spending so much time with other guys anyway?" he asked, his eyes never leaving yours.

You swallowed, feeling the weight of his question. You couldn't tell him the truth, not yet. So, you said the first thing that came to mind. "I just wanted some male attention, I guess," you replied nonchalantly, even though your heart was pounding. Liam's gaze darkened at your words, his jaw tightening. "Male attention, huh?" he repeated, his tone laced with sarcasm. "And you couldn't get that from me? You had to go to every other guy?"

You winced at the hurt in his voice, hating that you were causing him pain. But you couldn't back down now. "Yeah, well, it's not like you've ever shown any interest in me," you retorted, "At least the other guys give me attention."

Liam’s eyes narrowed, the hurt in his gaze replaced by anger. "Are you serious right now?" he asked, taking a step forward. "You think I haven't shown any interest in you? Maybe I was just trying to be respectful, not wanting to overstep my bounds." You swallowed hard, the guilt building inside of you. You knew he had a point, but you couldn’t back down now. "How was I supposed to know that?” you challenged. "You never say anything, you keep to yourself all the time. I thought you didn't care."

Liam gritted his teeth. "Just because I'm not always the most outspoken guy doesn't mean I don't care," he snapped. "I care more than you think. But seeing you with all these other guys has been... torture, for lack of better words."

You faltered, the hurt in his voice finally cracking your resolve. You didn't want to hurt him, that was the last thing you wanted.

"So, you… you do care about me?" you asked timidly, barely above a whisper. Liam let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair again. "Of course, I care about you, you idiot," he snapped. "More than you could ever imagine."

Your heart leaped at his words, a feeling of both relief and confusion washing over you. "Then why didn't you say something sooner?" you asked, your voice laced with a hint of irritation. Liam's shoulders slumped, the anger leaving him. "Because I didn't think you felt the same way," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "I didn't want to risk losing your friendship if things went sour."

Your heart ached at his confession. You were both such idiots, dancing around each other for so long.

"Liam," you said softly, stepping closer to him. "I've been spending time with other guys because I wanted to make you jealous. I wanted to see if you cared.”

Liam's eyes widened in surprise. "You... you did that on purpose?" he asked, his voice a mixture of shock and resignation. You nodded, feeling a sense of relief now that the truth was out. "I know it was a dumb move," you admitted, "but I didn't know how else to get your attention. I was tired of waiting for you to make a move if you ever would at all."

Liam let out a huff of frustration. "You’re a goddamn idiot, you know that?" he said, a hint of humor in his voice.

He stepped closer to you, his eyes locked on yours. "If you wanted my attention, you could have just asked." Your heart fluttered as he closed the gap between you. "Yeah, well, you could have said something too," you retorted, not wanting to give up your stance completely.

Liam chuckled, his expression softening. “Fair enough,” he conceded. “But I guess we were both too stubborn to admit how we felt.” You smiled, feeling the tension between the two of you ease.

"So… does this mean you’re not mad at me for being an idiot?" you asked, half joking, half serious. Liam chuckled and shook his head. "I am mad at you," he said, feigning annoyance. "But I guess I can understand why you did what you did.”

He paused for a moment, his expression turning serious. “But I do have one question I’m dying to ask you.”

Your heart skipped a beat. “Yeah? What’s that?” you asked, trying not to show how nervous you were. Liam stepped closer, so close that you could feel the heat radiating off his body. He looked down at you, his eyes smoldering with a mixture of desire and vulnerability.

"I just want to know one thing," he said, his voice low. "Do you have feelings for me? Honest answer, no games." A wave of emotion washed over you as you stared into his intense gaze. You took a deep breath, letting the facade fall away completely.

"Yes," you said without hesitation. "I have feelings for you. Strong ones. I have for a long time." Relief and joy washed over his face. He reached out to touch your face, his hand cradling your cheek. "Good," he whispered, his thumb tracing patterns on your skin. "Because I have feelings for you too. Stronger than you can even imagine." You shivered at his touch, feeling a rush of electricity course through you. "So, what do we do now?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper. "Are we… Are we together now?" Liam smiled, his eyes never leaving yours. "Yeah," he said, his voice confident. "We're together now. It's about damn time if you ask me." He leaned down, bringing his face closer to yours. "May I?" he asked, his breath warm on your skin.

