#We are very into themed parties in this house

[paxaz535]

**TW:** Drug use, alcohol consumption, profanity

pazzi x partygoer!reader

( no use of y/n, i’m lowkey getting sick of ts. )

You were an animal when it came to partying, and this one might’ve been the most insane one you’ve been to.

__________

‘Are you going to come?’

You looked down at your phone, the text interrupting your show playing on the television screen in the front room. You smiled, remembering that your friend Jackie had invited you to a party yesterday.

‘Yes.’

‘Alright. Get ready in 30 minutes.’

You just liked the message, turning off the TV and immediately heading into your room. You were a partygoer; everyone knew it. You never turned one down, and you were known to go pretty hard when it came to parties.

The theme was black and white, and you had the perfect outfit to wear. You can admit, you were promiscuous (only when necessary), but you just knew how to have fun, no matter the circumstances. It was around 8:43 when you finished getting ready, deciding to take a few shots and smoke a small joint before going. As you took one more hit, your phone buzzed again.

‘I’m going to be on my way.’

You just liked the message and decided to take a few pictures and post them on your story, letting people know that you would be outside and would be having fun.

———-

The girls were all getting ready in Azzi and Morgan’s dorm, it was chaotic to say the least. “Why didn’t yall just get ready and then come here?” Morgan asked as she finished up her light makeup. Ice, Kk and Aubrey were in her room, spreaded around.

“Good question, morg.” Kk spoke, fixing up her twist. Morgan put her brush down and looked over at the sophomore. “So answer it?” Kk sighed dramatically, “Because getting ready by ourselves is no fun. plus, I wanted us to all leave out together.” Morgan just chuckled and turned off her vanity, looking at her teammates.

“Well, you guys are ready, no?” They nodded and the 4 left Morgan’s bed room. “Azzi Fudd!” Kk yelled as she opened her door. Azzi, Paige, Jana, Sarah and Caroline were still touching themselves up. Paige was the only one who looked completely ready, she was just doing her hair.

“Hi, Kk.” Azzi spoke softly as she put on some lip gloss. Paige and Azzi were matching, both wearing their black husky jumpsuit and both had slick back buns. “When were we gonna get the matching memo?” Ice teased as she stood by the door. Paige chuckled as she finished her hair and looked over at the woman.

“you know what this means, ice.” Kk rolled her eyes, “yea.. it’s lowkey corny.” Azzi and Paige just laughed. The two had this thing they liked doing. If they went anywhere matching, it meant they planned on taking someone home with them.

Kk is right, in a way it is a bit corny but it never seems to stop a girl from coming home with them. They’ve done it since they agreed on having a 3rd party some years ago. It was never a problem to them, they found it very sexy if anything.

“Yea well, just make sure she’s not like the last one.” Caroline spoke as she grimaced at the thought. Everyone cringed, the memory coming back about the girl who Paige and Azzi brought back with them 2 years go. It wasn’t good. “Well, is everybody ready?” Kk asked as she looked around. Confirmations can be heard around the room as they all left out the door one by one.

——————-

‘ been on another level ‘

When you arrived, you could already tell this party was gonna be something different. instead of bright colored lights, the house actually felt black and white. when you stepped inside, balloons were everywhere. It was a long hallway, the ceiling light was slightly flickering. There was a set of stairs which led to darkness, it was honestly scary in a way. “Girl, where the fuck you got me partying at?”

Jackie just laughed, “this fits your vibe perfectly, don’t worry.” You just shook your head with a smirk, entering the main area. Again, balloons everywhere, some on the ceiling, some on furniture, it was an amazing theme and you loved every second of it. your first thought though was the drinks and drugs. you felt like getting crossfaded tonight. Jackie pulled you to the kitchen where, you guessed it, balloons were filled at. you weren’t complaining though.

‘ since you came , numb the pain ‘

You spotted lots of drinks, it made you giddy. you clapped your hands in joy, immediately grabbing a red solo cup from the stack. you grabbed the vodka first, pouring until your heart told you to stop. you chugged it down, your throat burning but you’re used to the feeling. you poured some more, this time mixing it with some tequila and sliver patron.

“Shit!” You exclaimed as you slammed the empty cup back on the counter. “Look what I got.” Jackie spoke as she pulled out a bag of weed and a mini bag of pills. you smirked at her, immediately grabbing the weed and taking out some rolling paper out of your jacket pocket. Jackie put the pills on the counter and immediately started smashing them, turning them into a powdery substance.

you guys ended up with 4 joints and decided to split it evenly. “Im gonna smoke one right now.” You told your friend as you reached for her lighter. She just nodded, putting her two up for later. She knew you two were gonna be there for a while anyways.

‘ you look into my eyes , you can’t recognize my face ‘

as you were in the kitchen with jackie, talking and jamming out, you noticed a group of young women walk towards the main area and formed their circle in a corner of the building. for some reason, you couldn’t pull your eyes away from two of them specifically. as of right now, you’re sure you were crossfaded but you didn’t care. you just couldn’t pull your eyes away from them. and jackie noticed that.

You continued to make out the two girls faces. One looked white, the other one mixed. you haven’t seen them before, and it was making you feel things. You hadn’t noticed you were staring until the mixed one looked over at you. the two of you stared at each other before she looked away and tapped the white one on her arm.

the two of them now looking at you, slightly smirking. you could barely make them out before turning your head towards your friend. She was already looking at you with a smirk. “who are they?” jackie eyes went wide. “you don’t know about the women’s basketball team? girl do you not go on social media?” jackie asked as she looked over at the team. you shook your head, you didn’t live under a rock but you just didn’t seem to care about basketball, men’s or women’s.

“the ones who you were checking out are Paige and Azzi. they’re together but they’re openly known for third partying.” She explained as you looked back over. the team now all had drinks, someone must’ve brought them one. “oh, that’s sexy.” The joint that you smoked was making you feel weird but in a good way. you decided to take one more shot before grabbing Jackie’s hand and dragging her to the main area.

‘ you’re in my world now , you can stay , you can stay ‘

the two of you started dancing, the drugs and alcohol in your system making you loose and careless. Jackie, at one point was grinding on you and you gladly let her. the two of you were having a blast and this was exactly how you wanted it to be. “They’re totally checking you out.” You looked back over to indeed see the matching women eyeing you down. it made you hot, more hot than you already were. it was a lot of bodies in the house.

‘ but you belong to me , you belong to me ‘

“Yo, kk. who is that?” Paige asked as she nudged the younger girl. Kk looked over to you and her eyes went wide. She told them your name, her voice filled with excitement. “She’s known for partying like crazy. I’m not surprised she’s here, actually.” Azzi and Paige looked at each other, a knowing look on their faces. “That girl is sexy as fuck.” Azzi spoke as the two looked back over at you. They caught you already looking at them, making them more confident in getting their hands on you.

‘ if it hurts to breathe , open a window ‘

your body was filled with ecstasy. at one point you started to feel overwhelmed. them pills must’ve made you feel different because suddenly the music got too loud and you felt like you were suffocating. “are you feeling okay?” Jackie noticed the look on your face. you nodded, “I’m gonna go get some air.” you quickly walked towards the nearest window which felt so far away. you stuck your head out, letting out a breath of relief. this haven’t happened before, you noted to ask Jackie about them pills. or it could’ve been the weed, who knows?

as you stuck your head back in, you turned around and leaned onto the wall. your vision was now filled to see the two women from earlier. they both looked at you with a faint smirk, making you forget why you even came over here in the first place. “Whats up.” you spoke softly, you three were far back into the house so the music was fainted.

“Hi, pretty girl.” The mixed girl spoke up first. “You’re Azzi and Paige, right?” The two girls looked at each other and looked back at you. “So you’ve heard of us?” Paige asked. You smirked, pulling out your last joint. you really didn’t give a fuck, but you were by a window so hopefully you didn’t get too hot. “I guess you can say that.”

‘ oh you’re mind wants to leave , but you can’t go ‘

Paige eyed the joint, “you wanna share?” you chuckled and shook your head. “you don’t wanna hit this,” you took a hit and blew it out. “i’m sure yall heard about me, yea?” Azzi gently grabbed it from your hands, and you let her. “yes, we have. and that’s exactly why we’re standing in front of you, gorgeous.” The two of you kept eye contact as she took a hit and passed it to paige.

you looked over at paige to see her doing the same thing, afterwards she handed the joint back to you. “that was hot.” you said as you took another hit with a smirk. The two chuckled, still eyeing you down. you finished the joint and threw the bud out the window, your full attention on the two. “you two seem like trouble makers.”

they looked at each other again, and back at you. “tell you what,” paige started as she took a step closer. you sat up more, getting slightly nervous under her blue icy stare. “let us take you home, and you’ll see how much trouble we can actually cause.” she rasped as she licked her lips, looking you up and down. you looked at them, your eyes shifting over to the girl not too far behind her. She raised her eye brows, that teasing smirk plastered on her face.

‘ this is a happy house , we’re happy here in a happy house ‘

“Okay.” you whispered as let paige grab your hand, Azzi right behind you two. the three of you walked towards the exit. on the way, you seen Jackie talking to some guy, you’d just text her when you got to where you were going. Azzi and Paige nodded towards her team, letting them know they were leaving. You were about to get laid by the most attractive girls you’ve seen tonight and you couldn’t be happier.

‘ this is fun , fun , fun , fun ‘

HI GUYSSS so im actually kind of proud of this !! (kinda) but I did this because this is one of my favorite songs from abel and i had to make something based off of it

the new chapter of brothers best friend should be out soon, i’ve lowkey been busy but since it’s the weekend (no pun intended) i decided to write this really quick

[ponpox]

Currently trying to figure out a cocktail that will look and taste like mouthwash but without it being absolutely awful to drink.... The first try was not very successful... Minttu is not my favourite and the amount was way too much...

[premamelody]

garden, where memories are

context

[arolesbianism]

Thinking abt Sif Odile duo looping au again and I wanna be able to plot everything out more coherently but act 5 eternally looms overhead and boy I do not wanna look up

[loverboybitch]

does anyone want to hear about a dumb problem im having?.//.

[itneverendshere]

LOVED YOU AT YOUR WORST - r.c series - SEVEN

pairings: ex!sweethearts; rafe x thornton!reader; rafe x sofia. chapter warnings: mentions of pregnancy, abortion, alcohol, drug consumption.

MASTERLIST

You never spent much time on The Cut, unless you were being dragged by duty, mostly charity events for the local populations, fundraisers for their schools usually.

You always showed up in something tasteful but subtly expensive—pearls, understated Louboutin heels, and a blazer that whispered wealth without screaming it. 

Your mother taught you that.

Now, you sat in Poguelandia, doing god knows what.

The name alone sounded like some bad beach-themed party game. But you kept the snark to yourself—mostly. Sarah swore to you this was her new "thing," her big redemption arc, and who were you to judge? It wasn’t where you pictured spending any afternoon, yet there you were.

Pregnant. On The Cut. Drinking—well, holding—a very flat ginger ale out of a plastic cup.

You smoothed your dress for the hundredth time, light linen in a neutral tone that looked effortless but cost more than most people’s rent, while pretending not to notice Pope and Cleo staring like you were a rare bird that had wandered into the wrong habitat. 

Were they always this... intense? Did people on this side of the island not know how to look away when someone made eye contact? Your mother’s voice echoed in your head. They’re not staring at you, dear; they’re staring at themselves in relation to you. 

Whatever that meant. 

To their credit, they weren’t mean about it. Just... curious, as if you’d wandered in from a wildlife documentary called Kooks in the Wild.

You moved your weight around in your seat, hyper-aware of every grain of sand sticking to your hérmes sandals. Every time you shifted, you felt the grains grinding between the straps and your skin.

Should’ve worn the espadrilles, you thought ruefully, but even then, this wasn’t the world’s most glamorous venue. Sarah had begged you to stop by, though, and you owed her. It was also good for you to leave the house instead of being cupped up inside all alone.

“Okay, seriously, what’s with the staring? Do I have something on my face? Is my makeup smudged? Be honest.”

Cleo snorted. “No, you’re fine, princess. We’re just surprised to see you.”

You were still holding your sad little plastic cup. “Just thought I’d participate in—whatever this is.” You gestured vaguely at the mismatched chairs and string lights that looked like they’d been stolen from someone’s backyard wedding. “Community service?”

It was supposed to come off as witty. You weren’t sure it did.

Pope choked on his drink—sweet tea? soda?—and Cleo chuckled outright. “You’re funny,” she said, and for a moment, you weren’t sure if she meant it.

“Thanks?” It came out like a question, and you wanted to die just a little bit inside.

Pope grinned, leaning forward with a chip in his hand. “You don’t seem like the kind of person who hangs out in The Cut, that’s all.”

You blinked, feigning shock. “You don’t think I spend my weekends in—what is this, a glorified surf shack? I’m crushed.”

Cleo laughed again, which—fine—made you feel a little better.

“Nah, it’s just... you’re different up close. Not like, scary kook different. Just human. Y’know?”

“Great. That’s exactly what I was going for today.”

Pope gestured to the bar. “You want a snack? Chips? Cookies? We have...three options.”

You straightened, eyes narrowing like a hawk zeroing in on prey.

Food. Your stomach growled loudly, as if it had been cued by a stage director. “What kind of cookies?”

He blinked, not expecting you to care. “Uh... chocolate chip? Maybe oatmeal raisin?”

“And the chips?” You pressed, leaning forward now.

“Salt and vinegar,” Cleo piped up, eyeing you curiously. “Barbecue too, I think. Why?”

“Okay, shit, great.” You clapped your hands together decisively. “I’ll have all of it. All the chips, both kinds of cookies. Do you have anything else? Pretzels? Popcorn? Random condiments? I’m not picky.”

Cleo stared at you, her mouth slightly open. “Everything?”

“Yes, everything. Is that a problem?”

She blinked, her eyes darting to Pope like he had an explanation. He shrugged helplessly.

“Woman” she muttered under her breath. “Did you not eat for a week, or...?”

The salt and vinegar chips were divine, borderline transcendent, as you shoved another handful into your mouth. The truth was, you weren’t just hungry—you were still terrified. Every bite, every easy conversation with other people that weren’t Sarah, was a game of jenga to you. One wrong move, one offhand comment, and your secret could be out in the open.

Six more days until this would all be... over. Until the secret growing inside you—the one you’d barely admitted to yourself most mornings—would be gone.

The past three days had been the best you’d felt in ages, cravings and all, thanks to Sarah. She’d slept over, stayed up late talking with you, making you laugh, distracting you from the endless pit what-ifs and why-mes.

It was the longest you’d gone without crying in three months. The longest you’d lived without feeling like you could suffocate at any given moment. With her help, it had been easier to forget—to pretend that things were still okay.

But Sarah wasn’t there, she’d left earlier with John B, something about helping him with a tour.

“You good, princess?” Cleo’s voice cut through your thoughts.

You blinked at her, realizing you’d been crushing the chip bag in your hands like a stress ball. “What? Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You look like you’re about to fight that bag of chips,” Pope said, grinning.

You forced a laugh, leaning back and tossing the bag onto the table. “No fighting. Just... intense snacking."

You reached for the chocolate chip cookies he had offered earlier, focusing on the sweetness, the comfort of food that tasted good for once. Sweet, crumbly, safe. If only the rest of you life felt like that.

Pope and Cleo knew something was up, they all did, probably.

Sarah had been glued to your side, and it wasn’t exactly subtle.

Her sudden move to “stay over” at your place had obviously raised eyebrows, especially since you two hadn’t had a proper conversation in months before all this. And there was the beach clean-up, Kie and JJ had been there when you felt ill, and while you’d been too disoriented to keep up with the cover story once Rafe drove you away, Sarah had stepped in later to handle it.

Heat exhaustion. Overworked. Totally fine.

Still, to your relief, neither Pope nor Cleo seemed inclined to pry, perhaps it was pity, or maybe they were just decent enough to let you keep the little shred of privacy you had left. Either way, you were grateful.

“So,” Pope said, leaning back on his elbows and flashing you an easy grin, “How are you finding our place? I mean, other than our fine selection of snacks.”

You swallowed a bite of cookie, forcing a smile. “It’s...charming. Rustic. A real je ne sais quoi vibe.” You waved your hand vaguely, trying to mimic the way your mother used to describe terrible restaurants we’d never go back to.

Cleo snorted. “Yeah, that’s one way to put it.”

“It’s cute,” You offered, looking around, “I can tell you guys put your heart into it.”

Pope smirked, lifting a brow. "That's nice of you to say."

You gave a small shrug, feigning nonchalance, but you meant it.

For all the mismatched chairs and questionable decoration, there was something undeniably warm about the place. You weren't used to that—spaces filled with love instead of decorators and florists, it wasn’t bad. Just different.

“I mean it,” you said, brushing crumbs from your lap. “It’s very authentic. ‘Pogue Chic’ or something.”

Cleo laughed, loud and genuine, her grin lighting up her face. “Pogue Chic?"

Pope chimed in, “Hey, don’t knock it. We’re trendsetters. Ahead of its time.”

You smiled, but your mind was already falling back to the sand clinging to your dress and the ginger ale that tasted like disappointment. You’d never say it out loud, but you admired them, that ability to make joy out of scraps. It was something you didn’t quite know how to do. Not yet, anyway.

Cleo leaned forward, her elbows resting on the makeshift table. “So, are we going to see you around more? Or is this just a one-time royal visit?”

You hesitated, twirling the rim of your cup between your fingers. “I don’t know. Maybe. If Sarah keeps dragging me here, I guess I don’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice.”

You didn't know if it was the way he said it, the tone he used, or just your hormones fucking you up, but suddenly there were tears in your eye sockets. You blinked rapidly, tilting your head back slightly and praying that the tears stayed put.

These kids, all of them, sitting here like they hadn’t spent their lives scraping by, like they hadn’t been hurt or abandoned or let down a hundred times over by people they loved and trusted. Yet somehow, they were still full of hope, full of life.

You envied that.

You wished you could bottle it, whatever it was that kept them laughing and fighting and welcoming someone like you—a result of privilege and mistakes and heartbreak—into their home. It was humbling in a way that made your chest hurt.

“Does that mean I can choose to order better snacks next time? Maybe some sparkling water? Flat ginger ale is a crime against humanity.”

Cleo snorted, still not fooled by your deflection, but she let it slide.

“Good luck with that, princess. Our snack budget’s about three bucks and whatever we can steal from Kie’s pantry.”

Pope chuckled, tossing a chip in his mouth. “And you’re welcome to contribute if you’re so concerned about the menu.”

It surprised you, how easy it was to talk to them.

On paper, you had nothing in common. They were younger, grew up in a completely different world, and you were used to the polished conversations of country club luncheons and charity galas. 

Here, things were different.

They didn’t seem to care if you stumbled over your words, if your jokes were awkward or if you occasionally sounded like a walking trust fund catalog. They didn’t care about your last name, your family’s money, or any other things that had weighed you down for years.

That was disarming.

You’d spent your entire life around people who mirrored your upbringing—kids who summered in the Hamptons or Barbados, adults who measured their worth in stock portfolios and vacation homes. Now, you were here, in this cobbled-together haven with salt-stained cushions, sitting with people who’d grown up struggling for things you took for granted.

You thought it would feel more awkward or forced, but it didn’t.

It was easy.

Pope sat on the counter, gesturing with a half-eaten chip. “Serious question. How do you even survive on Figure Eight? Do they hand you iced lattes and designer handbags when you’re born, or do you have to work your way up to that?”

You raised a brow, smirking. “Oh, absolutely. The moment you’re born, they issue you a monogrammed diaper bag and a gold-plated pacifier. It’s very exclusive.”

Cleo nearly choked on her drink. “See, this is why we can’t take you seriously.”

Your phone buzzed on the table, lighting up with your cousins name, interrupting the fun. You sighed, rolling your eyes before picking it up. “Yes, Top?”

Topper’s slightly whiny tone spilled into your ear. “Can you believe Mom’s threatening to rent out the beach house for the summer? Actual strangers, staying there. What’s next? Turning it into a hostel?”

“Tragic,” you deadpanned, resting your chin in your hand. “Truly, a devastating blow for humanity.”

Pope fake-coughed, mumbling “white rich privilege problems,” while Cleo mouthed, “Hostel!” and shook her head, laughing silently.

“I know. Anyway, I’m coming over later.”

“Where’s your invitation?”

You heard him scoffing, “I’m family, I don’t need one.”

You pinched the bridge of your nose, feeling the beginnings of a headache. “Top, you can’t just announce you’re coming over. I might have plans.”

“Yeah, and I’m your family, so those plans now include me,” Topper said, sounding entirely too pleased with himself. “Besides, I’ll bring food.”

Across from you, Pope was already gagging dramatically, holding his stomach as if the mere sound of Topper’s voice made him physically ill. 

“I don’t know if—”

“See you at noon,” he interrupted. “Later!”

The call ended before you could even argue, and you set your phone down with a resigned sigh. 

“Looks like I’m hosting a one-man Topper pity party,” you said, crossing your arms and slumping back in your chair.

Pope clutched his chest. “Will you survive?”

You only left once the sun dipped lower into the horizon, you gathered your things promising Sarah you’d drive safely and talk to her tomorrow.

Cleo, Pope and John B were mid-argument about the best way to fix something in the shack. You felt lighter than you had in weeks.

With a few more quips exchanged and goodbyes said, you walked back to your car. That night, the ache in your chest wasn’t completly unbearable. You weren’t okay, but you weren’t drowning, either.

You’d been terrified of this afternoon all day, worried you’d stick out like a sore thumb or say the wrong thing.

But the Pogues hadn’t cared about your awkwardness, your polished self, or even the giant invisible cloud you carried everywhere these days. They let you just be.

The drive home was quiet, but this time you even hummed along to a song on the radio, which was strange because you couldn’t remember the last time you cared about music or even turning on that thing. When you pulled into the driveway and stepped into your house, it didn’t feel as cold and empty as it did last week.

You set your bag down on the entryway table and kick off your sandals, the floors cool beneath your feet. Heading to the kitchen, you decided to see if there was anything decent for tonight’s impromptu early dinner with Topper. The fridge greeted you with a sad bag of lettuce, half a bottle of sparkling water, and a single container of leftover pasta you weren’t sure was still edible.

“Great,” you muttered, closing the door and moving to the pantry.

The situation there wasn’t much better. Sarah’s latest health-kick contributions—a bag of chia seeds and some organic trail mix—laughed at you from the top shelf. You frowned, pushing them aside to reveal a dusty box of crackers and a jar of Nutella.

“Guess we’re going shopping tomorrow,” you murmured, grabbing the crackers and Nutella to snack on now.

You placed them on the counter and glanced around. The sink held a few dishes from earlier —a couple of coffee mugs, a bowl, a plate.

You sighed, rolling up your sleeves, might as well get this out of the way.

Normally, you’d have had someone else to take care of this—stocking the pantry, cleaning the dishes, even deciding on the menu for your lunches. But lately, you’d been scaling back. You hadn’t let anyone go, of course. You could never do that; the staff had been with your family for years, and many of them felt more like extended family than employees. Still, you’d quietly rearranged their schedules, giving them more time off.

They didn’t question it—probably thought it was some new phase, another eccentricity of a bored, privileged young woman.

Truth was, you liked doing these things.

Focusing on something small, tangible, gave your brain a break from drilling itself into a million dark corners. Folding laundry, washing dishes, even the routine of chopping vegetables—it kept your hands busy and your thoughts manageable enough. It wasn’t that you’d suddenly become a domestic goddess or anything. Most of the time, you’d forget to pick up groceries or burn whatever you tried to cook.

It wasn’t about being good at it. It was about doing something.

You looked around the kitchen, noting the little imperfections you wouldn’t have noticed before. A small water stain on the counter from where your glass had sat too long, the scuff marks on the cabinets where your chair scraped when you leaned back. They weren’t problems to be fixed—they were just signs of life.

And right now at that very moment, life felt…okay.

The house didn’t seem as cold or empty when you were doing things for yourself, even if it was mundane work. You finish up wiping down the counters, glance at the time—definitely cutting it close—and head toward the dining room to tidy up a bit.

Topper was not the type to notice if the place is spotless, but you always liked things to look... presentable, yourself included.

You heard the doorbell ring in the distance, he was early as usual, probably checking his watch just to make sure he wasn't a second late.

"Of course he’s early," you muttered to yourself, a little smirk pulling at your lips.

You walked towards the front door, ready to greet him, but when you opened it, your eyes immediately locked onto the large takeout bag in his hand. It smelled... amazing.

Topper grinned at you, an exaggerated flourish as he held up the bag.

“Guess what I brought?”

“You brought... Korean chicken wings? Really?”

“Hell yeah, I did!” He stepped inside, completely ignoring any formalities and heading straight toward the kitchen, “They just opened.”

He placed the bag on the counter with the confidence of a man who knew he’s just won “Best Dinner Host” without even trying. You peeked inside, the crispy wings drenched in a glossy, sweet-spicy sauce that looked downright delicious.

Topper laughed and took a seat, pulling out the wings, not even bothering with plates. “You’re welcome.”

You rolled your eyes but sat next to him, picking up a wing, the heat of it still making your fingers tingle. The crispy exterior cracked open with a satisfying crunch as you bit into it. It was everything you'd hoped for—tangy, spicy, perfectly cooked. You nearly moaned in pleasure, not even caring that your cousin was watching you with that cocky grin on his face.

“You look like you’ve seen the light,” He teased, leaning back in his chair as he grabbed a wing of his own.

“I mean,” you said, savoring another bite, “this might make up for you barging in uninvited.”

“Barging?” He clutched his chest dramatically, mock offense radiating from every inch of him. “I'm saving you from a night of sad dinners, and this is the thanks I get?”

You gave him a pointed look, but the corner of your mouth tugged upward despite yourself.

“Fine. Thank you, Topper. You’re the hero of the day. Happy now?”

“Ecstatic,” he said, grinning as he reached for another wing. “What’s new? Still slumming it with my ex and the Pogues?”

“First of all,” you said, wiping your fingers on a napkin, “slumming it implies I’m suffering, which I’m not. And second, Sarah’s not a pogue. She’s pogue-adjacent.”

“Pogue-adjacent?” He snorted. “You’ve been spending too much time over there.”

“Like you’re one to talk,” you shot back. “You basically live at Kildare Brewing these days. That’s like, one pogue away from full assimilation.”

He opened his mouth to argue but then stopped, realizing you had a point. “Okay, fair. But only because they have good beer."

You hesitated for a moment, unsure if you should even bring it up, but curiosity got the better of you. You hadn’t heard about her in a while, and you knew by experience, that was never a good thing.

“So... Ruthie,” you started, watching him over the rim of your glass as you took a sip.

Topper paused mid-chew, looking up at you like he wasn’t sure he wanted to have this conversation. “What about her?”

“I mean, you two are still together, aren’t you?”

He wiped his hands on a napkin. “We’re… not talking right now.”

You tried not to look pleased, but a rush of vindication bloomed in your chest. You'd grown to hate her, plain and simple. Her recent proximity to your cousin had always baffled you. He wasn’t perfect, but surely, he could do better. 

“I’m surprised.”

“Yeah, well,” he muttered, reaching for another wing. But then he stopped, like whatever he was thinking was messing with his head.

“What happened?” You asked, trying to sound more curious, concerned, than nosy.

You weren’t sure if he’d tell you, but the look on his face made it clear something big had gone down.

He hesitated, debating whether to answer. Finally, he sighed. “She... started a rumor about you.”

Your head jerked back in surprise. “About me?”

“Yeah,” he grimaced like he’d swallowed something sour. “She said you passed out at the beach cleanup and decided to spread some bullshit about you doing drugs.”

You just stared at him. “She what?”

You weren’t sure why you were so surprised.

You knew what she was capable better than anyone, especially when she was bored out of her mind.

“I didn’t believe it,” he added quickly, his tone defensive, as if that made it better. “I told her to shut the fuck up about it, but you know how she is. She thought it was funny.”

“Funny?” Your voice was sharp now, “She thought it was funny to spread lies about me? About drugs? What the fuck?”

“Yeah, it’s so messed up. That’s why I’m not talking to her. I told her if she couldn’t act like a fucking decent human being, we were done.”

You blinked, stunned.

You weren’t sure what shocked you more—the fact that Ruthie had stooped so low or that Topper had finally stood up to her. You shook your head, biting back another nasty comment about how awful she was. You’d been saying it for months, and he hadn’t listened.

No point in beating a dead horse now.

“It’s about time you saw what she’s really like. She’s really bad fuckin’ news, Top. Always has been.”

He gave a low grunt, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the counter. “Yeah. Took me long enough, huh?”

You didn’t answer, just raised an eyebrow and sipped your water.

“She’s always been weird about Sarah,” Topper muttered, almost to himself. “Even when we were together, she’d find these ways to dig at her. Like that one time at Midsummers—”

“—When she ‘accidentally’ spilled her drink on Sarah’s dress,” you finished, rolling your eyes. “Yeah, I remember. She’s always had this thing about trying to one-up her. Honestly, it’s so pathetic. But you never listen to me, so.”

“Okay, ouch.” He threw a crumpled napkin at you, which you easily dodged. “I listen to you sometimes.”

“Do you, though?” You gave him a pointed look.

“Yeah, I do!” Topper protested, though the whine in his voice made him sound more like the teenager he used to be, back when he’d follow you around during family holidays like a puppy. “Just… selectively.”

“Selective listening isn’t listening, dumbass. You’re just proving my point.”

He narrowed his eyes at you but didn’t answer, reaching for another wing instead. He took a bite, chewing dramatically, as if the exaggerated crunch would somehow end the conversation.

“Look, I’ve been saying for months that Ruthie’s bad news. Since she showed up at last year’s Christmas party wearing a dress identical to Sarah’s, just in a different color. You thought that was a coincidence?”

Topper groaned, dropping the wing. “Okay, fine, you’re right. Are you happy now? Can you stop rubbing it in?”

You grinned, propping your chin on your hand.

“Oh, I could. But what kind of older cousin would I be if I didn’t remind you how often you’re wrong?”

“You’re not that much older than me.”

You shrugged. “Old enough to know better than to date someone that awful.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re a genius. I get it.” He looked over at you again, his gaze softer, this time, “But seriously, you’ve been off lately. If there’s something going on, you can tell me, y’know? We’re family, even if I don’t listen to you half the time,” he added with a small smile, though his eyes were searching, hoping you’d let him in.

It would be so easy to tell him the truth—that you were pregnant, scheduled for an abortion in six days, and drowning in uncertainty and dread.

But he was still Rafe’s best friend, and the risk of this ever reaching him was too high. Instead, you forced a lightness into your voice.

“Nothing I can’t handle. And right now, I desperately need the bathroom.”

He looked at you skeptically, not fooled for a second.

“You’re really okay?” he pressed, his voice dropping to a level that told you he wasn’t going to let this go easily, "I texted and called before, you didn't answer. Thought you were resting from the scare."

You’d been having such a calm, easy time with Sarah, you almost forgot about everything else. The thought of picking up the phone, letting all that anxiety and worry back in, just wasn’t appealing—so you’d ignored his calls, but not on purpose. You were doing him a favor.

You plastered on a smile and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder as you passed. “I promise, I’m fine. Just felt a little light-headed and needed some peace."

His eyes narrowed slightly, unconvinced. “That’s all?”

You forced a giggle, hoping it would sound more genuine than it felt. “Yes, Dr. Thornton. Just needed to eat more or drink water or whatever the fuck it is you’re always telling me to do.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, crossing his arms, watching you closely. “Because you’ve never just fainted before.”

“I guess there’s a first time for everything. Besides, don’t you think I’d tell you if something serious was wrong?”

It took everything to maintain eye contact, your stomach twisting at the lie. He was family, and you wanted to trust him, to let him help you. But you couldn’t. He hadn’t even told you about Rafe and Sofia until you found out by yourself. 

Topper tilted his head, considering you, then sighed and gave a reluctant nod. “Alright, fine.”

“Okay, if you’re done being weird,” You pushed back from the counter, grabbing your glass. “I gotta pee,” you announced casually, as if this was the most normal interjection in the world. The wings were good, but running away was tempting. And also, the pregnancy had made your bladder a ticking time bomb, and you really didn’t want to risk any accidents. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

You offered him one last smile, hoping it was convincing enough. He whined some sarcastic comment about your water consumption as you hurried away, but you barely heard him.

All you thought about was the blessed relief that awaited on the other side of that door.

You didn’t usually spend this much time with Top nowadays—your own tendency to avoid “close” family drama—but tonight had been oddly… nice.

Even if you wanted to wrap your hands around his neck half the time. Even if you hated lying to him. If he’d just pushed a little harder, maybe you would’ve folded, let it all spill right there in the kitchen.

Every time you thought you’d come to a decision, another doubt would take over you, leaving you back at square one. You knew what you wanted, so why was this so hard? 

Topper had looked at you with such genuine concern back there. The “if you need me, I’m here” sentiment was the same one you’d grown up with, the kind of care only a cousin, practically a sibling, could have.

This was hard.

When you came back into the kitchen after taking your sweet time in the bathroom you immediately noticed something was off.

Topper was by the counter, staring at the half-eaten pile of wings by the table like they’d personally offended him. He looked paler, too—almost like he’d seen a ghost.

“Uh…” You stopped mid-step, furrowing your brow. “What’s with the stupid face? Did the wings betray you or something?”

He jolted slightly, as if he hadn’t even heard you come in. “What? No. No, the wings are fine. Great. Amazing, even.”

“Okay…” You gave him a skeptical look, setting your glass down and crossing your arms. 

Topper laughed, but it was this oddly nervous, stilted sound. He glanced at his phone, tapping the screen for no real reason, then shoved it into his pocket.

“You know what, though? I totally forgot—I have something planned. Like, super important. In about… ten minutes.”

You stared at him, unimpressed. “You forgot you had plans? Sounds fake, but okay.”

“So unlike me!” He got up from his chair with such sudden energy that it made you take a step back. “Anyway, I should really get going. Don’t want to be late. Uh, thanks for… hanging out. And for, uh, letting me use your wings as a form of therapy. Yeah. Later!”

And with that, he was sprinting for the door.

“Topper!” you called after him, confused and mildly annoyed. “What the hell is going on? You’re acting fuckin’ weird!”

“Nope, not weird! Just busy!” he shot back over his shoulder, not even looking at you as he opened the door.

You didn’t have time to yell at him before he disappeared out the door, the sound of his Jeep starting up echoing from the driveway a moment later. You stood there bewildered, staring at the now-empty doorway.

