#cowboy lovin

[mutliwankenobi]

Girls don’t want boys, girls want Colt Seavers emerging dramatically from the water in a bloodied white wife beater after faking his death while I Was Made for Lovin’ You blasts in background.

[redgearsmovin]

Oh Smitty is ROCKIN' to that hahaha

[elwar-arts]

Micha Bell! Art of Micha Bell from rdr2! Always loved how cartoonishly evil he can be, meanwhile Dutch is just like "yeah, he's a silly little guy xoxo"

[syrupmap]

Another song for the cowgays

You've heard this song a thousand times

But this time it's 'bout two guys

[theres-a-man-in-the-archives]

Should I write random TSSM Montana hcs? Like both random ones I’ve accumulated while writing my oc x canon stuff abt him? And also what it’s like being with him? Should I…

Should I? Should I—Shoulddddd I?

[bohemian-rhapsody-in-blue]

Bebop Crew July Challenge, Day 2: Summer Nights

Thanks to the @bebopcrew community for the prompt list! This one is, of course, inspired by the song “Summer Nights” from Grease. Takes place post-finale.

Summer lovin’, had me a blast…

Summer lovin’, happened so fast…

Faye swore she usually had more sophisticated tastes than the almost-a-century-old film about teenage greasers in the 1950s, peppily singing and dancing their way through high school friendships and romances. Grease, she admitted, was a bit of a guilty pleasure for her, and she knew she’d probably be subject to merciless teasing if any other members of the crew caught her watching it unironically. But she stood by her love of the movie, embarrassing as it may have been.

She knew, of course—she knew very well from experience—that the real world wasn’t like the one portrayed in Grease; it didn’t have musical numbers and dance-offs and perfect happy endings where people’s cars inexplicably took off flying into the sky. (Although she supposed maybe her Red Tail counted…) The real world was filled with hard times, bad luck, scammers and con artists you couldn’t trust. The real world, put simply, sucked. But sometimes it was nice to pretend.

And at the end of a long, crappy day like today—when her bounty heads had all gotten away, her horses had all lost, and to top it all off, there was nothing good to eat anywhere on the ship—it was nice to watch something calming, familiar, silly, that would let her relax and turn off her brain. Particularly when she was in the optimal viewing position: alone, curled up on her bed, with headphones connected to the TV and jammed firmly over her ears. It especially helped if she had a drink or two to go with it, too. (Because of course the ship had that.)

“Damn, Faye,” came a voice, “didn’t realize you were actually twelve years old.” Faye turned in surprise to see Spike standing in the doorway, a sideways grin on his face.

She was going to destroy these headphones.

“Oh, are you talking about this absolute cinematic masterpiece I’m watching?” she said lightly, taking off her headphones so they hung around her neck, but letting the movie continue to play in the background. She knew this whole song by heart anyway, not that she’d readily admit that to Spike. Now that her headphones were off, she could tell they didn’t block out noise very well—stupid cheap things—and the movie’s sounds were quite easily audible through their tinny speakers even when they were plugged in. The T-Birds and the Pink Ladies crooned faintly underneath her words. Tell me more, tell me more….

“This music is giving me diabetes just from listening to it,” Spike complained.

Faye grinned. “Your tastes just aren’t sophisticated enough to appreciate it.” She may have dreaded her crewmates’ teasing, but she could give as good as she got.

Spike made his way to Faye’s bed and leaned over her shoulder to look at the movie. A few minutes passed quietly this way, with Spike furrowing his brow, a vaguely confused expression on his face as he took in the action. Finally, he broke the silence. “There’s no way these actors are high schoolers,” he said, jabbing his finger at Rizzo on the screen. “I mean, how old’s that one? 30?”

“I notice you haven’t stopped watching.”

“I just wanna see how stupid it is,” Spike protested. But, just as Faye said, he didn’t stop watching. He kept looking over Faye’s shoulder, leaning against her bedpost in that casual way of his. He was mostly silent except for the occasional, “Who’s that?” and “What’s with that ridiculous getup?” and “Oh, god dammit, they’re singing again?”

Faye found it strange to watch her designated Movie For Bad Days with Spike in the room, judging it all. But she duly fended off his comments: “That’s Frenchy, she’s one of the Pink Ladies”; “You mean that beautiful getup, and it’s from like 120 years ago anyway”; “It’s a musical, Spike, not a snooze-ical. Now shut up, I wanna hear this.”

At one point, Spike pointed to Danny Zuko and asked, with a sly, joking smile, “You think I could pull off that look?”

“As if there was enough grease in the world to tame your hair like that.”

“Find me a pair of leather pants,” he said, “and I’ll get back to you.”

“The real question is, could you dance like that,” said Faye.

“Could I? Sure,” Spike answered. “Would I? With all those weird-ass pelvic thrusts? You couldn’t pay me.”

Faye smiled; she couldn’t help herself. “That’s kinda what you look like when you’re fighting.”

“Please.” Spike shook his head and turned away. “Zucchini or whatever his name is wishes he could do it like me.”

At another point, he blurted out incredulously, “You have this shit memorized?” and Faye realized she’d been unconsciously mouthing the lyrics to one of the songs, matching it word-for-word. She hadn’t even noticed she was doing it.

“You know the exact order of all those tracks on Jet’s favorite Charlie Parker album,” she rejoined.

“I’d better,” Spike grumbled, “after he’s subjected me to it all those times.” Then he looked at her, his brow furrowed again. “How many times have you watched this?”

“Maybe I’m just a genius,” she said, “with a photographic memory. And I can learn things by heart after only seeing them once.”

Spike snorted. “And that’s why you’re so great at blackjack.”

“Screw you, Spike,” she said, taking another swig of alcohol and turning her attention back to the screen.

A few minutes of silence passed before she spoke again.

“I watched this as a kid,” she said, her voice quieter as she reminisced. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Spike leaning in a tiny bit closer to listen. “My friends and I did a cheerleading routine to Greased Lightning one year, and we performed it at our school’s end-of-year exhibition.” Her face split into a surprisingly soft grin at the memory. “One of my friend’s moms showed us the actual movie, and after that we watched it so many times that we memorized all the songs, not just Greased Lightning, and we’d act them out when we were bored. God, we made up whole dance routines to them.” She gave a small laugh. “We must have looked so ridiculous. There weren’t enough of us for all the roles, so usually one of us was all of the T-Birds at once, and one of us was all the Pink Ladies. It’s one of the memories that came back.”

She wasn’t usually this unguarded, especially not when she talked about herself, and especially not when she recalled another snatch of memory about her past life. It usually just brought back what had been taken from her, what would never be again. It felt like physical pain, like jabbing at a bruise or a gunshot wound that hadn’t fully healed.

She wasn’t sure what had changed today. Maybe it was the alcohol. Or maybe it was as if the wound was finally starting to scar over. Her past memories no longer always came with the sharp pang of the reminder of what she didn’t have. Now, she could recall the happiness of back then, too, and just appreciate it for what it was.

Or maybe it was because she wasn’t entirely friendless anymore. Although she’d never consider doing a choreographed dance routine to Greased Lightning with the friends she had now. (Then again, it did make her laugh to imagine Spike forced into what he’d called “that ridiculous getup,” a deep scowl on his face as he halfheartedly performed the movements.)

What mattered was that her friends were there. In a way, they’d always been there, there on the Bebop—the place she’d flitted into and out of at will, the place she’d refused to ever truly consider a home, the only place left for her after every place she remembered from her childhood was destroyed. After spending so long on the ship with Spike and Jet and Ed and Ein—these people who didn’t abandon her, even if they left for a while—she was just beginning to appreciate that.

Spike appeared to consider her words for a while, looking surprisingly thoughtful, pensive. Faye wondered if he was imagining what she must have looked like as a kid, twirling and dancing around with her friends. She’d only been a year or two younger than when she’d recorded the VHS for her future self, after all.

Then, abruptly, his face snapped back into its usual cool, lazy expression. “So…you’re not a genius with a photographic memory.”

“Maybe I just had to watch it once back then to memorize it,” she said, her light tone returning as well. “And how do you know I’m not a genius? Sixty years is a long time to keep something in your head, you know.”

That was another sign she was recovering from having lost her memories and then gotten them back. She could joke about it. The wound didn’t feel too fresh, too raw. The realization made her heart feel light.

“Now shut up,” she said, a faint smile on her face. “I wanna watch.”

Spike rolled his eyes, but obligingly shut up. But he did elbow Faye, prompting her to scooch over, and then clambered onto her bed next to her, leaning over to see the screen without touching her. Faye didn’t kick him off.

And together—Spike with his knees drawn up to his chest, Faye mouthing and sometimes softly singing all the lyrics she could remember, both of them taking alternating swigs from the bottle between them—they watched.

Summer dreams ripped at the seams,

But oh, those summer nights….

[enderianidiot]

It's spooky month time

[lovesbiggerthanpride]

Several of these songs give me Javi / Joel vibes and I love it.

The

[mercyprevaild]

not gonna lie, i am aching for some shippy stuff so i may reblog a meme for that

[catalisst]

Me ... literally ALL day (morning And afternoon). That damn Halloween surgery has really kicked my ass. Shit!

[littlemissrbf]

Summer Lovin' (pt. 3)

Robert "Bob" Floyd x fem!Reader

(No use of y/n, reader is a SoCal native & Bob is from Montana, language, reader has an annoying but loving uncle, a lot of Cali references, very dialogue-heavy in this one, a lil bit horny, please drink responsibly and wear your fucking seatbelt, Hangman jumpscare, a lot of food references bc I was hungry when I wrote this)

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 [Word Count: 2.9k]

"Really, oops?" you said leaning against the pool table with your arms crossed. He had just let you win

"Yeah it's a real bummer." His shoulders sagged and he let out a sigh as he placed his cue back on its rack on the wall. Then he looked at you with a boyish grin and a glimmer in his eyes.

"I guess I oughta buy you that drink now?"

The two of you made your way to the bar just as Natasha and her three idiots moved back to the pool tables. Mickey and Reuben made kissy faces and "oOooh" sounds as they passed until a quick jab of Natasha's elbow to their sides shut them up. You giggled as you saw the whole interaction, and out of the corner of your eye, you caught Rooster giving Bob a not-so-subtle thumbs up.

Before you'd even made it to the bar, Bob had pulled a chair out for you

"Such a gentleman." You say, hopping up onto the barstool, "I should send your parents a thank-you basket."

He smiled as he sat down on his own stool, his knees brushing yours as he shifted to face you, "If you do, make sure to send those chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, they love those." He said, placing his elbow on the bar and leaning his cheek into his hand.

"Aloha-macs?" you mirrored him, placing your right elbow on the bar and resting your chin on your palm. You crossed your legs, bumping his knees again, your legs were now placed between his.

"Yep, that's the one." He looked down at your crossed legs placed between his, then quickly looked up. "-And also those gold ones, the Ferrerra rochers?"

"Ferrero Rochers and Aloha-macs for the Floyds, I got it." Then your smile shifted into a smirk, "What do I get for the other cowboys?"

Before Bob could come up with a clever response, the sound of someone clearing their throat startled both of you, Penny was standing right there looking between the two of you with a smirk. You both fixed your posture immediately, pulling your elbows off the table and knocking your knees against each other as you scrambled to face the bar.

