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formulauno98 · 2 years ago

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Once Upon a Time in Baku | Chapter Four

You'd never visited Baku but this weekend was going to be memorable for one reason and one reason alone. WAP.

Word Count: 11.9k

Warnings: Mature - Finally we have some lightly spicy content.

Author’s Notes: Disclaimer, purely fiction, no-one is married in this alt-universe.

SATURDAY AM

Baku came as a relief to the entire team. Free practice performance was like night and day compared to the poor showing in Monaco. The team's hopes were up and you were ready to take on the day. Having been in Baku for the last two days you'd been lucky enough to have some free time in the evening to explore the city, another place you had never visited before. You'd gone out for dinner with the rest of the Comms team and then met up with Bella and the other engineers for drinks as you had intended in Monaco. The team was tightly knit and it was nice to see the different departments bonding outside of work. The more time you spent with them the more Toto's words about the team being like a family rang true.

Toto had arrived last night, having ended up staying behind in the factory for free practice. You hadn't seen him yet and were still unsure of what to make of him. As most of your interactions were one on one or part of a large group meeting, you were curious to see how he was with other colleagues, and if Bella was correct in her estimations.

You had woken up early as the Drive to Survive crew had requested to film a follow-up gym segment with Toto. Dutifully but somewhat reluctantly you agreed to help once again and you donned your Mercedes uniform t-shirt for the second time. This time you paired it with some black shorts as it was much more humid in Baku than it had been in Barcelona. You weren't going to be working out so it didn't matter that they were a little short.

You made your way down to the gym early, hoping to sneak in a short workout before the camera crew arrived. Luck was on your side and you found the gym to be empty. Having discovered yesterday that you could connect your phone to the gym speakers you even took the liberty of putting on your gym playlist, a trashy mix of y2k hip hop, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.

Engrossed in your work out you were surprised to turn around and see Pete and the camera crew had started to arrive. Grinning sheepishly and returning your weights to the stack, you went over to greet them.

"Morning guys, sorry I got here a little early so thought I'd squeeze in a workout. How are you all?" you said, a little embarrassed that you had been caught.

"No worries at all, the big man's not here yet so by all means please carry on!" said Pete. "How have you been? We've been rammed, to be honest, back-to-back shoots."

Just as you were about to respond Toto walked in, looking very smart in a navy tee and matching shorts.

"Morning everyone, how is it going?" he said as he strode in.

"Morning boss," you smirked, "Long time, no see."

"I know, too long!" he smiled, coming to a stop where the crew were standing, "So how are you all enjoying Baku?"

Pete and Toto continued to make small talk as the camera crew readied their equipment and it wasn't long before the camera was ready to roll. You had once again been given a list of scripted prompts to take Toto through while you spotted him, this time discussing a racing incident that had taken place last weekend and cost Mercedes dearly.

You made quick work of the questions with a puffed-out Toto giving concise answers that apparently weren't enough for Pete and the crew.

"I hate to say this Toto but do you want to try something different? Maybe lighter weights or an alternative exercise? I know you want to be the macho man lifting heavy weights but it's not making the best content." Pete said, in an annoyed tone.

"Pete, with all due respect, you asked us to present it in this manner, it certainly was not Toto's first choice," you said, folding your arms, unhappy with Pete's line of accusations.

Toto sat up on the weights bench, looking irritated, "Yes, it's no problem to change. And I certainly do not need to lift weights to be... what did you say? A macho man." He then stood up, making his way towards Pete, towering over him and adding, "I'm not Christian."

Feeling slightly awkward you strode across the room to stand by Toto's side in support, your height somewhat less imposing than the tall Austrian's, "Look, we will do what you ask of us but don't insinuate that we are driving this narrative. We're happy to participate in filming when required but we're not interested in getting into a pissing match with the other teams and their team principals.."

Toto raised his eyebrows at your colourful phrase, looking impressed. You continued, folding your arms, "Can we take five and regroup?"

Pete looked sheepish, likely not used to being met with much resistance, "Of course, whatever you need," he said, stepping away and towards his camera crew.

You turned to Toto, "Sorry about that, if that was unprofessional of me, but I didn't like what he was suggesting. What would you be comfortable doing instead of the weights?"

Toto smiled, gently patting your arm, "On the contrary, I quite enjoyed it, Pete has met his match. They can be difficult and act like they're doing us a favour when it is the other way around." he paused for a moment, before suggesting "Shall I use the cables? It's easy and you can be by my side?"

"Sure, sounds like a plan, shall I go and set them up?" you said, glad that Toto was in agreement with you.

"Let's do it together, I can't be bothered to talk to them," Toto said, his brow furrowed in annoyance as he glanced over at Pete.

"I can see why. They're not the friendliest bunch," you said quietly as you both made your way across to the two cable machines.

"Indeed." Toto nodded in agreement as he reached one of the machines, "I will take this one, you take that one." he said, gesturing at the one next to him. "What do you normally do on these?"

"I use them for all sorts, maybe today chest press?" you said, thinking about the fact that your shorts were rather too short to do anything where your back would be facing the camera.

"Interesting," said Toto, "I use them sometimes too, they're quite good when you are alone."

"You've been coming to the gym without me?" you feigned indignation.

"Maybe once or twice in Brackley." Toto winked at you as he locked the cables in the correct positions.

"Scandalous," you said, shaking your head, echoing him by locking the cables in position and choosing a lighter weight.

Not one to miss a trick, Toto had to get a word in, "A bit lightweight no?"

"Oh my gosh, Pete is right, you are a macho man," you said laughing.

"Touché," he said, "I'm going to go light myself, the worst that will happen is Christian will bring it up in a press conference. No one else cares."

"Glad to hear you're so level-headed about it, you can't let him rile you up," you said smiling, getting in position to try your first chest press.

"I try my best," he said, getting into position to do his bicep curl, testing the weight and completing the move with ease. "I know you're going to laugh at me but I'm going to add one more plate, this is too light."

"Sure, sure," you said, enjoying winding him up a little.

You both found your groove with the exercises and filming recommenced, with Pete staying out of the way and the cameraman focusing on getting some b-roll footage with your gym playlist pumping in the background.

"There's some whores in this house There's some whores in this house"

You went cold. Not WAP, any song but WAP.

"I said certified freak, seven days a week Wet ass pussy, make that pullout game weak, woo! (Ah)"

Toto's head whipped around, "What did the song just say?"

In perfect timing, Cardi B answered.

"Yeah, you fucking with some wet ass pussy Bring a bucket and a mop for this wet ass pussy Give me everything you got for this wet ass pussy"

Stuttering, you tried to compose yourself, wishing you knew how to skip a song without your phone in your hand, "It's Cardi B, have you not heard it?"

"Put this pussy right in yo' face Swipe your nose like a credit card"

"No." Toto said blushing, "Some interesting lyrics."

Surprised that after the accidental flashing incident and numerous double entendres that a single song would make Torger Wolff blush like a schoolboy, you tried not to blush in return. "I can skip it if you want?"

"It's okay, it's good to know what the kids are listening to nowadays. Even if it makes me feel very old," he said.

"Not the old thing again, if you're old that makes me old!" you replied, the awkwardness dispelled.

"I'm almost double your age, you've got a long time to catch up," he said, pulling up on a cable and flexing his rather impressive arms.

"Pff," you replied, seeing Pete making his way over to the pair of you.

"Are you ready to start again? You were brilliant last time so more of that please," he said, rather condescending.

Deciding to play nice, you looked at him, giving him a dry smile, "No problem. We will do whatever you want us to do."

Pete looked guilty, "Again, apologies if we offended you earlier, thank you for being flexible."

"You're welcome," said Toto, with a stony face.

You started again, working through the prompts the Netflix team had given you, this time with Toto giving fuller answers, able to catch his breath.

As you chatted away, you couldn't help but get distracted by his arms as he flexed with the taut cables, he was stacked, especially for a man his age. If this made it into Drive to Survive it would almost certainly be in countless Tiktok thirst trap edits. It wasn't long before you got through the script and were ready to wrap, conscious that you were now almost twenty minutes behind schedule.

"That's a wrap" Pete clapped his hands together, "Thank you both. Got there in the end."

Pete was starting to irritate you with his passive-aggressive comments so you replied frostily, mustering a cold smile "Thank you, Pete, I'm glad that YOU got there in the end. We really have to dash now, Toto is a very busy man" you said, gathering your phone and room key from the table where you left it.

"Thank you, Pete," said Toto dismissively, with no smile. He looked as annoyed as you felt and as you walked out of the gym alongside him you could sense tension was there.

"That man is so unprofessional." you vented as you pushed the button for the lift, "I felt as if he was trying to irritate you into saying something juicy. I'm half tempted to ask that he is not on the next shoot."

"They're all the same, I've had this issue before. It is what it is." Toto said bluntly.

"Doesn't mean it's okay," you said as you made your way into the empty lift.

Toto shrugged his shoulders, "It's TV people. They love to get the scoop, try and make you say things you don't mean. I see it with the drivers, especially George. The press are like vultures, always waiting to prey."

Trying to stay positive, you retorted, "You needn't worry, that's why you have my team. We do our best to ensure that doesn't happen."

"Very true, I don't know how you do it," he said, sighing. You hadn't seen this side of him and were surprised to see him opening up and being vulnerable. "It's the part of my job I hate. If we could race and talk to no one I would love it."

"I get that," you smiled at him, "But it's also an amazing tool to get people interested in watching the racing. Without the media circus, it's just boys in very expensive go-karts going on holiday every two weeks."

"True, I suppose," said Toto, looking unconvinced.

The lift had come to a stop at your floor so it was time to part ways, "Thank you, I'll have a word with them for next time. See you at the track."

"Thank you, see you later," he said as the lift doors closed.

SATURDAY PM

The rest of the morning had been full of back-to-back meetings, phone calls and a certain amount of problem solving on your part. Your team were now comfortable enough to ring you with any concerns and a good amount of time had been taken up dealing with the pitfalls that plagued the team. First of all, Emily, George's EA had been concerned with some paparazzi pictures that had emerged of George holding hands with Rosie a few nights before. They were dark and grainy, having been taken at some distance in the dark and Rosie was not recognisable but George was very obvious. Emily wasn't aware of his relationship with Rosie so was under the impression she was a local Azerbaijani girl that he had picked up. Not wanting to spill just yet you had a short chat with her.

"I would suggest we do not comment for now, they haven't been picked up by many outlets, it's better to just ignore." you advised Emily.

"Okay, I'll keep an eye out if they are circulated more widely." the young woman said.

"Thank you Emily, that's a great idea. My rule of thumb is to always lay low until you need to make a statement. I will have a word with George." you said, silently thinking you would also have a word with Rosie.

"Thank you, I'd better go, he's got interviews in fifteen minutes down in the paddock." Emily got up from her chair to leave your office.

"Thank you Emily, please don't hesitate to let me know if anything else comes up."

"Will do," she said, closing the door behind her.

You were somewhat surprised that George had been papped but you supposed it was to be expected now that he was getting more known. You made a mental note to have a word with him after qualifying as you knew that he and Rosie would once again be hitting the town tonight.

You barely had a minute to get back to your emails when the next curveball came up. Pete, the Netflix producer had gone back to his EP and told him that Toto had been difficult on set. You sighed, reaching for the phone to smooth things over. You dialled the number in the EP's email signature and sat back as the phone rang.

"Hello, Paul speaking." came the voice from the other end.

"Yes hello Paul," you replied, "I'm calling as I've just seen your email and thought it is better to have a chat."

"Oh I see," Paul sounded taken aback, "Lovely to meet you."

"Likewise," you said flatly, knowing full well it was not lovely, "So to clear things up, Pete was the one who made things difficult on set. He insisted that Toto lift weights as he had done before but then said that he was too out of breath and the content was suffering. It would have been all good and well but he implied that Toto had dictated the shot and that he was, I quote, trying to be a macho man." you paused before adding, "It was not the case at all, and Toto was offended at the implications. It felt as if Pete was trying to get a rise out of him. Did you instruct him to behave in his manner?"

Paul was quiet on the other end, "Well, I'm sorry to hear that and sorry to hear that Toto was offended. I most certainly did not instruct Pete to suggest anything like that. What happened after that?"

"We changed the set-up to an easier workout but Pete was still rather off. To be totally honest he'd lost Toto by that point so I'd be very surprised if the footage is any good. Ultimately his behaviour was detrimental to the shoot." you said succinctly.

"That sounds very out of character for Pete, are you sure Toto wasn't being sensitive?" Paul said defensively.

"Paul, I was there." you said bluntly, "He was much more understanding than I would have been in that situation. I had a word with Pete on the day but I do think it's advisable that he sits out the next shoot."

"Okay, we'll have a think. We have another producer we can send in his place, however, I would say that Toto has a history of being tricky. I understand that you are new to the team and perhaps have not yet encountered it. You'd be wise to choose your battles." he said condescendingly.

"Did you just try to advise me on how to do my job? That's incredibly disrespectful, not just to me, but to Toto and to the team. We have a segment lined up with Lewis next week and if that's the way you are going to speak to me I will pull it. Lewis has a line as long as the paddock lining up to speak to him. It's no skin off my back if he's not on Drive to Survive." you were enraged, how dare this man speak to you in this way.

"Noted. We can work something out, I wouldn't want this to jeopardise our wider relationship." Paul said, still in a smug tone.

"Me neither, Paul, me neither. We are very happy to participate but I will not be spoken to as if I am a child and I certainly will not stand for members of my team to be humiliated on set to get juicy content. If your crew treat Toto that way I wouldn't be surprised if they do the same to Lewis or George and as the Director of Communications, I cannot allow that." you said firmly, knowing that you were being a tad dramatic but not wanting to back down at this point.

"Okay. I'll have a chat with Pete, we'll get the other producer on set with Lewis and I'll make sure I come down to check in. How does that sound?" he said.

"Great, thank you Paul. We'll be in touch." You said, "Have a lovely day."

"Thank you, good luck tomorrow." he said hanging up.

You were livid, how dare a TV producer try to advise you on how to handle your boss. Toto had his moments but so far he'd been very level headed in trying moments. Just as you were starting to compose yourself, there was a knock on your door.

"Come in," you called out, before the door opened to reveal Lara, Toto's EA.

"Hello, how are you? Toto has asked if you have time for a quick coffee before qualifying?"

"Yes of course, I can do any time between two and three o'clock but can shuffle things around if he can't" you replied.

"Two o'clock is perfect, in his office?"

"Great, yes please," Lara said, "I'll let him know."

"Thanks Lara." you replied as she closed the door behind her. It was twenty past one so you had time to grab some lunch and work through the rest of your emails. Making your way downstairs to the hospitality area you bumped into George.

"Hey, are you alright?" said George, warmly.

"Yes thanks, how are you? Not long now." you replied, gesturing at the large clock with a countdown to qualifying.

"Good thanks, feeling positive after testing. The car felt better." he said, before adding, "Emily said you wanted to have a word with me, would now be a good time?"

"That's good to hear, it's only up from here. If you have time, now's perfect. Do you want to come to my office?" you said, conscious that you did not want to be overheard.

"Sure," he said, "I think I can guess what this is about."

You made your way back up to your office with George in tow, your team giving somewhat quizzical looks. Settling back down into your chair, George sat across from you, fiddling with his hands and looking nervous.

"So, I want to start by saying don't worry, your secret is safe with me. Rosie confessed everything and I haven't told a single soul." you said, hoping to put him at ease, "I wanted to discuss the paparazzi photos that came out from the night before last. They've been picked up by a few tabloids in the UK, nothing too much to worry about, but I would suggest being a little more discreet until you are ready to share your relationship with the world."

George looked a little shocked, "Thank you for not saying anything, I appreciate that. I'm not sure what Toto will say. To be totally honest we had a few too many the other night and I didn't think," he paused for a moment before looking down at the floor and adding, "I really like Rosie and I think she might be the one."

"Don't worry about it, I'm not going to tell Toto and it's not a big deal. You're young, you're allowed to date people." you said before adding with a smile, "How much though, for me to not tell Rosie that last part?"

"You wouldn't!" George's eyes went wide.

"Of course not, for what it's worth, you two make a very sweet couple. Young love and all that." you teased, all the while knowing that Rosie had said exactly the same of George.

"You're not even that much older than me!" George said, laughing.

"True, but you two are much cuter." you said, glad that George looked cheerier than he did a moment ago, "When the time comes to go public just let me know and we'll do it as painlessly as possible."

"Thank you, I really appreciate this." George said, getting up out of his chair "Right, I had better go down to the garage and see what's going on."

"You're more than welcome and if there's any ever worries please don't hesitate to come straight to me."

"Thanks, see you later." he said as he made his way back out.

Looking at the clock it was now half past one, leaving you half an hour to grab a bite to eat. Hoping that this time you wouldn't run into anyone you dashed out of your office and straight into the solid chest of Toto Wolff.

"We have to stop bumping into each other like this." he said, with a grin on his face. "Why are you in such a rush?"

Feeling your face glowing red with embarrassment you stammered, "Trying to grab some lunch before our coffee, it's been non stop all morning."

"Oh." he said, "If it's tight don't worry about it, or if you wish, bring your lunch and we can eat together? I'm just about to have some myself."

"Sure, that works for me, I'll be back in five." you said, before noticing that as you'd smacked into your chest you'd left a bright red lip print on the front of his otherwise pristine white shirt.

Noticing you staring, Toto looked down, clocking the lipstick stain. "Now, that would start some rumours."

"I am so sorry Toto," you said apologetically, "I can get it dry cleaned for you."

"Not to worry, I have a few spare in my office, I had some oil on this anyway." he said, turning his sleeve down to reveal a greasy mark on his arm.

"If you're sure? I will have to be more careful with this door." you said.

"Honestly, don't worry about it." he said kindly, turning the door handle to his office, "So I'll see you in five?"

"Sure, would you like anything?" you asked.

"Actually, if there is a diet coke could you please bring me one?" He said, "Lara brings me lots of healthy things but I'm craving something more today."

"No problem, I'll bring one." you said, before making your way back along the corridor.

———

You returned a short while later, with a generous salad box, utensils and two diet cokes, one for you and one for Toto, as requested. Knowing that Toto was changing his shirt you made sure to knock before entering his office, not wanting a repeat of your first day.

"Come in," his deep voice called out.

You opened the door, juggling everything, Toto immediately jumping out of his seat to help, ever the gentleman.

"Here, let me help," he said, grabbing your lunch and the utensils out of your hands and setting them down opposite him, before taking the diet cokes as well, "Thank you for this, I feel guilty you carried everything."

Taking the seat opposite Toto, you waved your hand, "It was no trouble at all, the least I could do for ruining your shirt."

"Don't be silly, I have a wardrobe full and I'm sure it will come out in the laundry." he said, sitting down to have his lunch opposite you. "So I asked Lara to put some time in with you as I have been told there have been some concerning images of George with a local woman in the tabloids. Do you know about these?"

Surprised that this was on Toto's radar, you replied confidently, "Yes, I've spoken to George, we've handled it. He is going to be more careful and we are going to ignore it and not comment."

"Great. I thought you would but wanted to check. I heard some raised voices coming from your office earlier and wondered what was going on." he said.

"Oh." you paused, mid bite. "That was actually the EP from Netflix."

Toto raised an eyebrow, "Really? What happened?"

You paused, trying to find the best way to broach the topic, "Nothing to worry about, it's sorted now. He sent a rather punchy email this morning so I thought I'd give him a call."

'And?" Toto said, dropping his fork, clearly wanting the gossip.

"It's fine, honestly, he was rude so I told him what I thought of Pete and threatened to pull our involvement if he didn't get his act together."

Toto's gaze hardened, "I know you weren't happy with Pete but please don't make decisions like that without the board and myself. We can't pull involvement now."

Feeling like he was telling you off, you hit back, "Of course not, but he doesn't know that. It worked, he said we will have another producer next time."

"Ok, well thank you for sorting." he said, before adding, "And I do appreciate your enthusiasm"

You smiled, grateful that Toto wasn't too angry at your gung-ho attitude, "Thank you Toto, and I'll be less hot-headed in future. He tried to tell me how to do my job and how to deal with you and I was not having it."

"How to do your job and how to deal with me?" Toto looked bemused, "What did he say?"

"He told me to choose my battles wisely and that you are tricky to deal with." you smirked, taking a bite of your salad.

"Interesting, and I suppose this is when you raised your voice?" Toto said.

"It was already a little heated at that point but it tipped me over the edge. I'm not proud but I think I got the point across." you said sheepishly.

Toto looked at you calculatedly, "I think the whole paddock heard you getting the point across."

Embarrassed once again, you laughed, "I told you we can just take out this divide if you want? I'm sorry though, I'll keep it down."

"On the contrary, it's very entertaining." Toto said, cracking open his diet coke and taking a gulp, "Thank you, this hits the spot."

"Glad I keep you entertained." you said, smiling and taking another bite of your salad. "It's funny, I haven't heard you raise your voice at all, in fact, I should have told Paul that."

"Well you don't have to raise your voice to be tricky." Toto said with a smile, "If you can do it with stealth it's more fun."

"I'll have to give it a try some time." you laughed, "I want to know what you did to Paul that makes him think you're so tricky?"

"That's a long story for another day," Toto said, "I'll tell you over drinks one some time."

"Okay, well if we win this weekend I will hold you to that," you said, "Was there anything else pressing that you needed to discuss? I need to head off in a bit to the media pen for Lewis' interviews."

"No, that was everything, thank you." Toto said, "I have high hopes for this next session."

"Me too Toto, me too." you said.

SUNDAY PM

Not only had you both been correct for the qualifying session but race day itself had turned into quite the triumph for team Mercedes. Lewis had claimed his first victory of the season with George right behind him, finishing at P2. The garage was buzzing and you couldn't wait to see them both up on the podium.

George had just taken to the stage for his post-race interview with Lewis shortly behind. The crowd was electric and you were grateful for the team's ability to turn it around from one week to another. Your team were busy bustling around the garage, prepping the celebratory drinks and post-race photo call.

"Hey!" a voice called out. You turned around to see Louis and Ben from the social media team approaching. "Do you think we'll have time to take some pics with Lewis and George? We haven't planned the content but it's such an important moment."

"Of course, let's grab them as soon as they're off the podium. There's a short window before they go to the paddock to talk to the media," you replied, already fond of the two men who ran the social accounts. They were grafters and always there at the right moment to capture the highs and lows.

"Thanks, you're the best," said Louis, with a twinkle in his eye.

"I know," you said jokingly. "Come and grab them in two mins."

"Will do," he replied, wandering off into the milieu.

"Hey!" another voice called out, this time it was Tom, the partnerships manager. "Lewis went up on the podium without his watch!"

"Oh shit, really?" you sprung into action, "Where is it?"

"I have it," Tom said, waving it in his hand.

"What are you waiting for then, go and put it on him!" you instructed, a little forcefully.

"Ok, on it," Tom said, running off to the back entrance of the podium. You watched in real-time on the big screen in the garage as George walked out onto the podium, knowing that Lewis would be next and hoping that Tom would get there in time.

Not thirty seconds had passed when Lewis emerged, doing up the strap on his watch. Relieved, you looked over at Toto who was engrossed in a deep conversation with the Chief Engineer. You knew that any minute now, Sky would come knocking for an interview.

Right on cue, their producer made his way into the garage and approached you, "Hi, congrats on the win. Is Toto available for a quick word after the podium?"

"Thank you. Of course, in here or in the paddock?" you asked.

"Whatever is most convenient." the producer replied.

As there were about to be major celebrations in the garage you decided to choose wisely, "Let's do the paddock, I'll come with him." you replied, slightly saddened by the fact you wouldn't be there for the immediate congratulations in the garage.

"Thank you, can you come out in ten minutes?." he said.

"No problem, see you soon," you replied.

"Thanks, see you later," he said, leaving the garage as swiftly as he'd entered, just as celebrations got underway on the podium. Lewis and George were relishing their first win for the team this season and splashing Bono, the designated Mercedes team member to accompany them on the podium, with copious amounts of champagne.

Tearing your eyes away from the screen and trying to catch Toto's eye, he finally clocked that you were wanting a word and wandered over to you.

"Congratulations boss!" you said brightly, tapping him lightly on the arm.

"Thank you," he beamed, his demeanour vastly different from that of yesterday. "I saw the Sky guy come in, do they want to talk to me now that we're winning again?"

"Precisely, are you free in ten minutes? I wanted to run it past Lara but couldn't find her," you asked, knowing it was against protocol to ask directly.

"I sent her up to keep an eye on George, that's absolutely fine. Will you come with me?" Toto asked.

"Of course, I would have anyway." you smiled, "Why does Lara need to keep an eye on George?"

"After those pictures, I don't want him getting in any trouble," Toto said, folding his arms.

"Honestly, you've nothing to worry about, if you knew the truth of the matter, it's not what you are thinking," you said, trying to reassure him.

Toto looked curious and was about to say something when Lewis and George walked, the garage erupting into rapturous applause. "We'll talk later, I better go," said Toto, making his way over to his two star team members. The garage quietened down, clearly expecting the boss to make some kind of speech.

Toto clapped his hands together in delight and then placed one arm around Lewis' shoulders and one around George's "I think I am not alone in saying congratulations guys, and girls," he hastily added. "Thank you to each and every one of you. Your hard work has got us back on top where we belong and I am so proud to be part of this wonderful team. Thank you."

