#LAUREN ROBERTS WHEN I CATCH YOU

[dragons-library]

Reckless spoilers:

Kai talking about Ava broke me in a way I can’t explain. She was so young, and I know that disgusting asshole of a king wasn’t a father to her either.

And that’s why he knows how to braid hair….

[yaniluvs]

guys guys guys gUYS GUYS GUYS I AM NOT OKAY WHAT js finished reading powerful and reckless in a day. I AM IN TEARS.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MY KAIDYN YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME reading this series is genuinely something you rly have to be prepared mentally for. SO MANY HEARTBREAKS

4 months to go.. lauren when i catch you..

!! SPOILER OF RECKLESS UNDER THE CUT !!

KITT AZER. WHEN I CATCH YOU. look i love him with all my heart but KAIDYN. THEY ARE SO DESTINED TOGETHER PLEASE. also i have so many questions???? HOW DID CALUM BECOME THE ADVISER???? i can't comprehend omg..

the next book is gonna have us all in tears please LAUREN go easy on us.

missing powerless era (for me less than a week ago) where the MOST we were worried of were the trials💔. blooming loveeee between kai and pae, kitt too, but then adena my darling and blair THAT BITCH. paedyn pls do your girl a favour KILL HER. my babies mak and adena💔💔💔 MAK HAS NOBODY😭😭😭 i have entered this fandom and now i'm just gonna go through that corner of tumblr to ease my curiosity (impossible) sigh four months yall.

[dollvre]

did I finish the book or did the book finished me?

yes I am talking about reckless by lauren roberts

[xo-zozo]

i was having a FINE evening until i looked over at my bookshelf and saw powerful in all of it's depressing glory

[highladyofterrasen7]

I finished reckless.

Spoilers

KITT AZER WHEN I FIND YOU

🔪☠️

KAI AZER WHEN I FIND YOU

👰🏼‍♀️🤵🏻

[yourlocalsmutwriter]

Bookish girlfriend you're my yum yum - Mark Webber x reader

Summary : After going viral on book social media, you give the fans a completely new side of you. It catches the eye of an author (who happens to be a 9 GP winner)

FC: Mima by Cami

inkscentedglamour: Squeezing in some last girly romance books before I film a new video for you 👀

username: Our queen is finally trying romantasy, I can feel it.

username: I need another object x human romance. I know it was an April Fools thing, but I need her to read Double Stuffed

username: DARK ROMANCE. DARK ROMANCE. DARK ROMANCE.

username : I know the sports romance PR is talking to her like the Green Goblin Mask

> username : Especially the new book with the MMC inspired by Danny Ricciardo

> username: need to rewatch her F1 romance streams on patreon.

username: Do you think this is after Two Girls One Formula podcast backlash?

> username: The girls brought her on to talk about books, specifically romances. I don't understand why the fans were attacking her for not talking much about the current grid and things like that and focusing on the fiction.

> username: Especially when she has said many times that she's easing into the fandom. How would you feel if people bullied you for starting with edits/ fanfics and books, like she's doing?

inkscentedglamour: Writing my script for the upcoming video and staring at what got me here

username: Throttled slander era, you will forever be famous

> username: The way she started off so hesitant to give it a bad review or DNF it. This was her first 1 star. People died.

> username: Asking people to still try it for themselves and to not just judge it based on her review. Cemented her as my favorite BookTuber, I fear.

username: The fact that she still followed through and read the entire series. And rearranged her entire Goodreads ratings after that? Iconic

> username: I miss her giving 5 stars. But the quote "if I can be cruel enough to give 1 star, then I don't think I should be generous to give 5 stars to any book, but one" will forever live on.

inkscentedglamour: New video, out now

username: MARK WEBBER????? OVER EMILY HENRY????

> username: over Christina Lauren?????? Ali Hazelwood? Katee Robert

username: you're telling me an Australian driver who retired like 10 years ago is her favorite author??? And was the driving force for her to get her to watch a GP?

username: she's the queen of Booktok, has talked about every book boyfriend, and now she's into cars that go fast?

aussiegrit: Talked about Porsche, F1, Mentoring Oscar, and my book, somehow. Why is Aussie Grit trending?

username: Oh no, our little Booktuber girl bossed too close to the sun (she has a million subscribers and multiple brand deals)

> username: she got it to 5 stars on Goodreads and onto the trending page on Amazon.

username: Mark, wear the My fake boyfriend drives for F1 mech, and my life is yours

username: @inkscentedglamour, look who sorta knows you exist.

inkscentedglamour: Oh oh

inkscentedglamour: Reading the book 😄🤩🥺 vs. having to describe its impact on you, your career, and the future 🙃😑☠️. If you see me verbally abusing a Google doc at the airport, no you didn't

username: Mark Webber in the likes?????????

> username: I guess he found out why Aussie Grit was trending

username: reading video hiatus is over, society is healing

> username: we haven't gotten a part two of her trip to a random destination yet

> username: true, she just packed and left us on a cliffhanger. Surely we're getting that first

> username: her caption says it all. For book lovers, some of you have no reading comprehension.

inkscentedglamour: I finished reading my book, so it only makes sense to hit the thrift, right? Reading vlog will be up when I'm back home (I was strictly told to relax)

username: the two glasses (which could mean nothing)

> username : this is the girl that relies on our discord pins to drink water, what is going on in the house of commons

username : Mark Webber, here again????????? Before me?????????????

> username: she sped through her book cause she has his new book on pre-order

> username: I just know she'll get it on Kindle too, no way is she waiting til it ships to her house

username: Mark's pr team was sleeping because wdym they didn't reach out to her

> username: And apparently, he's got a launch party coming up with "surprise BookTube influencer" attending

inkscentedglamour : Photographic proof that my favorite author knows I exist. Thank you, @aussiegrit, for the invite. And thanks for getting a decent picture before I cried at the blurb and dedication

aussiegrit: Figured you'd wanna skip the queue at Waterstones. Can't wait for your review of this one (also please re-read the new prologue before posting)

username: Mark has been secretly divorced for a year and was writing this whole book as a therapy exercise??????