Something was definitely up. He was many things—dramatic, stubborn, occasionally insufferable—but shifty wasn’t usually one of them.

You went back to the kitchen, glancing at the counter, ready to brush off his weird exit as just another of his dramatics, when your eyes landed on a random envelope— the one you’d been using to scribble down everything lately. 

Extra small grocery lists, reminders, and, unfortunately, the number for the abortion clinic.

Rafe’s fingers curled loosely around the tumbler of bourbon, eyes set on nothing in particular. The lunch rush was winding down, country club regulars filing out.

He’d been there for over an hour—first, the meeting, listening to those finance guys ramble on about numbers, projections, all that bullshit he usually liked to hear. 

He’d faked his interest well enough, but his mind had been miles away. Mostly thinking about you. And the company, of course, because that was his priority right now. Or, it should be.

The whole thing with you, three days ago, it was a slow-mind-burning headache he couldn’t ignore, even if he wanted to. And he had wanted to, tried to, in fact.

He took another slow sip, hardly tasting the bourbon. Across the room, Sofia was working between tables, balancing trays and forcing her best country club smile.

All he saw when he looked at her was you, it only made him force down another swallow, running his thumb over the rim of the glass, mind somewhere between the company projections and the mess he’d made of things with you. 

It was ridiculous that you were still in his head. He should be thinking about that deal, about locking down his place in the Cameron empire. 

Rafe pushed the glass aside, signaling for the check when something caught his ear—a conversation from a nearby table.

“Yeah, she actually passed out the other day. Pathetic.” The voice was loud, sneering.

A dude’s voice followed, fake sympathy dripping from his tone. “I heard she was a fuckin’ mess after the whole breakup.”

“Oh, totally.” A different girl laughed, high-pitched and cruel. “She’s probably on something. Can you blame her? I’d be desperate too if he dumped me.”

It didn’t take a fucking genius to know who they were talking about. Small town and all, of course, things got around, mostly turning into half-truths and petty rumors.

He stopped all his movements, jaw clenching. His fingers tightened around the edge of the table, the only thing keeping him from breaking something, preferably bones.

They were talking about you. 

About some made-up version of you, the fact that these spoiled, airheaded brats thought they could shit talk about you like that, rip you apart for fun just because you weren’t there to defend yourself made him sick.

He pushed his chair back and stood, crossing the room with long strides. He didn’t care about the eyes following him as he walked up to their table, the laughter stopping the moment they looked up and saw the look on his face.

“What did you just say?”

The girl who’d been laughing, a petite brunette with too much makeup and a self-satisfied smirk, blinked up at him, her smile faltering.

“Oh, Rafe! We didn’t see you there. We were just…joking around,” she stammered, trying to backpedal.

“Joking?” He laughed, the sound making them flinch. “That what you call it? Spreading some bullshit rumor because it’s all your pathetic little lives have to offer?”

The brunette’s face went red. “I mean, we all heard about it. I’m just saying what everyone’s already thinking—”

His fists clenched and his patience, already thin, snapped the second he heard the guy—one of those trust fund preps with an overdone tan and a too-tight polo—chime in.

“Oh, come on, dude,” the guy smirked, leaning back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. “It’s not like she’s worth all that trouble, is she?”

His entire body went rigid, and before he registered it, he was leaning down, letting them feel the weight of his glare.

“Say that shit again,” Rafe taunted him, something almost amused twisting at the edge of his mouth, daring him to keep talking. “I’d love to hear you repeat yourself.”

“Relax, man—”

He didn’t even let him finish, eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a near whisper, more dangerous than shouting ever could be.

“You think it’s funny? Talking about someone who’s not even here to defend herself?”

The guy’s face paled, and Rafe swore he was seconds away from landing a punch, from wiping that smug grin off his face. Just as he prepared his fist, ready to make good on his threat, he felt a hand on his arm, a small, insistent tug. 

“Rafe,” a soft voice hissed. Sofia. He barely glanced at her, shrugging off her grip.

“Don’t,” he snapped, his voice sharp, dismissive.

He kept his eyes on the guy, who looked more uncomfortable by the second, squirming in his seat.

Sofia’s hand still hovering near his arm, cautious now. “Rafe, come on, this isn’t worth it. You’re better than this.”

She looked scared. Scared of him, scared of the situation. He wasn’t better than this.

He’d never been, and he’d been good enough at lying and pretending for her even to think that.

You would’ve known better.

Fuck, you wouldn’t have wasted time talking.

You would’ve yanked him back by his collar, shoved yourself between him and the guy, shot him that warning glare, daring him to keep pushing you so you’d have to drag him out by force. You always knew when he’d get like this, that edge in his voice, that look in his eye that told you he was seconds away from snapping. You knew better than anyone how to pull him back when he hit that switch.

But you’d never bothered with gentle.

Sofia’s eyes darted around the room, clearly embarrassed, maybe even afraid of drawing attention. He knew this wasn’t fair to her, that she hadn’t signed up for this part of him—the anger, the unpredictability. It wasn’t in his nature to stay silent, to ignore things and walk away. 

He could almost see it—feel it, like a familiar bruise under his skin. You’d shove him hard enough that he’d stumble back, half-pissed and half-shocked. You’d get in his face, not even close to scared, cutting through his spiral. “What the hell is wrong with you, Rafe? You wanna end up in jail over some loser? Grow up.”

If you’d been here, you wouldn’t have given him a choice. You’d have grabbed his arm and dragged him away, kept a grip on him until he’d snapped out of whatever dark place he’d dropped into. You’d push him until he finally let go, forced him to come down from that blinding fury and face the mess he’d just caused. It was the only way he’d ever been able to listen—when you pushed him to wake up, forced him to look at himself and see just how reckless, just how stupid he was about to be.

But Sofia? She had no idea. 

She thought saying “you’re better than this” was going to do anything, that with a light touch and some empty words, he’d suddenly be calm, reasonable, soft. 

But he’d never been that way, never with you, never with anyone.

She hadn’t done anything wrong; she’d just seen the version of him he’d wanted her to see. The version he’d put together, patched up and polished, all so he could convince himself he was something he wasn’t.

With her, it was easy to pretend. He could smooth his sharp edges, show her just enough of himself to keep her interested without letting her close enough to see the mess underneath.

He’d let her believe he was the kind of guy who could just calm down, let things slide. The kind of guy who’d listen. He’d wanted her to believe he was controlled, calm. Sofia’s softness had appealed to him, but now, it only highlighted the differences between them.

With you, he’d never had the luxury of pretending.

You’d seen through him from the start, never let him get away with putting on some act.

You hadn’t let him pretend to be better than he was, hadn’t let him off easy when he’d tried to brush things off or shut down. You knew every side of him, even the ones he’d rather ignore. You’d always known exactly who he was, who he wasn’t, and you’d never been afraid to remind him.

He didn’t want to let it go, didn’t want to give the guy an inch of leeway to think he’d won this. Rafe sighed and released his grip, his hand falling from the table as he finally stepped back. Sofia relaxed, giving him a relieved smile, but it only made him feel emptier. 

“You talk about her again and I’ll fucking kill you, you hear me?” 

The guy sputtered, looking down, embarrassed and shaken. He muttered something under his breath that sounded like an apology, but Rafe didn’t care enough to hear it.

Sofia’s hand was still on his tail when he left, and as soon as he walked out of earshot of the table, she followed him, crossing her arms. Her eyes narrowed with an expression he’d never seen from her —disbelief. 

“What was that?”

Everything.

Rafe didn’t speak. He was staring past her, back at the group, mind far from the confrontation and miles away with thoughts of you. She seemed to notice, her lips pressing together.

“I can’t believe you did that. You threatened to kill him, Rafe. Over what, a stupid rumor?”

A stupid rumor? She was making him feel like he was out of control, irrational—even though he couldn’t explain why this mattered so much.

“You wouldn’t get it. It’s not your problem.”

She flinched a little, her face falling, but to her credit, she didn’t look away. “You’re right. I don’t get it. Tell me.”

He wanted to believe that it could work with Sofia.

Nice girl, pretty too. She laughed at his jokes, and she didn’t call him out on his bullshit, because she didn’t even know that side of him existed. On paper, she was perfect. But she wasn't you.

He looked back at her, her worried eyes scanning his face.

It was frustrating—seeing the fear, feeling her judgment when she didn’t even know what she was judging.

To her, this was just some meaningless outburst, something he could turn on and off at will. This wasn’t her fault. He knew that. He hated how this wasn’t something he couldn't put into words, not in any way that would make sense to her.

“Forget it, alright?” his tone was harsher than he meant.

Sofia shook her head, clearly not willing to let it drop this time.

“Why would you get so worked up over something like this?"

To her, that’s all this was—just noise, harmless, inconsequential. 

She looked up at him expectantly, her brows furrowed in confusion, waiting for some reasonable answer.

And it pissed him off, how she kept waiting, expecting him to offer some calm, measured response when he didn’t even understand it himself.

Sofia’s eyes softened, but it only irritated him further.

“She’s nice,” Her words drifted out casually like she didn’t know she’d just cracked him open. “She defended me, last week, when I was serving brunch.”

He couldn’t stop the self-loathing.

You had always been that way—ready to defend anyone, even when you were the one hurting. Rafe winced, hating himself for it, hating that you could still be so good even after everything. He swallowed hard, keeping his expression blank.

“Did she?” he muttered, trying to sound indifferent.

“Yeah,” Sofia replied, watching his reaction with mild curiosity. “Guess I wouldn’t have expected that.”

Rafe’s jaw clenched, that familiar hurt in his chest.

His mind was already conjuring all the times you’d jumped in, backed people up, and called out anyone who crossed a line. Even when it came to people you barely knew.

It made him feel like the worst person in the world, knowing that you’d been there for Sofia of all people, that you’d shown her that same loyalty. It made him hate himself even more.

His phone buzzed, saving him from the inevitable conversation, his hand brushed the side of his face as he glanced down at the unknown number flashing across the screen. He didn’t hesitate, before swiping the answer button.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Cameron, this is Dr. Harris from the hospital,” the voice on the other end said. “We’ve been trying to reach Miss Thornton about the blood work results from her visit three days ago. Unfortunately, there’s been an issue with our system and a few patient’s data has been deleted, except for the emergency contact information.”

Rafe’s stomach dropped.

He was still your emergency contact, not by choice probably. The hospital was calling about your blood work.

Was something wrong?

His blood ran cold. “Is she okay? Did something happen?” The urgency in his tone made Sofia’s eyes widen again, her confusion growing.

“We’re concerned about a possible infection. We need to run more tests to rule it out, but the symptoms suggest it could be more complicated. We must check thoroughly to be sure.”

“An infection?”

“Yes, but it could be nothing serious. We just need her to come in as soon as possible for a follow-up,” Dr. Harris explained.

There was a pause as if he expected Rafe to say something reassuring or offer to pass on the message. 

Sofia’s brows knitted together as she watched him. “Rafe?” 

“I’ll tell her,” he said, the words cracked in his throat. The doctor thanked him and hung up.

He stared at the phone waiting for it to ring again with more news, a reassurance that this wasn’t as serious as it sounded. 

You probably hadn’t changed your emergency contact because it slipped your mind.

He couldn’t stand the idea that something could be wrong, and he was not the one you called when you needed someone. All he’d ever done was mess things up between you.

“What’s going on?”

How the fuck was he going to tell you when you'd blocked him everywhere?

He couldn’t call, couldn’t text, couldn’t even show up unannounced without risking the usual argument that would end with you screaming at him to get out, or worse, you looking at him with that unforgiving stare.

He knew you’d locked every door, bolted every window to keep him out, and he deserved it. 

“It’s nothing,” he said, the lie slipping out automatically. He could feel her studying him, waiting for another explanation he also didn’t have the patience to give.

Maybe Topper could help.

The irony wasn’t lost on him—he’d given your cousin the mission of checking in on you, playing the careful messenger while Rafe kept his distance. That was supposed to be him.

But the reality was you hated him now, hated him enough that Topper was a safer option and yet, the private information still landed on his lap. As if he still had the right to be in your orbit, let alone the person trusted with this kind of news.

It felt wrong.

He knew you were going to hate him even more for still having access to your private details. It wasn’t really his fault—the hospital called him. He should have hung up the moment the hospital mentioned your name, told them they had the wrong guy. But he didn’t. He listened. 

“If you need to go—” she started, trailing off when he didn’t answer. Her voice softened, tentative. “It’s about her, isn’t it?”

Rafe’s jaw ticked, and he looked away, out at the horizon where the sun was setting.  “Yeah,” he muttered, not bothering to lie this time.

His thumbs hovered over the keyboard. He typed something out, then deleted it, then typed again.

Finally, he just went with the simplest thing he could think of and hit send.

Can we meet up? Tannyhill in 30. I think I know what’s wrong.

He half-expected some lame excuse or joke from Topper. Instead, the text he got made the deep lines across his forehead make an appearance.

Shit, you do???

Did the fucker already know?

Did he suspect? Or was this just the kind of baited question someone asked when they thought they were the last to know something big?

He frowned, gripping the phone tighter.

If Topper did know, why hadn’t he said anything?

TAGLIST: @maybankslover @october-baby25 @haruvalentine4321 @hopelesslydevoted2paige

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@stoned-writer @justafangirls-blog-deactivated2

@starkeygirlposts @enjoymyloves @ijustwanttoreadlols @icaqttt

[starsinthesky5]

so high school || joe burrow x reader 

description: who knew that an unexpected relationship with a guy you never thought you’d be with would be the happiest, healthiest, and most special relationship in your life? it makes you feel like you’re back in high school and have a crush on the sweetest boy you’ve ever met ;)

a/n: completely reworked and basically a brand new version with more plot and detail of the so high school fic from last year ;) also, a much needed little thing to make everyone smile after yesterday’s games and because we all miss mr. joey b so badly

word count: 25k 

warnings: hint of smut, too much fluff to handle, language, suggestive themes. MDNI.

taglist: (ask to be added): @joeyfranchise @joeyb1989 @joeyburrrow @softburrow @burrowbarbie @yelenasbraid @lovelyburrow @grittysbiggestfan @definitelynotdomanique

───────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆───────

You took a deep breath, letting the salty aroma of the ocean fill your lungs as your eyes fluttered shut. The soft, sun-warmed sand moved beneath your toes as you wiggled them, savoring the feeling you had been missing for quite some time. The air around you was alive, carrying a sense of youth and freedom, like the whisper of summers gone by. You heard the soft mew of the seagulls above you, their melody threading through the faint hum of a classic summer pop song floating from distant loudspeakers. The sounds and smells were so familiar, so nostalgic, that for a moment you could almost feel 16 again—back at this very place where every day felt endless, and joy was as simple as sand between your toes and the sun on your skin.

Sweetwater Cove. 

Home.

You were finally home. Not just to the sandy shores and rolling waves of your childhood, but to the one place that had always felt like peace. But home wasn’t just this place. Home was him. It was in his laugh, his smile, and the crinkles around his softening blue eyes whenever they met yours.

“Y/N, they said they’re about 30 minutes away!” Joe called from the patio door, where he had been standing for about five minutes, admiring you in your most natural state—so carefree and light as you relaxed on the beach. “Come inside so we can get everything set up,”.

You took in one final breath of the ocean air before tilting your head back with a grin. “Okayyyy,” you said, looking over at him. You noticed his soft golden locks curling at the ends, looking as if they hadn’t been brushed through in a few hours. It had that “post-ocean water” look—slightly messy from the time you’d spent playing in the waves earlier. But somehow, it was perfect, as if the saltwater and breeze had styled it just right, making him look effortlessly handsome, like he belonged to the sea and this moment with you.

You carefully got up from your spot on the sand, dusting off any clinging to your sunkissed skin, and made your way inside the house, wiping your feet on the mat outside since you had just cleaned. Joe stood at the kitchen counter, sorting through the bags of food he had ordered from one of your favorite restaurants—The Salty Gull. “I’m just gonna put out the quick bites for now so the rest doesn’t get cold,” he says, pulling out the seaside shrimp skewers, tidepool tacos, island BBQ drumsticks, and a few more of your absolute favorite items from their coastal themed menu. 

“Thank you, Joey,” you beamed, your heart fluttering as you watched your boyfriend go all out to make your beach reunion with your cousins special. From the nostalgic spread of food to the goofy high school games—like a spin-the-bottle twist where dares and shots replaced the usual kisses—he’d thought of everything. There were boxes of White Claws, High Noons, and bottles of Fireball, all lined up and ready for fun. And to top it off, he’d curated the perfect playlist of old summer hits, from Hey, Soul Sister to Beauty and the Beat to Party in the U.S.A, each song a reminder of carefree nights you spent here in years past. You couldn’t help but feel a rush of warmth fill your body, grateful for how much effort he’d put into making this moment feel just like the good old days.

Every summer, your cousins would come to Sweetwater Cove, your home, for a few weeks of sun-soaked memories. You and your older cousins used to make it a tradition—heading down to the beach together for lazy days, impromptu games till 3 in the morning, and nights filled with drunken laughter and stupid teenage fun that almost had you at the doorstep of the local police station. But as time passed, life and responsibilities crept in, and it became harder and harder to coordinate. The summers grew shorter, and the days of carefree fun began to fade into the background. So, when you told Joe about your precious summers at Sweetwater Cove, how the beach had always been a place of laughter and connection for you, he didn’t hesitate. He was determined to bring some of that magic back, to give you a piece of your past amidst the present since you now lived with him in Ohio. Without a second thought, he took control and made it happen—inviting your cousins to join you for a few days during your beach trip just to see the smile on your face grow a little more. 

You honestly couldn’t get over the fact that Joe just…existed. How could someone be so effortlessly perfect at everything? At being the kind of partner who made your heart race with just a look, who somehow managed to keep you feeling the same butterflies you’d felt the very first time you saw him. It didn’t seem fair that someone could be so good at easily making you feel giddy and adored all at once, like you were falling in love over and over again, every single day. He always thought of you in everything he did, whether it was picking up your favorite snack on his way home from practice without you even asking, or remembering the little stories you told him months ago and threading them into your days like they were part of his own memories. Whether it was planning thoughtful surprises like this week at the Cove, or simply pulling you close in the middle of a conversation because he couldn’t stand to not be touching you. Joe had this way of making you feel like the center of his universe, as if nothing else mattered but you. 

When he told you he wanted to experience the summers you couldn’t stop raving about—the ones you’d talk about for hours with a dreamy smile and that look—you almost fell out of your chair. You had always dreamed of bringing Joe to the Cove, but the timing never seemed quite right. Life always had a way of interfering—whether it was work, commitments, or simply the Cove being at the height of its summer season. Knowing how much Joe valued peace and privacy, you’d never want to drag him out here in the midst of all the tourists, locals, and teenage chaos. But it was as if the stars finally aligned. The moment Joe mentioned wanting to come out here overlapped perfectly with the early off-season break out here—a rare window when the Cove was quiet, the beaches less crowded, and the air filled only with the soft hum of the waves and the occasional call of seagulls. It felt like fate, as if the universe itself had devised a plan to give you this perfect moment to share the place that meant so much to you with the person who meant even more.

You managed to take Joe to all your favorite spots, the first being Landry’s arcade, the place where you set the Cove’s Dance Dance Revolution record at 16 years old, which Joe tried to beat when you took him. But your dance skills were so good for the Quarterback’s precise footwork that you ended up almost breaking your own record. The next place you took him was all of the cute coastal shops along the boardwalk, each one carrying its own story and memory that you told Joe about as you walked hand in hand. He couldn’t stop laughing while you were telling him the story about the cooky old lady that owns the antique shop around the corner and how she busted you and your cousins for trying to sneak onto the pier after it closed. He couldn’t stop laughing, practically doubling over as you told the story. His laughter vibrated through him so hard that he grabbed your arm for support, leaning into you like he might collapse if you told him anything else.  

“She came out of nowhere,” you said, gesturing dramatically, your own laughter slipping through your words. “One second, we thought we were in the clear, making a break for the fences, and then BAM! There she was with her flashlight, yelling, ‘I may be old, but I’m not blind, you little hooligans!’”.

Joe practically howled, his head falling against your shoulder as he clung to your arm like a lifeline. “She actually said hooligans? Oh my god, I can’t—did she come with a cane or something too?”.

“She might as well have!” you laughed, shaking your head. “And then she started lecturing us about how the pier was closed for ‘very good reasons’ and how kids like us were going to bring about the downfall of civilization. I tried to apologize, but then James—of course—tripped over a loose board and knocked over a trash can. And she just froze, pointed her flashlight at us, and yelled, ‘THAT’S IT! I’M CALLING THE COPS! in the most grouchy voice ever,’”. 

At that point, Joe was laughing so hard he was clutching your waist for balance, practically using you as a crutch while you walked past Sully’s Surf Shop, the place where you got your first and only surfboard when you were 13. “There’s no way in hell that actually happened,” he shook his head. 

“I swear!” you said, laughing just as hard now, trying to keep both of you upright. “We ran so fast, we probably looked like Scooby-Doo characters. And now, to this day, every time I walk by her shop, she gives me the dirtiest look,”.  

Joe buried his face into your shoulder, still shaking with laughter. “I can’t breathe. I literally can’t. Please tell me she still has the flashlight,” he managed to say, gasping for air.  

“Oh, I wouldn’t be surprised if she sleeps with it under her pillow,” you joked, and Joe completely melted, his laughter muffled against you as he clung tighter. Something about this trip was making Joe relax in a way he had never before, he was so loose, free, and almost acting like his younger self again. He even looked the part with his backwards cap, unbuttoned beach shirt showing off his toned body, and adorable palm tree swimshorts that you swore must have been from high school with how faded they were. 

“You’re gonna be the death of me,” he said between wheezes, his cheeks flushed and his eyes watering. “But honestly, if you were a hooligan, I’d totally be your accomplice,”.  

—

You ended your boardwalk stroll with a meal that could only be described as pure, indulgent bliss. It started with a pile of crispy boardwalk fries—seasoned to perfection with salt and a dash of vinegar and so good that you both couldn’t stop stealing from each other’s pile, even though they were meant to share. Next came a slice of pizza so greasy it basically sparkled in the light, but it was hands-down the tastiest pizza you’d ever had. Every bite was a little piece of heaven, with Joe teasing you for trying to fold your slice like a “real pro”.

To top it all off, you shared a huge cherry slurpee, sipping from the same straw until you both simultaneously winced from a shared brain freeze. Joe groaned dramatically, clutching his forehead, while you couldn’t stop laughing, tears forming in your eyes as the cold pounded through your head. “Why do we do this to ourselves?” he asked, squinting at the slurpee like it had personally backstabbed him.  

“Because it’s worth it and we’re a little crazy,” you shot back with a grin, taking another sip despite the risk.  

Joe shook his head with a grin, his eyes crinkling in that way that made your heart flip. “A little crazy? Speak for yourself. I think I’m full-on insane for letting you convince me this was a good idea,” he said, leaning closer until your shoulders brushed. “You know I hate brain freezes,”.

“And yet,” you challenged with a smirk, “You’re going back for another sip,”.

He rolled his eyes, but there was no denying the twinkle in them as he leaned in and took another exaggerated slurp, making you giggle all over again.

The two of you sat there on the bench overlooking the water, the sunset painting the waves in shades of gold and pink. The sea breeze brushed against your cheeks as you took turns finishing the slurpee, both of you trading playful nudges and stolen glances. At one point, Joe turned to you, his blue eyes soft and unwavering. “You know,” he murmured, “I’d get a hundred brain freezes if it meant making you laugh like that again,”.

Your heart swelled at his words, and without thinking, you leaned in to press a sweet, lingering kiss to his lips. “You’re such a sap,” you whispered against his mouth, smiling at how adorable he was around you.

“Maybe,” he replied, his forehead resting gently against yours. “But only for you,”.

—

The entire week you had already spent here with him made it feel like you were back in high school, going to the same places, eating the same things, and making memories in the same ways as you did with your friends and cousins back when you were just a simple girl running around in your worn out converses. Even Joe felt it—that youthful energy coursing through his veins. But for him, it wasn’t just the beach or the boardwalk or the nostalgia the breeze carried. It was you. It was in the way your eyes lit up every time you showed him a piece of your past, how your laughter was louder than the waves, and how your smile seemed to glow brighter here. Every time he looked at you, he felt it—a rush of unfiltered joy and excitement, like he was living out his own version of those golden summers, all because of you. 

You didn’t realize how long you were staring at Joe until he playfully threw a chip at your face, causing you to flinch and snap free from your little re-run of the past few days. “Did I lose you there?” he laughs while leaning against the oven, a smug grin on his face while he eyes you. 

You tried to hide your embarrassment, your cheeks burning as you realized he had caught you staring at him like that. Even after all these years, the way he looked at you still had the power to make you feel like a nervous teenager with a schoolgirl crush. You quickly looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, your voice a little shaky as you tried to recover. “Yeah,” you said, your smile trembling as you fought to play it cool. “What were you saying? Sorry, I…uh…got distracted,”.

“Oh, I just said we should hit the pier later tonight if we can…without breaking and entering,” he made sure to mention that last bit because of your near run-in with the cops for trying to break in a few years ago. “I remember you saying that you guys loved going down there at night since the rides would be the most fun in the dark,”. 

“Oh, it’s a must,” you emphasize, nodding energetically as you start to squirm a little under the intensity of Joe’s gaze. His eyes were locked on you as if he could see straight through you, and it made you feel a little too warm.  

“Mhm. Also, quick question…,”.  

You glance up, trying to act casual as you take a bite of the chip he just tossed your way. “Shoot,” you reply, trying to sound cool and calm.  

“Why were you staring at me like that just now?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. “Did you need to say something?”.

The chip caught in your throat, and you coughed lightly, your cheeks instantly heating up. Joe hopped off the counter with that same teasing grin plastered on his face, closing the distance between you in a way that made your pulse rush.

He leaned down, resting a hand on either side of you on the kitchen island, trapping you in his gaze. “C’mon, babe,” he said softly, his voice dripping with mischief. “You were looking at me like I was the last slice of pizza on Earth. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”.

You fished for an answer, but the way he was looking at you—so smug, so knowing—had your thoughts scrambling. “Oh, no reason,” you giggled nervously, trying to brush it off, but Joe wasn’t buying it.

“No reason?” he repeated, his grin growing as he leaned in closer. His voice dropped an octave, sending a shiver down your spine. “You sure about that? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like my girl’s got something on her mind,”.

You tried to hold your ground, but between his teasing tone and the way his eyes softened just enough to make your heart flutter, you knew you were done for. “It’s nothing important, I swear,” you said, your voice breathy as you wrapped your arms around his neck in a weak attempt to distract him.

“Sureee,” he says, rolling his eyes in the way he always does when he’s onto you.  

“It was nothing important, I swear,” you insist, planting a quick kiss on his nose to distract him.  

“If you say so,” he replies, his smile softening as he mirrors your action, pressing a kiss to the tip of your nose. “You look gorgeous, by the way,”.  

Your heart melts a little at his words, the warmth of his arms around you making everything feel a little more right. “You’re just saying that to get me to tell you why I was staring,” you tease, but the butterflies in your stomach give you away.

All you were wearing was a simple pair of jean shorts and a lilac tank top, nothing fancy, but just enough to catch your boyfriend's eye and make his gaze linger a little longer than usual.

“Or…I’m saying it because you’re making me feel a type of way, wearing something that fits you like skin and is a little,” he begins to say, pulling you closer into him mid-sentence and making your breath hitch, “A little…too sexy to wear before your family comes over,” he finishes, eyeing you like a hungry tiger before launching his mouth towards yours and pulling you in for a kiss. His hand slides up your waist and around to your back as he pushes you deeper into him. Your fingers instinctively found their way into his messy golden locks, pulling gently as his lips moved with yours, every touch igniting a fire under your skin. 

“Mm, Joe,” you breathed out, trying to pull back, but he wasn’t ready to let you go. His lips chased yours, his hand sliding lower to grip your ass firmly, producing a quiet gasp from you.

You smiled against his lips, knowing exactly where his mind was heading. His kisses turned more urgent, his hands more wild, and before you could think twice, he had you backed against the counter. His hands cupped your ass as he lifted you effortlessly onto the surface, stepping between your legs with a hungry determination.

You hooked your legs around his waist, pulling him closer as his hands roamed your thighs, thumbs grazing the edge of your shorts. His lips didn’t leave yours for a second, his tongue slipping past your lips in a way that left you dizzy, his teeth gently tugging at your bottom lip before soothing it with a kiss. One of his hands slid to the button of your shorts, fumbling with it as he pressed his body against yours. “Joe,” you whispered breathlessly, cradling his face in your hands to steady yourself. “They’re going to be here soon,”.

His lips trailed to your jaw, then down to your neck, leaving a trail of heat as he hummed against your skin. “We’ll be quick,” he muttered, his voice low and husky as his hand grazed your bare thigh.

You bit your lip, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of your mouth. “Quick?” you teased. “The fastest we’ve ever been is thirty minutes, maybe,”.

Joe’s lips curled into a sly grin, his blue eyes darkening with a mixture of desire and challenge as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against your ear. “Then maybe we should break that record,” he murmured, his voice dripping with intent. “I’m pretty good at putting up new stats and breaking records…,”.

Before you could respond, his lips were on yours again, fiercer this time, igniting every nerve in your body. His hands gripped your thighs, spreading them wider as he pressed himself firmly against you, his heat burning through the thin fabric of your clothes. The counter beneath you felt cool in contrast, grounding you as he took over every sense you had. “Joe,” you gasped again against his lips, but he silenced you with a teasing nip to your bottom lip. His hands slid under your tank top, his calloused fingers grazing your bare skin, sending shivers down your spine.

“You can’t tease me like that,” he growled softly, his lips trailing down your jawline to your neck, where he nipped and kissed, leaving a path of fire in his wake. “You know I don’t have that kind of patience when it comes to you,”.

You couldn’t help but moan as his lips found the sensitive spot just below your ear, his hands sliding further up your body, leaving no inch untouched. “Joey, they’re going to be here any minute,” you managed to whisper. 

“Let them wait,” he muttered against your skin, his lips returning to yours in a kiss that made your toes curl. One of his hands slipped back to the waistband of your shorts, unbuttoning them with ease, while his other hand held your hip to keep you steady.

“Joe,” you whimpered, your hands threading through his hair as he tugged your shorts slightly down your thighs, his lips moving to your collarbone.

“I’ll make it fast…we don’t have to go all the way,” he promised, his voice a deep rumble that sent heat pooling low in your belly. His kisses became more desperate, his grip on you firm yet worshipful, as if he couldn’t get enough of you.

You pulled his face back to yours, catching his lips in another heated kiss, your body already giving in to the magnetic pull he had over you. “We’ll definitely need to continue this later,” you whispered breathlessly against his mouth, your legs tightening around his waist to keep him close.

“You can count on that,” he winked, his voice dripping with promise. His hands slid to your hips, firmly yet tenderly guiding you back against the cool surface of the counter. You leaned back, your heart pounding in anticipation, a grin tugging at your lips as his gaze burned into you, dark and blazing.

A few hours later 

A little later, your cousins—Sydney, James, Bella, and Michael—had finally settled into the house, their laughter and chatter filling the air as if no time had passed since your last reunion. The patio was alive with the sound of glasses clinking, plates being passed around, and waves crashing faintly in the background. The warm glow of string lights above created a cozy, magical ambiance, and the smell of saltwater mixed with the aroma of grilled food floating through the air.  

Non-stop laughter erupted as stories were exchanged, each one more ridiculous than the last. James was crouched over, wiping tears from his eyes after Bella’s exaggerated retelling of her disastrous first date. You took another sip of your drink, a chilled cocktail that Joe had made just for you exactly to your liking, and as your gaze wandered, it landed on him—your boyfriend.  

Joe sat beside you on the loveseat, his presence warm and steady, his hand comfortably entwined with yours as if it had always belonged there. His thumb traced slow, lazy circles against your skin, grounding you in a way that made your heart swell. He was mid-story—the one he loved to tell over and over, about the first time he saw you—and though you’d heard it a million times, you could barely focus on his words because of how captivating he looked in that moment.  

The soft golden strands of his hair, still a little messy from the ocean breeze, seemed to glow under the twinkling patio lights. His smile was so radiant and bright it felt like the world had stopped spinning just to make room for it, and the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed sent your heart into overdrive. “And I swear, she nearly fell over when I put my arm around her,” Joe said, his deep, rich laugh echoing through the patio. Everyone joined in, and you groaned, your cheeking turning pink in the light as you playfully swatted at his arm.  

“You don’t have to tell that part every time,” you said, shaking your head but smiling anyway. The memory flooded back to you like a breath of fresh air, the same fluttery feeling filling your chest as it had that day.  

“Oh, come on, it’s the best part,” Joe teased, leaning in closer, his breath brushing against your cheek. He gave your hand a gentle squeeze, his thumb brushing across your knuckles as he grinned down at you, his eyes holding that unmistakable adoration that made you feel like the only person in the world.  

Sydney rolled her eyes but couldn’t help laughing. “I’ve heard this story a dozen times, and it still makes me want to gag. You two are disgustingly cute,” she teased, though the smile on her face betrayed her.  

“Disgustingly perfect is more like it,” Bella chimed in, raising her glass with a dramatic touch. “Seriously, you’re what everyone hopes for but never actually gets. It’s not even fair,”.  

Joe chuckled, his deep laugh vibrating through you as he lifted your hand to his lips and pressed the softest kiss to your knuckles. The simple gesture sent a shiver down your spine, and you swore your heart might actually burst into a cloud of pink dust. “Hey, I can’t help it if I got lucky,” he said softly, his eyes locking on yours in a way that made everything else fade into the background.  

You leaned your head against his shoulder, your smile trembling as your chest swelled with affection. “I think I’m the lucky one,” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper, but Joe caught it. He always caught everything when it came to you.  

His arm slid around your shoulders, pulling you just a little closer, his lips brushing against your temple in a kiss so tender it made your eyes sting with happy tears. “Nah,” he murmured, his voice soft and steady. “I wake up every day wondering how I ended up with someone like you. I still don’t believe it’s real sometimes,”.  

The group collectively groaned, though they were all smiling, even Michael, who shook his head in mock irritation. “You two are killing me. Can you at least tone it down while the rest of us sit here single and bitter?”.

Joe laughed, holding you even tighter to double down on his point. “Sorry, guys,” he said, but he didn’t look sorry at all. He looked at you like you hung the stars in the sky, and in that moment, with your cousins laughing and the ocean breeze swirling around you, you knew you’d never felt more at home.

