#audi pulse

[dark-pulse-girl]

The gf's; Audie and Faith's Beach Bungalow 🍹🏳️‍🌈

[todays-xkcd]

Hint: If you ever encounter this puzzle in a crossword app, just [term for someone with a competitive and high-achieving personality].

A Crossword Puzzle [Explained]

Transcript

[A square 15x15 crossword puzzle is shown. Only 21 of the 225 squares are black. The black squares are in a pattern that are 180 degree rotationally symmetrical. Three black squares down from the 11th column and similarly three black squares up from the 5th column. Three black squares out from the right in row 7 and then two more black squares diagonally up from the end. Similarly three black squares out from the left in row 9 with two more black squares diagonally down from the end. A single black square is three above the first black square on the diagonal going down to the right and similarly there is a black square three under the first of the diagonal squares going down to the left. (Row 6 column 12 and Row 10 column 4). Finally there are three black squares on a diagonal crossing over the central point by going up from the left through the central point (Row 8 column 8). There are numbers at the top of every column (except the one that is a black square) and similarly at the left edge of all rows (except the one that is a black square). There are also numbers at the bottom of every black segment (except the one that reaches the bottom) and all rows after black segments except the one that reaches the right edge. In total all numbers from 1 to 51 is written. They are written in reading order from 1 to 51.]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

[Below the square there are two rows of clues for each number that belongs to across (rows) and to the right there are one row of clues for each number that belongs to down (columns). Both segments have an underlined and bold title above the clues. ]

'''Across'''

1. Famous Pvt. Wilhelm quote

11. IPv6 address record

15. "CIPHERTEXT" decrypted with Vigenère key "CIPHERTEXT"

16. 8mm diameter battery

17. "Warthog" attack aircraft

18. Every third letter in the word for "inability to visualize"

19. An acrostic hidden on the first page of the dictionary

21. Default paper size in Europe

22. First four unary strings

23. Lysine codon

24. 40 CFR Part 63 subpart concerning asphalt pollution

25. Top bond credit rating

26. Audi coupe

27. A pair of small remote batteries, when inserted

29. Unofficial Howard Dean slogan

32. A 4.0 report card

33. The "Harlem Globetrotters of baseball" (vowels only)

34. 2018 Kiefer song

35. Top Minor League tier

36. Reply elicited by a dentist

38. ANAA's airport

41. Macaulay Culkin's review of aftershave

43. Marketing agency trade grp.

44. Soaring climax of Linda Eder's ''Man of La Mancha''

46. Military flight community org.

47. Iconic line from ''Tarzan''

48. Every other letter of Jimmy Wales's birth state

49. Warthog's postscript after "They call me ''mister'' pig!"

50. Message to Elsa in ''Frozen 2''

51. Lola, when betting it all on Black 20 in ''Run Lola Run''

“Down

1. Game featuring "a reckless disregard for gravity"

2. 101010101010101010101010 [sub]2→16

3. Google phone released July '22

4. It's five times better than that ''other'' steak sauce

5. ToHex(43690)

6. Freddie Mercury lyric from ''Under Pressure''

7. Full-size Audi luxury sedan

8. Fast path through a multiple choice marketing survey

9. 12356631 in base 26

10. Viral Jimmy Barnes chorus

11. Ruby Rhod catchphrase

12. badbeef + 9efcebbb

13. In Wet Let's ''Ur Mum'', what the singer has been practicing

14. Refrain from Nora Reed bot

20. Mario button presses to ascend Minas Tirith's walls

24. Vermont historic route north from Bennington

26. High-budget video game

28. Unorthodox Tic-Tac-Toe win

29. String whose SHA-256 hash ends "...689510285e212385"

30. Arnold's remark to the Predator

31. The vowels in the fire salamander's binomial name

32. Janet Leigh ''Psycho'' line

34. Seven 440Hz pulses

37. Audi luxury sports sedan

38. A half-dozen eggs with reasonably firm yolks

39. 2-2-2-2-2-2 on a multitap phone keypad

40. .- .- .- .- .- .-

42. Rating for China's best tourist attractions

43. Standard drumstick size

45. "The rain/in Spain/falls main-/ly on the plain" rhyme scheme

[c-e-d-dreamer]

I Can Take the Upper Hand and Touch Your Body: Part Two

A/N: You thought Cassian was done with Nesta after their office tryst? You thought! He's in the midst of his rut after all! 😉 Anyways! Happy Day 3 of @acotar-omegaverse-week! Nessian may not be "All Tied Up" in the literal sense, but they are in the figurative sense! If tying down a relationship counts. Ba dum tasss. Anywho! Please enjoy!

Read on AO3 // Previous Part // Next Part

Heat pools high in Nesta’s cheeks, embarrassment clamming up her throat and settling like a lump against her windpipe. She straightens out her skirt, trying to smooth out the creases and lines. A finger hooks beneath her chin, raising her face until she meets a pair of hazel eyes, still simmering with a heat all their own. Cassian takes his time, his gaze dancing around her face, before he leans down, connecting their lips in a searing kiss.

Nesta allows it to go on for a moment, but then she pushes him away. They’re already in enough trouble as it is. She turns away fully from Cassian, determined to keep her focus as she re-buttons her blouse and tucks it back into her skirt. She glances around the office, trying to locate where her panties ended up, but they seem to be strangely missing.

“You don’t need those.”

Nesta whirls around with a scowl. “Cassian.”

The alpha doesn’t bother saying anything else. Instead, he grabs his leather jacket, draping it over Nesta’s shoulders. The fabric is surprisingly soft and worn, Cassian’s scent swallowing her as much as the jacket itself on her frame. She turns her head into the collar, breathing in the pine and snow kissed breeze, before she catches herself, returning her glare to Cassian.

“Now you want me to cover up?”

“I don’t want anyone getting any ideas,” Cassian explains, stepping fully into her space and curling his hand around her jaw. “I don’t want anyone scenting anything other than me all over you.” His thumb drags along her bottom lip, hand slipping down until his fingers wrap around her throat instead, Nesta’s breath catching at the gesture. “Want to make sure everyone knows your sweet omega cunt has already been claimed because you’re mine and only mine, Nes.”

Cassian kisses her again, wrapping his free arm around her waist. Nesta moans into his mouth, pressing her thighs together tightly against the slick drawn out from the way he kisses her, from his words. He licks into her mouth, and Nesta has to fist her hands into Cassian’s shirt to hold herself steady. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, she knows that she should care about his possessive, claiming words, but it’s hard to form a single coherent thought when he keeps kissing her like this.

When Cassian finally pulls back, he doesn’t fully release her, instead keeping his arm firmly around her waist. He keeps her tucked to his side as he guides her out of the office and toward the elevators. His grip tightens and he turns to bury his nose amongst the golden brown strands of her hair as they walk through the front atrium of the building and the few lingering souls still there.

They take the second elevator down to the parking garage. With so many already starting their weekend early, the garage is nearly empty, and it’s not hard to spot the black, sleek Audi that Cassian calls his own. The sound of the car unlocking is especially loud in the garage, and before Nesta knows it, Cassian is opening the passenger door, gesturing toward the black and red striped leather seat expectantly.