> username: he couldn't tell anybody and felt like he was slowly fading into obscurity, which affected his mental health

> username: he was not thinking of releasing this until the OG Aussie Grit review

> username: Mark saying that the YouTube video changed his life, just as much as it did hers

inkscentedglamour: Night and day

Comments on this post have been disabled

14.02.2025,approximately 3 months after the book launch

inkscentedglamour: Valentine's Day, Book Buying Day, and Merch Drop Day. Shop the My Real Boyfriend Drove for F1 tee. And yes, he signed off on this specific hard launch

inkscentedglamour: time to be sappy real quick after the merch plug. Mark has been inspiring me, guiding me and showering me with praise ever since his second book launch. I'm so happy he's in my life and I intend to keep him there for as long as I can. He beats all the bookish boyfriend one can have (yes, even Zafir)

aussiegrit: I'm so glad to have you in my life. You see me and be with me, sharp tongue,flaws and all. I wanna build you bookshelves and watch you put my books on them last. Now stop being a YouTuber for a second and get back to being my girlfriend.

[starrynightsxo]

them: he can't hurt you

him: "I think I would fall on my sword if it meant you mourned me"

WHEN I CATCH YOU LAUREN ROBERTS-

[my-life-a-reading-list]

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A post shared by Jessica Canvas (@jessicacanvas_tattoo)

“I know you feel it too,” he says quietly. “Feel what?” “Feel alive. Feel on fire. Feel.” There is an intensity in his eyes, his voice, that makes my heart race even faster. He looks away, cursing under his breath before his gaze crashes back into mine. “Pae, when I look at you…I’m devastated. I’m drowning. I’m dying to catch my breath.”

Powerless by Lauren Roberts art by jessicacanvas_tattoo

[arqbella]

lauren fucking roberts when i catch you.

[maelstroms-blog]

In Beautiful Dreams

In honour of Dreamling’s centennial meeting, please enjoy this fic of Dream and Hob dancing, along with a declaration

Enjoy

Hob really should’ve expected this, he’s known Dream long enough. To be fair, he wasn’t expecting him to say yes, honestly, he thought he would balk at the idea. Especially given how many people would be attending.

Instead, Dream just tilted his head, in that bird-like way of his.

‘A dance?’

Hob shrugged, ‘Sort of.’

There would be dancing, but it was far from the glamorous affair he knew Dream was picturing. Hob’s university was hosting their annual staff do, the heads of each department rubbing elbows with the higher ups. Socialising and lording their profession over others, supplied with cheap champagne and the finest hors d'oeuvres from Tesco. An event that Dream’s sister, Despair, would very much enjoy.

Far from glamorous but wonderfully human. A prime example of humanity to show his Endless partner. Hob explained all this to Dream, waiting for the inevitable protests, or for that rosebud mouth to frown.

But, Dream placed his pale hands on the table top, slender fingers splayed like that of a pianist. Artist fingers.

‘Very well. I shall accompany you.’ He said it with the air of a king deigning to answer a peasant’s request.

Hob blinked, ‘Really?’

‘Is this so surprising?’ he raised an eyebrow, ‘You are my beloved. I believe it goes without saying that we have to attend each other’s social functions,’ he sipped at his wine, pursing his lips,

‘After all, you accompanied me to the faerie delegation.’

Hob couldn’t keep the frown from his face,

‘That was…an experience, to say the least.’ Part of Hob’s philosophy was to try anything once, and in his long life that was a lot of things. He’s pretty sure he had a cheese making degree knocking around in his attic somewhere. But that delegation was a lifetime’s worth of experience. Luckily, Hob had a thousand more.

Dream hummed, ‘Not many mortals can boast of meeting Titania and Oberon, or reject their charms,’

Hob chuckled, ‘Yeah, they were pretty flirty, weren’t they?’

The feeling of the faerie queen’s clawed fingers ghosted against his neck, as did the king’s lips when he lingered on a kiss to his palm. Hob shivered, chasing away the bad taste with a mouthful of beer. He sensed Dream tense up, probably seeing his thoughts. He reached out and entwined his fingers with Dream’s.

‘Don’t be jealous, love, I’m already under the spell of a mysterious creature,’ he winked.

Dream rolled his eyes but he couldn’t stop the blush from tinting his cheeks.

And that was it. Dream appeared on the night, just as Hob got out of the shower, he did his usual shriek, followed by a flail,

‘Christ, Dream!’ he clutched his damp chest, gesturing to the towel around his waist, ‘You’re lucky I didn’t flash you,’ he looked at Dream, then looked again.

Dream, as regal as ever, stood tall, clad in an onyx black suit, similar to the Ralph Lauren piece Hob dreamed him in once. Over his shoulders was long overcoat, black of course, and the star filled lining shining bright. His hair was stylishly spiked, à la Robert Smith, and a silver earring hung from his ear. A small gem caught his eye, something golden. Hob peered closer, pale fingers jumped to toy with it, a gesture he knew was self-conscious.

‘It’s nice, duck, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in any other colour but black,’

Dream just fiddled with his earring, letting it catch the light,

‘I thought…we could match,’ he quietly said. Confused, Hob frowned, and that’s when it hit him. It was amber, a tiny chunk of amber. Dream often likened his eyes to the honey-coloured gem. A lump rose to Hob’s throat,

‘It’s lovely, Dream,’ he said, trying to keep the emotion from his voice,

‘A wonderful idea.’

Without waiting for a response, he closed the distance and pressed his lips to Dream’s. It was only supposed to be a quick peck but Dream wouldn’t let go. He drew him further in, pulling him close like a life preserver to a drowning victim. Hob gladly reciprocated, sinking his fingers into feather soft hair. Dream did the same, toying with the hair on his chest.

His still damp chest.