You nodded, your heart racing in anticipation. “Yes,” you breathed, your voice almost a whisper.

Liam didn’t need any more encouragement. He closed the remaining distance between you, his lips capturing yours in a deep kiss. The world seemed to fall away as you melted into the kiss, the sensation of his lips on yours setting your soul on fire. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer, wanting to feel as much of him as you could.

Liam's hands moved to your waist, his fingers digging into your hips. He deepened the kiss, his tongue seeking entrance into your mouth. You granted his silent request, opening your mouth to him. Your bodies pressed against each other, the heat and hunger of the moment taking over completely.

Liam pressed you against the wall, his body trapping you most delightfully. He broke the kiss, his lips trailing down to your neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin there. You let out a gasp, feeling a wave of pleasure coursing through you as Liam continued his assault on your neck. Your fingers tangled in his hair, holding him close, needing more of him.

He continued to kiss and nip at your skin, his hands roaming over your body, exploring every inch. You felt his body pressed against yours, the hard planes of his muscles molding to your curves. Liam's lips returned to yours, his kisses becoming more urgent, more demanding. You met his kisses with equal fervor, your desire for him growing with every passing second.

You felt his hands move under your shirt, his palms exploring your skin with a desperate touch. You shivered at the sensation, arching your back, and letting out a soft moan. Liam grinned into the kiss, his hands splaying across your stomach, sending a shiver through you. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," he whispered against your lips, his voice rough with desire.

He pushed your shirt up, his hands roaming over your bare skin, igniting a trail of fire wherever they touched. You gasped, your body arching into his touch. You wanted, needed more of him. You tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against yours.

Liam understood your silent request, breaking the kiss long enough to pull his shirt over his head. The sight of his bare chest, the muscles rippling under his skin, made your breath hitch. You reached out, your hands tracing over the ridges of his abs, feeling the heat radiating off of him. Liam let out a small gasp as your fingers explored his body, and he captured your lips in another fiery kiss.

His hands moved back under your shirt, slowly inching it higher and higher up your torso. You broke the kiss, pulling your shirt over your head and tossing it aside, not wanting any barriers between you. Liam's eyes darkened as he took in the sight of you, his gaze roaming over your now-bare skin.

He stepped closer, his body pressed against yours again, his hands roaming over your back, pulling you flush against him. You shivered at the feeling of his skin on yours, the heat from his body seeping into you. You ran your hands over his broad shoulders, relishing the feeling of his muscles flexing under your touch.

Liam's lips found their way back to your neck, his kisses becoming more insistent, his teeth nipping at your skin. His hand moved to your hip, holding you close to him as he continued his assault on your neck. You tilted your head back, giving him more access, feeling his lips and teeth graze your collarbone.

A moan escaped your lips as his other hand moved to your lower back, his touch sending jolts of pleasure through you. Liam's mouth moved to your ear, and his breath was hot as he whispered, "You drive me crazy, you know that?"

He nipped at your ear, his tongue tracing the shell of your ear. You shivered, feeling a wave of heat wash over you, pooling in your core. You grabbed his hips, pulling him closer, wanting to feel more of him against you. You were lost in the sensations he was stirring in you, your mind a haze of pleasure and desire.

Liam's hands roamed over your body, exploring every inch of you, claiming you as his. His body pressed you harder against the wall, his hardness against your thigh making you gasp. You couldn't take it any longer. You needed more, you needed him. You reached down, your fingers seeking the button on his jeans.

Liam pulled back just enough to look at you, his eyes clouded with lust. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice rough and ragged. You nodded, your body quivering with need. "Yes," you breathed, your voice barely above a whisper. "Please, Liam."