“And what about my car?” Nesta dares to ask.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll make sure it’s handled,” Cassian explains, dipping his head down and pressing his lips to Nesta’s pulse point until she’s shuddering in his arms. “Now be a good girl and get in the car.”

Nesta rolls her eyes, but damn if those words don’t stoke the embers within her again, flames threatening to flare and lick down her veins again. She slips into the passenger seat, trying not to squirm too much at the fresh slick she can feel building between her thighs.

Cassian slides into the driver’s seat, and then they’re off. Nesta tries to keep her focus out the window, keep her focus on the street lamps and traffic lights as they pass, but it’s hard to do when Cassian’s large hand settles on her knee, the warmth of it seeping beneath her skin. His thumb traces tantalizing circles along the inside of her knee, Nesta’s heart skipping over itself with each pass across her skin.

That hand slowly starts to creep higher up her thigh, the drag of the calluses on his palm leaving a trail of goosebumps pebbling in their wake. He doesn’t even pause. Higher still that hand climbs until it’s slipping beneath the hem of her skirt, Nesta’s thighs falling open wider as if of their own accord. He drags two fingers lightly, teasingly, over her, through the slick quickly pooling there, and Nesta tosses her head back with a gasp.

“So responsive,” Cassian praises, repeating the same motion. “And still so wet for me.”

“Cassian,” Nesta moans softly when Cassian’s fingers press against her clit.

“Have I told you how sweet it sounds when you moan my name like that? It might be my new favorite sound.”

Cassian shifts his hand so that he can sink those two fingers into her, and Nesta lets out a cry at the intrusion, her hand shooting down to curl around Cassian’s wrist. If there’s any pain from the way her nails bite into the skin, he doesn’t show it. Instead, he starts to rock those fingers, the pace slow and steady but still enough for fire and pleasure to skitter up Nesta’s spine.

She doesn’t know how he’s able to concentrate, and when she dares to turn her head against the seat, to peer toward him, Cassian has his gaze still pinned on the road, his free hand keeping a firm grip of the steering wheel. Even if that grip is white knuckled.

“You’re meant to be focusing on driving,” Nesta finds her voice to comment. “We’re going to crash.”

“How can I focus on anything else when you’re sitting so deliciously in my front seat? Trust me, sweetheart. This is the only thing keeping me from pulling over and taking you right here.”

Nesta has a well placed retort about that on the tip of her tongue, but it’s lost when Cassian chooses that exact moment to curl his fingers.

“Besides,” Cassian continues. “Look at what a mess you’re making of my seat. I want this car to be covered in your sweet scent.”

Nesta whines high in the back of her throat. She tries to spread her legs wider still despite the confines of the passenger seat, tilting and rocking her hips against Cassian’s hand, against those long, thick fingers stroking her in the best way. In the closed space of Cassian’s car, her panting breaths seem too loud, the slide of Cassian’s fingers between her slick drenched thighs practically echoing in her ears.

But it only seems to add to the pleasure too. And that pleasure is all that Nesta cares about. That Cassian continues to stoke those flames coursing through her veins, continues to build that heat growing and tightening low in her gut, promising sweet release. She slides a hand down and beneath her skirt, intent on pressing against her clit and finally tumbling over that edge, but then Cassian’s fingers are pulling away.

“What the fuck?” Nesta seethes, whirling her attention back toward the man in question.

But as soon as the words leave her mouth, she realizes that the car has stopped, that they’re now parked in another parking garage, one Nesta doesn’t recognize. It’s clear that Cassian clocks her realization, smirk tugging up his lips, and he makes a big show of bringing his hand to his mouth, licking and sucking his fingers clean.

“Fuck,” Nesta whispers, still remembering exactly how that tongue had felt between her thighs back in his office.

Cassian leans forward over the console, hand curling possessively around Nesta’s throat and pulling her into a bruising kiss. He presses his tongue into her mouth, and she moans softly, able to taste the remnants of her own slick. That moan turns into a whimper when Cassian’s teeth sink into her bottom lip, tugging as he pulls away.

Nesta still feels dazed and blissed out, her eyes only snapping back open again at the sound of the door opening to her right. Cassian holds his hand out expectantly, and Nesta slides her palm against his, allowing him to tug her out of the car. She doesn’t even catch a good look at the apartment building, it all passing in a blur as Cassian keeps a firm hold on her hand and leads her to the elevators and up to the ninth floor.

He unlocks and pushes open the door to what Nesta presumes is his apartment, but she doesn’t get a chance to get a good look at that either. All she catches is a wall of floor to ceiling windows that she’s sure promises a gorgeous view and a modern looking kitchen before Cassian cages her in against the front door.

Nesta expects him to kiss her again, but instead, his lips latch onto her neck, teeth scraping over her pulse point. She whimpers, tilting her head to give him better access and bucking her hips forward against the obvious line of his cock haphazardly tucked back into his pants at their earlier tryst. Her hands reach out desperately, dragging up under his shirt and over the warm, golden skin hiding beneath. Cassian growls against her throat, his fingers closing around Nesta’s wrists and spinning her around until Nesta’s palms are splayed against the wood of the door.

“I need to be inside you right now.”

Just his words have Nesta moaning in anticipation, especially when she feels Cassian lift the back of her skirt up, when she hears the buckle of his pants. She doesn’t even have to wait, doesn’t even have to beg, before Cassian drives his cock home, Nesta moaning again at the stretch of his girth, even with all the slick her body as produced paving the way.

“Fuck, that’s it,” Cassian sighs, his forehead dropping against her shoulder. “I thought I was going to go insane without you wrapped around me.”

His hands find her hips, gripping tight enough that Nesta is sure she’ll have bruises tomorrow in the shape of his fingerprints. He pulls his hips back just to slam them back forward. Again and again and again he pounds into her, Nesta a moaning mess with each drag of his cock, each teasing catch of his knot against her cunt.

“Look at how my good girl takes her alpha’s cock,” Cassian praises. “Do you want my knot, sweetheart?”

“Please. Cassian, please,” Nesta pleads, trying to press her hips back to meet Cassian’s brutal thrusts.

“So pretty when you beg, but I want to hear you scream.”

Cassian uses his grip on Nesta’s hips to pull her back at the same moment he bucks forward, his knot breaching and locking them together, and scream Nesta does. She screams Cassian’s name, her cunt clenching down hard around his knot. Cassian grinds his hips against her ass, pressing his cock deeper than Nesta thought possible as he floods her with his release.

“I’m not finished with you yet, Nes,” Cassian tells her while his hand slides around her hip, deft fingers finding her clit and tracing circles against it. “Now, be my good girl and come all over my knot.”

As Cassian’s fingers continue to rub tighter and tighter circles, Nesta can do nothing but obey. Her back bows with the force of it, clenching and convulsing around his cock and his knot as her orgasm rocks through her. And all the while, Cassian’s fingers don’t stop working her clit, elongating the pleasure until it gives way to pain, until it’s too much and still not enough at the same time.

Nesta slumps forward against the door, her panting breaths skittering across the wood as she tries to calm her still hammering heart. She whimpers when Cassian pulls his cock free, his knot having subsided. He spins her back around, but despite having just knotted her, the hazel of his eyes is still swallowed by his blown pupils, his cock still hard and heavy where it hangs against his thigh.