Hob pulled away with a sigh,

‘I still have to get dressed, love.’

He felt rather than saw Dream’s gaze, travelling up and down his nude body. The hunger in his gaze set his skin alight.

‘Do you?’

The baritone voice settled in the back of his head, shooting down into his body, straight to his heart. Hob bit his lip, he wanted nothing more than to let the towel drop, his flimsy excuse for a shield against Dream’s want, and just have him. But he didn’t. Not yet. He had a function to attend, and he wanted to show off his elegant, enigma of a partner. So, mustering what little willpower he had, he turned, not a word to Dream, and headed for the bedroom, locking the door behind him.

Not that it would stop Dream. More like Jumpscare of the Endless.

Hob chuckled at his own stupid joke.

‘What is so humorous?’ a deep voice asked behind him. This time, Hob fell on his bare ass.

‘Dream! Let me get dressed!’

With a pinch of sand, Dream vanished, the last thing to fade was his satisfied smirk. Hob’s own Cheshire cat.

Once he was fully dressed, in his own midnight blue suit, and with a nod of approval from Dream. He took his arm, fitting perfectly, and they were off.

 An hour passed, filled with mindless chatter, and the buzz of background brainwaves, Hob followed along easily, asking questions here and there. Dream tried his best, nodding along, offering a dry comment along with Hob’s quips. Then, Hob went to get them drinks, Dream was only out of his sight for a second, that was all it took. Like he said earlier, he really should have expected it. He searched up and down the hall, trying to spot that familiar mop of hair. The more the search went on, the more his uneasiness grew. It wiggled its way into his chest, twisting like a knife. Did he get sick of it and teleported away? No, he wouldn’t do that without at least telling Hob. Would he?

Just as his unease bloomed into panic, he heard something, a chittering sound, coming from the open balcony door. Hob poked his head out, there he was. Kneeling down, under the watchful eye of the full moon, was Dream of the Endless, holding court with a group of cats. They gazed up at him, marvelling at the king he was. He touched his knuckles to the nearest cat, mewing in their shared language. The cat purred, accepting her king’s blessing. Warmth filled the vacuum left by the panic, he breathed out, and carefully approached Dream. Even with his quiet footsteps, the cats jumped, hackles raised at the interruption. Dream tilted his head, mewing something that settled his followers. The youngest cat, a tabby kitten, bravely stepped forward, rubbing up against Hob’s leg. Dream gladly took a glass, freeing a hand for Hob to offer head scratches. His hand dwarfed the tiny creature but the kitten showed no fear, happily trying to climb up his leg.

In one swift, elegant movement, Dream was up, leaning against the railing, like the model of a perfume advert. Hob didn’t miss the gleam in his eyes as he cooed over the kitten, the other cats, bored, sneaked off, tails flicking.

‘You alright, love?’ he asked, watching the kitten chase after its friends,

Dream hummed, looking down into his drink,

‘Yes, I am…enjoying myself.’

‘Yeah?’ he slotted himself next to Dream, ‘Are you honestly?’

He could see the slight tremble of his hands, the tightness around his eyes.

‘It is…loud,’ Dream quietly admitted, Hob nodded, he didn’t need him to explain. He explained it all before, it wasn’t just the never-ending chatter, it was the barrage of daydreams, assaulting him from all sides. There didn’t seem to be any reprieve. It sounded like hell, and it explained a lot about Dream. Taking another sip of champagne, he put his arm around his tiny waist, smiling when Dream leaned into his touch.

‘Would you like to leave?’

Dream looked up, eyebrows disappearing into his hair,

‘I thought you wanted to be here,’

Hob gently nudged him, ‘I wanted to come with you.’

Dream just looked at him, not blinking, Hob smiled,

‘Your comfort is more important to me than some staff do, if you want to leave then we’ll leave.’

Dream’s eyes sparkled, sparkled like he was in awe.

‘So,’ he downed the rest of his drink, ‘Let’s go.’

Dream sagged, the tension leaving his body. Just as he was about to pull out his sand, Hob stopped him. A familiar sound reached his ears, a song he hadn’t heard in years, Roy Orbinson’s dulcet tones beckoned to him,

A candy-coloured clown they call the Sandman.

Dream perked up, turning his head to listen. Hob smiled at the sight.

Tiptoes to my room, every night.

Dream closed his eyes, lips twitching minutely.

Just to sprinkle stardust and to whisper-

Hob sang along under his breath,

‘Go to sleep, everything is alright.’

Dream turned to him, surprised, his smile more obvious now,

‘How about one last dance, Mr Sandman?’ he wiggled his eyebrows for good measure. Dream rolled his eyes, failing to hold back his smile.

‘Very well,’ he accepted Hob’s hand, allowing him to lead him back onto the dancefloor.

I close my eyes then I drift away.

Hob pulled Dream close to him, steps he once thought forgotten, came flooding back to him as he led Dream with ease.

Into the magic night, I softly say, a silent prayer like dreamers do.

Dream had his eyes closed, letting the words wash over him. Hob could only imagine what he was thinking. Being separated from his dreamers for over a century, locked away from those he was supposed to nurture and protect. Hell, there were some that never even visited his realm. For someone that took his role so seriously, there must be no greater pain. But, as Hob watched him now, swaying along to the music, gentle smile on his face, he knew what he was realising. That the dreamers missed him just as much.

Then I fall asleep to dream my dreams of you

Dream opened his eyes, tearfully looking at Hob, with his own eyes growing wet, he raised a pale hand and pressed his lips to cold knuckles. Then, he leaned forward, never breaking their easy rhythm and sang softly in his ear.

In dreams I walk with you

In dreams I talk to you.

A sharp inhale was Dream’s only reaction, before melting into his touch.

We’re together in dreams, in dreams.

Hob didn’t want to sing the next part, luckily, Dream didn’t let him. Pressing his lips once again to Hob’s, silencing him. His cold lips tasted cosmic; he knew this was what stardust tasted like.