Liam didn't need any more encouragement. He crushed his lips to yours, his kisses searing your skin as his hands fumbled with the button of his jeans. You helped him with the button, your hands shaking slightly with anticipation. You pushed the jeans down his hips, reveling in the feel of his body pressed against yours.

He picked you up, wrapping your legs around his hips. Your back was against the wall, and he held you there with ease.

You could feel his hardness pressing against you, the need in his eyes matching your own. You wrapped your arms around his neck, holding on tightly as he continued to claim your mouth in a frenzied kiss.

Liam stepped out of the jeans, his hands roaming over your body once more, leaving a trail of heat wherever he touched. "I want you," he growled against your lips, his voice guttural with need. "I need you."

He shifted his hips, aligning himself with your core. You gasped as his hardness brushed against your sensitive flesh, Your body arched into him, your mind a haze of pleasure and desire. You wanted, no, needed him inside you, wanted to feel him completely.

Liam groaned as your body pressed against him, his hands gripping your hips tightly. "Are you ready for me?" he asked, his voice low and gruff. You could only nod in response, your body tingling with anticipation. "Please," you breathed, your voice shaky with need. "Please, Liam. I need you."

He didn't need any more encouragement. He shifted his hips, positioning himself at your entrance, his tip teasingly pushing against your core. He held you there for a moment, savoring the feeling of having you so close, so close to where he wanted you most.

Then, with one smooth motion, he entered you, filling you. A cry escaped your lips as he stretched and filled you, your body arching into him.

Liam groaned, his head dropping to your shoulder, his breath hot against your skin. "God," he gasped, his voice ragged. "You feel so Good, so good."

He began to move, his hips rocking against yours, each thrust drawing a moan from your lips. You held onto him tightly, your body molded to his, feeling the heat and energy building between you.

Liam's mouth found yours again, his kiss consuming you, his tongue delving into your mouth. "You're mine," he whispered against your lips. "You're mine, and only mine." You could only nod in agreement, your body lost in the sensations he was stirring in you. Every thrust, every touch, every kiss sent waves of pleasure coursing through you, building and building to a crest you knew was approaching.

Liam's pace quickened, his hips moving more urgently against yours. His hands held you there against the wall, his touch possessive, his need for you overwhelming.

You were both lost in the moment, consumed by the sensations and emotions that were building between you. You felt yourself climbing higher and higher, teetering on the edge of release. Liam was close too, his breaths ragged, his body tensing, his grip on you tight, almost bruising.

He looked into your eyes, his gaze intense and feral. "I'm close," he gasped, his voice strained. "Are you with me, baby?" You nodded your body on the verge of collapse. "Yes," you managed to breathe, your voice wavering. "Yes, I'm close. Please, Liam, don't stop."

Liam didn't stop. He kept his pace, his thrusts deep and powerful as you both approached the edge, the pleasure building and building, Liam's kiss became more urgent, more demanding. His hands gripped you tighter, holding you there as he drove you higher and higher. And then, with a cry, you fell over the edge. Your body convulsed as the release washed over you, wave after wave of pleasure crashing through you Liam followed you into bliss with a deep, guttural groan. His body tensed his grip on you nearly bruising as he found his release.

You both stayed there for a moment, catching your breaths, trying to come back down from the high. Liam's forehead rested against yours, his eyes closed, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. "That was…" he panted, his voice trailing off, unable to find the words. "That was... incredible." You could only nod in agreement, still feeling the aftershocks of pleasure coursing through your body. You leaned your forehead against his chest, feeling his heart pounding against your skin.

Liam wrapped his arms around you, holding you tightly against him, his body still shaking slightly from the intensity of the moment. "You're amazing," he murmured, his lips against your hair. "Amazing." You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through you that had nothing to do with the pleasure you'd just experienced. You felt safe, cared for, treasured.

"You're not so bad yourself," you teased, looking up at him with a smile. Liam chuckled, the sound low and rumbling in his chest. He looked down at you, his eyes soft, his usual cockiness replaced with something gentler, something more vulnerable.