“I still can’t believe how we ended up together,” you murmured, letting out a soft sigh as you rested your head on Joe’s shoulder. The warmth of his body wrapped around you like a familiar blanket, and your mind drifted back to the day your life had changed forever. It was a memory so vivid and precious that it felt like a favorite song you never got tired of replaying.

Flashback to LSU

You were buried in the library, surrounded by stacks of books as you frantically worked to finish your research paper on Metaphysics for your Philosophy class. Time had completely slipped away from you, your focus so consumed by the material in front of you that you’d completely forgotten about your promise to help your best friend get ready for her date. The only thing keeping you grounded was the big, warm cup of coffee at your side, your lifeline in the chaos. Your eyes darted to the clock hanging above the nearest bookshelf, and your stomach dropped. 2:30. Panic set in as you realized you were supposed to be at your best friend’s apartment ten minutes ago to help her get ready for her big date. The same best friend who, not too subtly, had begged you not to be late this time.

“Fuck,” you whispered, your anxiety hitting you like a moving truck as you scrambled to shut your laptop. Your hands trembled slightly as you shoved your books into your bag, not caring how poorly they were stacked. With one hand clutching your coffee, you darted toward the stairs, your mind racing with everything you still needed to do plus helping your friend for her date.

But, of course, the universe decided to humble you.

At the worst possible time. 

You didn’t see the book cart until your coffee was already mid-air, splattering its contents across a fresh new stack of college textbooks.

“Shit!” you hissed, dropping your bag as you instinctively tried to inspect the damage. Coffee had oozed through the crisp pages, staining them with sticky, brown splashes. Before you could even take another breath, the librarian appeared, her sharp gaze cutting through you like a dagger. “What on earth happened here?” she demanded, the stern look on her face making you want to throw up.

“I…I’m so sorry,” you stuttered, dropping to your knees to salvage the books. But it was no use. The damage was done.

She crossed her arms, her expression hardened with disapproval as her sharp eyes bore into you. “Do you have any idea how expensive these textbooks are?” she snapped, her tone dripping with irritation. “This isn’t some kind of playground. These books aren’t just resources—they’re the foundation of education, invaluable tools for learning. And yet, here they are, drenched in coffee. Do you understand the monetary value of what you’ve just ruined?” Her voice rose slightly with each word, the weight of her frustration pressing down on you like a concrete force. 

“I didn’t mean to!” you said quickly, your face heating up and your breaths getting shorter. “I was in a rush! I wasn’t paying attention, and—,”.

“That’s what they all say,” she said while motioning toward the mess, her tone signaling that she didn’t believe you. “Four completely ruined books. That’ll be at least $500. And that’s if you get lucky…some of these were most definitely brand new,”.

Your stomach dropped. “Five Hundred Dollars? I don’t have that kind of money!” you stared, part of you not believing what she just said. 

The librarian’s gaze flicked to the No Food Or Drinks Allowed sign hanging nearby, and her lips thinned. “Maybe you should’ve thought of that before bringing coffee into the library,” she said while adjusting her overly large-glasses.

You swallowed hard, already dreading the inevitable hit to your bank account. Your paycheck from the school store wouldn’t even hit until next week, and it was barely enough to cover your apartment’s rent, let alone $500 worth of textbooks.

“Come with me, young lady,” the librarian said firmly, turning on her heel. “We’ll settle this at the front desk,”.

You stared after her in disbelief, a wave of frustration and dread washing over you. “Oh my god, is this karma for something? Did I accidentally step on a ladybug? Did I hit a bird with my car?” you thought bitterly, your inner thoughts spiraling as humiliation burned hot in your chest.

Letting out a shaky breath, you surrendered to your fate and bent down to pick up your bag, your hands trembling even more as you struggled to compose yourself. The sharp sting of embarrassment felt overwhelming, and you prayed silently that no one else was watching your disaster unfold.

But just as you straightened up, something unexpected happened.

You felt it before you saw it—a warm, strong, and steady arm sliding around your waist, pulling you close with easy confidence. The unexpected touch sent a jolt of electricity through your body, your breath catching in your throat as your heart skipped a beat. Your mind blanked for a moment, your body freezing as a surge of heat spread across your cheeks.

“That won’t be necessary, Ms. Cindy,” a low, silky voice murmured from beside you. The sound of it sent a shiver down your spine, the kind of voice that could soothe a brewing storm, or command it.

Who’s voice…?

“This is my girlfriend,” the voice continued smoothly, the words sending a shiver down your spine. “She was rushing to meet me for our date at the FroYo place down the street. Punctuality’s not really her thing…lovebug must’ve lost track of time again because she’s just so focused on school and got a little clumsy,” he laughed, that throaty, rich laugh ever so familiar. “Ain’t that right, lovebug?”. 

You froze, your brain struggling to catch up with the moment. That strong, steady arm wrapped around your waist. That teasing charm lacing his voice. And then, faintly, the scent hit you—a mix of fresh-cut grass and something deeper, richer, like…Soleil Blanc? Tom Ford?  

Your heart thudded wildly in your chest as his arm tightened ever so slightly, grounding you, and against your better judgment, you dared to glance up and one look into those striking blue eyes nearly pushed you down to the ground.   

Joe. Freaking. Burrow.  

Your stomach flipped at the sight of him. His golden hair was slightly tousled, as if he’d just walked off a photo shoot instead of waltzing into your train wreck of a life. His piercing irises sparkled with mischief, framed by those unfairly long lashes that made your knees weak.  

And that smirk. Oh god, that smirk. The one you’d seen a hundred times on highlight reels and posters around campus, but never imagined would be this close. It tugged at the corner of his lips, radiating a kind of confidence that somehow managed to be both devastating and endearing.  

For a moment, you couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. All you could do was stare, your mind a complete whirlwind of panic, disbelief, and something dangerously close to…attraction. 

Your silence stretched thin, hanging in the air like a tight wire about to snap. The librarian’s eyes were locked on you, her disapproval clear, and Joe—still standing beside you—looked equally curious, but much more patient. Yet, you couldn’t focus on either of them.  

You were utterly and hopelessly distracted by the way Joe’s sharp baby blues—the eyes every girl on campus couldn’t stop whispering about—were fixed on you, as if you were the only thing in the room worth looking at. The way they crinkled at the edges when he smiled, how they seemed to study you, almost like he was trying to figure you out. It was disarming. Dangerous.  

And Joe? He wasn’t immune, either. He couldn’t explain why his gaze refused to leave yours, but something about you had him utterly fascinated. It wasn’t just your beauty—though that was undeniable—but the soft nervousness you bled, the way your lips parted slightly, caught between uncertainty and stubborn determination.  

His fingers flexed gently at your hip, grounding you both, coaxing you out of your daze. The warmth of his touch burned through the fabric of your top, sending a jolt down your spine. “R- right,” you stammered, finally breaking the silence, your voice barely above a whisper.  

Joe’s lips quirked up in an almost invisible smile at your flustered tone, a quiet triumph in his expression. He was enjoying the hell out of this. The librarian mumbled something that you could barely understand because for some reason, standing here under Joe Burrow’s protective arm, you felt like you wanted to disappear into him completely, to hide from the world and just stay where his gaze was soft and his touch felt steady.

“Oh, I see,” Ms. Cindy said, her tone softening immediately. “So this was your fault?”.

“Pretty much,” Joe said with an easy shrug as he looked back at her, his lips now curving into a smile that could probably charm his way out of anything his golden heart desired. “So if someone needs to pay for the books, that’d be me,”.

Why was he helping you? You barely knew each other…you’ve literally never had a conversation with the man before.

“Oh, Joe, that won’t be necessary,” the librarian smiled, her cold demeanor melting into something much gentler. “I didn’t know you had a girlfriend!” she grinned, her random surge of friendliness catching you off guard and making you confused. What happened to the grouchy old librarian that was about to burn you at the stake for ruining a few textbooks?

Your heart raced as his hand slid up slightly, resting firmly against the small of your back. “Yeah, well, she’s pretty special,” he said, glancing down at you with that smirk that made your knees feel weak. “She’s my most prized possession and my lucky charm…don’t want anyone to jinx her or anything so we’re keeping it lowkey for now,” he nodded, leaning into you even more with that sentence. 

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to nod. “Yup,” you said, your voice coming out shakier than you intended. “That’s me. The…special, lowkey, lucky ch– charm girlfriend,”.

Joe chuckled softly, the sound was so soft and boyish it made your heart swell, his eyes lingering on yours with a look so determined to figure you out it felt like he could see straight through you. “We’re actually running late for our date,” he said, turning to Ms. Cindy as if the words that left his mouth were the most natural things in the world. His arm around your waist shifted slightly, pulling you closer, and the warmth of his touch sent a tingling sensation up your spine. “So we’ll come back later about the books. Right, babe? I got them for you, don’t worry about it,”.

Your heart stuttered at the affection in his vocie, and for a moment, you swore the whole library was spinning. “Uh…yeah!” you blurted, the words tumbling out awkwardly as you leaned further into the role he’d crafted for you, your voice a little too enthusiastic. “That FroYo is definitely calling my name. Sorry about the books, Ms. Cindy,”.

Ms. Cindy waved you off with a kind smile, seemingly charmed by Joe’s presence. “No worries, dear, you two go ahead and enjoy yourselves. You’re only young and in love once,” she said, her tone softer than it had been just moments before.

“In love? Oh my god, if anyone hear’s about this I’m so fucked,” you thought to yourself, feeling like there was about a million eyes on you right now in that library…but in reality, the only eyes on you were those of a man who felt his heart stop the moment you looked at him. 

You barely registered the rest of her parting words. Your entire focus was on Joe—the way his arm remained firmly around your waist, his thumb absentmindedly tracing small circles against your side in a gesture that almost felt like was to calm your nerves…as if he just knew how you were feeling, and the way his body radiated a constant warmth that made you feel both flustered and oddly safe.

Your thoughts were a chaotic mess. He was too much. Too magnetic, too confident, too…him. The kind of guy you’d want to find in a crowd just so you could hide from him. Because how were you supposed to survive the mere force of his presence without completely melting into a puddle?

—

Joe didn’t let go of you until you were outside, and even then, his hand lingered on your waist, his touch tight and steady. The two of you walked in silence for a moment, your mind racing as you tried to process what had just happened.

Finally, you turned to him, your voice barely above a whisper because you just…didn’t know what to do or say, you were just confused. “Why did you do that?”.

Joe stopped walking, turning to face you fully. His eyes softened as he looked at you, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “You looked like you needed a lifeline,” he said simply.

Your cheeks flushed, and you looked away, suddenly hyper-aware of how close he was to you. “But you don’t even know me,” you said softly.

“Not yet,” he said, his voice dropping just slightly. He reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “But I figured this was a good place to start,”.

Your breath caught as his fingers brushed against your skin, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake. He stepped closer, his gaze locking onto yours. “Besides,” he added, his lips curving into that devastatingly charming smile, “I couldn’t just let you drown back there,”. 

You blinked up at him, completely at a loss for words. Was this real life?

“Thank you, Joe,” you smiled, a warm, fluttering feeling blossoming in your chest. It felt so... high school, like that excited rush when a cute guy notices you for the first time and you can’t help but feel all giggly and nervous at once. You hadn’t felt like this in forever, like butterflies were swarming in your stomach, making everything feel just a little bit lighter. The way he looked at you, his smile, the way he touched you—it was all so perfect.  

It was the kind of innocent excitement you’d only read about in teen romance novels or seen in cheesy rom-coms. And now, here you were, living it, as if you had stepped into your own version of one of those movies. You tried to keep your composure, but you couldn’t help the grin that spread across your face as you met his eyes again. There was something about him—about this—that made you feel like a teenager again, all caught up in the thrill of an unexpected moment.

“Anytime,” he replied easily, slipping his hands into the pockets of his purple LSU football shorts. He tilted his head slightly, a playful glint in his eye. “I didn’t catch your name?”.

“Y/N,” you said softly, watching his reaction.

“Y/N,” he repeated, letting the name roll off his tongue with a small smile. “You looked like you needed some saving. And I’m one of Ms. Cindy’s favorites, so I figured I could help,”.

You raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, what was that about? She was ready to charge me $500, and then you waltz in, and she just forgets it all,”.

Joe laughed, the sound becoming something you craved because every time it filled the air, your smile grew just a little wider. And when it ended, all you wanted was to hear it again. “Me and Ms. Cindy go waaay back,” he said. “She really helped me out when I transferred here from Ohio State and had no idea what I was doing on campus. She’s like my campus mom. I’m pretty much her favorite student ever—helped her out around the library, stayed late during finals week when the textbooks were flying off the shelves, and she was completely overwhelmed. She needed a–,”.  

“A lifeline?” you interrupted, the words slipping out before you could stop yourself, a blush blossoming on your cheeks as your eyes met his.  

Joe paused, his lips parted as if he were about to say something, but nothing came out. He just looked at you, those beautiful blue eyes that were practically glowing in the Lousiana sun locked on yours, his expression caught between surprise and something softer—something that made your heart skip a beat.  

“You seem like a helper, Joe,” you said with a soft giggle, trying to fill the sudden silence, your voice carrying a playful edge. “I like it. Your charm is pretty hard to beat,”.  

“Thanks,” he replied, his grin widening, that dimple of his making an appearance. He shifted on his feet, and for a split second, you could have sworn he looked…nervous?

You blinked in surprise. “Wait. Was he…nervous?” you thought. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet, a habit you recognized as something you did when you were trying to hide your nerves. The thought made your heart flutter.

Before you could respond, Joe reached for your hand, his fingers entwining with yours. “Come on,” he said, tugging you gently toward the street. “I owe you a FroYo now. It’s part of the whole fake-boyfriend package,”.

Your stomach fluttered at his words, the hot sensation spreading like wildfire through your body. There was absolutely no way the quarterback of the LSU Tigers, QB1 himself, was asking you to get FroYo with him. You? Some random girl he helped at the library, who he’d literally never seen before? The thought made your head spin in the best way because you couldn’t quite figure him out…but part of you was up for the challenge.

“Oh, um…are you sure?” you stammered, still trying to make sense of the situation. “I mean, you probably have somewhere to be, and–,”.

“Actually, I just got done with film study,” Joe interrupted, pausing to turn and look at you again. “And I know you're free too because you're definitely late to wherever you were rushing off to,”.

His words hit you like a gentle wave, washing over you with an unexpected warmth you hadn’t felt in ages. Was he…remembering? Did he actually notice how flustered you’d been earlier—how your actions were rushed and chaotic, your face a mixture of determination and panic? He hadn’t just walked in on the aftermath of your coffee-spilling disaster; he’d seen everything leading up to it. He saw how you were scrambling to stuff your books into your bag, how you quickly glanced at the time before attempting to bolt down the stairs, completely oblivious to the book cart.  

He saw you typing furiously, pausing here and there to sip your coffee while muttering something under your breath—probably a half-formed argument about metaphysics or a prayer to make the paper magically write itself. You stayed silent for a heartbeat, caught up in the realization. His gaze was still on you, unwavering and intense, studying you with a focus that felt both thrilling and scary. It wasn’t just polite attention—it was as if he were memorizing every detail, like the way your hair framed your face, the flush creeping up your neck, and the way your fingers fidgeted with the strap of your bag.  

You felt like the center of his universe in that moment, and it was almost too much to bear. A million thoughts ran through your head, but the loudest one was a quiet plea: Please don’t stop looking at me like that.

Joe added with a soft laugh, “And I would love to know how we got to where we are right now,”. 

Your mind raced as you processed his words, your thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty and curiosity. The part of you that had been skeptical—telling you this was just some fluke moment—was slowly being drowned out by the urge to throw caution to the wind. “Why not?” you asked yourself. “It’s just FroYo. That’s it,”. 

You took a deep breath, and after a moment's hesitation, you finally gave in. “Okay, let’s get FroYo, boyfriend,” you said with a smile, the words slipping out more easily than you expected.

Joe’s eyes sparkled, clearly pleased with your answer. “That’s the spirit, lovebug,” he said, his fingers giving yours a gentle squeeze as he started to lead you down the street.

An hour later 

“So, you really think aliens are real,” you asked, giggling as you took another bite of your frozen yogurt, a big spoonful of strawberry heading for your mouth. 

“1000%,” Joe replied, his eyes lighting up like a kid talking about his favorite superhero. He gestured with his spoon for emphasis, his passion infectious. “There is no way we’re the only intelligent life in the universe. I refuse to believe it. Aliens are just too advanced to accidentally expose themselves. We probably won’t see them for a while, but they’re out there—plotting or chilling or something,”.  

You smiled, leaning in as if his theories were some secret you weren’t supposed to overhear. You couldn’t help but drink in every word he said, everything he thought, his voice weaving a web of curiosity that had you completely hooked. His confidence, his animated gestures—it was all intoxicating. You’d been high off his energy all evening, but his jokes, sharp and perfectly timed, left you completely lightheaded.  

Every time he made a goofy comment or cracked a grin, it felt like another spark ignited between you two, and you were soaking it up like a sponge. You didn’t even care how ridiculous the alien talk might sound to someone else. For you, it was gold—pure, unfiltered Joe. And honestly, you wanted more of it.  

“Fair point,” you said, laughing again at his adorable rambling. That, combined with the way he looked at you—like you were the most interesting person in the world—had you feeling like you were living in a scene straight out of a teenage rom-com. “Maybe you’re an alien,” you teased, raising an eyebrow at him. “I mean, I can’t think of any other guy on campus who would randomly help a stranger in the library like you did,”.

Joe grinned at you, that devastatingly charming smile making your heart skip a beat. “Maybe I am,” he said with a playful shrug. “I guess we’ll never know,”. You laughed again for maybe the 50th time in the past hour, shaking your head at his playful banter with you. Why was he making you so giggly? You had never laughed like this around a guy since high school. “What was all that about anyway?” he asked, leaning forward slightly, as if your answer genuinely mattered to him.

“I was writing an essay about metaphysics,” you explained, twirling your spoon absentmindedly, trying to sound casual despite the buzz of excitement from just sitting across from him. “I got so caught up in it that I completely forgot I was supposed to help my friend get ready for her date with this random guy she met at Fred’s,”.  

Joe paused mid-bite, his lips curving into a teasing grin as he raised an eyebrow. “Fred’s? Tigerland Fred’s? The sticky-floor, karaoke-at-2AM Fred’s?”.

“Yup, that one. Where dreams come true—or so she claims,” you said with a laugh, recalling your friend’s drunken rambling about her so-called future boyfriend.  

“Dreams or regrets?” Joe shot back, leaning back in his chair with an amused smirk.  

“Depends on the night,” you quipped, a playful smile dancing on your lips. “But hey, my friend swears this guy’s the real deal. Apparently, they bonded over an argument about the best Super Bowl halftime show. Beyonce and Katy Perry were the options,”.  

Joe’s laugh was as rich as gold, the kind of laugh that made your heart race a little faster. “Classic Fred’s. Nothing says ‘soulmates’ like debating pop queens over a background of spilled beer, drunk as fuck college kids, and bad karaoke,”.

“Right?” you said, giggling. “It’s practically a modern fairytale. Although, personally, I wouldn’t trust any guy from Fred’s unless I saw them leave the bathroom and actually wash their hands,”.  

Joe placed a hand on his chest, pretending to be shocked. “Wow, way to lump us all together. Not all Fred’s patrons are degenerates, thank you very much. I always wash my hands. But I’ll admit—Fred’s bathrooms? Definitely a life experience,”.  

“Oh, so you’re saying you’re one of the ‘good ones,’ huh?” you teased, tilting your head as you studied him with mock skepticism.  

He smirked, leaning forward just slightly, enough to make your pulse quicken. “I’m saying you can trust me,” he replied, his voice dipping into something softer, flirtier. “Fred’s alum and all,”.  

You narrowed your eyes playfully. “Hmm, that’s a big claim, Joe. Trust is earned, not handed out like FroYo spoons,”.  

“Fair enough,” he said, his grin widening. He leaned back again, that easy confidence of his radiating off him—that same confidence you’d see during football games. “Tell you what: I’ll prove it to you,”.

“Oh, yeah?” you challenged, raising an eyebrow. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”.

He tapped his chin, pretending to think. “Well, for starters, I’ll make sure you get home safe. And I’ll keep your FroYo topped off if you run out. Bonus points if I don’t spill any on myself,”.  

You bit your lip to keep from smiling too wide. “Bold strategy. But you’re still on thin ice, Quarterback. What else you got?”.

Joe leaned in again, his body language and tone of voice so clearly meant to tease you. He knew exactly what he was doing. “How about this, I won’t just make tonight fun—I’ll make our next date even better,”.

Oh my god.

You felt like screaming—in a good way. He was serious about this being a date. A real date. It was almost impossible to believe, especially given your less-than-stellar luck in the college dating pool. Most guys you met only seemed interested in hooking up or aiming for a casual friends-with-benefits situation. But Joe? He wasn’t giving off those vibes at all, which, frankly, was surprising considering he was a football player. Joe felt different. The way he was treating you, so effortlessly charming yet undeniably genuine, had you feeling giddy, silly, and shy all at once—like you were 16 again, living out a teenage fantasy of dating the star quarterback. But the truth was, Joe being a football player was the least interesting thing about him.  

It was the little things—the way his nerdy side blazed through when he got excited about something, his genuine charm that felt so real, and his easy, down-to-earth demeanor. He wasn’t trying to impress you with his status or his accomplishments. He was just Joe, and that set him apart from everyone else. Your cheeks burned from the feeling that was encompassing you, and you couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across your face which he noticed. “Next date? You’re already planning ahead, huh? I don’t even remember saying that this,” you said, gesturing to the distance between you two, “This was a date,” you finished.

Joe’s lips curved into a slow, confident smile, and he leaned in slightly, resting his forearms on the table. “Oh, come on,” he drawled. “You’re eating FroYo with me, laughing at my terrible jokes, and letting me ramble on about aliens. If this isn’t a date, then I don’t know what is,”.

You bit back a grin, crossing your arms in mock defiance. “Maybe I’m just humoring you,” you said, raising your chin. “Ever think about that, Mr. Quarterback?”.

“Humoring me? Nah,” he said confidently. “You’re way too into this for it to be just that. Admit it, you’re having fun, lovebug,”.

You rolled your eyes, but the blush creeping up your cheeks because of that damn nickname probably betrayed you. “Okay, maybe I’m having a little fun,” you conceded, holding your fingers an inch apart for emphasis.

“See? I knew it,” he said triumphantly. “And for the record, I’ve already decided. This is definitely a date. A pretty damn good one, if I say so myself,”.

“Oh, you’ve decided, huh?” you replied, narrowing your eyes at him.

“Yup,” he said, popping the ‘p’ as he leaned forward again, his gaze locking with yours. “But if you need a little more convincing, how about we go ahead and plan that next date? Something tells me you won’t be able to resist saying yes,”.

“Your confidence never wavers, does it?”.

“Duh,” he said, his blue eyes sparkling as they locked onto yours. “I don’t play for just one quarter, Y/N. I’m in it for the full game,”.  

You rolled your eyes, but your heart was racing at a mile a second. “Alright, Mr. Quarterback. Let’s see if you can back all this talk up,”.  

“Oh, I will,” he said with a wink, his confidence so intoxicating it made you feel like you were just like one of those drunk as fuck college kids at Fred’s. “You just keep eating your FroYo and let me handle the rest,”. 

“Deal,” you replied, keeping your tone casual even as your stomach flipped like it was auditioning for the Olympics. Your mind was racing, spiraling over every glance, every word exchanged. You were hyper-aware of the way Joe had been looking at you, his gaze steady and warm, as though he was studying every detail of your face during this not-a-date-but-definitely-a-date FroYo outing.

Meanwhile, Joe was quietly letting out a breath of relief, grateful that you seemed just as interested as he was. He had been silently praying you’d be open to more of this—more of him. He knew it was early, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something special about you. From the moment he’d seen you in the library, flustered but determined, he was drawn in. “You’re interested,” he thought to himself, letting the reassurance wash over him. And why wouldn’t he be hoping? You weren’t like anyone else he’d met.

To Joe, this date—or whatever it was—was unlike any he’d ever been on. It wasn’t forced, and it didn’t feel like a chore to impress you. You were genuine, effortlessly funny, and you weren’t trying to win the title of ‘QB1’s girlfriend’. He’d been on plenty of dates with girls who only cared about the status, who weren’t interested in him beyond the jersey. But with you, it felt different. You made him feel like just Joe, the guy who geeked out about aliens and enjoyed frozen yogurt dates.

And that was all he wanted—a connection that felt real.

So, when you smiled softly at him after your ‘deal’ and took another bite of your FroYo, he couldn’t help but grin to himself. This was already more than he had hoped for, and he couldn’t wait to see what came next.

“Anyways, back to my friend…she was totally fine,” you said with a shrug, the memory making you smirk. “I told her why I was skipping out on helping her, and let’s just say she was more than happy to get ready on her own, considering the reason I bailed,”.

“Glad I wasn’t a point of conflict in her love story,” he said sarcastically. 

“Oh, no. She’s on team Joe already,” you teased, taking a deliberate bite of your FroYo as you watched him with a smirk.

“Well, that’s a relief,” he said with a half-laugh, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the edge of his cup. Then, with a curious tilt of his head, he asked, “So, your essay…Metaphysics, right? That’s…?”.

“Aristotle,” you answered smoothly, catching the flicker of recognition on his face.

“Right,” he said, nodding like a student trying to piece together notes from a lecture he half-remembered. “Philosophy class,”.

“Mhm. I’m a sucker for anything psychology, sociology, or philosophy related,” you admitted, your tone light but laced with genuine enthusiasm.

“Nerdy...Good to know,” he teased, a playful smirk lighting up his gorgeous face. You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t stop the smile creeping onto your lips. “Says the guy who’s spent half this date convincing me aliens are real,”.

“...Touché,” Joe replied, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “But nerdy or not, I think our second date should be at the art and science museum. They’ve got a pretty sick space exhibit right now—and I hear their psychology section is impressive, too. I’m sure you’d love it,”.  

You couldn't help but feel your heart flutter at the thought of spending more time with Joe. The idea of a second date felt…so right, in fact, that you couldn't help but blurt out, “Okay, how about Saturday night?”.  

Joe leaned back in his seat, his hands resting casually on the table as his eyes flickered with a playful challenge. “Saturday, huh?” he raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You want it that bad?”.

“Woah, play it cool, Y/N. This is still Joe Burrow—Joe freaking Burrow. The star quarterback, the guy every girl on campus talks about with that smirk and look in their eyes. Don’t get your hopes up; just be normal,” you told yourself, trying to rein in the butterflies taking flight in your chest. “This might not even go anywhere,” you realized, forcing your overexcited heart to settle. Your mind scrambled for a response, desperate to dilute the intensity of your emotions before they spilled over. You then shrugged nonchalantly, trying to keep your cool even though your stomach was dancing with overexcitement. “Well, you did say you wanted to do this again,” you replied, “I thought I’d get the ball rolling,”.

“I did, didn’t I?” his eyes held yours for a beat longer than usual, and you could feel the shift, the chemistry swirling between the two of you like electricity in the air.

Then, with a sigh, Joe ran a hand through his hair, clearly thinking it through. “Saturday’s not gonna work for me, though,” he said, a slight frown appearing on his face. “Quarterback duties and all—big game that night.” He paused, his eyes searching yours, before adding, “But hey, I’ve got a plan,”.   

Your brow furrowed with a hint of disappointment, but you didn’t show it. You waited for him to continue, your curiosity piqued. He looked at you, that signature smirk returning, “You could come to the game. I can snag you a ticket and I’ll get one for your friend too if you guys wanna sit front row on our side of the stands?”.

You were speechless for a moment, your heart pounding so loudly you swore he could hear it. He was serious. Joe Burrow, the quarterback of the LSU Tigers, wanted you to come to his game—wanted you to be there, front and center, watching him in action. It was something straight out of a fantasy, the kind of moment you’d only ever seen in movies or read about in romance novels.

Your mind raced as you processed it. He’s inviting me to his game. Me. Not one of the picture-perfect girls you thought flocked to him at parties or tried to cozy up for clout, but you. And Joe wasn’t just the quarterback—he was the quarterback. Hot and sexy in a way that almost felt unfair, with that chiseled jawline, broad shoulders, and that effortlessly tousled dirty blonde hair. And yet, he was so much more than just his looks. He was kind, attentive, and so…Joe. 

Despite his talent and fame, he didn’t carry himself with the vanity you’d seen in so many other athletes. He was normal, in the most unique way—someone who could make you laugh over FroYo one second and leave you breathless with a smirk the next. You’d never thought a guy like Joe could exist outside of daydreams, let alone show interest in you.

You could feel your cheeks blush as your gaze shifted back to him. The thought of sitting in Tiger Stadium, watching him play, hearing the crowd roar as he led his team to victory—it suddenly meant so much more. You weren’t going to the game for LSU or the love of football. You were going for Joe, and that realization sent a thrill down your spine.

A tiny, excited laugh escaped you before you could stop it. He was making everything feel so airy, so surreal that it was like you were in a daze. Your pulse quickened, but you kept your voice steady, trying to sound casual as your mind wandered to the game.

You weren’t someone who went to football games often. Sure, you’d catch a game here or there on TV, mostly for the atmosphere and social chatter, but actually going to Tiger Stadium, sitting in the crowd, surrounded by thousands of roaring fans? That wasn’t really your scene. It always felt overwhelming, like you were just a small piece in a sea of chaos. But for Joe? For Joe, it didn’t feel chaotic—it felt meaningful.  

You’d heard the stories about him—how good he was, how he was the star of the team, how he carried the entire state of Louisiana on his shoulders game after game. Even if you weren’t a die-hard fan, you couldn’t help but admire someone so dedicated, so talented. Seeing him on the field, doing what he was so clearly meant to do, was starting to feel like an opportunity you didn’t want to miss.  

But what really struck you was that this wasn’t just about football for him. He wanted you there. Not as just another face in the crowd, but as someone he…cared about. And that meant everything. The idea of sitting in the stands, knowing he’d glance over and see you cheering for him, made your chest tighten with a strange mix of nerves and excitement.  

“I’ve never really gone to the games in person,” you admitted, your voice softer now, a little more vulnerable. “But I think for you, I could make an exception,”.  

Joe’s grin widened, and you saw the flicker of relief in his eyes, like he’d been holding his breath waiting for your answer. “Good,” he said, the warmth in his voice showing his sincerity. “Because I want you there,”.  

He wanted you there. Not just for the game, but for him. And as much as the idea of sitting in a packed stadium might have made you hesitant before, now it felt different. “Sounds perfect. I would love to see you in action up close, Mr. Quarterback. Gotta really make sure you know how to ball and that it’s not all talk,” you teased, a playful grin tugging at your lips.

His grin widened and those adorable crinkles returned around his eyes, “Oh, it’s definitely not just talk,” he shot back with a wink. “But yeah, we’ll do the museum on Sunday. We’ll make it a weekend full of firsts. Your first time watching me play up close, and then our first visit together to the museum,”. 

“Can’t wait,” you said softly, a genuine smile tugging at your lips as you met his gaze. His baby blues seemed to hold a profundity you hadn’t expected, a softness that made your heart skip a beat. There was something unspoken in the way he looked at you—something equal parts thrilling and comforting, and you wanted to know what it was so bad. 

This was real, he was real, and this—whatever it was—felt like it was going somewhere exciting. You didn’t know where it would lead, but you were more than ready to find out.

Saturday Night – Tiger Stadium 

“Holy shit, that was a dime!” you screamed, jumping up and down as adrenaline surged through your body. Your voice was barely audible over the deafening roar of Tiger Stadium, but you didn’t care. You grabbed your friend Kyra by the arm, pulling her into your whirlwind of excitement as Joe threw his third touchdown pass of the game, the ball landing perfectly in the receiver's hands like it had been placed there by magic.

“He’s too damn good,” Kyra laughed, her eyes wide with disbelief as she watched Joe and his offense celebrate in the end zone. The energy in the stadium was electric, every cheer and chant echoing through your chest as the clock winded down to zero. Nothing could ever match the energy and electricity in Death Valley whenever Joe Burrow stepped on the field, and you were finally getting a taste of what that actually felt like. 

You couldn’t take your eyes off Joe. He moved across the field with such confidence, his composure unbreakable even in the chaos. Every play was deliberate, every throw accurate, and every moment he spent commanding the field had you mesmerized.

For you, the moment felt like it belonged to Joe—and, in some inexplicable way, to you, too. Watching him tear it up on the field with such precision and swagger was intoxicating. You’d been screaming and cheering so much that your voice was already scratchy, but you didn’t care. This moment wasn’t about you; it was about him.

“I mean, is he even human?” Kyra teased, nudging you as she caught you staring.

You rolled your eyes, but your heart was racing from the dopamine boost you were getting. “What can I say? The man knows how to put on a show,” you replied, but inside you were giddy, completely smitten by the way he carried himself. It wasn’t just his talent or his looks, though, let’s face it, those weren’t exactly drawbacks. It was the way he made this larger-than-life moment feel personal, like you were watching him play just for you. 

A personal show. Just for you. 

After dapping up Justin, Joe glanced toward the stands, and for a brief moment, you swore his eyes landed on you…which was his goal. He was looking for you. Looking for the one girl he was trying to impress amongst the thousand that were screaming his name. 

Your breath hitched, the connection between you so brief yet so undeniable that it left you feeling lightheaded. Kyra smirked, clearly noticing. “I seriously can’t believe you’re dating Joe freaking Burrow,” she said, poking you with her elbow.

“Woah, slow down. We’ve been on one date, and we’re not even official,” you replied, though the blush creeping up your cheeks betrayed you.

“Mhm, sure. So, have you picked a wedding date yet? You know, I’d like to save the date early,” she teased with a sly grin.

You groaned, swatting at her arm. “Shut up, Kyra,” you said, but you couldn’t help the smile that crept onto your face at the thought of being married to a man like him—someone so…perfect and dreamy. 

“Hey, I’m just saying, you’ve got a front-row seat to the hottest quarterback in college football, and I’d like to thank you for dragging me along to this magical little love story,” she joked with a dramatic wave of her hand. “You two already talk baby names, yet? Seriously, you’d make the cutest kids…just saying,” she wiggled her eyebrows dramatically as she continued with the silly teases that she knew were making you giggly inside. 

You tried to hide your smile, shaking your head at her irritating yet slightly amusing antics, but your laughter caught in your throat when she suddenly froze. “Uhh, he’s walking over here,” she whispered, eyes wide as she looked back and forth.