It’s clear whatever every edge might have been taken off with the repeated knottings, he’s truly and fully in the thralls of his rut now.

And the sight has Nesta gasping, has her cunt fluttering and desperate and oh, so empty.

“I told you that I wasn’t finished with you yet.” Cassian’s voice is low, the deep alpha timbre leaving Nesta shuddering. “Now get these damned clothes off.”

Before Nesta can even move, Cassian’s hands are reaching for her blouse, large fingers curling around either side of the top. He yanks, fabric tearing and buttons clattering against the hardwood floor beneath their feet. Nesta quickly reaches for the zipper of her skirt before Cassian can destroy that too. She lets it drop to the floor, shrugging out of what remains of her blouse until both are a pool of fabric at her feet.

Her bra is the last thing to be discarded, and then she’s left standing bare before him. Cassian steps closer still, his hands reaching for Nesta’s hair this time. Despite his heaving chest and dark gaze, his touch is surprisingly gentle as he tugs free each pin from Nesta’s hair, letting them drop with a quiet ping, until her hair tumbles down her shoulders and back.

“So fucking beautiful,” Cassian whispers.

“Cassian…”

Cassian groans at the sound of his name, drawing her lips to his. The kiss is searing, and Nesta pushes desperately at the waistband of Cassian’s pants and boxers where they hang halfway down his thighs. It doesn’t take much force for both to drop to the floor, Cassian getting the right idea and stepping out of them fully, quickly unbuttoning and shrugging out of his shirt without even breaking the kiss.

As soon as they’re free from the sleeves of his shirt, Cassian’s hands find home at her waist, pulling her flush against him. Nesta moans into his mouth at the feel of finally being skin on skin, at feeling every hard line of muscle pressed against her, at feeling the hair on his chest and thighs prickle against her skin. The heat that radiates off him is ablaze everywhere they touch, and Nesta presses up onto her toes, desperate to get closer still.

His hands slide down from her waist to her thighs, fingers digging into the flesh and hoisting Nesta into his arms. Her legs wrap instinctually around his hips, but it feels as though she’s barely in the air before her back is hitting soft blankets and pillows, her body bouncing lightly against the mattress where Cassian tossed her.

Nesta tries to glance around at the room, but Cassian floods her vision, the alpha kneeling up onto the bed and leaning over her. Those large hands of his circle her ankles, sliding up and up and up until he can pry her thighs apart, legs stretched wide across the bed. Nesta whimpers at being so exposed, at the way Cassian’s lust filled gaze has her pinned, the way he groans appreciatively.

“Look at this pretty cunt that’s all mine.”

“Please,” Nesta whines, trying to buck her hips up against Cassian’s hold.

“Such a good girl with her legs spread and ready for her alpha,” Cassian continues, fisting his cock and dragging the head along her cunt. “Don’t worry, Nes. I’ll give you what you need.”

Cassian presses his hips forward, his cock sinking into her cunt. She’s already so wet, a combination of slick, of having already taken his knot so many times already, that there’s no resistance. Cassian must feel it too with the way he groans again, the way he doesn’t even pause after he bottoms out. He settles his body over Nesta’s, pressing her into the mattress as he fucks into her with hard, brutal strokes.

“I’ll always give you what you need. Keep you right here stuffed full of my cock and dripping with my seed. Keep you stretched on my knot. My perfect omega.”

Nesta moans, her back bowing off the bed as she tries to rock her hips to meet the pace of Cassian’s thrusts. His arm slips under her lower back, lifting her hips higher. It changes the angle, allowing his cock to press deeper still, and Nesta cries out, her toes curling and cunt clenching down hard with the pleasure of it all.

“Do you like that, sweetheart? Fuck, I can feel you squeezing me. So desperate to keep my cock right where it belongs.”

“Cass… Cassian. Fuck.”

Nesta buries a hand in Cassian’s hair, nails dragging down until she can dig them into his shoulders instead. She can feel his knot swelling again, feel the way it presses and teases against her, and she locks her legs around Cassian’s waist.

“Do you want my knot? Want me to fill you up again?”

Nesta can do nothing but nod at the question, Cassian having rendered her into nothing more than a moaning and whimpering mess.

“Then you know what to do. Be a good girl. Come on, Nes.”

Cassian’s hand reaches between their bodies, his fingers finding her swollen clit with practiced ease. It barely takes a single touch before Nesta is careening head first over the edge, the high cresting even more when Cassian buries his knot. She feels like she’s floating, like she’s drowning in the flames. Her head is abuzz, and she barely notices when Cassian’s knot subsides and he pulls his cock free. Not until Cassian grasps her hips again, flipping her over onto her stomach.

She lets out a choked moan into the blankets when Cassian raises her hips, sliding his cock right back into her cunt. Her thighs tremble, and her fingers grapple desperately as the sheets as Cassian builds to that same harsh pace, hips slamming against her ass. Her entire body feels alight, pins and needles all the way down to her toes, and her mind feels hazy with the pleasure of it all.

It’s all she can focus on. The pleasure. Cassian. Alpha.

One of Cassian’s hands moves away from her hip, circling her wrist instead and guiding her hand so it’s pressed against her lower stomach. Pressed against where his cock is spearing deep within her with every snap of his hips.

“Do you feel that? Feel how your sweet cunt takes her alpha?”

Nesta whines, arching her back more and pressing her hips back to meet Cassian’s every thrust. She wants more. Wants to be good for her alpha. The desire, the need, it claws up her throat fast enough to leave her head spinning.

“Please,” Nesta whispers against the blankets, the only word she seems to know anymore. “Alpha, please.”

Cassian groans, the movement of his hips becoming more erratic. “Already so full of me and you still need more, don’t you?”

“Yes!”

“That’s a good girl. So good for me, Nes. My sweet omega.”

Cassian uses his hold on her to tug until her back is plastered to his chest, her head lulling to the side of its own accord. His nose slides along the skin of her neck, and then his teeth are there, scraping over her gland. His hand slips lower, fingers tracing tight circles over her clit, while his other hand finds her breast, kneading and plucking at her nipple. And all the while his hips continue to drive into her.

She can feel him everywhere.

Everything is him.

“Please,” Nesta begs, head dizzy with it all. “Please. I want it. I need…”

Spots pop behind Nesta’s eyes as pleasure explodes within her. Somewhere in the back of her mind she’s aware of a scream that might be coming from her. Somewhere in the back of her mind she’s aware of the flare of pain that gives way to warmth threading between her ribs.

~ * * * ~

Slowly, Nesta opens her eyes, the soft light of the sun filtering through airy curtains and spilling across the pillow and her cheeks. She stretches out beneath the blankets tucked around her, an ache still clinging to her muscles. With a soft, sleepy whine, she rolls over, burying her face in her pillow and intent on stealing a few more hours of sleep, but then she breathes in the scent of pine, of low burning embers and a snowy breeze, and Nesta’s eyes snap open again.

Cassian.

It all comes back to her in a rush, enough to have her stomach swooping, and Nesta sits up with a jolt. She finally takes in the room around her, the simple dark wood furnishings, the tall curtains that appear to cover a wide, floor to ceiling window, the dark sheets now crumpled around her.