His short but sweet speech went down a charm with the wider team rushing to congratulate the two drivers. Trying once again to catch Toto's eye, you finally found it. It was time to go and chat with Sky. You could hear corks popping as you left the garage and you only could hope there would be some left by the time you returned to the festivities.

"Happy?" you asked Toto as you strolled alongside him on the short walk to the paddock.

"Very. How does it feel to be part of a winning team now?" he asked with a wide smile.

"To tell you the truth, hectic. Everybody wants a piece of you, Lewis and George. Christ, even the junior engineers were getting media requests this weekend. It's mad." you said.

"You'll get used to it. I had to." he said sagely, "They'll be much more to come."

"Fingers crossed," you said as you arrived at the platform where Sky was based. Their producer quickly handed Toto a microphone and beckoned him onto a stool beside the presenters.

You watched in awe as Toto turned on the charm for the cameras, not that he wasn't charming in day-to-day business but he was definitely going the extra mile, telling jokes and smiling throughout his segment. Working with people who knew how to handle the media made your life much easier and you were grateful for Toto and Lewis and the way they set an example for George, who incidentally had come across to join Toto on the platform.

Toto beamed like a proud father as George took his place alongside him and you couldn't help but smile too. Today had been a turning point for the team and you could see the fact that spirits were up and momentum had been gained in the championship. Just as you were thinking about this while watching on, you felt a gentle nudge on your back. You turned around to see Rosie standing there, looking proud as punch too.

"Hi love, how are you?" you said quietly, mindful that you were near hundreds of mics.

"Good thanks, did you enjoy the race? They were so good" she said, looking over at George with puppy dog eyes.

"Yes, it was incredible, they did an amazing job turning that car around in time." you smiled before adding extra quietly, "You must be very proud."

Her eyes lit up, "I really am. He didn't think he was going to do well today, he had nightmares all night long. It was awful, he was crying out in his sleep."

You raised your eyebrows, "Oh really, and how did you know that Rosie?"

She looked worried for a split second before it dawned on her that you were winding her up. "Very funny."

"I'm kidding, but please do be careful, you got papped a few nights ago and people are whispering," you said on a more serious note.

Rosie looked rattled, "We got papped?"

"Well that's good that you weren't aware, it means it's not that big of a news story, but I'm surprised George didn't tell you. I spoke to him earlier about it."

"Oh, I haven't really spoken to him since this morning. What were we doing in the photos?" she asked nervously.

"Nothing bad, don't worry, just holding hands. It's from behind and in the dark so you can't really tell it's you. Both Emily and Toto have seen them and haven't realised so your secret is safe. But please just be careful." you added, hoping she would take your advice.

"We will, I'll speak to George too," she said, glancing over at the young driver who was wrapping up his interview alongside Toto.

"Thank you, Rosie. I honestly don't think it's a problem so don't worry too much," you said, well aware that your words were falling on deaf ears as she only had eyes for George who was now making his way over with a matching sparkle in his eyes, arms outstretched to hug Rosie.

Shooting them both a death stare, they got the memo and George awkwardly backed out of the hug and patted Rosie on the shoulder while Rosie said starchily to George, "Well done George. That was great. Shall we go back to the garage?"

George then leapt back as if Rosie was on fire and stood two feet away, replying, "Thank you, Rosie. Yes, let's go."

Their whole interaction was bizarre and Toto looked at you with a raised eyebrow. Letting the two of them walk ahead, you fell in step with Toto.

"What is going on there?" he asked, gesturing at George and Rosie who were now chatting away animatedly a few steps ahead, "Please tell me it isn't Rosie in those photographs."

Impressed by his skills of deduction, you couldn't lie to your boss, "I could tell you that it's not Rosie but that would be a complete lie. It is her, and don't worry I've spoken to them both."

Toto ruffled his hand through his hair, "Jesus, I thought Lewis was the one I had to worry about. Now George too."

You had to laugh as yet again Toto was acting like a Dad to the two drivers, "Don't worry about it, from what I know it's been going on for quite a few months now and they were sensible about it. I've told them to come to me if things get more serious."

"More serious? George is having casual sex with our press officer?" Toto said, in a state of shock.

"No, not like that. They're serious about their relationship but they're young. Let them be for a bit and when they're ready they can share their relationship with the world. The media are hounds and I want them to enjoy it before the added pressure of being in the public eye comes."

"Oh, I see. Sorry, I misunderstood. Sounds sensible. Should I talk to them too?" Toto asked, looking unsure.

"Let's leave it for now, it might even fizzle out and we could be worrying for nothing," you said reassuringly.

"No, I can see it in their eyes, they're crazy about each other, it's not going to." Toto said, "Trust me I know these things."

"Ok, Mr. love expert, I'll take your word for it," you said laughing at Toto's deadpan delivery. "I guess we'll have to wait and see."

You'd made it back to the garage where half the team were getting on with packing down and the other half milling about with drinks in their hands.

"Guys, come over here and have a drink!!!!" called out a very merry Bono from one corner of the garage. He was stood alongside Lewis and some of your press team, completely soaked in champagne from his trip to the podium.

"Looks like we've missed some of the celebrations, huh?" you said to Toto as he grabbed two plastic flutes of champagne from one of the hospitality hostesses, handing one of them over to you immediately.

"Indeed." he said as you both crossed the room to the small group who had beckoned, "Bono, how much champagne went on your shirt and how much went in your mouth?"

"Fuck knows," Bono replied, clearly tipsy. "Ask Lewis."

Lewis shrugged his shoulders before adding, "George was there too, just saying."

"You two are a nightmare," you said laughing, "Anyway cheers! Congratulations to you all, this is huge for the team and I hope we can keep it up."

Your words were met with some enthusiastic cheering and a few whoops (mostly from Bono) before Toto added, "I could not agree more, I am so proud of you all."

This was met with more whoops as the other engineers had clocked Toto re-entering the garage and flocked over to hear what he had to say. Ever the commanding presence he looked around before stating "How about we let the crew pack up and we reconvene in the hotel bar at eight for a few celebratory drinks?"

"Sounds like a plan boss," you said, sensing that the rowdy group would need some shepherding out of the garage, "Let's all head back, get changed, have a bite to eat and we can celebrate properly."

———

Several hours later you found yourself propped up at the dark hotel bar with Bella and Rosie, your two confidantes to whom in your drunk state you were spilling all the gossip. Music was pumping and drinks were flowing so you had no fear of being overheard.

"And then I sent him a video of him partying in the wet shirt in Abu Dhabi," you said, giving them the details of everything that had happened in Monaco. "And I called him Daddy Toto."

Rosie and Bella squealed, both looking across the room at the affable Team Principal who luckily was also seemingly too drunk to notice.

"I told you." said Bella, "I told you that he likes you."

"Shh no way, I think he's like that with everyone, look at the way he's looking at Tom." you giggled, watching Toto looking positively enthralled by whatever Tom was saying.

Bella laughed too, "Maybe you have a point. But I can't believe he walked in on you changing on your first day. Bless him, he must have been mortified."

You laughed, thinking back to that day, "Yes, he was so embarrassed and everything he said seemed to make it worse. It was good in a way though, I might have been a bit intimidated by him if it hadn't happened. He's huge you know!"

"Huge? How much do you bet he's huge everywhere?" Bella chimed in, a naughty grin on her face.

"Bella! That's so bad!" you chided her.

"Don't tell me you haven't thought about it. Even George said it, he said he saw it when they were changing into racing suits together." Rosie joined in, matter of factly.

"I knew it!" said Bella, "You need to go for it, you'd be a hot couple. Powerful you know?"

"Oh my gosh, you two. I tell you a few things and it gets out of hand," you said, rolling your eyes at them.

"I still think there's something there, mark my words," said Bella with a glint in her eye, exchanging a glance with Rosie.

"What are you three talking about that's so funny?" said a voice from behind you.

"Hey George, sorry it's girl stuff, we can't disclose," said Rosie, winking at you.

"Ooh really?" said George, perching on a bar stool beside Rosie and sipping his drink as if he was one of the girls.

"I'll tell you later," said Rosie, exchanging a side glance with her beau.

"No you won't Rosie!" you said, shooting her daggers, reminding her that you were in fact her superior.

"Okay I won't," said Rosie, "So Bella, how's your other half?"

The conversation, fortunately, turned to Bella's fiancé who was a rival engineer at Ferrari. One thing you had noticed in your month travelling with the team was that several team members' partners worked for the other teams. It seemed that a job in motorsport could be a lonely one and the best solution was to find love in the paddock.

The group carried on chatting away for a while before falling eerily silent in unison. Feeling someone's presence close behind you, you turned around to see none other than Toto looming over.

"Good evening everyone, please don't be quiet just because of me, enjoy tonight and have fun! But not too much fun," he said, eyeing up George and Rosie who had jumped apart on sight of the Team Principal.

"We won't Toto, don't worry." said George, visibly flustered "No hang on we will, we will have fun."

Toto flashed him a knowing smile, "Good." before turning to you " Can I please have a word? I need your help with something."

Trying hard not to look at Rosie or Bella, who you knew were exchanging looks, you nodded and said "Sure, I'll see you guys in a bit."

Following Toto out of the bar, you made your way through the hotel lobby before stopping at a cushy-looking sofa in a cosy lamplit alcove that looked out across the central courtyard garden. The hotel was a business hotel but was rather pretty at night, with the tiled fountains in the courtyard lit with golden light, bubbling away and the terrace strung with twinkling fairy lights.

"Please, take a seat," he said, plopping himself down and patting the seat beside him.

You settled down on the comfortable sofa, turning to Toto curiously, "What can I help you with?"

"I need to make sure everyone leaves that bar asap. Most of them are on the first plane to London tomorrow and I don't want a disaster. Can you help me disperse them?"

Surprised that he was not as drunk as he had seemed when you'd looked over, you replied, "Of course. Although I can't guarantee they'll go to bed straight away."

He smiled, "That's okay but if you can at least try and herd them that would be great. I have tried but they keep trying to get me to drink more! I tried to find Lara and I think she's gone to bed."

"Woe to be you." you replied sarcastically, "I actually have an idea, give me two minutes."

You leapt up from the sofa, leaving Toto looking somewhat perplexed.

"You'll see," you said, winking at him and making your way to the hotel reception desk.

"Good evening Madam, how can I help you?" said the night porter.

"I have a small favour to ask, I'm with the large party who are still in the bar. Would you be able to cut the music and the lights and tell them you're closing, preferably in the next ten minutes?" you asked, batting your eyelashes in the hope that he would be convinced.

"We normally stay open until the last person leaves Madam, but I can see what we can do." he smiled, picking up the phone.

You waited a few minutes as he conversed with whoever was manning the bar.

"They're going to ring the bell for the last call and then close. Your friends have fifteen minutes to get out and leave."

"Amazing, thank you so much. I will be leaving you a five-star review on Trip Advisor," you said babbling in your tipsy state.

"Any time Madam, is there anything else I can help you with this evening?" he asked.

"No, that's fine, thank you so much," you said, sauntering back over to where Toto was still sitting waiting with a confused look on his face.

"What was that all about?" he asked.

"I asked if they could make a last call at the bar and then cut the music," you said, trying not to grin too smugly as you sat back down next to him.

"Very smart, so they have to leave and they don't even realise we had anything to do with it?" Toto looked at you in admiration.

"Exactly, now I'm thinking I can even go up to my room and keep an eye, it's just up there." you gestured to a window on the opposite side of the courtyard that had an eagle-eye view of the bar's terrace.

"You're an evil genius," Toto said, smirking. "Let's go, I'm going to go to bed too. I'm too old for this"

"Stop it, you're not old!" you jibed, getting up and off of the sofa, making your way towards the lift, happy in the knowledge that you had successfully managed the team celebrations without them even knowing. "Hang on, actually, should we go back? It will look suspicious if we disappear and then the party ends," you said, turning towards Toto. Your ulterior motive being that Bella and Rosie would not let you live it down if you left the party with Toto and didn't return.

"That's true, I suppose we can go for one more drink?" Toto said, "Then I'm going to loudly protest when they make the last call."

"I'll be very impressed with your acting skills if you do." you laughed as you made your way back towards the bar area. "I think we made the correct decision," you said, clocking a few engineers who were staggering along the corridor back to their lift lobby.

"I know my team, and I know them better than themselves in this situation," said Toto, holding the door open for you, his hand resting lightly on the small of your back as he allowed you through ahead of him.

"So you've done this before?" You said, "Interesting."

"Maybe," he said, giving you a knowing look.

"Well now I know your secrets, you won't be able to get one past me," you said teasingly.

Toto looked down at you as if to say something in response but was interrupted by a very drunk Tom.

"Hey bosses, how's it going?" he said, swaying dangerously from side to side. "Why aren't you joining in the dancing?" He pointed across to where the team had made a makeshift dance floor and were throwing some questionable shapes.

"Nobody wants to see me dance Tom, although I'm sure she would love to." Toto said, the cheeky grin back on his face, "She told me she loves to dance."

"Do you?" said Tom, his eyes widening, "Come and dance!"

"Toto's right, I do love to dance," you said, shooting a look at your boss who was now chuckling away, apparently pleased with his own joke, "However, I would like one more drink first, I'm going to head to the bar and then who knows, maybe I'll see you on the dancefloor in ten, fifteen minutes," you winked at Toto.

"Actually maybe I'll do the same," said Toto, catching up with your ruse.

"Amazing, see you guys later!" said Tom, hopping back across to where a large group were now dancing in a circle.

"Oh gosh, I hope he is going to be okay on the flight home," you said, conscious that Tom was a member of your direct team so was technically your responsibility.

"Boys will be boys, you can't mollycoddle your team," said Toto.

"You're one to talk, sending Lara to keep an eye on George!" you batted Toto on the arm.

Toto looked at you with a guilty expression, "Ok, maybe you're right. But as a parent, you can't help it. I'm old enough to be his father and always want to look out for him."

"I know and it's endearing," you said, patting him on the arm once again, the alcohol fuelling your touchy-feely tendencies. "I wonder when they're going to ring this bell."

Right on cue, the bell rang, signifying that it was time for the last orders.

"You must be psychic," said Toto, looking down at you kindly, "Is this our opportunity to make the great escape?"

"I thought you were going to put up a huge protest?" you said, raising an eyebrow.

"So I did." he said, flashing you a charming grin, dimples out in full force, "Prepare to be amazed." He once again placed his large hand on the small of your back before disappearing into the throng of people trying to get their last drinks orders in, leaving you staring in disbelief.

Having clearly watched your entire interaction, Bella slinked over, looking like the cat that got the cream.

"He likes you," she said. "I saw that, you touching his arm, him touching your back. That was flirty as fuck."

"Stop it, Bella! Yes he is a very handsome man, who is also very charming, but he is also my boss," you said, trying to talk yourself out of it as much as you were Bella.

"Can't fight nature though, you're smart, you're hot, you're young and juicy. Of course he fancies you."

"Young and juicy?" you laughed incredulously.

"You know, your ass is juicy like a peach," she said, giggling away.

"What's so funny?" a voice said, coming out of nowhere from behind you. George was back, this time with Emily, his press assistant in tow.

"Nothing." Bella said quickly, "We were just laughing at Tom's dancing."

You all looked across the dancefloor seeing Tom twerking enthusiastically in the middle of the dance circle.

"Do you think I should go and get him?" you said.

"No! This is way too entertaining," said Bella, "Besides we have to leave soon, they rang the bell."

"Did they?" you feigned surprise, "So early."

"I know!" said Bella, "A little party never killed anyone and we can sleep on the plane."

"You can," groaned George, "I have to fly back with Toto and he's going to talk to me the whole way."

"That's not so bad, surely?" you asked. The more you learnt about their dynamic, the more they appeared like a slightly dysfunctional father and son.

"No, don't get me wrong. His plane is nice but sometimes you just want to sleep and watch trash TV on a long-haul flight. He's always so... on." George replied wistfully.

"I'll get my tiny violin out for you, think of the rest of us who fly economy," Bella said teasingly. "Although, I think our lovely friend here will be joining you soon enough."

"Me?" you asked, hoping Bella was not going to insinuate anything in front of Emily and George.

"That's true actually," Emily chimed in, "Your predecessor always travelled on Toto's jet. I think once he gets to know you better you will too."

"That's interesting," you said, glancing towards Bella pointedly, "So he had a good relationship with Sarah?"

"I guess." said Emily, "They had their moments though."

"Oh really?" your interest piqued, maybe you were about to learn about Toto's more difficult tendencies, "In what way?"

"Sometimes they screamed at each other." Emily said shyly, clearly worried about saying too much, "It was normally okay but sometimes Sarah had a bad temper. We'd hear doors slamming from their offices."

"Interesting," you said, "He never mentioned this to me."

"I don't suppose he would," said Emily, "It was not the best working atmosphere."

George chimed in, "It was awkward sometimes. She was great but never wanted to move with the times. Toto got frustrated and they'd clash."

Surprised by these admissions, you smiled, "Hopefully we're more on the same wavelength so they'll be no more of that."

"You're definitely on each other's wavelength, and I think it's time to ride that wave, " said Bella cheekily, causing Emily and George's eyebrows to shoot up.

"I'm going to get one more round, does anyone want anything?" asked Emily, breaking the awkward silence that had ensued.

"I'm fine thanks," you replied as George and Bella shook their heads.

"Have I missed something?" asked George as Emily made her way back to the bar one last time.

"No, not at all." You said defensively, "Bella is trying to set me up with every eligible bachelor within a twenty-mile radius, including Toto, which is wildly inappropriate."

Bella looked a little guilty, taking a more serious tone "I'm just kidding, I hope you know that."

"I do, but watch who you say it in front of, Emily is on my team and I don't want her thinking I'm doing anything like that. Everyone already questions how I landed this role," you said kindly but firmly.

"She knows I'm joking, George, you know I'm joking right?" she said, a little defensively.

"Hmm, now I'm thinking you're protesting too much." said George, a wicked smile appearing, "This is brilliant, you lectured me about Rosie while you fancy Toto."

"I do not fancy Toto," you said bluntly, knowing deep down that was a complete lie.

"Hmm, okay I believe you," said George, making you roll your eyes.

In perfectly awkward timing, Toto made a beeline towards you.

"George, Bella, I'm going to call it a night. Make sure you get on the plane tomorrow. Do you mind if we take five outside quickly?" he asked, turning towards you.

"Of course, we will Toto, goodnight," said George, ever the goody two shoes when it came to his boss. "I'll go after this drink."

"Good man George, and congratulations again. I'm proud of your efforts today." Toto slapped the young man on the back before turning to Bella and adding, "And great job Bella."

"Thank you, couldn't have done it without you. See you tomorrow." George said to Toto, before bidding you farewell, "And goodnight, see you in Brackley. Thank you for everything today."

You said goodnight to George and Bella and made your way out of the bar with Toto.

"What's up? Did you have fun tonight?" you asked as you once again headed for the lifts.

"Nothing, I just thought you might need an out." he said, "I did have fun, I'm happy we're back as a team."

"Thank you, that's very kind, I have to say I am exhausted," you replied, just as the lift tinged and the doors opened, "Glad you had fun, it was nice to see them let off some steam."

The pair of you entered the lift, completely alone with no one watching for the first time since lunchtime. Feeling bold you decided to go out on a limb and see if there was some truth to Bella's theory.

Trying to nonchalantly lean on the gold bar in the lift, you turned towards Toto and asked, "I know it's late but would you fancy a nightcap? We can make sure everyone leaves the bar from a prime viewing spot."

Toto whipped his head around, a very surprised look on his face, "Sure, I'd like that."

"Cool, I have whatever is in the mini bar on offer and a very comfy lounge area." you smiled at him. Your floor dinged and you said, "Well, this is me."

Toto obediently followed you out of the lift and down the corridor towards your room. You knew it was a little inappropriate inviting him to your room but figured it could be a good way to test the waters. You were starting to really like Toto and the more time you spent with him, the more difficult it was becoming to resist his charms.

You swiped your key card, opening the door for Toto and suddenly remembered that you'd left your curling tongs, hair products and pyjamas strewn across the dressing area outside the bathroom. "Welcome, apologies for the mess, I left this morning in a rush."

Toto laughed, eyeing up your leopard print pyjamas, "I don't know how you do all of this every morning, I struggle to jump in the shower and get dressed in the morning, let alone this," he picked up your hair tong, inspecting it "How do you even do this?"

"It is quite the art form, you're lucky you're a guy, no-one expects you to tong your hair," you said, making your way down past the bed and into the living room area next to the large window. "Here, make yourself at home," you said, gesturing towards the large, comfortable l-shaped sofa.

"This is nice, it's nicer than my room." said Toto, "Mine has a desk and a chaise longue, no sofa."

"Really? I thought you'd be living it up in a suite." you said shocked, "So what would you like to drink?"

"What do you have?" he said, taking a seat on the sofa and stretching out his long legs. "And no, we are randomly allocated the rooms so sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. I like the variety, it keeps it interesting and it's nice for other team members to have that opportunity."

"That's very noble of you," you said, leaning over and looking into the mini bar, "I have all the usual, wine, prosecco, beer, a few spirits and mixers. What do you fancy?"

"I'll come and have a look," Toto got up and crossed the room, standing tantalisingly close behind you as he surveyed the selection. Shifting around you were suddenly very aware of how quiet it was in your room and how now was your chance. Moving a little closer, grazing Toto's thigh with your hand, you turned around to face him.

He gazed down at you, his deep brown eyes bright and expectant as he wrapped one hand around your waist, and leant down, caressing your neck with the other. Your lips met and you immediately knew that although this was a bad idea, it felt right. You kissed slowly and sensually for what felt like an eternity before breaking away. As you'd suspected Toto was a phenomenal kisser, gentle but passionate and sending tingles up and down your body.

"Toto." was all you managed to say before he scooped you up in his strong arms and brought you over to the sofa, placing you down delicately so that you were lying on the lounger part.

"Mmm," he said, settling down, facing you, "I've wanted to do that since I first laid eyes on you."

"Me too," you said, reaching out and pulling him closer, your hand tracing his strong jawline. "I know it's unprofessional of me but there's something about you."

Toto grabbed your hand, engulfing it in his large one and leaning in closer to ghost kisses up and down your neck. "Sometimes you have to listen to your heart above your head," he said in a breathy whisper, hitting the sweet spot right behind your ear.

You tilted your head in pleasure, your free hand reaching out for his muscular chest. You couldn't believe this was finally happening.

"Told you!" a voice suddenly called out. Where was it coming from?

You opened your eyes and looked around. Bella was there, and so was Rosie. To your horror, you realised that you were no longer in your hotel room but in the middle of the brightly lit garage. How did you get there? And more importantly why was Toto on top of you with half the team watching?

"Get in there boss." called out George.

"Box, box," said Bono.

You were mortified. You unpeeled yourself from Toto and sat up. You could hear a loud buzzing noise but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. You looked around, maybe it was one of the cars? It was getting louder and louder but you couldn't figure it out. Then it dawned on you, it was a dream.

MONDAY AM

You woke up, feeling incredibly disorientated, rudely woken up by your alarm buzzing. You hadn't drunk that much last night but you were unnerved by the subject of your dreams. Half expecting to roll over and see Toto in your bed you were relieved to see it was not the case. Rubbing your eyes you tried to piece together what had happened last night. The last thing you remembered was coming up to your room with Toto and looking in the minibar. Trying your hardest to rack your brains, you looked around the room, bright and sunny as you'd clearly forgotten to draw the curtains, a faint noise coming over from the other side of the room. It almost sounded like breathing.

You glanced over to the living area and sure enough, there was Toto, peacefully snoozing, tucked up under the bedspread from your bed on the sofa, his long legs dangling off the end.

"Shit, shit, shit," you thought to yourself, struggling to remember where reality and dreams had blurred. Grateful to see that you had at least had the decency to put on your pyjamas, you threw back the covers and padded over, not wanting to wake the sleeping man but trying to deduce what had happened. One thing was for certain, he was fully clothed, his navy blue polo shirt peeking out from the top of the bedspread. Less promising was the fact that his mouth was bright red, covered in your lipstick. "Shit, shit, shit." you continued to panic.

Biting the bullet, you gently nudged Toto's arm, "Toto, wake-up. Rise and shine. Or whatever they say in Baku."

He stirred slightly, his handsome face looking relaxed. Feeling slightly guilty that you were about to put an end to his peace, you nudged him again, "Toto?"

With that, he opened his eyes, blinking, before looking up at you in shock. "Huh?" he said blankly.

"Morning sleepyhead." you said, "I'm sorry to wake you but thought it wasn't wise to leave you for any longer. It's almost seven-thirty."

Toto sat bolt upright, "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. I am so sorry, this is wildly inappropriate." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and upon noticing the red streak started to panic, "Why am I bleeding?"

You couldn't help but laugh, sitting down beside him demurely, "Toto, that's not blood. I should be the one apologising, it's my lipstick."

"But how can your lipstick be on my... oh," he said. You could almost see the cogs turning in his brain.

"I am so sorry, we can never speak of this again and we can pretend this never happened," you said, deep down sad that you'd blown your chance on a drunken night.

"No no, don't be silly, it's my fault. I shouldn't have accepted your invitation," he said.

"I shouldn't have invited you." you said, folding your arms, "I'm the one who should be sorry."