“Care to introduce me to your new friend, hun?"

“Penny, this is Lt. Bob Floyd and he’s gonna buy me a drink ‘cause I beat him in 8-ball.” You smiled innocently, knowing you had taken her one piece of advice (to “watch out for those aviators”) and threw it out the fucking window.

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you Bob.” She smiles and extends her hand to him

He immediately reaches out to shake her hand and say, “It’s nice to meet you too, Ma’am.”

Penny nodded slowly, as if he had just passed some kind of secret test, then she smiled at you as if to say “yeah, this one’s okay.”

“So what can I get you kids to drink? Another Shirley Temple?”

“Yes please,” you smiled.

“And for you?” She turned to Bob

“May I have a Coke, please?”

“Of course,” she started to move away then gestured to the sign behind her. “Make sure to read the rules, I’d hate to see you stuck paying for the whole bar.”

The two of you leaned to get a better view of the sign it read something like “disrespect a lady, the US Navy, or put your phone on the bar = you pay for a round.”

“You remember that guy from earlier that got thrown overboard?" You leaned in closer to whisper, trying to make sure Penny couldn’t hear you.

"Yeah, I saw him get tossed by Hangman, Coyote, and Payback." He whispered back.

"Who?" you cocked your head to the side, you still haven't put together all the names and callsigns to faces yet.

"Payback is Reuben." he smiled.

"Oh Reuben, okay, so anyways I saw him talking with Penny before she rang the death bell, and she looked pissed with him." You checked to make sure no one (especially Penny) was listening in before finishing your thought, "I think they were a thing."

"A thing?" He leaned in closer now, matching your enthusiasm.

"Mhm." You nodded excitedly, "There's some history there, I can feel it. But when I asked her about it, she told me 'It's a long story' and completely brushed it off."

"You sound invested." he grinned at you.

"Oh I am invested, there is something going on between Penny and Mr. Overboard-” you quietly groaned as the realization hit you, “but I'm never getting an explanation out of her, and he is probably never gonna set foot in this bar again."

“Well if Mr. Overboard is smart, he’ll be back tomorrow with flowers and a damn good apology,” Bob said, like he was repeating words of wisdom passed down from his father.

You smiled at his use of your nickname for the old man, when you noticed Penny walking back over with the drinks you wiped the grin off your face and gave his foot a little nudge with your own. He nodded and pressed his lips together, immediately understanding the signal.

"Here's that Shirley and a Coke, you two just holler if you need anything else." You two thanked her as she moved on to another patron at the other end of the bar.

You raised your glass to Bob and he tapped it with the lip of his bottle with a satisfying 'clink' as you said your cheers. You looked down at the drink in your hands and noticed that Penny had given you two cherries instead of one. Penny Benjamin is also a fantastic wingman.

"Want one?" you asked, holding out a bright red cherry by its stem to him, your other hand placed under to catch any liquid.

"Sure." he said.

You had expected him to take the cherry from you with his hand, not his mouth. Without any shame, this man leaned down and plucked the whole cherry from your fingers with his teeth, taking the stem too. Your mouth hung open in shock before you gave him a nervous chuckle and turned back to your drink. You could feel your cheeks burning as the smooth bastard just smiled like it was nothing and thanked you.

"Wanna see a magic trick?" He asked, and you immediately spun in your seat to face him. He twirled the cherry stem between two fingers and then popped it into his mouth. You made a face and he held up a finger to tell you to 'wait for it' his eyebrows raised. After about fifteen seconds of silence and Bob twisting his mouth and scrunching his nose in concentration, he brought his fingers back to his lips and pulled out the stem... tied in a knot.

"Shut up!" You practically shouted. He laughed and grabbed a napkin to place the stem on, shrugging like it was no big deal. You immediately fished out the second cherry and plopped it into your own mouth, pulling the stem free and holding it out to him with sparkling eyes,

"Can you do it again?"

His ears were pink as he took the stem that had just been between your lips and placed it on his tongue, keeping his eyes locked on yours. After ten seconds of making silly faces, he pulled the knotted stem from his lips and placed it right next to the other one.

Your cheeks burned as you mentally scolded yourself for beginning to wonder just what else his mouth could do.

You spent the next hour chatting with each other, Bob gave you a crash course on all the groups' callsigns, you learned that Natasha's callsign was Phoenix (which is so fucking cool) and Mickey's was Fanboy (which is arguably less cool). Then he pointed out five more pilots near Hangman and Coyote that you hadn’t met.

"Those three are Omaha, Halo, and Fritz." he nodded over to them, "and those two big guys over there are Harvard and Yale."

"Harvard and Yale?" you asked while raising an eyebrow.

"Yep, they've flown together for years now, everybody knows them."

"Lemme guess, their wingman is Princeton?"

"You know it actually might be," he tapped his chin and looked up in fake thought, you laughed and lightly swatted at his arm.

"Okay okay that's enough about them," you shifted in your seat, your legs coming to rest between his again. "What's your favorite food?"

"Street tacos."

"Really?"

"Absolutely, there's some real good places in Lemoore close to base, I would get ‘em for dinner probably four to five times a week."

"What, no tacos in Montana?" you teased.

"There are, but it's not the same." he shrugged. "What about you? What's your guilty pleasure?"

"I'm a sucker for In-N-Out." You laughed.

"I've never tried it, but everyone tells me it's good." he said, taking a sip of his Coke.

"I'm sorry you've been in Cali for how long? And you've never had In-N-Out?!"

He shrugged, "I've just never really got the chance to try it."

"Oh Robbie, we have to fix that." You grinned, "You gotta have a double-double, an animal-fry, and a milkshake. Trust me, it's all part of the experience."

"Well, I guess you'll just have to take me yourself," he nudged you with his elbow, "You know, to make sure I'm getting the full ‘So Cal’ experience."

You laughed and leaned into his touch, your legs were still intertwined under the bar, with your feet resting on the leg rest of his barstool.

"So what do you do for work?"

"I'm in school right now, but I work with kids mostly. Babysitting, tutoring, summer camps all that fun stuff." you replied.

"You like working with kids?"

"Most of the time." You started, "Then there's the times when these kids make me question my life's decisions- like this one girl, Katie, she tells me 'Miss why don't you have a wedding ring?' and I tell her it's because I'm not married, and you know what she says? This girl looks me dead in the eyes and tells me, 'Miss you're too old to not be married!'"

"Kids do say the darndest things sometimes." Bob shook his head slowly and smiled at you. "You must be good with them, though."

"Oh I'm amazing with kids. I taught a class of 30 once, most of them were around four to six. Longest week of my life."

A new voice joined the conversation,

"How about teenagers?" Penny asked wiping down the bar,

"I'm usually just there to make sure they aren't throwing parties while their parents are on a date," you laughed, "but I also do pick-ups and drop-offs, and I've tutored some freshmen in math and chemistry recently."

"That's good to know." She said and pushed a notepad and pen towards you, you quickly wrote down your contact info and she ripped off the piece of paper, folded it, and stuffed it into her pocket.

Bob chuckled as she walked away, "Well, looks like she beat me to it."

"Hm?"

"I really thought I was gonna be the first one to get your number tonight," he laughed and went to readjust his glasses. He noticed some smudges on the lenses and took them off to try and clean them with the bar napkins.

"Here, let me." you reached out one hand to him as you rummaged through your bag with your other. Bob placed his glasses in your palm as you pulled out a small microfiber cloth smiling as you explained,

"I always drive with my sunglasses on and I hate when there's fingerprints or smudges on them, drives me nuts." You laughed at yourself as you cleaned one lens after the other, patient and thoroughly. You held the frames up to the light to check your work, then nodded in satisfaction, but before handing them back you held them out before your eyes and started to scan the room with them half-on.

"Whatcha doin'?" he laughed at you, still looking through his glasses as if they were binoculars.

"Just trying to see the world through your eyes," you said squinting your eyes, "Geez Robbie, you really are blind."

You laughed at each other as he playfully snatched his glasses back, careful not to touch the lenses and mess up all your hard work.

"Thank you," he said, putting his glasses back on and picking up his bottle for another sip.

"No worries, I figure being able to see is probably a pretty important part of your job." you smiled, "Not to mention how cute they are on you.”

He nearly choked.

His whole face turned red and he struggled to regain his composure, coughing into his fist and slamming his other hand down onto his thigh. You couldn't help but laugh at him as you patted his shoulder and leaned down to make sure he wasn't actually dying, he let out a short breath and smiled up at you,

"You're trying to kill me aren't you?"

You laughed, bringing the hand that wasn't resting on his shoulder to his face, giving two soft pats on his cheek. "No of course not, you haven't even gotten my number yet."

When you didn't immediately move your hand away and instead began to lightly stroke his cheekbone with your thumb he gulped, his Adam's apple shifting up and down. He moved his hand to where yours rested on his cheek, his large palm completely enveloping yours, and bringing them down so your small show of PDA was hidden under the bar. He quickly glanced at your lips before looking up, his glance shifting between your eyes, he looked like he was mentally preparing himself to ask you for the biggest favor of your life.

"I'd um- I'd just really like to kiss you right now." he said, plain and earnestly.

"Then why don't you?" you said, glancing down at his lips and then back up to his eyes.

He gave your hand a squeeze and took in a short breath,

"Because I'd have to take you on a proper date first." He smiled nervously, then added "If you'd like that."

You couldn't help but smile at him, he was just so sweet and sincere, there's no reason on earth why you wouldn't immediately say yes-

"Excuse me, sweetheart, but I think your old man is ready to go home." Hangman interrupted, his arm draped around your Uncle, who looked completely shit-faced.

Except for maybe this reason.

"Oh my God," you practically jumped off your chair, his eyes were pink and glassy and his whole face was red.

"Kiddo I want you to meet Lt. Jake Seresin- he's a fighter pilot 'n he graduated Top Gun, best of the best ya know?" he slurred as you grabbed his arm and placed it over your shoulders.

"Yes I'm familiar, thank you Jake it's nice to meet you." you threw a friendly smile at Hangman, "but we're going home now okay? Can I have the keys?"

Bob had left some bills on the bar and grabbed your purse before he made his way over to you, and your Uncle immediately recognized him.

"Ohhhh and who's this?" he asked, playing dumb.

"This is my new friend Robbie, now can I please have the keys so we can go home before Auntie kills us both?"

"Geez Louise don't gotta rush me kiddo." he said as he plopped the keys into your hands, you turned towards the exit, trying to push your uncle to move with you.

Bob still had your purse so he went to follow you but Hangman stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, he raised an eyebrow at him,

"Robbie?" he teased.

"Jake?" he matched his tone as he pushed past him.

Bob helped you get your Uncle into the backseat of the truck, so he could lay down and sober up a bit

"You need to lay on your side grandpa, I don't want you asphyxiating on vomit on the drive back." you shook his leg to get him to turn.

"Alright alright-" he swatted at your hand and shifted onto his side, then clarified "I am her uncle, not her gramps."

"Yes sir, it's good to meet you." Bob replied before shutting the door.

"Oh my God this is a nightmare." You sighed as you leaned your back against the car, running a hand over your face.