“What?” you spun around so fast your head nearly whipped off. There he was—Joe, helmet in hand, his grin so wide it could light up the entire stadium. He jogged toward the barricade, his golden brown hair a little messy from the game, and his eyes locked on yours like nothing else in the world mattered.

“Oh my god, he’s coming to you,” Kyra whispered, squeezing your arm before quickly excusing herself. “I’ll, uh, go to the bathroom…Mrs. Quarterback,” she added with a wink before darting away.

Your heart felt like it was about to leap out of your chest as Joe came to a stop right in front of you, his helmet tucked under one arm, his other hand running through his slightly damp hair. His cheeks were flushed, a faint pink that shimmered under the twinkling stadium lights, and his boyish grin made your knees feel like jelly. You couldn’t believe how effortlessly handsome he looked, even after four quarters of football. “Did you have fun?” he asked, slightly out of breath. 

“Are you kidding me?” you said, leaning forward over the barricade, your excitement spilling out before you could stop it. “That was the most fun I’ve ever had at a game. You were…incredible, Joe. I mean, you killed it out there,”. The words rushed out, your voice still buzzing with adrenaline, and your cheeks burned when you realized how starry-eyed you probably sounded.

His grin grew wider, his crinkling eyes softening in a way that made your heart skip a beat. “Thank you,” he said, his tone gentler now, almost intimate, as his gaze swept over you. “And by the way…you look really pretty tonight. That LSU purple and that ‘9’ look amazing on you, lovebug,”.

Your breath hitched for a second, and you felt a shy warmth creep up your neck as his words sank in. Lovebug. That damn nickname sounded so sweet and natural coming from him, like it belonged to you all along. You looked down at the jersey you’d worn just for him, suddenly hyper-aware of how much effort you’d put into looking good tonight. “I’m glad you like it,” you murmured, biting your lip as you met his gaze again. “I think I could get used to this…purple might just be my new favorite color,” you teased, giving him a flirty smile.

“Well, you should wear it more often,” he said, leaning just a little closer over the railing. “You look absolutely gorgeous in purple, so I’m definitely not complaining,”.

Your heart was doing somersaults. Literal Olympic gold medal-winning somersaults because of the way he was looking at you…talking to you. Oh, you were so down bad already. “Thanks, Joey,” you said softly, trying to calm yourself by pulling your eyes from his. 

He noticed your eyes drifting away from him for just a moment, and he wasn’t having it. His hand, warm and calloused from the game, moved up from his hip with purpose. Before you could process what was happening, he cupped your cheek gently but firmly, his thumb brushing against your skin in a way that sent a shiver down your spine. “Hey,” he murmured. He tilted your face back toward his, his eyes locking with yours, baby blue and burning under the glow of the stadium lights. “Keep looking at me,”.  

The way he said it—steady, certain, yet laced with something vulnerable—made your breath hitch. You nodded slightly, completely under his spell as your eyes met his again. There was something about the way he looked at you, like you were the only thing that mattered in this electrifying moment. It was all about him, they were all chanting his name, but here he was with you. You couldn’t help but think how surreal this all felt, like you’d been transported back to high school, standing by the bleachers with your dreamy crush. He made you feel bittersweet 16 all over again, that lovely mix of nerves and excitement bubbling in your chest.

“I like seeing your eyes on me,” he admitted, his thumb brushing just under your cheekbone now, his touch so tender. “It’s distracting, sure, but in the best way. Makes me feel like I did something right tonight,”.  

“Joe,” you whispered, his name leaving your lips like a prayer. “You just threw for three touchdowns. Pretty sure you did everything right tonight,”.  

He playfully rolled his eyes as his hand didn’t move from your face. “Yeah, but those touchdowns were for everyone else,” he said, the weight of his words hanging in the air. “This right here? This is just for me,”.  

You reached up, your fingers brushing against the wrist of the hand that held your face, grounding yourself in him. “You’re making it really hard to think straight,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper, the words tumbling out before you could stop them. You didn’t know why you were saying that, but for some reason it felt so right.   

His grin widened, playful and smug, but his eyes stayed soft, still scanning your face like he couldn’t get enough. “Good,” he said simply. “Because you’re all I’ve been thinking about since the moment I saw you,”.  

You opened your lips to say something back, not sure exactly what you would say to that, but before you could he pulled his hand away from your cheek and spoke up again. He rubbed the back of his neck. “So,” he said, “I’ll be wrapped up here in about 30 minutes. If you’re free…maybe we could grab something to eat after?”. 

The way he asked—so casually and confidently—made your heart melt. He wasn’t just the star quarterback right now; he was just a guy, standing in front of a girl…his girl, hoping she’d say yes.

“I’d love to,” you replied without hesitation, not a hint of uncertainty in your voice. You leaned down impulsively, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. His skin was warm beneath your lips, and when you pulled back, his eyes were wide with surprise, his cheeks blushing even deeper under the lights.

“...You’re making it really hard to focus on football right now, lovebug,” he murmured, his voice teasing you on purpose, but his smile showed how smitten he was.

You laughed, your own cheeks blushing as you playfully brushed a strand of hair behind your ear. “Well, you better focus because I’m holding you to that dinner,” you shot back, trying to match his playful tone but failing miserably as your voice came out all breathy and soft.

Joe’s gaze lingered on you for a moment longer like he physically did not want to look away from, you, and his smile turned into something more tender. “Don’t worry,” he said, his voice dipping just enough to send a shiver down your spine, “I’ll be there. Just don’t disappear on me, okay?”.

As he jogged back to his team, his steps confident yet light, you couldn’t stop watching him. Every muscle moved with a grace that was almost unfair, and your heart swelled knowing that all of this—the smiles, the teasing, the kiss—was just for you. Tonight wasn’t just a game. Tonight, it felt like a dream. And the best part? Joe Burrow, the star quarterback, wasn’t just part of that dream—he was the dream.

—

Half an hour later, you met Joe outside the stadium. The night air was cool, the buzz of the game still lingering in the distance as fans trickled out from the staidum. Joe stood beside a sleek black car, his bag tucked under one arm and that same lovesick smile lighting up his face. He moved toward you with purpose, opening the car door before you could even reach for it.  

“Getting my car door? Isn’t that sweet?” you thought to yourself, feeling a twinge of surprise at how much the small gesture made your heart flutter.  

“Your chariot awaits,” he teased softly, his free hand brushing lightly against the small of your back as he guided you in.  

“Thank you,” you said, glancing up at him with a shy smile as you slid into the leather seat.  

Joe climbed in beside you, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click. He quickly reached forward and pressed a button, and you watched as a tinted partition slowly rose, cutting the two of you off from the driver. You raised an eyebrow, about to ask why, but the words disappeared when he turned toward you.  

His arm was around your waist in an instant, his touch carrying something that you hadn’t felt in a very long time, as he pulled you closer. Your knees bumped against his, and his other hand came up to cradle your cheek, his thumb brushing your skin so softly it sent a shiver down your spine. “I’ve been thinking about this all week,” he murmured, his breath warm against your lips.  

Before you could respond, his lips were on yours. Soft but so deliberate, the kiss was everything at once—sweet, needy, electrifying. You felt like the air had been stolen from your lungs, your pulse pounding so hard you thought he might feel it through your skin.  

“No one’s ever had me like this,” you thought as you froze for a moment, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all. You’d only known him for a few short days, but something about him made you want to forget about everything, forget that this was still new, to let your hair free in the wind and go with your heart and not your mind.

But then you relaxed, leaning into him as his hand slid up your back, pulling you even closer. Your own hand found its way to the back of his head, your fingers threading through his slightly damp hair as you kissed him back.  

His lips moved with a confidence that made your stomach flip, his tongue brushing against yours, igniting sparks that coursed through your entire body. You weren’t sure if it was the adrenaline leftover from the game or just the way he made you feel, but you were dizzy with it.  

When his lips left yours and trailed down your neck, you couldn’t stop the quiet gasp that escaped you. His name slipped from your lips like a whispered prayer, “Joe…,”.  

His breath was uneven as he finally pulled back, his forehead resting against yours as you both caught your breath. His swollen lips now coated with some of your cherry red lipgloss as you couldn’t help but stare at him, enchanted by the boyish charm that seemed to be the complete opposite of the intensity he carried.  

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he huffed, like he was still catching his breath. Like you took his breath away. 

Your fingers stayed in his hair, your other hand resting lightly against his chest where you could feel the steady thud of his heartbeat. “Well, I’m glad you finally did,” you whispered as your heart swelled.  

His lips curved into a smile that made your knees weak all over again, the kind of smile that sent a thrill straight down your spine. “Yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah,” you replied, barely above a whisper, leaning in again as if you were drawn by some magnetic force you couldn’t fight even if you wanted to. This kiss wasn’t soft anymore, not that it ever was. It started slow, like a fuse being lit, but it didn’t take long for the fire to burn hotter, fiercer. His hand found your waist again, pulling you against him, and you couldn’t hide the shiver that ran through you as his lips claimed yours with a confidence that made your head spin. “You taste so damn good, you know that?” he mumbled in between the kiss.

“Good enough to come back for seconds?” you questioned as you pulled away from him, your doe eyes making his knees weak. 

He tightened his grip on your waist and brought his lips back to yours. “Oh, I’m not stopping at seconds, lovebug,”.  His kisses trailed from your mouth to your jaw, and then to the sensitive spot just below your ear, his lips and tongue leaving a heated path of want. You couldn’t help the soft gasp that escaped you as his teeth grazed your skin, his chuckle vibrating against your neck.  

“Joe,” you breathed, your voice barely audible, laced with need.  

“I know,” he murmured, his voice rough as he buried his face in the crook of your neck for a moment, like he was trying to ground himself. When he finally pulled back, his eyes were darker, his gaze flickering over your pretty face and pinker than ever cheeks. The car hit a soft bump, and it snapped you back to reality for a moment. You couldn’t help but laugh softly, your hand brushing his jaw as your eyes fell back to his lips. “This car ride’s about to feel a whole lot longer,”.  

Joe smirked, his lips brushing against yours once more, teasing you but not committing to another kiss just yet. “Patience, lovebug. We’ve got all night,”.  

And as the car continued its journey, you couldn’t help but think again, “Getting my car door? Then pulling me to the backseat so easily? And kissing me in a way that’s definitely going to screw me up forever? Oh, what did I get myself into,”. 

This was either the worst thing you could’ve ever done…or the best. It was brand new, but you were going full throttle. And for some reason, even though there were so many unanswered questions and untouched feelings…it felt so right to be here…like this. 

With him. 

Joe Burrow wasn’t just good at football—he was good at absolutely everything, especially at making you feel like the most desired, cherished, and irresistible girl in the world despite knowing him for such a short amount of time. 

No one’s ever had you, not like him. 

There was something special about Joe. 

End of flashback 

“Oh my god, that was the most embarrassing moment of my life,” you laughed along with your cousins, your cheeks burning from both the memory and the silliness of retelling it. 

Joe chuckled softly beside you, “Embarrassing? Maybe. But it was also the best. Without that moment in the library and that night at the game, we wouldn’t be here,” he said, taking your hand and bringing it to his lips again for another soft kiss. 

You smiled at the tenderness in his gesture, but couldn’t resist teasing him. “Who would’ve thought, huh? I seriously thought you’d forget all about me once you got drafted to the Bengals,” you said, raising an eyebrow at him, but there was a hint of genuine vulnerability in your tone.

Joe looked at you, his expression softening as if he could read every hidden fear you ever had. “Forget you?” he repeated, shaking his head slightly before his hand slid over to your thigh, giving it a firm yet reassuring squeeze. “Ditch you for what? I’ve got everything I’ve ever wanted—and everything I’ll ever need—right here,”.

Flashback to Draft Night - Athens, Ohio 

The air was thick with anticipation, and you could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on both of you. It was Draft Night—the night that would change Joe's life, and yours, forever. The tension in the room was electric, but in Joe's eyes, there was a calm certainty. He already knew. He knew he was going to be the first overall pick, and he knew, without a doubt, that Cincinnati was in his future. Earlier that year, before graduation, Joe had turned to you with a rare, serious glint in his eye. He'd told you, with all the confidence in the world, that wherever he ended up, he wanted you there beside him. At the time, you thought he was just joking—playing around with a future you hadn’t fully imagined yet. But now, watching him on the verge of living out his dream, you realized just how serious he'd been.

The realization hit you harder than you expected. This wasn’t some playful promise—it was a commitment. And here, on the edge of this life-changing moment, you felt it for real.

Flashback to Graduation – LSU

After the ceremony ended, the world seemed to slow down for you and Joe. You had just walked across the stage, caps thrown in the air, hands shaking from the excitement and adrenaline. The weight of the future was looming, but there was something undeniably exciting about the unknown ahead. Joe decided to take you back to the FroYo place, the spot where everything had started between the two of you. It felt fitting, like it was full circle. This was where you had your first “unofficial official” date, and now, it seemed, everything was about to change in the blink of a crinkling eye. 

As you both sat down at the same table you had sat at countless times before, the hum of the FroYo machines and the buzz of conversations around you seemed so distant. You were already digging into your frozen treat, trying to make light of the moment. But you could tell, something was on Joe’s mind. His usual confident demeanor had slipped into something more uncertain, more vulnerable. 

He took a deep breath, setting his cup down beside him. His fingers twitched on the edge of his own spoon before he finally spoke, his voice quiet but shaky. “I want to talk to you about something,”.

Immediately, you stopped eating, sensing the shift in his energy. You put your cup down and reached across the table, taking his hand in yours, rubbing your thumb over his skin as a silent reassurance. “What’s up?” you asked softly.

Joe looked at you, his eyes filled with more emotion than you had ever seen. “We just graduated,”.

“That we did,” you chuckled, trying to keep things light, but there was a heaviness in your chest that you couldn’t ignore.

“And I declared for the draft,” he added, his words almost shaky. The weight of that statement hung in the air, and you felt your smile falter. “That you did,” you replied, voice a little quieter now, the realization settling in.

Joe rubbed the back of his neck, clearly struggling to find the right words. He was never one to shy away from a challenge, but this was different. This was his future—and, as you could sense, he wanted it to include you. Without another moment of hesitation, he squeezed your hand. “Come with me.”

“Come with you where?” you giggled nervously, unsure of where this was heading.

“Wherever I end up,” Joe said, his voice steady but laced with urgency. “Whichever team drafts me. Come with me. Be with me,”.

Your stomach twisted in knots, and your breath caught in your throat. Was he really asking you this? The future, before so uncertain, suddenly felt incredibly clear—and scary. You had known this day would come—the moment when he would have to leave Louisiana, leave everything behind—but you never really thought about what it would mean for you two. The thought of a breakup, the thought of being left behind, had loomed over you in the back of your mind like a shadow, but now, hearing him speak, you realize that wasn’t his plan at all. He wanted you.

You swallowed, your voice barely above a whisper. “Really?”.

“Really. It’s true, I swear. Scout’s honor,” Joe said with fierce sincerity, squeezing your hand tighter. “I need you with me. I love you so much, and the thought of us being apart is…bullshit. I can’t do this without you, Y/N. I won’t,”

You sat there in stunned silence for a few seconds, trying to process everything. It was so much to take in; the gravity of the situation, the promise in his words. You had been dreaming of a future with him, but this...this was more than just a dream. This was real. You’d be moving with him, wherever he went. You’d be starting this new chapter, side by side, facing everything together. It wasn’t just about football or school anymore. It was about life—your life, together.

You thought about everything—finding a job in whatever city you’d end up in, living together, moving at a new pace, navigating the unknowns that lay ahead. And for the first time, it didn’t seem so scary. It didn’t seem scary because even in the whirlwind of it all, one thing stuck out.

You’d be with him. 

You shifted your gaze to meet his again, locking eyes with the man who, in that moment, had just offered you everything you’d ever dreamed of, everything you never thought possible. His eyes were filled with such intensity, so much hope, and so much love that it made your heart race, each beat echoing in your chest like a drum. You couldn’t help but smile, a soft, tender expression that was just for him. “Okay,” you whispered, your voice full of warmth and certainty. “I’ll go with you,”.

His breath caught in his throat, a moment of disbelief flashing across his face. “Seriously?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he couldn’t quite believe you were really saying it. 

You nodded, feeling your heart swell with an overwhelming affection that seemed to fill every inch of your being after saying it out loud. “I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life,” you replied. Each word carried the weight of everything you felt for him and the future you were about to step into together.

As he stared back at you with those ocean blue eyes, filled with promise and a love so deep it seemed to consume you both, you knew that this was just the beginning.

Flashforward back to Draft Night

“Are you excited?” you ask as you sit next to Joe on the couch. The draft night had taken on a different feel this year, virtual for the most part because of COVID-19, but the electricity between you both was undeniable. It didn’t matter that you weren’t at the event in person. What mattered was that you were together, and the future ahead of you both felt like an open road waiting to be explored.

“Excited, nervous, and a bit scared,” he laughs, rubbing the back of his neck, his eyes darting to the screen as the pre-program was starting up. You can see the nervous energy in him, that usual cool demeanor slightly cracked, but the way he leans into you and makes sure your legs are touching shows he’s not as worried as he’s letting on.

Joe leans back, his fingers gently tracing patterns on your arm as he speaks again, his voice quieter now, more contemplative. “You know, it’s hard to put into words how much this means. Getting drafted into the NFL...it’s surreal. But it feels like I’m coming home,”. His eyes meet yours, and there’s a weight to his words, something deeper than just football.

“Home?” you ask, your brow furrowing slightly, even though you know exactly what he means.

“Yeah,” he nods, leaning in just a little closer, his breath warm against your skin. “Cincinnati...Ohio…it’s my home state. There’s also this unfinished business from Ohio State you know, I didn’t get to finish what I started there, but now? Now it feels like I have the chance to go back, make it right,”.

You smile softly, understanding the quiet fire and drive behind his words. You knew how much he’d poured into every moment of his career so far, how his passion for the game ran deeper than anything else. “You’re going to crush it, Joe. This is your chance to rewrite everything. It's not just a new chapter, it's a whole new book,”.

He grins, pulling you closer again, his hands resting on your waist. “It doesn’t feel like just a career move. It feels like a homecoming. A chance to really show people what I’m capable of—what I can do when I’m finally in the right place. And the fact that you're coming with me, that I get to do this with you by my side, makes it feel even more right,”.

The way he looks at you, full of determination and love, makes your heart swell. You knew he was destined for greatness, but hearing it from him, feeling the importance of his hopes and dreams in his words, makes everything feel so real. “We’re in this together,” you remind him, your voice full of certainty. “And you’re going to make them all see exactly why you belong there. Why you’ve always belonged there,”.

He chuckles, pulling you close for a quick kiss, "Thanks for believing in me, lovebug. I think I finally feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. And that means everything,".

“Sounds about right, Superstar. Your life’s about to change,” you tease, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek as you settle back in next to him.

“Our life,” he corrects, his voice a little more serious now, a touch of possessiveness in it that makes your heart flutter.

Butterflies start to flutter in your belly. “Right, our life,” you repeat, smiling up at him. It wasn’t just about the draft, it was never just about the draft. It was about everything that came after. The life you’d be building, side by side.

“Did you hear back from the job you applied to in Cincy?” he asks, his gaze now fixed solely on you. “Not yet. Should be hearing back tomorrow. Buttt, I talked to one of my connections there, and they said to be expecting a positive answer,” you beam, your excitement unmistakable. There was a certain joy you couldn’t contain knowing you were taking this leap with him—both of you starting a new journey in your careers.

“That’s amazing, Y/N. I’m so proud of you,” he says, pulling you close, his arms tightening around you. His hug feels safe and warm, like everything in the world is aligned and you are right where you need to be. 

You laugh softly as his arms envelop you, “I can’t wait for this, Joe,” you murmur into his chest, your voice full of that sweet anticipation that both of you are holding onto right now.

“Me either. It’s starting to feel real. Like real real,” he admits, his tone laced with childish wonder, as if it’s finally sinking in that your lives are about to change—together.

“Oh, it’ll feel even realer when we go house hunting in Cincy on Sunday,” you tease, your lips curling into a playful smile as you pull away from his embrace slightly. You can’t help but feel giddy about it all. 

Joe rolls his eyes dramatically but then smiles. “Mm, I can’t wait for that fun experience,” he mutters, giving you a mischievous look as if he knows what’s coming. “You better not pick the ugliest place out there,”.

“Oh, you know I have impeccable taste, Joey,” you reply, raising an eyebrow, a flirtatious challenge in your tone. “I’m thinking something with space for a huge bed. You know, somewhere with plenty of room for...you know, us,”.

His eyes flicker with something deeper now, a kind of heat that makes you both pause, the air between you thickening. “A big bed, huh?” he says, the suggestiveness in his voice making your skin burn. “I can’t wait to keep you in bed all day, every day. You think I’ll be able to get any work done? Or are you going to have me distracted in other ways?”

You laugh softly, your cheeks flushing at the thought of having all the time, privacy, and space to do whatever the hell you wanted with each other. “You’re incorrigible,” you say, biting your lip as you look into his eyes, both of you sharing a knowing look. 

Joe’s smirk deepens as he pulls you closer, his lips brushing against your ear with a teasing whisper that sends a shiver down your spine. “Seriously, though,” he murmurs, “I can’t wait to have you all to myself in our place. We’ll make it ours... every single inch. And I’ll keep you in bed all day, every day, if that’s what you want. No interruptions, just us,”.

A rush of heat floods through you, the playful banter turning into something much more intense so quickly. Your pulse quickens, and you meet his eyes, feeling the weight of his words as they settle into your chest. “I think I could definitely get used to that,” you reply, your voice teasing, yet laced with a quiet promise of your own that you’d follow him wherever he wanted the both of you to go. 

Joe’s fingers trail down your side, his touch light but calculated because he knows exactly how to set you off, and he leans in, his lips grazing yours with just enough pressure to make your heart skip a beat. “Oh, you will,” he murmurs against your lips, his breath warm and heavy. “You’ll be begging for it by the time I’m done with you, I can’t wait”.

His words, so confident, so sure of what’s to come, send a thrilling shiver through your entire body. You pull him closer, unable to resist the pull between you, and his lips meet yours again, but this time, there’s an undeniable hunger to the kiss. It’s deep, passionate, and promises so much more than just a kiss—it promises everything.

As you pull away, breathless and flushed, the reality of what’s coming settles over you both. The house, your new life, the future you’ll share together. It’s all so vivid now, so real, and you can’t help but grin as you gaze up at him. "I can't wait for any of it either," you whisper, your voice thick with anticipation, knowing that what you two shared was about to get a whole lot more intense, and you were more than ready for it.

End of flashback 

“Aww, you guys are so cute,” Sydney coos, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watches the way you and Joe interact with each other. “You guys just exude young and hopelessly in love energy and I’m so obsessed with it,” she smiles, raising her drink glass in the air as if she’s toasting to it. 

“Agreed,” James adds with a grin, leaning back in his chair as he takes a sip of his drink. “I’ve never seen Y/N happier and freer like she is with you, Joe. You really just…get her,”. 

Joe looks over at you, his smile lighting up his whole face. “Well, I’m lucky to have her,” he says, his voice filled with so much love and endearment for you that it makes you shy, prompting you to stuff your face in the crook of his neck. 

You can’t help but grin, though; your heart swelling with so much love that it’s almost overwhelming. Being surrounded by your favorite family members, in the arms of the love of your life…it couldn’t get better than this for you. You meet his gaze, the kind of look that’s full of so much comfort, trust, and everything you’ve ever needed. No one has truly ever had you, not like Joe has. He brings out the best in you; you’ve felt it since day one. You can see it reflected in the way everyone else looks at the two of you—everyone can see how much he completes you, how much you’ve blossomed with him by your side.

—

Later, everyone heads back inside, naturally breaking off into their own little groups for some well-deserved downtime. The guys sprawl across the couch, eagerly setting up for a nostalgic session of Grand Theft Auto, while you, Sydney, and Bella gravitate to the kitchen island. With glasses of wine in hand, the three of you settle into the comforting flow of girl talk, sharing laughs and stories.

From where you're sitting, you catch a glimpse of Joe on the couch, his eyes bright and glued to the TV screen as he fumbles with the controller. His excitement is palpable, his boyish grin stretching wide as he banters with the guys. It’s so unguarded and carefree that it makes your chest warm. You stifle a giggle, watching him bounce slightly in his seat like a kid on Christmas morning. “God, he’s so cute when he’s like this,” you mutter, the words slipping out as you absentmindedly sip your wine.

Sydney raises an eyebrow, grinning. “You’re, like, disgustingly in love with him, aren’t you?”

“Guilty as charged,” you say with a laugh, glancing back over at him. He’s furiously pressing buttons, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, but that goofy grin of his hasn’t faded. 

“So high school,” you grin, the fondness in your tone making the other two girls laugh.

Bella nudges your arm, smirking. “What’s the story? That sounded suspiciously nostalgic,”.

You freeze at Bella’s question, your cheeks instantly turning red. The memory that popped into your head wasn’t just nostalgic—it was scandalous, the kind of thing Joe would absolutely kill you for sharing. 

Flashback to a few years ago

It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, and you’d just gotten back from lunch with friends—the little lunch date much needed after the jam-packed past few weeks you’d had with work, Joe, and football. The house was quiet except for the faint hum of the TV and the familiar chatter of Joe’s voice, mixed with laughter from his high school friends through his headset.  

As you walked into the kitchen for a glass of water, you spotted him lounging on the couch, completely absorbed in the game. His shirt was slightly wrinkled, the fabric clinging to his shoulders in a way that drew your eye. His legs were spread in that effortlessly confident way he always seemed to sit, and the sight sent a small flutter through your stomach. When he noticed you, Joe muted his headset and placed it around his neck. “Hey, babe,” he greeted with an easy smile. “How was lunch?”. 

“Good,” you replied, stepping closer. “The usual gossip, shit-talking, Becca venting about how she’s tired of waiting for Lance to propose but doesn’t have the courage to say something, and too many mimosas,”.  

His gaze lingered as he nodded, completely used to the subjects you and your friends would cover during these lunches as you moved to sit beside him, a playful flicker lighting his eyes. “You look really good,” he said, the only thing he truly cared about was how gorgeous you looked.

You couldn’t help but grin, brushing his comment off with a teasing, “Thanks,” though your cheeks warmed at the way he was looking at you. As you leaned back into the couch, your flowy pink skirt shifted higher on your thighs. Joe’s eyes flicked down for the shortest moment before he smirked, his hand resting casually on your knee. His fingers traced lazy circles, light, and teasing, moving a fraction higher with each pass.  

“Joe,” you murmured softly, your tone a mix of warning and intrigue.  

“It’s fine,” he assured, his voice dipping lower. His hand slid higher, brushing the edge of your skirt. “They can’t see or hear. And besides…,” he leaned closer, his breath warm against your ear. “You owe me for this morning,”.  

Your breath caught at the reminder. That morning, you’d left him with just enough to keep him on edge, teasing him with a brief but intense moment before you rushed out the door. Now, it seemed he wasn’t planning on letting you off so easily.  

Joe leaned back into his casual pose again, headset in place, controller in hand. To anyone watching, he looked completely focused on the game. But the way his hand trailed higher, slipping under the hem of your skirt to brush against your bare thigh, told a very different story. “Joe,” you whispered again, your voice trembling as his fingers grazed your skin, igniting a fire that spread through your whole body.  

“Relax,” Joe said, his voice so calm and unbothered it made your skin tingle. “Just sit back and enjoy.” His hand moved higher, fingers warm against your bare skin as they brushed the edge of your panties. Your breath caught as he let them linger there, teasing you with the promise of more. Slowly, he hooked a finger under the fabric, tugging it aside to expose your heat. The slight movement sent a shiver through you, anticipation pumping in your veins.  

“Already this wet?” he murmured, his voice low and rough, barely audible over the chatter of his friends in his headset. There was pleasure in his tone, but also something darker, something possessive that made your cheeks flush. He knew he was the only one that got you like this, that had you like this. 

When his finger slid inside you, the slow motion made you gasp softly. He was torturously unhurried, his pace designed to drive you insane. You bit down hard on your lip, struggling to hold back the sound building in your throat. His finger curled slightly, finding the spot that made your thighs tremble, and he stayed there, pressing just enough to send a shockwave through your body. Your hips bucked instinctively, seeking more, and his smirk deepened. “Careful,” he whispered, his eyes flicking to you briefly. “They might hear you,” he smirked, hitting unmute and sliding his headset back onto his ears.

“Oh my god, he’s insane,” you thought, your eyes widening as Joe continued chatting with his friends like nothing was happening. The ease in his voice was maddening, especially considering his hand was all over you right now. You shifted slightly, trying to keep your composure, but the intensity of his touch made it nearly impossible.

What if they heard you? The thought alone sent a rush of heat to your cheeks, mortification and arousal swirling together in your chest. If they found out, you’d never be able to look them in the eye again—hell, you’d probably never show your face in Athens again. But Joe didn’t seem to care. His thumb slid to your clit, brushing over it with precision. The sensation hit like a jolt of electricity, sharp and immediate, pulling a gasp from your lips that you barely managed to stifle.

You gripped the fabric of your skirt in desperation, trying to ground yourself as the pleasure threatened to consume you. His finger pressed deeper, the slow, deliberate rhythm making your pulse race. He wasn’t in a hurry—oh no. He moved as if he had all the time in the world, savoring every reaction he coaxed from you.

You clenched your fists, your breaths coming faster, and your head fell back against the couch. Joe added a second finger, the stretch making you gasp again. He began to pump them in and out, the pace steady but building, each movement sending you closer to the edge. “Joe,” you whimpered, your voice barely audible. Your body was trembling, heat coiling tightly in your core as he worked you over with such skill only he could have.  

“I know, baby,” he murmured after muting himself again, his voice low and full of satisfaction. “I’ve got you,”.  

His thumb circled your clit in time with the thrust of his fingers, the rhythm perfect and unrelenting. The pressure built and built, a tight knot of pleasure in your belly threatening to snap. Your thighs shook as you tried to stay quiet, but every motion, every touch made it harder.  Joe turned his head slightly, pretending to adjust his headset as he leaned closer. “You’re doing so good,” he whispered, his breath hot against your ear. “Just a little more,”.  

The sound of his voice and the way his fingers moved inside you sent you spiraling. The tension in your body reached its breaking point, and your hips bucked against his hand as the climax tore through you. Your walls clenched around his fingers, your entire body trembling with the force of it. You bit down on your lip, muffling the cry that escaped, but Joe wasn’t satisfied. His fingers slowed but didn’t stop, dragging out every last wave of your release until you were left trembling and motionless against the couch.  

When he finally withdrew his hand, he brought his fingers to his mouth, his eyes locked on yours as he licked them clean, his expression filled with smug satisfaction.  

He picked up his controller again like nothing had happened, unmuting his headset and rejoining the conversation with his friends. His voice was casual, easy, as if he hadn’t just unraveled you completely.  

You sat there, trying to catch your breath, your body still buzzing from the intensity of what had just happened. Joe leaned over, his voice low enough that only you could hear. “That’s better,” he murmured as he pressed a kiss to your flushed cheek, his tone so smug it made your face feel like it was on fire. 

His hand brushed your thigh one last time, a teasing reminder of what he’d just done, before he returned his full attention to the game. Meanwhile, you were left trying to steady yourself, still spinning from the way he’d left you completely undone.  

End of flashback 

You smile fondly at him after snapping back to the present, watching as he gets into “game mode” like he always does. It’s these moments, the little, playful ones, that make you realize just how lucky you are. The fact that he’s so fun, so carefree, yet still so committed to you—everything about him just feels right. It’s like you’ve found your person, and that feeling never gets old.

“It’s nothing, I promise,” you smile back at your cousins, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. “Just a little moment between us that I remembered,”. 

Bella raises an eyebrow playfully as she looks at Sydney while taking a sip of her wine, lucky for you they know you too well and know exactly what you were daydreaming about and decided to skip right over it. “Joe’s a really great guy,” she says, her voice soft and sincere as she smoothly switches the topic. 

“Mhm, he really meshes with everyone so well,” Sydney adds, nodding thoughtfully. She pops a chip into her mouth, chewing slowly as she watches Joe laughing with your other cousins in the living room. “I swear, it’s like he’s known all of us since we were little. I mean, them on the couch is a splitting image of all of us from our summers here,”.

You smile, feeling a swell of pride in your chest as you look over at Joe. He’s so comfortable, so at ease with everyone around him, so in tune with your family as if they were his own—which he always told you they were. “He does,” you agree. “It’s one of the things I love most about him, how natural he is with everyone. He just fits,”.

Bella smirks and leans in as she glances back from Joe to you, “Anddd, he’s absolutely amazing to you,” she says, her grin widening. “It was so sweet of him to call us all over here because he knew how much you missed the summers here from our childhood. He’s such a sweetheart, like your real-life prince charming—the kind of guy you used to dream about in high school, right? Tall, starry eyes, broad shoulders, those adorable crinkles around his eyes, a football player to act like fire to your ice,”.

A blush creeps up your face, and you shift slightly in your seat, suddenly feeling shy under the weight of their words. But there’s a sense of warmth and safety in their teasing, and it only makes you think of Joe that much more fondly. “He’s...he’s just so normal, you know?” you say, your voice so featherlight which was always expected when you talk about him. “Even though he’s a millionaire NFL quarterback, he never lets it get to his head. He’s just...Joe. And that’s more than enough for me,”.

Sydney pats your thigh gently, “And he is absolutely head over heels in love with you. Like, you can see it in everything he does, Y/N. It’s impossible not to,”.

“Yeah, he really is,” you reply, your heart gushing with affection. You take a sip of your wine, but it’s not enough to quiet the warmth blossoming in your chest at the thought of him.

Sydney leans in, her eyes twinkling with curiosity as she tries to dig for something that had been on her mind for quite some time now when it comes to you and Joe. “I mean, it’s been what? Five, six years now?”.

“Yup,” Bella responds, giving a knowing glance to you and Sydney. 

Sydney chuckles, shaking her head. “Five, almost six years, and you’re still grinning like it’s the first day you two met. I mean, look at you. This is it, Y/N. This is the real deal,”.

Before you can respond, Bella jumps in with a dramatic flourish. “Here comes the bride!” she sings, mimicking a slow dance and causing you to break into laughter, unable to keep the giggles from escaping. Your cousins are both so playfully dramatic, but you wouldn’t trade them for anything. They knew how to make you feel loved and supported, especially when it came to Joe.  

“Bella, you’re too much,” you giggle, rolling your eyes at her antics but secretly enjoying the teasing. 