But just before the dawn, I awake and find you’re gone.

Hob felt Dream’s hands tighten, no doubt thinking the same thing. 1989. Hob rested his chin on his head, gently swaying in time.

I can’t help it

Fixing his stance, taking a chance, he placed his hand on the small of Dream’s back,

I can’t help it

And dipped his sweet Dream.

He overstepped. He knew it. he didn’t have to look at Dream’s wide eyes, or feel his iron grip on his arms, but then, another sound graced his ears, far more beautiful than any song. Laughter. Coming from Dream. It was nothing like his usual amused huff, this was a full bodied, unrestrained laugh that shook his lithe frame. It even ended with a cute snort. Hob found himself joining in. Taking him out of the dip, he gently led the Endless into a spin, watching his eyes crinkle with seldom seen mirth, giggling away like a lovestruck fool. Hob laughed the same way.

It only happens in my dreams, only in dreams

As the song slowed, so did their steps, Dream tilted his head, meeting Hob’s gaze once again, and leaned in close, Hob expected another kiss, instead, he was blessed with three words,

‘I love you.’

In beautiful dreams.

Hob let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Emotion surged through him, heating up his blood. He gazed back at Dream, shock clearly visible in his face. Dream just chuckled, cradling his face carefully,

‘Is it so surprising?’ his words were barely more than a whisper, settling in Hob’s bones, nestling beside the three other words, slotting comfortably in his heart.

‘A wee bit,’ Hob admitted, shyly,

Dream hummed thoughtfully, ‘Then, I have failed as your beloved.’

Before Hob could protest, Dream pulled him close, and pressed his forehead to his. The cold, solid weight grounded him.

‘I shall make it my primary duty to remedy this.’

Hob let out a breathy chuckle, dizzy from the cheap champagne, or the affection Dream was dishing out.

‘You already have, love.’

Dream smiled again, a sight that was becoming less and less rare, thanks to Hob.

‘Perhaps…we could stay for another hour.’

Hob pretended to think about it, running his hands up and down Dream’s back,

‘Nah, let’s get out of here, I’ve had enough socialising.’

Dream beamed. The only way Hob could get a bigger reaction was if he proposed to him. 

AO3

[krylng]

Reckless by Lauren Roberts

the ending was AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I CANT WAIT THAT LONG FOR THE NEXT BOOK, FEARLESS! KITT WHEN I CATCH YOU, KITT! APRIL… I CANT WAIT THAY LONG,,.. “SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY FOREVER, NOW ILL WATCH HER BECOME SOMEONE ELSES!” WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY PAEDYN AND KAI WERE SO HAPPY UNTIL KITT! 😡 anyway it was a good book!

[dragons-library]

Reckless spoilers:

Chapter 39… killed me.

Im done

Im dead

I can’t

Im literally sobbing wtf

WTF LAUREN WTF

[valiantstarlights]

[Dreamling Week Day 5: Jealousy] The Feeling of Freedom

This is from my Dreamling Hamilton AU where Hob lost his memory during the American Revolutionary War and now goes by Captain Gideon "Leon" Roberts.

You don't need to read the story in AO3 to understand what's going on. 😊 Just imagine it's a Regency AU but Hamilton is in it.

CW: period-typical homophobia because this is set in 1789 Albany, New York.

(Because I fucking love Bridgerton's idea of playing modern songs as orchestral music during balls, this piano cover of Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paloma Faith is the song I imagined Dream and Hob danced to, but at 75% speed. Please listen to it! It's very lovely, and the song's lyrics are highkey dreamling vibes. 🖤)

"May I have this dance?"

Dream's head snaps towards Colonel Hamilton, who has jokingly (and with an unnecessary gentlemanly flourish), held his hand out to Captain Roberts.

"No, Alex," Captain Roberts replies, amused at his friend's antics but keeping his hands firmly behind his back. "Go dance with Mrs. Hamilton. I have no intention of having my feet be stepped on tonight."

"Slander!" Colonel Hamilton exclaims, eyes bright and merry and not offended at all. "You forget, my dear Leon, that I was one of the people who taught you how to dance."

"And you forget that it was Monsieur Lafayette who actually put me through my paces while you and Laurens danced like a couple of attendees at a bacchanalia."

"Oh, come now, it's a slow song they're playing next," Colonel Hamilton wheedles. "And yes, I have asked the lovely Ms. Jessamy to tell me the order of the songs to be performed so that I may know when to ask you for a dance, for I know you dislike fast-paced music with a passion. You're welcome. Now dance with me to gentle the sting of your cruel words."

Dream takes this as an opportunity to smoothly insert himself into the conversation. And as the party's host, he can do whatever he damn well please and Colonel Hamilton will just have to grit his teeth and deal with it.

"Ah, Captain Roberts, there you are," he says, and steps next to Leon. "Excuse me, Colonel Hamilton. If I might steal the good captain away? He has promised to dance the next song with me."

Captain Roberts hides his surprise well, but Colonel Hamilton's brows shoot up to his forehead as he looks between Dream and Captain Roberts. "Really."

"Yes," Dream says simply, then holds out a gloved hand for Captain Roberts to take. "Shall we take our places, Captain? The song is about to start."

"O-oh, yes. Yes, of course," Captain Roberts says. He takes Dream's hand and allows him to lead them both to the dance floor, Colonel Hamilton following them with his gaze.

There are other couples already on the dance floor, most of them ladies who are laughing gaily with their friends at the opportunity to be able to dance with one another at a formal ball. Dream knows from their daydreams which ones actually have romantic feelings for each other.

He is glad to be able to provide this chance for them.

"When exactly did you ask me to dance, Mr. Murphy?" Captain Roberts asks when they were out of earshot from the colonel. He doesn't sound angry at Dream for being presumptuous, at least. Just confused. "Have I missed a social contract entirely? Again?"