She looks down, and Nesta can’t decide if it’s better or worse that she’s not naked. An oversized tee hangs slightly off her frame, the soft worn cotton sliding gently against her skin. Nesta tugs at the fabric, but that just draws out more of that scent, and Nesta has to squeeze her thighs together for a moment. She is surprised to find her thighs clean, despite the familiar soreness between them.

If she closes her eyes and thinks back, she can remember the warm water of a bath. But she can also remember the hard chest pressed to her back, the deft fingers working between her thighs and sloshing the water around. She can remember riding Cassian’s cock until the water had long gone cold.

Shaking her head of that memory, Nesta pushes the blankets from her legs, slipping off the bed. It takes a moment to get her feet back under her, but she’s able to pad into the en suite bathroom, fingers already trying to work through the mess that’s become of her hair. She turns toward the mirror and freezes, her entire body locking up as she takes in her reflection.

“No,” Nesta whispers, leaning forward to get a better look. “No no no.”

Nesta storms out of the bathroom, out of the bedroom and all the way to the kitchen where Cassian is standing in front of the stove in just a pair of sweats hanging low on his hips.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Cassian chuckles softly, flipping what appears to be pancakes. “Good morning to you too, sweetheart. I already brewed you coffee, don’t worry.”

“You fucking bit me?” Nesta continues to seethe.

“What?” The small smirk toying at Cassian’s lips falls away, and he sets down the spatula in his hand, turning to face Nesta properly.

“What were you thinking?” Nesta steps closer into Cassian’s space, glaring up at him. “Claiming me?”

“Did you forget how you begged me for it last night?”

“Don’t you dare turn this around on me.”

“You’re the one who helped me through my rut. What did you think that meant?”

“Well, I don’t want it.”

Nesta shoves hard at Cassian’s chest, and she hates the way he doesn’t even move an inch. She hates even more the way his jaw flickers, the way an emotion that looks suspiciously like hurt flashes amongst the golds and greens of his hazel eyes.

“Don’t want me, right?”

“I refuse to be some docile little omega that you lock away in this apartment to nest and fuck whenever you please.”

“When did I ever say that’s what I wanted? Nesta,” Cassian sighs, reaching his hands up to frame her face, his fingers surprisingly gentle where they glide across her skin. “I want you exactly as you are.”

Nesta is already shaking her head before Cassian even finishes speaking, but he holds her steady. His hands are warm where they press against her cheeks, that warmth echoed in the fire now blazing in his gaze.

“I’m serious. I like that you push me. I like our teasing back and forth. I like how you’re always the smartest, hottest woman in any room who doesn’t put up with anyone’s bullshit. That’s the Nesta I want. That’s the Nesta I love.”

“Cassian…”

“Whatever you want to do? Do it. You want to quit your job and stay here in the apartment all day reading all those smutty books you hide in your desk? You want to keep doing what you’re doing? You want to go and take Rhys’s job? Great. As long as I get to be there beside you while you do it.”

There’s no fighting the soft smile that spreads across Nesta’s face, even as tears prickle at the corner of her eyes. “I could do Rhysand’s job so much better than him.”

Cassian laughs, the sound reverberating in his chest beneath Nesta’s palms where they’re still settled against his skin. The warm sound of it wraps around her limbs, her smile growing even wider. It’s a beautiful sight, Cassian’s own answering grin and bright hazel eyes.

“Oh, I know, sweetheart. He’s always worried you’re going to take it from him.”

Nesta rolls her eyes, but she presses up onto her toes, sealing their lips together. It’s certainly not the feverish kisses that marked their last eighteen hours, but Nesta still sighs into his mouth all the same. Cassian’s arm wraps securely around her waist, holding her to him, and it feels right being wrapped up with him. For once, those instincts Nesta has always fought tooth and nail seem to settle. For once, it’s as though her very soul settles, safe and warm and home.

“Now, who else knows about the books I keep in my desk?”

—

Taglist (let me know if you’d like to be added or removed): @moodymelanist @nesquik-arccheron @sv0430 @talkfantasytome @bookstantrash @eirini-thaleia @ubigaia @fromthelibraryofemilyj @luivagr-blog @lifeisntafantasy @superspiritfestival @hiimheresworld @marigold-morelli @sweet-pea1 @emeriethevalkyriegirl @pyxxie @dustjacketmusings @hallway5 @dongjunma @glowing-stick-generation @melonsfantasyworld @lady-nestas @goddess-aelin @melphss @theladystardust @a-trifling-matter @blueunoias @kookskoocie @wolfnesta @blurredlamplight @hereforthenessian @skaixo @jmoonjones @burningsnowleopard @whyisaravenlike-awritingdesk @ofduskanddreams @rarephloxes @thelovelymadone @that-little-red-head @readergalaxy @thesnugglingduck @kale-theteaqueen @tarquindaddy @superflurry @bri-loves-sunflowers @lady-winter-sunrise @witch-and-her-witcher @fieldofdaisiies @freakingata

[mylordshesacactus]

As of the end of that gorgon/stonecursed fight ages ago, all of my players have found, and unlocked the full potential of, their custom endgame magic items! Most of these will be recognizable as reskins, combinations, or other reworks of some base magic items from various sourcebooks. Dropping the statblocks here in case anyone can get some inspiration from them.

Max - Bard | Requiem Masterwork Violin (”Violince”)

Max was given this as a parting gift from his old friend and Trans Mentor TM, Ihava Naeme, as she confronted him before helping smuggle the party out of Requiem during a citywide manhunt. The particular aesthetic details were meant to imply she either stole or was gifted the instrument by the city’s wealthiest and most prominently kindhearted homosexual menace.

Nimbus - Ranger | Longbow of the White Stallion

Nim claimed and was claimed by this weapon in the midst of a desperate fight to hold the city of Suncrest. Originally crafted by a long-time member of the city guard, Nim lay a hand on it after his original handmade bow was sundered in the process of saving Max’s life. Despite initially having held complex feelings toward city life, he’s grown to love Suncrest dearly, and the intent and matching love etched into the bow (literally; the pegasus is the sigil of Suncrest) allowed him to attune to it instantly in the city’s darkest hour.

Farrah - Fighter | Vorpal Sword

RAW, the vorpal sword in the DMG is both grossly overpowered and, frankly, broken in a way that’s just not fun. I think this rework makes it rewarding and powerful while also being Fucking Playable. 

Farrah earned this sword the hard way--she was impaled by it! While fleeing the Wild Hunt, Farrah placed herself deliberately near the rear of the party to help provide cover for the more vulnerable casters and ranger near the front. This meant she was the Huntsman’s primary target. After a long running fight, he ran her through on his black sword and she went under--but the way she fell wrenched the sword from his hand, and after she was stabilized, she declared in no uncertain terms that she was keeping that goddamn sword.

Audie - Wizard | Lilac Guard

Audie actually found this shield-brooch in the antimagic/gargoyle chamber of the minidungeon under Requiem. At the time, it functioned purely as an ordinary enchanted shield--a very useful, but not particularly flavorful, magic item. It gave off an odd pulse when they entered the Faewild, but that was all. Only upon meeting Queen Eleaea of the Wild Court of Summer was the full history revealed, and the full power allowed to bloom.