"I think I may have just found my new favorite activity," he said, his lips curving into a lazy grin. "Oh, shut up," you said, rolling your eyes, though you couldn't hide your smile.

Liam chuckled again, his hands coming up to cup your face, his thumbs tracing patterns on your cheeks. "In all seriousness, though," he said, his voice quiet, "that was incredible."

"Agreed," you said, your voice soft. You leaned into his touch, relishing the feeling of his hands on you.

"But," you added, a mischievous gleam in your eye, "we should probably move from the wall before my legs give out entirely." Liam laughed and nodded. He scooped you up easily, carrying you over to the bed and gently laying you down.

He crawled onto the bed, flopping down beside you, his body pressed against yours. "That's much better," he said, slinging an arm around your waist. You both lay there in silence for a moment, the sound of your breathing the only noise in the room. You turned onto your side, curling into him, your head nestled against his chest.

Liam's arms encircled you, pulling you close, his chin resting on top of your head. "I can't believe this is real," he murmured, his voice a whisper.

You could feel the steady thump of his heart under your ear, the rhythm soothing and reassuring. "It is," you replied, your voice just as soft. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere." "Good," Liam said, pulling you even closer. "Because you're mine now."

His words were possessive, but there was no denying the tenderness in his voice, the vulnerability behind the bravado. You smiled, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside you. You were happy, yes, but there was also a hint of anxiety, a worry that this newfound happiness was too good to be true.

But as you lay there, wrapped in Liam's arms, feeling his heart beating steadily beneath your ear, you knew that you wanted this, wanted him, more than anything.

[ask-gimmiventures]

Hey crow, any signs of Cherry's crown yet? Or any trouble? This place does seem awfully vacant for a mystery dungeon...

“You just had to jinx it huh?”

Crow and Lupin have been separated.

(short written description under cut incase it didn’t come through well :3)

Crow is walking with Curce when they hear a rumble. They turn to warn Lupin only to see him a distance back and not paying attention. By the time Crow gets his attention it is too late and a wild wooper has used rockslide causing a cave in. Crow throws a miniature blowback orb to knock Lupin away from the falling rocks and the avalanche seperated them. The wooper escapes in the chaos.

[puppppppppy]

AND I MET THE CHANGE GOD TOO. OKAY. COOL OKAY

[harvestmoth]

heres my one page thesis on why hinomori mafuyu real

[eebie]

When school starts back up again im gonna search for people who will want to hang and watch movies

[arodrwho]

thing: when i'm presented with an unexpected choice, on the spot, in person, especially (but not exclusively) with someone i rarely speak to, i tend to freeze up. i find it very hard to choose and as a result hard to speak. often, if i manage to speak at all, i will just say whatever i think the other person wants me to say, even if it isn't really what i want. saying what i want is a lot harder, and that's if i even know what i want, which, because its the choice that freezes me up, is not guaranteed

which is...inconvenient, for other people as well as for me, because they'll be doing something normal, like a dr asking if i want a thing done Today or later, and i'll be like. -_- .... 😰??

or someone asking if i want to do something fun and ill be like -_- ... 😟??

or they'll say something and it won't even be a question but i have to choose how to respond to it and i don't know what's best and i'll be like. -_- ... 😰???

and it's really annoying. i wish my stress response wasn't freeze

[breadandcircusandallthatjazz]

Please let Tiffy’s pickup line on Dominic be a one off joke please let Tiffy’s pickup line on Dominic be a one off joke please let Tiffy’s pickup line on Dominic be a one off joke please let Tiffy’s pickup line on Dominic be a one off joke please-

[fxckinemo]

ughhhh

[nihiltism]

I think it's really funny that I can tell exactly how long it's been since the last time I've gotten to cuddle with somebody by my emotional irregularity at a given instant. like those moments where you catch yourself digging yourself a mental pit of despair and go "did I forget to take my meds" or "have I eaten today" or "is my period coming up". i think that's funny

[specsthesecond]

Being a waitress/bottle girl at a club that caters to monsters.