"No, I shouldn't have suggested we leave the party," he said looking very guilty.

"Toto, look. It's both our faults, we're adults. I knew what I was doing and you knew what you were doing." you said matter of factly. "What we now need to figure out is how we're going to sneak you back to your room without anyone noticing. People will be leaving for their flights in the next hour or so."

"Shit." he said, his eyes meeting yours pleadingly, "Again, I am so sorry, you're absolutely beautiful but I shouldn't have taken advantage."

"Toto, you hardly took advantage, you're fully clothed and I'm in buttoned-up pyjamas and fluffy bed socks." you gestured down at your feet, "You slept on the sofa. You've nothing to worry about."

"I kissed you," he said.

"No, I think you'll find I kissed you," you said, finally starting to recall last night's turn of events. You'd kissed Toto by the minibar then made your way across to the sofa, kissing for a while longer until you realised you should really be getting to bed. Toto had looked so comfortable you'd suggested he stayed and when he refused to share your bed, ever the gentleman, you had brought him the bedspread and extra pillows. "I wouldn't have kissed you unless I wanted to."

Toto's eyes lit up, "You wanted to kiss me?"

"Are you joking?" you said, your mouth dropping in disbelief, "I've wanted to kiss you for weeks now."

"Weeks?" he asked, his normally deep voice cracking a little.

"Yes, weeks."

"Me?"

"No, the other guy who spent the night in my room," you replied dryly.

"And I'm the one with the tricky reputation," he said, finally breaking into a relaxed smile and shaking his head.

"I know right." you said warmly, "Look, can we agree we both had too much to drink and both made this happen. I don't know how you feel but I wanted it to happen."

"Deal." Toto said, "And for the record, I've wanted it to happen for weeks too."

"Well I'm glad we can come to an agreement, can I get you a tea or coffee?" you asked, getting up from the sofa and making your way towards the minibar.

"Why is this giving me deja-vu?" said Toto, rubbing his head. "Can I have a green tea, please? I'll make it."

He made to get up but you turned around swiftly, "Oh no, you stay there Mr- we don't want a play-by-play reply of last night. At least not yet."

Toto laughed, "Okay, you can make the tea, but I might freshen up."

"Sure, make yourself at home," you gestured towards the bathroom, "There's a spare toothbrush in the hotel kit."

"Thank you," he called out, closing the door behind him.

As you busied yourself making the tea, the reality of your actions sunk in. You'd been on the job for just over a month, were finally starting to settle in and had now gone and ruined it by inviting your boss to your hotel room, kissing him and asking him to stay the night. Tears pooled in your eyes as the regret set in. You really liked Toto but it was never wise to date a coworker, let alone your boss. You'd had to fight the stereotypes of being a young woman in a high-ranking job at your former company, having been accused of all sorts, from sleeping with the boss to flirting with your assistant. All untrue but believable enough that plenty of colleagues had given you dirty looks and the cold shoulder.

Your hand shook as you poured the boiling water into the tea cup, the tears were now rolling down your face thick and fast. For all of your workplace bravado, you were still a young woman and your personal life was as messy as your career was successful.

Hearing the bathroom door open, you snapped out of it, using a serviette to discreetly wipe away the tears before taking the two cups of tea back across the room.

Toto had settled down on the sofa and looked up at you in concern, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," you said, setting one cup of tea down on the coffee table in front of Toto and clutching the other in your hands, "Just tired."

"If you're sure?" Toto said, his face etched with worry, "Thank you for the tea, you really shouldn't have."

"It's the least I could do," you sniffed, a stray tear leaking out.

"You're not okay, I am so sorry, I should leave you alone." said Toto, getting up to leave "Please know I am so sorry."

"No, please sit down and stay." you asked, "I'm sorry, it's nothing you've done, let me explain."

You shifted nearer to Toto, explaining the situation in your previous role and your concerns for this one. He was kind and sympathetic and once you'd reassured him that it wasn't anything he'd done, for what felt like the hundredth time, incredibly understanding.

"Well, I think the best thing to do is not to do this again. If we don't do it, no one can talk." Toto said, now fully awake and switched on in Team Principal mode. "Although that's not to say I don't want to."

"Likewise," you said, mustering a small smile towards him, he was dashing even in his sleep-rumpled clothes from the night before, "We can be sensible."

"Exactly." he said, taking a large swig of his tea, "And on that note, I should get back to my room and pack."

"Thank you, Toto," you said, standing up to see him out.

"What for?"

"For being so nice about this."

"Why wouldn't I be? I got to kiss a beautiful woman last night and woke up in her room, it's a win-win. I don't like to see you upset but I'm glad we are on the same page."

At that you reached up, gently stroking the side of his cheek before planting a soft kiss on the side of his mouth. As your lips lingered you felt the corner of his mouth twitch into a smile.

"For someone who is so notoriously tricky, you're cute," you said, pulling back with a matching smile on your face.

"You think I'm cute?"

"I thought we surmised that about eight hours ago?"

"I guess. Well now I really have to go and you need to pack too!" he said, before turning back and planting one last kiss on your forehead. "Get home safe, will you please text me when you land in London?"

"Sure thing, safe flight to you too!" you called out as he snuck out of your door.

#onceuponatimein...

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repetition-in-poetry · 6 days ago

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i need to put this somewhere so here it is for yall tumblr:

ALBUMS OF 2024; RANKED

i’m not doing all of em because i didn’t like all of them so suck my dick (also there were like 200 and that was as of october oh boy)

#10; THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT by Taylor Swift

we’ve heard literally everything. all of it sounds the same. didn’t stick out, came out early in the year, wasn’t even a sensation because she dropped it mid tour. there weren’t even any fun marketing shit for it. (didn’t even wanna mention this one but unfortunately i did listen to it so.)

#9; HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eillish

definitely some good music! not the most memorable, no fun marketing or dances or trends but nice :) hence, number 9. not bad, not my genre, still good

#8; BRAT by charli xcx

the marketing for this was so much fun. brat green is a slay. the sweat tour is eating. everything about her is so girlboss. isn’t really my genre but it was a 10/10 album for sure.

#7; Fine Ho, Stay by Flo Milli

came out literally i think in march? no one talked about it but the cover art is so cute. barley an album at 14 songs, 33 mins, featured cardi b and sza on the same song (okay queens) and gave us ‘Never Lose Me’. period.

#6; Ehhthang Ehhthang by GloRilla

breaks my heart to put this one at 6. Glo has never NOT slayed an album. absolutely lovely. no notes. unfortunately this was a VERY good year for music.

#5; Short N’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

perfect blend of gut wrenching sad and bubbly pop. another queen who’s albums eat the house down every drop. short n sweet tour may be one of the greatest tours in history. one for books for sure. been a fan since ‘Eyes Wide Open’ in 2015 so honestly just very glad to see her still on her queen shit. very danceable album.

#4; The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan

homegirl ate with this one. nice to see small queer artists get the recognition they deserve. great stage presence and a top tier performer. also refreshing to see a celebrity set boundaries with fans. yes queen. you tell them to shut the fuck up. stand up for your space. absolute icon.

#3; ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL by Doechii

this has been THEE year for rap yall. it’s been a bad year for a lot but god damn the ladies have stepped up and dropped the most fire albums of the century. this is the album i learned to throw ass to.

#2; CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, the Creator

fucked with this album on release, fucked with it even more after all the edits to St, Chroma started dropping, and fucked with it even more when people started talking about how well it represented black culture. as a white person i always want to do my best to learn and support others and knowing this album resonates so well with so many people of all races makes me really happy.

#1; MEGAN (Acts I & II) by Megan Thee Stallion

i had to put Megan on top, okay? homegirl went to a kamala harris rally, threw ass on national television, and said ‘vote blue’. you cannot get more iconic than that. also, featuring TWO k-pop artists on her album? diversifying her portfolio? self expression through sexuality and female empowerment? no notes queen. homegirl ate.

#music #2024 #album #album review #music album #rap #pop #short n sweet #megan thee stallion #megan act ii #chromakopia #tyler the creator #taylor swift #chappell roan #the rise and fall of a midwest princess #ranking #text post #list

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insomnia-productions · 2 years ago

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i don't know if anyone remembers that teen apocalypse show Daybreak that Netflix cancelled after one season but im rewatching it while i wait for Yellowjackets s2 and i just transcribed turbo's entire on-screen-text speech from episode 6 and im going a little insane. i love him sm

anyway here it is:

You all. Every one of you. My legion, my friends, my tribe. I see you. I know your names and I know your heart. I know who puts in an honest day’s work. And I know who slacks the system. You know it, too. You know who you are. I SEE YOU. And it’s to you, I say, I’m lowkey-not-lowkey ballistic. You trust me to give you everything, yeah. Food, shelter, warmth, weapons, leadership, safety. Even a beer every now and then. And in return, you know what I ask? It’s pretty fucking simple. I ask that you don’t murder-kill me. That’s how this shit is supposed to work. Fair exchange, right? I mean, after everything I’ve built here? Look around you. This is our school. Our public school. And a public school takes in anybody. I take in anybody. There’s always a seat for you on my bleachers. Doesn’t matter your former tribe. Doesn’t matter who you used to be. You’re safe here. I’m the eye in Hurricane Nuclear Fallout. I’m the SPF-120 protecting you from the heat-blasting sun. And once it sets, I’m the only warm blanket you got on these bitter-ass nights. I give you all this, and I ask the simplest thing in return. Loyalty. Loyalty and trust. Loyalty and trust and like an inch of respect maybe. But mostly, loyalty. And would it seriously hurt you to pick up the trash every once in a while. This place is a mess. And it’s starting to smell like foot cheese. Again: I SEE YOU. A quarterback can’t make epic plays without knowing where every single lineman and running back and receiver is. Same here, with you. My job is impossible unless every lieutenant and soldier and kitchen scut right on down the line is is doing their fucking job. Vibe me? Am I getting through? Well, guess what? Y’all betrayed me. Why? I didn’t build all this so you fucks could just take it from me. No way. You don’t own this. The second you do is the second you make it toxic. I’m reminded of the immortal words of that guy who said whoha in Any Given Sunday. [HE GOES ON TO QUOTE THE ENTIRE SPEECH. IT’S LIKE… REALLY LONG.] Yeah. That’s right. I memorized that whole speech. Took me a whole year. I also memorized the speeches from Hoosiers and Remember The Titans and Rocky IV and Cool Runnings and The Mighty Ducks and She’s The Man and High School Musical and Friday Night Lights, both the movie and the television series. So I know about inspiration. I’ll tell you this story. It’s something I didn’t understand at first but now I’m coming around to it. It’s a story my dad told me. There was this guy who used to make vases. I don’t know what they call that? A vaser? Maybe? No. That’s wrong. A sculptor. I guess that could be right. A potter? Maybe a potter? I wonder if that’s why the kid is named Harry Potter? Because he made magic. Like made it. What was I saying? Potter? The vase! Right. Those vases were beautiful things. And check this out… the guy would wrap and unfired vase in horse hair — then put it in his kiln. The horse hair would burn off and leave these black, charred scars. But to get the horse hair, the guy would have to pluck it straight from a stallion's tail. How baller is that? And every time he did, that stallion would buck. The vase-maker, vaser, potter — he was pretty good at dodging the kick, cause he knew it was coming. But more than once, the horse would get him. Knocking him in the face and shoulder. Nasty shit. He still had rolling shards of broken bone you could feel, where the horse shattered his clavicle. But Christ in a halo, it was worth the pain. Those vases, man. I know you think I’m a dumb jock, but I can appreciate a thing like that. Well, I look out at you all, and I think that’s what I have here. You’re the bucking horse. I’m the sculptor. And the beautiful vase is all this, Glendale High. Look what we have. But you fuckers broke the vase. And I’m not sure we can ever glue this thing back together. But I’m gonna try. I’m really gonna fucking try.

#daybreak #netflix daybreak #I thought turbo was mildly interesting the first time I watched #but I was drawing so I didn't even notice this text flash across the scrren #this time I decided to slow it down and read it #and im. why's he my favorite character now #all this when he’s the one who stabbed himself too

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baptaincarnacles · 2 years ago

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Music Headcanons

-Octonauts-

Barnacles: It’s canon he listens to Nicki Minaj (imagining someone like Barnacles listening to songs like “Anaconda” is so strange XD), but I feel he also listens to Fin Argus, and at times, Poor Man’s Poison. Oh, and he probably listens to Megan Thee Stallion songs, just saying. He also enjoys the musical Little Shop of Horrors (the song “Feed Me (Git it!)”) Kwazzi: Sea Shanties, and maybe some of the songs made by Miracleofsound (on YouTube). I also feel like he’d listen to vocal covers of most viking songs, more specifically, covers and songs by Peyton Parrish. But, when they’re not listening to that, it’s likely songs by Disturbed and Starkid musicals.

Peso: Mainly Spanish songs that he had grown up with (listened to Despacito once and died inside). I would also say he listens to generic pop songs, maybe older Justin Bieber songs- not for the lyrics, just to listen to the background music. And he probably likes songs that have xylophone solos.

Shellington: The Crane Wives all the way (loves the instrumentals and their voices), he also enjoys bands like Gang of Youths, and creators like J. Maya, and Gareth Fernandez. But, he also enjoys songs from some musicals (including 1776; The New Musical [his favorite being “He Plays the Violin”]).

Dashi: Also listens to Nicki Minaj (mainly with Barnacles). She also listens to Lizzo (Truth Hurts and About Damn Time is some of her favorites), Adelle (solely because of the memes), and Cody Fry (she enjoys the orchestra compositions of most their songs). But they also enjoy songs from Adventure Time and Steven Universe.

Inkling: Classical all the way. He is a very novelty person, so I can see him being fond of Mozart, Beethoven, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (composer of Swan Lake), Bach, and Chopin.

Tweak: She loves heavy metal bands. She prefers Five Finger Death Punch, Korn, and Pantera. And maybe some other rock bands like AC/DC (Hell’s Bells, Back in Black, and Thunderstruck), Disturbed, and Skillet. She also likes older country songs (probably Josh Turner and Luke Bryan). Oh! And Taylor Swift.

Vegimals: They don’t have preferred bands, they like A cappella.

---

-Octo-Agents-

Calico Jack: Sea Shanties that he made up and sang to himself (literally forgets now that he can’t look them up because he made them).

Ranger Marsh: Country. Like along the lines of old country classics, but he also listens to Pantera, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, and AC/DC (and he had introduced Tweak to the bands when she was little). He enjoys Poor Man’s Poison (after Barnacles introduced the band to him).

Paani: He loves Minecraft Music (in the game and fan-made parodies/original songs). His favorite disc in-game is Otherside, his favorite Minecraft song artist is Captain Sparkles (though a close second would be SlamACow), his favorite song by Captain Sparkles is Take Back the Night. Oh- and he likes Animaniacs songs.

Ryla: Not a huge music fan, prefers to listen to natural ambience (rain, birds, and wind).

Min: Cavetown songs are some of her favorites, as well as mxmtoon. Softer songs with nice background music. She may also like The Crane Wives (she’ll listen to them when hanging out with Shellington).

Natquik: Classical. Songs that have vocal points distract him a lot, and he can’t really get much done. He enjoys songs from Beethoven, Debussy, and Vivaldi.

Tracker: Whatever is playing on the radio. They have no music taste whatsoever, but they have memorized various generic pop songs that are played on the radio.

Pearl: She likes songs from Disney Movies, and songs like: “Tamino” by Persephone. “Touch The Sky” from Disney’s Merida is her favorite (she relates to it a lot).

---

-Junior Agents-

Pinto: Cocomelon songs, Justin Bieber, and One Direction.

Koshi: She likes songs from PIxar and Disney (she prefers songs from Frozen). She also enjoys detective medleys (Detective Sisters and Shellington).

---

I know a lot of random bands/composers and I’m only now realizing it.

#octonauts #octonauts headcanons #captain barnacles #professor inkling #professor natquik #dashi #shellington #peso #kwazzi #tweak #vegimals #calico jack octonauts #ranger marsh octonauts #octonauts paani #ryla octonauts #min octonauts #octonauts tracker #octonauts pearl

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takaraphoenix · 3 years ago

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In the wake of the casting announcement, I’ve come across this and I just gotta say a few things about one particular section in it. Because while on the overall, this is a rare occasion on which I agree with Riordan - finding the right actors isn’t so much about physical traits as it is about their acting ability to convey characteristics, personality and also the right kind of chemistry with the right other cast members (casting two people as best friends or lovers when the actors give off an energy that they would rather not be in the same room as the other person? Doesn’t work) - I’m baffled about the way he went in delivering that point.

Are we going to make Walker dye his hair black? Answer: We have had zero conversations about this. Personally, I think this is a non-issue. For me, finding the right actors has never been about hair color, eye color, skin color, or any other single physical trait, even if they were described a certain way in the books. As many of you know, I flubbed such details myself several times in the series. Thalia’s eyes changed from green to blue. Oops! Annabeth’s hair was curly and then it was straight. Nico was described as olive-skinned, then later as pale. Blackjack even changed from a mare to a stallion over the course of two books. Whelp, not sure what happened there, but too late now!

He really said the quiet part out loud. He really said the part he shouldn’t say out loud.

What I’m reading here isn’t “racebending the characters doesn’t matter because the important thing is the essence and energy the actors bring”, what I’m reading here is “racebending doesn’t matter because I’m a shitty writer lol” (and yes, I am also reading that “lol”, in that “Whelp, not sure what happened there, but too late now!”). Because that’s what he’s saying. He’s saying that the actors’ physical appearance doesn’t matter because he never cared enough to remember what his own characters look like to begin with. And that’s a sign of a bad writer, because a good writer actually cares.

We all know he sucks at keeping his own canon straight, but I somewhat assumed that he himself... elects to not shine a light onto that fact?

These are his characters, he created these characters, but he can’t be bothered to remember what they look like?

And the characters he lists there aren’t even side or background characters. They’re all main characters. I have a margin of understanding for not remembering the exact shade of eye color on some random background character who only appeared twice or so. But Annabeth, Nico and Thalia are main characters.

That... I’m sorry, but to me this just shows a severe lack of care. He doesn’t even care to remember what his main characters look like. How do you go about writing entire books about these characters without having a clear visualization of them in your inner mind?

And! Even if you have the shittiest memory possible, there are ways to keep the details of your writing straight. Heaven knows I have created more characters than I could ever keep track of, so I have charts, where I note down important details about them, including the visual key-notes. Art is also a great way for that, even if you aren’t the best artist yourself.

I just truly, fiercely hate the dismissive nature with which he lists these easy to avoid mistakes that he made and how he just shrugs it off like it doesn’t matter.

Sure, in its very essence, what eye-color Thalia has doesn’t matter all that much, but it’s about what this represents. This represents that he doesn’t even care enough to know his characters, when every die-hard Percy Jackson fan has greedily soaked up and memorized every tiny little detail of description that he has given us because we actually love these characters.

#PJOverse #Percy Jackson #Riordan Critical

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ppersonna · 4 years ago

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the sheriff - knj | m

↳ summary- you’ve always had a soft spot for Kim Namjoon, the local sheriff. seems like he’s had one for you, too.

↳ rating- explicit/18+/nsfw

↳ pairing- kim namjoon x reader

↳ word count- 6.8k (THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DRABBLE I...)

↳ genre- smut, fluff

↳ warnings- penetrative sex, oral sex (m/f receiving), cowboy dirty talk, unprotected sex, aftercare, namjoon is a whole gentleman, we love to see it, period-typical gender roles, sex in a saloon, severe overuse of the word Darlin, artistic liberties on language used in the old west lol

↳ a/n- hello! welcome to my first (not so) drabble for Bangtan Rodeo! this was requested by my angel dani @minloop who requested “ Howdy partner, Namjoon + saloon + sheriff 🤠” i hope you enjoy it love! thank you to my soulmate @mindays for the amazing banner omg i c ry every time i look at it. and thank you to @hobiance for making up this fun game, and for @mindays for beta-reading it!! i also wanna shoutout my crew @ladyartemesia @xjoonchildx @taetaewonderland @kookiesjoonies who i would never write again if it werent for their constant hype. I LOVE YOU ALLLLLL.

What had started out as a pleasant ride through town on your father’s horse, Bang, turned into an absolute nightmare.

The horse had gotten spooked by some unknown creature, and reared up high, before taking off at a break-neck pace. Your screams were drowned out by the thunderous beat of the stallion’s hooves and the wind rushing by as the horse ran erratically out of the town and into the wilderness.

“Help!” You screamed, hoping someone would hear you. Fat tears rolled down your cheeks as you clung to the reins, skirt billowing behind you.

Bang the horse reared up again in a clearing, and this time it was no match for your delicate strength. You slid off the horse and landed hard on your back with an ‘oof’ before your vision went black.

“Hey, you hear me? Little lady?”

The voice wakes you, and you blink a few times. Sitting up, you wince at the stabbing pain that radiates through your body and hiss.

“Hey now, be careful,” the gentle voice speaks again. “Don’t get up too fast. Here, lay back down.”

Something soft touches the back of your head and you realize the kind stranger must have balled up some clothing for you to rest on.

The sun is still high in the sky and your vision is slowly coming back to normal, when you focus on the face of your savior—before nearly passing out again.

It’s the town Sheriff, Kim Namjoon. The very man you’ve harbored a secret crush on for years.

You’ve watched him become a deputy and work his way up the ranks. He was a gentleman, and the bravest man in town. He battled some of the fiercest bank robbers and thieves in the county and always came back victorious. He was prime husband material.

That is, if you had ever spoken a more than a single word to him.

He’d work for your father on your ranch often, helping with mending fences or shoeing horses. He’d sit at your dinner table and graciously eat the soup, dumplings and pie you’d make special for him and thank you with a tip of his hat—then be off, back to saving the town, before you could even build up the courage to tell him ‘good evening’.

“How you feelin’?” He asks tenderly, cupping your cheek and pushing your mused hair behind your ear as best as he could.

It’s hard to speak—equal parts in pain from the fall and stunned from the beautiful man staring you down.

“H-hurts,” you whisper, licking your lips.

Namjoon’s eyes follow where your tongue trails over your chapped lips and swallows hard.

“I bet. You took quite the fall there.”

You close your eyes, remembering the terrifying moment you fell off. The horse had been so frightened, so ablaze...

Suddenly, you remember your father’s prize stallion. He had likely run off while you laid unconscious in the dirt.

“Oh, no!” Your eyes fly open. “Bang!” You try to sit up, but Namjoon shushes you and gently guides you back down.

“He’s all right, miss. He’s eating an apple, as happy as can be.”

“Oh, praise the lord,” you sigh. “Papa would tan my hide.”

Namjoon chuckles and nods.

“Brave of you to take that beast out for a ride. You think you can sit up?”

You nod, and with his strong, gorgeous hands assisting you, you sit up straight.

He offers you the waterskin in his hands. “Here, have some water. You’ll need it for that headache.”

“What headache—owww,” you groan as the sudden pounding in your head echoes the pounding of the horses’ hooves galloping out of town. Namjoon chuckles and pats down your hair—picking out dirt and leaves.

“Once you feel back to sorts, I’ll wrangle Bang up to my horse so you can ride with me, and I’ll take you home.”

The water from the skin is cool and you sigh as it coats your dry throat, eyes closing in bliss. Namjoon keeps his eyes on you for a moment, watching the way you drink. He nearly groans as a bit falls from your lips, trails your neck and down onto your pretty chest. It slips past your clothes, where his eyes can no longer follow it, and he shakes himself back to propriety.

“Thank you,” you speak as you swallow the water and hand back the skin. “I needed that.”

Namjoon nods solemnly, tucking the skin back to his holster belt before standing up.

“You stay there and rest while I get Bang tied up, alright?”

You’re hopeless to deny any request from the handsome sheriff, and you’re nodding your assent before you try to fight back on feeling better.

Instead, you watch as the tall man stands and strides over to Bang, cooing gently at the enormous beast and patting his nose for a moment to calm any lingering nerves the horse may have.

Your mind wanders and you suddenly envision a future with the sheriff—watching him tend to your horses while you cook dinner and mind the children. You imagine him herding you into your bedroom and pushing you deep into your featherbed, dripping cock aching to slide into your warmth as he whispers how much he loves you into your ear.

You’re only snapped out of your fantasy when the man of your dreams approaches once more, a bridled horse at his side as he slips the reins through his own horse’s saddle to guide him back to town.

“You all right there, little lady? You looked a little dazed.”

Your cheeks heat and you nod, quickly trying to dispel the embarrassment.

He sticks his hand out and you watch as your small hand fits in perfectly to his grip, and he tugs you up with ease; the momentum of the pull has you being pulled directly into his chest.

“T-thank you,” you murmur breathlessly. The sheriff stares down at you, eyes fixed on your own before they glance at your lips as if it’s his last wish to press his own there.

He’s silent for a moment as he holds you against his chest, then rights himself and backs away.

“You’re welcome, ma’am. Glad to help.”

Namjoon lifts you onto his own horse and your heart stutters at the feel of his hands gripping your waist. It’s warm where he touches and you wonder what his hands would feel like touching you everywhere. You imagine his hands would feel like a dying campfire on your bare skin, deceivingly scorching hot.

He saddles up behind you and wraps his arms around you, gripping the reins as he clicks his tongue at his horse to start a slow trot back towards town.