Andromeda - Paladin | Avenging Dawn

This weapon was found half rotten, the bare hilt of a rusted sword buried in the back of a gorgon the party killed. When Andromeda, drawn by a powerful sense of urgency (but free of any magical compulsion), went to draw the blade, the pitted, corroded blade crumbled to dust the moment it was moved. None of the party can read the Celestial runes carved into the hilt, and an Identify spell nearly blinded the caster.

That spell revealed only that the hilt was not cursed, and that the reason the spell failed was that in this moment, the hilt itself wasn’t anything. It had been something once, and could be again, but right now it was.....waiting to become. To be shown what form it would take. Waiting to be given a new life. With the help of Farrah (a blacksmith), the hilt was reforged as the grip of Andromeda’s trusty, much-upgraded flail Morningstar, and rose to her new form like the sun.

There is a reason the Feathered Serpent would later greet our tiny book-dumb mid-rank paladin as “Pelor’s most beloved”.

[deathofpeaceofmiiind]

high infidelity | fourteen

My house of stone, your ivy grows and now I’m covered in you. *Noah’s POV* I laid down on the bed as The Office played on my iPad while I waited for Ellie. I still can’t believe this is real and that she wanted to be with me. I felt like I finally found my person, I just hope I didn’t scare her away with what I said. All of it was true, I wanted to be the one to love her right. Sometimes I catch myself being a hopeless romantic and I can’t stop it. There’s something about making someone feel loved that gives me the greatest feeling.

“Hey you.” 

I look up and see Ellie standing there with a suitcase, causing my jaw to drop. She was wearing black biker shorts with one of our band shirts and checkered vans. Her black hair was so vibrant, giving the impression she washed it and it cascaded down her back in loose waves. Her red lipstick still hasn’t made another appearance but her glossed lips looked so fucking kissable. If I wasn’t already laying down I would’ve folded so fast. “Is that…” “Eevee with a Katana in her mouth?” Ellie replies pointing to her thigh tattoo. “Yeah it is.” “I never noticed it before.” I stuttered, realizing it was because my head was between her thighs most of last night. She just smiles at me before crawling onto the bed and over me. Her scent of vanilla and salted caramel filled my lungs as she kissed me like she missed me. I surrendered to her as my hands wandered down her back and grabbed a handful of her ass as our kiss deepened. She seemed to like that as a soft moan escaped her mouth. I smirked in satisfaction as I gave her another squeeze before rolling her over on the bed, wanting to be in control. Ellie wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing me into her body as close as she possibly could as I returned to her mouth. I pulled away for a moment to start planting kisses on her neck and jawline, trying my best to not mess up her make up. The more I kissed her the more I started to feel her pulse underneath her shorts, it was stirring something up in me. “Fuck.” I cursed as my phone rang. I got off the bed and ran my fingers through my hair, taking a few breaths before answering the phone. It was Matt…the fucker has the worst timing I swear. “Yes?” “Hey man did I catch you at a bad time?” Matt answered as he heard my heavy breathing. “Wait…were you guys fucking?” “What do you want?” I laughed, looking over at Ellie who just sat up and straightened herself out. She looked flushed and I couldn’t help but love the look on her. “I got you two flights at 8am tomorrow morning. Soundcheck is at noon I think so you’ll have to run over here after you land. I got you a separate room at the hotel we’re staying at too. I’ll text you the details.” “Thanks man, I owe you.” “You’re goddamn right you do! I don’t get paid enough to keep booking flights for you, and well, now your girlfriend.” “We’re not -“ “Yeah yeah” Matt says, cutting me off. “Come back, the kids miss you.”

Matt hung up and I couldn’t help but laugh at what he said. Of course I wanted Ellie to be my girlfriend. I’m sure it was something worth mentioning but I didn’t want to overwhelm her. We got down to the hotel parking lot and Ellie held my hand as she lead me over to her car. She grabbed her key and hit the unlock button, causing a black Audi SUV to light up. I raised my eyebrow, maybe she’s more well off than I thought. “This was a gift from my parents when I got pregnant.” She said, looking almost embarrassed. “There’s no way in hell I would’ve been able to afford this myself.” “Your parents bought you this?” I said, my jaw still on the fucking floor.

“Well, kinda.” She replies, her eyes dropping to her feet. “My mom died from Covid when I was pregnant and she had money put aside for me in her will, so my dad used it to buy me my dream car. I’ve been driving the same Volkswagen since high school so I was due for an upgrade.” “Wow, Ellie I’m so sorry about your mom.” I sighed, giving her hand a squeeze. The other night she mentioned her parents but nothing about her mother’s death, granted I never told her much about my past, I was just shocked. “Thank you.” She says she dangles her keys in front of me, “do you want to drive it?” “You trust me with this thing?” “Absolutely.” She smirks as she walks over to the passenger side. My eyes followed her backside the whole time, making me lose my train of thought. “Hurry up, Sebastian.” I rolled my eyes at her as I walked over the drivers side. Ellie just laughed at me as I had to put the seat all the way back before I could even get in, once I did my jaw dropped again. Holy fuck this was so nice. The interior was modern, leather, black with red accents and so sleek. Jealously was an understatement. I pushed the start button and the car let out a small purr which caused me an ungodly sound to escape my mouth. “Yeah I’m getting a new car when I go back to LA.” Ellie just smiles at me as she punches in the address of the aquarium for me. I was a little nervous about driving in Vancouver for the first time but I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as LA. I put the car into drive and pulled out of the parking lot. Ellie put on some Spiritbox for us and my hand instinctively grabbed her inner thigh as I drove down the road. She kept her eyes on me the whole time and I couldn’t help but smirk. “What?” “You look so fucking hot driving my car.”  She confessed, biting her lip. “Oh yeah?” I questioned her, applying more pressure on her thigh. “Yes! It’s so unfair how good looking you are, Noah.” I felt my face getting hot the more she talked about me. I wasn’t embarrassed but I had a hard time taking compliments from people. With Ellie, I couldn’t help but blush the more she complimented me. All I wanted to do was look at her but I was too focused on driving in new territory. Once we got to a red light I quickly wrapped my hand around her throat and kissed her until the light went green again. I could get used to this. All of it.

[darkesttimelinestuff]

just say what you want

Day 2

Prompt #28 - “just say what you want”

There is a single light on upstairs. Dana Scully’s bedroom dimly lit. Her “mood lighting,” she calls it.

There is a strange car parked in the driveway. An mid-range Audi. Grey, older model. Nice, clean, but not flashy.

Two shadows flitter across the window behind lowered shades, bodies beating and pulsing together like butterfly wings.

His stomach drops. He feels ill.

He parks next to the unfamiliar car, thumbs drumming so hard on the steering wheel that he’s fairly sure they’ll bruise. He thinks maybe he’ll break his thumbs from hitting them on the steering wheel. He wants to punch the dashboard and his piece of shit car and the face of that asshole upstairs, taking his spot in bed. 

And then Dr. Scully can bandage up his hands, half dressed with her breasts overflowing from a lacy bra, and put him to bed. The same bed his girlfriend is fucking someone else in right now. And then, sick and healing in her bed, he will be more sweet and handsome. When he’s better he will lick and fuck her until her legsl tremble and she melts into him and forgets all about this other guy.

For now he decides to turn the car around, park around the corner and wait for the mystery man to leave. It gives him time to imagine the perfect man she’s chosen to replace him. Brooding and tall, broad shoulders, great abs. But above all, intelligent. That is what Dana Scully deems sexiest.