While serving a table of orcs their drinks you hear whistling from behind you and turn towards the table of werewolves calling you over,

"C'mere Doll, why don't you spend some time with us? It'd be better than looking at those ugly green faces."

The rest of the table barks out laughter and all you do is look back at the table of orcs to gauge their reactions, just incase you have to call the bouncer to stop another brawl.

"Aw yeah? Cus your slobbering snout's much more attractive, ain't it?"

One orc yells and the others hurl their chosen insults across the table as well. The werewolves grumble and snarl insults back and you just stand in the middle of this, trying to think of an escape.

"Maybe she ain't at your table for a reason!"

One of the orcs claims boldly and all the other orcs voice their agreement while the wolves clearly disagree.

"Why don't we let the lady decide." A wolf with greying fur suggests with a smirk and both tables seem to agree on this being just a wonderful idea.

"Well love? Who's better then? Us or the mutts?"

"Aye! The real question is who can treat her better, isn't that right, Doll?"

The attention of the two tables are now on you, waiting for your answer with baited breaths and half hard cocks probably.

"....I prefer minotaurs."

This deadpan response takes a few seconds to sink in before a chorus of disagreements and further arguing commences, but you're already making your way back towards the bar, you're sure they don't mind watching your tiny skirt bounce as you walk away.

That answer wasn't random, it's actually been the only thing you could think of all day. Your Minotaur coworkers cock reaching deep into your stomach while he pounds you into next week. That might be why so many customers have been extra forward with you today, maybe they can smell the need on you.

You finally make it back to the bar, getting ready to end your shift and finally get some relief.

"You causing trouble?"

You whip around to meet just the monster you were so desperate to see. He stands at the edge of the bar in his bouncer uniform, his sleeves hug his biceps very nicely and you nearly purr imagining what that arm would feel like around your throat, while he pounds you from behind. He gazes down at you with a knowing look.

"Me? Oh, I would never."

You look up at him and play with the collar of your shirt, successfully drawing his eyes to the generous amount of cleavage your uniform provides.

He huffs in amusement.

"They don't seem to think so."

He tilts his head and massive horns towards the two tables you just left where the occupants are all peering over one another to see the interaction between you and the bovine beast in front of you.

You scoff, take his arm and turn him around so that he's only focusing on you.

"I'm off. You're off in 15...maybe you could come by my place again....or something?"

You nervously bite your lip and he doesn't know why you're getting nervous.

You weren't nervous when you sent him that video of your stuffed cunt clenching around the Minotaur themed dildo you've had since before you were seeing eachother. You definitely weren't nervous when you sent him another video 6 hours ago of you stuffing said dildo into your perfect pussy in the employee bathrooms before slipping your tiny panties on over it, keeping the silicone deep in your cunt.

He pulls out his keys and leans down closer to you,

"Be ready when I get to the car."

You nearly squeal in excitement as you grab the keys and reach up to kiss his cheek. As you skip out the door to his car he looks back at the two tables just to revel a little in the disappointed grumbles and huffs emitting from the two groups as they go back to their drinks.

𓄀

[d1stalker]

Suspension Bridge Effect [Logan Howlett]

Summary: You saved one of the younger mutants during a mission, and now he's obsessed with you, much to Logan's dismay

Warnings: mainly Logan POV, jealousy, cuteness, fem!reader WC: 2.6k - MASTERLIST

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Logan’s losing it; his thoughts are spiralling to the point where he wonders if he should be locked up.

At least, that’s what he thinks is happening as he watches the scene unfold in front of him. You’re standing near the edge of the mansion's garden, laughing softly as the kid—Johnny, a younger teenage mutant—tries to hand you a bouquet of hastily picked flowers. His face is flushed, eyes wide with admiration, and he’s practically vibrating with nervous energy as he looks up at you.

This punk, this moron, this lovesick blockhead, has been glued to your side ever since you saved him during the last mission.

It was supposed to be a standard run-of-the-mill rescue operation, but when things went south, and he was cornered, you swooped in like the hero you are and got him out unscathed. Now, the kid’s been following you around like a lost puppy, trying to win your attention, your approval—your everything. And it’s infuriating.