"Hey don't worry about it, I'm not here to judge," he smiled at you, leaning his left arm against the truck so he could look at you. "Now about that date..."

You laughed, turning to face him, you fished your phone out of your purse and handed it to him, "Can I have your number?"

"I thought you'd never ask" he smiled and put in his number, "Can I, at least, walk you to the driver's seat."

You snatched your phone from him with a giggle, changing the contact name from "Bob Floyd" to "Robbie ♡", making sure he could see it. True to his word, he walked you all twenty steps to the driver's side and opened the door for you, you smiled as you hopped in.

That smile was wiped from your face the second you looked down to adjust your seat. There were three pedals instead of two.

"Shit"

"What's wrong?" he asked with a hand still on the door, leaning closer to you to try and figure out what the problem was.

"Don't laugh at me, but I only learned to drive automatic." You sighed, "There's no way I can get us home 'cause I don't know how to drive stick shift."

Bob moved his other arm to rest on the top of the car, leaning in so he was just a few inches from your face, his lips shifting into that stupid, adorable boyish grin.

"I do."

Divider by @bernardsbendystraws

(Author's note: Thank you for reading! This one took a bit more time bc of all the dialogue but part 4 should be out pretty soon! This is my first fic so if you have any writing tips or suggestions let me know!)

Taglist: @yyiikes @beebeerockknot @greengoldhorns @pinkpantheris (Comment if you want to be added!)

[cozymoko]

Wild, Wild West 𐚁

Introduction fic for my cowboy OC idea. I hope you guys like this. This was in my drafts for at least half a year, haha.

Pairing: Yandere Cowboy x City Girl! Reader

Format: Short fic; 1.4k words

WARNING(S): Yandere themes, possessive, minor insecurity from reader.

Synopsis: Jealousy, Jealousy, read all about it! When in a new environment, insecurities are bound to surface. Why don't you go get you a drink to simmer down a bit?

REBLOGS ARE APPRECIATED!

The old Texas sun was relentless, harsher than usual, beating down on the skin of those poor townspeople just going about their day. Its temper reminded you of your late grandmother, always nagging and pestering like there's no tomorrow.

You found refuge near the large clumps of hay by the stables. The smell was mundane, simple as though it were straight from a story book—unpleasant, sure, but nothing you couldn’t handle.

Why the hell were you out here anyways? Damn you for wanting to tag along to keep that big oaf company. He couldn’t stop poking fun at you, pushing you past your limits. It was like he knew you inside and out, from the surface of your pampered skin to the depths of your fluttering heart. For a man who wasn’t too fond of school, he sure seemed to study you quite a ton.

And speak of the devil. There he is.

He wiped dirt and grime off the worn denim that hung low at his waist. “What’s the matter, darlin’?” he called out, glancing over his shoulder to meet your eyes. “You don’t look too hot.”

Hell, that was an understatement.

He sauntered over, slipping his hat off his head. His long strides had him at your side in moments, staring down at your seated position. Pushing his deep auburn hair from his damp skin, he squatted next to you. “What’s the matter?” he asked, placing the hat back on his head with a lazy grin.

You pressed your lips into a thin line, torn between telling him and keeping your indignation to yourself. You weren’t even doing any of the heavy lifting, just spectating, but somehow, that made the heat even worse.

“It’s hot,” you mumbled, swallowing your pride.

“Then take ya' shirt off.” He grinned, raising a brow. “It’s just you ‘n me today, and it’s not like I haven’t seen you without it anyhow—”

“Stop!” you shouted, hugging your knees to your chest. If not for the heat, you were sure you'dve flushed even redder.

“Alright, suit yourself.” Jamie smirked, planting a quick kiss on your temple before rising to his feet in one swift motion. He turned back to his polished truck, the one he treated like gold. Sometimes, you swore he loved that hunk of metal more than anything, but you’d soon learn that his world revolved around you.

Your eyes followed his back, tracing the way his muscles moved with each twist of the wrench. Jamie was a tease, but damn if he wasn’t easy on the eyes. Your gaze drifted to the tattoos scattered across his tanned skin, lingering on the intricate, slightly faded markings near his jugular—your name, carved right there. The sight of it made you hot all over, and you even found yourself popping open a few buttons.

You had told that stubborn fool not to get it, warning him that tattoos were permanent and took hours of pain to remove.

“Why’re you sayin’ something like that?” he’d chuckled back then. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I get this baby removed, sugarplum. Dont worry about me nun’.”

The memory made you want to laugh. Jamie was as stubborn as a bull—and as big as one too. Too bad all that stubbornness would be the death of him. Not literally, of course.

“You wanna help me with the cattle? Think they need some lovin’, too.”

You tilted your head, a spark of hope flaring up. Maybe he was serious about wanting your help, about spending time together—maybe he was letting you be part of this place, tending to your shared home. But then he shrugged.

“Or I could get Mary Anne to come by. She’s always good with ’em—knows her way around horses like she was born with ’em.”

Mary Anne. Just the mention of her name made your blood boil. You’d seen her—all soft curls and sweet smiles, the kind of girl who fit right in here. Unlike you.

Your lips thinned, the jealousy rising like a rattlesnake. “Oh, is that so?” you asked, trying to keep your voice even despite the bitterness creeping in. “Mary Anne this, Mary Anne that—why don’t you just go on and ask her, then, since she’s not a ‘city girl’?”

Jamie’s eyes narrowed. “Hey now, what’s got you so riled up, sugar?”

“What’s got me riled up?” you snapped, rising to your feet. “You know damn well, Jamie. You think I don’t notice how you bring her up every time it’s my turn to help?”

You took a deep breath. “I know I’m not as capable as the others, but this is my home too. I’ve been here for over a year, and you still don’t ask me to help.”

He rolled his eyes, sighing as he straightened up, towering over you. “Aw, hell, [Name]. You actin’ like this ’cause you’re on the rag or somethin’? Ain’t no need to get all hot ’n bothered over nothin’.”

The words hit you like a slap, and for a moment, all you could do was stare at him, disbelief turning into a wave of fury. “You think that’s what this is about?” you hissed, your voice sharp as a knife. “You think that just because I’m upset, it’s gotta be because of that?”

Jamie shrugged, unfazed, and that was the last straw. You spun on your heel, the dusty ground kicking up beneath your boots as you stormed off. “Go on and call her, then!” you shouted over your shoulder. “I’m sure she’s just itching to help you!”

You didn’t wait for his response. You marched across the sunbaked field, fists clenched tight. You needed to get away—somewhere he wasn’t. The barn blurred into blobs of red as tears stung at the corners of your eyes. But you weren’t about to let him see you cry. Not now, not ever.

This is not where you wanted to end up. An old, run-of-the-mill saloon on a Friday night, surrounded by drunkards and divorcees, the air thick with the stench of stale tobacco. Voices murmur, glasses clink, and the laughter around you is harsh and grating. To hell with it all. To hell with them.

The whiskey settles in your veins, warm and familiar as you lean against the sticky bar. Neon lights flicker, casting a red glow across your half-empty glass, and you blink to clear your vision. You know you’ve had too much, but the night’s long, and the noise makes it easy to drown out everything.

"Fuck," you mutter, rubbing your temples.

You’ve never been much of a drinker. After moving to the countryside to be with Jamie, life on the ranch demanded your focus. Jamie hated liquor, practically despised it.

Dammit, [Name], forget about him. You shake the thought away.

“Now, darlin’, looks like your glass is ‘bout empty,” a smooth, slow drawl cuts through your thoughts. The man tilts the brim of his hat back just enough for you to catch a glint in his eyes—cold, calculating, like a snake. “Why don’t you let me get you another?”

Oh, right. You weren’t exactly alone.

“Sound good?” he asks again, his voice dripping with intentions you’re too drunk to untangle, coaxing you with the rough pad of his thumb tracing over your knuckles.

You hum. “Thank you.”

For a moment, you try to recall his name—Michael? Richard? Ashton? Danny? None of them sound right. Nothing about him feels familiar. Just another face in the blur. You decide he’s irrelevant.

"You don’t want it to get cold now, do ya?"

A voice in your head tells you to stop, to head home before you cross a line. Something about him makes your stomach churn, but you blame it on the alcohol. It doesn’t take much persuasion before you reach for the glass.

The liquor is bitter but good. But once it slips down your throat, the room spins. You blink hard, trying to steady yourself.

The barstool creaks as you sway, gripping the counter for balance. The stranger’s grin stretches wider, eyes watching you like a hawk. You know you shouldn’t have taken that drink, but it’s too late. The world starts tilting.

You turn, ready to brush off the man beside you, when you hear the heavy boots. They echo on the old floorboards, slow and deliberate, each step sending a chill down your spine. Then, a hand rests on your shoulder, the grip firm, possessive.

“Takin’ drinks from strangers now, sugar?” His voice is low, a whisper against your ear. “Why’d you go and do that for? You know better.”

Jamie.

His breath is warm, almost too close, as his fingers dig into your shoulder just enough to keep you anchored. The stranger’s hand pulls back, and you catch the flicker of fear in his eyes.

Jamie’s fingers tighten, not enough to hurt, but enough to warn. “Ain’t polite to drink without me, darlin’.” His tone is calm, but there’s a tension in it, like a leash pulled too tight.

You look up at him, the soft light catching the curve of his grin. The cowboy hat sits low, loose curls brushing the nape of his neck, his button-up shirt hugging the broad stretch of his shoulders. His forearms, tanned and strong, are exposed as his sleeves are rolled up. His eyes, though—dark and unreadable—pin you in place. There’s a hunger in them, one that makes your skin prickle.

He runs his thumb over your bottom lip, wiping off the smudge of your lipstick. His grin widens, revealing sharp canines that peek between his lips. It’s friendly enough—too friendly. Like the way foxes smile when they’re circling prey.

“Mm, you’re drunk.” He says it like it’s a fact he’s already known for hours. “How much you had tonight, sugarplum?”

You stare at your glass, pretending you don’t know. You don’t want to admit to your carelessness.

Jamie chuckles, a low, knowing sound. “So, quite a bit, huh?”

His laugh is loud, and it feels like a warning. He leans in, his hand settling on your hip, fingers curling possessively. “And flirtin’ with some nobody at the bar. That’s new.” His eyes narrow. “So, you gonna tell me who he is?”

The stranger shifts uneasily, glancing between you and Jamie. His bravado fades, and he mumbles, “Look, I didn’t mean no harm. Just thought she could use some company.”

Jamie doesn’t even look at him. His eyes are locked on yours, sharp and unyielding. “Ain’t that sweet?” he says, his voice soft, but his grip on your hip tightens, like he’s claiming a prize. “But I think she’s got all the company she needs.”

The man hesitates, looks like he’s weighing his options, then backs off with a muttered apology, disappearing into the crowd.

The world tilts again, and you’re struggling to stay upright. The bar fades around you, the noise drowning in the back of your mind. The room swims, and your vision blurs, the faces blending into nothing but shadows.

Jamie’s presence feels suffocating. His eyes linger on you, dark and intent, like he’s waiting for something. Like he’s testing you. And you know, deep down, that he doesn’t just hate you drinking—he hates you here, surrounded by people who aren’t him.