"No," Dream says, keeping his voice low in case anyone is eavesdropping. "I was only trying to remove you from your conversation with Colonel Hamilton. I couldn't help but notice that you looked uncomfortable."

His body language certainly implied as much, though Dream does not divulge the entire reason for his interrupting the conversation, which is that he doesn't want Captain Roberts to dance with another man. Even if that man were his friend, Colonel Hamilton.

Especially if that man were his friend, Colonel Hamilton.

"Ah." Captain Roberts glances to the side where Colonel Hamilton is still watching them curiously. He shuffles his feet a little. Then, catching himself doing it, stops entirely. "It's not that I am uncomfortable with him. He is my friend, after all. It is only..." He sighs and lowers his voice. "I do not want to dance with him. If I were to do so, I am afraid it will only dredge up old memories that have grown more painful with time. We...had a mutual friend, back in the war. Alex always used to dance with him."

In his mind, Captain Roberts is remembering a young man laughing together with Colonel Hamilton, their heads bent together as they danced near a bonfire, fingers intertwined and eyes speaking volumes of their regard for each other.

Dream recognizes the man as Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens. He had often dreamed about abolishing slavery and growing old with a red-haired man. He has been in his sister's realm for seven years now.

Through Captain Roberts's memories, Dream also sees Colonel Hamilton's devastated features when he received the letter from John Laurens's father, informing them of John's death.

He sees how Captain Roberts, along with Mrs. Hamilton and the Hamilton children, slowly but surely coaxed Colonel Hamilton back to living his life to the fullest.

Alexander Hamilton may never be the same again after John Laurens's death, but he would have been in a worse state had Captain Roberts, their mutual friend from the war, not been there to help him recover.

It is exactly what Hob would have done.

And while the man in front of Dream might be calling himself Captain Roberts now due to his memory loss, in Dream's eyes, he will always be his beloved Hob Gadling.

"I see," Dream says. He spends a moment wondering if he was in the wrong about interrupting the two men's conversation the way he did, now knowing about Colonel Hamilton's regard for the late lieutenant colonel, but decides that he does not regret his action at all, not when it gave him this opportunity to dance with Captain Roberts. "I hope Colonel Hamilton knows what a good friend you are to him."

The captain chuckles and tugs at his left ear. A gesture that is becoming beloved to Dream, as it indicates the man's shy pleasure. "I tend to remind him when he has passed the three-hour mark talking about the Constitution."

"Three?" Dream repeats, teasingly. "Then you must have more patience than the rest of New York's politicians put together."

Captain Roberts laughs, but does not refute the claim. It brings Dream joy to see the man at ease in his presence, though he notes that he still looks a little uncomfortable, glancing this way and that.

And in his mind, Dream sees exactly what he's worrying about. Countless, faceless, well-dressed people whispering about him, eyeing him with disgust, spitting at the face of his happiness.

That will not do.

Dream takes Captain Roberts's hand on his own again until the man looks up at him.

"Do not think of them," Dream says. "While we dance, look only at me and forget the rest of the world."

It is a bold statement to make, but Captain Roberts nods, and flushes prettily, eyes on Dream's, pupils dilating. "I...yes, of course. As you say, Mr. Murphy."

The image in his mind changes as he speaks. He is now thinking about the warmth of Dream's hand in his, and how close the two of them will be, while dancing. He imagines his hand on Dream's shoulder, and Dream's hand on his lower back, their breaths mingling, and feeling Dream's exhale on his lips.

He is almost shivering in want.

Dream pulls him closer and makes his daydreams a reality as the music starts.

--

After, when the last of the musical notes have faded and the people have started to clap for the musicians, Captain Roberts looks pleasantly dazed, and his cheeks are flushed with exertion and pleasure both.

Dream has yet to let go of him. He does not want to. Not yet, at least. And as the party's host, he can do whatever he damn well please and everyone will just have to deal with it or leave. The front door is unlocked. They are free to remove themselves from Dream's presence whenever they wish.

As long as Captain Roberts stays, Dream does not care about anyone else. Jessamy, Lucienne, and the others will deal with the other guests for him.

"Ah, Mr. Murphy," Colonel Hamilton says, walking up to them now that the song is over. "May I steal Leon away?"

"I'm afraid not, Colonel Hamilton," Dream replies smoothly and genially, unwilling to relinquish Captain Roberts's hand just yet. And for his part, the captain looks content to be where he is, holding Dream's hand, also unwilling to let go. "You see, Captain Roberts has allowed me the pleasure of having his next two dances, which are the last of the evening. I believe he is effectively mine for the rest of the night."

[sunmoonyandstars]

spoilers for powerless by lauren roberts below!!

I FINISHED POWERFUL LAST NIGHT AND OH MY GOD. I KNEW IT WAS COMING BUT OH MY GOD. I CRIED WHEN ADENA DIED IN POWERLESS BUT THIS TIME??? FULL-BODY SOBBING, TEARDROPS ON THE PAGES, THE WHOLE SHEBANG, I AM STILL RECOVERING, OH MY GOD OH MY GOD LAUREN WHEN I FUCKING CATCH YOU. FUCK THE GREEK TRAGEDIES THIS SHIT IS PAINFUL.

[semper-legens]

180. Brigands MC, by Robert Muchamore

Owned: No, library Page count: 406 My summary: The Brigands are a biker gang run by a neo-Nazi who isn't afraid to shoot children if he sees a need to. Years ago, a young man called Dante had his entire family murdered by their leader, and now he's out for revenge. As a CHERUB agent, he gets the chance when he goes undercover to take the man down. But tangling with biker gangs will always be a dangerous game. Will CHERUB be able to arrest the gang leader…or will Dante have to take matters into his own hands? My rating: 3/5 My commentary:

Well, we're almost at the end of the line with CHERUB. Sort of - I call this the penultimate CHERUB book, but it's actually the penultimate in the main line of CHERUB books. There were more after this, but this is the penultimate book that follows James Adams and the original cast of the CHERUB series. Anyway. I know I sound like a broken record on this, but I still have no idea how to think about the CHERUB series. I used to think it was so grown up and mature when I was reading it as a kid, but looking back on it as an adult I find it to be exactly the opposite. Doubtless I'll have more room to round out my thoughts in the next post where I cover the last book, but for now, time for bikers and brigands and child spies, oh my!