Logan can feel his hands clench into fists as he watches Johnny offer you the worst attempt at a bouquet he's ever seen, and sees the youngster's face turning a deeper shade of red as he mumbles something the older man can’t quite hear. Probably some dumb compliment, he thinks bitterly. The kid’s got no game.

You smile at Johnny. It's that soft, kind smile that always makes Logan’s heart skip a beat. But this time, all it does is fuel the fire raging within. He knows that smile isn’t just for him, but damn it, he wishes it were.

He wishes you’d tell the kid to scram, that you’re already spoken for, that you have a lovely boyfriend who could put together a way better bunch of flowers, but instead, you take the flowers with a gentle laugh, thanking the goblin like he’s just handed you a priceless treasure.

And somehow, the torment is never ending, it seems. Because later in the day he find’s himself lurking at the doorway of the mansion library, watching as you and Johnny sit together, heads bent over some book he know knows the little gremlin is just pretending to be interested in. That brat is soaking up every second of your attention, hanging on your every word, and it’s driving Logan up the wall.

“He’s just a kid,” you keep saying whenever he grumbles about it, but you don’t see it. You don’t see the way the bastard’s eyes light up whenever you smile at him, or how he leans in just a little too close when you’re explaining something to him. You don’t notice the small touches—the way his hand lingers on your arm when he’s pulling you somewhere, the way he looks at you like you’re the centre of his universe.

Logan sees it all, because he’s been there before. He knows exactly what Johnny’s feeling because he felt the same way when he first met you. Still does. It's that intense, all-consuming crush that makes you do stupid things just to be near the person you can’t stop thinking about.

“Logan, you’re staring,” Jean’s voice cuts through his thoughts, and he turns to see her smirking at him from across the hallway.

“I’m not starin’. Just keepin’ an eye on things,” he mutters, crossing his arms over his chest defensively.

She raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “You’re jealous.”

He scowls at her. “I ain’t jealous of some kid.”

“Sure you’re not,” she says, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Why don’t you just talk to her about it?”

Clenching his jaw, he knows she’s right but not wanting to admit it. “She doesn’t get it. She thinks it’s cute.”

“Maybe if you told her how you’re feeling, she’d understand,” Jean suggests gently, though there’s a knowing look in her eyes.

Huffing and turning away from the library, Logan has decided that he’s had enough of standing on the sidelines. He needs to do something before he loses his mind entirely. But it seems he can’t escape this torture, because he can’t even get five minutes alone with you.

He tried to get your attention after you finished up teaching your class, but before he could, the little devil ran in front of him and got it first. His eye twitches as he watches Johnny offer you another “gift,” this time a poorly folded paper crane. You take it with a smile, thanking him kindly, and Logan grits his teeth so hard he swears his molars might shatter.

“Hey, kid,” He grumbles, stepping forward with a growl in his throat that would send most people running. “Don’t you got somewhere else to be?”

Johnny looks up, momentarily startled by the sharp tone, but then just gives a nervous chuckle and scratches the back of his head. “Uh, no, sir. I was just, um, hanging out with her.”

“Yeah, well, she’s got things to do. Don’t you, darlin’?” Logan’s eyes flicker to you, hoping you’ll catch the hint and send the kid on his way.

But you don’t. You just laugh. A musical sound that makes him want to clamp his hand over your mouth because why should that devil's spawn get to hear your beautiful voice? He’s truly about to lose it. 

“It’s fine, babe. Johnny’s just being sweet.”

Sweet. Logan wants to snort. Sweet is one word for it. Obnoxious, irritating, and clingy are a few others that come to mind.

“You got a crush or somethin’, boy?” His tone is laced with a dangerous edge as he crosses his arms over his chest, towering over the knucklehead. He’s trying not to outright scare him, but damn, he’s close to it.

Johnny turns beet red, stammering, “N-no, I just… she saved me, and I just wanted to say thank you, that’s all!”