“Seriously though, is there a wedding in your near future?” Sydney asks, her tone more playful but still full of curiosity, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “Don’t keep us in suspense, baby cousin. I need to know if I need to order cardboard cut-outs of Joe’s face for the bachelorette party ahead of time,”.

You glance over at Joe, who’s still lost in the game, chatting with your cousins, his laugh echoing in the room. The sight of him, so happy and nonchalant, makes your heart skip a beat. You smile to yourself before looking back at your cousins, a soft warmth spreading through you as you answer their questions. “Actually, yeah,” you say, your voice soft but full of certainty. “We’ve talked about it,”.

Both Sydney and Bella’s faces light up in unison, their expressions radiating pure, unfiltered joy. Bella lets out an excited squeal while Sydney leans forward and clutches your forearm, her eyes wide. “No way,” she says, a grin spreading across her face. “You’re seriously talking about getting married?”.

You nod, your smile growing as you feel the full weight of the moment. The future, the life with Joe you had planned out when you first came to Ohio with him, it’s all starting to feel so real. “I really think the idea of marrying me popped into his head the moment we met,” you giggled, “But it’s something we’re both excited about and I can’t imagine my life without him, and he feels the same way,” you smile, floating back to the memory of the moment the topic was first brought up.

Flashback to last summer 

The sun was high in the sky, its warmth wrapping around you like a comforting blanket as you lounged on the pool chair. The soft creak of the chair beneath you paired with the rhythmic chirping of cicadas created a soothing soundtrack to the lazy summer afternoon. With your eyes closed and a peaceful smile on your lips, you let the gentle hum of summer wash over you.

The moment’s peace was interrupted by the faint dip of the chair beside you. You opened your eyes to see Joe kneeling next to you, his mischievous grin making your heart skip a beat. “Think you can make some room?” he asked, his tone playful, a wink punctuating his words.

Without hesitation, you smiled back and spread your legs slightly. “Always,” you replied, the playful tension building between you like the rising heat of the day.

Joe slid into the space between your legs, resting the back of his head softly against your belly. His arms encircled your thighs, holding you close, and you instinctively ran your fingers through his sunlit hair. The golden strands were soft beneath your fingertips, and a contented sigh escaped your lips as you let yourself relax completely. For a few moments, the two of you simply existed in each other’s presence, your heartbeats syncing in the quiet intimacy of the afternoon. Then, breaking the silence, Joe’s voice drifted up to you.

“Do you wanna get married?”.

The casualness of his tone caught you completely off guard. You blinked, lifting your head slightly to make sure you hadn’t misheard him. “What?” you asked, your eyes widening as you tried to see if he was serious.

“I said, do you wanna get married?” he repeated with a little laugh, shifting slightly so his head now rested against your chest. His arms wrapped tighter around your waist, his eyes peeking up at you with a mixture of vulnerability and charm.

You chuckled, your surprise giving way to amusement. “Is this your way of proposing?” you teased, raising an eyebrow as you looked down at him.

Joe laughed at your lack of faith, did you seriously think that this is how he’d ask the love of his life, his favorite girl, to be his forever girl? “Not exactly. I don’t have a ring yet, and when I do propose, trust me—it’ll be a moment you’ll never forget. But I still want to know…would you want to marry me?”.

The question lingered in the air, and for a heartbeat, everything else seemed to fade. You could barely believe this was happening. You’d imagined your wedding day countless times before, wondered about the person who’d stand by your side, and now, here he was. Joe. Your boyfriend. Your best friend. Your everything.

The man you’ve dreamed about since you were a little girl, the man who knew what he wanted and got her with such ease, confidence, and a love that knew no limits. 

“Of course I would,” you smiled, the words slipping out of your mouth so effortlessly, like they had always been meant to be spoken. But as you said them, a whirlwind of emotions surged through you, leaving your heart racing in a way you hadn’t expected. 

At that moment, it wasn’t just a simple response. It was everything you’d ever dreamed of; the feeling of being seen, loved, and cherished by the one person who had truly captured your heart. You couldn’t help but admire how far the two of you had come, from the innocent coffee spill in the library to this beautiful, heart-stopping moment when Joe was asking you if you wanted to marry him. You’d spent your whole life imagining what it would be like, dreaming of the perfect person to share your future with, and here he was, your person, looking up at you with so much love and hope in his eyes. It felt like your heart had exploded, radiating warmth and love that stretched through every inch of your being.

The weight of his question hung in the air, and you realized that this wasn’t just about the moment—it was about the entire future that was waiting for you both. The life you had always wanted, with the person you had always dreamed of. And as you looked down at Joe, his gentle smile and the sincerity in his eyes made you certain that this was it. You were ready.

“I couldn’t think of a better person to spend my life with,” you added, your voice soft but filled with certainty. The love you had for him was undeniable, and the realization that he wanted you beside him for the rest of your lives made you feel like the luckiest person on earth.

Joe’s eyes lit up, his grin wide and genuine. He half-expected you to say something half-assed and brush it off because even though he knew you loved him more than anything in the world, he always got in his head. “Really?” he asked. 

“Really,” you replied, your heart swelling as you smiled back at him. “You’re my dream guy, Joe. Everything about you…just works for me. The way you love me, make me smile when I feel like the walls are caving in, the way your physical presence just brings me back down to earth. And I can’t forget the way you make me laugh when I’m on the verge of tears, or the way you make me feel so young…like I’m in high school every time I look at you and those gorgeous starry eyes. And I’m so glad I spilled that coffee on your textbooks in the library at LSU—it brought me to you. The best thing that could have ever happened to me,”.

Joe chuckled, his shoulders shaking lightly against you as he pressed a soft kiss to your chest. “Best accident of your life,” he murmured.

You ran your fingers gently along his back, the weight of his words settling into your heart. “I know life’s a little crazy right now with football and everything,” you said, your voice soft. “Focus on your goals, okay? And when the time is right…I’ll be here,”.

Joe lifted his head from your chest, his eyes meeting yours with an intensity that sent shivers down your spine. He moved closer, pressing soft kisses to your lips, one after another, each one filled with so much love and promise. “I love you so much,” he murmured between kisses.

“I love you too, future husband,” you whispered, and as Joe kissed you again, this time with a little more passion, you couldn’t help but feel that everything had already fallen into place. The dream of your future, of marriage, of a life with Joe, was no longer just a fantasy—it was becoming your reality piece by piece.

End of flashback 

You blush, the memory and the weight of your cousin’s words from tonight feeling like an affirmation of everything you’ve always wanted. You look back over at Joe, watching as he finally notices the three of you watching him. He grins, his eyes softening when they meet yours. It’s that familiar look—filled with love, trust, and everything you’ve ever wanted.

“I think I’ve found my forever,” you whisper, more to yourself than anyone else. You know it, and they do too.

“Awwww,” your cousins say in unison, their voices dripping with excitement for you and Joe.

You laugh softly, trying to hide the heat creeping up your neck, but you can’t help the wide smile that spreads across your face. “So yeah,” you breathe out, “It’s gonna happen when it happens,” you shrug, pretending to act nonchalant, even though your heart is doing flips in your chest.

Sydney, ever the perceptive one, raises an eyebrow, her grin only getting wider. “Well, I have a feeling it’s gonna happen soon. My intuition has never failed me,” she says with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, clearly loving her role as the self-proclaimed psychic of the group.

“Syd’s right. Remember when her intuition said that the Zipper ride at the pier was going to break down mid-ride and that we shouldn’t go on it? And then 15 minutes later, what happened?” Bella chimes in as she raises her brows dramatically, referencing a memory that still makes you and the group laugh to this day because of how you and James almost got trapped there by yourselves.

You roll your eyes, laughing at how they always bring that up. “You guys are too much,” you giggle, getting off the barstool and heading to the sink to put the empty glasses away. But despite your words, there’s a warm, soft feeling in your chest—your cousins’ excitement only makes everything feel more real.

“Can’t help it. Baby Cousin is gonna be a Wifeyyyy!” Bella sings, dramatically twirling you around, her energy contagious as she pulls you into a hug. The way she says it—so full of love and excitement—makes you want to laugh and cry all at once. “Shut up,” you laugh, rolling your eyes as you wrap your arms around her, the moment feeling like one of those memories you’d treasure forever.

—

The next hour flew by faster than you imagined, and part of that had to do with how you and the girls spent the entirety of your girl-talk planning out your and Joe’s wedding in your minds. From the flowers to the location to the honeymoon destination, even the kind of car you both would drive off in—everything was discussed, every detail thought out as if it were already real. It felt like your heart was racing with excitement, each idea sparking another, like you were crafting the most perfect version of your future.

Sydney and Bella were fully invested in helping you design your dream wedding, offering ideas that ranged from fairy-tale castles to cozy beachside ceremonies. Bella was stubborn about having soft, twinkling fairy lights everywhere, while Sydney kept throwing out ideas for a rustic barn setting, complete with twigs and greenery lining the aisle. You couldn’t help but laugh at how different their visions were, but at the same time, you loved it. Every suggestion felt like a tiny piece of the perfect puzzle that would eventually come together.

But before you could get too deep into things, you heard the video game sounds coming from the living room stop, followed by a voice breaking through the chatter. Yo, you guys ready to go to the pier?” Micheal called from the living room, his voice brimming with excitement.

Sydney and Bella exchanged a look before Sydney stood up with a mischievous grin. “Looks like the fun's just beginning,” she said, smoothing down her sundress as sat up from her barstool. “We’ll pick this up later, don’t worry. We can’t leave the guys hanging too long or I think James and Micheal would convince Joe to leave without us,”.

“Those two love that old ass rollercoaster overlooking the water so damn much, I think they’d actually jump the fences this time around if we weren’t allowed in,” you giggled, as you turned your head toward Joe, who was now standing by the door, arms crossed and leaning casually against the frame. He caught your eye and gave you that signature smirk, the one that made your heart do a little jump every time. He was clearly waiting for you, as if he couldn’t imagine going anywhere without you by his side.

You walked over to him, his arms already opened and waiting for you, like they always were. The second you were close enough, Joe pulled you into his chest, his warmth wrapping around you as effortlessly as his love always did. His scent—fresh, a mix of his usual Soleil Blanc and the remnants of your dip in the ocean earlier—hit you immediately, grounding you in his presence. You giggled softly, leaning into him as if he were the only thing keeping you steady from the amount of alcohol you’d consumed in the past two hours.

“Those two are going to be the death of me,” you murmured, your voice tinged with playful irritation, though the grin tugging at your lips betrayed the warmth you felt. “I swear, I was two seconds away from playing referee between them while they argued about whether we should go rustic or coastal for our wedding vibe.” You rolled your eyes for effect but couldn’t help the soft laugh that followed, your mind replaying Sydney and Bella’s relentless bickering.

Joe chuckled, the sound deep and rich, vibrating through his chest as he pulled you a bit closer. His hands rested gently on your waist, thumbs tracing absentminded circles over the soft fabric of your lilac top. The subtle touch sent warmth spreading through you, like you were a planet caught in his orbit. “They do realize it’s our wedding, right? And that we’re going to make the decisions?” his voice was light, teasing, but his eyes held that familiar spark of adoration.

“They’d lose their minds if I told them we tossed around the idea of getting married in the backyard,” you joked, tilting your head to look up at him, your expression mischievous.

Joe smirked, a slow, knowing curve of his lips that made your heart flutter. He leaned down, close enough that you could feel the warmth of his breath against your ear, his voice dipping into that low, intimate tone that always sent shivers down your spine. “Which is exactly why we’re not telling them,” he whispered, the corners of his mouth twitching as his eyes gleamed with humor.

You burst into laughter, shaking your head at how effortlessly he could make you feel like you were the only two people in the room. The rest of the world—your cousins, the chaos of dream wedding planning, even the little stresses in the back of your mind—faded into the background. All that mattered was the way he looked at you, like you were his entire world.  

“They’re never going to let us live this down,” you said through your laughter, wrapping your arms loosely around his neck. Your forehead dropped against his, the intimacy of the moment settling over you like a warm blanket.

Joe’s expression softened, the teasing glint in his eyes replaced by something deeper, something that made your breath catch. “Let them try,” he murmured, his voice low and steady, grounding you in the same way his touch always did. “As long as you’re happy, I couldn’t care less what anyone thinks,”. 

Your chest tightened, the sincerity in his voice hitting you squarely in the heart. You leaned your head slightly, your nose brushing his as your voice softened. “You’re too good at this, you know that?” you teased, though your words were wrapped in affection.

Joe’s lips quirked up into a tender smile, his blue eyes locking with yours in that way that always made you feel like time had stopped. “Not too good,” he murmured, his voice dropping just enough to make your pulse race, “Just good enough for you,”. 

He closed the small distance between you, his lips capturing yours in a kiss that was both gentle and consuming. It wasn’t hurried or brief; it was the kind of kiss that left you breathless, the kind that spoke of everything words couldn’t quite express. His hands tightened slightly on your waist, anchoring you to him as if he was afraid the moment might slip away. When he pulled back, his forehead rested against yours, and he let out a soft, content sigh. “You ready to go, beautiful?” he asked, his voice tinged with a comforting warmth as he reached over to grab the car keys sitting on the counter. 

You smiled, leaning into him for a brief moment longer like you were trying to absorb all the love and reassurance he gave so effortlessly. “Yeah,” you whispered, your voice soft.  

It wasn’t until you stepped back and glanced toward the kitchen that you realized all your cousins were standing by the island, unabashedly staring at the two of you with wide, knowing grins plastered across their faces. “Y’all are disgusting,” James deadpanned, breaking the moment with a dramatic roll of his eyes, though the amused twitch of his lips betrayed him.

Sydney smirked, “Seriously, we’re all standing right here. Get a room,”.

Bella groaned as she dropped her head on Micheal’s shoulder in sadness, “You’re setting the bar way too high for the rest of us, Joe. I’m painfully single and no man ever treats me like that,”. 

You felt your cheeks heat, but before you could respond, Joe just grinned and threw his arm over your shoulders, effortlessly pulling you against his side as he walked you both toward where your shoes were. “Can’t help it,” he said easily, shooting your cousins a smug look over his shoulder. “She’s the love of my life. What do you expect?”.

Your cousins groaned in mock protest, but you couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across your face, your heart soaring at the way he acted so possessive with you. Joe leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to your temple as you reached the door, his voice low enough for only you to hear. “And don’t you ever forget it,” he whispered, his words wrapping around your heart like a promise.

You glanced up at him, your eyes sparkling with emotion, and in that moment, you knew: he wasn’t just good enough for you. He was perfect.

A few minutes later

The car hummed softly as you and Joe cruised down the beachside roads, the late evening light casting a golden glow through the windows. You leaned back against the headrest, stealing glances at Joe as he drove, his hands steady on the wheel. He had that familiar concentration on his face, the one he always wore when he was focused on something, and it made you feel a little giddy inside.

Joe broke the comfortable silence eventually, looking over at you with a grin, “So, Micheal’s been bugging me about growing my hair out again,” he said with a slight chuckle. “He’s convinced that the long hair brings good energy around…something about how something about how it makes me look younger and carefree. I think he just wants to see me with a ponytail. But he better not ever hold his breath because I am never growing it out that much,”.

You raised an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at your lips. “Long hair, huh?” you said, tilting your head as you stared at him. You couldn't help but imagine it again, his hair the way he had it just a few years ago.

The hair that had you weak in the knees for months. 

“Yeah, man keeps saying I should try it again and not just cut it after having one bad game,” Joe continued, glancing at you for a second with a small, teasing smirk. “What do you think? Should I?”.

You bit your lip, trying to hide your excitement as the thought of him with longer hair started to swirl in your mind. The image of him with his hair just enough for a headband to keep it out of his face—it made your heart race. There was nothing more you loved than Joe’s little long hair period…god those curls…those curls were still present in your dreams. 

“I’m so down bad for that,” you blurted, your voice almost a little breathless. “Like, seriously.” You leaned forward slightly, eyes locked on his body as you tried to control the longing in your voice. “I love it when you wear a headband. You look...so much younger. In the best way. Like, I can’t even tell you how much I love that look on you,”.

Joe chuckled, clearly amused. “You like that, huh?” he said, his eyes flicking to you for a moment before he turned back to the road. His lips curved upward as he took in your expression.

“You have no idea,” you replied, the heat in your voice rising with each word. “It drives me crazy. And not just because you look cute with a headband, but because I love pulling on your hair during—,”. You cut yourself off, suddenly realizing where the conversation was heading, but the tension between you two already felt thick the promise from earlier in the day—finishing what you started before your cousins got here.

Joe’s smirk only deepened, a knowing twinkle flashing in his eyes. “Oh, I know exactly what you mean,” he teased, his a little raspy now. He reached up, running a hand through his hair, and you couldn’t help but feel the heat rising in your body at the thought of his hair long enough to tug on.

The silence that followed was comfortable but charged, the air between you two humming with something you both felt but didn't need to say out loud. He turned onto a quieter road, the faintest smile playing on his lips as he clearly thought about the very thing you'd just mentioned.

“You know,” Joe began, his voice quieter, more intimate now, “Maybe I should grow it out just for you. Screw being more carefree…I could just give you more to pull on,”. His eyes flicked to yours again, and you both shared a look, your heart racing, the playful banter now laced with something deeper.

You leaned back in your seat, feeling a mix of desire and affection as you watched him. “I think you should,” you said, your voice just a little breathy. “For me? Definitely,”.

Joe chuckled again, that deep, smooth sound that always made your stomach flutter. “Alright, well, looks like I’m growing it out then,” he said, with a wink. “And maybe I'll even rock that headband more often for you,”

You grinned, feeling the rush of anticipation bubbling inside you. “Good,” you replied, voice dripping with teasing sweetness. “And just so you know, I’ll be taking full advantage of that hair...every chance I get,”. 

Joe moved his hand from the center console and gently placed it on your thigh, the weight of his touch grounding you in the most comforting way. His hand was warm and steady, a quiet reassurance that he was there, always there. The soft squeeze he gave your thigh sent a ripple of love through you, making your chest ache in the best way. “You having fun?” he asked, his voice filled with nothing but affection, like it was impossible for him to speak to you any other way.

You leaned into him slightly, smiling as your fingers grazed over the back of his hand. “I am,” you said, your voice warm, sincere. “Thank you so much for doing this, baby.” You lifted his hand to your lips, brushing a soft kiss over his knuckles. It was such a simple gesture, but it felt monumental, like every touch held the weight of a thousand unspoken promises.

Joe glanced at you with that smile—the one that could make your heart stop and your breath hitch all at once. “Hey,” he said, his voice casual but his eyes serious, filled with the kind of love that made you weak in the knees. “They’re my family too,” he nodded toward the road ahead where your cousins’ car was just up the way, but his gaze quickly returned to you. The look in his eyes told you everything—this wasn’t just for you. This was for him, too. Being with you, being part of your world, was exactly where he wanted to be.

You couldn’t help but let your eyes linger on him a little longer than you intended, the moment stretching out between you. The soft glow from the boardwalk lights reflected off his face, and for a second, everything else melted away. God, how was this your life? Joe wasn’t just a dream come true—he was the dream. The man who had walked into your world and made it brighter in every possible way. Your family adored him, your friends sang his praises, and you? You were so in love with him, it physically hurt and sometimes it felt like you couldn’t breathe. No one else could make you feel this way—no one else ever would. The Cove might have been your home, but you realized that home was wherever he was. 

He was your home, your peace, your future. Just as this place was for you when you were younger. 

“You know,” Joe said, breaking the silence again and glancing at you quickly before turning his focus back to the road, “It’s crazy how everything changed in the blink of a crinkling eye,”. “Feels like just yesterday we were sitting across from each other at that FroYo place near campus,”.

You couldn’t help but laugh softly at the memory, the sound warm and nostalgic just like the thought of that date. “I know,” you replied, leaning your head back against the seat. “You were so nervous…it was so adorable,”.

Joe chuckled, his hand squeezing your thigh gently. “I was not nervous,” he protested, though the playful tone in his voice betrayed him. “You were just…you were something else. You still are. I remember sitting there, trying to act all cool, but the second you smiled at me like how you do now, I was done for. Take my heart, my attention, my breath, my last name. It’s all yours,”.

You turned your head to look at him, your heart swelling with the memory. “I remember thinking, ‘This guy? The quarterback? He’s way too good to be true.’ But then you made that dumb joke about how toppings are what separate FroYo from ice cream and that little conversation about Fred’s and I thought, ‘Yep, this one’s a keeper’,”. 

“I still stand by that joke. It’s a classic one my dad used to tell, I do a great impression of him…as you know, and that was one of them,” he smiled. 

You grinned, the warmth in your chest spilling over into your words. “It’s wild how far we’ve come, though. From that little FroYo shop to this…to us,” you paused, your voice softening. “Back then, I had no idea how much my life was about to change,”.

Joe’s hand left your thigh for a moment, only to reach over and entwine his fingers with yours. “Neither did I,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. “But I knew, even then, that you were it for me. Everything else—the football, the attention, all of it—it never mattered as much as being with you,”.

Your throat tightened at his words, the significance of his sincerity washing over you. “Joe…,”. you whispered, your voice trembling slightly. “You make me feel so…safe. Like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,”.

Joe glanced at you again, his blue eyes soft and full of love. “That’s because you are,” he said simply. “And I am too. Right here with you,”.

The car fell into a comfortable silence after that, the hum of the engine and the soft sound of the ocean breeze outside the only noise. You reached over and placed your free hand on his arm, squeezing gently, as the glow of the Ferris Wheel grew brighter in the distance.

Being here with him, in this moment, felt like stepping into a dream. The memory of that first date at LSU seemed both so far away and yet so close, like it had all happened in another lifetime. And yet, every step since then had led you here—to this moment, to this life, to him.

It really did feel like everything had changed in the blink of an eye, but somehow, it also felt like it had always been leading to this.

“Y/N,” Joe’s voice pulled you back to reality, light and teasing. “You’re staring at me again,” he said, his lips curving into a smirk.

You blinked as your laughter bubbled up, “I know,” you admitted. You glanced back out at the boardwalk lights as they came into clearer view. You hadn’t even noticed how close you were to the pier—the car rolling into the lot barely registered in your mind. You’d been too busy getting lost in him.

Joe shot you a knowing look, his smirk growing. “Well…you gonna tell me why this time?”.

You let out a soft, content sigh, your heart feeling impossibly full. “I just feel so high school every time I look at you,” you confessed, the words tumbling out without hesitation. Your voice was light, almost dreamy; just like him. “Like, I feel 16 again. I’m dating the quarterback—the one who notices me in the stands and actually falls for me. It’s like every stupid fantasy I had when I was younger, but so much better. I never thought I’d have the courage to make a move, but you did. You knew what you wanted, and now, here we are. It’s like I’m living a teen rom-com with you,” you paused, glancing out at the pier where the Ferris Wheel spun slowly in the night sky. “Being here, doing all of this, it just feels like I’ve stepped into one of my favorite memories and brought you with me,”.

Joe parked the car, his hand still entwined with yours, but his eyes were now fully on you. His gaze softened as your words settled in, and you could see the way his heart melted in real-time. He leaned closer, his hand leaving yours to cup your cheek instead. His thumb brushed along your jawline, slow and tender, as he whispered, “Y/N, I love you,”. The raw emotion in his voice made your heart race. “You’re my dream, too. Then, now, and forever,” he added, his words barely audible but no less powerful.

You leaned in, closing the small gap between you, your lips brushing his as you whispered, “I love you too, Joe. Thank you for making my dream a reality,”.

The kiss that followed was soft, sweet—one that held the weight of everything you both felt but didn’t need to say out loud. The neon glow from the Ferris Wheel bathed you in its warm light, painting the moment in hues of magic. It was like something out of a high school movie—the kind of scene that stayed etched in your memory forever. Sitting there, in the car with the man of your dreams, at the very place where so many of your favorite memories were made, felt like a full-circle moment.

When you finally pulled away, breathless but grinning, your laughter bubbled up, soft and full of warmth. “You know how that felt?” you asked, your voice light but tinged with meaning, your eyes never leaving his.

Joe’s lips curved into that familiar, boyish grin that always made your heart skip. His voice was playful yet tender as he replied, “So high school?”.

A laugh escaped you, your chest tightening with affection. “So high school,” you echoed, your voice carrying a mix of amusement and something softer, something deeper. You leaned in again, brushing your lips against his for another quick kiss, but before the moment could last, a loud knock against the window shattered your little bubble.

“Come onnn, lovebirds!” Micheal’s teasing voice broke through, loud and full of mock impatience. “We don’t have all night!”.

Joe groaned, shaking his head as he chuckled. “They’re relentless,” he murmured, shooting you an amused glance before opening his door and stepping out. In one smooth motion, he rounded the car to open your door, as he always did. His hand was there immediately, warm and steady, as he helped you out. His fingers entwined with yours, fitting perfectly like they belonged there and you could just sink into him. 

“Let’s make this night ours,” Joe whispered, his voice low and intimate, meant only for you. His thumb brushed softly over your hand, a silent promise in the touch. You looked up at him, your heart full, and nodded, unable to do anything but smile.

Together, you walked toward the pier, your steps falling effortlessly in sync as if your bodies knew the rhythm of being together better than anything else. The neon glow of the Ferris Wheel reflected in his eyes, making them shine even brighter than usual. The salty ocean breeze danced around you, lifting your hair and kissing your cheeks, but all you felt was the warmth of his hand in yours and the unshakable joy radiating between you.

It wasn’t just a walk to the pier—it was a moment that felt timeless. Being with Joe felt like those endless summer nights you’d spent as a teenager, where the world seemed to stop spinning and all that existed was love, laughter, and the glow of possibilities. He made you feel carefree and infinite, like you could bottle this moment and carry it with you forever.

As the sound of the waves filled the air, and the lights of the pier painted the night with magic, you squeezed Joe’s hand, glancing up at him. His expression was soft, his smile easy, but the way he looked at you held so much more. It was a look that said you were his world, his dream, his forever.

The future stretched out ahead of you, glowing with promise like the lights strung along the boardwalk. With Joe by your side, it didn’t feel uncertain—it felt certain. Certain that no matter what was to come, you’d face it together. In that moment, your heart swelled with the kind of love you’d only dreamed of, the kind that made everything else fade into the background.

Joe glanced down at you, his grin turning playful as he nudged you lightly. “So, you wanna hit the Ferris Wheel first or grab some cotton candy?”. 

You laughed, leaning your head against his shoulder as you walked. “Both,” you said, your voice light with excitement. “We’re doing everything tonight, Mr. Quarterback,”.

He chuckled, his hand squeezing yours as he pressed a kiss to your temple. “Anything you want, lovebug,”.

And just like that, with the Ferris Wheel spinning above and the sound of your cousins laughing in the background, you knew. This was your forever. With Joe, every moment felt like a dream you never wanted to wake up from—a love story that would only grow sweeter with time.

–The End–

[lnfours]

focal point ☆ chapter 3 | l.n

summary: house parties in college? truly, what can go wrong?

warnings: art student!reader, best friend/college student!oscar, college student!lando, slight enemies to lovers!au, slight grumpy x sunshine, sexual themes mentioned (stamina), a lot of banter, lando's playboy vibe is back and in full swing! and who're oscar and lily secretly seeing?

series masterlist | listen to the playlist

“so the answer for number four would be fifty-six,” you said, pointing to the formula on the lined sheet of notebook paper. you had been helping lando with his econ homework since you got out of your last class of the day, meeting up at the cafe on the other side of campus. 

you looked up to see that he wasn’t paying attention, his face buried in his phone as he smiled, fingers moving a mile a minute as he texted. you huffed, rolling your eyes before reaching across the table and snatching the phone into your hands, locking it and tossing it onto the table next to yours.

“hey!” 

“you asked for my help and you’re not even paying attention,” you said, “did you even hear what i said?”

“sorry, but this is important,” he said, “the guys are throwing a party tonight and we’re going over the checklist for all the supplies.”

“which entails what, exactly? booze and bitches?”

“no!” he scoffed, sending him a pointed look as he sighed, “well, we don’t call them ‘bitches’.”

“lando, this is serious!”

“so is this!” he said before taking in your very clearly annoyed facial expression, “okay, okay, fine. all my undivided attention is going to you now, i promise. im sorry.”

you took in a breath before walking him through the problem again. he nodded in understanding, asking questions about certain things but shortly getting the hang of it once you talked in through it. he had made a decent amount of progress in the short 4 weeks you had been holding up on the deal the two of you made. your painting was slowly coming along and he was on track to passing his econ final with flying colors.

maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.

his phone buzzed next to you, which you ignored as you continued explaining the next chapter to him. the buzzes got more consistent, making it impossible to ignore as you tried to help him study. 

okay, last statement retracted. 

finally you sighed in defeat, pushing his phone towards him, “we’ll cover more on monday,” you said, “i think whatever is going on requires your attention a little more.”

he sent you an apologetic look as he opened his phone, “oh, no way! jackson got some of the girls from the cheer squad to come!”

you nodded, packing your things into your bag, “sounds like a good time,”

“you should come,” he said, “you can bring lily, too. ‘s gonna be fun,”

“hard pass,” you sent him a tight lipped smile, “a bunch of college guys, cheer women and booze in the same room? absolutely not.”

“there’s gonna be other people there,” he contested, “i’m pretty sure oscar’s going, that is if he can get the balls to ask the girl he’s been non-stop talking about to come with him.” 

oscar and a girl? this was the first you were hearing about this. definitely something to take mental note of and pester him about later. 

“lando-” 

“just say you’ll think about it, yeah?” 

you huffed, grabbing your coffee cup from the table as he stood from his chair, “fine, i’ll think about it. no promises, and it’s for sure looking like a 99.9% no and a .1% chance of a yes.”

he shook his head as he followed you out of the cafe, holding the door open for you as you made your way back outside into the harsh winter weather, cold wind hitting like a smack in the face. he had made it a habit to walk you back to your apartment if you were studying somewhere that wasn't yours. 

you bid him a short goodbye and thanked him for walking you back before heading inside and up to your floor. you opened the front door, lily immediately calling to you from her side of the apartment.

“hey!”

“hey!” you called back, throwing your things by the front door, making your way to her bedroom. she sat at her desk, mascara in hand as she studied her appearance in the light up mirror. you fell back onto her bed as she raised her eyebrows at you.

“that bad, huh?”

you hummed, sitting up on your forearms, “that’s the thing, it’s not bad,” you sighed, “i hate to admit it, but i think he’s growing on me a little bit.”

she wiggled her eyebrows at you as you groaned, “gross, not like that!”

“i’m kidding!” she laughed, “who knows though, maybe all that deep hatred you two have for god knows what reason will lead to really hot sex!”

“please, shut up!” you let out an even louder groan, pressing the heels of your palms into your eyes.

“i’m just saying!” she laughed, putting her hands up in fake surrender, “i mean, c’mon! do you know how many girls would kill to be in your situation right now? he’s hot, single, and it’s not like i don’t see the way he looks at you. he definitely is feeling something he doesn’t want to show just yet,”

“never in my life will i ever hook up with lando norris,” you said sternly, “even if he was the last human on planet earth.”

“whatever you say,” she said, placing her makeup back in the bag, “what’re your plans for tonight?”

“well, i was gonna ask if you wanted to get wine drunk and have a shitty rom-com movie marathon, but clearly you’ve got other plans.”

“i do,” she smiled, “you know that guy in my chem class i’ve been kind of talking to?” when you nodded, she continued, “he invited me out to a party one of his friend’s his having. told me i could bring someone,”

“what is with people and parties tonight?”

she shrugged, “could be because it’s almost the end of the semester, dunno.”

you shrugged back at her, “you’re going?”

she nodded, giving you her signature pleading look. the one that had always worked in the past and you knew was always going to work in the future. 

“please come with me,” she asked, “it would be a lot more fun with you there.”

“i don’t know, lils-”

“look at it this way, if you go and you find a hot guy, he’ll take your mind off of all the lando bullshit,” she said, “plus, we won’t get to go out next year, we need to make the most of it this year while we still can.”

you hated how good she was at convincing you to do something. she was the master at things like this. 

you sighed, “okay, fine!”

she smiled and cheered in her chair, the two of you rushing off to your side of the apartment to pick out an outfit for you. you opted on the simple black dress, slipping it on and fixing up your makeup before running a hand through your hair.

simple, but effective. you looked and felt hot. maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all. after letting her snap a few mirror pictures of the two of you, you were out the door and heading to the house where the party was. 

the walk to the off campus housing was longer than expected and the chilly nighttime air made the two of you walk a little bit quicker. as you neared the house, you could hear the music from outside the house. 

lily practically dragged you inside, the air thick and humid from the amount  of people jammed into the house. there were people everywhere, drinks in hand and dancing together. the cliche couples making out against the walls, and obviously it wouldn’t be complete without the beer pong table set up in the middle of the dining room. the scene looked like it was straight out of a teenage coming of movie. 

“i’m gonna go get a drink, you coming?”

you nodded at the light haired girl, following her into the kitchen. you grabbed a cup, letting her pour some of the vodka into your cup before you topped it off with whatever kind of juice was on the counter. you took a sip, taking the opportunity to actually take a look at the people around you. 

you spotted a blonde in a cheer squad uniform, clearly arriving just after practice. the conversation you had with lando re-entering your mind as you looked around the house. 

lily looked down at her phone before smiling softly at you, “chem guy is here, i’m gonna go find him. are you gonna be okay?”

you nodded, smiling softly, “yeah, yeah! go ahead! have fun,”

she smiled, “i’ll text you!”

“don’t do anything i wouldn’t do!”

she laughed, exiting the crowd of people who had found themselves in the kitchen. you heard cheering coming from the dining room, pushing through to see what the commotion was about. you looked past the bodies and found lando with his hands up in the air, beer in hand as he celebrated beating the other team in the game of beer pong.

“no fuckin’ way, mate! how’d you manage a comeback like that?’

“the master never tells his secrets,” he smiled, giving the guy who was on his team a handshake before he felt your eyes on him. he smiled when his eyes met yours, whispering something in the blonde’s ear before he started making his way towards you. 

“looks like that .1% managed to overpower tonight, huh?”

“lily asked me to come,” you spoke loudly over the music, “the guy she’s been talking to is here.”

he nodded, smirking, “you can tell me you came for me, i won’t tease you about it.”

you rolled your eyes, cocking your head to the side, “does your ego ever get tired?”

“stamina,” he smiled, “which i happen to have a lot of.”

“gross,” you scrunched your nose up, “didn’t want a visual.”

he took in your appearance, coming to the conclusion that you looked good in just about anything. he swore you could pull off a trash bag if you really wanted to.