This book has a bunch of decisions that make no sense to me both in and out of universe. Okay, so here's the setup. Dante was a kid when his entire family was murdered by the leader of the biker gang his father belonged to, the Brigands. He escaped by chance, got recruited to CHERUB around the time that Lauren was, and hasn't yet been seen in the series because he was away on a long mission in Ireland. CHERUB decides to send Dante, with his newly acquired Irish accent and some hair dye, into a sting operation to catch this guy. In-universe, what is the justification for sending a kid who grew up with this man's family undercover with just some hair dye? If CHERUB is a functional secret agency, why would they even take the risk of someone recognising this kid and realising something's up? Hell, the gang leader's kid, who grew up with Dante, says that he recognises Dante immediately upon seeing him. It's only the hair colour that throws him off. And, frankly, in a slightly more realistic universe Dante would have been rumbled in an instant. Secondly, this is the penultimate CHERUB book, so it's really weird that it's all about this kid who hasn't shown up in the series until this point. If I were Robert Muchamore, I'd be focusing more on the established characters that we already have? Everything else gets sidelined for Dante's revenge, and we don't even see James and Lauren for a significant portion of the plot. It's a really strange choice to make this late in the game.

Meanwhile, what of our actual main characters? James is much as he ever is. A biker mission is right up his alley, given that he loves motorbikes, a trait that James has shown many times before now. CHERUB makes some weird choices here, like initially not allowing James to get an illegally souped-up bike to get himself more ingratiated with the gang. Guys…if your undercover agents are going to be effective at being undercover, you know they've gotta do some morally dubious shit sometimes? Like, I get why CHERUB has a prohibition on their agents taking class-A drugs, but at the same time the kids' hardline rule against taking any drugs makes them stand out among the actual criminals. Almost like the idea of child spies is horribly unethical, even when the series claims it is. Lauren doesn't really get much of a look-in, other than having a brief romantic subplot where she's on the outs with her boyfriend Rat and ends up drunkenly making out with Dante, but that doesn't really go anywhere, so I'm not really sure why it's there.

As for the mission itself, the kids are trying to bust the leader of the Brigands for his illegal smuggling of guns and other major weaponry into the country, as well as gang violence and murder. The emotional core, however, is Dante's personal revenge for the murder of his family. Which makes it interesting when the mission controllers pull the plug on the mission before shit gets too dangerous, and the leader of the gang still walks free. The idea that the 'good guys' don't always win is an interesting one, and it leaves the series open to finish this sting in the next book. But also, it makes for a good character moment for Dante, who decides to use all his CHERUB equipment and training to take down the leader before ultimately deciding that he can't do it. It's a good character study for the guy. I just wish it was a character we'd spent a bit more time with?

Next up, more CHERUB, as the series closes out with a simple bodyguarding mission.

[missymurphy1985]

One Shot Smut Challenge Part Four

Air Hostess - Robert Fischer X Fem!Reader One Shot

Warning - SMUT

Taglist @queenshelby @margoo0 @being-worthy @peakyscillian @peakyciills @janelongxox @elenavampire21 @ysmmsy @cloudofdisney @lauren-raines-x @misscarolineshelby @screemqueen @peaky-cillian @misselsbells06 @datewithgianni @heidimoreton @jardinsecos @bitchwhytho @gypsy-girl-08 @queenofkings1212 @look-at-the-soul

Sinking back into his leather seat, Robert glanced out of the window with a sigh.

Another flight.

Another meeting.

Another hotel.

And for what? The money? He had plenty of it. The fame? Nope. Not interested. The women? Hadn't had one in years - they only wanted him for the previous two things.

Looking at his watch, there was still another three hours before he'd land in LA to attend a business meeting about some business he apparently needed to be involved in. He didn't even know what it was. Hadn't read the file. Didn't want to.

He didn't want to do anything. He didn't want any of this anymore.

He downed the last of his vodka and ice and set it on the table in front of him.

"Can I get you another drink, Mr Fischer?"

He looked up and nearly spat out the contents of his mouth.

"Y/n?"

You nodded, and took his empty glass away, shaking it in front of him. He shook his head, a look of shock still written on his face. You chuckled and walked away, a slight blush to your cheeks that he'd recognised you. And remembered your name.

"So?" Your friend and colleague Layla nudged you when you made it back to the kitchen area. She was busy prepping the lunches.

"Well he remembered my name," you smiled.

"Did he look happy? Annoyed? Sad?"

"Shocked."

"Not every day you bump into your childhood sweetheart 15 years later at 35'000 feet?"

"No. I guess not."

"Did you talk to him?"

"About what, Layla? I haven't seen him since university. He's a high flying businessman with millions in the bank, I'm an air hostess living paycheck to paycheck. Not exactly loads in common."

"The way he keeps looking around, I'd say he wants to talk to you?"

You peeked through the curtain and Layla was right. He did keep glancing around, but no way was he looking for you.

A sudden shove had you falling through the curtain and hitting the floor with a thud. You could hear giggling from some of the other passengers, business associates and colleagues of Robert's, but looking up into his eyes as he leaned over you helping you back to your feet you realised not a single one of them came from him.

He helped you up and glared at the others, who quickly fell silent.

"Thank you, sorry, I don't know what happened there," you lied, looking back at Layla who looked offended that you would even think she'd be responsible for such things.

"Come sit with me a while?" He asked, and you realised your hand was still in his. His thumb stroking over your wrist gently.

You nodded, letting Layla know you were taking your break. She winked at you as Robert led you over to his seat and you took the one next to him by the window.

"How've you been?" He asked, releasing your hand, though he didn't want to. You took it from him.