It’s the one area he knows he falls short. He has the looks, pouty lips perfect for kissing and teasing, great hair. But he will never measure up to her intellectually. 

When the Audi finally turns out of the driveway and disappears into the night, he finds that he’s not at all surprised to learn who the man is. A calm settles over him like a weighted blanket, a bit stifling, but reassuring all the same.

He knocks on her front door, anger and insecurity evaporating like volatile liquids.

“Tad,” Dana says. She doesn’t sound surprised to see him. 

“It’s not shame that colors your cheeks red,” Tad says. 

She touches her face reflexively. Opens her mouth to speak, but he stops her with a hand. 

“No, it suits you. But then, what doesn’t? Can I come in?” Tad asks.

Wordlessly, she moves aside and asks, “What are you doing here?”

“I thought I’d surprise my girlfriend after work.” Tad runs a hand through his hair. “Maybe we could grab a bite to eat, watch a movie, cuddle in bed. But I think you had other plans.”

“I’m sorry,” she says and sounds genuine. “This wasn’t my plan for tonight. I-”

“I understand,” Tad interrupts. “I can’t say that it’s okay, but it makes sense that it’d be Fox Mulder.”

“Tad…” Scully tries.

“Just say what you want. Is it me or him?”

Scully takes a deep breath. “I think it’s always been him.”

Tad nods, kisses her cheek. “I wish you two the best.”

[allylikethecat]

January OTP Prompts

I think this might be my least favorite one I've written so far, but I actually wrote it so I'm calling it a win anyway.

Warnings for mention / descriptions of blood (Fictional!Matty accidentally cuts himself chopping vegetables) and a reference made to a past suicide attempt

4. Bright red

“Fuck!” Matty swore. He dropped the paring knife, and it clattered to the counter, then slipped off the cutting board and landed with a clang on the hardwood floor. “Shit,” he continued, tears welling in his eyes as he tucked his bleeding hand to his chest. He didn’t care that he was staining his white tee shirt with the fresh bright red blood that welled from the slice in the webbing between his thumb and pointer finger. 

“What’s wrong?” George asked, spinning around from the stove, his eyes widening at the commotion, at the bright red splatters on Matty’s white quartz countertop.

“I nicked myself,” Matty said, purposely not looking at the blood on the counter, he knew it wasn’t a bad cut but the shock of the sting had caused him to recoil in pain and surprise. Matty had always been squeamish and now even just looking at his own blood was making him feel light headed. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to focus on breathing, a steady inhale and exhale. His hand felt like it had a pulse of its own now, throbbing painfully as his heart pumped more and more blood out of his body. 

“Let me see,” said George, stepping into Matty’s space and carefully pulling his hand away from his body, wincing at the blood staining his shirt, dripping down Matty’s hand. “Fuck,” said George, grabbing a wad of paper towels and pressing down on the cut, trying to stop the bleeding. 

“Is it bad? I didn’t think it was that bad?! Is it bad?!” Matty asked, the pain making him feel frantic, he didn’t want to look, he couldn’t look for himself. He tried to focus on the counter behind George, instead of the bright red splotch growing larger on the paper towel as he continued to bleed. They were going to have to throw away the bell pepper he had been slicing for the stir fry he thought hysterically, he had bled all over the vegetable. 

“It looked pretty deep,” said George, his voice sounding far away as Matty’s vision tunneled. He was no longer thirty four years old, standing in the kitchen with the love of his life, but sixteen in the bathtub, hands shaking as he tried and failed to end it all, bright red staining the white porcelain. His parents hard ripped out the tile in the bathroom after, replacing the bathtub with just a shower. 

“What does that fucking mean?” Matty asked, he needed to stop looking at the blood on the counter, but his vision felt spotty, and George’s worried face wasn’t providing any sort of comfort. 

“It means you might need stitches,” George said, “or to have it glued back together or something, I’m not sure I’m not a doctor.” 

“What about dinner?” Matty asked, his voice wavering. 

“We’ll get takeaway on the way back,” said George softly, putting his hand on Matty’s lower back to shepard him to the car. He paused, leaving Matty standing in the hallway to run back to the kitchen and turn off the stove.

“I’m sorry,” said Matty, still feeling woozy as he climbed into the passenger seat of his Audi. George pressed a kiss to his forehead. 

“Accidents happen love,” he said softly, “let's just go get you all patched up.” 

Day: 1 | 2 | 3

[josephmfish]

F1 News: Is Ricciardos Move to AUDI a Game Changer for F1?

https://ift.tt/UGMLP56 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZK49icSIAY The 2025 season is shaping up to be a thrilling chapter in Formula One as Sauber and Red Bull make pivotal decisions that could redefine their trajectories. With Hülkenberg at the helm, the strategic choices coming from AUDI are crucial. Could Daniel Ricciardo’s potential transfer to AUDI signal a major shift in the competitive landscape? Insights from leading voices in F1 shed light on what this could mean for Ricciardo and the team’s ambitions. As these developments unfold, the excitement builds. From fan reactions to expert analysis, every aspect is examined, leaving fans eager for what comes next. Stay engaged with the pulse of F1 and discover the implications of these moves on the grid! #shorts #shortsvideo #shortsfeed from Formula 1 Live https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc7MQ5710t9YZb1wMYZxadw via Formula 1 Live https://ift.tt/kIAdovQ October 18, 2024 at 11:20PM

[lily-higginson-writing]

Beep

I came back to a harsh beeping. Continuous and marching in rhythm to the pounding in my head. It seemed that instantly, I knew what had happened, and in the next second, I saw him walk in the door.

“You fucked up kid” was the first thing he said to me.

Yeah.

I had almost died.

I guess that’s fucking up.

I couldn’t look him in the eyes, as a silence fell between us, broken only by the harsh beep of the machinery.

It was a nurse walking into the room who finally broke the stalemate, “.454, sweetie, were you trying to die?”

“Well yes,” the thought rings through my head, but I remain silent, my gaze tracing the iv running into my arm, imagining my veins pulsing.

Beep

“Well clearly, this was a cry for help,” this time it was my father’s voice, responding to the nurse, but clearly directed at me. I could feel his eyes burning a hole through me, normally gray like storm clouds gathering on the horizon, I’d imagine now they were the bright blue of lightning, the dry heat of his anger cutting into the room, tinting his voice ever so slightly.

Yeah, I fucked up.

Beep

“The doctor would like to move him to psych once they are sure he is stable, they pumped his stomach, and he should be in the clear, but they'll want to hang onto him for a couple more hours to be sure.”

My father’s voice is silent for a second.

Beep

“I don’t think that’s necessary, he just had a bit too much to drink, this was only a cry for help I think.”

Apparently someone doesn’t understand what that phrase means.

Beep

“Well, the doctor will speak with you both, and once they have their decision I will let you know.”

With that, I can hear her keys jingle as she turns, and the sound of her footsteps as she retreats down the hall.

Beep

The IV is a wondrous invention, often overlooked as a routine part of medical care, so much of modern medicine would be impossible without it. I think about this as I stare at the needle in my arm.