The gentle trot of the horse makes your chest heave and fall, bouncing with each step the horse takes. Namjoon glances down and can see the way your breasts jiggle and bites his tongue. You look enchanting—dirty skirt and ripped blouse from the fall. Namjoon only wishes he had been the one to dirty you and rip your clothes. His cock hardens against his will and he prays to god you don’t feel his arousal poking you in the back and prays he can get you to town before you realize and slap him into the next county.

And you definitely notice.

Your cheeks heat to hotter than the summer sun and you swallow hard to dispel some ache in your chest. Your core suddenly feels desperate for attention and you can almost imagine the way his hands would feel rubbing at your needy clit, whispering filth into your ear as he coaxed orgasm after sobbing orgasm from within you.

“Are you goin’ to the square dance tomorrow night?” Namjoon suddenly asks you, attempting to distract himself away from his rising cock.

In the chaos of your frightful ride out of town, and the bliss of being pressed up against the handsome sheriff, you had forgotten all about the annual square dance held at the town saloon. Drinks, dancing, and fiddlin’ festivities were always bound to happen.

“Oh, it must have slipped my mind,” you say. “But, I suppose I could get Papa out of the house. He has an eye on that new schoolteacher.”

Namjoon laughs, and it warms your heart. He’s taken special care of your father as much as you have ever since your mother died years ago.

“I think she has her eye on him, too.”

You hum, deep in thought of your lonely father, and Namjoon squeezes your hip with his free hand.

“Well, I hope to see you there.”

The blush returns right as Namjoon’s horse strides up to your homestead. Your father must have seen you coming and runs out of the house and down the steps to collect you.

“Oh, thank the good lord!” He breathes as he pulls you into his chest. You smile and return your father's warm embrace, suddenly feeling comforted.

“Sheriff Kim, I owe you a lifetime for rescuing my little girl.”

Namjoon smiles at you and winks, before looking back at your father and pulling his hat off tenderly.

“Just doing my duty, sir.”

Something twinges in your heart, as you’re reminded Namjoon saved you out of dedication to the badge than any memorable feelings towards you.

“Plus,” he continues. “It’s already a reward when the little lady is as pretty as this one.”

There’s that stupid blush again. Your father claps Namjoon on the shoulder and then brings the sheriff in for a hug, with a cheerful laugh.

“Now, you best be careful how you speak, son. I can’t threaten the sheriff with my .22 when he’s courtin’ my daughter.” His demeanor radiates his joking manner with Namjoon, but the sheriff’s eyes still widen like he’s a teenager again.

Your cheeks, already pink, flame red with embarrassment.

“Papa!” You admonish. “Leave Namjoon alone! He didn’t mean nothin’ by it!”

Namjoon’s smile fades back to a solemn and stoic look as he unhooks the stallion still attached to his own.

“Here you go,” he murmurs as he hands the reins to your father. “He’s just fine, too.”

Papa nods, and Namjoon replaces his hat and bows his head in acknowledgment.

“Good evening, sir,” he motions to your father. “And to you, miss. I reckon I’ll see you at the dance tomorrow.”

You nod, licking your lips again without knowing it. Namjoon begs his cock to behave, especially in front of your father.

“Thank you, Sheriff. And I reckon you will.”

He saddles up, and rides off into the sunset. Your eyes remain on his disappearing silhouette and your father fondly flicks your ear.

“That fellow likes you,” he nods at the retreating man. “And you just had to hold a candle for the goddamn sheriff.”

He ‘tsks’ jokingly, before slinging his arm around your shoulder and guiding you up towards the house.

“How the hell am I supposed to scare a boy off my daughter when he’s got more guns than me!”

You snort under your breath and lean into your father's hold.

“Oh, Papa.”

You can hear the music pouring from the saloon the moment you walk up. Papa stands next to you outside and anxiously fixes his hair.

“You think Ms. Lainey will be here tonight?” He asks. He tries not to look worried, but you can read him like a book.

Your hands smooth out his crisp, dress shirt and adjust his handsome bowtie.

“Yes, Papa. I reckon she will, lookin’ prettier than a sunflower.”

His eyes lock on yours, full of gentle emotion that you haven’t seen since your mother passed.

“You think this is fine?”

He looks concerned—worries he’s perhaps moving on too soon from your mother when she’s been gone and buried for years now. You can’t help but feel a bullet through your heart for the older man. He raised you to an adult, tended to an entire ranch, and maintained his sanity in the depths of his depression.

“Yes, Papa,” you soothe. “Mama would want you to be happy. I think Ms. Lainey is the perfect person to help you with that. Plus, I hear she makes a killer cornbread.”

Papa smiles and pinches your cheek gently.

“You’re just like your Mama,” he muses with a fond smile. “A smart ass. But a beautiful one.”

“Papa!”

“Hey,” he grins as he holds up his hands in surrender. “I’m not a liar. Now, let’s go in there and find that handsome sheriff, shall we?”

“Papa, please. Don’t embarrass me!”

“Well, too damn bad. That’s my job as your father.”

He pushes past you and through the swinging doors of the saloon.

Damn that old man.

Namjoon spies you the second you walk into the wooden saloon. You look like a princess, if he’s ever seen one.

Your blue dress hugs your curves just right and sweeps to the floor. It looks soft and Namjoon wonders what it would feel like under his fingertips. Tender, gentle, just like you.

He sets his bottle of beer down—he’s been nursing it for half an hour now, unwilling to get drunk or even tipsy tonight. Not out of some sense of duty—he had plenty of deputies around to keep the peace, but out of hope that you would come. He didn’t want to be drunk around you.

He watches as you whisper into your father’s ear and gesture towards one corner of the room. Namjoon tracks your gaze and sees you’re both looking at the new schoolteacher, Ms. Lainey who wears a pink blush that matches her pretty, pink dress. Your father kisses your cheek softly, before leaving your side and making his way towards the teacher.

Namjoon shoves the barely touched bottle of beer towards the barkeep, Jungkook.

“The hell you want me to do with it?” He asks incredulously to the sheriff.

Namjoon sends a look to his longtime friend.

“Fuck if I care, Kook. I’m busy!”

Jungkook grumbles under his breath as Namjoon turns away.

He weaves through the crowd towards you, keeping you locked in his vision. He hopes to keep you all to himself tonight, especially with you looking as ravaging as you do in that gown.

He nearly makes it to you when Jackson Wang slides in and wraps an arm around your waist. He can see your face fall when you realize who it is. Jackson is your ex-boyfriend, and a shitty one at that.

“Come on, pretty baby,” he attempts to woo. “Let me have just one dance.”

“I said I’m not interested, Jackson.”

“Oh, I know you said that, but I don’t think you meant it.”

Namjoon clears his throat from where he stands behind you. You both turn in surprise towards the officer.

“I think the lady said what she meant.”

Jackson narrows his eyes at Namjoon and grips you tighter.

“And who the hell do you think you are!”

Namjoon opens the coat of his suit, giving Jackson an eye-full of the loaded revolver clipped to his side.

Jackson seems to get the picture and shoves you off him—Namjoon is quick to steady your uneven gait from the assault.

Namjoon whistles for Jimin, his deputy, and instructs the eager young officer to escort Jackson off the premises.

“You’re lucky I’m not having him take you to the Big House tonight.”

Jackson rolls his eyes and spits on the floor at your feet.

“Fuck you, Sheriff.”

Jimin shoves Jackson out the door and follows him out to ensure the man stays well-away from the dance tonight.

Your eyes are downcast when Namjoon returns his glance at you.

“I’m so sorry,” you murmur. “I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”

The sheriff hushes you and tucks a loose strand of hair behind your ear, just as he did before when he found you lying on the ground.

“Now, now,” he whispers as he steps closer. “I don’t want to hear none of that talk. You didn’t do nothin’.”

He slips a finger under your chin and brings your face to peer at his own. The violins change their tune from carefree to a soft ballad.

“Care to dance?” He offers.

You smile and nod after a beat of silence, taking his proffered hand and slipping your other to hold on to his firm shoulder. He looks handsome in his suit, much different from the Wranglers he wears to work. This suit is cream, and feels like fine silk under your fingertips. You wonder if he ordered it from the general store or if he rode his horse to the big city for it. It fits him like a glove and you silently thank the town tailor for his work, allowing you a tease of the man’s brilliant muscles and toned body under his clothing.

Namjoon’s hand slides around your waist—attempting to remain as proper as he can. He doesn’t want to give the town anything to gossip about, but the way your dress and waist feel underneath his palm make him nearly forget all his manners. His mother would kill him if she saw the way he continued to press in close to the woman, hoping to feel her bountiful chest press against his own.

“I’m glad you came,” Namjoon breathes as your feet move in time with his. “I was worried you weren’t gonna show.”

Your cheeks tickle a rosy hue, and Namjoon nearly melts.

“I’m sure you would have found another lucky lady to dance with.”

Namjoon hums as he spins you around, grip tightening on your waist.

“Maybe so,” he agrees. “But they wouldn’t be the girl I was hopin’ to dance with.”

Your throat feels tight.

“And who might that be?”

“The girl I’m dancing with right now.”

Something within you burns like a roaring flame, and you push forward to press your lips to his own. It stuns Namjoon; he doesn’t move until his brain finally catches up and he’s kissing you in return, deep and passionate. He pulls his hand out of yours to wrap around your waist completely, bringing you up to his chest as his tongue prods for entrance at your mouth.

You eagerly accept him, allowing his tongue purchase in the hot cavern of your lips, and you whine needily against him as you feel a bulge grow between his legs.

“Sheriff,” you whisper, pulling away from his lips.

“Namjoon,” he breathes desperately. “Please, call me Namjoon.”

“Okay, Namjoon.” He smiles and dives in to kiss you again when you pull away.

“Please, Namjoon, can we go somewhere else? Papa’s here…”

Your cheeks are red-hot and Namjoon chuckles, glancing around. Your father is busy enough as it is, dancing with the schoolteacher but he nods.

He grabs your hand and tugs you towards the bar, getting Jungkook’s attention.

“You back for that beer?” He asks with a grunt.

“Nah, gimme the key to a room upstairs.”

Jungkook eyes you standing behind the sheriff, bashful.

“Can’t even wait to get her home, now? Ain’t that the rancher’s daughter? He’s right over there! You’re really going to--”

“Jungkook! The key, please!”

The barkeep rolls his eyes as he digs under the countertop for a large skeleton key and slides it to Namjoon.

“Down the hallway, first door on the left. The presidential suite.”

He winks at the sheriff who rolls his eyes and drags you up the stairs. You pray to any god listening that your father remains distracted with the schoolteacher.

Namjoon unlocks the door and allows you to enter first, giving you a chance to glance around the spacious room. There’s a copper bathtub, a fireplace, and a large feather-bed that looks divine.

“Wow,” you whisper. “Never been in a saloon bedroom before.”

Namjoon chuckles as he sets the heavy key on the dresser, loosening his tie.

Suddenly, you’re nervous. The implications of being here have your hands trembling and body feeling flustered. You’re not the kind of girl who fools around, nor are you the kind to simply open her legs for the first handsome officer who looks her way. You hadn’t even gone all the way with Jackson when you were with him. Now that it’s happening, you wonder if you’ve gotten far too ahead of yourself.

Namjoon notices the look on your face and crosses the floor easily to cup your face between his palms.

“Hey now, why the long face?”

Your eyes peer into his, shame washing over you. You want so badly to lie with the man in bed, in every sense, but you’re terrified.

“I’ve…” you swallow hard. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

The sheriff smiles and rubs under your eyes with the pad of his thumb. It’s comforting and having him this close to you makes your body feel like you’re close to the hearth of a fireplace. Warm, soothed.

“And you don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do, little lady. Thought we should just get out of the crowd.”

Your heart feels like it may just beat out of your chest completely. Namjoon is holding you, staring at you like you’re a treasure.

“I want you, Namjoon. I’ve wanted you my whole damn life.”

Namjoon brings his face right up to yours, lips a mere breath away.

“And I want you.”

You close the space between your lips, finally re-acquainting yourself with his taste and the feel of his plushy mouth against yours. He tastes like hops and sweet mint. Your hands slide down to claw at his sides, gripping the fabric of his coat jacket in your balled-up hands.

The kiss doesn’t remain chaste for long. You’re soon pushing off his coat, tugging down his suspenders and unbuckling his pants.

“Easy there,” he whispers as your hand tugs at his boxers. “We have all night.”

Inhaling through your nose, you nod. He’s right. There’s no reason to rush into this.

“Plus,” he adds. “It’s not very fair that I’m nearly stark naked and you’re still in this pretty little number.”

Namjoon kneels down, thick fingers untying the laces of your heeled boot, and holding your ankles stable as he slips them off your feet.

He kisses your soft ankles, presses his lips to your shins and calves as if he’s worshiping you. He thinks this is better than Sunday service, anyway.

The sheriff stands back up and his fingers move around to the back of your dress, easily finding the zipper and tugging down ever-so-softly. The fabric comes off your shoulders without issue, and soon pools at your bare feet. His eyes are soft as they travel over your body, left in only your silk panties and brassiere.

“There.” He whispers it like a prayer. “You’re so beautiful.”

The tone of his voice makes your body feel like it’s blazing—like the fire of whiskey as it pours down your throat. It burns, but it warms every single inch of you from the inside out.

“Namjoon, I don’t just want you for one night.”

Your anxieties pour out of your mouth with little thought. You wish you could hold back, just enjoy the moment. Your stomach twists and turns as he unbuttons the dress shirt and keeps his eyes locked on yours.

“That’s good,” he nods. “Because I don’t want you for one night, neither.”

Your hands slip onto his bare stomach, pushing the sleeves of his shirt off. His skin is hot, and firm. He feels like a dream. The shirt comes off easily and you gape at the artwork that is his chiseled chest.

“Oh my,” you gasp. Namjoon preens, enjoying your shameless gaze.

“All of this is for you,” he murmurs gently, watching the heated stare pull from his pecs to his eyes.

“M-me?”

He nods again and fingers the strap of your bra.

“I want you to be my girl,” he says. “I want to come home from a hard day and see my lovely little wife in our home. I’ll even get you a horse.”

You can’t help the smile that crosses your face.

“One that won’t buck me off in the middle of nowhere?”

He nods, slipping the strap down your shoulder.

“And if he does, your strong and handsome husband will be there to rescue you, every time.”

Your tongue soothes over your kiss-swollen lips as you listen to him and allow him to slowly remove your remaining articles of clothing. The bra straps fall off your arms easily and you let him work his hands around your back to undo the clasp.

“I want to make love to you every night,” he breathes. “Maybe get you nice and pregnant with my child.”

Your bra falls to the floor and his warm hands rub at your stomach, where a swell could be.

“Would you still help Papa?” You ask, hazy and dreamily.

“Every day, darlin’. I’d be the best son-in-law. Give him grandbabies to spoil rotten.”

He doesn’t say anymore—he couldn’t if he tried. Your lips are smashing against his and you’re pressing your soft, bare breasts to his firm chest and his mind is actively shutting down. All he can think of is you, your body, your hands, your mouth, and most of all, that sweet cunt. It’s still hidden behind a layer of silk, but he knows it will be the dreamiest place he’ll ever be, and one he doesn’t intend to leave often.

“Will you take me home tonight? To your home?” Your eyes are hopeful as you pull away to question him. Something about it all makes you want to make love to him all night long, in his bed. You want to wake up with him in the morning and cook together, only to get distracted and make love again on the kitchen table.

“I would love to.”

Your hands push down his pants and you’re gasping as his hard cock springs free from the slacks. It’s thick, and it slaps at his stomach once, leaving a smear of slick wetness where it hit.

“Lay down, princess,” he murmurs into your ear, tucking a piece of hair behind. It seems to be his trademark, and it sends shivers down your spine.

You obey wordlessly, laying back onto the bed and resting your head on the fluffy pillows.

Namjoon stands above you and gazes at your form, allows himself to breathe in the vision of you, nearly naked and waiting for him.

He crawls onto the bed and hovers over you, fingers trailing up your soft legs before rubbing at your clothed core. There's a patch of wetness there, and your trembling whimper tells Namjoon you’re just as eager as he is.

He settles himself in between your legs and inhales the scent of your pussy. It smells of fine silk, and of your arousal. You’re embarrassed, he can tell as your legs threaten to close, but he moves his hands to your thighs and holds them down as he licks a fat stripe up your soaked panties.

“Mmm,” he breathes. “Delicious.”

Your legs are trembling now and he flickers his eyes up to yours, gauging your reaction. Your head tips back in bliss, hands cupping your breasts.

“Do you like that, darlin’?” He asks.

Your head tips back down to stare at him, heat shining in your shimmery orbs.

“Is this okay?” He wants to know you’re just as eager as he is and has no interest in taking advantage.

You nod pathetically, legs spreading open further for him.

“I want you.”

Namjoon lets his fingers run up to the top of your panties and keeps his gaze on yours as he peels them down and off your legs. They’re drenched, and he whines when he uses two fingers to open your lips further and expose your soaked hole.

“Shit,” he grunts, tentatively kitten licking your sensitive clit.

It sends radiating static and shock through you. No one’s ever touched you there—no one but yourself on lonely nights with dreams of the handsome sheriff.

Namjoon catches your hitched breath, your shuddering sighs, and continues gently. His tongue licks tiny stripes up and down your quaking clit and enjoys the way your arousal seeps out of you. He knows you’re a virgin, knows he needs to take his time to open you up for him. And he plans on making it an experience you never forget.

“That’s right,” he breathes as he pulls away and licks his lips. “My girl doing so well. You like it when I lick your pretty clit? Does it feel good?”

You nod your agreement and open your mouth to respond, but Namjoon quickly places his lips over the sensitive nub and suckles gently. Your words turn into a throaty scream, back arching impossibly at the sensation.

He brings a hand up and teases your slit with a finger as he introduces you to a new world of sexual awakening. His tongue roves over your clit as he keeps a constant vacuum seal around it with his lips. Ever so gently, his finger prods past your folds and slips inside the wet heat of your channel.

His cock leaps at the sensation on his finger. You’re impossibly tight and drooling with juices and Namjoon’s tongue moves from your clit to lap at the slick. You taste so sweet. He can’t wait to acquaint himself with every inch of your body, especially the sweet spot here between your thighs.

“Oh! Oh, God!” You scream as your tug at your nipples. Namjoon can tell by the tightening of your channel you’re near the edge. He slides another finger in and fucks you gently with them, spreading open your heat ever so slightly so the stretch of his cock isn’t so hard to take.

“Cum for me, baby,” he coaxes. “Fall apart for your sheriff.”

Your eyes squeeze shut tight, stomach flexing hard as the band within you coils tighter and tighter until it blissfully snaps and your core is pulsating around his fingers like a grip.

Namjoon groans with your pretty cries of pleasure, watching the way your cunt milks his fingers and drools juice.

“Such a good girl,” he whispers as he gently pulls his fingers from within you. “You did so well.”

Your blush on your cheeks matches the rosy hue on your chest as you pant—attempting to bring yourself back to earth and right your breathing.

“That—, that was amazing.”

Namjoon presses one solid kiss to your thigh.

“You, my love, are amazing.”

You’re lifting yourself up on your elbows to peer down at him, whining gently for his attention.

“Will you kiss me, Namjoon?”

“I’ve got you all over my lips,” he says but you shake your head.

“Kiss me.”

Namjoon nods and crawls up your body, eagerly pressing his mouth to yours in a heated kiss. It’s intimate, and fiery as much as it is gentle and exploratory. Namjoon kisses you like he found the girl of his dreams—because he has.

After long, blissful minutes of rolling around in the bed with his lips attached to yours, you pull away and glance at his hardened cock.

“I’ve never,” you swallow as you allow your fingertips to graze the tip. “I’ve never put one in my mouth before.”

Namjoon’s sensitive glaze over his eyes returns.

“You don’t have to, darlin’.”

“But I want to. Will you let me know if I do something wrong?”

He nods once, and you adjust him to sit at the head of the bed, back against the headboard while you crawl down between his legs.

You allow yourself a few, long moments to simply stare at his length. It’s hard, flushed with excitement, and drooling a substance from his head that makes your mouth salivate. It has a soft, gentle curve to it you can only imagine will feel like heaven inside of you.

“You like it?” Namjoon asks gently, without pride. He looks sincere, like your opinion on his cock matters to him.

“I love it.”

You mouth at it gently, before opening wide to accept him in.

“C-careful, darlin’,” Namjoon warns. “It’s big—might not fit in your throat.”

Your eyes simper up at him for a moment, before you continue your plight and accept his length into your mouth.

You take it slow, torturously slow to him. You take your time to get acquainted with the feeling of his cock filling your mouth before you continue to take more and more until all at once he’s at the back of your throat and your nose is pressed to his toned abdomen.

Namjoon whines out loud, feels his brain turn to mush and his eyes roll to the back of his skull.

“Good lord,” he whispers. Your eyes are watering with tears and your gag reflex protests against the intrusion, so you quickly pull back out.

“Did I do okay?” You ask.

Namjoon’s cock throbs where it sits, right at the tip of your lips.

“You did fucking perfect, baby.”

It’s easy to see the pride flash across your face and you move to accept him all at once but he stops you.

“Don’t hurt yourself, doll. You can just move your mouth on it.” He grips the back of your head ever so gently and helps you descend, taking just enough to fill your mouth before he assists you in pulling back out. “Mmm, yeah, like that. Hollow those cheeks—shit, you’re a natural.”

You preen and bob on his length without the guidance of his hand. He drops his hands to push the hair from your face and as you work his cock in your mouth with surprising finesse. A groan builds deep in his chest and he can feel his balls tighten and threaten to empty onto your pretty lips. But, he can’t have that.

He taps your cheeks gently, forcing you to look back at him. He nearly cums from the sight alone. Your big, beautiful eyes staring into his soul as if he’s lasso’d the stars just for you. Your mouth is full of his cock like it’s your home and Namjoon knows that it’s everywhere he wants you to be.

“I wanna cum inside that sweet pussy of yours, darlin’.”

You pull off with a pop, eyes widening at the sound and Namjoon thinks you look prettiest with a dusty blush across your cheeks—a color that matches the pink of your perky nipples.

“Lay down for me, baby,” he encourages, moving from the spot on the bed and allowing you to rest your pretty head on the down pillow.

He kisses over your neck and breasts sweetly, imprinting his adoration for you with each press of his lips. He laves over your nipples gently as he situates himself between your thighs. His hand grasps his cock and lines it up at your entrance, but doesn’t push in yet. He allows your dripping slick to coat the head of his cock as he warms your body up with his lips.

“You’re the prettiest girl in town. Hell, even the whole county.”

You whimper gently as he takes a nipple into his mouth and grazes it with his teeth.

“You wanna be my girl? You wanna be the Sheriff’s little wife?”

You nod and Namjoon peers up at you, eyes expectant for a verbal answer.

"Please” you whisper. “I’ve been sweet on you since I first met you, years ago.”

The sheriff licks your nipples gently.

“My pretty wife,” he coos. “You ready?”

Your legs tremble—a mixture of nerves and excitement as the man lifts himself up and kneels between your parted folds. His cock feels thick and hot at the entrance of your heated core and you’re gasping for more.

Namjoon presses forward and takes his time as he enters you, knowing the stretch will be new for you. He leans down to kiss your lips gently as he moves in, hoping the sweetness of the embrace will soften the sting of his cock.

It feels like heaven and hell. The sting burns you, but it easily simmers down to a low flame of desire, of pleasure. Namjoon licks into your mouth and you eagerly accept him, arms wrapping around his neck to bring him closer. His tongue explores and seeks purchase—you’re loath to deny the handsome officer as you return the actions easily.

He pulls his lips away as he bottoms out inside you, panting. He needs the stillness, himself. Your cunt is so tight, so hot and accepting of his hard cock that he feels near the edge of his sanity already.

“You all right, love?” He asks, eyes checking yours for any signs of trouble.

The burn quickly ebbs away to nothing more than a slight smolder. He fills you completely, and it feels like he’s making a home for himself within you—one you’re welcome to him constructing again and again.

“Yes,” your voice is deep and husky. Your eyes are ablaze with a sudden passionate need for more. “Please, show me how it’s done, cowboy.”

Namjoon needs no more—he pulls his hips back gently and thrusts back into you with ease. You’re soaked, and the slide is tight, but slick. He moans gently as he drops his head to your ear to kiss and lick at the sensitive skin there and to whisper his sweet nothings as he sets a pace.

“You feel like heaven,” he whispers. “God, I’ve dreamed of the way you would feel underneath me.”

Your legs open even further to allow more of him and his pace eagerly picks up speed. The sound of skin slapping on skin soon fills the room and Namjoon continues his litany of love.

“Doin’ so good for me, baby, so fuckin’ good. You’re the perfect little wife for me. This cunt was meant for me, wasn’t it, my sweet?”

Speaking coherently is not a task you can handle now. Namjoon’s cock is fucking into you with a depth and speed that feels like fucking paradise and all your brain can comprehend are his sweet epithets he whispers to you and the way your core burns and sizzles with need. You can feel the tightness return in your belly, the tight coil that pulls tight, tight, tighter. You’re nearly at the end.