“Let’s get you home, darlin’.” His tone is almost gentle, but there’s an edge beneath it, something nasty and foreign brewing beneath the surface.

Before you can protest—before the room spins again—he’s there, pulling you into him, lifting you off your feet like you weigh nothing. His arms wrap around your waist, and the world blurs as you’re hoisted over his shoulder, carried out the bar like a mere sack of potatoes.

The night air bites at your cheeks as he strides through the darkness, the cold wind cutting through the haze in your mind. You can feel his heartbeat, steady and sure beneath you, and his fingers grip your thigh, possessive and unyielding. He’s not letting you go.

Everything in you says to fight back, to push away, but he smells like home—like honey and oak. The world narrows down to him, the steady beat of his heart, the warmth of his touch.

“Man, you’re gettin’ heavy. Eating too much pumpkin pie, huh, sugarplum?”

“Fuck you,” you manage, but it’s weak, and the smile he gives you is sharp and satisfied.

You close your eyes, the world tilting again, and for a moment, you let yourself sink into it. Maybe this isn’t so bad.

Maybe this is just how it’s meant to be.

⠀⠀𐚁

⠀. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

©CozyMoko, all rights reserved. Don't repost my work on other platforms.

[javierpena-inatacvest]

It's Never Too Late Masterlist

Summary: You are an elementary school teacher who just moved to Texas for a fresh start when you meet a very handsome man from the Laredo Sheriff's Department coming to give your class a presentation.

After your co-workers pull some strings for you to meet again, you and Javier Peña find yourselves falling head over heels for each other.

Story takes place post Narcos Season 3 in Laredo, Texas, starting May 1997.

Paring: Javier Peña x OFC (Reader is an elementary school teacher whose nickname is Osita, no use of y/n)

Warnings: SMUT (18+ chapters containing marked with * and each chapter will also have its own warnings), language, fluff, romantic comedy, reader has physical descriptions, Javi being so soft and getting all the love and affection he deserves, you two being the biggest weirdos so in love

Status: Ongoing

Let me know if you want to be added to a tag list for new chapters as they come out! :)

Main Story:

Chapter 1: I D.A.R.E. You

Chapter 2: What's Cookin', Good Lookin'?

Chapter 3: I Wanna Be With You Everywhere*

Chapter 4: Add You To My List*

Chapter 5: You're The One That I Want*

Chapter 6: Dinosaurs, Dates and Diners, Oh My!*

Chapter 7: School's Out for Summer*

Chapter 8: My Favorite Cowboy*

Chapter 8.5: 007- Peña, Agent Peña*

Chapter 9: I Promise*

Chapter 10: Happy Birthday, Javi*

Pt. 1*

Pt. 2*

Chapter 11: Abe Froman, Sausage King of Chicago *

Chapter 12: I Love You. I Know. *

Chapter 13: There's No Place Like Home*

Chapter 14: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas*

Chapter 15: She Shoots, She Scores*

Chapter 16: The Lone Star State*

Chapter 17: No Ifs, Ands, Or Butts*

Chapter 18: Hole in None*

Chapter 19: Good Luck, and Goodnight*

Chapter 20: I Do

Pt. 1*

Pt. 2*

Chapter 21: Paradise*

Chapter 22: Plus One (New!)

Pt. 1*

Spin-Off Series:

Forever and Always*: Slices of life following the Peña family after their first child

One Shots (In chronological order of the main storyline):

Movie Night*

Ride*

Dirty Laundry*

Again*

You're My Home*

Not Yet*

Happy Valentine's Day, Javier Peña*

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

You Make Life Worth It

Take Me Home

Jealousy, Jealousy*

Plaid Pajama Morning

Agent Peña*

Every Inch*

Soup for Breakfast

Whatever My Wife Wants*

Fever*

His*

Oh, Baby

Insatiable*

Peanut Butter and Pickles

Sail Away

You Make Lovin' Fun*

Everybody Knows That I'm a Good Girl, Officer*

Asks/Headcannons:

Javi and Osita before work

Javi's DEA Jacket

Javi's Tac Vest

Javi and Osita when they argue

Javi being distractingly cute

Javi when he's sick

Javi helping with Osita's pregnancy cravings

Osita when she's pregnant

Osita after a bad day at work

Javi coming home after work to his kids

Javi and Osita deciding how many kids they want

Javi and his daughters at the Eras Tour

Extras:

NSFW Alphabet- Javi and Osita*

1K Followers Celebration Asks and Answers

Never Too Late Playlist

Mood board

Timeline of NTL

[pearlzier]

────⠀ BULL RIDIN' w/ COWBOY!MATT.

NOTES ,, idk this is kind of pwp but with a little plot ??? LMFAO cowboy!matt my dearest.... uhhh minors dont interact !!! this. is smutty n stuff 😞 ive seen so much negativity n its makin me so ☹️ like. please be nice to eachother idk bro its not hard.. ANYWAY ENOUGH YAP FROM ME let me know if u wanna be on the taglist <3

matt's obsessed with how you look perched up atop that mechanical bull, straddling it so prettily. his eyes rake over you as he leans against the railing surrounding where the bull is. it feels oddly intimate to him, seeing the way your thighs squeeze against the sides of the machine, how you have to hold on tight to stop yourself from being thrown up—inadvertently causing your tits to bounce beneath the soft cotton of your shirt. which in turn, has his eyes locked to the area for a moment before he snaps out of it.

he's sure every other guy in the roadhouse is staring at you, getting the same ideas that he is. you look perfect up there—having the absolute time of your life. even the guys beside him as he looks up at you are getting their fill, as much as it makes him wanna throttle them, he keeps himself at bay so that you can simply enjoy yourself tonight. and besides, he's the only one your eyes are on in the first place. with every buck of the bull beneath you, you're glancing up at matt as if to say 'look at me!'

it has a smile settling on his face, practically plastered on as he looks up at you, his arms folded against the railing with his chin resting against them. when he can, he gives you the occasional wave, just wishing to see that beaming smile adorn your own face like it is for him. as much as he's lovin' seeing you ride, he glances over at the worker controlling the bull to see when it's time for you to hop off, and well, time for him to get his hands on you.

quite honestly, he zones out just looking at you, in thought—he's only snapped out of it when he hears the patrons all erupt in applause, your turn on the bull coming to an end. before he even knows it, you're practically running at him and throwing yourself into his arms. "woah, hey there," a breathless laugh escapes him at the sight of you all giddy, and he easily wraps his arms around your middle.

"it was so good, i felt so tall—" you're beaming, clinging to him as if he's your lifeline. with your arms thrown around his neck, your body presses up against his. he groans at the close contact, having to loosen you a little to adjust his jeans so you don't feel the gradual tenting against you. "it was so fun, i wanna go again, 'n' again, m'tellin' you," it felt almost empowering in a way, all those people looking up at you ane clapping, cheering, whistling for you.

most important part was him, though. this has easily been the most fun you've had in weeks, months, maybe even years. the ranch couldn't compare to this, not at all. "yeah, had fun, baby?" he smiles softly, drawing you in closer with his hands running up and down your back. occasionally they dip lower and cup at the curve of your ass, thumbs stroking over the denim material idly.

"so much fun," you agreed, practically burying yourself into him. you're so damn pretty, he's weak. you looked so nice like this, but you'd look so much nicer riding something else, huh? he's reeling at the thought, eyes fluttering over your figure silently for a moment before he looks up at you again, not wanting to get caught with his thoughts. "that's good, darlin'," matt agrees quietly, a little distracted by the sight of you.

"you're so pretty, y'know that?" he can't help himself, his hand on your ass squeezing gently before he slides it up to your jean clad thigh, squeezing as well as he holds onto it. whilst he feels up your thigh, his free hand that stayed on your waist slides up under your shirt. the warmth of your skin makes him groan under his breath, his eyes lifting to yours. "just a little doll, ain't you?"

matt does this a lot—get all touchy and loving on you, and even so, you never get used to it. it always has your skin growing warm, eyes even dilating a little. "you're jus' flatterin' me. you do this with every pretty girl?" matt scoffs at your words. being cooped up in that farmhouse of yours made you sassy, watchin' all that television. he loved it, though, how you fired back with him.

"no, ma'am," he smiled gently, drawing you closer. "jus' sayin'.. you looked real nice up on that there bull," leaning in, he let his nose brush against the crook of your neck for a moment. the feel of his warm breath against your skin has you shivering however instinctively leaning into his touch. matt hums quietly, the urge to find some quiet area of the roadhouse and really give you a ride growing more and more each moment. "you're good at ridin', hm?"

"mhm," you hum in return, your lips parting with a soft sound as he squeezes all over your body. you can practically feel him hardening against your thighs, and he draws you closer once more. although, his gaze flutters up and around the bar for a bit. he looks back at you, biting his tongue for a second. "how 'bout," he starts, "you test out those skills for me? gotta put 'em to good use so you don't get rusty, darlin'."

"we wouldn't want that, would we?" a warmth floods through you as you speak, your eyes darting up to his. a lazy smirk crawls its way over matt's lips and he easily hooks his arm around your waist again. his hand slides into the back pocket of your jeans, curling over your ass as he draws you close and over to a quiet, partioned part of the bar. "mm, no, we wouldn't," he coos.

glancing around for a minute, he checks to see whether the coast is clear before he sits himself down. leaning back against booth, he glances up at you, watching how you stand there with your hands on your hips. "baby, you gonna stand there or come get to work?" matt muses, patting his thighs for a minute before he starts undoing the buttons and zip of his jeans.

"don't tell me what to do," you watch for a moment as he undoes his jeans, the way he easily rolls them down his thighs. he notices, his smirk widening a little. "but baby," matt croons, his head tilting to the side a little bit. "you like when i tell you what to do," and he's right, yeah. you really do. you're already unzipping your own jeans, pushing them down your thighs, and then off your body completely to give you room to move around.

"that's it," matt mumbles, eyes raking over you. the sight of you in just your panties and that pretty top has him groaning m, his hand sliding down to palm himself over his boxers for a moment. his tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip, jerking his chin in his direction with his free hand held out for you to come sit yourself down. "c'mere," his voice holds an almost whiny quality to it, his blue eyes lifting up to yours instinctively.

"m'comin'," you murmur quickly, glancing up at him. those blue eyes of his quite honestly make you weak. making your way over, you stand between his spread legs for a moment. this gives him room to shimmy off his boxers a little, freeing his aching, throbbing cock with precum oozing from the tip. he quickly moves his hand to stroke himself, getting himself ready to line up against your entrance and push inside you. he'd been waiting for this for a good hour or so now, honestly.

matt's hand stays lazily pumping his cock, but his other hand slides over to your hips and squeezes for a moment, before he draws you closer. it moves over the curve of your thigh, grasping at the meat of it and easing one leg over his hip, then he moves the other one to do the same. "you alright? still want this?"

"just—" you roll your eyes at his words, reaching a hand down to push your panties to the side a little. a little gasp escapes you at the feel of the different air against your wet folds, and matt scoffs in amusement at your reaction. if you could make such a pretty sound because of that, he knew your sounds would be even prettier when he had you riding him to high heaven.

you stare at matt for a minute, seeing the scoff, and you shake your head before you scoot so you're lined up with his tip. matt watches you intently, his eyes locked on the sight of you so pliant yet headstrong above him. he leans back against the booth, hands grasping at your soft thighs, grip tightening instantly when you ease yourself down on him. "fuck," it takes everything he has to not start bucking up into you already, but he knows he has to take his time and let you adjust.