"Fine thank you. And I see you're doing well for yourself?"

"Since Dad died I've been left to run everything."

"Exciting," you lied again. You hated this lifestyle. Although you'd never lived it, you met these yuppie types often enough to know they were all the same. Egocentric assholes.

"Not really."

"Still at loggerheads with your destiny?" You quipped, remembering how much he hated how his life had been mapped out for him without any consultation of his desires. He nodded silently, and looked out of the window behind you.

"Tell me about you. What's gone on with you in the last 15 years?"

"Not much to tell," you gave him a small smile, and filled him in on the basics.

Married Brad when you were 23. Had Emily at 24. Divorced Brad at 28 after catching him in bed with another woman. Single ever since.

"So you have a 12 year old?"

"Yep. She's with Brad while I'm flying."

"Weren't you going to be a lawyer?"

"Had to give it up when I got pregnant. Never had the time or the money to go back to school and pass the bar exam. I don't mind though - I get to travel, I love what I do. Come to work, do my job, and go home."

"Sounds fucking perfect..." Robert sighed, genuinely envious. He couldn't remember the last day off he had. Or the last full night's sleep without some nightmare about his late father's hatred of him waking him up in a cold sweat at 2:30am.

You looked at the clock and realised your break was over. Giving him a warm smile, you stood up and made your way back to the kitchen area. You felt his eyes on you as you walked away and had to take a deep breath to steady yourself. All those feelings from fifteen years ago came rushing back. Along with the memory of the conversation his mother had with you about keeping away. Your family weren't of money and success. Your mum was a school teacher, your father worked in a brewery. It 'didn't suit the image' or something like that... Shaking it off, you got back to work.

The call for landing sounded over the speakers, and you took your seat and fastened your seatbelt. As the plane landed, and subsequently stopped on the tarmac, the 'fasten seatbelt' sign switched off and the passengers all gathered their belongings in preparation.

At the door, you and Layla bid farewell to them, but Robert hung back, motioning for you to come to him. Layla nudged you over before you could say anything and you walked over to him.

"My number, be nice to catch up properly before we fly home?" He smiled. You took his business card and nodded, and felt your chest pull when he squeezed your arm gently, before following his team off the plane and away.

"So...." Layla grinned.

"I don't know.."

"Shut up, call him!!"

You genuinely weren't sure. His mother had died a long time ago, but why would he still be interested in you? A single mother of a near teenager?

************************************************************

You were too nervous to call... So you texted him instead. Layla had been badgering you for hours... Just a simple Hey.. but he called you. He wanted to see you tonight. His meeting was done, and he was at his hotel. He wanted to take you out for dinner but it was already 9pm and you'd already eaten, so you agreed to go to his hotel room instead. You felt like a giddy teenager again as you got ready, the butterflies in your stomach so powerful you almost felt sick.

Knocking on his door an hour later, he opened it with a smile. Clearly fresh from the shower, his hair still damp, he invited you in and offered you a glass of wine. Taking it, he clinked his glass with yours as you caught up with the last fifteen years sat on the plush sofa in his Penthouse Suite.

"I know about what my mother said to you," he said, suddenly, making you freeze as you sipped your second glass of pinot. You weren't much of a drinker, the wine having an effect on you already.

"She told you?"

"Yes. But she was wrong."

"Yeah right," you scoffed, biting back your emotions.

"She didn't want me to end up with anyone, YN. She wanted me to be a eternal bachelor - never settle down, focus on the business. No distractions. No woman would have been good enough for me. But she's gone now..."

"What are you saying Rob? That we just forget that fifteen years have passed? That we forget that I'm a single mum barely making ends meet?"

"I'm asking for a chance to get to know you again. That's all. Just one chance to reconnect and we see what happens." You looked down and realised his fingers were stroking over your hand, his blue eyes were locked on yours, and you felt 18 again. The age you were when you met, sitting in your welcome lecture at Harvard University while the head of the Student Union gave you a run down of the university and the frat/sorority houses... Your sorority was linked to his fraternity as the heads of each were in a relationship, so you spent much of your free time with each other, love blossoming between you in that first year. You were inseparable - totally in love, plans for the future, the only person in the world he trusted with his true feelings about his 'destiny'. How much he didn't want it. How much he wanted to do law, like you, and help people overcome their injustices, their battles against big corporations... Like the one he'd just inherited.

To his credit, he'd changed much of the business already. Made it more environmentally friendly. Created pension plans for his workers - all equal, from the front line teams as well as the directors. Made sure maternity and paternity leave was a requirement for all of his staff from the bottom to the top. Paid vacation time of 4 weeks each year. Employees Healthcare formed part of his plan for the future - the meeting he'd just been a part of tried to tell him this was a terrible idea and would bankrupt the company, but he'd already set the wheels in motion. It would go live later that year whether his investors liked it or not.

Once it was live, he planned to take a step back. Be a board member, but retire. He had his millions. Enough to keep him for the rest of his life very comfortably. He'd spend the rest of his years devoting his time to philanthropy. He couldn't be a lawyer now, there would be too much publicity for him, but he could still make a difference. He knew he could.

None of this was public knowledge, and you had no idea until he just told you. No one knew. He'd just divulged secrets of the business and his private life to essentially a stranger - you were a different person now..

And you had never been more in love with him than in that moment.

"Why did you just tell me all of that Bobby?" Your nickname for him all those years ago rolling off your tongue without thinking. He smiled at it. No one had called him that since you. He missed it.

"Because I've never trusted anyone more in my life."

"You've wanted to get that off your chest for a while, haven't you?"

He chuckled, nodding, and his hand was quickly linked with yours, resting on the back of the sofa.

"I've missed you, YN. And I don't care that you're a single mum. I don't care what job you do. I don't care about any of that. Seeing you again.."