“I wanna fill you up, my love.” His pace is becoming erratic, with less finesse as he charges towards his own finish line. “Going to fuck a baby into you, darlin’. Get you nice and full—fuuuuck, cum for me, please. Let me feel that hot cunt cum around my cock.”

His words burn your ears with depravity, but it only forces that tight coil even further. It pulls until it nearly steals all the breath in your lungs as it throws you over the edge. Your walls pulse and constrict around him, making him whine out loud to match the crying whimpers of your climax.

“That’s my girl, oh god, I’m gonna cum.”

It’s all the warning you get before the hot stripes of his seed plaster your walls, coating each inch of you with a warmth that pools deep inside you. Your whines silence as he presses his lips to yours while his cock continues to shudder within you. He kisses you hard, deeper than you’ve ever been kissed before and you hold him so close to you, you fear you may never separate again. Not that it would be a bad thing.

“Shit,” Namjoon sighs as he finally feels his climax subside. His cock finishes its weak pulses, and he gently pulls out of your spent hole, watching his seed drool out of you.

“Mm, I think your little pussy needs to look like this every single night, don’t you?”

You peer down, leaning up on your elbows to watch as his white cum dribbles out of you and onto the feather bed.

“Yes, Sheriff.” Your smile is coy and sweet, a hint of humor in your worn out voice.

He scurries to the bathroom to get a warm, wet flannel and returns to your legs to clean you carefully. Your heart feels like it may burst. He cares for you so sweetly, wants you comfortable—wants you to feel loved.

“Take me home, cowboy,” you whisper as he presses his lips to your legs after he finishes cleaning you.

Namjoon assists you in dressing, kisses all over your bare skin as he laces you back into your dress. You both can’t stop staring at each other, eyes filled with promise and a future full of each other and no one else.

He guides you down the stairs, back towards the dance and you try to fight the blush that blooms on your cheeks. You’re sure your mused hair tells everyone in the room what you got up to upstairs, and you pray your father has left early.

Namjoon slides the key back to Jungkook once they reach the bar, his other hand tightly laced with your own. Jungkook gives you both a look, then smirks.

“Your Papa asked your whereabouts,” he muses as he dries a glass with a rag.

His smirk grows wider.

“Told him you were shining the Sheriff's gun. Looks like I was right.”

2K notes · View notes

thesleepy1 · 4 years ago

Text

Death’s Imminent Door

A/N: I need more Eskel fics. That’s all. Also, writing prompt from @whumpster-dumpster “Kiss with bruised lips”. There was also, “Dying breath kiss,” and, “Kiss with trembling lips,” but I thought we’ll go for something more light hearted today. I thought, but let this be a warning that I’m not good at fluff. Unbeta’d as always.

Pairings: Eskel x Reader

Summary: You’re injured in a fight defending Eskel’s honor.

Word count: 1651

Warnings: Violence, blood, injury, language, hurt/comfort, fluff, angst, suggestive language, whump,

To be fair you shouldn’t have even been there. Eskel had long retired for the night and was peacefully sleeping in the room upstairs. You on the other hand wanted another drink. That was a mistake.

Everything was fine for the most part. You enjoyed a tankard, a drop of ale sliding down the corner of your mouth. There was a bard, not Geralt’s, singing in the tavern. Some song about sleeping with a goat or some sort of lucid dream the man had. You weren’t sure and at the time you didn’t really care.

“Just like that witcher!”

You sobered instantly at the mention of your partner in hand and trail. “What did you just say?!” you slurred, slamming your almost empty tankard down. A tremble shot up your arm but you shook it off, standing as tall as your drunk self could allow. “Say that to my face, bastard!”

“Oh it’s the witcher’s bed warmer.”

“With a dick as big as his, gladly!” You took large strides to the equally drunk man who had dared to taint Eskel’s honor. To your surprise he was the same height and of a smaller build. All talk and no bite. This fight will be easy...unfortunately for you, it was not.

“Oh, so you admit you spread your legs for that goat fucker!” the man yelled, spit flying out of his mouth. He stank of ale and week old hay, likely a local stable man.

“At least he’s not the one letting the horses outside fuck his ass open,” you shot back, an audience growing. The bard was strumming a tone played at debates and tense scenes in plays. He would have gotten on your nerves if you weren’t focused at the scum of the continent in front of you.

“What did you just call me?”

“Sorry, do you still have horse cu-”

Before you knew it a fist came in harsh contact with the side of your face. Too drunk to stay afoot you fall back onto the table behind you. A couple enjoying their date lept in surprise at your semi conscious figure on their dinner.

“Too busy getting fucked to learn how to fight?”

“No,” you stumbled out, standing on wobbling feet. “Just too busy riding your h-” Another punch came your way but this time you blocked it, twisting his arms and slamming his body on the floor. He groaned and choked out a sob, grabbing onto your unsteady leg. Pulling it forward he brought you down onto the floor with him.

Out of the corner of your eye as you fell, a barmaid scurries upstairs to where Eskel rests. “Already cheating on that witcher with the pretty barmaid?” the man brought your attention back to himself.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” you roll yourself on top of him, straddling his torso and sending fist after fist to his face. Your knuckles were bleeding and he was screaming, bloodied face such a beautiful sight. It was a joy before someone roughly pulled you off of him.

“Get off of him, you bastard!” a different barmaid shouted, tugging at your arms and for some reason your clothes.

“Hold the fucker down,” the man on the floor ordered, slowly pulling himself together with whimpers. Blood was trickling down his neck and his clean shirt was red with it all. You couldn’t help but smirk at your handiwork.

“What are you smirking at?”

“I saw a big stallion in the stable earlier. You were brushing his coat awfully well. One could only think why-”

With the new barmaid holding you down and the man on his feet you really should’ve shut up but you couldn’t help it. His fists were smaller than yours but packed the same amount of force. While you enjoyed watching as blood coated his face, smiling even. He was getting angrier and angrier. Each punch was worse than the one before and that was prior to when he brought his booted foot into the mix.

Your groans began to fill the tavern but were mostly drowned out by the cheers of the crowd. The bard began a quicker tune, leaping up onto a table to dance. He twirled and sang like you weren’t being beaten to a pulp. The couple whose date you ruined joined the man in the fun, trading hits and cheers.

The ale in your system helped with most of the pain but you could feel your body going slack. Unconsciousness was edging it’s way into your mind. Sleep seemed like a blissful option in comparison to the beating, but waking up wasn’t guaranteed.

Oh wouldn’t that be a sight, Eskel waking up to take a new contract the next town over only to see your unmoving husk of a form on the floor. Dried blood coating your barely recognizable face, your clothes torn and ripped from your still body. You weren’t sure what the barmaid wanted with your clothes but she would probably take them off if given the chance.

He would be angry, livid really. Sobbing in the dead of night where no one could judge him. The two of you weren’t the type to constantly tell each other you loved them throughout the day. You showed that with actions. Helping him sharpen his swords, setting up camp, defending his honor in a bar fight.

Unable to bear to see his grief stricken face, you hesitantly opened your eyes. They were swollen, that was obvious even without a mirror. And the rest of you wasn’t fairing all that well either, but you were alive. That was something to be proud of.

“Oh look, the bed warmer is awake,” the man taunted, taking your tankard and pouring what remained over your head. The ale against your open wounds stung and you gasped, biting your tongue to suppress a scream.

“What are you stopping for? I want to mark up this pretty skin,” the barmaid snarled behind you with a grin. The tavern suddenly grew quiet. Even the bard stopped playing, stepping down from the table, his eyes never left what was behind you.

Your movement was limited but you managed to look over your shoulder. Eskel in all of his shirtless, disheveled glory was at the foot of the stairs, a glare and the remanence of potions evident on his face. His eyes were a dulling dark gray, the black veins faded but still present. Gods and whoever was listening you wanted him to stare you down as he took you against the wall. Unrelenting in his haste to finish and rough with need.

“Lovely evening isn’t it, love,” you greeted nonchalantly, unable to feel your legs.

“Care to tell me what happened?” Eskel asked in fake calmness. You have been with him long enough to know when he was seconds from stabbing the nearest person in the heart.

“Oh nothing much, love. Just some imbecile, horse fucker, baby killing, grime under my foot, bastard decided it was wise to call you some ill choice words in my presence,” you explained, your eyes drooping in an attempt to stay awake. You were alive, you told yourself. Eskel will be fine. You will be fine. Just a night’s rest and you will be as good as new the next morning.

“Would you like to tell me who?” his dark gaze swept across the room. Everyone was frozen in their place, smart enough to know when they were at death’s imminent door.

“Just her, him, and those two,” you gestured with your eyes but was unsure how much Eskel was able to catch. He could always smell the blood from their bleeding knuckles, so really you had no need to keep your eyes open. “That annoying bard had something to do with it but I can’t remember.”

You didn’t have the energy to keep your head on your neck and just let it fall. The barmaid dropped you immediately, but Eskel was quick enough to catch you. He grabbed onto you, his grip a little too tight in sensitive areas but he lightened his hands when he noticed the spike in your heart beat. A growl was building deep within his chest from the sight of your injured form.

“I recommend you run while you can,” Eskel spoke to the people in the tavern, already having memorized the faces and scents of the people you pointed out. He’ll give them mercy, a night before he ripped their spines from their backs and their egos from their groins.

“Can you stay awake for me, darling?” Eksel whispered to you, his arms underneath your legs and chest.

“Only If you’ll have me against the wall,” you mumbled, barely able to sense what was happening. Before you knew it you were in the inn room, a still warm bed underneath your aching body.

“Just open your eyes for me, darling,” Eskel forced out a timid chuckle. An ache grew from your chest, and not due to the beating. Your poor witcher was afraid you wouldn’t wake up when the sun came up. He had nothing to worry about. You could still feel the upper half of your body. That was something.

“Can’t get enough of my beautiful orbs?” you joked, your voice much weaker than you realized. Some job you did reassuring him, he sounded like he was about to cry.

“Never enough.” He planted a soft kiss onto your bruised lips. So caring in your injury, he made sure to not apply too much pressure onto the wounds.

Before you woke the next day, because you did, although a bit late into the noon, Eskel had gone out to hunt. Not for food, oh no. For sport.

Five bodies laid in the stables for the stable boy to see; the stable man, a couple, a barmaid and a bard with the neck of his gittern through his own neck.

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manga-gamer · 4 years ago

Text

Don't Embarrass Yourself (Yuuji x Black!Reader)

Fuck you, BNHA POCuties for not talking me out of this, and instead talking me into it.

---

"And don't act weird, got it."

"Yes, yes, I got it."

"Also, if you mention Jennifer Lawrence, I will be forced to murder you."

Yuuji squeaked and gave you a salute, "Right!"

"I'm serious."

"I know."

"And Yuuji?"

"Yeah, babe?"

"For the love of God, don't embarrass yourself."

You opened the door and took a few sniffs. Yuuji noticed what you were doing, and followed.

"Oh, that smells good..." He hummed.

"I know. Hey mama!"

"Shake ya ass! Watch ya self! Shake ya ass! Show me what you're working with!"

You cringed at the thought of your parents singing the song loudly in the presence of Yuuji. When you turned to see him, he was chuckling to himself, and he smiled at you.

"Your parents sound cool."

"That's a word one could use to describe them, I guess."

Yuuji laughed again, "I'd use it to describe them."

You rolled your eyes and walked into the kitchen, watching your parents dancing along to the song. You noticed your little brothers moving along as well, but you couldn't really call that dancing.

"Hey."

Your mom looked up at you walked over to pull you into a tight hug, "Hey, sweetheart!"

"Hey, (Y/N)! How was school today?!"

"It was good, Dad," You pulled away from your mom, "This is my boyfriend, Yuuji Itadori."

"It's nice to meet you two!" He took a bow, and you snickered and blushed at his formality.

"Nice to meet you too, you fine, young gentleman."

Yuuji laughed and shook your mom's hand, "You're so kind, ma'am!" He looked up at your dad, "Hello, sir!"

"Hey, boy. You treating my (Y/N) right?"

"Dad-"

"Yes, sir! Of course, I am! I would never hurt (Y/N)!"

You blushed again and were shocked. You knew Yuuji was trying even harder to suppress Sukuna so that he didn't hurt you, which made you... happy to hear.

"Good. You seem like a nice boy."

"Thank you! I try!"

Well, this was good, Yuuji was getting along with your family, and they seem to like him. And he didn't mention Jennifer Lawrence.

---

Oh dear god, you were sure the night was over. But no. Your dad just had to ask him this question.

"You know how to rap, Yuuji?"

You gave your dad a side-eye glare, hoping he'd notice. Unfortunately, he did not notice.

"Rap? Oh, yeah, I think so!"

This time, you glare at your boyfriend, "I think Yuuji needs to go back to the academy, right?"

"Nah, I actually have time, babe!"

Your smile stayed on your face, but it was obviously strained, "Oh... that's good."

You watched your dad and boyfriend move to the living room, booting up the Alexa on the counter. You, your mom, and your two younger brothers sat on the couch, ready to see what was about to take place.

"Alright, what song do you pick?"

You were sure your dad was going to call the song he chose "wack" as... he usually did.

"I think... Hot Girl Summer!"

The room was silent. You put your hand over your face, not wanting to see your boyfriend even try this.

---

What. The. Fuck. He just.... he was amazing. Didn't miss a single word, except for the obvious one, and it was amazing. Your dad stared at him, but Yuuji was a little oblivious to his confusion.

"You gonna go, sir?"

"Uh, yeah. Just didn't expect that from you."

"Megan Thee Stallion is one of my favorites, I memorized a lot of her songs!"

Your dad nodded, but you just couldn't take your eyes off of him.

---

Well, that was bearable. You watched Yuuji say goodbye to your parents. As you two walked out, you smacked his arm

"Why didn't you tell me you could rap!"

"I didn't know it was gonna be important."

You stared at him. You guessed it wasn't a given. You sighed and pushed his hair back.

"I love you so much, Yuuji."

"I love you too, baby."

You two walked back to the academy, hand-in-hand

---

(Ask to be added for taglist) ((wowzers, I'm amazing at bullshitting endings!))

@spike-this-ass @uliscribbles

#itadori x reader #itadori yuuji #flower: lavender #rebecca's bouquets

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draconica · 4 years ago

Note

Oooo, for the writing prompt, a little 7+4+1? Or just one, I might be a little greedy 😖🤣

7: Engagement sex 4: Petnames 1: Spicing things up in the bedroom

I made it work, anon ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I also headcanon Ellis can be a powerbottom so enjoy that

When Ellis returned home from the shop one warm evening, he was humming softly to himself. There was a sly smile to his features as he gently jostled the plastic bag he had brought home. There was no groceries or anything that mundane inside. No, there was something very special inside of this particular carrier.

“Niiick?” he crooned in the hope that his boyfriend was home, and in the mood. Now, he was home, but as Ellis turned the corner into the living room he was met with a sight he wasn't quite expecting to see.

Nick was stood in a black suit - a proper, swanky, three-piece number – and holding a red rose. A soft song was playing on their stereo system, and the lights were turned down low. He had definitely been stood here for some time, waiting for Ellis to return home, and Ellis dropped his smile briefly. The gambler was smooth as silk at the best of times, but this was unexpected.

“Welcome home, sweet peach,” Nick led with, making Ellis blush – that damn pet name of his. “You good?”

Ellis scratched the back of his neck. “Uh, I'm jus' fine,” he smiled, setting down his bag for now, and gesturing to Nick as he took a step towards him. “What's this for?”

In a second, Nick's smile slipped a little, arching his brow. “...You forgot, didn't you?” He rolled his eyes, but that smile soon came right back as he stepped forward also, closing the gap between them and offering him the rose. “July 12th? The day we got out of quarantine?” Nick chuckled, leaning in closer and making it more personal. “The day we moved in together, made the new place official?”

A million thoughts swarmed Ellis's head at that point, taking the rose and knowing he was absolutely overcome with blushes. “O-oh… damn, I guess I did forget,” he giggled, tilting his head a little as his boyfriend leered closer. Even now, Nick was still the most damn attractive man he'd ever met, let alone dated. “M'sorry, darlin', just had a lot on my mind, I guess?” he shrugged.

Nick seemed to understand, nodding once before pulling Ellis in for a kiss. “It's all good, sport. You can make it up to me later. But for now...” he turned and clicked a remote in love control, turning down the music a touch, before his hand returned to where it belonged – holding his lover's.

“Ellis,” he began, looking down at his thumb caressing the back of El's hand. “It's been a hell of a ride to get here, huh? Fighting for our lives every day in the apocalypse, a year of quarantine, and now three years of living together. Before the Green Flu, I was at my lowest point. I… well, wouldn't be alive if I hadn't met you. The zombies were a distraction, but you were a reason to live. You mean the Goddamn world to me, Fireball, and I want to spend every day by your side. So… I have one question for you.” Ellis watched on, mouth dropping, as his boyfriend got down on one knee and produced a velvet box containing a thick silver ring. In the center, there was set a dark blue gemstone. “Ellis, mi tesoro, will you marry me?”

Needless to say, Ellis had not been expecting this today, and that was obvious given the absolute astonishment on his face at that moment. It almost made Nick want to laugh, but he was slightly too nervous for that.

Thankfully, Ellis broke into his lop-sided, brilliant Southern smile. “You sly sumbitch,” he chuckled. “Hell yeah, I'll marry ya!”

The gambler got to his feet, immediately bringing his lover closer into his arms with an unbreakable smile. The ring was a perfect fit onto Ellis's fourth finger, something else that Nick had been worried about, but seeing how snugly it sat made the older man's heart swell. “I love you, Overalls.”

“Love you, too, darlin',” Ellis responded as he brought Nick's face in for a kiss... and then another... and then his arms were around Nick's neck. Any distance between them was suddenly gone.

It wasn't unusual for their kisses to get out of hand, certainly in their earlier days where it seemed like sex was on the table every day (not literally, except for a few times Ellis can remember where they'd gotten adventurous…). That's when Ellis remembered what was in the bag he had brought home. Well, now he had no choice but to surprise his lover with its contents.

By now, Nick's kisses had moved to the mechanic's neck, and Ellis couldn't suppress a shiver as he found his favorite spot just below his ear. Many a hickey had been placed there before, and it was near-enough a certainty that he'd be getting a new one tonight.

“Nick,” he whispered, shifting his hand through the hustler's hair and smiling when he caught sight of the shiny new engagement ring on his finger. “Take me to the bedroom.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Nick chuckled before tightening his grip around Ellis's waist and hoisting him up, causing the younger man to gasp against his lips. “You don't have to tell me twice.”

Of course, Nick couldn't possibly carry Ellis up a whole staircase and into said bedroom. He wasn't a young man anymore, after all. Not that Ellis minded – it actually gave him a chance to grab the bag he'd brought home. Nick gave him an odd look as he did so, but his young fiancé had simply smiled, told him not to worry about it with a pat to the cheek.

Once they both stepped into the bedroom together, Ellis set the bag down once more and brought Nick into more kisses, having missed them in the thirty seconds they had stopped.

“How long were ya plannin' that for?” asked Ellis curiously as he slipped the black tie from Nick's neck, smiling at him.

Nick shrugged a little. “Few months,” he admitted. “Knew I wanted to marry you someday, seemed like the anniversary of getting out of that Goddamn pandemic was a good time.”

Ellis was now working on those pesky shirt buttons, granting him access to that chest hair he loved so much on Nick. “Romantic as usual,” he mused. “Gotta be honest… I was plannin' a lil' somethin' for us tonight, too. Nothin' big like askin' ya to marry me, so kinda puts my gesture in the shade.”

“Don't be modest, sweet peach,” Nick chuckled, allowing Ellis to remove his suit jacket and leave it on the floor – something he usually gets very picky about.

“Well...” Ellis slipped Nick's belt from his pants, and was pleased at the choice his lover had made – a black leather strap. Yes, this'll do nicely. “I know you like bein' in control 'n all, but I wanna show ya how we ride in the South.”

That piqued the gambler's interest, not in the least because Ellis was looping the belt around his hand, pulling it taught for Nick to see, and something about the sight was enough to set his erection at full mast.

“Ace...” he paused, needing to wet his lips when he found his mouth suddenly dry. “Do I get a say in this?”

“You certainly get to pick the safe word,” mused the mechanic, shifting his weight slightly on his hips as he played with the leather strap some more.

Nick must've been mad, or at least deeply in love, as he decided to shift control over to his little fiancé for the night. “All right,” he conceded, stepping out of his pants which, with lack of support, had pooled onto the floor. “Where do you want me, sugar?”

The mechanic's grin spread further up his cheeks. He led Nick over to their king-sized bed and sat him down. “Now, you go ahead and make yourself comfortable, mister gamblin' man, and I'll go slip outta these here greasy clothes.” With a little canter to his steps, he grabbed the bag once more and headed to their en-suite bathroom, shooting a look over his shoulder. “Recommend losing those there briefs, too. Won't be needin' them at the rodeo.” And with that, he disappeared into the next room, door shutting slowly behind him.

Nick had always been good at following instructions, and Ellis's were about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the face. So, as he stripped himself down completely and got comfortable, he took the time while Ellis was gone to think about some of the more memorable trysts in their relationship.

There was the very first time which had been during the apocalypse. It had been rough and hurried, considering they had just escaped death by the skin of their teeth, and it was more a carnal desire of the most basic of human instincts. Ellis had almost alerted a horde with how loud he'd been.

There was another time, during quarantine, where love had for the first time been entered into the equation. Namely, the first time they had said 'I love you' to each other. Nick had topped then, too. And he wasn't a picky partner by any means – after all, Ellis was young and full of testosterone, and sometimes he needed to fuck just as much as anyone else. Nick had come to enjoy bottoming, absolutely, but he was more or less the one in charge on most nights. Ellis never complained; quite the opposite, in fact. Nick was still lost in thought when suddenly the bathroom door opened at last, revealing Ellis in his attire for the evening: Nothing but a cowboy hat (and one engagement ring).

“Howdy,” he drawled as he leant against the door frame, still playing with Nick's belt in his hands. “Heard there was a no-good city slicker that I needed to take good care of. Assumin' that's you, handsome?”

Nick couldn't' help but smirk up at him, raising an eyebrow. Ellis was unbelievably adorable, especially whenever he was making effort to please him. That included… this. “Goddamn it, Ace,” he shook his head. “Didn't think this was how my night was gonna go.”

Ellis shot him an amused look, then slipped right back into character. “I'm the best darn rodeo rider this side'a Georgia,” he boasted, sauntering closer to the bed. “Ain't no wild stallion I can't tame. So, reck'n you'll be my best ride yet.” The mechanic reached into the bedside drawer to fetch the lube, and took a moment to stand beside the bed, looking over his naked lover. “Safe word?” he asked.

Nick nodded up at him. “Witch.”

Ellis frowned. “Damn, Nick, really? All the words in the entire American language and you had to pick one that reminds me of the time you almost got yourself killed?”

“You almost got me killed,” retorted the hustler, squinting at him. “You're the one who spooked the bitch.” But he shook his head, letting a smile return to his red face. “Fine. Safe word is 'wedding'.”

With a roll of his eyes, Ellis blushed a little as he set the lube down on the table for now. “Good 'nough for me.” Slipping back into character once more, the Southerner crawled his way onto the bed and straddled his lover, halfway up his chest, at one point his erection bobbing near Nick's face. The gambler just watched on with hungry eyes. “Now then… one thing I know about tamin' the wilder beasts is that they need to be trained, sometimes with force.” Ellis looped the leather belt around Nick's neck gently, watching the older's green eyes for any signs of discomfort or fear. There was nothing but trust, and a lot of hunger.

Ellis cinched the belt, not tightly, but enough for Nick to feel the presence of his around his throat. With a twist of his hand, Ellis curled the leather around his wrist and tested the length. There was plenty to work with, and he grinned. “Damn, look at'chu, city boy.” Ellis backed up his hips, grinding himself backwards onto Nick's cock, and watching in triumph as Nick's eyelids fluttered slightly. “I think I'm gonna really enjoy ridin' you.”

The helpless gambler chuckled as he rested his hands on Ellis's thighs, watching those hips move back and forth and craning his neck back a little. A moan almost made it's way out of his mouth, but not quite. Ellis had to try harder. “You're getting more into the kinky sex, Overalls,” he smiled, throwing in a wink. “I'll take credit for that.”

With a tilt of his head, Ellis's hand pulled back, tightening the belt a little like pulling on the leash of a disobedient dog. Nick gasped beneath him, moaning in the afterthought, which made the cowboy grin. “You speak outta turn like that again and you'll be in the doghouse,” he threatened. Reaching over to the nightstand, he took the open tube of lubricant and squirted the thick liquid onto two fingers. The look in his baby blue eyes was so very kinky, and Nick could feel his cock give a twitch in appreciation as he pictured what Ellis was about to do with those fingers.

Picking up the belt once more with his clean hand, those fingers then went behind Ellis, slipped between his cheeks and found his pucker. The younger man was a dab hand at prepping himself, and knew his own body inside and out. While he worked his magic, he moaned aloud and reintroduced his bucking hips back into the mix. The sight was amazingly erotic, and Nick couldn't resist reaching over to play with Ellis's neglected dick. Ellis, for the most part, seemed to allow it, even bucking up again into the gambler's grasp.