"so tight around me already, sweetheart," being atop of that mechnical bull had already given you some real good friction if you were being completely honest, so you were wet enough for him to just ease inside without much resistance. your hands instinctively lift up to his shoulders, steadying yourself as you sink down. he's so warm, so close, his hands squeezing at your thighs tightly. "there we go.." when you're finally settled, he shuts his eyes for a minute, the feeling of being buried deep inside you making his heart race.

"open your eyes, please?" you love looking at his face when you lift your hips up and down, bringing yourself off him just to the tip before you slam back down on him again. he can't say no to you, not at all, so when you ask him to, his eyes open again. they're a little hazy, dilated from the intoxication of being beneath you. "mmh," you hum, taking the look of his eyes and just the way he's holding onto you as a sign to go ahead and start moving.

slowly but surely, you lift your hips up with the help of your thighs, and his hands, till your almost off him before you drop back down again. a throaty sound slips from past his lips, almost a whine. "look so good on top of me like this," he pants, drawing you even closer as you start to gain a pace that both of you like. you just let out the prettiest sounds as his cock drags against your walls, your thighs trembling a little with every bounce that you make.

feeling as though you don't need much of his help to gain rhythm, he lets go of your thighs and lifts his hands to your chest, palming your tits through the soft fabric of your top. "can't forget these, huh?" he muses, words shaky as his hips slowly start to thrust up to meet your motions. all of it has you whining above him, pretty little sounds escaping you with every one of his and your own movements. "ca—can't forget about those," you agree breathily, lifting a hand to move over top his as he runs his fingers over your nipples idly. "matt, oh my—"

it's a lot—the difference in how full you feel when he's buried in you to the hilt, and how you feel when you're lifted off him, god, it's stark, and yeah, every downward thrust has you crying out in soft moans whereas every upwards movement has you whining for more. "so greedy for me, aren't you," matt tuts, smiling gently at the sight of you looking so pretty and breathless, so needy. his hands find their way back to your hips again and he squeezes, taking that opportunity to start thrusting his hips upwards a little harder. his page picks up, your thighs shaking at the building pressure.

"that's all you needed, hm?" one of his hands slips down between your legs, beneath your panties, and his thumb starts working at your clit to get you over the edge. he draws firm circles around the bundle of nerves, his eyes lifting up to yours once more whilst he simultaneously pounds his hips up against yours. "making me feel so good, baby." but he'd get you there first, he'd make sure of it. you're practically soaking him, especially when that knot of pleasure bursts and you feel that familiar bliss wash over you.

it was a combination of his hips snapping up against yours and his thumb circling your clit, plus just the proximity of his body against yours and his eyes meeting yours on occasion that had you coming undone. "that's it, makin' a right mess on my cock," he coos, easing his thumb off your clit as to not overstimulate you and slowly sliding his hands back to your thighs to draw you a little closer. "just a little bit more, darlin'. you can take it, can't you? just a bit more for me?"

"just a little," you mumble in agreement, arms slowly wrapping around his neck as that fuzzy, warm feeling takes over a little. this is familiar in the best way, the rhythmic movement of his hips, his cock pushing in and out of you at a firm but easy pace. the wet sounds of skin against skin, it has you whining against him and practically holding onto his flannel for dear life.

he grunts low under his breath, "ain't gonna last long with you squeezin' the life outta' me like that," you can feel his thighs tense beneath you, his grip on your hips tightening as his thrusts start to stutter a little. his head tilts back and he lets out a guttural growl, eyes squeezing shut the moment he starts painting your insides white with his cum, his grip on you tightening impossibly so as he rides the waves of pleasure. "fuck," he wraps his arms around your waist, drawing you closer.

it's so warm, everything's so warm, the feeling of his release oozing down the insides of your thighs as he holds you there. a soft moan escapes you, your head nuzzling into his neck. his eyes flutter open after a minute, gaze meeting yours in an instant. had you made a mess? yeah, definitely, but was this completely worth it? a hundred percent. "swear you're turnin' into my very own cowgirl with skills like that," his words come out breathy, and an airy laugh of your own slips past your lips.

"might have to go ridin' again, actually," one of the things he loved most about you: your insatiability. you never really do get enough of him, huh?

ִ ֹ ★ @mattybsgroupie, @dayzeandhaze, @mattslolita, @stellasturns, @stevelacylovebot, @55sturn, @jetaimevous, @phone4pills, @aesthetixhoe, @venusiers, @chrissdollie, @stvrnmc, @sarosfilms, @beetlejenna, @funkycoloured , @v3nusasagrl, @imwetforyourmom, @deansbite, @beridollie, @https--roman, @sincerebabydoll, @pillwebb, @cayleeuhithinknot, @j2ss7 ִ ꒱

[the-shedevil-writes]

I Was Made For Lovin' You (Tyler Owens x Reader)

DESCRIPTION: You're a reporter desperately needing a story good enough to save the magazine. That's how you end up in the middle of Oklahoma interviewing the charming tornado wrangler, Tyler Owens. You end up getting a lot more than you bargained for when you end up in the passenger side of his storm-chasing truck. WORD COUNT: 5.6k WARNINGS: Cussing? Sensual jokes? Just a good old journalist x Tyler romance. MY MASTERLIST - READ ON AO3!

Y/n sat at her office cubicle, gnawing at her pencil. There had to be something. Scrolling through articles and hours of social media, trying to find something decent enough for a good story, had her clawing her hair out. It didn’t look that stressful in her mundane, fluorescent office with the succulents and cat posters, but inside, she was scrounging everything she could. Post-it notes and lists littered her whiteboard. The whole thing practically looked like a crime scene.

Then her coworker Stella came by, sipping flavored water and holding her phone. Stella was the producer for the video side of the magazine and her closest friend. But even she didn’t know what her boss and CEO of The Culture Edition had privately said during a meeting. 

Y/n, you’re our star journalist. That’s why I want you to know. We’re filing for bankruptcy. And there’s a very good chance we’re shutting down our doors come fall. 

But she didn’t want to work anywhere else. She had heard about other magazines and online companies. The unethical means and money-hushed journalists. That wasn’t why she became a journalist. She wanted to explore and put out work about culture and people making a difference. 

That’s why when Stella went. “You heard of this Tornado Wrangler guy on YouTube?”

She let out a loud scoff, pinching the bridge of her nose. It already sounded like a tragic addition to her list of ideas just by name alone. “No. Do I want to?”

“He’s like this guy out in Tornado Alley, and he’s chasing tornadoes in his truck and well… wrangling them.” 

She furrowed her brows. “Like stopping them?”

She nodded. Huh… There might be something there. Whether this Tornado Wrangler knew it or not. 

“Like look-” Stella said, holding out her phone so that the both of them could watch. 

They watched the livestream footage of a blonde man in the front seat of a pick-up truck. He definitely looked attractive enough to be internet famous, that’s for sure. She squinted her eyes suspiciously until another camera angle was shown from some sort of drone, showing the truck driving near the tornado. That was an interesting play. 

Then it switched back to him and his other passengers hooting and hollering annoyingly at the camera, and she was turned off.

“Could be a good story.” Stella said, wiggling her eyebrows, “And I mean- the chance to talk to a real-life cowboy.” She teased.

The two of them had been talking of a ‘cowgirl summer’. Watching westerns with a dreamy protagonist. Listening to Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood next to the pool. But let’s face it, the two of them were city girls. California was their home. If she were ever flown out for a story, it was usually to New York or Atlanta for arthouse openings and charity fundraisers. She didn’t exactly enjoy the mud and dirt. 

“I don’t know. It’s intriguing, but how big even is this guy?” She said, unsure. Would it be worth it for the company to fly her out to the middle of nowhere?

“He got a million subscribers.”

She blew her off and waved her hand. “Who doesn’t?”

“No, no. A million subscribers last night. He’s at four million today.”

That’s how she ended up in Oklahoma, a week later. Walking up to the motel that this Tyler Owens guy said they would be at. The sun was slowly setting behind her as she stepped out of the rental car. Her decisions had been poor already, with a car that could barely handle the dirt roads and the formal block heels that sank just slightly into the dust. Her beautiful hair was already frizzy from the weather. But she needed to look professional. 

She looked around the surprisingly busy parking lot. It had people sitting around in lawn chairs, lighting campfires, drinking, and talking. It looked like a tailgating party. She walked stiffly in her pencil skirt and blouse as she looked around, trying to find the recognizable Tyler. She was used to people looking at her when she had a press badge around her neck, but right then, she felt people eying her strangely. The most probable reason being that she looked completely out of place. Compared to the lighthearted and casual atmosphere, she was an alien with a camera bag bouncing on her hip.

“Ms. Y/n!” A voice called, and her head whipped around to find the man she was looking for sitting on the roof of his famous truck. He waved with a screwdriver in his hand and climbed down. 

She walked over. Her heels crossing over from dirt onto the bumpy asphalt made her balance worse, and when he noticed, he rushed over with his hands out. She quickly took purchase of his large, calloused hands out of necessity. 

“We gotta get some boots on ya, city girl.” He said helping her find her balance. 

She stared down at her feet, steadying herself. “Thank you.” She replied, and when she turned up to see his face, she couldn’t help but swallow. Wow, this guy was handsome. He looked like a movie star, not exactly a tornado wrangler. With chiseled features and sea green eyes. He had his hair swept over and his stubble taken care of. Rugged and clean at the same time.

She quickly shook herself out of it, though she could’ve sworn that he was looking at her with the same look of admiration in his eyes. She reached her hand out stiffly. “I’m Y/n. Thank you for having me.”

“Tyler. Thanks for coming.” His accent was strong, and his voice was deep, making her remember her and Stella’s ‘Cowgirl Summer’ jokes and ideas. The brown corduroy button-up shirt that stuck to his sweaty body didn’t help. MUST STAY FOCUSED.

“What were you just working on?” She asked, gesturing to the top of his truck, which had some sort of satellite sticking out of the top. It was unlike any pickup truck she had seen before, with gadgets, spikes, and equipment poking out of it. 

He smirked. “Right to business, huh?” 

She nodded a little shyly. She had interviewed hundreds of people, yet she was so out of the loop here that she didn’t even know where to start with him. 

He nodded his head for her to follow him, and she trailed him to the truck. 

“Do you mind if I record this?” She asked, rushing to open her camera bag.

A friendly smile grew on his face. “Sweetheart, I’m on camera every day. Go right ahead.” 

God, the word sweetheart coming from his mouth sent a blush across her face that she fought to get rid of. She took out her video camera and started recording. 

“It is June 5th, 2024, and I am with Tyler Owens.” She stated for future purposes.

He chuckled and waved. “Hi guys. I’m Tyler Owens, and I was just about to explain to the lovely Y/n here what I have been working on.” He pointed to the satellite on the roof of his truck, “You see, that is a Mobile Doppler Radar. Or a DOW. A doppler on wheels. Mine is kinda crappy compared to those of other meteorologists, but we use it to track supercells and scan tornadoes in real time. That way me and my crew know when to go in and when to go out. I was just adjusting it cause some screws got knocked loose.”