Beep

2 hours later, we are walking out, my father in his gray patagonia vest over a sensible button up, and me in a hospital gown, apparently they had to cut the rest of my clothes off of me. As we walk to the car, I think about the clothes I had lost, including my favorite leather belt, but my thoughts are cut short as my father unlocks his Audi.

Beep

[venkateshwheelsbingo]

Things You Need To Know About The 2024 Audi e-tron GT

The Audi e-tron GT has received a global update for its entire lineup, featuring fine design adjustments, more luxurious interiors, and comprehensive mechanical improvements. Check out these five key points explaining the updated lineup of Audi’s flagship EV -

● Larger Battery and Advanced Performance

The 2024 Audi e-tron range now features a 105 kWh battery pack instead of 83.7 kWh. This pack powers two motors, one available on each axle, due to which, the new entry-level S e-tron GT generates 679 PS instead of the previous 476 PS, while the RS e-tron delivers 856 PS instead of 598 PS. The new RS e-tron performance, which comes with a reprogrammed pulse inverter on the front axle, makes it Audi’s most powerful production car to date by producing 925 PS. It also includes a new standard boost function which allows the RS models to deliver a 95 PS increase in power for ten seconds while driving.

For more information visit our website wheelsbingo.

[unmeisenshi]

GGST THEME: FLORENCE

SONG: Let Me Carve Your Way (Theme of Zato-1)

REFERENCES TO: Slipknot (specifically Heretic Anthem and Pulse of the Maggots), nu-metal music, Queen (potentially at the end)

Ah, another song about death. This time for Zato, who in the story of GG died at the end of the first game, having lost control of his shadow puppet Eddie. Eddie takes over Zato's body, with it leading to Zato's body decaying and breaking down by the end of Accent Core +R where he died. In Xrd he is revived, an emotionless husk of his former self with no memories to speak of, and he tries to continue his life and try to find a way to feel anything.

I took heavily from Zato's story for Florence here. Down to the shadow puppet and everything. Florence died due to Abominae, and her body was taken over. Which then led to Abominae and Audie fighting, and leading to Abominae's death. While Florence didn't lose her memories (at least before getting taken over by Abominae), she isn't herself anymore. She only feels fear, and she desperately wants to feel normal again.

I also self-inserted my own experiences into Florence, mainly the constant panic attacks and feeling of overwhelming dread I felt right after my medical emergency. She has PTSD about her dying... Just as I have PTSD from almost dying alone in my dorm room three years ago from high blood sugar. From something you thought you had control of, but you really didn't.

Jesus, didn't mean to make this kind of dark. But that's the feeling you get with the song as well. This feeling of not being in control and the anxiety of not being able to keep it in control. It fits Florence perfectly.

[labhanyatechnologies01]

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CTR BY LISTENING TO YOUR AUDIENCE?

In the ever-evolving realm of digital marketing, where the success of campaigns hinges on user interaction, understanding and responding to your audience is paramount. Click-through rate (CTR) serves as a vital metric, indicating how effectively your content resonates with your audience.

At Labhanya Technologies, we place great emphasis on the power of strategic listening to enhance CTR and foster meaningful engagement. In this blog, we'll delve into various strategies and innovative approaches aimed at improving CTR by attentively tuning in to your audience.

THE ART OF STRATEGIC LISTENING

Analyzing User Behavior: Laying the Foundation

To compose a harmonious tune, one must first understand the notes. Similarly, comprehending user behavior is fundamental. Leveraging analytical tools, we dissect user data to identify patterns and preferences. Through cutting-edge analytics, we gain insights into user journeys, fostering a deep understanding of what resonates with your audience.

Persona Play: Tailoring Content for Your Audience

Every audience possesses its unique persona. Crafting content akin to a skilled composer tailoring a piece for a specific instrument, we curate content that aligns with the nuances of your audience. By developing detailed buyer personas that consider demographics, interests, and pain points, we create a personalized approach that boosts CTR, ensuring your audience feels recognized and understood.

CRAFTING ENGAGING CONTENT

Storytelling Magic: Entrancing Audiences

The enchantment of storytelling is unrivaled. We craft narratives that captivate your audience, drawing them into a journey. Emphasizing narrative arcs that resonate with the audience's emotions, engaging content sparks curiosity, increasing the likelihood of users clicking through to discover more.

Interactive Elements: Transforming Viewers into Participants

Similar to how a live concert engages the audience, interactive elements can transform passive viewers into active participants. Incorporating polls, quizzes, and surveys encourages user participation, thereby boosting CTR and providing valuable insights into audience preferences.

FINE-TUNING YOUR STRATEGY WITH FEEDBACK

Feedback Loops: Iterating for Improvement

Feedback is invaluable for refinement. Establishing feedback loops through social media, surveys, and comments sections enables us to gather insights from your audience. Actively listening to audience feedback allows us to adjust content strategies accordingly, considering feedback as a crucial element in our continuous improvement process.

A/B Testing: Experimenting for Optimization

Just as musicians fine-tune instruments, marketers refine strategies through A/B testing. Experimenting with different headlines, visuals, and calls-to-action provides quantitative data that guides decision-making, optimizing content for maximum CTR.

NAVIGATING THE SOCIAL LANDSCAPE

Social Media Symphony: Playing the Right Notes

Social media is a powerful platform for audience connection. We strategize social media campaigns that align with platform preferences, whether it's the succinct style of Twitter or the visual appeal of Instagram, understanding platform nuances enhances CTR.

Real-Time Engagement: Remaining Relevant

Similar to how musicians stay attuned to current trends, digital marketers engage with real-time events, creating content that aligns with trending topics and events. Real-time engagement not only boosts visibility but also enhances CTR by connecting with the pulse of your audience.

HARMONIZING ACROSS PLATFORMS

Mobile Optimization: Prioritizing Accessibility

In the age of mobile dominance, optimizing content for mobile platforms is essential. Ensuring your website and content are seamlessly accessible on mobile devices contributes to a positive user experience, leading to higher CTR.

Email Marketing: Crafting Compelling Messages

Email marketing provides a direct channel to your audience's inbox. Crafting compelling subject lines and personalized content entices users to click through. Leveraging segmentation tailors messages based on user behavior, ensuring emails resonate with different segments of your audience.

THE FINAL CRESCENDO: MONITORING AND ADAPTING

Continuous Monitoring: Staying Agile

The digital landscape evolves rapidly. Regularly monitoring metrics and staying informed about industry trends allows for agility and adaptation based on changing audience dynamics and the digital marketing landscape.

Iterative Approach: Embracing Continuous Improvement

Just as a symphony undergoes multiple rehearsals, marketing strategies benefit from an iterative approach. Embracing a culture of continuous improvement allows every campaign to be an opportunity for learning, adaptation, and enhancement of your digital presence.

THE BOTTOM LINEIn the grand orchestration of digital marketing, the harmony between strategic listening and audience engagement is pivotal. Labhanya Technologies is dedicated to refining this symphony, ensuring every campaign resonates with audiences and elevates CTR. By embracing strategic listening, we not only foster meaningful connections but also compose a melody of success across the digital landscape.

[cocktailsfairytales]

Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan is now live! 

 

From award-winning author Kennedy Ryan comes the emotional final installment of the Hoops trilogy.

She’s not the plan he made, but she’s the risk he has to take.