“You're thinkin' about it now, aren't ya, city boy?” Ellis chuckled with an open-mouthed grin. “Thinkin' about me ridin' ya real good, getting' ya all hot 'n bothered...” He leant in slightly, pulling once more on Nick's restraint until the man was a little closer. “Thinkin' about how fuckin' good I'm gonna feel around your cock once I'm wet n' ready?”

That accent was so thick, deep with lust, and it was driving Nick crazy. The gambler gave a groan, just as the belt loosened again and allowed him is breath back. His head fell back to the pillow, already seeing a black fuzz around his vision. “God… sweet peach…”

“Yes, my darlin'?” Ellis crooned, by now with three fingers knuckle deep inside of himself.

“Ple…” Nick panted as he closed his eyes. “Please.”

That was all Ellis needed to hear. With another lop-sided smile, the mechanic shifted until he was kneeling and scooted back a little on Nick's body. He kept a keen eye on his fiancé's face, even as he reached behind, took Nick's cock in hand, and slipped himself down onto it like he'd done it a hundred times before.

The card shark grunted and turned his head a little, and Ellis could hear a shift behind him as Nick moved his legs. His feet was planting themselves onto the mattress and knees bending up, in order to provide him with the leverage he needed. Ellis leant back, slipping down further onto Nick's cock while at the same time resting against Nick's thighs like a back rest. He was grateful for that.

“How about that?” Ellis nearly sang as he shifted on Nicolas's lap. “You're bein' a good boy after all.”

Nick said nothing, just looked up at his Southern lover with a smile on his face, throwing in a wink for good measure. Ellis chuckled and wrapped the belt once more around his wrist for another harsh tug, at the same time, lifting his hips and slamming back down in a harsh bounce. The leather crackled in his grip, and Nick drew another breath. His face was getting redder. “El,” he managed, grinding out the noise, and Ellis was careful to make sure he had enough air to speak, should his next breath utter the safe word.

“Giddy up,” purred the cowboy, reaching up to hold his hat before beginning his ride. Putting all his power to his thighs, up and down Ellis's hips went as he bounced away. The sweetest moans left his throat – couldn't rightly help it, as Nick had always been the best lay of his life.

Nick's hands found their way to Ellis's hips, gripping him there and guiding him on and off his dick. In no time at all, Ellis was fully into the sex, letting go of his hat to reach back and steady himself on Nick's knee as he continued to ride him hard.

“Fuck yeah,” Nick murmured to himself as he gazed up at the scene Ellis was blessing him with. He groaned soon afterwards, craning his neck, and smiled up at his lover. “The belt… please… fuck...”

Ellis grinned and slowed his thrusts down a little in order to tug the belt once more, harsher and tighter than previously. Nick's knuckles went white around Ellis's hips.

“Look at ya… enjoyin' yourself so much,” Ellis praised and drove his hips down once more, grinding back on Nick's length. “C'mon, city boy, you know you wanna come inside'a me...”

Nick could hear the blood rushing around his head, fell the pleasure begin to whirlpool around his cock, and did the only thing he knew he could do. He moved a hand to Ellis's dancing erection and gave him a tight sleeve to fuck into, watching with watering eyes. The Southerner groaned and dropped the leather strap in favor of bracing both hands on Nick's legs, rocking himself like crazy. The gambler drew a gasp of air, Ellis threw his head back, and then it all went white.

“NICK!” Ellis broke character at the last minute to shout his fiancé's name in orgasm. He spilled semen all up Nick's chest and some managed to hit his chin. The sight was erotic enough to send the older man tumbling off the precipice himself, filling Ellis up until he was overflowing. Ellis moaned and lifted himself off for the last time, feeling warm liquid seep down the insides of his thighs.

With a sigh, Ellis leant forward and braced his hands on Nick's shoulders to prevent himself from falling atop him. The cowboy hat fell from his head and onto the floor beside the blunt end of the belt. The mechanic looked up at last, seeing Nick with his eyes closed and drawing in large breaths. He blushed as he reached up to carefully removed the leather from his neck, letting it clatter to the carpet.

“Darlin'?” Ellis whispered as he lifted himself off of Nick, in the process grabbing some tissues in order to clear them both up. “Nick.”

Nick opened his eyes at last, letting them fall onto his cute young lover as he grinned. “Even after all these years...” He reached out to cup El's cheek, rubbing his thumb there. “...you still surprise me, Overalls.”

Once the necessary clean-up had been finished, Ellis crawled back onto the bed and cuddled right up to his gambler, running his hand through his fine chest hair. “Glad you enjoyed the show, Nick.” He looked down, admired the ring still snugly on his finger. “Yeah, not quite how you pictured your night goin', huh?”

“No, sir,” agreed Nick and moved his hand up to lace their fingers together. “But if this is how the rest of my life is gonna go, I think I'm okay with that.”

With a short laugh, Ellis reached up to kiss him, rubbing his thumb along Nick's jaw. “Love you, city boy.”

#nellis #nick/ellis #l4d2 #draconicauthor #its so good to be writing them again asdfgfjkdgh ;-;#anonymous

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cosplayinamerica · 4 years ago

Photo

Powerline from A Goofy Movie : roquois // photo : gimmiecookie

The response when I first debuted this cosplay at Katsucon was amazing! I really felt my character was obscure and that many people wouldn't remember it but I was wrong lol. So many people came up to me and we talked about A Goofy Movie and how the music was dope and it was really a great feeling. Just hearing someone say "OMG is that POWERLINE!?" and then stopping me in my tracks to sing and dance with me was sooooo amazing.

I had a tiny bluetooth speaker attached to my back and was running around the con with Eye 2 Eye on repeat and so many people asked me to do the perfect cast and I did lol. Too many people stopped to sing and dance with me so I think the entire day was memorable. I didn't think it could get any better but when I went to BlerDCon as powerline a few months later it was even more of a warm reception. The feeling of someone enjoying something you made, and that something meaning something special to you is a feeling I don't have enough words for.

I have always loved A Goofy Movie and felt Powerline was such a great character and decided to put my own spin on it as I am also a singer/songwriter. I had an idea of what I wanted my Powerline to look like. I love to dress up and be a bit over the top for my own performances so I felt I had to do the same with Powerline.

I started with a zentai suit for the base and then I purchased thigh high sparkly boots from Amazon to start things off. I love a good high heel and the boots are really what brought it all together. What was challenging was hand drawing the atom symbol and making it removable so I could wash my cosplay. I also made the neck and arm bands removable too so I can easily wash my cosplay. I added buttons on the back of my suit for securing the neck piece. I also made the ears with hair clips so I can freely style my hair. Wearing my natural hair for this cosplay was so important to me. It really brings my personality to this character.

I think for me cosplay has always been part of my life. I have always loved dressing up for halloween and really wanted to embody every character. It wasn't until I discovered Otakon when I was 18 that I realized that people dressed up outside of halloween. It was my first con experience, I hand sewed a Sailor Moon cosplay and attended the con solo. I don't think it gets any more nerve wrecking than that. It was a time when there weren't many Black cosplayers at cons and not much Black or POC representation at cons. Despite that, I still managed to meet a few new friends and enjoyed every moment of the con! I even ran into two friends from high school which was super embarrassing but I was also happy to see them lol. Overall it was a new experience for me and learning the term "cosplay" was amazing, and the feeling of being my true nerd self amongst thousands of other people who loved anime and pop culture as much as I did was an unforgettable experience.

Cosplay has taught me to love the skin I'm in and through cosplay I have learned that I am way more creative than I think I am. Creating cosplay and coming up with ideas to fit my body shape and hair type has been so fun! Putting my own spin on characters I love has taken my creativity to new heights. It doesn't matter if I look like the character or if I'm even the same gender or species of a character I like, If I like them I can cosplay them and make it work for me. Cosplay is about having fun and expressing yourself through that medium and its such a unique type of fun immersing yourself into another world, dressing up, acting out and just living. YOLO right?

( photo : jollette_merino_delvalle )

I have been making an effort to help others be fearless with things they are passionate about. Who I am now has brought so many amazing people into my life who I admire, who I draw strength from and we mutually cheer each other on. I had to go through a lot of hardships and feeling like crap to get here, but I keep reminding myself that it's ok to be unapologetically me. I have to inspire myself to be great and to not revert back to who I was and I have to motivate myself to keep pushing forward to help others push forward. I basically had to fight myself to find my best self. I'm still a work in progress but I am making the best out of this journey.

My greatest struggle is figuring out how to be both a cosplayer and a musician. Bridging the gap between the two hasn't been easy for me. I have been told by industry people to "be sexier" or do things a certain way or make certain types of music and to separate my social media, and my brands too confusing... It really isn't easy. I just want to make music, watch anime and cosplay when I want to and to share my passions with the world. Why can't I write music, sing, perform across the world and still share my cosplay from the con I went to the week before? I often think "what am I missing" or "why can't I love and do both". I would love to get booked at a con again and get to do both! I love artists like Beyonce, Rihanna, Janelle Monae, Robyn, Megan Thee Stallion and so many others, but I also just want to be myself and make pop music without feeling like I have to fit some specific mold. They all found a way to be themselves and thrive doing what they love and I want that too.

I just want to be Roquois; Singer, Songwriter, Superhero.

http://roquois.com/

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caprina-mints · 4 years ago

Note

I WANT HEADCANONS QWQ CRACKER GIVE ME HEADCANONS QWQ this timeeee- Jason, Lj, Ej and maybe some creeps you like at their S/Os birthday and what they do or so UwU - Fibby

What They Do During Their S/o's Birthday : ( I did this For You Fibby 😊✊✌)

Laughing Jack :

✫ He Knew way ahead of you That It was Your Birthday tomorrow... And you didn't even Notice.

✫ He pointed it out but all you said was-

✫ " Oh it's my Birthday Tomorrow... Yay? "

✫ Your Lack of Excitement made him a bit Confused but it didn't matter. He was sure to give you one hell of a experience.

✫ That Night when the clock striked 12 it was officially your Birthday and He had Visited you in your bedroom only to drag you into his own small pocket dimension where everything was a never ending joy of carnival.

✫ You had never been there before and it was your first time coming to his dimension but you did expect everything to be black, and white all over.. But no

✫ He decorated the place just for you and now the carnival was in full bloom with glazing colors .

✫ The Place was packed with Little Candy Animals and Jack took this opportunity to show you around.

✫ There were balloons and the rides were indeed extravagant.

✫ He Obliged to everything you wanted and He became the perfect Ringmaster of his realm just to please you... His little s/o.

✫ By The end of your fun times he finally introduced you to a mountain filled with gifts everything wrapped by L.j himself and the finally finally came and soon the Black and white billboard in front of you lit up to reveal a beautiful painting of You .

✫ This clown of yours just earned himself a lifetime of love and care from you. You were his precious Possession and he was your greatest dream.

Eyeless Jack :

✼ Your Birthday was Fast approaching and Honestly you were far too busy to actually care and you were even planning on not celebrating it this year.

✼ But a certain Demon Boi wouldn't allow that to happen.

✼ so at the Day of your Birthday you didn't expect him to suddenly 'kidnap' you on the streets riding a black Van and drove off to some place you didn't know.

✼ First He took You for Dinner and let me tell you this... You never expected him to actually have the whole staff of that new restaurant in town to serve you two... And on my you two for the night.

✼ You didn't want to know how he managed to persuade that but it got even crazier.

✼ After dinner he took you to the mall and the mall was already closed for the night but he managed to sneak you inside where two go karts were placed.

✼ He told you to get whatever you want while passing by the stores you two were going to pass through during your little race and you didn't have any problem with it... I mean... You are dating a cannibalistic demon so meh.

✼ The Date was Fun and you managed to grab a few stiff you fancied and you followed his lead until the securities went on and guards were already chasing you two hot on your tails.

✼ who knew causing trouble was so much fun? It was so unlike Jack but seeing how he's putting an effort to make your birthday memorable was really something.

✼ the chase lasted for 30 minutes until Jack finally decided to escape with you.

✼ This time the two of you sneaked in an ice skating rink where the two of you started playing tag without skates on and it was really hard to keep balance.

✼ you were having the time of your life and by the end of the night Jack dragged you along the forest the darkness completely surrounding you two and later he led you to a cliff.

✼ He turned to you giving you a long passionate kiss before pointing at the sky where numerous lanterns with different colors were decorating the sky.

✼ mesmerized by the beauty you turned to Jack with teary eyes hugging him.

✼ " You did all this for me? "

✼ " I had some help from the guys but... Anything for you "

Jason the Toymaker :

✽ Well Even before you two started dating he already knew everything about you.

✽ So on the day of your Birthday a Line of Different Toys came marching in your Room to serve you Dinner made by Jason.

✽ it was too much of a feast to call it breakfast and on the side was a brown envelope with a letter inside.

✽ ' Hello Beloved, It's your birthday Today! I do wish to stay by your side the moment you wake up but I have bigger plans for you my dear. Wear those clothes I prepared for you love and come to my study room to blow the candles on your cake '

✽ That was the content of the letter and you ate as fast as you could and when you opened your closet a majestic color of Gold and Red flared through your eyes. It was absolutely Beautiful and Jason made it just for you. A couple of days earlier you saw him stitching through a silky fabric and you never expected it to be for you.

✽ You wore the Clothes which complimented every aspect of your beauty and headed out only to see a silver train waiting for you.

✽ You excitedly boarded the train and it chugged through the tracks heading straight to his study room.

✽ On the way you could see pictures and portraits of you and Jason with all the moments you had with him and it warmed your heart.

✽ once the doors to his study room opened your jaw dropped seeing the 20 layer cake decorated with the perfect texture of your favorite flower.

✽ Tracks were neatly swirled around the Cake and the train led you to the top where it stopped just above the cake for you to blow the candles.

✽ smiling with delight you blew a puff of air wiping out the flames of the candles and this time a Balloon came floating to your way and it popped infront of you and inside that balloon was another Letter.

✽ ' You look absolutely Astonishing in that dress my beloved y/n now how could something as beautiful as you settle for a train? Take that white stallion to the very top of our fortress my love and I shall reveal another surprise'

✽ the train led you down and immediately a horse came gracefully towards you and it bowed down in front of you before staring at you with fond eyes.

✽ You went with the flow and got on top of the horse and it didn't waste any time to gallop to the balcony.

✽ You felt like royalty and you were loving it. And who knew a possessive killer would ever make you feel this way.

✽ And waiting on the Balcony was Jason wearing all white and the Balcony was decorated with roses, gifts, ribbons and balloons. And on the side was a table for the two of you.

✽ He helped you down and led you to your table where ethe two of you ate and conversed like how you two would normally do.

✽ Your Happiness was genuine and charming no wonder he fell for you.

✽ He was the perfect gentleman and for his grand finally he led you to the corner of the balcony standing behind you and fireworks lit up the sky exploding in a magnificent color of sparks.

✽ Your jaws were dropped once again at the sight but you thought it would end there... But no.

✽ The last fireworls was set off and exploded in the sky the sparks forming Letters and words and it read out.

✽ ' Will you marry me? '

✽ your eyes widened and when you turned around to look at Japan he was already kneeling on one knee with a small box on his hand containing a sapphire ring.

✽ " Will you marry me? "

✽ Your heart started jumping in joy and your lips began to quiver, tears of joy escaping your eyes and words couldn't explain how happy you were.

✽ You tackled him with a hug saying ' Yes ' multiple times before he twirled you around laughing before pulling you to his side with a kiss on your forehead before securely placing the ring where it belonged... On your finger.

#Creepypasta Headcanon #Creepypasta #Headcanon #Laughing Jack #Eyeless Jack #Jason the Toymaker #Jason #E.j #L.j #s/o #y/n #sweet #imagine #Creeps #Birthday #Fibby✊💞

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keichanz · 5 years ago

Text

Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy

hey @britonell. do you remember Ride? yeah. that’s the one. anyway i have absolutely positively no explanation for this other than the fact that i’m a slut and also i’m blaming @clearwillow and @lemonlushff for this because they will know exactly where in the fresh fucking hell this came from.

now if you’ll excuse i’m going to crawl back into the hole i came from and actually attempt to finish my 654 WIPs i have kthxbye.

anyway this is a follow up of sorts to my oneshot Ride because i have no self control. so here enjoy Stripper Inuyasha in chaps and a Stetson as i make him fucking line dance across a stage *cackle*

brief smut at the end but nothing exceedingly detailed because i’m lazy.

“Kagome,” Sango groaned, following her friend through the packed club and raising her drink above her head in order not to spill it as she meandered through the sea of people and tables. Jesus, this place was huge! “Why are we here again? And how the hell were you able to bypass that line? It was like a mile long!”

“I told you already,” Kagome called back over her shoulder, keeping a tight grip on her beer as she headed toward the only empty table in the entire establishment, reserved for a one Kagome Higurashi and guest. “We’re meeting someone.”

Sango didn’t fail to notice Kagome did not answer her second question and she sighed in irritation. Her best friend wasn’t telling her something and for the life of her she didn’t understand why. Kagome had always told her everything, and vice versa. There were no secrets between them, and that was why they were so close. But she also trusted Kagome and knew if it were truly important, her friend would tell her so Sango let it slide and muttered an apology as she bumped into a table while squeezing through the narrow paths. The tables were clustered so close together it was almost impossible to maneuver between them, but they managed and finally reached where Kagome had been leading them.

Gratefully sliding into the cushy seat beside her friend, Sango glanced around and couldn’t help but notice their table, which had been suspiciously empty in a fully packed club, was near dead center of the place and with a clear view of the stage not too far from them. It was empty at the moment, but the show hadn’t started yet, so not a surprise. Above the dull roar of chatter and laughter, Sango could hear a low beat coming from the speakers situated everywhere, standby music as the “performers” no doubt got prepared.

Sango flushed and took a sip of her Cosmo. She couldn’t believe she’d allowed Kagome to talk her into coming to a damn strip club of all places and she’d only given in because she was tried of her friend constantly bugging her about it. Hopefully after tonight, and after meeting whoever Kagome wanted her to meet, Kagome would be satisfied and never ask her again. These places just weren’t her scene, though of course she had nothing against strippers. Hey, you gotta do what ya gotta do.

Sitting back in her chair and crossing her legs, Sango sighed and set her drink on the table before turning her attention to the woman beside her. Dressed similarly like herself in a short jean skirt, cowgirl boots and a cami to give off that western sort of feel – something about the theme for the night apparently, from what Kagome had told her – said woman was grinning down at her phone with a soft blush on her cheeks, biting her lower lip as her fingers flew across the screen, no doubt typing a text message to her the new man in her life. Sango hadn’t met him yet, and every time she asked about him, Kagome would blush darkly and dodge the subject.

Not very unusual behavior for her friend, if Sango was being honest with herself. Kagome had always been reserved and shy, easily flustered and quick to stutter out an excuse if she was feeling embarrassed or awkward in a situation. So the fact that Kagome had chosen here of all places to meet their friend was very strange, to say the least. Still, despite herself, Sango was curious and knowing Kagome would just avoid the question again if she asked, she resigned herself to wait as patiently as she could for this friend of hers to show up.

Well…at least the seats were comfortable and the alcohol was good. And also free. Sango frowned. Wait a minute, how the hell—

Unbidden the lights shut off, plunging the club into darkness and instinctively Sango knew the show was about to begin. The lights lining the edge of the stage started glowing and there was a tangible buzz in the air, a heavy anticipation that blanketed the eagerly awaiting patrons. Sango was surprised to find herself actually a little excited, sitting up straight in her chair, staring hard at the dark stage and…

Wait a minute. She squinted, leaning forward. She could see figures on the stage, dark silhouettes moving into a triangular formation with one person in the front and four more branching out behind him. Her heart rate increased when she realized it was the dancers—the strippers. Ohmygod she was about to see a strip show—

Beside her Kagome could hardly contain herself, biting down on her lip to counting her squeal of excitement as she bounced a little in her seat. Though it was dark, she could just barely make out Sango’s face and she grinned from ear to ear to see her attentively staring at the stage, looking just about as excited as she felt.

Kagome couldn’t wait to see her friend’s face when she told her one of those dark figures standing motionless on the stage was her boyfriend.

Throughout the club, all the speakers hummed as the volume was cranked up, but at first there was nothing but static. Every few seconds a brief burst of music broke through before fading back to incomprehensible white noise, as if a radio dial was being turned to find that perfect frequency. This went on for another few seconds before the faint twang of a guitar was audible, the notes growing louder until an undoubtedly southern melody could be heard clearly above the gentle crackling of the static.

No lyrics accompanied the melody, no voice crooning out words of country roads, sweet potato pie, or mama. Instead all that could be heard was just the strumming of the guitar getting louder while steadily growing faster, the anticipation building, thrumming through the joint and creating a charged, restless energy until—

Silence.

A crackle, followed by an incomprehensible jumble of words, as if several radio stations were playing at once burst from the speakers, and then it was followed in short order by a widely familiar, but altered recording.

“Th-th-there’s a snake in my—”

A husky and positively sinful masculine laugh abruptly cut it off, echoing seductively throughout the club, and the wicked sound sent pleasant shivers down the backs of damn near every single female patron in the audience. Warmth pooled low in Kagome’s belly and she bit her lip because she knew who that laugh belonged to.

And then finally - finally - everyone’s attention was directed toward the stage as one by one, the dark silhouettes that were standing immobile were suddenly illuminated starting with the two in the back. The middle figures were next, first left, then right, and then finally at the head of their triangular formation, silver hair, golden eyes, and a positively devilish smirk was revealed on who was no doubt the star attraction of the joint.

While the patrons went wild and hollered their vivid appreciation, Sango’s mouth dropped and her face went very red as she took in the five figures standing on the stage. While fringed brown chaps coupled with black western boots concealed their legs, it was very obvious they wore nothing underneath them by way of the black briefs that were clearly visible. A matching brown suede western vest hung open from their shoulders with nothing else and expensive looking Stetson hats completed the cowboy look and honestly, Sango was kind of digging the look and she really wanted to know who the one with the small ponytail and charming smile was…

The response was deafening: riotous applause, exuberant cheering, screaming, shrieking, high-pitched whistling erupted from the audience. From beneath the brim of a sleek black Stetson, amber eyes found and zeroed in on a head of dark hair and melted caramel eyes in short order, sitting at her table as he knew she would be. Their eyes met and she smiled, a secretive curl of her lips that was returned with a flash of fang and a suggestive wink.

His girl blushed and bit her lip and fuck she was so goddamn beautiful.

If he’d bothered to take his eyes off of her for even a second, he would have noticed her friend beside her choking on her drink at the exchange, clearly shocked.

The beat dropped and forcing himself to tear his gaze away from her, Inuyasha adjusted the microphone headset – specially designed for his ears in mind – closer to his mouth and with one hand holding the brim of the black Stetson on his head, the other hooked into his chaps, and he waited for the next cue before starting the memorized choreography.

“Boys,” he spoke into the mic and behind him, his “boys” moved to the beat with him, holding a similar pose with one hand holding their hat and the other hooked in their chaps.

“Now, remember what we’re here for,” Inuyasha continued, purposely adding a southern drawl to his voice that elicited several hoots of appreciation from the crowd. “This ain’t no half-cocked or eight second rodeo. Ain’t no kiddie rides or little ponies up in here.”

In sync, Inuyasha led his fellow performers into a quick country two-step the flexed the muscles of his abdomen. More whistles and hollers of female appreciation were issued as he drawled, “Nah, what we got here is the real deal. We got them one of a kind”—slide a hand down the stomach—"large and in charge”—hip roll—“rough and ready”—step back, a little spin—“motherfucking stallions.”

Cheering amidst rowdy laughter and shrieked encouragement was the response to that and Inuyasha gave a fang-baring smirk, his low chuckle rising above the din of the crowd thanks to the mic close to his mouth.

“And believe me when I say,” he continued, kicking out his booted feet and transitioning smoothly into an easy line dance, “there ain’t nothin’ half-cocked about ‘em.”

More screaming and cheering, wolf-whistles and cat-calls abound and yeah Inuyasha had to admit, he was soaking it up like a fucking sponge.

“Now, ladies and gentlemen.”

The five men spun around in a brief circle and with practiced ease caught the prop that was tossed to each of them from off stage, not missing a beat before whirling back around to face the audience and straddling what they held in their hands—a hobby horse toy, the one where a stuffed horse’s head was on the end of a stick.

“A gentle reminder”—Inuyasha turned sideways, tilted his prop so the horse head at the end of the stick was pointing upward, and very suggestively stroked his hand up the wooden shaft—"that you must be this tall to ride”—feminine giggling, shrieks of laughter and more hollering met his ears at that and he grinned—“and that any lightheadedness or tingling sensations are completely normal.”

More hilarity and cheering, the crowd restless, impatient, so Inuyasha decided it was time to wrap up his little speech. After performing some rather provocative dance moves with their props that had every woman in the building feeling rather flushed, the five performers tossed their props back to the hidden stagehands and while Inuyasha strutted to the end of the stage, the other four took position behind him, preparing to put on one hell of a show.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, cowboys and cowgirls,” he began and once more locked eyes with his girl, a devastating smirk curling his lips upward at her flushed and star-struck expression. “We kindly ask that you sit back, hang on tight, and enjoy…”

Strobe lights flashed, spotlights swiveled and bathed him in an ethereal glow, and the smirk that stretched across his face was all fang as golden eyes flashed from beneath the rim of his hat, dangerous, alluring, positively wicked.