“i like this,” he said, pointing to your dress, “suits you.”

you smiled softly, he looked good too. a little too good for your liking. his curls were wild, slowly growing a little bit longer and he was wearing a white button up t-shirt matched with a pair of black pants. 

one thing you couldn’t say was that he wasn’t attractive. sure, you had known this before, but especially right now. the top few buttons of his shirt undone, a silver chain hanging from his neck. the way his tanned skin looked under the dim lighting, the flashy watch sitting on his wrist. 

god, stop it. you’re not supposed to find him hot. you’re supposed to hate him.

 “not too bad yourself, norris.”

why’re you feeding into it? stop it. 

“can i let you in on a secret?” 

you held your breath as he leaned in closer after you softly shook your head. his expensive cologne filling your nose as he spoke lowly into your ear.

“i was really hoping you’d show up.”

[unconventional-lawnchair]

" Dinner Party "

Part 1

Mattheo Riddle x Fem!Potter!Reader

Masterlist

Summary: The Potters throw a dinner party; Mattheo meets the family}

Wc- 4142

Cw: Use of {Y/N}, Harry is a bit of an arse, cussing, sexual themes cussing, just a bunch of fluff and yearning}

Taglist- @helendeath @2dloveshp @hatakemrs

“Well.” Lily spoke slowly. “Look at us now.” 

Lily looked over at you just in time for you to glance up and meet her eyes. She smiled sweetly before she continued. “I think its sweet.”

…

The tension in the room was slowly beginning to ease. You couldn't help but feel a bit of hope grab hold of your chest. Your eyes flickered between your mother and your father. James, of course, ever protective, still held a look of drastic offense as Lily spoke up again. “I know you're a smart girl, I raised you myself. I knew your partner would be a sore subject.” 

She reached her hand over and placed it over James’ leg. She smiled at him, a look to try and convey everything running threw her head at once. They are kids. Our angel will be okay.

“Why? Did you.. not trust my judgment?” You asked cautiously, your hands slowly fisting the cloth of your pants. 

Lily quickly shook her head. “No, no, nothing like that. Quite the opposite.” She mused and turned to look at James who had closed his eyes and began to even his breaths.

“We used to joke you were perhaps meant to be a Hufflepuff. Darling, you have always seen the best in people, even when others couldn't really see it.” Lily offered and James scoffed. Your mother gave a small grimace before she spoke carefully. “Love is complicated. I can attest to that.” She began, eyeing James as if warning him to challenge her. 

“But love is beautiful. That night, at dinner, was the first time I've ever seen you talk back to us. I was distraught, and I am sorry I reacted the way I did.” She began to fiddle with his pant leg between her fingers. Speaking before you could continue. “It was immature. And if this boy puts so much fire in you, I want to at least meet him.”

Your body stiffened and your eyes widened. Looking between your father and mother as you stammered and tried to stutter out something. “M-meet you guys? We've only been dating a few months now.” You tried to defend.

You loved Mattheo, but he wasn't exactly house trained. He was raised by a house elf and saying the Malfoy’s tried to help raise him would be an exaggeration at the least. He could be polite, charming, he was well mannered when he wanted to be, as he had a smile that could take breaths away. 

But he was also Mattheo Riddle, and the idea of putting him in a room with your father, the other most hotheaded boy you knew, was a terrifying one. Mattheo didn't take kindly to being reminded of his father. It felt cruel to put him in a boxed up room with the very people his parents tried to kill. Not to mention, he got emotional when it came to families. 

You acted like you didn't notice at first, for Merlin's sake you were head over heels for this boy. You would sit in his dorm room, bare to your core and tangled together under the sheets. He would be holding you from behind like you were a vice, telling you about his dreams of a family with love like yours. When you would mention your family, he’d grow tense but stay his stoic self when you would ask. 

It wasn't hard to read him like a book, especially since Mattheo basically read it for you. He had changed a lot in the last few months you'd been with him. You used to fight horribly the first month. He was still so used to his single status, he hadn't really had positive expectations set on him. You explained to him what you wanted, you were patient, then he started to talk and communicate with you more efficiently, copying your behaviors to mimic your maturity. He loved how happy you looked when he improved himself, the praise sick boy wanting any bit you'd give him. When he told you he quit smoking, he let you drown him in praise and kisses, using withdrawal as an excuse for him being more handsy with you.

You soon learned from his friends that he had quit months ago, when you first told him you hated them, the cheek. He didn't even have the sense to look guilty when it came to light, just seemed so damn proud of himself.

In all honesty, it was hard not to adore him. Even when he was being a little arse. You had fallen hard for the loaded gun, and he obeyed you like you were the trigger. That being said.. he was still Mattheo, meeting your parents seemed like a bigger step than when he would drag you under his sheets with a silencing charm. 

“What? Don't want him to meet us?” James spoke up, and you snapped out of your thoughts. He sounded almost hopeful, like you weren't entirely serious about him. You gave him a pout and Lily squeezed his thigh tighter. 

“Do you think it's too soon, lovely?” Your mother asked patiently and you bit your lip. The last thing you wanted to do was lie to your mother. Lying to James was easy, he was a bit of a push over when it came to you, and you never lied about anything truly groundbreaking. But Lily, she had been your best friend for years. She was your mother, your confidant, and she knew more about you than anyone else. Probably helps that she's known you since you were welcomed home.

“... I am just scared.” You admitted and James’s expression shifted to soften. He sat up a bit and Lily gave him a soft smile.

“Why?” Your mother prodded and you curled your knees to your chest. 

“Just.. he's never had this.” You gestured around you. “He can be a bit.. reactive when it comes to stress?” You tried to offer the information carefully and James frowned hard.

“Reactive as in?” He leaned closer and your eyes flashed open wide. 

“No, Merlin, he would never. Not to me.” You tried to defend and the look on your mothers face made you realize what you said.

“That's not- no, I don't mean it like that.” You quickly tried to back track. Lily sent James a smirk. 

James looked at her with a furrowed brow and a slight pout. “What?”

“Just reminds me of how I tried to defend my choice of partner to my parents. Then, to your parents.” Lily laughed and James bit his cheek but smiled to see his wife so happy. You watched the two and your heart throbbed a bit. You loved your parents so much. You wanted that with Mattheo. Were you moving too fast? It was likely. Could this go horribly wrong? Most definitely. 

“Okay.” You spoke up and your parents turned to you “I'll invite him.”

~~~

Mattheo was at the Lestrange manor alone, as usual, but this summer was far different. He usually would busy himself with his friends, going to pointless balls the Malfoy’s insisted he attend, sneaking off with pureblood girls he didn't even remember the names of. Or better, going drinking with his mates from school.

This summer was killing him. The silence of the manor used to bother him before, every footstep sounded like thunder, every breath he made echoed in his ears, but now? Merlin. You came from a loud family, you didn't know the pain of it. When he was with you, the louder things weren't always bad. You always talked a bit louder than him, played music in his dorm with his unused radio, talked to him while you ran your fingers through his hair. It was easy to like the louder things now. He hated quiet.

The silence just reminded him you weren't there. He didn't even remember when his nights spent alone with witches of different backgrounds became nights of desperate yearning for you. Neither of you had said it yet, but even if you were just talking now, he didn't intend to keep it that way. He didn't want anyone else. He couldn't have anyone else. And the idea of you with someone else? He'd rather die.

Theodore Nott had been lettering him to try and get him out of the hell house, but the idea of you lettering him back when he wasn't home ate him up inside. Pansy called him whipped, when he lettered her to ask if he had done something wrong. ‘It’s only been two weeks, let her settle.’ Out of all of his friends, you clicked with her the easiest. It didn't help that he got a bit jealous when you talked to his male friends. He's never cared this much.

He was sure you've had to have hexed him.

Slipped him Amortentia.

Or soaked your entire body in it. 

Maybe it was mixed into that lovely perfume of yours? 

He groaned out and covered his face, leaning back from his desk into his seat. He let his arms go slack at the sides of his chair and looked at the ceiling. He was pathetic, but he wasn't scared of it this time. He liked feeling weak, if it was for you. He bit his bruised bottom lip and turned to look at the window. What would you think of him now? Sitting about with nothing to do but need you. He needed the heavenly haze you gave him. He liked to worship you, like you were all he was beyond his family. 

Two days after he had sent that letter, he was starting to wonder if you had realized your mistake. That being with your family reminded you that Mattheo Riddle was no one. Someone who should remember he was no one. Not worth the time you spared him day to day, that he was just some phase. He didn't know if he could recover from you. He might just throw the towel in if you didn't want him. Who could recover from a love like a prayer? A love that made him think of you like it was a threat. You were a threat. To his sanity. To his reputation. To his status. 

And he was a threat to you. Obsession, he had to agree with Draco. You are an obsession.

His thoughts were thrown out when he noticed something coming into view through his window. He nearly knocked his chair over as he stumbled over to open it. The Potter’s Owl.

~~~

“You're invited to the Potter’s Residence for our first dinner party of the year,”

Mattheo thumbed over the invitation in hand. He was shocked when he first read it, not only did he never expect to be invited to the Potter’s, he definitely didn’t ever expect you to tell your parents enough about him to be invited. He was excited, thumbing the invitation over and over.

He had groomed himself properly, he was in a button up shirt and a green vest, his hair was almost tamed. He was holding the invitation, raising his knuckle to knock on the door.

You snapped to attention from where you were looking in the mirror. You were wearing a deep forest green dress, the one you knew Mattheo loved, and your dad seemed to take that as a personal offense, dressed in his red dress shirt that matched your mothers dress.

“I still don't like this.” Sirius grumbled from his seat on the couch, and Remus rolled his eyes from where he leaned in the doorway. “A bit late, darling.” He mumbled as he watched you walk down the hall to open the door.

Lily requested Harry and James set up the table, leaving just you and her in the immediate room.

You took a deep breath, looking at your mom before she nodded and you turned back. Opening the door you were a bit startled to see Mattheo so put together, you had to remember that he was raised as pureblood royalty, you just never figured you'd see him so done up. You bit your lip a bit and he chuckled at this, snapping you out of your daze. You quickly stepped aside and he walked in, wrapping one of his arms around your waist and pulled you flush against his form, not having noticed Lily yet. 

“I missed you, beautiful.” He whispered, leaning forward to kiss you. The second his lips touched yours, you sighed. Like he unwove every bit of your tense frame with just his touch. You couldn't remember a thing, not why you were so worried, where you were, and how your mother was watching you. For ten whole seconds, with just his soft careful kiss, he had made you dumb. He took a sharp breath and sighed after you, stepping closer.

Lily noticed the signs as it got a bit deeper than just a greeting kiss, and she quickly cleared her throat. You quickly pulled away in a fluster, and Mattheo just followed your lips to give you another quick peck, before he pulled back and gave Lily his dazzling look. “Mrs. Potter, right?” He mused and you had to catch a whine in your throat when he stepped back. He held his hand out and Lily moved to shake it, but instead he took her palm and kissed the back of her wrist. “You have a lovely home, ma'am. I can't say I'm surprised, {Y/N} had taken on your style.” He mused and Lily smirked at him.

“So you've been to my daughter’s dorm, hm?” She asked cheekily and his eyes widened and his face dropped. Like a guilty puppy. “I-”

Lily laughed and waved her hand. “Please, don't feel the need to explain. I'm only joking.”

Mattheo blinked a few times and slowly smiled. You and Lily were a lot alike. It looked like he had an ally already. He let go of her hand and stood up straighter. Waving his hand a bundle of Orchids appeared and he offered them to her. “Well, thank you for welcoming me.”

Your heart swelled at the interaction. Maybe tonight wouldn't be horrible. 

“Riddle, hm?” 

Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Sirius stood in the doorway of the parlor room, staring down at Matheo with a harsh glare. Mattheo met his gaze with his usual dissociative state. “Sirius Black, sir? It's nice to meet you.” He mused and offered him his hand. Sirius looked down at his hand then back to Mattheo. Riddle sighed and moved his hand down to his side, a bit startled when you walked up and took it for yourself. 

He smiled at you like a love sick fool, and Sirius felt his lip twitch at the look.

Remus seemed to see it too, ever the helpless romantic, he bit his cheek. Trying to hide a smile. 

Now, Remus despised the idea of you bringing a Riddle into the family. He hated the idea you would possibly, one day carry the last name of the monster that was Tom Riddle. But those thoughts left his head when he saw how you rested your head on his shoulder, your fingers playing with his, like a practiced art, knowing exactly how to soften the blow of rejection from your uncle.

Suddenly, Mattheo was giving that bright smile again, and you felt a bit cocky to be the one to give it to him. Pressing your lips to his shoulder and you peaked over it but just stared at his profile.

“Nice to meet you, again.” Remus mused, offering his hand and Mattheo’s smile only grew, taking his hand and shaking it firm. “Thank you, Professor.”

He shook his head. “Remus is fine.”

Sirius gawked at him in full offense, having lost himself to the boy's charm. 

Before Sirius could make a snappy comment, Lily spoke up. “Well, I'm sure you're hungry, let's go get you fed, hm?”

“Yes ma'am.” Mattheo responded in kind, before glancing down at you by his shoulder and wetting his lips. Leaning down to steal another kiss, Sirius scoffed as he passed you two to get to the table. Remus followed behind him, as Lily waved the two to their seats. 

“Not much for a dinner party, hm?” He mumbled to you and you gave a small laugh. 

“Not all of us are as extravagant as your family.” You teased and he gave a wolfish smirk. “I think you forget, your father is James Potter, famous for his parties if I remember.” He teased and you rolled your eyes before biting your lip. “Yeah, yeah.”

“Not to mention, even if he seems to hate me, Sirius is my family.”

You narrowed your eyes before your eyebrows jumped upward as you pieced together his family tree. Right. His mother was Sirius’s cousin. It suddenly sunk into you just why Sirius seemed to be taking this so seriously. Mattheo was a mix of the two things he hated most, his family and Voldemort. Must be hard to believe anything good could come from those two things.

You shoved the thought away. He could get over himself. You weren't going to throw away everything you and Mattheo were because Sirius couldn't get over his bias. Your father too.

Once you and Mattheo walked into the dining room, it seemed to be going well. There wasn't much conversation between Mattheo and your family, you found yourself talking to each other. Updates on your lives, him whispering how much he missed you, taking every opportunity to drown you in his affections. You were a flustered mess, but smiling the brightest you've had in days. It was like an addiction, his attention. 

You didn't notice Lily's attention on you two, too wrapped up in Riddle. He was the same, looking at you like you were the last person in the world, like you were worth falling for. He sure hoped so, because he was approaching the ground rapidly as your eyes danced his features. It reminded her of something, turning to look at James and was met with the same look as he tried to start up another Quidditch conversation with her. She simply rolled her eyes fondly. How could he not see what was happening?

“So.” Lily spoke up after her conversation with James flickered out. She spoke in a tone that demanded attention. “How did you two meet? When did this start?” She offered and Mattheo bit his cheek and looked at you, for the hundredth time that night. You smiled and looked back at your mom.

“Well, Professor McGonagall asked me to help a student study during lunch periods. I had no clue who it was but I figured it couldn't hurt.” You mused, conveniently not bringing up the bribe. “Then it kind of.. changed. Eventually it just became casual study dates. Like one, I was teaching him how to summon a patronus and-” You lit up as bright as a star as you began your story, before Harry scoffed. Your face fell a bit and you looked over at Harry with a furrowed brow.

Mattheo had to resist the urge to snap at him for taking away such a view.

He looked up at you with a glare. “I've just never met a Death Eater who could use a patronus is all.”

There was a thick silence that filled the room as your jaw went slack. You tried to figure out a way to steer the conversation elsewhere, mouth growing dry.

Lily tried to speak up but Mattheo beat her to it. “Sorry to disappoint, still haven't it seems.” He cheeked and you looked back at him with a laugh. Your mother gave Harry a look that certainly meant danger for him later. Harry didn't even seem to care, just scoffed.

“He summoned a Fox.” You informed your mother and her mouth fell open a bit, her smile brightening. 

“Is that true?” He prodded Mattheo and he nodded. “Yes ma'am.”

Lily looked at James with raised eyebrows, amused, and he shook his head before clicking his tongue. “So. Heard you were in the Quidditch team, what position?” James finally and reluctantly joined the conversation. 

“Beater, sir.” Mattheo mused and smirked, eyeing Harry from the corner of his eye. “Seems someone still miffed over the bludger he took a few weeks ago.”

“Your team cheated.” Harry challenged quickly and Mattheo gave him a wolfish smirk. “Did we? Or is that the only way you'd accept that we got the cup?”

“Watch it, Riddle. I'll make a fool of you next season.” Harry quipped and it actually sounded almost playful. You gave a scoff and Mattheo chuckled. Figures they'd bond over Quidditch of all things.

“Really? A beater?” James spoke up and Mattheo looked over to him with a nod. 

“Sirius was a beater too, we were a fierce team.” James mused and leaned forward. “We created this move…”

Their voices faded out, and you smiled at the scene. It was cordial, almost friendly, as the men at the table talked about the sport with enthusiasm. Well, all safe for Remus who started talking to your mother about a new book recommendation. You just watched how Mattheo seemed to fall into place in your family so easily, and how happy he seemed about it. 

Way too soon, the night was over, and Mattheo was leaving. You and your parents walked him to the door, and he turned to face you.

“Thank you again, Mrs. Potter, the food was amazing. And Mr. Potter, thank you for allowing me to come over.” He mused and your mom shook her head. “Please, anytime sweetheart. Call me Lily.” 

Then, much to your surprise. “Call me James.” Your father mused and took his hand into a firm shake.

Mattheo had this startled look on his face, thrown for a loop before he quickly recovered. “Y-yes sir. I mean James, yes James.”

You giggled and before Mattheo could be given any more surprises, you walked up and hugged his arm. “I'll walk him out of the apparition wards.”

“Don't be gone too long-” James began before Lily covered his mouth and shooed you both off. “Go! We'll be here.” She reassured you.

You pulled Mattheo out the door, leaving Lily to smirk up at James and he groaned. “Okay, the kid isn't that bad.”