“You say ‘other meteorologists’. Are you a meteorologist?” The question just naturally came out of her.

He seemed kinda stunned by that question off the bat, and he was about to say something until a shorter, tan man with wild black hair appeared from the side.

“Damn right he is. Don’t let him tell you he isn’t.” 

She quickly zoomed out the camera to incorporate the new character. He slapped Tyler’s back. “This guy right here’s got a degree in meteorology. Genius. He’s taught me everything I know.” 

“Boone, okay, okay,” Tyler said, chuckling and shaking his head. 

“Woah! Sick equipment.” Boone said, pointing to her camera. 

She smiled. The guy was welcoming, and he was now speaking her language. “It’s for work. Wish it was mine.” 

Then she realized the opportunity that had just come up. 

“Could you introduce yourself for me?” She asked, now she was diving deeper, and she developed this feeling in her gut that this story was gonna be good. With only meeting only two people, she had never met anybody else like them. 

Boone nodded and looked at the camera. “I’m Boone. I’m the videographer for this awesome guy right here.” He and Tyler wrapped their arms around each other proudly. 

“And would you consider yourself a meteorologist?” 

He shook his head with pursed lips. “Me? No. I’m just the camera and rocket guy. But I sure do learn a lot every day from Tyler.”

Tyler nodded and clicked his tongue. “You see, there’s a common misconception that you need a degree to do this sorta thing. But my crew doesn’t need PhDs or fancy gadgets. I can guarantee you that Boone and my crew have seen more tornadoes than your average weatherman.” 

Boom. Quote. She couldn’t help the grin that grew on her face. An underdog story? Are you kidding me?!

“You get real pretty when you hear something you like,” Tyler said, and she quickly pressed stop on the camera. 

“Oh! Well-” She stammered nervously and looked at her heels on the asphalt.

Boone laughed at her off-guard reaction. Was it appropriate? No. Was it unwanted? … Well. 

“Thank you for that. Both of you.” She said, looking up and facing the two of them. “Tyler, I’d love to interview you one-on-one at some point tonight after I check in. Then the same with the rest of your crew.”

He smiled again. “Yes, ma’am.” 

Getting into her motel room, she felt the need to splash cold water on her face. The only reason she didn’t was to sustain her makeup, but she did dab her sweaty face with a rag. How anybody survived this dry heat was unbelievable. She looked into the mirror, and her makeup was practically melting off her face. Shit. 

That’s why when she walked out an hour later, she had redone her face and washed her sweaty hair by leaning over awkwardly in the motel sink. Instead of heels, she put on a pair of loafers. They were still definitely unsuitable for the environment, but they were less so than the previous heels. 

She found Tyler and his crew sitting around a campfire. They had a pack of beers open, and their laughter could be heard from the second-floor balcony strip of the motel. 

As she approached, Tyler waved, looking her up and down. “City girl’s back. And in much more comfortable shoes.” He turned to the circle, “Everybody, this is Y/n. She’s the reporter doing the piece on us.” 

They all waved and said their hellos. She smiled and waved. The group seemed welcoming, but she still felt a little out of place. 

“Tyler, if you could spare a few minutes, I’ll try and keep it brief.” She said, not wanting to be a bother, but also needing to do her job.

“You have me as long as you want.” He said, slapping his thighs, and standing up. As they walked away from the group, he looked at her, “Do we need somewhere private? We can sit in the trailer.” 

Her eyes lit up at that prospect. Perfect. Now the audio wouldn’t be completely destroyed by the crowd noise and cicada screaming. “Yes! That’d be perfect.”

He led her to the trailer, and as she stepped in, she whipped out her camera to start recording the space. It wasn’t exactly spacious, but it was filled with audio and video equipment. Screens and switches of different weather instruments were packed alongside.  A string of Christmas lights hung across the top, making it homier. Along with pictures of the crew hung up next to the small window. It all felt cozy rather than cramped.

Tyler stood by the door. “Door open or closed?” He asked, and she immediately felt better about the situation. If he were leading her into an enclosed space to murder her, he wouldn’t have asked. 

“Closed works. Cleaner audio.” She said, and he nodded. 

After closing the door, the noise level went down infinitely. Now it was just an awkward silence inside this tight trailer. But she was used to awkward silence. It came with the territory of interviewing people. People often didn’t know how to conduct themselves on camera or audio recording, and their answers were often rehearsed. Yet she had a feeling she wouldn’t have to worry about this with the Tornado Wrangler.

He sat down in a small booth across from her. She set up the camera on the counter of the windowsill. The angle didn’t matter as much, it was just for her to look back at later and be able to write accurately. 

“You ready?” She asked, looking at the camera monitor, making sure his face was in focus. It felt like she could stare at the screen all day…. Shit, that must be one of the reasons why people were so obsessed with this guy. The warm lights of the RV trailer cast nicely on his skin, and he gave her a small, shy smile. He looked different from how he did on the livestreams. More subdued. He looked a lot more thoughtful when he wasn’t screaming. She was sure that even if she ended up posting this footage, it was bound to go viral just by the oxymoronic nature of it. 

He nodded. “Whenever you are, city girl.” 

The interview went perfectly. She got to ask about why he specifically focused on tornadoes, and she received answers that showed the heart and soul he had for weather. She listened to the story about seeing his first tornado, and she wrote down notes in her pen pad. 

“I was just mesmerized. But I looked over at my aunt’s face, and I knew that I was supposed to be scared.”

Her head tilted. “Is the Tornado Wrangler scared of tornadoes?” 

He chuckled and shook his head. “Not exactly.”

She learned about his bull-riding past and his college degree. The start of his YouTube channel. For an interview that she promised would be a few minutes, she ended up so invested in the conversation that they were there talking for almost an hour. It got to a point where he was asking her questions now, and it wasn’t just an interview. 

“How long have you been doing this for, then?” He asked, curiosity in his eyes.

She shrugged, “Hard answer. Did the newspaper in high school and college. Studied journalism. Got my job at The Culture Edition straight out of school and never looked back.”

“The Culture Edition… Why that one?” 

She smiled. “I’m supposed to be the one interviewing you here, Tyler.” Just then, her camera beeped, and she looked over. “Shit- I mean- Shoot, my battery died.” She said. That was a rare occurrence for her. A slip-up in professionalism? But she had been so comfortable talking to Tyler that she must’ve gotten too cozy.

He laughed at her fluke as she tinkered with the camera.

“Well, that’s alright. The last fifteen minutes are us talking about nonsense anyway. Thank you for talking to me.” She said genuinely.

She started packing it all up, and she didn’t even notice his gaze stuck to her like glue.

“It’s no problem. You’re the one who flew out here just for little old me.” He said, standing up now, so his staring wasn’t obvious.

They walked to the door, and she was about to reach for the handle, but he got to it before her. He opened the door for her, and they stared at each other for a moment. A lingering look that said ‘I don’t want you to go’. 

“Hey, you should come join us on the road tomorrow. Could be good for your story, and I can guarantee it’ll be a lot of fun.” He offered.

She was taken off guard. Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped slightly. What should she say? She had seen the video clips of how violently that truck moved, and how dangerous it was near those tornadoes. The thought of her in the back seat made her stomach twist. But she also knew it’d be so good for the story. Potentially company saving.

She took in a deep breath. “I’ll meet you in the morning then.” 

He patted the hinge of the door excitedly, and she gave a polite smile before walking down the steps of the R.V.

After a long night of interviewing the rest of his crew, she was completely exhausted, but also so satisfied. The story was coming along perfectly. A group of diverse misfits chasing tornadoes and providing relief aid to towns hit by them. All led by a man who was bound to make star headlines. 

The day had been so long. With the travel time and the late-night interviews, she crashed as soon as she hit the pillow. 

It was only a few hours later when her heart leaped into her throat as a BOOM of thunder awoke her, jolting her right up. She put her hand to her heart even though she could hear it race in her ears. In her mind was her mom’s advice. Go outside. It’s only scary when you’re inside because your brain does all the talking. 

Wide awake now, she got out of bed and strolled out the door in her silk yellow nightgown. Surely, there wouldn’t be anybody awake at three in the morning during a storm this bad-

As she shut the door, she made eye contact with Tyler, who leaned against the railing and looked back at the sound. Her eyes widened. 

“Oh! Uh- Sorry. I’ll just-” She went to turn back around.

“Wait- What are you doing out here?” He asked gently, and it seemed like he was suppressing a smirk at the sight of her in a little nightie like that. Her hair was a wild storm in of itself. Meanwhile, he was dressed in a white T-shirt and sweatpants. Certainly a lot more covered up.

“It’s stupid. I just-” 

CRACK. The thunder boomed again, and it was close. The flash of light was visible from a near distance. She jumped and covered her ears with her eyes closed. It’s just thunder. It’s just thunder.

A dawn of realization cast on Tyler’s face. He cracked a smile. “Aw, don’t tell me you’re afraid of the storm now.” 

She brought her hands down from her ears and walked over to the railing. Her arms shook as she held onto it, and she avoided looking at him and his condescending smirk. Instead, she tried to look at the rain and how rivers of water slid off the roof above them and onto the ground. It reminded her that it was all just clouds and water.

“My mom always told me to go out and look at the storm when I was scared. Helps me feel better.” She explained.

He nodded and clicked his teeth. “Now tell me this, why is a woman who is shaking like a leaf at a little thunder doing a story on storm chasers in Tornado Alley?”

She sighed, debating on whether to tell him or not. After some deliberation and looking over at his kind expression, she decided there was no harm in telling him. 

“The Culture Edition is going bankrupt. And… I think this is a good enough story to get us back on our feet.” She said 

He let out a soft whistle. “You really care about your work.” “You really care about the weather.”

He pointed to her as if to say ‘touche’. “But you can write anywhere for any company, can’t you?”

“Technically, yes. But…” She shook her head, “It’s a long story.” “I’ve got time.”

She looked over at him and couldn’t help but notice that he was looking directly at her face. Not her exposed chest or her shivering thighs. But her face. And with genuine interest.

“The Culture Edition was, of course, the first job that took me. But I also just… I feel like it’s a side of journalism that’s dying out. I mean- our political climate’s a mess, and reporters are siding with one or the other. They’re often being paid for or sponsored by somebody. Even if it’s not political, journalists are writing opinion pieces and reviews on products that they’re being paid to endorse. It’s becoming so… so soulless.” She shook her head sadly, “Not The Culture Edition. We focus on exploring human stories and connection. And I love learning so much about different people with every job. So the fact that I might not have it come August… I’ll do anything to keep it.” Tyler looked at her, nodding. 

“You really think that this story’s gonna help you guys bounce back?” He asked. 

She nodded. “You and your team have given me some of the best quotes I’ve gotten in months. You’re genuine people, and the public will recognize that.”

He chuckled and looked at her with an admiring smile. He took his hand and gently traced her bare arm with the side of his index finger, sending a trail of electricity up with it. “You’re still shaking.” 

Looking up at him, she realized he was watching her arms now as they involuntarily shivered. She nodded again.