“…the ride,” Inuyasha finished in a husky growl and as the crowd once more roared their vivid appreciation, the hanyou whipped off his headset before tossing it carelessly to the side and then fucking moonwalked back to his position, tipping his hat forward so only his smirking mouth was visible as he waited for the cue. It started only seconds later, the music reverberating throughout the club, and as one the performers started the largely anticipated show.

Only vaguely did Kagome recognize the beat that was pouring from the speakers, some kind of remix of the song The Git Up by Blanco Brown but it hardly mattered. They could have been dancing to something as ridiculous as the big butt song and Kagome would have been just as captivated, as enthralled as she was right now watching her man gyrate and pivot on the stage like he owned it. A lot of his moves were familiar now – both from being considered a regular here now and from his private little shows he gave her after hours – and Kagome suspected no matter how many time she watched him work those hips and roll that toned stomach, it would still have the same effect on her every single time, warmth pooling in her belly, heart beating fast, and a familiar ache developing between her legs.

Stealing a glance at the woman beside her, Kagome was thrilled to see that Sango was in a very similar state, her face redder than she could ever remember seeing, mouth parted in awe, and if she wasn’t mistaken, her gaze was focused solely on Inuyasha’s friend Miroku. Kagome had met him shortly after she and Inuyasha had started seeing each other officially and though he could come on a little strong at times with his wandering hands and flirty nature, he was a good man and Kagome genuinely liked him. Charming, witty, and with a surprising sense of humor, she knew he would be perfect for Sango and she decided to ask Inuyasha what he thought about setting them up.

But not until later, though, because right now Kagome’s attention was thoroughly ensnared by one silver-haired, golden-eyed Adonis as he drifted across the stage, flexing muscle, smirking devilishly, and every so often tossing her little winks that never failed to make her erupt into elated, girlish giggling.

By the time the first show of the night ended a disappointingly short five minutes later, all five performers were sans their vest and chaps, strutting around on the stage in naught but their boots, briefs, and Stetsons and looking utterly fucking delicious while they did. For the finale, the toy horse props had been made a second appearance and then the show had taken a very unexpected, but also very appreciated twist that had captive audience roaring with applause, cat-calls, wolf-whistles, and general pandemonium as every woman collectively lost her shit.

Each performer, with Inuyasha going last, briefly disappeared behind a screen that had been discreetly rolled onto the stage while the audience had been distracted by sexy dance moves and when they emerged, the briefs were gone and the hobby horse was held between their legs in such a way that the stuff horse head deliberately concealed any stallions from their screaming fans.

The dancers bowed and in another move that delighted the audience, each man removed their Stetson and tossed it into the crowd. Predictably they were fought over, women clamoring over each other to get to the precious souvenirs first, but Kagome ignored them all. Conveniently Inuyasha’s black hat found its way to her and she blew him a kiss as she placed it on her head to which her man winked at her with a grin before the stage went dark.

Giggling, Kagome turned to Sango to ask how she enjoyed the show and found that she was holding he own hat in her lap, a flush on her cheeks and a slight smile curling her lips. She recognized it was the one Miroku had been wearing and she smirked. Her little plan might be easier than she’d anticipated.

“Sooo,” Kagome drawled, not even bothering to hide her smirk as raised a brow at her friend. “Nice hat. It’s safe to say that you enjoyed the show?”

Flush darkening, Sango muttered something and proceeded to ignore her friend by putting the hat on her head and tugging it down over her blushing face. Kagome cackled and without removing the hat, Sango flipped her off. Kagome cackled louder.

Deciding to spare her friend further embarrassment, Kagome left to get them two more drinks and by the time she returned, Sango had cooled down and smiled her thanks when Kagome set a Manhattan down in front of her.

“Yes,” Sango sighed as nursed her drink and her smile was almost dreamy. “Yes, I admit it. I enjoyed it.”

Kagome simply waggled her brows and sipped at her amaretto sour, but before she could say anything else, she spotted a familiar figure, now dressed in simple jeans and a t-shirt, weaving through the sea of tables and people, fending off grasping hands of appreciative women. His honeyed gaze was zeroed on her, however, not once looking at any of the women that tried to get his attention and Kagome felt that familiar warmth bloom in her chest. She felt it somewhere significantly lower as well, but that was nothing new and she tried to ignore it as her boyfriend approached with his signature smirk.

“Ladies,” Inuyasha greeted and bent down to sweep his girl into hot kiss, caging her in his arms with a hand on either arm rest. “Baby,” he rumbled, pulling away and dropping a kiss to her forehead.

“Hmmm,” Kagome hummed and tugged him back down for another one. Inuyasha chuckled and happily obliged, getting lost in her taste, her scent, the way she twined her fingers in his hair and snagged his ear to massage the sensitive flesh. He growled, lifting a hand to cup the back of her head, tilting it back so he could plunder the sweetness of her mouth with his tongue, nip her lips with his fangs, and suck the soft flesh into his mouth. Kagome moaned for him and the sound went straight to his—

“Inuyasha, get your tongue out of your girlfriend’s mouth. You’re being rude.”

With a grunt, the hanyou reluctantly pulled away and leveled a peeved glare at the source of the voice.

Unfazed, Miroku stared blandly back, arms crossed while next to him, eyes impossibly wide and mouth open in shock as she sputtered incoherently, Sango gawked incredulously at them.

Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha grumbled something but nonetheless complied, dropping one last kiss to his girl’s mouth before standing up and gesturing at Kagome to stand up. She did, and he took her place in the chair before tugging her back down to sit on his lap. His arms went around her waist as his chin rested on her shoulder and Kagome wiggled around to get comfortable before resuming sipping her drink, calm as you please, like she hadn’t just been making out with her hot as fuck stripper boyfriend.

Recovering from her shock while Miroku not so discreetly looked down Sango’s shirt at her cleavage, Sango jabbed an accusatory finger at her friend and screeched, “Your boyfriend is a stripper!”

Kagome blinked and smiled a mite sheepishly. “Um…uh, so, Sango, remember when I said we were meeting someone here?” She chuckled nervously. “Well…”

Without warning Sango snatched her drink off the table and drained it in three large gulps.

Miroku practically had fucking heart-eyes as he gawked at the woman who had just downed a strong cocktail like it was nothing.

“Fuck, marry me,” he murmured, barely aware of what he was even saying and then he promptly forgot how to breathe when the woman of his dreams suddenly swung her gaze his way, racked her eyes up and down his body in an evident once over, and then made a noise of approval as her eyes lingered somewhere considerably lower than his face.

Feeling warm not only from the booze in her system but also lingering effects from the captivating show featuring the very sexy man before her, Sango abruptly got to her feet and pegged her best friend with a look. Kagome blinked and innocently widened her eyes. Sango snorted.

“You,” she said, eyes narrowing. “We’ll talk later. And you.” She spun around and jabbed her finger in Miroku’s face. His eyes crossed as he stared at it. “You’re coming with me.”

Then with that, completely ignoring the couple nestled in the chair with matching knowing looks on their faces, Sango stormed off, head held high and like an obedient puppy Miroku followed after her, nearly stumbling in his wake and ignoring the hands that reached out to him as he passed by.

Kagome and Inuyasha stared after her, one gaze amused, one slightly bewildered.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome deadpanned. “Meet Sango.”

Inuyasha snorted and maneuvered her around on his lap until her legs were draped over the armrest and her arms were around his neck. He buried his face in her neck and kissed the soft skin, ears flicking at her soft sigh.

“I think Miroku likes her,” he pointed out a little needlessly since it was obvious the guy was already half-way in love with her. His friend always did like a woman that could hold her liquor well and Sango’s first impression had been stellar.

“Hmm,” Kagome hummed and her friend was the last thing on her mind as she slipped her hand beneath his shirt and ran her fingers across the hard lines of her man’s defined abdomen. “I like you.”

Inuyasha smirked and kissed his way up her neck. “Yeah?”

“Mmmhm.” Scratching lightly with her nails just to feel him shiver against her, Kagome slipped her other hand into his hair and found one of his ears, fingers stroking the soft flesh. “You wanna know a secret?”

“Tell me,” Inuyasha growled into her ear and nibbled on the tender lobe before trailing his tongue along the delicate line of her jaw.

Breath hitching in her throat as his devious mouth licked and nipped at her skin, Kagome swallowed back a moan and slyly slipped her fingers further south to flutter over the crotch of his jeans as she leaned up and confessed her secret in a sultry purr.

Inuyasha’s entire body stiffened as her naughty words registered in his brain and he groaned, head falling back to loll against the backrest of the chair as his devil of a girlfriend snickered impishly on his lap. Damn, but his girl was dangerous, and fuck if he didn’t absolutely fucking love it.

“Well?” Kagome purred and he could feel her warm breath wash over his jaw as she laved the skin with soft kisses. “How ‘bout it, cowboy? Shall we go for a nice hard ride on your stallion, or you gonna make me settle for a boring little pony show?”

Her fingers flitted over the hardening crotch of his jeans again and she felt an answering pulse between her legs, thighs squeezing together to relieve some of the building tension.

With a low growl designed to tell her just what he thought about her cheeky little teasing, Inuyasha surged forward, caught her mouth in a hard, demanding kiss and then suddenly he was on his feet and dragging her toward the employees only backstage entrance. Breathless, aching, and trembling, it was all Kagome could do to keep up with him, shamelessly admiring the flexing muscles of his back and his tight ass in those jeans, but then her back was suddenly against a wall, her hanyou had wedged himself between her legs, and his hand was up her skirt, claws hooking in her damp panties and tearing the fabric completely off.

Kagome gasped but it turned into a moan when her lover hitched her thighs around his hips and then hastily unfastened his jeans, freeing the stallion that was rearing and ready to go from within. He cursed, she laughed, and the next minute he was inside her, grinding her into the wall, swallowing her moans with his mouth and returning them with heated growls of pleasure.

He fucked her against the wall, in a rarely used dark hallway somewhere behind the stage, and as Kagome clung to his shoulders and begged him for more, harder, faster, please, Inuyasha snarled and complied as her naughty little confession rang in his ears over and over, fanning the flames of his passion, his hunger for this woman all-consuming and never ending.

“I want your full cocked, large and in charge stallion inside me in the next thirty seconds and it had better be longer than any eight second ride.”

i want you all to know hat i could not. stop. laughing. as i was writing Inuyasha’s sexy little speech and that i am very proud with how it turned out rofl also yes i did make Inuyasha line dance anD I’M NOT SORRY

on another note, i didn’t put as much detail into the dancing this time because one it’s a fucking pain in the ass to write out detailed choreography; two, the actual dancing wasn’t a huge part of the plot, and three, i’m a lazy piece of shit and just wanted this done. also yes i’m aware that last line is kinda lime and anti climatic but i couldn’t think of anything else lmao

for anyone curious, the eight second thing references bull riding. a cowboy must stay on a bucking bull for eight seconds without touching any part of the bull or yourself or using any spurs, ropes, ect.

#save a horse ride a cowboy #inuyasha #inukag #oneshot #keizfanfiction #fanfiction #fuck #now i remember why i never wrote a second part #this was a MASSIVE PAIN IN THE ASS TO WRITE

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mcnamaste · 4 years ago

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Task 001: Character Playlist.

Another case of Affluenza - a Dylan McNamara playlist

Snippets of Lyrics below:

Side A + Dylan’s vibe

1. all in my head (flex) - Fifth Harmony feat. Fetty Wap

Flex, time to impress Come and climb in my bed Don't be shy, do your thing It's all in my head

fun fact - the original song that they sampled this chorus from actually goes like this:

Girl flex, time to have sex Long time yuh have di rude bwoy yah a sweat Girl, flex time to have sex Look how long yuh have di rude bwoy a sweat

thanks for coming to my ted talk

2. ain’t my fault - zara larsson

It ain't my fault you keep turnin' me on It ain't my fault you got, got me so gone It ain't my fault I'm not leavin' alone It ain't my fault you keep turnin' me on I can't talk right now I'm lookin' and I like what I'm seein' Got me feelin' kinda shocked right now Couldn't stop right now Even if I wanted, gotta get it, get it, get it, when it's hot right now Oh my god, what is this? Want you all in my business Baby, I insist Please don't blame me for whatever happens next

3. sugar - Maroon 5

I'm hurting baby, I'm broken down I need your loving, loving I need it now When I'm without you, I'm something weak You got me begging, begging I'm on my knees

4. stupid love - Lady Gaga

You're the one that I've been waiting for Gotta quit this cryin', nobody's gonna Heal me if I don't open the door Kinda hard to believe, gotta have faith in me

5. desperado - Rihanna

If you want, we can be runaways Running from any sight of love Yeah, yeah, there ain’t nothin' There ain't nothin' here for me There ain't nothin' here for me anymore But I don't wanna be alone

6. pray for me - The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar

I'm always ready for a war again Go down that road again It's all the same I'm always ready to take a life again You know I'll ride again It's all the same (Ooh, ooh, ooh) Tell me who's gon' save me from myself When this life is all I know Tell me who's gon' save me from this hell Without you, I'm all alone

Who gon' pray for me? Take my pain for me? Save my soul for me? 'Cause I'm alone, you see If I'm gon' die for you If I'm gon' kill for you Then I spilled this blood for you, hey

7. 24k magic - Bruno Mars Pop pop, it's show time (Show time) Show time (Show time) Guess who's back again? Oh they don't know? (Go on tell 'em) Oh they don't know? (Go on tell 'em) I bet they know soon as we walk in (Showin' up) Wearing Cuban links (ya) Designer minks (ya) Inglewood's finest shoes (Whoop, whoop) Don't look too hard Might hurt ya'self Known to give the color red the blues

Ooh shit, I'm a dangerous man with some money in my pocket (Keep up) So many pretty girls around me and they waking up the rocket (Keep up) Why you mad? Fix ya face Ain't my fault y'all be jocking (Keep up)

8. bed - J. Holiday

Wanna put my fingers through your hair Wrap me up in your legs And love you till your eyes roll back I'm tryna put you to bed, bed, bed I'mma put you to bed, bed, bed Then I'mma rock ya body Turn you over Love is war, I'm your soldier Touchin' you like it's our first time I'mma put you to bed, bed, bed I'mma put you to bed, bed, bed

9. don’t judge me - Janelle Monáe

Even though you tell me you love me I'm afraid that you just love my disguise Taste my fears and light your candle to my raging fire Of broken desire

But don't judge me I know I got issues, but they drown when I kiss you Don't judge me Baptize me with ocean, recognize my devotion

10. the greatest - Sia

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest The greatest, the greatest alive

11. love in this club - Usher feat. Young Jeezy

You say you're searching for somebody that'll take you out and do you right Well, come here, baby and let daddy show you what it feel like You know all you got to do is tell me what you sipping on And I promise that I'm gonna keep it coming all night long

12. u don't have to call - Usher

Aw, girl, your face is saying, "Why?" Tears in eyes Should've been more smart about it Should've cherished me, listening to friends Now it's the end And again, no story can end without it

Side B + Annalise Young (Infidelity & Divorce)

1. forgive me - Chloe x Halle

Baby, what you think this is? Why you wanna plead the fifth? You ain't gotta tell me what it is 'Cause I saw the messages You must got me fucked up You must got me fucked up I think I had enough

So forgive me, forgive me I been goin' too hard in your city So forgive me 'cause I'm not teary Best believe I'll move onto better things

2. makes me wonder - Maroon 5

Wake up, blood-shot eye Struggle to memorize The way it felt between your thighs Pleasure that made you cry It feels so good to be bad Not worth the aftermath, after that, after that Try to get you back

I still don't have a reason And you don't have the time And it really makes me wonder if I ever gave a fuck about you

3. maps - Maroon 5

I miss the taste of a sweeter life I miss the conversation I'm searching for a song tonight I'm changing all of the stations I like to think that we had it all We drew a map to a better place But on that road I took a fall Oh, baby, why did you run away?

I was there for you In your darkest times I was there for you In your darkest night

But I wonder, where were you? When I was at my worst Down on my knees And you said you had my back So I wonder, where were you?

4. mend this love - Vaults

Take me from the edge Steal a step and lead me back from harm Hold it in your hand Crush it into crumbs like nothing's wrong

And tell me "right what you wanna know? Take what you wanna hide It's too late to mend this love" And tell me "go where you wanna go Break what you never had It's too late to mend this love"

5. wicked game - Chris Isaak

The world was on fire and no one could save me but you It's strange what desire will make foolish people do I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you

No, I don't wanna fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)

6. love’s divine - Seal

Then the rainstorm came over me And I felt my spirit break I had lost all of my belief, you see And realized my mistake But time threw a prayer to me And all around me became stil

7. beautiful mistakes - Maroon 5 & Megan Thee Stallion

It's beautiful, it's bittersweet You're like a broken home to me I take a shot of memories And black out like an empty street I fill my days with the way you walk And fill my nights with broken dreams I make up lies inside my head Like one day you'll come back to me

8. i’m not the only one - Sam Smith feat. A$AP Rocky

You and me, we made a vow For better or for worse I can't believe you let me down But the proof's in the way it hurts For months on end I've had my doubts Denying every tear I wish this would be over now But I know that I still need you here

You say I'm crazy 'Cause you don't think I know what you've done But when you call me baby I know I'm not the only one

9. perfect illusion - Lady Gaga

I don't need eyes to see I felt you touchin' me High like amphetamine Maybe you're just a dream That's what it means to crush Now that I'm wakin' up I still feel the blow But at least now I know

It wasn't love, it wasn't love It was a perfect illusion (Perfect illusion) Mistaken for love, it wasn't love It was a perfect illusion (Perfect illusion)

10. don’t walk away - John Legend feat. Koffee

We can't go out like this It's just the two of us We should be making up We could be making love Didn't  used to talk like this Now you say you're giving up Took too much to build this house I don't wanna sit and watch it burn down I ain't leaving, I ain't leaving, I ain't leaving, I ain't giving you space I will not be replaced I don't wanna save face Don't leave me open, leave me open, leave me open, leave me open like that Whatever love we had We need to get it back

11. if I could have you back - Aly & AJ

On the subject of you being gone forever I still can't believe it, I can't see it I should just stop counting days On the subject of the future Wouldn't it be nice to leave it open ended And pretend it could go either way

If I could have you back again I'd think about it once or twice, I guess If I could have you back I'd reconsider, maybe I'd say yes On the other hand, it would be better to have a life Without the constant indecision over If I could have you back If I could have you back

12. fairplay - Kiana Ledé

I think it's kind of funny You could say you love me Turn around and play me, yeah I think it's kind of funny You say things you don't mean Underestimate me, yeah

I have always done right by you Said you're never going to lie, liar Shit gon' come around full cycle I flip the script on you

Tell me why you mad Tell me why you're hurt Bet you didn't think that the tables would turn You gon' fuck around I'ma do the same How you like that karma? How you like that karma? Yeah, that's just fair play

Bonus:

busted - The Isley Brothers feat. JS

Busted, It's 2 o' damn clock in the morning, where you been? (Baby didn't you get my 2-way I was with my girlfriend) You are lyin', I called Kiesha and Tanya And they were both at home (But I didn't say them though) Well they're the only friends I know Girl you better (Wait before you get all upset here's the truth) Talk to me (I was with my girl when she got some bad news) And...? (Her man cheated, had her upset and confused) But baby what's that got to do With you coming in at 2? (I'm telling you, now she was so upset She asked me to stay with her) Well why didn't your ass just pick up the phone and call me? (I was gonna do that but it slipped my mind I'm sorry) (But I'm telling you the truth) Yeah, well I got something for you... Tell me what's her name? (Sharon) Where does she live? (Uuummm...) Her man's name? (Billy) She got kids? (I think one or two) She got kids? (Baby yes, no) That's one thing I got to know How the hell is she your friend If you don't know if she got kids?

#darkesttask1 #( tasks. )#( dossier. )#dylan/annalise

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katehuntington · 5 years ago

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Title: Ride With Me (part fourteen) Fandom: Supernatural Timeline: 2008 Pairing: Dean x Reader Word count: ±6450 words Summary series: Y/N is a talented horse rider who is on her way to become a professional. In order to convince her father that she deserves the loan needed to start her own farm, she goes to Arizona for six months, to intern at a ranch owned by Bobby and Ellen Singer. Her future is set out, but then she meets a handsome horseman, who goes by the name of Dean Winchester. A heartwarming series about a cowboy who falls for the girl, letting go of the past and the importance of family. Summary part fourteen: Y/N and Dean go on a midnight ride in order to stay with the migrating herd. But when she tries to unravel if Dean is ready for a relationship, she might not like the answer she receives. Warnings series: NSFW, 18+ only! Fluff, angst, eventually smut. Swearing, smoking, alcohol intoxication, alcohol abuse. Mutual pining, heartbreak. Crying, nightmares, childhood trauma. Description of animal abuse, domestic violence, mentions of addiction. Financial problems, stress, mental breakdown. Description of blood and injury, hospital scenes, character death, grief. Music: ‘Road To Perdition’ - Thomas Newman (night ride scene), ‘Saturn’ - Sleeping At Last (star gazing scene). Check out ‘Kate Huntington’s Ride With Me playlist’ on Spotify! Author’s note: It’s about damn time, ain’t it? Thank you @kittenofdoomage, @girl-with-a-fandom-fettish and @winchest09 for helping me. You girls are awesome betas and friends.

Ride With Me Masterlist

“Yankee?” His voice is barely a whisper, a little rough around the edges. It’s just enough to bring her back from the deep sleep she’s in, but not enough to take her out of a blissful slumber. The second time her nickname falls from his lips, it wakes her. Groggy she lifts her head from her folded up sweater that functions as a cushion, squinting her eyes in the direction of where Dean’s voice came from. She can barely make out his silhouette. It’s still dark outside, the moon being the only source of light. He has zipped open the tent, peeking inside carefully, not wanting to intrude. It’s clear her sleepiness amuses him, because even in the darkness she can spot his grin. “What time is it?” She rubs her eyes. “2.30,” he informs, keeping it down in order not to disturb Macy, who Y/N is sharing the tent with. “Why did you wake me?” she groans, falling back on the thin mattress. Dean chuckles, deep down feeling guilty for disturbing her sleep. After yesterday, he knows that she needs every minute she can get. “You heard Benny; last one in the water gets the nightshift,” he reminds her. She grunts again, shimmying deeper into her sleeping bag, nowhere near ready to face the morning, or should she say night. Cool air slips passed the head wrangler into the tent, adding to her reluctance to get up. “I let you sleep for as long as I could, but the herd is movin’. We have to tail them,” he responds, sympathetically. “We?”

Y/N pulls the sleeping bag down to her nose, looking over the hem of her warm, comfy cover. Only her eyes are visible, even in the dark they stand out. Dean smiles at the comical sight. “Yeah, we. No one rides out alone, remember? Certainly not at night,” he reminds her. “C’mon. We can’t let the horses wander off. We might lose them again if we wait.” “Give me a second, I’ll be right out,” she promises, the prospect of a ride alone with the cowboy awakening her instantly. “Alright, I’ll tack up Joplin,” Dean offers. “Put on somethin’ warm, it’s cold outside.”

Dean disappears again, zipping the tent down to the ground. In record time Y/N shrugs out of her warm cocoon and wiggles her way into her jeans while laying on the mattress, since she can’t stand straight in the small tent. She puts on several layers of clothing; a long sleeved shirt and her sweater over it. Without waking Macy, she exits the tent, her boots and coat in hand.

The night is brisk and feels like it’s edging towards freezing temperatures, but not just yet. As the cowgirl pulls her boots on her feet, she notices her breath coming out in humid clouds, the air she exhales warm. She makes quick work of rolling up her sleeping bag, getting the hang of tightly and sufficiently packing it in the cylinder carrier that comes with it. After putting on her hat, she joins Dean in the makeshift paddock, where he tightens Joplin’s cinch. He’s wearing his leather stockman coat, the same one he wore on that rainy and dreadful Monday morning when the cattle broke out. “I’ll be right back with the mattress,” she notifies, before turning back to the tent. “Leave it, the others can take it with’em in the morning.” He lowers the stirrup back down, taking the sleeping bag from Y/N when it is handed over. “We have to travel light. It wouldn’t be the first time that I had to ride all night in order to not lose track of the herd.” Y/N listens to him, shaking off the chill that runs up and down her spine, quick to put on the rain coat that Jo borrowed her. After taking Joplin’s reins, Dean moves over to Ted, leading the gelding out of the pen. He makes sure the rope is secured and that the other horses can’t get out, then circles Ted to mount him from his left side. As soon as he has a higher perspective from the horse’s back, he peers to the west. By the time he glances back at Y/N, she has settled in the saddle as well, holding her over-excited mare on the spot. “Ready?” he checks. She nods, glancing up La Barge Canyon as well. “Let’s go.”

The riders of the night cross the creek where it’s shallow enough, trotting up the trail between the hills. The climb is steep for the first couple of hundred yards, but then it levels out. Caged between rock formations, Y/N glances up at the dark blue sky. Faint beams of moonlight break as they fall through the canyon, but she doesn’t have time to linger. Joplin is fresh, reloaded after yesterday’s trail and ready for another round. Eagerly, the dark horse gains on Ted and his rider, and Y/N has to correct her in order to keep a safe distance. “You okay back there?” Dean glances over his shoulder, the sound of frustrated hooves from behind triggering him to grin. “Yep, she’s just a little--” Y/N sits out a buck. “- worked up.” “Take the lead, that might calm her down,” the wrangler suggests, moving his hand that holds the reins to the right, giving her room to pass.