You silenced him with a kiss. A quick kiss, and you quickly pulled away, embarrassed. He stroked your blushing cheeks and shook his head, a small smile appearing, when he leaned towards you and captured your lips again. Your body instinctively moved closer, his hand on your thigh, the kiss deepening. Both of you fighting for dominance, you were losing as he moved over you, your body under his now across the large corner sofa.

"You still taste like cherries," he grinned. He loved your flavoured lip glosses and even now you always picked the cherry flavour one - his favourite fruit.

"Shut up and kiss me, Bobby..." The wine clearly giving you a new sense of confidence. Along with his private confessions...

"I've missed your taste, your smell, your body..." He groaned, parting your legs and pressing his erection against your covered core.

His lips were against your neck, his hot breath over your skin as he tenderly kissed down your throat. Unbuttoning your blouse, peeling it from you, his lips now over your breasts - larger than before, nowhere near as firm after a year of breastfeeding, you stifled your insecure brain wanting to scream at him to stop. He sensed your tension and paused, looking up at you through long eyelashes and he lifted up on his hands, capturing your uncertain eyes in his.

"You're beautiful, every single inch of you. This body right here created life, YN. There's nothing more beautiful than that." As he spoke, his hand moved over your breasts, unhooking the clasp at the front before moving over your stomach - scarred with stretch marks, the abs you used to show off now vanished and covered usually with a baggy shirt or jumper. His eyes drank you in with a look of purity. A sense of lust and desire. A feeling deep within you matching his, and you took a deep breath as he pulled your leggings down your thighs, exposing your underwear. Pulling them both free of your legs, he held your thighs open, his eyes taking in the view of your exposed folds in front of him, glistening in the dim light of the lamp by the sofa.

"Does down here still taste as good?" He asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Only one way to find out, Bobby," you grinned, then gasped as his tongue licked over your folds, dipping inside, tasting the essence of you, before climbing higher to find your clit like it hadn't been fifteen years since he last did this to you. Your hands in his hair, still slick from the shower as you gripped at it, his tongue flicked over your swollen bud in perfect small strokes. Two fingers slid into your heat, and your back arched as he made contact with the jewel inside. You tried to contain your moans, a hand over your mouth before he paused his devouring of your pussy to glance up at you.

"Move your hand - I want to hear every moan, every groan, I want to hear my name bouncing off these walls when I make you cum over my lips YN," he demanded, before setting back to work between your legs. Your thighs held firmly apart by his strong hands, his tongue setting your core on fire.

Your hips rocked against his mouth, your hands gripped at the sofa cushions as you started to cum, the heat in your abdomen so intense it was impossible to hold it any longer.

"Bobby.... Bobby.... Oh fuck.... Don't fucking stop," you panted, grinding your hips against him, your abdomen clenching, your legs shaking...

One groan from him send you flying into the abyss - chanting his name, your orgasm burning as it coursed through your veins and blurred your vision. He lapped at you like he'd never eat again, drinking your cum down before you had to pull his hair to lift him from you. The stimulation quickly becoming too much.

His body was back on yours, sliding his tongue through your lips as he passionately kissed you, letting you taste yourself on his lips.

He sat up on his knees, removing his shirt, pulling his trousers down. He was exactly as you remembered him - thick, not too long but long enough to hit exactly where you needed him to. Stroking your hand over his solid shaft, you licked your lips.

"I'll blow down your throat before you've even got close, YN, and it's a shame to waste it, don't you think?" He smirked, opening your legs wide again and lining himself up against you. With a glance at you, you nodded, before he pushed into you. Sliding into your hot walls, he couldn't help but gasp, then groan as he filled you completely.

His cock twitched, pulsed and throbbed inside you as he took a deep breath, settling himself into a gentle rhythm. His chest coming back down to meet yours, his lips gently caressing your cheek. Your legs wrapped around his waist, relishing in the feeling of him back inside you after so long.

"So good, so good," he whispered against your jaw as he thrust a little harder. Your core clamped around him, the combination of his powerful thrust and the tenderness of his voice.

"Do that again," he asked, thrusting hard. Clenching your muscles around him, he groaned, pulling your hair so your neck was exposed as he bit down on the flesh, marking you. Reclaiming you.

Angling his thrusts with perfection, he had you coming undone again underneath him. Before you could fall over the edge, he lifted you, sitting back against the sofa and pulling you onto his lap.

"Let me see that beautiful body move," he ogled your frame as you sunk over his length, pushing you back with his hand on your throat, watching you grind on his cock. The feeling of his hand there brought back so many memories of the kinks you'd tried and tested as 18 year olds, finding the ones that worked - he clearly remembered them too. Squeezing slightly, your juices flowing over him, your hips moving faster, chasing the high you had just moments earlier, reclaiming your orgasm.

"I'm... Oh fuck Rob, I can't, shit..." Your words mere gasps as you came, his thumb flicking your clit as you shuddered over him, coating his thighs in your slick, creamy juices. He lifted you effortlessly, carrying your shaky frame to the wall and pinning you against it, holding your ass from underneath as he rutted up inside you. Your nails raked over his shoulders, scratching his skin, leaving deep red trails over his back and shoulders. Each indent generating a whimper from him - and a throb of his cock as he pushed as deep as he could inside you.

"Cum Bobby, cum for me, fill me up," you begged.

"I can?"

"On the pill - do it... Need to feel it," you were borderline delirious now, desperate to feel his cock empty where it belonged.

Three hard, deep thrusts into you had his knees almost buckling, a loud roar leaving his chest, gentle pants of your name as he came hard and deep, his cock erupting ribbons of thick seed against your spasming walls. He pulled you down onto the floor with him, your body still pressed to his. He sat with his back against the wall, your body on his lap, your face in the crook of his neck. Both bodies catching their breath, whilst still remaining as physically connected as their souls were once again.

"I have one promise, one guarantee," he said, stroking your hair.

"What's that?"

"I will never let you go again."

"You can't possibly keep that promise Bobby..." You pulled back. You wanted him to keep it, but your head was still clear on the differences between you.

"Watch me."