“You too!?” Sirius shouted from across the house and Lily laughed. 

~~~

You walked with Mattheo, managed to get just a few yards from the house before his lips were on yours. He had stopped completely, wrapping his arms around your waist and almost toppled you over when he leaned over your frame so easily. You let your hands slide up to his biceps and he gave a low groan, pulling away before he got too far. 

You took a sharp puff of air and steadied your breathing. Your eyes met his deep dark ones. He was looking at you with something so familiar and yet it was hungrier than you'd ever seen before. “Mattheo-”

“Tonight was amazing.” He whispered and took your lips again. This time, you actually managed to prepare yourself. Your hands slipped behind his neck and into his gelled hair. Pouting into the kiss and he smirked. “What?”

“Your hair. I hate it like this.” You mumbled into his lips, not wanting to break the kiss. Mattheo laughed and pulled his wand from his pocket, waving it to return his hair to his naturally fluffy glory. 

“That better?” He teased, giving a toothy smirk as he watched you lick your lips clean of him. 

“Much.” This time, you started the kiss, earning a low yelp from him. He chuckled and pushed you against the wall of your fathers property. Hands roaming lower, as you tilted your head back, his new target being your neck.

“You’ve been driving me mad all night, ya know that?” He breathed against your collarbone, fingers fiddling with the end of your dress. “Had to look your father in the eye tonight, and you still wore this? All I could think of was the last time you wore it.” 

You gave a low gasp when his fingers lipped just under the small skirt. “M-Mattheo-”

“I've missed you, beautiful. The last two weeks were torture, you know that? Know what you do to me?” He mumbled against your skin. Your eyes grew hazy the more he spoke. Like he was controlling you with his words. Suddenly, his head snapped up and he looked just past you. 

“Huh. Do you guys have a dog?” He asked and you snapped out of your trance when you heard a loud roar from behind you. “And.. a stag? You have dogs and deer on your property?” He asked and you simply covered your face and gave a loud groan.

“Dad!!”

[buttercandy16]

In-laws

PAIRING: Dark!Agatha Harkness x Reader, Agatha Harkness x Reader x Rio Vidal

SUMMARY: In-laws are the worst and you found out the hard way.

WARNING(s): Dark themes, Non-con, and a whole lot of SMUT!

A/N: Dark themes ahead. If you find these things disturbing I strongly advice that you skip this post. Thank you!

Y/N POV 

The night's cold breeze is crisp on my face as I stand outside the balcony thinking about how perfect my wedding tomorrow will be. 

Nicky and I have been together since my parents started working for his parents. At first, I was reluctant to engage in a romantic relationship with him since in the eyes of society we were unfit for each other, but he was persistent and in the end, I let love win. I was even more thankful that his parents accepted me and my family with open arms despite our lowly status in life. 

After years of being together, we are finally making it official tomorrow as husband and wife. 

I just finished celebrating my bachelorette party earlier which was neatly organized by one of my soon-to-be mother-in-law, Agatha. While Nicky is having his bachelor's party with his set of friends. 

Everything will be perfect, for sure nothing will go wrong. 

"Excited?" I was pulled out from my thoughts when Agatha appeared by my side with a bottle of wine in hand. 

For the record, I'm currently staying at Nicky's house. Both of his mothers insisted that I stay here before the wedding and I agreed.

"Yeah, I'm so excited to get married to Nicky!" I exclaimed excitedly. 

Agatha gave me a chuckle before waving the wine bottle in front of my face. 

"Good, then we better celebrate with this." 

"Ummm... I don't want to be rude, but I'll have to decline. I don't drink alcohol, remember?"

Agatha rolled her eyes at me before she leaned in closer to my ear. 

"Oh come on, sweetheart. That was different, this one we get to enjoy all to ourselves, and I think it's about time you try right? And it's not like we're gonna get wasted, you'll be fine tomorrow. I swear." 

I suppose... 

"O--okay then, but I'll only drink one glass.”

"One glass is enough" Agatha smiled at me mischievously before slightly pushing me inside the room. 

I was a bit nervous about how she was acting, she seemed pushy. But I was fast to dismiss that thought as she filled our glasses with wine. 

She gave me mine before sitting next to me on the sofa, only an arm's length away from each other. 

"Go on" she urged playfully... 

I swirled the wine in my glass slightly before carefully putting it to my lips and tentatively sipping the liquid. I found it delicious and very cooling.

“This is delicious!" 

"Yes, simple but very soothing. Finest wine you can ever have. But, you must drink deeply for the full effect." 

I eagerly did as I was told, and Agatha seemed satisfied with this. Soon I was holding an empty glass. I had drained it and hadn't even noticed. The drink was that smooth. The only problem is that I found that I was still thirsty. 

"Could I have another, please?" I asked, her eyes glinted with something dark from my request. 

"I think that can be arranged." 

Agatha was careful to replenish my glass whenever it emptied as we talked and talked into the night. 

It was quite odd, no matter how much I drink I still feel thirsty. 

I wondered if it was starting to affect me. I noticed that the room was becoming increasingly warm. Worse, I was finding my body becoming uncomfortably warm. My face was becoming flush. My heart was beating very fast and I was practically panting, my breath had gotten so fast. I was starting to sweat inside my clothes, too. My clothes were becoming very confining. How odd, I thought. It was supposed to be a chilly evening. But now, I desire nothing more than to get out of my clothes, then I would feel so much better. 

"Have you and Nicholas done it yet?" Her question almost made me choke on my drink, her eyes never leaving mine. 

Am I hearing this right? Does she mean th--- 

She slowly traced the rim of her wineglass while looking at me curiously, "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Did you have sex yet?" 

Her question slightly took me aback but answered, nonetheless. 

"N--no, we haven't. I'm still pure" 

The moment I said pure, a shadow seems to pass on her features as the corner of her lips slightly lifted sinisterly, barely noticeable in the dark. 

But I saw it... 

She snickered under her breath as she slightly swirled the wine in her glass. 

That's when I realized that she's never touched it. Not even a single drop. 

She followed my gaze to her wine glass before catching mine. Slightly tilting her head, she then smiled knowingly. 

She knows that I've noticed. 

I was starting to feel uncomfortable from this so I decided that it was time to retire for the night. But when I stood up, I was immediately met by sudden dizziness making me sit back on the couch ungracefully. 

It felt like my innards were being replaced by some kind of emptiness. I tried to stand again, desperate to leave this room. I swayed for just a moment before Agatha caught me. There was nothing I could do now, and as I slowly slumped sideways, she gently tugged on my shoulder, causing me to lie flat, with my head on her lap. Now all I could see was my fiance's mother smiling down at me… and the world went black. 

_=_=_ 

How long I was out, I’m not sure. I opened my eyes, and it took them a moment to adjust to the light.

Something was wrong. 

My arms could not move, despite my best efforts, and the air felt rather cold on my skin. And when my eyes adjusted, I immediately saw why. My wrists had been secured firmly in two straps, on either side of my head. And the cool air on my skin was because I'm completely naked! 

I tried to scream my lungs out, to shout for help, to do anything that might get me out of this situation. But the only thing that came out was a muffled sound. That has something to do with the gag placed over my mouth. But it did draw some attention to me because a figure suddenly appeared over my vulnerable form, and when it spoke, I heard the unmistakable voice of my fiance's mother. 

"So, you're finally awake" 

"I think before you try going off on one, I should probably introduce you to a bit of "context," I think you'd call it." She reached for the table next to her and picked up a remote. She turned on the TV that was positioned just above the bed I was strapped to. "Let's just say you might want to forget about struggling when I show you this video." 

My confusion made me forget my anger, for a moment. But as the film started, and what I was watching became clear to me, my anger was replaced by shock and horror. 

It was a video of me and my co-worker Tony, sitting in my office, and him kissing me. It had been a professional meet-up, he was showing me some files that we needed to sort out before the big presentation when out of the blue he just kissed me. I froze out of shock while his lips continued to press against mine but when I finally snapped out of it I immediately pushed him off me and gave him an ear-deafening slap on the face. But that wasn't shown in the film. It was just the kiss, making it look like I did it deliberately. I remembered him looking at me in pity like he was sorry for what he did. I didn't tell anyone about it, not even Nicky. And now my soon-to-be mother-in-law possesses proof of it.

But how? Why was there a video? Based on the angle I know it was filmed from a hidden camera. Was it done intentionally? For what reason?! Was she behind it? 

If someone got hold of it, I wouldn't just get fired from fraternizing with a colleague. I would probably lose Nicky as well. 

And that scared me shitless... 

Agatha pressed another button, and the video switched off. She looked at my face, now starting to become tear-stained and the fear now plain for everyone to see. She smiled. 

"I think that expression is a good one for you," she remarked. "It makes you look so sweet and innocent." 

She leaned over and planted a kiss on my cheek. I tried to jerk away but couldn't. The kiss practically seared my skin like molten lava. 

"Now that no one is going to disturb us, how about we get some fun done?" 

Agatha then began to touch me, and that was when I started to squirm a little. She moved her arms around my body, rubbing it in a very erotic way. "Aww… such a nice body, pet! I can't help myself but touch myself thinking about you every day. And now, I can't help myself anymore." She put a hand on my knee and began to gently stroke my leg. 

"What should I do first with your body?" She ran her finger on my smooth skin, before taking the gag off my mouth. 

I gritted my teeth from both anger and sadness. "Why are you doing this?" 

"Didn't I already tell you? I want your body to be mine! We are going to have so much fun, pet. And if you disobey me, I think you already know what will happen right? Not to mention, I can get  both of your parents fired, tsk... that would be unfortunate" 

A single tear ran on my cheek and Agatha kissed it, licking the drop. I know that I have no other choice but to let things happen. I have so much to lose if she doesn't get what she wants. 

She moved around and brought our lips together in a violent kiss, forcing her tongue past my gritted teeth. She bit my bottom lip hard enough to earn a gasp, allowing her to move her tongue past the barrier. 

The tongue quickly found its way around my mouth and explored every inch it could. In parallel to that, her hands moved around and groped my breast. She slightly massaged them and pinched the erected nipples. It was not that the events made me horny. It was the cold that made my body like that. 

The kiss ended after a while, me being out of air while the older woman was looking crazier than before. She licked her lips another time before stripping her shirt, skirt, and underwear away. She moved and kneeled in front of my face, her warmth being right on top of my face. "Eat up!" She said in a commanding voice, but I hesitated. The woman gritted her teeth in anger and grabbed my hair. "I ordered you to eat up!" She forced my mouth to get in contact with her entrance. 

Out of reflex, I attempted to close my mouth, but then felt a pair of forces crushing my head from both sides as her legs pressed me. The pain was enough to make me gasp. She took the opportunity to tighten her grip on my hair and pressed me harder. 

"That's more like it!" She started to move her body up and down, making my juice splash on my face. "Now, get that tongue of yours to work baby" She ordered and once again tightened the grip, forcing me to obey her order. 

I had to stick my tongue forward, forced to have a taste of the older woman. It was sweet and I can't stop myself from moaning from the taste of her. She also moaned at the feeling of my tongue inside her and moved faster until she cummed in my mouth. 

Just as I was about to let go of a sigh, my left leg was lifted, Agatha’s right leg sliding under it. "It is not the end yet! I still have a lot of things I want to teach your body." She pushed her hip forward, making our center meet.

I can't help but admit that it started to feel so good. The pleasure coursing through my veins like a blast of adrenaline... 

She repeated to thrush several more times, bringing our center together and making them part, and then collide again. She started to moan once again as I did the same, her hands starting to play with my breast, enjoying every contact through my body. Until my second orgasm was ripped from me this evening, followed by the beautiful temptress who laid on top of me while catching her breath from her release. 

She looked down on me in complete amusement as I lay helplessly underneath her. 

Agatha kissed the tip of my nose before sliding her warm body over me to reach something on the nightstand. When I saw what it was, my eyes grew wide as saucers... 

Oh no... please no more 

"P--please... I can't. It's too much" 

I struggled with my bonds as I tried to pull myself away from her. 

"Shhhh... I know you can. Just give mommy one more baby. I just need to taste you." 

She settled herself in between my legs, parting them by force. 

She reached between my legs and pushed something. The buzzing vibrator held against my clit sped up a notch, causing my back to arch. "Oh!" I gasped, head falling back. "Oh, oh—" 

Agatha cupped my left breast and mouthed at it, kissing and licking. I didn't know where to look but into her eyes, our foreheads practically touching on the pillow. 

I'm not sure what possessed me at the moment but I was suddenly desperate to taste her lips. 

"Kiss me," I begged. "Please..." 

And she did. Soft and sweet, holding me to her. Tugging my lip with her teeth and stroking my back, my butt. She took hold of my legs, cupping the underside of my knees. Bringing my legs around her waist, she rocked against me, teasing my lip with her tongue. 

I parted my lips for her, tasting her, sighing... Jolting when she tugged on my nipple. "Oh, ow, owie—, please don't—" 

I cried out with pleasure. This was so nice; it felt so good. 

She smiled at me. “You’ve got the prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen, pet,” she said, reaching to touch me, pulling back the hood of my clit so she could rub me with her thumb. I shivered. “Look at this tiny clit. So fucking cute, and all mine…” 

She proceeded to slide down my body until she was face to face with my dripping warmth. 

I gasped when she started to lick me and felt my stomach twitch, surprised and excited at Agatha’s eagerness to please me. I felt her tongue trace the outline of my lower lips and shuddered. A moment later, the older woman finally slid her tongue over my clit, and that's when I felt my walls clenching in a sudden spasm, screaming in pure pleasure for the third time. Due to the intensity, I blacked out. 

_=_=_ 

A groan left my lips when I woke up in the middle of the night with a sore body. 

Slightly stretching, that's when I realized that I was no longer chained to the bed and I was all alone in the room. 

Seeing this as an opportunity to get the hell outta here I immediately grabbed my clothes that were placed on the vanity chair before frantically dressing. 

No longer caring if I was dressed right I immediately ran towards the door but stopped when it suddenly opened, revealing my fiance’s other mother, Rio Vidal dressed in her expensive suit. 

"Ri-rio..." 

"Sweethear, what are you doing here?" Rio asked as she curiously surveyed my disheveled form. 

"Rio, you have to help me, please" I pleaded as I went closer to her. 

"Why? What's wrong?" She asked as she gently held my arm. 

"It's A–agatha, she---" 

"Hello, my love! You're home early," My words were cut off as Agatha appeared from the bathroom only covered by a plush purple robe. "It seems you caught our little bunny trying to hop away." She smiled devilishly... 

Wha-what? 

"Which is quite fortunate, I wouldn't want to miss out" Rio chuckled darkly. "But I'm very disappointed that you started without me, my love." 

"Well, you were late. It's been so long since I wanted a taste of her. I lost all self-control the moment I had her in my grasp. But don't worry, I saved the best for you." 

My eyes widened in realization and I felt my whole body shiver in fear as I heard the door's lock click. Locking me inside with two predators hungry for my young flesh... 

Nonononono... this isn't happening... 

Tears started to fall from my eyes as Agatha walked over to me, and Rio’s hand settled over my shoulders in a tight and almost painful hold. 

Agatha looked down on me with a predatory grin before slowly tilting my chin with her finger to meet her eyes. 

It was so dark and full of lust that it felt like I was about to drown in it. 

"Do you know the real reason why we let our son be with someone as lowly as you? It's because the moment we saw you, we knew that we needed to have you. Our perfect little toy." My heart ached from her words. So after all this time, I was nothing but a fool. 

"So here's what will happen from now on, you will get married to my son tomorrow and officially become part of our family. You will be a good wife to him and grant him the children he desires. But behind closed doors, you will become our pretty little pet and cater to our needs. Do you understand?" I nodded weakly.

"But the most important thing is... Nicky must never know about this little arrangement of ours. This secret will stay with you until you reach your grave, or else... I'm pretty sure you are aware of the power that we hold Y/N, if you go against us, we will destroy you and your loved ones. Do I make myself clear?" Her grip on my chin tightened, emphasizing how serious she was. 

"Ye-yes" I stuttered through gritted teeth. 

Agatha's eyes moved from behind me as Rio pressed her lips to my ear as she whispered... 

"If you behave like a good little girl for us, we will reward you with anything you desire, aside from your freedom of course." 

"Since that's all settled then, I think it's time for the main event" 

"Wh-what would that be?" I fearfully asked. 

Agatha smiled at me before leaning in close, her lips almost touching mine. 

"We're going to take your virginity baby"

_=_=_

Please don't forget to like, repost, and leave a comment below. I love hearing other peoples thoughts about this. Also, if you have any good ideas for a Dark fanfic featuring mother agatha please do send it. Thanks! 💜

[arcadia345]

Astrology observations🪷

Birthday post🥳

Minors DNI🔞

Not a real astrologer just my observations :)

Now offering aura & synastry readings

❀ Question for Gemini/3rd house moons do y’all like sleeping anywhere else but yawls bed like your siblings room the couch over a friend‘s house you just usually don’t sleep in your bed for some reason?

❀ Venus in 10th synastry and their habit of subtly admiring eachother and their work/hobbies esp the Venus person.

❀ Saturn/cap in the 2nd likes to steal??👀 or they tend to get stolen from

❀ Aries moons mothers could’ve wanted independence from the fathers at some point in time. Independence seems to be a big theme for this moon sign.

❀ Moon/venus in 11th natals don’t be surprised if your (online)friends are deeply in love with you🤭it usually starts off as them just caring deeply about your feelings and wellbeing but it can easily turn into obsession/love

❀ Mercury and Capricorn in big 5 natal could give sexy veiny hands🥴*inserts black and white grainy filter* I wouldn’t mind a good neck squeezing from them lol

❀ Also I don’t think people realize how closely Capricorn/Saturn is to the occult, people usually just group it with the 8th house but intuitively I know esp as a cap myself that we tend to have hidden practices/practice secretly

❀ Prominent 12th/9th house placements in composite could like to drink/ do dr*gs while together. It’s like everyday a party when you two are together 😎

❀ Aries Eros composite gives summer fling vibez

❀ The best way I can explain Aries women’s energy is like a thong stuck in your 🍑 a little unsettling but yk what time it is 😏

❀ Aries/Scorpio, mercury/Saturn moon signs have their 🍒s pierced (if not then this is your signn)

❀ Neptune in 8th have sm family secrets

❀ I’m jealous of Taurus 2°14°26°/ 2nd house moons and their soft skins and juicy lips. They most likely was the child that cause the least problems they also tend to be homebodies. Their natural aroma can be intoxicating. They have a Knick for wardrobe they’re true to this not new to this🤫 even if they didn’t have a lot of money growing up they were the ones you always seen playing dress up/ meddling in someones closet/dressers. You could say they were the mothers “favorite” child because they do what their told until they don’t…then the mom may start giving Scorpio moon vibes to the child.

Learning that JHope is a Taurus moon made sm sense😭 show anyone a baby pic of him and watch them start plotting on how they’d k*dnap him💀 he just look like such a sweet child that causes 0 problems whos easily content

❀ I feel like cancer placements esp moon could be looked over a lot of times they’re just really chill energy wise most of the time but when you get to know them they’re really full of life

❀ Sag moons either live with older/elder people or they were the kid that was outside almost everyday or both!

>a peak of my Sign Lore series. Should I start w ♋️ babez first?<

❀ Sorry not sorry but I love coming for Scorpios necks e very time I post😅🤣 someone said under all that intensity and mysteriousness they’re the most basic/bubbly people you know and I agree! They’re really simple people when it comes to what they want just like their sister sign Taurus. They love to have control(or at least pretend like they have it)which is understandable when their lives have been a story of uprooting and transformation. Scorpio rising’s have Leo in the 10th(the highest point in ur chart) they’re naturally charismatic and goofy people, they easily attract attention just by being their authentic selves. Also they couldve been the child that didn’t receive the correct/ right amount of attention growing up. A lot of their problems could’ve been overlooked growing up:(. They crave the same love & loyalty that they give out. As u know the sun scorches anything that comes near it just like Scorpios they’re intensity can drive people away most times so it gets lonely at the top yk?

That’s it for now 🌀🩵🌺🌀

[parfaitblogs]

baby it's halloween ❀ s. reid x reader

in which a mutual friendship leads to a run-in with your ex, and it's halloween, which means you can be anything. even normal with him right?

pairing: ex!spencer reid x fem!reader genre: smut (18+ mdni) tags: garcia party in rossi HOUSE 💜. alcohol consumption. reader's dressed as a swan (stunning gorgeous amazing). pre established friends with benefits (don't fuck your exes). s10 bau team is there in spirit i think. crazy spare bedroom hookup. brief nipple play. oral (f receiving). fingering. p in v. he dresses you afterwards. porn with plot. oral fixation. soft dom!spencer.  word count: 3.8k a/n: ex spencer reid makes a comeback. this is separate from bad idea right? but same pairing same sitch kind of same everything. LOL. thanks for giving me costume ideas guys. parfaitblogs revival!!! happy birthday spencer reid!!! happy halloween criminal minds tumblr!!!

"Penelope, what the fuck are you wearing?"

It was a very loud exclamation, over the sound of party music that certainly didn't match the overall theme of Halloween. It was only nine o'clock but the fox eared blonde in front of you had lip liner painting her chin, a pink flush on her cheeks barely hidden beneath a layer of makeup, and two cans of some multicoloured premixed vodka drink you weren't sure about trying (despite her holding one out to you). 

"Fox costume. I'm Agnes! From Fantastic Mr. Fox!" Penelope says, cheerfully, urging you to take the drink she had in her hand, not relenting until you did.

"We agreed on swans," you huff, feeling awfully stupid now, in your all white costume, a pair of fluffy wings settled on your back. 

Penelope looked genuinely apologetic for changing her costume idea on you with no warning, and so as she rambled about how she got excited after seeing fox makeup on her phone, you decided it wasn't actually that big of a deal. She finished her spiel with a comment about still technically matching because you're both animals, and it was enough for you to accept. 

She led you further into the house. House, because she had convinced one of her coworkers to let her host a Halloween party at his, claiming her apartment was far too small for such a thing. Apparently he was very easy to convince. 

It was a quick tour of where all the most basic of amenities on the first floor were, before she was shoving a shot glass of vodka into your hand, and encouraging you to take it. 

So you did. 

Perhaps it was a loosening up technique she was using in an attempt to keep you from ripping her head off when she began another conversation with you with the words,

"So, I need to preface before you get too drunk—" a sentence you really had never hoped to hear in your life "—that Spencer's here."

You're not too sure why your world begins to crumble around you at that fact. You figured he would be. In fact, when you were choosing the articles of clothing for your costume a week ago, you had the idea of Spencer Reid seeing you in mind. You had mentally prepared for seeing him. And yet; panic. 

However, instead of making a scene about how anxious that thought made you, you force a small smile onto your face and murmur out, "That's fine."

"Are you sure?" Penelope presses. "You can hover around me the entire night to avoid him, if you want. I'll stay away from him. I'm really sorry for inviting him."

You didn't like that. "No. Pen, it's okay. He's your friend."

"So are you."

Your heart stuttered in your chest at her words, a warm feeling spreading throughout it. But, ultimately, you were not the person who wants perfectly good friendships ruined because you're too scared to hold a relationship together. 

"I'll get drunk enough and start talking to him anyways. It's fine," you reassure her. 

And get drunk enough you did. 

You had bumped into him a few times already, making awkward eye contact when you passed him on your way to the kitchen for another drink, or to the bathroom to fix your corset that felt like it was getting tighter every breath you took. 

Yet here you were, stuck between the fridge and him, a collection of things you wanted to both beg him for, and cuss him out because of, sitting delicately on the tip of your tongue, waiting for the right trigger word from him.

Unsuccessfully, for he was rocking back on his heels, clasping his hands around the glass of water he was nurturing, keeping the peace between you two and staying silent. 

And you couldn't have that. 

"Hi. How are you?" you chirp after closing the fridge, a can you were getting for Penelope and not yourself now settled between your hands.

"Hi. I'm good," he says, sending you an all too familiar tight lipped smile. One he always did when he was feeling awkward. "How are you?"

"This is really formal," you say, tilting your head to the side. "I'm good."

He nods his head in agreement, and you find every curse word you had ready to yell at him dissipate in an instant. "I like your costume. Swan?"

"Yes," you nod your own head, forcing the flutter of your heart to stop.

You weren't sure what he was when you had first arrived to the party, but a few short exchanged words between the two of you revealed the fake teeth he had settled in his mouth, confirming Penelope's earlier guess that he was a vampire. 

Fitting, you had almost said then. 

"I like yours too," you say after a few beats of awkward silence and you realising you hadn't said much after his compliment. 

"Thank you."

It was an awkward song and dance around the elephant in the room (your relationship, or lack thereof). An even more awkward interaction of him reaching behind you into the fridge to get out a drink for Morgan, and then a breathless apology when he had gotten a bit too close and you hadn't had a conscious enough mind to step back.

"I don't like this," you blurt out.

"What?"

"This. Us," you clarify. "Being awkward. Not talking. We talk fine when we hook up."

Because yes, there's that secret you were keeping hidden away from Penelope. 

"We're preoccupied during that."

"I'd argue seeing each other naked once a week is much more awkward than bumping into each other drunk, at a party."

"I'm not drunk."

Right. You knew that. Spencer Reid didn't drink. It was why the cup in his hand was only water, and the alcoholic beverage in his other wasn't for him. 

If you were any less buzzed you probably wouldn't say the unfortunately very embarrassing sentence you let leave your lips, that sounded a little foreign even to you. 

"Then do we need to see each other naked tonight to make this not awkward?"

His lips parted and he froze, rightfully so. You weren't sure how you'd react to somebody asking you that either. It seemed awfully blunt for even you, and if you were any sane person, you'd probably be backtracking to take it back. Instead, you were just as frozen as him, fearful for how he would respond. 

"No," he says, but there was a strain in his voice that told you otherwise. Thankfully, you had enough self restraint to not call him out on that. 

"No?" you tilt your head to the side.

"No, we don't need to. Do you want to?"

Does it make you a horrible person to say yes? To take advantage of one of the many rooms littering the Rossi house, and use a situational run-in to have sex with your ex-boyfriend?

Probably.

"Yes. Do you?"

"I like how you look tonight."

Your heart rate speeds up. "That isn't an answer."

"Yes," he says. "I do."

The kitchen was left empty with a glass of water and two unopened cans on the countertop, that Derek Morgan was no doubt bound to discover when Spencer never returns. Followed closely by — probably — Penelope discovering the same about you. Which would probably lead to the discovery of the friends (were you friends?) with benefits situation the two of you had. 

You've barely stepped into the spare room he had located before he's kissing you. Feverishly, devouring you whole, as your back is pressed up against the door. Your wings dug into your shoulder blades, the feathers tickling your arms, and yet you couldn't find it in you to care. 

"Spencer."

His response to your plea of his name is to kiss you harder, fingers entangling in your hair, and you think if he pushes against you any more, you'll meld to the atoms of the door. 

"You taste like alcohol," he mutters against your lips. 

"Funny that."

"Are you drunk?"

"I'll remember this all in five minutes, if that's what you mean."

"Sort of."

His mouth detaches from yours, and there's a desperation in the way he kisses down your neck you don't think you'll ever get used to, no matter how many times he does it. 

It was a heartbreaking reality of the difference between how he would have sex with you then, and now. 

It's his grumbling that forces you to focus on him again, and not the comparative thoughts you have whirring in your brain. His fingers are fumbling with the lacing on your back, as he says, irritation you find almost hilarious in his tone, "I hate corsets."

"You said you liked it earlier."

"I liked it when I wasn't trying to take it off of you."

You smile. "I'll wear something more convenient for you next time."

"Yes. Thank you," he nods, successfully loosening the lacing enough so he could take the corset off of your body. "T-shirts are good."

"Duly noted." 

"Or nothing. Nothing's better," he adds, leaning in to kiss you again, his hands dropping to your chest — completely bare, considering you couldn't justify the wearing of a bra beneath the corset. 

"I'll ask the board."

You feel him smile against your lips, his hands cupping your chest, thumbs delicately running over your nipples to elicit a breathless whine from you. Ever so careful, he uses his thumbs to circle them, amused with just how easy it was to fluster you.

His lips trail down from your lips again, his hands dropping to your waist, using his hips to nudge you towards the bed.

The backs of your knees hit the edge of the bed and you wince, although any pain dissipates as he murmurs a gentle apology and lowers the two of you to the bed. 

It's quite amusing; the articles of clothing you're removing from your bodies. You didn't think feathered wings and a Dracula-esque cape piling together on the floor would be a sight you ever saw in this context, and yet. 

"What do you want, honey?" he asks you, though your brain is a little preoccupied with his pulling of your skirt down your legs, fingers brushing against your skin. He forces your focus back onto him again with the calling of your name, and a kiss to your inner thigh. 

"What're you willing to give me?" 

"You know I'd do anything."

Your heart soars. Yes, you do know that. He loves to prove that feat to you. 

"I don't know," you shake your head. "Whatever you want. You choose. My gift to you this Halloween."

It was a tradition you had started with him three years ago, on your first Halloween together. You knew how important the holiday was to him, and so you had bought him a plethora of decor for his apartment (on top of what he already had). You had helped him set it up, and later that week he had gifted you a charm bracelet with a pumpkin clasp. Every Halloween since, you bought him more decor, and he bought you a Halloween inspired charm for the bracelet. 

This was your first Halloween where you weren't together. 

"I didn't get you a charm."

"That's okay," you reply, earnestly. 

"You're so wet," is voice is breathless, changing the topic of conversation awfully quickly. For his eyes had dropped to the only item of clothing you still had on, and his fingers had trailed far enough up your thighs to brush over it. 

"Do something about it then," you retort, bluntly, and he smiles amusedly. 

He probably murmurs something about you being a brat, but his hands were pulling your underwear down your legs, and you should not be expected to focus on two maddening things at once. 

Thankfully, he does do something about it. And quite quickly, too. Wasting no time teasing like he usually does, instead attaching his lips to your core, tugging a moan from your lips. 

His tongue licks a stripe up the centre of your folds, circling your clit, expertly so. 

"Oh God," you whine out, breathlessly, head falling backwards and digging into the mattress beneath. Sinful as it was, Spencer's tongue on you did feel like the closest thing you'd ever have to a religious experience, a thought that had crossed your mind the many times he's done this before. 

Once he's sure his tongue flicking over your clit had worked you up enough, you're forced into shock as you feel one of his fingers at your entrance. Lack of hand-eye coordination aside, he's well versed in the art of using two different body parts at once to make you come, and yet you're still writhing beneath him like it's the first time.

Sometimes it felt like it was. 

"Spencer," you nearly cry out, if not for your hand flying to your mouth to muffle how loud you had anticipated you'd be. 

He pulls his lips away at that, instead lifting his head to hover over yours, as he pushes a single finger inside you. Even when your eyes flutter closed and your head tilts back further, you can still feel his gaze on you, as if in awe of the way you looked. 

"That was so easy," he murmurs, leaning down to kiss your cheek. "You really did want me to do this tonight, hm?"

Too wrapped up in the feeling of being touched by him again, all you can do is nod your head, and you feel him smile against your cheek. 

"Yeah, I know, sweet girl."

He captures your lips again, swallowing a string of moans that leave your lips when he begins to move his finger in and out. Finger that becomes fingers, for he's pushing another one in, and you're arching your back up as you attempt to accomodate to the stretch. 

"I know, I know," he repeats when your head jerks back as your lips part in another, this time silent, moan. "I shouldn't have missed last week, hey? I'm sorry I was out of state."

You want to tell him it's okay. That you didn't really mind being celibate for an extra seven days on top of the six the two of you leave between your nights together. Unfortunately, growing accustomed to a once a week cycle meant the interruption of it left you overwhelmingly easy to shatter with the simplest of touches. You did mind, so you kept your thoughts to yourself. 

"Please," you ask him, almost pathetically, when he curls his fingers and your entire brain goes fuzzy.

"Please what, honey?"

You're not sure what. More of his fingers? His tongue back on you? You want it all. Yet, time was unfortunately of the essence, and you were acutely aware of the ticking alarm clock in view on the bedside table. You did not have the minutes to receive absolutely everything you wanted from him.

"Want you to fuck me," you murmur. 

He breathes out a laugh. "I know. I'm going to, I promise. I just need to get you ready first, okay? How're you feeling?"

"Ready." Your voice is an impatient grumble, one that amuses him greatly, which frustrates you even more. 

"I don't think so," he shakes his head, pushing his fingers back inside of you to elicit a sharp whine from your lips. "I want to do this a little longer, anyways."

"Spencer."

Your protest and attempt to bribe him with a kiss is hopeless, for he is continuing to pump his fingers in and out of you, using your arguably selfish kiss to quiet every single sound you make. 

It isn't until you're quite literally writhing beneath him and begging him with an incessant repeat of his name, does he pull his fingers out of you. Tapping your lower lip with them, you take his fingers into your mouth, despite your panting and attempts at catching your breath. 

You want to close your eyes, but the way he's looking at you as you suck on his fingers is borderline ridiculous, and you should probably be locked up for just how attracted to it you are. 

He trails his fingers out of your mouth after a few moments, but any desire to protest that is lost on you when your eyes catch his removal of his boxers. 

He disappears from above you for only a minute, though he knows you too well and says, "I'm getting a condom," before you have a chance to start complaining about it. By the time he's returned, he's kissing you again, and you've forgotten all about your irritation.

The head of his cock pushes at your entrance, and you're already a mess. He's slow as he eases into you, and you're eternally grateful for it, because your entire body tenses up, and he's forced to pause, and ease your muscles with his hands kneading your thighs. 

"I'm sorry," he says, genuinely, when your eyes squeeze shut, and you're back to remembering why you're not happy about the dreadful thirteen day celibacy he forced upon you. But he's so nice, and so apologetic, that as he bottoms out, your hands are wrapping around his neck to provide him with silent forgiveness. 

He stays still for a few more moments, his lips tickling your jawline. His breath fans your skin, warm, and just as desperate as your own, which is comforting. 

"Tell me when you're okay," he says, quietly, breathing out a moan when your walls flutter around him. 

After a beat, you murmur, "I'm okay," and he pulls his hips back, before rolling them back into you, slowly. 

You're a puddle of content and pleasure and love as he repeats the gentle motions of fucking you, moaning and squirming beneath him, despite his hands on your hips in an attempt to keep you still. 

"Doing so well for me, honey," he tells you after a few minutes, and heat warms your cheeks at the compliment. He laughs at your bashful smile. "You feel so good."

He moves his hips a little faster, and you're moaning again, hands dropping from his neck to the mattress. At that, he picks up his ministrations once again. All up until all the tender, slow motions are gone, and he's listening to your throat produce broken whines and pleas, his own presenting breathless groans.

"Spencer," you gasp out at one particular thrust, and he's instantly repeating that same deep movement. "Oh fuck."

"Like that?" he asks you, tenderly, and you're frantically nodding your head. "God, look at you. You're so pretty when I do this to you, you know?"

Vulgarity — in any form — coming from Spencer Reid's mouth should sound foreign, and yet it doesn't. Though, perhaps you're too lost in the pleasure of just how good he feels to believe he's anything but perfect.

"I want to come," you tell him, a disguised plea.

"Okay. I can make that happen."

You know he can. He's proven it a thousand times, you're sure. 

One of his hands drops to your cunt, fingers finding your clit and timing the circles onto it with his thrusts, until you're pretty sure there is no longer a coherent thought in your brain that isn't simply him.

If his aim was to turn you into a mess with very little time, he was excelling above average. Your hands had grabbed fistfuls of the duvet cover atop of the bed, your mouth producing nothing but a constant repeat of, "Please," and "Spencer," one after the other. 

He wasn't surviving very well, either, you found. His breathing heavy and his thrusts growing sloppier by the second, until he was feeling your own walls clench around him with your stomach tying itself into a knot. 

He forced his hips to keep moving, albeit much more messy now, as he moaned against your skin, his own orgasm wracking through his body, while still attempting to chase your own. 

It didn't take much more than that, to be honest, and your entire body went boneless and shattered beneath him as you came too.

Jelly seemed like an apt description for what you felt as you relaxed in the bed and your nerves began to calm down, Spencer breathing heavily above you. Up until he was sliding out of you, and standing up on legs you could see shaking, perhaps just as much as your own. 

He's disposing of his condom as you lay there, attempting to regain your breath, eyes fixated on the ceiling above you. He's shuffling around more than you'd expect for a simple trash trip, but then you feel hands on your ankles, and your head snaps down to find him kneeling at the foot of the bed, gently tugging your underwear back up your legs. 

"I know it's not ideal," he says, when your face scrunches up as the piece of fabric lands back on your hips. "But I also know your skirt is too short to not wear these."

"I'll get over it," you reply, letting him redress you with delicate fingers that leave your entire body hot, with goosebumps rising on the skin.

"Yeah," he agrees, though half-heartedly, expert fingers clasping your bra back onto your body. 

Once your skirt is back on, he helps you up into a seated position, helping to reapply the feathered head piece you had on. 

It's oddly intimate, way he's kneeling in front of you, breath warm against your face as he clips the feathers into your hair. Your breathing hitches as his hands drop back to your thighs upon finishing, and you swallow the lump in your throat. 

"Everybody's gonna know what we did," you say, quietly, for it was true. You two had been gone for too long of a time for people to not draw correct conclusions. 

"They already know we do." Hook up.

"What? How?"

"You need to stop telling Garcia things."

Your face falls, and he smiles, sympathetically, thumbs drawing gentle circles on the skin of your thighs. 

"At least you don't work with them."

"I guess there's that," you confirm with a small nod.

He's silent for a few more moments, simply staring at you and studying your face, before he sighs, and goes to pick up your corset. 

"You need to go to the bathroom after this," he instructs you, though gently, motioning for you to stand up and turn around so he could do up the dreaded lacing. 

"I know. Don't worry."

"Good," he replies, your skin tingling with every extra bit of pressure he put on your back as he laced up your corset. "You feel okay?"

"Yes," you nod your head. "Do you?"

"I do," he confirms for you, tying off the lacing and tapping your hip so you could turn back around. 

You do, and your eyes flicker up to his face. "Do you also promise not to make me wait two weeks again?"

"I'll talk to the board."

your reblogs and replies are always appreciated ♡

[12daysofchristmas]

Join us in the 2024 12 Days of Christmas Challenge as we hope to spread a little ✨holiday joy and cheer✨ through the magic of writing fanfiction & creating art!

About & Rules

The challenge will run from December 13-24, 2024.

The challenge is open to any and all fandoms.

Submissions must include at least one of the prompts for that day but can combine two, three, or all four.

Prompts for the day always include: a word/words, a scenario, a quote, a "famous" quote (taken from songs and movies)

Tag your submissions with #12daysofchristmas2024 and/or mention this blog so that we will be notified to reblog your submissions here. (Also, it would be super cool if you gave this blog a follow!)

Submissions for the day must be posted before midnight YOUR time. We're not super hard-and-fast about this rule, but posting within time is very much appreciated! 

If you’re posting your submission directly on Tumblr (as opposed to linking to an external site such as AO3), you MUST use a “keep reading” cut!

Edit: We're now also allowing ALL KINDS OF ART: drawings, edits, aesthetics, mood boards, videos, podfics, fiber arts... go wild!

!! Absolutely NO AI creations !!

Please format ALL submissions with the following heading:

Title Day/Prompt(s) Fandom/Character(s)/Ship Warnings (if applicable): Word Count/Medium (in case it's art):  Example: Santa, Baby Day 8 - “Prompt(s) for that day” AEW - Adam Page x OC Warnings: Alcohol, cursing, sexual situations (explicit) Word Count: 7,290 or: Medium: fan video

You can also include a summary, gif, edit, whatever you want! Just don’t forget the “keep reading” if you’re posting directly on Tumblr!

If you're posting on AO3, here's our collection: 12 Days of Christmas Collection

2024 Prompts

Day 1 ❄️ First snow ❄️ Getting soaked ❄️ “Your hands are so cold.” ❄️ “I suppose it all started with the snow.” —Frosty the Snowman

Day 2 ❄️ Little lie ❄️ Trapped together in a snowstorm ❄️ “I thought you knew where you were going?!” ❄️ “I don’t know what to say, but it’s Christmas, and we’re all in misery.” —National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Day 3 ❄️ Accelerated heartbeat ❄️ Kissing in the snow ❄️ “Here, take my coat.” ❄️ “Let's hope the snow will make this Christmas right.” —Queen

Day 4 ❄️ Mulled wine ❄️ Playing board games ❄️ “I have no regrets.” ❄️ “Cheer up, dude. It's Christmas.” —How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 2000

Day 5 ❄️ Cookies ❄️ Holiday-themed contest ❄️ “That definitely looks… interesting?” ❄️ “That is exactly why you want a high-quality fire extinguisher right in the kitchen.” —The Santa Clause

Day 6 ❄️ Present ❄️ Making a new Christmas tradition ❄️ “Not another Christmas movie!” ❄️ “You say you hate Washington’s birthday or Thanksgiving, and nobody cares, but you say you hate Christmas, and people treat you like you’re a leper.” —Gremlins

Day 7 ❄️ Decorations ❄️ A little accident ❄️ “I was just trying to help!” ❄️ “I want my house to be seen from space.” —Deck The Halls

Day 8 ❄️ Touch starved ❄️ Telling secrets around the fire ❄️ “Sometimes the hardest part is forgiving yourself.” ❄️ “Santa, can't you hear me?” —Ariana Grande & Kelly Clarkson

Day 9 ❄️ Christmas fair/market ❄️ Late shopping (together) ❄️ “Hmm, this is actually not bad.” ❄️ “When you're still waiting for the snow to fall, doesn't really feel like Christmas at all.” —Coldplay

Day 10 ❄️ Surprise visit ❄️ Lighting scented candles ❄️ “I didn’t know you were here.” ❄️ “You’re skipping Christmas! Isn’t that against the law?” —Christmas with the Kranks

Day 11 ❄️ Fairy lights ❄️ Christmas party/ball ❄️ “I never want this night to end.” ❄️ “I won’t even wish for snow. And I’m just gonna keep on waiting, underneath the mistletoe.” —Mariah Carey

Day 12 ❄️ Feast ❄️ Indoor picnic by the tree/fireplace ❄️ “I baked your favourite cookie/pie/cake.” ❄️ “You are all I need tonight underneath the Christmas lights.” —Sia

Extra Challenge

Angst or fluff, romance or platonic - you're unsure in what direction your fic should go? Spin our

Wheel

and let it decide for you! You can spin it once and write all fics with what comes up, you can spin it daily and change course accordingly, you can spin it as often as you need or not at all - it's all up to you.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions! Also, feel free to share this post and help spread the joy and cheer!

Happy writing, and good luck 🍀

[prettyfastcars]

rumours about you | Mob!Lando

Summary: You’re not necessarily happy regarding the announcement your family just made – about how you would be marrying one of their allies’ sons in order to unite forces and what not. You had multiple issues with your family making major decisions about your life just like that, but the main one was that you disliked the one they chose for you to marry. Lando. So you decided to confront him, thinking the two of you would work together and find a way to call off the wedding. But Lando has other plans. 

Themes: arranged marriage, smut, explicit language, enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies ish, degrading kink, dom!lando, slightly bratty!reader

“I’ve been waiting for thirty minutes.” 