Narrowing his eyes, a low snarl rumbles from his chest, and Logan takes a deliberate step forward, but before he can do more, you place a hand on his arm, pulling him back.

“Logan, that’s enough,” you say firmly, giving him a pointed look. 

Well, there goes another piece of his sanity.

You’re too kind, too understanding. You just don't get it. To you, it’s just an innocent crush, something harmless, something that makes you smile. You think it’s nothing, and that only makes his blood boil more.

“Fine,” he finally mutters, stepping back, though his eyes never leave the teenager’s. Johnny seems to take that as some kind of begrudging acceptance and gives you another shy smile before scurrying off, likely to find the next token of his gratitude to bring to you.

Once he’s gone, Logan lets out a heavy sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. “This is drivin’ me nuts, you know that?”

You just chuckle again, stepping closer to him and slipping your arms around his waist. “It’s just a phase, I’m sure. He’ll get over it.”

Wrapping his arms around you tightly and pulling you in close, he feels a little bit better in your embrace, but his eyes still track where Johnny disappeared into the mansion. “He better. ’Cause if he doesn’t, I might lose my damn mind.”

You tilt your head up, kissing his jaw softly. “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

He huffs, not wanting to admit it, but the truth is written all over his face. “Maybe a little.”

Smiling, you lean up to kiss him properly. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Logan kisses you back, a little more possessively than usual, as if to remind himself that you’re his. And even as you melt into him, he can’t help but keep one eye open, scanning the garden for any sign of that kid returning. He might be crazy, but he’ll be damned if he lets some lovestruck teenager get between him and the woman he loves.

—

The next morning, the mansion is buzzing with its usual activity. You and Logan head to the dining hall for breakfast, with him looking a little more relaxed after a night of holding you close. But the moment you step into the room, he spots a certain demon sitting at a table, eyes locked on you as if he’s been waiting for this very moment.

Groaning under his breath, Logan mutters, “Not again,” before guiding you to a table near the windows, hoping Johnny won’t follow.

You take your seat, smiling up at your boyfriend as he pulls out his chair, and for a brief second, he dares to believe that he might actually get to enjoy a quiet breakfast with you. But just as he’s about to sit down beside you, Johnny swoops in out of nowhere, plopping down in Logan’s seat with a grin like he’s just won the lottery.

“Morning!” He chirps, completely oblivious to the thunderous look on the other man’s face.

Freezing in his place, Logan glares at the kid who’s now sitting where he was supposed to be. He mentally cycles through a list of unflattering nicknames—Useless Idiot, Captain Obnoxious, Motherfu—but none of them seem quite strong enough to capture his current feelings. “You’re in my seat, kid.”

Johnny blinks up at him, feigning innocence. “Oh, uh, sorry. I didn’t see your name on it.”

You can practically see the self-control it takes for Logan not to pick the kid up and toss him across the room. His fingers twitch at his sides, his claws itching to come out, but he holds back. For your sake, and only your sake.

“Johnny,” you start, trying to keep your voice gentle but firm, “you do know he is my boyfriend, right? And even if he wasn’t, I’m a bit too, uh, old for you?”

The young mutant's eyes widen, and for a split second, you think you might have gotten through to him. But then he glances over at Logan, his face scrunching up like he’s just eaten something sour.

“Yeah, but he’s, like, hella old,” The idiot blurts out, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as if the mutant standing right there can’t hear every word.

Logan’s expression darkens, a storm brewing in his eyes as his jaw tightens to the point where you can almost hear his teeth grinding. Hella old? Is this guy serious?

He's dealt with all kinds of enemies—mutants, monsters, government assassins—but nothing, nothing has tested his patience like this hellspawn has been. “What did you just say?” he growls menacingly.

Johnny, either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, doesn’t back down. “I mean, no offense, but you’ve got a lot of… uh, experience, you know? And you’re like centuries old. Maybe she needs someone closer to her age.”

That’s the last straw. Logan’s eyes flash with anger and something else—something more vulnerable that you rarely see. A part of him knows the gremlin’s just talking out of his ass, but the words hit a little too close to home, stirring up old insecurities he usually keeps buried deep.