“You sure you wanna do this tomorrow?” He asked. 

No. But looking up at his face, he had a sense of determination across his eyes.

“I don’t have a choice.” She whispered.

“Then let’s get you a goddamn good story.”

The next morning, she was texting Stella as she sent many cowboy gifs and the song lyrics to ‘Save a Horse’. 

S: Can’t believe you’re ‘going for a ride’ with Tyler Owens.

Y: IN HIS PICKUP TRUCK!

S: Sure… Sureeeee. Go save some horses for me. 

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t resist sending some GIFs back.

A knock at her door startled her, and she turned off her phone at record speed. She opened it and found Tyler standing there in the whole shebang. A brown flannel over top a white wifebeater that was tucked into his jeans. She looked down at his belt with the biggest buckle that she had ever seen, but couldn’t resist looking up at the cream-colored cowboy hat that crowned his head. 

“Morning!” She said with a smile, taking him all in.

He looked at what she was wearing. “Oh no, city girl. This isn’t gonna work.” He laughed.

She looked down at herself, confused. She was wearing a tight white button-up blouse tucked into some black slacks. If she was gonna be on camera, she should probably look the part of a reporter, no?

“What?” She asked, looking back up at him.

“You’re gonna get all dirty today.” He said with a smirk, “You pack any jeans in that little suitcase of yours?” He pointed over her shoulder.

She looked over and saw that he was looking at her small capsule wardrobe. She nodded.

“Good. Cause I can get you a new shirt.” He said.

A little while later, she sat in the passenger side of Tyler’s truck wearing a baseball tee that had the graphic ‘Not My First Tornadeo’. Jesus, it was kind of hideous, and she couldn’t believe that she was gonna be introduced as a journalist wearing this. But Tyler was right, even as they simply drove with the windows down, the dust from the dirt road was getting everywhere. 

She kept her notepad open, but didn’t film because there was no point in using her fragile camera when they were already capturing this at every angle possible. 

The storm clouds started to appear in the distance, greying the sky. Her chest tightened just slightly, and her shoulders clenched. 

“We ready to start the stream, Ty?” Boone asked from the back. 

“Yeah, let’s just-” Tyler said, looking over at the anxious Y/n, who was sitting stiffly and chewing on the end of her pencil. “Boone, put on your mixing headphones.”

“What? Why? I wouldn’t be able to hear any-” 

Tyler looked back at him and tilted his head with raised brows. 

“Ohhhhh… Yeah. Got it.” Boone put his headphones on, and she let out an anxious laugh at that.

“How we feeling, city girl?” Tyler asked

She looked over at him as he drove forward. “Like I’m gonna puke. But I really don’t wanna do that on camera.” 

“You’re not just facing your fear today. You’re riding it. And I think that’s incredible.” He encouraged.

She stayed silent, taking in deep, shaky breaths as raindrops started pittering against the windshield. Looking back down at her legal pad and chewed-up pencil, she felt a sense of dread shake through her.

“You’re gonna be just fine.” He said, reaching over and squeezing her shoulder. He soothed her with a gentle brush of his thumb afterward. “I’m so sure, in fact, that I wanted to ask you something.” He took his hand back and put it on the steering wheel.

That caught her attention. She looked over at him, but he kept his eyes on the road, as if he were nervous to look at her. 

“After today’s stream, can I take you to dinner?” He blurted out with a small smile poking the corners of his mouth, “We can celebrate. Facing your fears.” 

Her jaw dropped slightly, and she blinked in surprise. She looked back at Boone, who was jamming out to music in his own world, then back at Tyler, who was anxiously waiting for an answer. This couldn’t be real. He was asking her out. 

“I think you mean riding them.” She finally replied confidently, “Yes. I’d love to.”

His grin somehow grew larger. “Let’s do this, city girl.”

She looked back at Boone and waved to get his attention. She motioned for him to take off his headphones.

“Is it go-time?” Boone asked

“It’s go-time,” She said, surprising Tyler.

The start of the stream was certainly interesting. She watched as Tyler and Boone communicated with Lily, Dexter, and Dani in the R.V. using a radio. She feverishly scribbled notes and was in the middle of writing them when Tyler said into the propped-up camera:

“Today, we are being joined by the lovely Y/n, from The Culture Edition!”

She looked up in surprise and gave a smile and a wave to the camera.

“She is a very talented reporter, making sure the crew and I are on our best behavior for her story coming out. And you guys should all go check out The Culture Edition online.” He expressed to the camera.

Her head turned to him as she couldn’t help her astonished reaction. He didn’t have to do that. She didn’t even ask. That wasn’t his job, and this wasn’t a partnership yet- he did that just for her.

When he looked over and saw her face, he sent her a smirk and a wink before checking the sensors on his dashboard. And for some reason that felt more dangerous than the goddamn tornado they were about to see. If she somehow managed to survive this, was she even gonna survive dinner?

“Dexter, you seeing the same thing I’m seeing?” Tyler radioed in.

“Looking good up ahead. Low-level cape. Good enough shear. Good moisture.” Dexter’s voice came through.

“WOOOOOOOOOOO!” Boone suddenly cheered from the back, startling her, but she let out a laugh. “You ready?!”

She nodded with a nervous smile. Even though the rain was pouring onto them now, it was hard to be scared with Boone and Tyler’s optimism. 

That’s when she saw it. This giant mass of whirlwind is in the distance. It looked like something out of a religious painting. A god damn hole in the sky that tunneled and touched down onto the grass. The already uneven road rumbled, and the truck shook like Hell had just opened up beneath them.

Tyler let out an excited scream. “ALRIGHT. HARNESSES ON.”

She quickly glanced back at the black straps on the seat and swiftly put her arms through. She buckled herself in. She couldn’t believe this was real. If this saved the magazine, then she was very much deserving of a promotion. 

“Someone’s awful quiet over here!” Tyler said excitedly, looking over at her. But it also seemed to be his way of checking in on her while the cameras were rolling.

She smiled at him and rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

“Give us a yell!”

“A yell?!” She looked over at him, laughing, and he seemed relieved to see her do so as they neared the center. 

“A yell! Like this!” Boone said before demonstrating a shrill woohoo.

She blushed with a bashful smile before finally letting out a “WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!”

Boone grabbed her shoulders from the backseat and shook her, making her laugh. “THAT’S what we’re talking about!”

“Folks, we got here a natural Tornado Wrangler.” Tyler looked over at her, and if the circumstances were different, he’d take his time watching her. Admiring how, even though she was shaking hard, she still had a gorgeous smile on her face. Her hair whipping every which way as they drove on the bumpy terrain.

She sucked in a breath as they got so close to the tornado, she could see the chunks of dirt and assortment of nature it had picked up. Spinning and flying like the Wizard of Oz. But over the harsh sound of the rain and wind slamming into the windows of the truck, there was Tyler’s laughter. For some reason, his nonchalant attitude and genuine glee grounded her. 

Tyler grabbed what looked like a joystick in the middle of the console and pressed the red button. 

“Anchors deployed.” He announced.

“What do those do?” She yelled over the rumbling. 

“Those keep us on the ground, honey.” He said back. 

She nodded and wrote down in her notepad to ask him more about that later. Of course, she felt his grin on her and the shake of his head as he watched her somehow write with a full-blown tornado in front of her. 

Looking back up, it was right in front of her very eyes. Leaves and grey dust spun violently, erupting a loud whistle in the air like she had never heard before. It was roaring fast and straight into them. 

“Oh god. Oh god. Oh god!” She squealed, closing her eyes and gripping the grab handle with one hand. She felt Tyler reach over and grab her other. He squeezed it, and she exhaled her scared breath. Opening her eyes, she watched him as he continued yelling and hollering for the livestream. Just under the camera, he held onto her hand, letting her squeeze it as tightly as she needed. 

He looked over and nodded as he saw her open eyes now. “Wanna do the honors? Press that switch!” He pointed to a small silver switch between them.

“NOW?!”

“YES NOW! WE’RE IN THE TORNADO.” He cackled.

She quickly flipped it and screamed, startled as the shriek of fireworks sent off into the air ignited. Watching above, she observed as the rockets disappeared into the clouds, then BOOM. They didn’t explode like they normally would. The flares of color went in the direction of the winds. Green, blues, and reds swirled around them. She had never seen anything like this in her life. She couldn’t help but lean forward, amazed to watch it all. And Tyler, who had seen this dozens of times, was instead watching the reflections of color dance in the pupils of her eyes. 

Then the roar of the winds started to lessen, and the area started to clear. She could see the path in front of her again. Boone and Tyler were going crazy, excited to say another tornado was wrangled. And she was left sitting awestruck and shaking. But now it wasn’t out of fear, but out of pure adrenaline and excitement.

Once they got back to the motel, Tyler walked over to her side of the door and opened it for her. She sat frozen, considering she was about to open it herself, but then she took Tyler’s hand and climbed down from the truck. She dusted her hands off.

“Did you have fun?” He asked.

“How could I not? That was… incredible.” She smiled breathlessly.

“Told you we’d survive.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, do I get to pick the place we eat at tonight?” 

He nodded. “Whatever you want. It’s your day.”

She looked down at her loafers, which were absolutely covered in a coat of dust. Unable to stop her bashful smile, “Thanks. For what you said about The Culture Edition in there. You really didn’t have to.”

“And you really didn’t have to face a tornado for your job, yet you did.” He said, looking down at her. “Wanted to make it worth it.”

“Oh, it was more than worth it.” She said with a newfound confidence, looking up at him. She was breathing heavily, and he reached out to brush away some wild strands of her hair out of her face. 

He smirked. “Was it now?” He moved closer and cupped the side of her cheek now. 

Hesitantly, she started bringing up her opposite hand, and he calmly took it mid-air and put it on his shoulder. More than permission. Asking for it. She spread her hand across his back before reaching up with her other to tap the brim of his cowboy hat.

“You always wear this?” She asked teasingly

“What can I say? The ladies love it.” 

“That they do.” She smirked before leaning in to press her lips against his.

[alltheirdamn]

DECLINED | Mechanic!Joel x f!reader

PART 3

Summary: Swear? On my life. Rating: 18+ Explicit Word Count: 4.1k Warnings: Pre-outbreak (AU), mechanic!joel, oral (f + m receiving), fingering, squirting, deepthroating, multiple orgasms, overstimulation, body worship, spanking, unprotected piv sex, size kink, dirty talk, praise kink, pet names (darlin', babydoll, cowboy), rough sex, creampie, mirror sex, shower sex, playful banter and teasing, so much fluff it'll make your teeth ache, porn WITH plot now A/N: I really just want to thank EVERYONE for all the love on this lil fic. It was really only meant to be a small one-shot for shits and giggles and you guys just made it mean so much more to me ;') I hope I did their love story justice <3

Masterlist | Ko-fi

“I think this is the last of it,” you huffed, handing Joel the final box off the moving truck.