Y/N takes that offer gladly and the second Joplin is at the head of the company of two, she stops cantering and continues to jog up the trail. Her rider pats the feisty horse on the shoulder, rewarding and calming at the same time. The gesture causes a smile to pull at the corner of Dean’s mouth, as he watches the skilled cowgirl finding her way through the rough terrain. It’s such a joy to watch her, to see her work with a horse. She never loses balance when Joplin leaps to the side or prances with excitement, always ready to absorb any sudden or unexpected movements. Her riding is elegant, with small, barely visible aids. She has a seat with so much contact, but without being smothering, without tensing her muscles or using force. A fast learner too, because she owns these mountains, despite the times she’s ridden out here can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Dean can’t stop watching; damn, she can ride.

Fifteen minutes later, they reach Black Top Mesa, a large plateau between Battleship Mountain in the east and the Superstition Mountain in the southwest. When the surface evens out, Dean clicks his tongue, rallying Ted on to transition to a canter. Joplin picks up the sound of the head wrangler too, turning her ears back at Dean before gaining speed, not bothering to wait for Y/N’s signal. Afterall, she has known Dean to be her leader much longer than the intern. Y/N isn’t intimidated by the bubbly horse, however. Instead she shakes her head smiling, controlling the pace with her seat and reins to remind Joplin she still has a rider on her back and that she would like to have a say. There is a proverb well known amongst equestrians; tell a gelding, ask a stallion, discuss with a mare.

The two horses canter across the terrain, long shadows behind them, the grassland draped in silver for as far as they can see. Dust clouds in their wake, the rustling of dry vegetation beneath them. A steady one-two-three beat of hooves, every stride the same soothing rhythm. Goosebumps run down Y/N’s arms, but it’s not because of the low temperature here at higher altitudes. It’s because she’s living in the moment. It’s because she’s aware of everything around her, her senses picking up and her mind memorizing the scents, sensations, sounds and sights. She had it a couple of times before, the last time being in the ring with Meadow, during their winning round at the championships. She was alive then and she’s alive now. The wind in her hair, a horse underneath her saddle. Dean is right, this is exactly where she’s supposed to be. Not behind a desk, studying, going over business plans and theses, plotting out a successful future. The thing is, you can’t plan feeling this free. You can’t find fulfillment in a book. You can’t buy happiness.

Y/N glances over her shoulder, finding Dean right by her side. The hard lines by the corner of his eyes are soft now, just as the evident frown that worry draws, whenever he ponders about the ranch and the people working there. The handsome man seems peaceful, contentment in his eyes. When he catches her glance, he smiles warmly and she knows that he’s experiencing this moment exactly the same. Maybe it’s because they both have reached this point in life simultaneously, that the entwinement is possible.

The land flows, like waves on the ocean. A break in the mountainous landscape, a calm before the storm. Saguaro cacti stand tall, their silhouettes like towering stick figures, guarding the Black Mesa trail. The two riders lower the pace, because several hundred yards away, the herd grazes in serenity. Some of the young horses lay down, while others stand on one hind leg, resting the other on their toe, head low and relaxed. One stallion stands on the side of the group, keeping an eye out.

Dean stops Ted, taking in the sight. He can’t make out who’s who from this distance, certainly not in the dark, but he knows every single one of the horses. Some of them he witnessed being born, others came in at four, maybe five months old. He’s curious how they turned out now that they have grown, if their character, their ways and expressions remained unchanged. Not one horse is the same, neither is their way of developing. One thing he does know; they always surprise him when they come back from the fields. The little ones sometimes end up having the biggest heart, while the large ones turn out to be scared of everything and need the gentlest touch and encouragement. Training the greenhorns, the horses who have little experience in life, is more than a challenge. It’s a journey.

He glances aside at a hill, which overlooks the lower end of the plateau. “We should settle down for a bit now that we can. They aren’t going anywhere for at least a couple of hours,” the cowboy suggests, hinting at the look out he spotted. Y/N nods and moves her reins right of Joplin’s neck, steering the mare away from the path. Dean follows and eventually they stop by a stray Yucca tree, both silently deciding that this is a good spot to take a break. The head wrangler lowers himself from his horse, the long flaps of his coat swaying around him when he has both feet on solid ground again. The spurs on his boots jingle in the silence of the windless night. He takes his flask from the saddlebag, handing it to the young woman in his company, who takes the bottle without contradicting him. After drinking a quarter of it, she passes it back, leaving more than enough for Dean.

He ties the horses to a fallen tree trunk on top of the hill and brings back the sleeping bag that he tied behind Joplin’s saddle earlier. On a horse, moving and working, it’s easy to stay warm. But the early autumn nights up here can be treacherously cold. It doesn’t seem to bother the girl from the North too much, though, who is watching the mystical portrait in front of her, enjoying the tranquil world. Nevertheless he unfolds the sleeping bag and, after approaching her from behind, wraps it around her body. Allowing his hands to linger on her waist, he presses a soft kiss on the junction between her shoulder and her neck, smiling against her skin when she melts into him.

Dean rests his chin on her shoulder then, his western hat tilting to the side when the brim buds against hers. She laughs and takes off her black Stetson, turning in his arms, wearing the warm padded blanket like a cape. Amused, Y/N reaches for his hat, but before she can straighten it, the cowboy slips his fingers over the crown of the custom made Resistol. The playfulness in his eyes dies down slightly, making space for a message even more meaningful and sincere. The two wranglers stand opposite of each other in the middle of the wilderness, under a billion galaxies, when Dean takes off his hat. As a token of his ever growing fondness of the woman before him, he goes to place the Resistol on her head, gently, without breaking away from her gaze. She allows it, her eyes never leaving his. It’s a little too big for her, but it doesn’t matter. Y/N knows that he’s not trying to be funny. No, this gesture says more than a writer could describe in words or than an artist could paint in an image. This is him, claiming her as his.

Rendered speechless, the cowgirl stares back at him, eyes full of wonder telling Dean that she understands. He has never been a man of many words, especially when it comes to expressing emotion, but that’s okay, because he can let his actions speak for him. He wants her to know how he feels about her, he wants to show how much he cares. The cowboy leans in, dipping his head below the brim, closes his eyes and kisses her. Her body stills and he can feel her lashes brush his dry cheek. It’s a sweet moment, just long enough for him to feel her warm breath on his lips. Dean doesn’t intend to deepen the kiss. It’s a confirmation, adding strength to his message. Dean’s mouth pulls into a smile before he leaves her. He knows there will be obstacles to face, he knows tomorrow they’ll ride home. The cowboy doesn’t want to think about that, though. The only thing on his mind is that right here, right now, she’s with him.

His fingers slip down the sleeves of her coat, his thumbs caressing her knuckles once his hands hold hers. They’re cold; no wonder, because the temperatures are low at this time of night. “Wish I could build a fire for us, but I’m afraid it would scare away the horses,” he admits. Her smile spreads into a grin, mischievously. “I can think of other ways for you to keep me warm,” she flirts. Dean cocks his eyebrow at her, taken aback by her boldness; looks like someone is gaining confidence. He chuckles then, flustered. He can’t wait to explore that side of her that rises to the surface every now and then, but not tonight. He might have gotten lost in the moment when they were alone by the creek yesterday, yet he wasn’t lying when he told Benny he wants to take things easy with her. What is growing between them, is not something he wants to rush and ruin.

He leads her to the base of the Yucca tree, where he settles down by its roots. She follows suit, adjusts the fold out sleeping bag over their bodies while he leans back against the bark of the desert tree. He puts a sheltering arm around her, pulling her in. Clutching the hem of the warm blanket between her fingers, she moves her hand up towards his chin, making sure he’s covered and warm himself. A deep sigh flows from her lungs and she snuggles into his side. On the first evening of the trail, she got nervous just thinking about sitting next to the head wrangler, afraid to invade his personal space. That same personal space has become her safe haven in a little over twenty-four hours. She rests her head against his firm chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. For a long while they don’t say anything, simply enjoying each other’s company. The peaceful silence of nature is soothing, even though there is so much life during the desert’s darkest hours. Dean rubs his thumb over her shoulder absently, a thousand yard stare focused on the herd. He then tilts his head back, glancing at the sky. “Wanna see somethin’ awesome?” Y/N lifts her chin, curious about his proposal. He shifts to meet her gaze, a playful smile on his lips. “Close your eyes.” “Why?” she wonders. “Trust me,” the wrangler insists, shutting his as an example.

Y/N shrugs and does as told. For a long moment she banishes any light from entering her pupils. They dilate behind her eyelids, almost to the size of her irises. She lays her head in the comfortable crook between Dean’s chest and his shoulder. “For how long?” He smirks at her impatience. “A little while.” “How do I know when to open my eyes?” “I’ll tell you.” “When?” Dean laughs now, the delightful rumble reaching her hearing. “You need to learn to let go, remember?” Y/N sighs, giving in to what she cannot control. She relaxes against him, only moved slightly when the cowboy’s chest expands and deflates with every breath he takes. It could be seconds, maybe even minutes, but right before she doses off, Dean softly squeezes her arm. “You can open them now.”

She does, and what she beholds, takes her breath away. Her eyes got used to the darkness, allowing her to pick up even the tiniest glint of light. Above her, past the crooked branches and pointy leaves of the Joshua tree, countless stars decorate the night’s sky. Clear, sparking orbs, some bright, some faint, but more than she has ever witnessed before. A bundle of galaxies form a ribbon of silver that curves across the dark blue canvas, constellations radiating their figures down on the small and humble beings that they are. The longer she watches, the more solar systems she discovers. Some still exist, others are long gone, but their brilliance is still on their way to earth, which allows her to behold their beauty as long as the light travels. “It’s beautiful,” she whispers. Dean agrees, admiring the spectacle as well. He’ll never get tired of it, staring at outer space for hours on end. It’s something he has done ever since… He swallows thickly. Ever since Mom passed away.

She always looked up at the sky and told him that angels were watching over him. It was his uncle, though, who taught him about the stars. About cowboys of the Wild West, who used them to navigate across uncharted land. Dean must have been five years old at the time, maybe six. It wasn’t long after the house fire that took his mom’s life. He spent some time at the ranch with Dad and Sam. Bobby and Ellen took the broken family in without hesitation, until Dean’s father slipped down hill further to a point of no return, the loss of his wife consuming him completely.

Before John dragged him and Sammy away from the only place besides their childhood home where they ever felt safe, Bobby shared something that he never forgot. He told him, ‘When the angels took your mom to heaven, she got a star. Not just some star, but the brightest one of all.’ His uncle would sit in his rocking chair on the porch, while Dean laid on his back in the grass, staring up at the infinite darkness. He pointed out a solar system that night, and told his nephew that’s where his mom lived on. And that whenever he would miss her, all he had to do was look up, and she would be right there.

The make believe offered him comfort for many years, and now that he thinks of it, it still does. He passed the fairytale onto his little brother when he was old enough and star gazing became a thing that they did together. It was the constant in their lives, because it didn’t matter if they lived in a motel, a trailer park, a shelter, or a barn, that significant star was always shining bright when it got dark. Sammy must have been seven when he found a book about Astrology. With the literature in his lap he would look up at night, way past bedtime, and try to identify Mom’s star. Eventually he learned its name: Vega. Sapphire blue, visible in the north east in April, high overhead in August on their mother’s birthday, and in the northwestern quadrant of the sky on December evenings. Despite the moon being almost full, she should be visible tonight.

Dean lets his eyes roam over the countless galaxies. He finds Cygnus embedded in the Milky Way, Hercules east of the silver wave across the darkness. Right between those two landmarks, hides a small constellation known as Lyra. One of its stars shines brighter than all the others, a white blue dot of light blinking at him. He smiles, sadly. There you are, Mom.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Dean is pulled away from the bittersweet memories by Y/N’s kind voice. She steals a glance, reading into his quietness, his mimic that shows a trace of hurt, his slightly faster heart rate, but noticeable nonetheless. He meets her gaze, but then averts his green eyes back to the sky. She nudges him carefully. “You okay?” “Yeah… I’m alright.” In stillness they lay together, Dean contemplating if he has said too little, Y/N if she has said too much. All of a sudden the silence isn’t reassuring anymore. Words are left unsaid, emotions pushed down and insecurities force themselves to the foreground. The longer the pause drags on, the heavier it gets.

Y/N runs her thumb along the hem of the sleeping bag, her clenched fist still resting on his chest. The voices in her head grow louder, because she knows he is holding something back. He’s not the kind of guy to express his feelings, the kind who is comfortable with talking about the past. She learned that quickly after the fight he had with Ash on that dreadful Monday, a couple of weeks back. Only when she stormed off angrily after Dean blew up on her, he allowed her to see only a glimpse of what haunts his mind. They had many conversations after that day, most of them light and funny, others more layered. But when they touched subjects like background, family or childhood, it was always about her. Whenever the question turned on him, the cowboy would dance around it, either with a joke, or a dodge so smooth, Y/N barely noticed. Add all those moments together, though, and it becomes a pile too big to sweep under the carpet.

What is it, that makes her so difficult to talk to? Is it that he doesn’t trust her? Is it because he’s afraid she will judge him? Or maybe because he doesn’t want her to become anything more than just a girl he can hook up with, making any form of deep conversation completely unnecessary. Y/N closes her eyes as her mind begins to spiral, the magic gone, the sky full of stars forgotten. “Yankee?” The thoughts that belittle her stop for a second. As the doubt grew, she subconsciously hugged him a little tighter in the process, desperate for comfort. That must have gotten his attention. “I can hear the gears in your head turning.” She looks up at him now, carefully. Trying to read the suddenly timid woman in his arms, Dean continues to rub his thumb up and down her arm, hoping to offer her some consolation for whatever she’s afraid of. Something is bothering her, and he’s aware that it most frankly has something to do with him. “What is it?” he wonders, when she lifts her head from his chest and sits up.

Nerves tangle her stomach in knots while she keeps her eyes fixed on the hat he gave her and now lays by her side. The hat he offered as a symbol of his heart, or did she imagine the underlying message? She doesn’t want to ask him, afraid of the truth, yet she cannot deal with the uncertainty either. Knowing is better than not knowing, at least that’s what she tries to tell herself as she turns to face the man that has her so confused. “Tomorrow, when we ride back to the ranch, what’s going to happen?” Dean tilts his head slightly, his brows drawing together as he takes her in. “What’d ya mean?” “I mean, what are we gonna do about this...” She gestures between him and herself, her movements frantic. “Whatever this is.”

The cowboy breaks eye contact and perches his lips slightly, his teeth pulling at the inside of his cheek. Uh-oh. This is the conversation he hoped to avoid. She wants to label it, needing that insurance, that security. The thing is, he’s not sure he can give her that. She doesn’t have the slightest clue who he really is and apparently he can’t bring himself to tell her either. Christ, he can’t even talk to her about his Mom, let alone all the rest. How can you commit to someone if you are unable to tell the truth? “Y/N, listen…” It already hurts. He has barely said anything, but already the way he spoke her name tugs at her heartstrings. For a second she waits for him to continue, but when he becomes quiet once again as he tries to come up with the right thing to say, she can’t stay patient any longer. “Y - you have to admit that we won’t go home the same,” she stammers. “Not after what happened between us.”

The warm sleeping bag has shifted, one half pooling in her lap, the other half still covering his body. As he watches her pick at a loose seam, a small smile forms at the corner of his mouth. Home. She called the ranch home. Not Freeport, the town on the other side of the country where she was born and raised, but Gold Canyon, right around the corner. Somehow, her giving the ranch that simple four letter title without a second thought, boosts his confidence. He reaches for her hand, stopping her from tearing the tread any further. “You’re right. It won’t be the same,” he says, calming, then scoffs, unable to believe what he’s about to admit. “I don’t want it to be.” A perplexed stare flicks up from their hands to meet his eyes. When she sees the softness in them, the warmth, her worries somewhat ease and she dares to speak again. “What do you mean?”

Dean shakes his head lightly, his teeth catching his bottom lip. He directs his attention to her hand again, tracing her soft skin, trying to find ease in the rhythmic motion, as much as he tries to assure the woman who he’s in love with. But he can’t say that out loud, can he? He doesn’t know how, not really. He grew up too fast, faced with responsibilities that weren’t for a child to carry. There wasn’t room for him to express how he felt, and when that river overflowed every now and then, he was ordered to man up. Bobby and Ellen did their best to teach him, by giving him a safe home, stability, time to heal, and love to fill the gaping hole in his heart. He solemnly believes that without them, he might have never made it out. But everyone knows how the saying goes; old habits die hard. When you’ve lost so much, letting people in becomes terrifying. He wants to be brave, though. Letting her go is not an option.

“I’m not sure,” he starts off. “I just know that, right now, this - this thing between us... it feels good.” His eyes are a different shade of green under the moon. When the sun is relentlessly shining down on him, they are fiery emerald gems, while by firelight the colors of his irises remind her of the forest, of moss growing on fallen trees. But when it’s night and everything in the shadows is draped in a hue of light blue, she sees the ocean in them, sea green waves rolling ashore. Y/N can’t look away, and thankfully, he doesn’t either. This thing between us… it feels good, he said. “So, are we…?” She leaves the blank open, not brave enough to call this a relationship just yet. Dean sits up a bit and shifts until he’s comfortable, the sleeping bag falling from his upper body. He doesn’t want to let go of her hand and keeps the physical connection intact, especially since he can't answer her with a straight up ‘yes’. God, he wishes he could. “I want it to be,” he admits. “But I don’t wanna jump the gun here either.”

Dean can tell that he’s lost her the second he added ‘but’ to his sentence, the disappointment surfacing instantly. She breaks away, her pretty smile fading together with her optimism. “Y/N, hey…” The cowboy squeezes her hand and when that doesn’t help, he reaches for her chin, curling his index finger underneath and lifting it gently. “That has nothing to do with you, hear me? Thing is… I’ve never really gone steady before. I - I didn’t want--” “- the attachment?” She cuts him off, disheartened.

Dean’s eyes bounce over her features before his touch leaves her face. Needing that connection to ground him, he lets his fingers trace hers again. She feels cold, much like the tone in her voice just now. Thankfully she doesn’t pull away. Contemplating on what he could say that won’t make it worse, he takes another breath.

“It wasn’t just that,” he confesses, “I... I guess I never met someone who I wanted to, y’know, ride into the sunset with.” Y/N chuckles at the corny metaphor and Dean smiles softly, glad that the comment got half a laugh at least. He’s not sweet talking her, though. “You mean a lot to me. You know that, right?”

Their eyes meet again, his full of wonder, hers astonished. The genuine words hover between the two wranglers, adding to the silence of the night as they hold each other’s gaze. Y/N wasn’t expecting that reveal, not with where the conversation was going. Did she know he cares about her? She hoped he did, yet she was careful to assume. Of course he looked after her while they were at work, he’s her supervisor afterall. But that’s not what he’s aiming for here, is it? He also sought her out whenever he could after the long hours, clearly enjoying her company. Then they went on this trail and they finally gave in to the longing. That kiss… his hands on her body; it changed everything. The way he claims to care for her now, is on a different level. Him giving his hat is one thing, him flat out admitting it, is another. And so his words are met with a smile, first small, but steadily spreading wider, until it reaches her eyes. He returns it, his mind put to ease. Slowly but surely, getting the message across becomes a little less intimidating.

“That’s the exact reason why I don’t want to dive in head first. It’s not that I can’t make up my damn mind. I--” He sighs, collecting himself before he allows the vulnerability to seep through the cracks. “I just don’t wanna screw this up.” Y/N watches him, her heart hurting for the handsome cowboy. She wonders why he would think so low of himself. Why he would think that he would ruin the very thing that’s blossoming because of his ways with her. Now she reaches out, her fingers gently enclosing around his forearm. “Dean… You won’t,” she tries to comfort him. But he scoffs cynically, averting his gaze to the mountains in the southwest. “Yeah, well… Wouldn’t be the first time,” he returns, his gravelly voice a little darker than she remembers it.

The silence that follows carries on longer than either of them want it to last. Y/N watches him, pulling the warm sleeping bag closer around her, the ground underneath her radiating coolness into her muscles. It saddens her to see the guy, who she knows to be all for laughs and fun, so despondent. His shoulders are slouched and his eyes are fixed, but aren’t registering anything. It’s a blank stare, but the woman opposite of him has a hunch what he’s thinking about. She gives him space to find his words, but when he doesn’t, she decides to help him take a step in the right direction. “Is this about your family? The one before the ranch?” she asks, cautiously. Dean doesn’t answer, but looks down, his jaw flexing. The cowgirl opposite of him knows enough. “Look, I don’t know what happened back then, and if you don’t want to talk about that, it’s okay. But Dean, I’m not going to up and leave.” “Yes, you are,” he returns, his pained eyes stunning her when he looks up.

She’s quiet now and then the pieces fall into place; he’s scared. He’s terrified that he will lose yet another person who is dear to him. He’s not wrong, she is planning to go back in five months. This internship is temporary, that’s a given. Or is it? “I might move back, yes,” she confirms, unintentionally underlining the word ‘might’. “That doesn’t mean I’m just gonna drop you like a hot brick. You mean a lot to me, too.” She exchanges a glance, the endearment in her expression soothing him. “Besides, I can’t predict what’s coming. Who knows where we are in five months time.” Dean chuckles. “Says the one person who has her entire future plotted out.” “Until a certain cowboy messed with the coordinates.” Y/N raises her eyebrows at him, playfully. “Besides, you keep telling me that I need to let it be. It’s not bad advice, you know?”

The head wrangler thinks about that for a minute, glancing at the herd further down below. She has a solid point; he’s been reminding her to loosen up and give in to what she can’t control ever since she arrived here. Then why is he going against the very philosophy he preaches? “What if we do exactly that? What if we just… take it slow and see where this goes?” he suggests. “Test the ice, you mean?” Y/N verifies, receiving a puzzled look from the wrangler. “That’s what my granddad used to say, instead of ‘test the waters’. Ice is more applicable where I’m from anyway.”

Dean watches her, a small, bittersweet smile forming on her lips as she remembers her grandfather’s words. Looks like they both lost someone who had, and continues to have, a big impact on their lives. He rubs the pads of his fingers over her knuckles sweetly, pulling her back to the present. “Would that be alright with you?” he asks, carefully. She ponders, deep down not entirely sure if she wants to settle for that. He needs time, she understands that, but if there is anything that she finds difficult to accept, it’s uncertainty. Without his full commitment, faith is all she can hold on to. Faith that this is what’s best for them. Faith that one day, he will believe in himself, too. Y/N breathes out, letting the anxiety leave her chest. “I can work with that,” she agrees, content.

Relieved, Dean matches her expression. Fully aware of the huge step she is taking, he counts his blessings. He won’t lose her, not today. Thankful, he reaches for her. “C’mere,” he says softly. Willingly she leans into him, his bandaged hand cupping her cheek. The kiss that follows is sweet and gentle, assuring her that he will make it worth the wait. Dean leans back between the roots of the Joshua tree again, pulling the sleeping bag over her shoulders to fully cover them again. Her delicate hands slip under his leather stockman coat, warming them using his body heat. He sweeps the hair from her face first, then folds his strong arms around her. When their lips part, he stares straight into her soul, the stars above him twinkling in his bright eyes. For a while she lingers in that moment, but then tucks her head under his chin, her cheek against his collarbone. She closes her eyes when he kisses her hair, treasuring the feel of this very second. It’s not long before her respiration eases to a slow and calm pace, fatigue gaining ground.

“Why don’t you get some more sleep?” Dean proposes, noticing how tired she is. “Benny and the rest won’t catch up until morning.” “Wouldn’t be fair,” she mumbles. “You slept less than I did, and I have the night’s watch.” “I’m okay,” he assures. “I’d rather have you sharp and rested tomorrow. We’re gonna be in the saddle for at least twelve hours.” “Sure?” He nods, his scruff tickling her forehead when he does. “Yeah. I’ll keep an eye out.” Y/N yawns, unable to fight the sleepiness if she wanted to. Slightly cold, yet comfortable, she snuggles closer. It doesn’t take long before she drifts off in the comfort of his embrace.

The cowboy rests his head back against the bark, careful not to fall asleep himself. He watches the midnight blue, infinity peppered with countless lights. One specific star captures his attention and he smiles. He’s not sure if he’ll ever be able to accept the mistakes he made in the past and leave them behind. His start in life wasn’t exactly smooth and he hasn't accomplished much either. But damn, he sure as hell lucked out with Y/N. It amazes him how understanding she is, how she’s willing to accept him, despite his many flaws. She has only seen the tip of the iceberg, but still, she’s here in his arms. He has to make this work. Ignore the obvious, ignore that she’ll go back to Maine next spring. Because deep down, he wants her to stay.

For a moment he wonders, if Mom is smiling down on him. If she’s proud. Because after the literal hell he wandered through, of all of life’s achievements, he found himself an amazing woman, who is kind, who is patient, who wants to be with him. If this isn’t fulfillment, he doesn’t know what is.

You girls still alive?

Thank you for reading. I appreciate every single one of you, but if you do want to give me some extra love, you are free to reblog my work or buy me coffee (Link in bio at the top of the page)

Read part fifteen here

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