Without another word, he slams his hand down onto the table, the sound echoing through the dining hall like a gunshot. The room falls into stunned silence as he then storms out, his footsteps heavy and his anger radiating off of him in waves. He doesn’t look back, doesn’t acknowledge the whispers that follow in his wake. He just needs to get away before he does something he’ll regret.

“Logan, wait—” you call after him, but he’s already halfway out the door.

You turn back to Johnny, who’s now looking a little less confident and a lot more like he might have made a mistake. Sighing, you lean forward with a serious expression. “You can’t just say things like that. He’s not just my boyfriend. He’s the person I love.”

Looking down at the table, his face falls, and he begins fiddling with the napkin in his lap. “I didn’t mean to make him mad. I just thought—You saved me and I felt something…I thought maybe you’d feel something for me too.”

You soften, reaching out to pat his hand. “Johnny, you’re a sweet kid, but you’ve got to understand that Logan’s the one I’m with, and no one can replace him.”

He nods slowly, the reality of the situation finally sinking in. “I get it,” he mumbles. “I just…”

A small smile tugs at your lips. “You’ll find someone your own age who’s perfect for you. But for now, you need to give us some space, okay?”

Johnny nods again, this time more resolutely. “Okay. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. Just… try not to instigate anything else. I’ll go talk to him.” You give him one last reassuring smile before heading toward the exit.

When you step out into the hallway, you barely have a second to process your thoughts and decide where to look before you’re suddenly pressed up against the wall. A gasp escapes your lips, but it’s quickly swallowed by Logan’s mouth on yours. The surprise melts away as the intensity of his kiss overtakes your senses, and you instinctively wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

His kiss is possessive and fierce. You can feel the frustration, the jealousy, the need to claim what’s his, pouring out of him with every movement of his lips against yours. For a moment, you lose yourself in the heat of it, letting the world around you fade as you focus solely on him.

Then, through the haze of the kiss, the practical part of your brain kicks in. You pull back just enough to murmur against his lips, “Logan… we’re gonna get caught.”

He growls softly, his lips trailing down to your jaw, his breath hot against your skin. “Let them see,” he mutters between kisses. “Maybe then that damn dunce will get the hint.”

You laugh, though the sound is cut off as he captures your lips again, his hands gripping your waist as if he’s afraid to let go. “Babe, really,” you whisper, trying to sound serious but failing as your body responds eagerly to his touch. “People are gonna see…”

“I don’t care,” he grumbles, his lips brushing against the sensitive spot just below your ear, making you involuntarily shiver against him. “Shoulda thrown that little shit out on his ass… let him know who you belong to.”

“You’re jealous of a teenager,” you tease, though the words come out breathless and almost lost in the intensity of the moment.

Logan pulls back just enough to look at you, his eyes dark. “Don’t like him sniffin’ around you, thinkin’ he’s got a shot.”

You smile up at him, your fingers threading through his hair as you pull him back down for another kiss. “You don't need to feel threatened by him. You’re the only one I want.”

He huffs softly, his lips brushing against yours as he mutters, “Damn right I am.”

“C’mon,” you murmur, gently pushing against his chest. “Let’s go somewhere a little more private, huh?”

He hesitates for a moment, his eyes flickering back toward the dining hall, as if half-expecting Johnny to come barreling out any second. But then he nods, taking your hand and leading you down the hallway, away from prying eyes. His grip on your hand is tight, territorial, and you can’t help but smile as you follow him.

As you walk together, you give his hand a squeeze. “Logan?”

“Yeah?” He glances over at you, his expression softening slightly.

“I love you, you know that?” You say it with that pretty grin of yours, and the way his eyes warm in response makes your heart flutter.

“Yeah,” he replies, his voice quieter now, more sincere. “I love you too.”

The remaining tension melts away, leaving just the two of you walking hand in hand, ready to steal a few more precious moments together.

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A/N: this was really fun to write!