A single, divorced dad in the final years of his basketball career, Kenan Ross’s perfect life has blown up in his face. He’s still picking up the pieces when he meets Lotus DuPree. A wildflower. A storm. A kick to his gut and a wrench in his plans from the moment their eyes meet. He promised himself he’d never trust a woman again, but he’s never wanted anyone the way he wants Lo.

At twenty-five, Lotus is finally living out her dream, becoming a force in New York’s fashion scene. Focused on her future and not looking for love, she’s seen where trusting a man leaves you. Kenan is the last thing she needs. But from the moment they meet, she’s drawn in, even if he’s eleven years her senior and her opposite in every way.

When Kenan moves to New York for the summer to be near his daughter, Lotus can no longer avoid the attraction that pulses between them—but she still won’t let him in. Not after what she’s been through. Except Kenan wants her so badly, he’ll do anything to knock down her defenses.

He won’t give up on her…and soon, she’s no longer sure she wants him to.

Get your copies today!

https://www.bloombooks.com/hook-shot.html

New paperback includes Bonus Epilogue and Author Q&A!

Read it FREE in #kindleunlimited

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Order signed copies here:

https://bit.ly/46tQsna

Read the other books in the Hoops series!

Long Shot

https://www.bloombooks.com/long-shot.html

Block Shot

https://www.bloombooks.com/block-shot.html

Meet Kennedy



A RITA® and Audie® Award winner, USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish, and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts. Kennedy and her writings have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, TIME, O magazine, and many others. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son.

 

Connect with Kennedy

Website: https://kennedyryanwrites.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7429243.Kennedy_Ryan

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kennedy-Ryan/author/B00HBHK09Q

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennedyRyanAuthor

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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kennedy-ryan

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Text KennedyRyan to (678) 647-7912

[campbluelake]

enemies changing on your mood || kyousuke || trial 3.5

Kyousuke had done nothing but raised an eyebrow as Jo, in her final moments, went on a spiel tearing down every person who didn’t understand. He didn’t want, need, or even remotely desire, her trust. Everyone else has the words covered; the kindness he finds deeply cruel, and the vitriol he understands all too well.

He’s done well at blocking out conversations until they turn into white noise in the background. Until everyone is a radio station, just slightly out of tune, as he drives away from it’s range. Even the hand that he gingerly rests on Audie’s, and the quick glance he spares to Eri, are distant.

The distance is easier.

But– the tears, he could ignore.

When she starts walking through every single life she’s robbed, and the fire spits out the play by play of how she brutally ended Warrick’s life…

… He’s relieved, in a sense, that the reactions around the campfire turn from support, from attempts to understand, from kindness, to horror, to fear. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do if half of these people could function under the thought of ‘it wasn’t technically serial murder’.

He can’t understand it at all. Her dad’s were so mad about the last one? Where she chased him around like a slasher from a film in the 80’s and killed him – for what? Because she wanted to be the head bitch? Because she so desperately needed to peak in high school that she would tear away lives and love from so many people? All of those families, those friends, the people who woke up one morning and someone they cared about more than anything was gone forever, while Jo took on a new name and continued her life. How many souls were shattered and grinded into dust because of her? How far did the ripple spread, until it was a tsunami?

For a moment, he’s standing in the hospital, playing grown-up as the doctor tries to sugar coat how T–

This was the woman he watched the stars with? This was the woman who found him throwing rocks around and joined until they found the prettiest piece of maybe quartz to make into a necklace? The same one who had been –

So excited when she got his fake secret, and thought his family had a bloody past.

For a moment, his hand grips Audie’s a bit too tight, like he’s seeking comfort from her rather than offering it. He quickly loosens it, and casts her a smile, like he’s squeezing it for her sake.

So many others have something to say. It’s better that they do it. He can’t think of a single way to say something kind. He can barely think over the pulsing that spreads across his skull, that he desperately tries to ignore as it spreads to and grips his heart in an icy grip.

All he can think is…

Jo told him, a few times, that her dads love her.

Hearing how they let her do what she wants, at the expense of so many other happy families…

He doesn’t think that can possibly be true. For that, and that reason alone, he pities her.

And he’s grateful, all over again, for his own parents, doubly sure now more than ever that when they told him they did it for his sake, they were telling the truth.

[markwatsonsbooks]

#Amreading: The Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi and New York Times Bestseller... 

Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 by L. Ron Hubbard 

Audie Award Winner Earphones Award Winner Best of 2016 Science Fiction Audiobook

Battlefield Earth is an enormous epic of adventure set in the year 3000, when the future survival of what's left of the human race is at stake. When Jonnie Goodboy Tyler decides to venture out of the small and dwindling community of humans barely surviving in their Rocky Mountain retreat, he has no thought of challenging the order that for a thousand years has held the earth prisoner to the oppressive alien race of the Psychlos.

The Psychlos and their vast intergalactic mining corporation have dominated and exploited all known galaxies for centuries, ruthlessly destroying races who dare to resist. How one man - with the aid of a few surviving Scotsmen—tackles the greatest malignant power in the universe makes for a sprawling adventure of thrilling heroics, full of dangerous underground work, interplanetary wars, intergalactic financial intrigue, monster races, and complex political manipulation spread across a vast canvas of epic scale.

Experience the unabridged audiobook in fully immersive HD sound of the story that changed the shape of science fiction forever. Performed by over 65 actors playing 198 characters with 150,000 sound effects.

“The sheer scope of this production of the epic sci-fi adventure Battlefield Earth is breathtaking.” (Stefan Rudnicki)

“This futuristic tale, featuring aliens and humans fighting for survival, comes across as compelling and believable.” (Booklist)

“It's like a full-blown feature film inside your head.” (Audiobook Heaven)

“A vivid movie of the mind!” (Audio File Magazine)

Unlike any other audiobook ever produced. A fully immersive experience, this unabridged audiobook features more than 65 actors including Grammy Award-winning audiobook producer and narrator Stefan Rudnicki.

This state-of-the-art audio engineering has created a wholly cinematic soundtrack with:

47½ hours of pulse-pounding drama and action professionally recorded with high-definition sound.

A gorgeous cinematic soundtrack with full orchestral compositions and more than 150,000 sound effects.

A cast of more than 65 actors - many of whom are celebrity voices from TV, films, and games - performing 198 characters.

Awards and Accolades: Top 100 science fiction books

Top three of the best 100 English language novels of the 20th century by the Random House Modern Library Readers Poll

US Golden Scroll and Saturn Awards

Tetradramma d'Oro Award

Gutenberg Award

Listen to the novel that changed the shape of science fiction.

Additional performers include: Roy Abramsohn, Corey Burton, Nancy Cartwright, Bob Caso, R. F. Daley, Charles Davis, Neil Dickson, Ellen Dubin, Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen, Michael Gough, Kaleo Griffith, Christina Huntington, Larrs Jackson, Don Leslie, Ralph Lister, Mark Mintz, Phil Nee, Joe Ochman, Mr. Phil Proctor, Enn Reitel, Patrick Renna, Alan Shearman, Thomas Silcott, Tadao Tomomatsu, Bob Walter, Matt Wolf, Robert Wu, Michael Yurchak, Gregory Lee Kenyon, Darren Richardson, Jason Wilburn, Rick Zieff, and Roger Steffens.    

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