When you showed up to his house – or mansion rather – earlier, his butler told you to wait for him in his study room. The butler also said that Lando would be home soon. You were not very patient at the moment given the unsteadiness of your life, so waiting for half an hour was driving you insane. 

Had it not been for the multiple bookshelves to explore and inspect, you would’ve surely lost it. 

Lando paused briefly at the doorway upon hearing the sound of your voice. Then he walked into the room in that arrogant manner of his, that maddening smile on his face, and shut the door behind him. 

The bastard knew he looked good and he flaunted it always. Nice and muscular, that tailored, dark suit looked damn good on him. Little bit of facial hair, brown curls on his head and those damn pretty eyes. Not to mention those natural, extra long lashes that would make anyone jealous. 

He smirked when he caught you checking him out. “Apologies,” He said, “But your future husband is a very busy man, you might wanna get used to it.” 

You scoffed, crossing your arms over your chest as you leaned against the large desk, watching said future husband as he walked straight toward the mini bar and began making drinks. You noticed he grabbed two glasses so at least he was polite. But you weren’t here to have drinks and chit chat. So you got straight to it. 

“I want you to call off the wedding.” You said. 

“This is the third time we’re having this conversation.” Lando sent you a look before turning back to focus on the drinks. “And I’m asking you again, why would I do that?” He asked.

You were quiet for a moment. You two had had this conversation twice already. And each time, Lando would just send you home without listening to what you had to say. 

“Because…” You trailed off, then tried again, “Because we would be miserable together. I mean,” You chuckled humorlessly, “Marrying to unite forces? Really?” You sounded disgusted, “That’s so old fashioned.” 

Lando finally walked away from his minibar with two drinks in his hands. He sipped on one and when he made it over to you, shamelessly letting his eyes roam all over your body before he handed you the other glass. You accepted it and took a sip as well. It was some kind of spiced whiskey, and you welcomed the burn. 

He shrugged, sliding one hand into his pocket. “I see no problem with it,” He said, looking you deep in the eyes with his bluish green ones. “It’s been happening for decades in both our families. It’s made us strong, powerful, and wealthy.” 

You closed your eyes and sighed, “Then go find someone else. I don’t want to marry you.” 

Truth is, you’d known Lando and his family since you were a kid. Dinner parties, galas, birthdays, family vacations, he was always around. And you disliked him even as a child. He was too loud, too popular. Then he got older and got hot, then slept around like it was his job. The rumours that circulated around about him were… not very pleasant. 

Lando raised an eyebrow at you. “Why not?” He teased. “I’m perfect.” 

You gave him a fake smile and said, “I would rather marry someone who is less of a manwhore.” 

He chuckled. “That just means I have more experience.” He stated, then leaned closer and whispered into your ear, “Experience that I can use to turn you into my perfect little wife. Both in and out of the bedroom.” 

You scoffed, “You’re disgusting.” 

“I’ve been called worse things, princess.” 

You rolled your eyes at him. “Look just… call it off.” 

He asked, “Why don’t you do it?” 

“You think I haven’t tried? They won’t listen to me. They say I’m just throwing another tantrum. Like I’m some kind of child.” You stated, finishing your drink and leaning against the desk again. Lando stepped closer, invading your personal space, looking at you like you were some kind of oddity. “What are you doing?” You hissed. 

He finished his drink and said, “Just thinking about how I’ll handle your tantrums in the future. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumours, I’m very good with brats.” 

You should’ve known this would be useless. So instead of arguing, you said to him, “If we ever get married, I will never let you put a finger on me. You hear me?” 

The asshole smiled like he was looking at a little puppy. “You’re cute when you try to stand your ground, princess.” He said in a lowered voice. “But we both know you’ll turn into a puddle the moment I touch you.” 

Then his hands were on you, holding you by the waist as he pulled you into him. Chests pressing together, you were speechless for a moment as you stared into his pretty eyes. He smelt so good too. 

Fuck. This wasn’t supposed to happen. 

Lando smirked, “What did you think you were doing, huh? Showing up at my house in a tiny little dress, asking me to call off the wedding, accusing me of being a whore too.” He chuckled. “You’re a mess, babygirl. Don’t you see it?” He asked. “A complete brat who needs some taming.” 

He also noticed the way you clenched your thighs together, like you were craving friction down there. 

“Don’t you see you need me?” His voice was softer now, and still condescending. He leaned in and whispered, his lips brushing against the side of your mouth as he did, “I can help. I can make you the most perfect wife for me. Obediently, polite,” He chuckled, “And dirty, but only for me. I’ll handle all your tantrums in private, and I’ll be so, so good to you.” 

You couldn’t help the soft whimper that escaped your mouth at the sound of his words. They should’ve offended you, they would’ve if it wasn’t for the wetness gathering in your flimsy underwear. 

He was so close, his lips just an inch away from your own. His scent was driving you insane. You knew whatever was gonna happen from now on would change everything. But you couldn’t stop, you didn’t want to. 

So when he brought his hand in between your legs and slid it up your dress, you let him. You let out a gasp when he cupped you down there, instinctively rubbing his fingers against your dripping wet folds. 

Lando scoffed, “See? Told you you’d turn into a puddle.” You whimpered as he lazily circled your clothed clit, smearing your wetness around. “Filthy, little brat.” He chuckled, then pushed your underwear to the side to touch you properly. You let out a loud moan and he smirked, pressing his lips against yours but not kissing you yet. 

“Please…” You begged. 

“Please what?” He scoffed again as he slid a finger inside you and felt you clenching hard around him. “Still want me to call off the wedding?” He teased, slowly pumping his finger in and out of you. “Answer me, what do you want? Hmm? You want to come like a good girl or do you want to be a haughty brat and cause a scene?” 

He stroked you so perfectly, so slowly that it made you lose your mind. “Please, Lando…” You gasped. 

He added another finger as he chuckled darkly. “Look at you,” He taunted, “Showing up here again and again, acting all tough and assertive. Thinking you can tell me what to do? Hmm? You think this is how it’s gonna work?” He pulled away a little to look at your pleading eyes. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll teach you everything. I’ll worship your entire fucking existence. I’ll fuck you until you forget your own name. And in return all you have to do is be a good girl, and eventually, my wife. Yeah?” 

You nodded a little too quickly. He laughed. 

“No more of this call off the wedding nonsense. You hear me?” 

You nodded again. 

“Good girl. See? You’re learning already.” He removed his hands from in between your legs and said, “Get naked, and bend over my desk.” 

As if under some kind of spell, you obeyed immediately. You took the dress off, then removed your underwear and dropped all your clothes into a little pile. You took one look at him and he pointed at the edge of the desk, so you did as he asked. 

As your cheek pressed against the cold surface of the polished wood, your hands laid palm down on each side of your head, you could hear him behind you as he took his suit jacket off and probably also rolled the sleeves of his button up shirt to his elbows. 

Then you felt his hands on you again, rubbing up and down your sides, your hips, your back as he pressed his clothed erection against you from behind. Another whimper escaped your mouth when you felt it. Warm, and hard, rubbing against your wetness. 

He bent down and whispered into your ear, his chest pressing lightly against your back, “You see how nice it feels when you’re obedient, baby?” He trailed his fingers down your spine and in between your legs again. 

You squirmed under him, against the desk. Breathing heavily as he took his time and touched you like he was in no rush. You whined as he touched a sensitive spot inside you, “Please… stop teasing me,” You sounded just as desperate as you were. 

He kissed your ear, making you shiver just at the mere touch of his lips, before saying, “Well, since you asked so nicely.” 

The sound of him undoing his belt and lowering his zipper made your heart race. You felt his rough, but warm hands on your body again as he grabbed you on either side of your hips before pressing the tip of his cock against your hole. But he didn’t slide his cock inside of you yet because of course, he wanted to make you suffer some more. 

“Are you gonna behave from now on?” He asked, sliding the tip of his cock up and down your slit, making you whine and cry out in desperation. 

“Yes…” You whispered. “Yes, just please–,” 

The sound of his hand slapping your thigh cut you off. Followed by a slight sting which made you squirm and whine some more. Lando’s voice was deeper now when he spoke, “What did I say about ordering me around? Hmm?” 

You tried to push back into him but he pulled away chuckling each time you did. So finally you said, “I’m sorry.” 

“Good girl,” He whispered, slowly pushing inside you until he filled you up, feeling your walls tighten around him immediately. “Ah fuck, I knew you’d feel like fucking heaven.” He groaned, muttering under his breath as he fucked you with shallow thrusts. 

Lando grabbed your wrists and pinned them down at your lower back, using it as leverage to fuck deeper into you, harder, faster. He laughed when you began whining even louder, mumbling incoherently as he fucked you. 

“Sure you wanna give this up, baby?” He questioned, gradually building up his pace. “You sure you don’t want this little pussy to be full of me each night? For the rest of your life? Huh?” 

The sound of of you two fucking was driving you insane. 

“You’re gonna be addicted to this cock now, you’re gonna want it all the time.” He boasted. “But you can only have it when you’re a good girl, you hear me?” 

His breathy moans, his raspy voice, your body bumping against the desk with each thrust, the sound of metal from his belt clinking together, it was all too much, too good. 

“Please…” You whimpered, begging for more. 

“Yeah? This is all you needed, isn’t it, baby? Acting like a disobedient brat, thinking you make the rules, all of it just because you needed to be fucked and put in your place, huh?” He growled, tightening his grip on your wrists as he fucked you harder, feeling your walls getting tighter around him. 

You whined, “Lando… I–” 

He cut you off quickly, “Hold it, don’t come yet.” 

He thrust his cock harder into you, making your eyes water and your heart race. Then he just stopped, abruptly. Pulled out and pulled you up from the desk, turning you to face him. 

“You didn’t think it was gonna be that easy, did you?” He grabbed you by the chin as he spoke, staring deep into your eyes. You could barely form a thought. Lando just scoffed and leaned in to kiss you, hard, before pulling away and saying, “Get down on your knees.” 

Lust-drunk and under his spell, you did. You got down on your knees in front of him. You watched how he grabbed his cock at the base and guided his tip over to your already open mouth and said, “Now be a good girl, and suck.”  

You opened your mouth wider as he slowly pushed himself deep into your mouth. He grabbed the back of your neck and gently guided you. 

“That’s it. See? You’re learning already? That’s how a good wife sucks her husband’s cock,” He hissed in pleasure. You looked up and met his pretty eyes. He looked down at you like you belonged there, kneeling before him with his cock in your mouth. 

You felt his smooth skin along your tongue, tasting his precum as he groaned and hissed in pleasure. You whimpered, circling his tip with your tongue before sucking on it gently. 

“Look at me.” 

When you looked up at his handsome face, he said, “Fuck… you’re so beautiful, you know that? Come on now. Up.”  

Lando had you sit on the edge of the table again before he stepped in between your legs. Your arms wrapped around his neck immediately, fingers sliding into his curly hair as he leaned in to kiss you again. It was a deep kiss again with him growling into your mouth with impatience. 

He kissed his way down your neck as he aligned his cock to your core again. He slipped inside you with ease this time, making you gasp at how good he felt as he began fucking you. 

“You feel that?” He asked, as he grabbed your thighs and pushed them further apart so he could fuck you deeper. “This cock can be all yours, baby.” He whispered, lips brushing against your own as he spoke. “You can have it anytime, all day, every day if you want.” He fucked you hard, fast and deep. Your body would’ve fallen on top of the desk had he not wrapped his arms around you to keep you close. 

You moaned incessantly, not caring if his butler or housekeepers heard. “Lando …” You gasped, “I’m so close…” You whimpered. 

He chuckled. “Are you now?” He teased. “Your little pussy feels so good… so fucking tight like it was made for me,” He whispered against your skin and you barely heard him given your heartbeats echoed in your ear, you were breathless, you wanted more. 

You whined as you felt yourself getting so close to the edge again as he pounded into you relentlessly. You felt a familiar pressure in between your legs, all of it getting too much to handle.

“Lando, please,” You cried out, looking into his eyes and silently pleading. “Please, can I come?” 

He smirked, feeling your walls clench violently around him. “See I told you I was very good with brats. Look at you no longer complaining, no longer whining about wanting to call off our wedding.” His voice sounded deeper when he spoke. Then he saw that look in your eyes, you were close to losing your mind so he finally said, “Come on then, baby. Come all over this cock.” 

You didn’t need to be told twice. You came with a loud cry of his name, walls clenching around him and milking him so perfectly that he followed shortly after, coming undone while he was buried deep inside you, gripping your thigh tightly and holding you close. 

You rested your forehead on his shoulder as you both caught your breath. He wrapped his arms around your shaking body, caressing up and down your back while you held on to him like he was your everything. 

“So?” He asked in that mocking tone of his. “Still want to call off the wedding?” 

“I hate you.” You mumbled, voice muffled given you’d shoved your face into the crook of his neck. You hated how comforting his body heat was. 

Lando chuckled. “Of course you do.” He taunted. Then leaning down to get closer to your ear he whispered, “Your pussy just strangled my cock so hard I’m pretty sure it left bruises on it. But sure, you hate me.” 

You whined, squirmed a little because his words made a weird wave of pleasure wash over you. 

Lando laughed and said, “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up, princess.” 

[mntalbrakdown]

doin’ time - C. Fisher

masterlist!

mentions of: cussing, makeouts, smut… 18+ MDNI. fem receiving (fingering), cum play, piv unprotected (wrap b4 u tap)

synopsis: at the empty house party you play a quick game of cat and mouse with conrad

wc: 3.5k

a/n: i haven’t proofread this yet

gif from @thatonekimgirl

the purple pink and blue strobe lights that Conrad, Belly, and Jeremiah bought at Paty City made you look like you were glowing. the party was 70's theme and you were dressed in a lime green mini dress with gogo boots, you teased your hair to have a bump paired with a white headband. you had a graphic black liner and you felt beautiful. you were with Cam at the dj booth. you and Cam have always been close, you guys were touchy, but you never liked him, nor did he to you. in fact he told you about his feelings for Skye which you applauded to because you wanted him to be happy.

"can you guys play" Jumper the one who allowed Belly to buy the liquor started his sentence. which was cut off when Skye pointed at the "fuck the requests" sign they made

"sorry the sign speaks" you say sitting next to Cam at a random table

"but" Jumper continues

"respect the playlist" Cam cuts Jumper off with that he walks away from his attempt

"Steven curated this playlist with great intent" Skye says making it sound like a great medicine that could cure all diseases

"to make boys get bitches" you say jokingly which was true you saw four guys within 30 minutes pull a girl upstairs

"rest in peace to their backs" Cam jokes since there were no beds in the house to have sex comfortably with

"so how are you and Conrad" Skye asks you

"what do you mean" it was out of the blue, you didn't know what they were talking about

"y/n you can't be that clueless" Cam pokes at you making you squirm

"i seriously don't know what your guys' game is right now" you say searching their eyes

"he so very obviously likes you" Skye says

"you have some nerve Skye" you say mocking them since they are also in a similar situation with Cam

"what does that mean" Cam asks

"nothing" Skye and you say in unison

"all im saying is that man is smitten with you" Skye says making Cam nod his head in agreement

"yeah right since when" you say taking a sip from your coke

"since you and I got close last summer, he got really stiff and would clench his jaw when we would hold each others hand or even when i had my hand around your waist, his whole mood would switch" Cam says pointing all the times Conrad has been tense

"all those times Belly would walk into the room" you rebuttal Cam’s so very wrong analysis.

"ehhh wrong" both Cam and Skye said in the same time making you laugh at how alike they are

"i've ran tests and experiments, that man always sits next to you and looks for your vote in a decision," Skye says

"fuck you both" you say flipping them off

"time and place" Cam says at lightning speed

"i don't want to get scoliosis" you mock the previous joke you said before

"don't think that's how it works" Skye retorts but nonetheless they laughed as well

"hey y/n let's get a picture" Steven says pulling you away from the two others as Conrad was hiding behind him

"yeah sure" you say hopping off the table saying you'll be right back to the others

as you were following the two boys through the groups of sweaty highlighter bodies you were almost lost and by each step the gap between you and Conrad grew bigger. he looked right behind and saw what was happening. he extended his hand out so the gap would close and you grabbed on. you walked until you were at the bottoms steps of the staircase. surprisingly there was nobody there

"ok stand right there" Steven says as he was looking through the polaroid lens

"did you set this up" you whisper in Conrad's ears as you tiptoe

"no" he says flustered

"he's lying" Steven says making you shocked by his good hearing

"good" you say as you smile wide for the camera as you try your hardest to give Conrad bunny ears. you wait for the flash but Steven takes his time. you could feel Conrad's eyes on you. as well as his arm snake around your waist. were they right? did Conrad really like you? as you get out of your own head you finally get the bright white flash from the camera making this go by faster

"let me see" Conrad says as if he was out of his spell and going over to Steven to see the photo, but the thing about Polaroids is that you have to wait a moment to see the photo develop

"stay with me" Conrad says grabbing you by the waist to take you to the bottom of the stairs and sit

"ok" it wasn't like he asked you to stay it was a demand and you weren't mad about it

"I'm going to find Taylor" Steven says as he walks away

"wear a condom" you scream

"fuck off" Steven screams back

"so how are you and Cam" Conrad asks through gritted teeth

"he's good, going to see if Skye already asks him out" you say trying to slide the fact that you and Cam aren't dating

"oh, I thought you two were a thing" Conrad says trying his hardest to bite back his smile

"no, we're just really close" you say meeting his blue eyes that were now dark with a glint in his eye

"cool" he says not knowing what else to say

"cooool" you say not knowing how to carry the conversation

"yeah" was the only thing muttered from Conrad

"why cool" you say trying to see his thought process

"cool in the fact i spent all of last summer wasting my time with Nicole, no offense to her she's cool, just wanted to talk to you" he says searching your eyes to see if he struck a nerve

"you're cute, dumb and oblivious, but cute" you say as your hand goes to his hair and push it to his ear, making him almost pur to your touch

"i'm the oblivious one" he says in a confused and questionable way

"yes, I'm the one talking to you" you say in the same tone

"you clearly never looked my way" he says pointing at your chest

"bullshit" you say leaning against the railing

"everyone else picked up on it" Conrad says

"ok fine, i was the oblivious one" you say surrounding "give me the photo" you say as enough time has passed so it would be devloped

"what would you give me if i do" Conrad whispered lustfully which caught you off guard

"pfft nothing" you says as you extend your arm to get the photo from his other side

"than no" he says grabbing the photo and extending his arm backwards so you couldn't reach it

"fuck your long arms" you say climbing over his lap and trying to grab the photo which made your boobs hit his face making him kiss them "oh shit my bad" you say retracting back to your previous seat

"no" Conrad says wrapping his arms around your waist to keep you on his lap

"oh" you say as you see Conrad lean in for a kiss and you go in, letting all your muscles relax and allow you to really enjoy this kiss, both your hands on each side of Conrad's face as his are trained on your waist and tangled in your hair

"i really like you" he says pulling away from the kiss to look up at your face seeing how swollen your lips have already gotten

"good, because i like you too" you say smiling at the fact some of your pink lipgloss got on his lips "let me see the photo" you says looking deep into Conrad's eyes as he hands the photo to you

it was you the highest you could possibly go on your tiptoes to give Conrad the bunny ears, but even than you could barely see your fingers. your face was looking straight at the camera with the most derpiest smile you could plaster on. he on the other hand was looking deep into you, he wanted to savor the moment of how you looked while someone takes a picture of you, no one ever does that, their main priority was to look at the lens. and even now as you look deep into the photo and analyze it. Conrad is looking at you seeing how you take something as small as a picture and critique it

"why are you looking at me in this" you say flipping the photo to him

"i don't know" he says, but he was obvlously lying, you could tell he was lying when he says those three words

"you're a liar" you say as you go in for a quick kiss which makes Conrad excited, but you quickly pull away

"booo" he says like a seven year

"not until you tell me the truth" you say looking deep into his eyes as he eyes your lips to make sure he catches everything over the loud music and also because he wants to continue kissing you

"i never get to be that close to you and i really liked you and thought you were dating Cam so I had to take advantage of my time with you" he blurts everything out ready to kiss you again

"awe" you say clapping both of your hands to your face making Conrad pull you into a kiss by grabbing you by the back of your head

"get a fucking room" Jeremiah says to the both of you

"we'll take yours asshole" Conrad says jokingly

"ewww gross" he says walking down the hall

"do you want to" Conrad says trying not to push anything, but he did really want you, but he wouldn't say anything because he didn't want to sway your vote

"umm sure" you say putting a piece of hair behind your ear

“here follow me” Conrad says as he carrie’s you off his lap so you could stand and than he got up.

he grabbed your hand in his and led you up the stairs. you were close with Belly so you knew enough about the house layout. but it was all empty now so it felt odd and anything but a home. it was just a house now. his room was empty. you tried to picture having a good comfortable time but you couldn’t. he could see the expression all written on your face.

“we could use a floaty” he says scratching the back of his head

“and pop it” you laugh thinking of the idea of doing it only to pop it in the middle of it

“i want it to be nice” he says trying not to have just a hookup. he really liked you. he wanted this night to be special. he finally got his girl

“it could be nice another day, hooking up at a party is already so unclassy” you say pulling him for a kiss

“ok but than where” he says in between your kiss

“what about the bathroom” it was the only place that could be remotely nice

“ok follow me” he says kissing you once last time on your gore head, lips, and lastly neck

Conrad grabbed your hand and took you down the hall to the bathroom. surprising it wasn’t busy. when you opened the door Conrad immediately locked the door. after he instantly cornered you at a wall so you couldn’t leave him. which you weren’t planning on it either way

“hey” Conrad said leaning his forehead on yours

“hi” you say leaning in to kiss him. leaned in for a kiss. it was deep and passionate. you felt yourself relax. your shoulders fell down as your hands followed his face to his jaw and let them stay there. as Conrad was deepening the kiss you let out a slight moan. it was music to Conrad’s ears. he wanted to hear more. he was hungry to hear more.

“i need you” Conrad pulls away from you with blissed out eyes

“fuck- me too” you say as Conrad picks you up and sits you at the sink

he lifted your dress up to reveal your dark red laced thong. he felt himself snap. he needed you. he needed to be inside you.

as he pulled the thong all the way down. “god you’re so wet” he puts the red lace in his pocket for ‘safe keeping’

he licked his two fingers as lubricant and started to finger you. you followed his fingers as they disappeared and reappeared. sucking on your bottom lip to not draw attention to the bathroom. even though no one could hear you over the loud music.

“look at me when i’m fucking you” Conrad demanded. he wanted to see how your face contoured at his actions. making him feel good inside

if he could he would do this to you all day. he’s been dreaming about this ever since he could remember. he continued with his action. adding fingers as he goes. as he did you gasped into his forearm almost drawing blood with your red nails. Conrad was circling your clit with his other hand to speed the processes up. he needed you.

“Conrad” you whispered lowly and it snapped. Conrad and you. with the white liquid falling down his hand.

“god i need you” as he licks his fingers clean and leaning down to kiss you, tasting yourself

“you’re all i need” you say with fucked out eyes

Conrad unbuttoned his pants, dropping everything with it. making you take his shirt off. leaving him exposed. you opened your legs wider for him.

“fuck” Conrad leans in to kiss you biting your bottom lip as he pulls away “i don’t have a condom” he says flatly

“it’s fine, i’m on the pill” you say as you get the cum spilling from you and rubbing it on Conrad to lubricat him.

“i need to feel you” Conrad says desperately as he pushes inside you. kissing you to hide your moans.

he was huge. you don’t know what you were expecting but he was stretching you in the best way possible. the whole time knowing Conrad you never ever thought about his size. as he entered inside you, you leaned against the mirror and exposing your neck. moaning loudly to the way Conrad is making you feel giving him a confidence boost. as he continued his actions you would look down because you liked the view and every time Conrad lifted your head to see him. and when he did you moaned because he was the one fucking your cunt.

“let me hear you” Conrad whispered in your ear

“fuck Connie” you say grabbing Conrad and making out with him

something about you being fucked in retro clothes. and how Conrad liked the dress because he could see your boobs which allowed him to leave hickeys down your chest as a manrepelent. that he is the one for you and only you. you tugged on his hair to make him moan, which led to him kissing you deeply, hitting a new spot

“y/n you need to take a picture with me and Taylor” Belly says loudly through the door

“mm- yeah on it just doing some-e touch ups” you struggle to speak because Conrad just kept going deeper and circling your clit trying to make you mess up

as you heard the steps walk away you let out a loud moan which you weren’t expecting. the white substance running down your legs as Conrad just looks amazed at you.

“that was so hot” Conrad says hiding his face into your neck leaving new hickeys to decorate your body in the morning “turn around” Conrad demanded

“but-“

“please it’ll be quick”

and so you did. you didn’t know why but you trusted him with everything you had inside of you. maybe because you knew him amongst all your life, but either way he was making you feel so good today.

he turned you around so your face was looking at the mirror. it was fogged up from the steam coming from the both of you. Conrad aligned himself again going deeper and faster keeping the same pace he liked how your face would come close to the mirror almost hitting it. your eyes were watering and you were trying not to let them stream and ruin your makeup, but he just kept going

your hair was all sorts of tangled. your eyeliner and masacra running and your lipstick was smudged. your boobs were spilling out from the top of the dress as Conrad kept pounding inside of you.

“you look so fucking hot” Conrad says looking at you from the mirror

“yeah” you say half moan half question

“fuck yeah” Conrad affirmed

“take a picture” you say grabbing his phone from the counter and putting it on selfie mode. letting both you and Conrad in the photo as you but your lip and he concentrates on making you feel good

“fuck that was hot” he says as you put it in his hidden photos

you would look at his face from the mirror he was so focused on pleasuring you. and than another moment he would make eye contact with you through the mirror. his naked body heaving from the lost of air.

he leaned down to where your ear was nibbling at it and licking it to add more stimulus and make you come which was successful. you grasped into the sink so hard that you thought you would break it and moaned so loud that Conrad made you face him and kiss him to suppress the noise. because even though he liked hearing you, that was loud enough to hear over the music and didn’t want to stop the fun

“Conrad-” you say clenching on Conrad’s shaft

your stomach was tightening for the third time this night. you felt your body come to a stop, everything inside you started to tighten. you were sure your mascara was running

Fuck, fuck, fuck,” you ramble. He speeds his movements, knowing you’re close

“You’re so beautiful.” he thought. The way your head is titled back, your mouth wide open. He loves the way your eyes were screwed shut in pleasure. He couldn’t help but smile, not being able to stop admiring you.

He watches your face as you unravel, feeling him come close behind. “Ohmygod, fuck. Conrad, please,” you begin to pull away from him and look forward, the overstimulation almost painful. you came so hard tipping Conrad over the edge and following behind.

as he pulls out you felt the cold air hit you and you arched your back, Conrad looks at the sight and wishes he could take a picture. he uses his fingers to push the cum in.

“what are you doing” you ask standing straight but losing your balance

“i want you to walk around with my cum inside you” Conrad says leaning in to kiss you

“you’re so annoying” you say turning around to the fogged you mirror and cleaning it with your hand. fixing your eyes and smudged lips.

“i’m keeping these” Conrad pulls your underwear from his pocket

“no!” you yelp running to grab them but breaking your ankles

“did i do i that” Conrad asks at your lose of walking skills

“shut up” you say walking slowly to the door and walking away struggling

“two new photos today” he says referring back to the polaroid and the explicit version

“only for you” you say fixing your dress down your body as you take your shoes off to be able to walk a little better

“what now” Conrad asked

“i’m tired let me lay with you” you say wrapping your arms around his neck to kiss you

“ok” he says with a polite smile

you didn’t really understand how he could destroy you one moment and than the nicest person in the world. a person who would want to give you the world. and you enjoyed it. it kept you on your toes.

you quickly run to his room to make sure one one else could see your state of fucked up appearance. but your plan failed as Conrad quickly swooped you taking you in for a quick kiss making you smile.

“i have some extra clothes if you want” he asks pulling them out to you

“ooo give me” you say changing quickly in the corner of his room

“you’re funny” he says laughing laying down on his blanket and pillow

“what why” you say putting the shirt over your head and walking back to him

“you were all about yourself a second ago and than now you’re all shy” he says poking you

“oh shut up” you say moving your body so your back faced him

“make me” he says towering over your face so he could be kissed by you

a/n: i take requests!

[chlorinecake]

HURTS, DOESN'T IT? ✦ — 𝐉.𝐒𝐂 👾

▹ PAIRING: Boyfriend Sungchan x F. Reader

▹ SYNOPSIS: While at an arcade party to celebrate Halloween alongside your boyfriend and his friends, one random activity leads to another before you two find yourselves completely wasted and horny as fuck…

▹ WARNINGS: KINKTOBER SPECIAL, swearing, kissing, halloween themes, impact play, spanking kink, face slapping, giggly (but also very emotionally unstable) protected sex, exhibionism (public bathroom), ft. other kpop idols, mentions & consumption of alcohol, jealousy, that's about it

▹ WORD COUNT: 2.7k — DAY 9

T WAS SOMETIME during the second week in October when your boyfriend Sungchan got a text from his old college buddy about wanting to get in touch at some party.

The occasion was a fashionably early Halloween celebration at a local arcade where there’d be tons of food, good conversation, and entertainment.

Needless to say, the location choice was odd at best, but throwing a house party would’ve been much more expensive anyway.

And of course, knowing that the party could be an unfriendly zone for anyone in a relationship, Sungchan decided to take you with him as a date, both to stay out of trouble and because he didn’t want to leave you home alone that night.

“Babe, look at this,” Sungchan offered as you sat on the couch together, scrolling through a few pins from his Halloween costume Pinterest board. “Which one catches your eye?”

“Hmmm, that one,” you chirped with a smile, pointing to the photo that seemed easiest to recreate...

So, Sungchan ended up dressed as a basketball player and you as his cheerleader girlfriend, and everyone at the party absolutely adored your costumes.

It came to a point where you recall somewhere around 8 people asking to take a photo of you two by the time y’all actually got there, but I digress...

Considering this was a grown-ups-only party, there wasn't any candy or tricks involved, but there was a lot of booze and raunchy shenanigans.

Additionally, the arcade was a space strictly for adults, so you didn't have to worry about any little kids wandering the place or making a disturbing fuss, either.

“Ohhh, look what the cat dragged in,” your boyfriend’s clearly drunk friend remarked upon seeing you, who was ironically dressed as a tipsy-looking Jack Sparrow.

“This is my lovely girlfriend, _____.” Sungchan smiled awkwardly now, “____, Seonghwa... It’s time you two finally meet each other.”

“Nice to meet you, Seonghwa,” you offered as confidently as you could, shaking his hand while saying, “Thanks for having me, by the way.”

“Ahh, don’t mention it... You two lovebugs have fun now though,” Seonghwa slurred, all before stumbling away into the distance.

That’s when you felt Sungchan’s hand slip around your waist, pulling you close to him before whispering, “Is it just me, or are we currently too sober to enjoy this party?”

“No, it’s both of us,” you agreed with a painfully honest nod, making your boyfriend chuckle a bit as you both promptly made your way over to the drinks bar.

But since you step foot in the arcade, you feel like there is a second pair of eyes watching you aside from Sungchan’s, and you could bet on your grave that it is the barista running the bar.

“Hey guys! What can I get for the sexy player and his ditsy fangirl today?” She started sarcastically while annoyingly chewing on a wad of gum with her dark red lips, might I add?

“We’re actually a couple,” Sungchan answered before you could even get a word out, and fortunately so because you certainly didn’t have anything good to say to her.

“We’ll take whatever specials you guys are having tonight,” you began to say while glancing at the drink menu, but she had already helped herself to chatting things up with your boyfriend.

Right.

In.

Front of you…

Just from glancing at her name tag, you knew the skank went by “Samantha G” to most people, which only irritated even more once Sungchan nicknamed her “Sam.”

“You have such a bright smile,” she said, reaching a hand out to touch his arm. “God, and you’re strong,” she chuckled slightly before humming as if someone had just stuck a vibrator in her ass.

“Miss G, don’t forget that you’re hired to serve, not to swoon,” an employee from the back called out to her, and it was easy to hold back the laugh in your throat once Sam replied with:

“Oh, give me a break, Eunseok... Besides, with the outfit I’m wearing, I could easily get away with doing both.”

Gag me with a fucking spoon, you thought to yourself, feeling relieved to see Sungchan peeling that vipers grip away from his arm by her wrist.

“Serving and swooning?” Eunseok repeated with a look of cringe on his face, “You must be mistaking this job with Hooters.”

But nonetheless, Samantha lifted her chin proudly, ignoring his words as if her behavior right now was something to be proud of.

Eventually though, Eunseok got started on making your drinks while Samantha pretended to look busy.

Not wanting to cause any further confusion, you simply ignored her frequent glances towards you two, letting Sungchan pay the bill before walking off to enjoy yourselves.

And as the night continued, you and Sungchan helped yourselves to some pizza next, shooting hoops for a few rounds at the basketball game before eventually delighting yourselves to a Pac-Man tournament.

You obviously lost more than half of the rounds y’all played together, but only because you really needed to stop by the bathroom after all those drinks.

Sungchan cut the game off, returning it back to its default home screen before taking your hand and walking you to the ladies bathroom.

“I’ll be out in a bit,” you told him as you lazily kissed the apple of his cheek before waltzing inside, and he rested his back on the outside of the door, planning to wait until you were finished.

Though, you were starting to take a lot longer than promised, causing Sungchan to grow a bit suspicious...

So, being the rule-breaker that he often was whenever he drank too much, he walked inside the women’s bathroom, knocking on the stall door to see if you were okay.

And surprisingly, you weren’t in there throwing up your entire digestive system, so that concluded you fine for the most part...

The only issue was that your pussy wouldn't stop throbbing and leaking arousal all into your underwear, and even after trying to calm yourself down a few times, nothing was working—

“Baby, just let me in before some chick sees me standing here and assumes I’m harassing you,” Sungchan pleaded despite the calmness of his voice, impatient hands finding the pockets on his track pants.

“Fine, but I’m only letting you in if you promise to help me,” you pouted as if he could see you, and he let himself giggle at the whiny tone of your voice right now.

“Help you with what? Wiping yourself?” Sungchan teased, but all of that stopped once you opened the door to pull him inside.

“No, asshole… I seriously need you right now,” you whined again, and he kissed you, cupping your face in one hand and supporting the small of your back with another.

“I only did that to shut you up, by the way,” Sungchan muttered upon breaking from the kiss, turning back to open the door and leave. “Now let’s go back...”

“Channie, please…” You tugged on his arm.

“I’m not staying here in a women’s bathroom stall with you, ____,” he whisper-scolded.

“But I want you to be in here,” you went on, clinging to his arm like a koala in distress...

Sungchan sighed, finally closing the door back so you could stop whining. “Okay, baby, what’s all this really about... hm?”

You stayed quiet, only reaching inside the cup of your bra to pull out a condom packed in shiny blue foil.

“Baby,” Sungchan breathed out with a soft smile, finally realizing the true motive for your sudden change in behavior: “Why’re you letting that barista girl get to you?”

“I dunno, why’re you bringing her up?” You retorted, closing your hand around the condom you held, but Sungchan found your hand anyway, opening it back up and taking the condom himself.

“Because you’re obviously still bothered about how she was acting with me,” he returned, undoing his track pants while keeping eye contact with you, “and that’s okay... Even I get jealous sometimes.”

“I wasn’t jealous of that skank,” you correct him.

“Then what were you, baby?… Tell me…”

“I was... upset,” you admitted through a gulp once he freed his cock from his pants, and he was surprisingly somewhat hard already just from talking to you, “There’s a difference, y’know?”

“Sure... but what upset you?”

“That... that you just let her touch you and... and talk to you as if I wasn’t standing right fucking there,” you said with a frustrated tone, feeling your skin shiver at the sudden sound of him tearing the foil packaging before sliding the rubber over his tip and down his shaft.

“I’m sorry I made you feel that way, then." Sungchan apologized, and either being too drunk to notice or even care that he was being sarcastic, you closed the space between you two, looking him straight in the eye with your own lust-filled ones.

And before you knew it, he had your back against the wall, fucking his thickness into your sopping cunt as you clung to his shoulders, eyes shut with overwhelming pleasure.

Given the crammed space in the stall, it wasn't very easy to move around in there, let alone with two fully grown people. Though, at least one benefit was that the arcade restrooms weren’t like the cheesy ones with zero privacy...

The stalls were fully sealed all around, almost like a closet with a toilet in it, and judging from the thick wooden walls, they were pretty soundproof too for the most part.

His hands gripped at your ass as pretty little grunts fell from his lips, and all you could hear in the back of your mind was Samantha’s irritating voice.

“K-kiss me,” you breathed out suddenly, and Sungchan did just that, finding your lips in his own as you kissed him passionately, trembling at the sensation of his hands spreading your cheeks as he held you tighter.

That’s when you took his lower lip between your teeth, biting down hard enough to leave a mark.

“Fuck,” he swore as quietly as he could, and you released his lip, only because you wanted to see the pained look on his face as he kept fucking you.

“Why the hell did you bite me so hard, ____?”

“Hurts, doesn’t it?” You returned with a whisper, and he only hung his head, snickering to himself before looking back up to meet your eyes.

“You’re fucking crazy, y’know tha—ahhh...” His voice trailed off, but only because your walls kept clenching around him, your slick coating his entire pelvis now given how wet you were... though, your physical arousal didn't match your visible pleasure...

“Why're you holding your sounds in, huh?” Your boyfriend huffed, only to chuckle slightly at the docile look of sexual desperation overtaking your face now, “still trying to stay mad at me for no reason?”

“Even if I was, you're literally laughing at everything right now, so it'd be pointless,” you said with a surprisingly stable voice, only to tighten your jaw at how slow he was dragging his cock against your walls now, making you focus on every last inch of his length as he slid in and out of you, slow and steady...

“Stop that,” your voice came out strained, and you turned your face from him to hide how effected you truly were, but when his hands fiercely gripped at the sensitive flesh of your hips, you couldn't stop yourself from wincing.

“So bossy today,” he replied with a smirk, biting his own lip at the sight of your tough girl act crumbling before him.

“Go faster already, Sungchan,” you sighed with desperation, hating how he was delaying your release by going so slowly

“I'm sure Samantha wouldn't mind me fucking her at this speed,” he snickered, ghosting his hot breath right below your ear.

“The closest that bitch is ever getting to you again is in... in a dream,” you stammered out incoherently, but only because he was sucking on your neck now, surely leaving a mark as his hips finally picked up the pace.

“I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you,” Sungchan mumbles through grunts in between kissing your flesh, making your eyes go in and out of focus the faster he pistoled his cock into you. “She’s probably waiting for me in the stall beside us... touching herself while she listens to us fuck... wishing it was her—”

Smack!

You slapped him clean across the face, cutting off his words with your bitter force, and you’re not sure if that’s what makes his eyes appear watery at first...

Though, maybe, it was the feeling of your snug walls sucking him back in that made him tear up a bit, and it didn’t help how you subconsciously rolled your hips against his, desperate for more friction.

“Feel better after doing that, angel?” Sungchan asked in a wobbly voice now, and you could tell he was getting close just from how pronounced his veins looked now, coupled with the additional saliva pooling in his mouth.

Before you could even answer, he was back to kissing you, and his skilled tongue, despite all the drama it had caused thus far, was making you feel so good right now...

The contact was so sloppy, and primal even, with his powerful hips pushing through their own stuttering as he chased his high, spanking the swell of your ass to get your attention.

“I asked you a question, didn’t I, baby?” He offered through his adorably labored breaths, still trying to get that reply out of you before y’all left the stall.

Smack.

His large hand hit your ass again, making you jump against the wall as the painful sting traveled throughout your entire body, part of it turning you on somewhat.

“Sungchan,” you panted, tracing the swollen part of his lower lip that you had bit earlier, and now you were starting to feel your eyes tear up, too, “I’m sorry, I... I don’t know what made me do that.”

“It’s okay, angel, we’re both drunk out of our minds right now,” his voice began with a weak giggle, just as his arms were starting to feel numb for holding you for so long.

Fusing your back with the wall, you were shocked to feel that Sungchan could possibly reach even deeper inside you, and it was only with a few more thrusts while coupled with the pleasured whimpers you finally let out for him that your boyfriend reached his climax.

“Fuck, baby... ahh... nghh... fuckkk,” a string of curse words spilled from your lips, but Sungchan covered your mouth almost instantly once he heard someone open the bathroom entry door.

“Mmm,” you hummed again, but he shushed you with a finger, hearing a stall open and close just a few feet away from you before their footsteps stopped.

And you couldn’t be more lucky that there was faint music playing from the speakers, provoking you and Sungchan to get back dressed as fast as y’all could while you still had a chance at doing so undetected.

Your feet hit the ground with a gentle thud once he released you from his grasp, and you both smiled at how ridiculous you both felt in this moment.

Slipping off his soiled condom, he discarded it down the toilet, pinning you against the wall to find your lips in yet another harsh kiss as he hummed softly, “We’re never going to a party like this again, right?”

“Agreed,” you said back, readjusting your cheer skirt and panties as your boyfriend slid his pants up, ruffling his hair a few times before finally opening the stall door to leave...

Both of your emotions were always like a rollercoaster whenever you got drunk. One second you were both a bunch of moody lug nuts, and then the next, you two were practically inseparable...

With your arm hooked in Sungchan’s, you rested your head on his stature as he led you out of the bathroom stall, and you weren’t all that surprised to spot Samantha there, wide-eyed and confused as you and him casually walked out together.

“Did you guys... Why were you both?... Wait…"   Samantha’s voice trailed off as she tried her hardest to get a coherent sentence out but failed nonetheless once Sungchan and you started giggling to each other before walking out the restroom.

And you’re certain the stall you two had just left reeked of body warmth and sex, but being too drunk to spare a care, you both waved everyone off before heading home, only to flat out crash on your shared mattress and sleep the night away while still wearing your costumes...

⋆♱✮ Thanks to everyone who made it to the end of DAY 9's fic entry for my Kinktober Event !! This is a bit shitty tbh, but nonetheless, if you're interested in reading more works like this, feel free to check out my main enhypen masterlist or my kinktober masterlist by clicking one of these links :3

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