It had been six months of long-distance before Joel finally put his foot down and demanded that you move in with him and his daughter Sarah. It didn’t take much coaxing since you were just as impatient as he was to live together. You had been practically glued to your cell phone over those six months, always staying up late talking to him. You learned all about him: his career, his life in Austin, his daughter, and his wife, who had left him after she was born. You came to find he was a fantastic listener, too. He’d sit there and listen to you babble on and on about your job at the marketing agency and how traffic in California always pissed you off. Once in a while, he’d hum in agreement with your complaints but always found a way to shut you up with sweet words…or dirty ones. It was no surprise to you that he had a filthy fucking mouth when he wanted to turn you on…which happened all the time.

You followed him into the house and up the stairs to the bedroom, where he set the box on the ground. Exhausted, you flung yourself onto the bed, exhaling a sigh of relief to be done moving finally. Joel plopped down next to you, staring off into the ceiling fan with an even louder exhale.

“Not sure why you’re huffin’ and puffin’, babydoll. I did all the heavy lifting,” he said, his voice soft and teasing.

You rolled onto your side, glaring at him with sweat still dripping down your face.

“In case you haven’t noticed,” you grumbled. “I’m not used to this damn humidity. It’s almost fucking eighty degrees in December! This is ridiculous.” 

“Aw, s’my girl missing the coast?” he feigned a pouty face.

“Fuck off,” you scoffed, rolling over to face the other direction.

“I’m just kiddin’, darlin’. I’m happy you’re here.”

“I am, too,” you sighed. 

Joel moved with you, the steady warmth of his back pressing against your body. You nuzzled into him, breathing in synchronicity, a moment of stillness in the chaos. You were home.

“Joel,” you whispered. 

“Yeah, babydoll?” He asked, pressing a gentle kiss against your neck.

“I need you.”

Moving your bodies in unison, Joel rolled on top of you, holding your face in his hands. He was softer than before, his eyes washing over you with a happiness you could only have dreamed of. You arched into his touch, pressing your lips to his for a slow, hungry kiss. His mouth moved on yours with such ferocity you had no choice but to surrender completely.

“S’all you needed, babydoll?” Joel murmured against your open mouth. “Just some attention and lovin’?”

“Maybe just a lil’ bit,” you confessed.

“Sarah’s not gonna be home from school for ‘few hours,” he mused. “Reckon, I can give you all the attention you want.”

You tugged at the hem of his shirt, giving him a playful grin. In a matter of seconds, you were both fully undressed. Joel leaned back on his heels, taking in your naked body spread across his linen bed sheets. His hand wrapped around one of your ankles, his fingers slowly sliding up your calf and thigh. He never took his eyes off of yours as his hands continued roaming over the curves and planes of your body; each brush of his finger a shockwave through your skin.

“If I ain’t the luckiest son ‘a bitch alive,” he shook his head, smiling down at you. 

“You’re not too bad yourself, cowboy,” you replied.

Joel was fucking gorgeous…everywhere. You knew all this time he was broad and muscular under that damn black shirt, but seeing his bare chest on display was something else. A spattering of hair covered his chest and down his stomach, a dark trail of it leading to his hardened cock. Every inch of him was defined, yet so soft, from how his biceps tensed and flexed to the curve of his stomach as his waist tapered down. You wanted to spend eternity exploring each freckle and mole, connecting the space between them on his tanned skin with an array of kisses. 

Cupping one of your breasts, Joel bent down to capture your lips again, his other hand falling between your inner thighs. Your arousal coated his fingers as he slid them between your legs, teasing you with the pad of his thumb against your clit.

“Can’t believe this is s’all mine,” he whispered into your ear. “You hear me, darlin’? You’re all mine.”

“I’m yours,” you agreed.

Joel’s forehead rested against yours, his eyes drawn to where his fingers worked at your body. You whimpered and spread your legs wider, urging him to keep touching you. You never wanted him to stop, never wanted these moments to end. Your hands tangled in his hair, nails scratching against his scalp. 

“What ya’ want, darlin’? Use those words.”

“You…I—I want you,” you panted. “I want your cock, please.”

“Want it or need it?” He questioned, applying more pressure to your throbbing clit.

“Need it!” You cried.

Joel pushed two fingers inside you, stretching you out as he curled them deep inside you. He was teasing you slowly, pulling those embarrassing sounds from your mouth as you clenched around his fingers. Your body lit up as the pleasure built slowly, warmth spreading through your core. His fingers curled harder, hitting you at that blinding spot that made time suspend around you. All you could do was cry as the ecstasy swelled inside you, your hands clutching his neck to keep you grounded.

“Listen to those pretty lil’ sounds,” Joel hummed. “Fuckin’ love hearin’ ya cry out for me.”

“I—fuck! Fuck, Joel, please!” you begged. “God, please!” 

“Please, what, darlin’? Y’wanna cum? Is that what ya want?”

You twisted your face into the pillow, muffling a scream as your body tensed up one final time before you were drenching him with your release, the sheets under you becoming a complete mess. Your walls clenched around his fingers, pulsing through each ripple of your orgasm. Joel pulled his fingers from you slowly, your body sinking into the mattress as you removed your face from the pillows. Gazing up at him with heavy eyes, you watched as he brought his pointer finger to his mouth, wrapping his lips around the digit. Enamored, you stared in stunned silence as he licked away your arousal. Drawing it from his mouth, he pressed his middle finger against your parted lips, coaxing them open.

“Taste yourself, babydoll,” he ordered. 

Taking his finger in your mouth, you swirled your tongue, collecting the remnants of your cum. His pupils were blown wide as he watched you, the corners of his mouth twitching with an approving smile. He pressed his finger on your tongue, adding another as he pushed them further back.

“There ya’ go, darlin’,” he said, his voice rugged and dark.

You squirmed under him, needing more. A string of saliva dripped off your bottom lip as he pulled his fingers from your mouth, trailing them down your chin and throat. His hands reached down to hold your hips, flipping you over to your stomach. Hauling you onto all fours, he pressed the tip of cock to your entrance, giving you no time to prepare as he drove into you. The air was knocked out of your lungs as he buried himself deep, holding you steady until he started moving. And when he began moving… he was relentless. Your hands tried to make purchase on the headboard as he railed into you, his hips snapping at a violent pace. 

Your orgasm was tearing through you in no time, your cunt squeezing his cock into a vice as warm liquid dripped down your thighs. Joel growled behind you, his fingers bruising your hip bones.

“That’s it, there’s my good girl. Fuckin’ drenching’ my cock.”

His hand came off your hips, delivering a round of slaps against your ass that had you wailing in pleasure. The sting of his hand on your skin was enough to send you over the edge again, that desperate need to cum stirring inside you. 

“Joel!” you shouted. “I—I’m gonna cum again, please!”

“I know, babydoll, I know,” he crooned. “I got you.”

You white-knuckled the headboard, another rush of liquid gushing out of you. You were overstimulated and crying as he kept a brutal pace. Another spank, another drive of his cock inside you… over and over in repetition. 

“Gonna fill this pussy up,” he grunted. “Y’want my cum, babydoll?”

Words wouldn’t form on your lips; you could only wag your head in approval, needing him to fill you full. Joel wrapped your hair around his fist and pulled your body against his, your back meeting his sweaty chest. He slowed his pace, fucking you deeper and more rhythmically until he was panting in your ear as he caved into his release. You moved in unison, bodies heaving for air as the world dissolved around you. He held you against him for a minute, his teeth grazing your shoulder.

“Did so fuckin’ good for me,” he whispered against your skin.

You whimpered at his praises, letting your body sag into his embrace. Leaning your head back on his shoulder, you hummed in contentment, sinking into the press of his body against yours. Everything felt so right. Three little words were bubbling to the surface, but you swallowed them, too afraid to speak them aloud. You didn’t know if it was too soon; you were so caught up in the moment that you weren’t thinking straight.

“I think I need a nap after that,” you chuckled, leaving those words tucked away in your head.

“Bed s’all yours, darlin’,” Joel said, unsticking his body from yours.

You curled under the covers, his scent enveloping you as you nestled into the bed. Joel leaned down to kiss your forehead, smoothing out your hair. Through heavy lids, you gazed up at him and smiled. 

“Get some sleep, babydoll. I’ll be ‘round the house unboxing stuff ‘til you’re up.”

“Thanks, cowboy.”

**

December passed by in a blissful blur, every day bringing something new. You had found a new job at a marketing agency in Austin, spending the usual 8-5 huddle in groups as you worked through different projects. Joel was always home before you, a plate of dinner waiting on the table for you and Sarah. You teased him constantly about the grease marks on his arms after his long days at work and made sure to tease you right back for the dress and heels you wore every day—which somehow always ended up with you naked on the bed, still wearing your stilettos as he fucked you into the mattress.

It was Christmas morning, and you were waiting downstairs by the tree with Sarah. You both had devised a plan to surprise him with a new watch; his old one had cracked at work while he was elbow-deep working on an old Mustang engine. He never mentioned needing a new one, but you noticed how he would absentmindedly look at his bare wrist at breakfast time each morning.

“You think he’ll like it?” Sarah asked nervously, handing over the grey box to you.

“He’ll love it,” you assured her.

You were nestled into the couch in one of Joel’s shirts and sweats, waiting for the man himself to finish up in the kitchen. Walking into the living room, Joel had his hands full with two cups of coffee and a glass of orange juice squeezed between the crook of his elbow. He grunted at Sarah to grab the glass of orange juice, extending the extra coffee mug to you as he dropped onto the couch cushions.

“Alright,” He yawned. “Let’s see what the fat man got y’all.”

Sarah tore into her presents, squealing at the heaps of new clothes and accessories she pulled from each box. You stole a glance at Joel, watching him look at his daughter with so much love and happiness. You had caught him giving you that same look from time to time, sometimes when you were walking out of the shower or when you were curled up on the couch together watching shitty action films. Maybe he did lov—.

“Open your present, Dad!” Sarah exclaimed, dragging you from your wandering thoughts. “We got you something special!”

“Y’did, huh?” Joel looked at you with skepticism. 

You held out the box to him, shrugging with nonchalance.

“Surprise, cowboy,” you grinned.

He did a double take at the box in your hand, shock written all over his features. You looked over at Sarah, who was practically buzzing with anticipation as she waited for her dad to open his gift. Taking the box in his hands, Joel’s eyes shifted between you and Sarah, his big brown eyes softening.

“Y’all really ain’t had to do anything,” he protested. “Got all I need right here.”

You reached over to squeeze his knee, urging him just to open the damned thing. He caved, flipping open the lid to reveal his new watch. The wraps on the watch were made from military green nylon, and the face of it was made from black mineral glass that would be durable and long-lasting. It wasn’t anything flashy or extravagant; you and Sarah knew he’d hate that. 

Joel wrapped his hands around the nylon, holding it as he sat silently. You craned your neck to get a better look at his face; his brows furrowed, and his lips downturned.

“You hate it, huh?” Sarah asked quietly. 

“What?” Joel shook his head. “God no, sweetheart, I love it. Thank you.”

Sarah’s face perked up at his words, and she hauled herself up from the floor to give him a big embrace. You sat back and let them have their moment, enjoying the warmth floating around the room. Joel looked over Sarah’s shoulder at you, mouthing a soft thank you. 

Of course, you mouthed back.

He squeezed Sarah one last time before breaking the hug, ruffling her hair as she pulled away. He worked the watch around his wrist, clasping it on and admiring it against his tanned skin. 

“S’too much,” he mumbled. “Ain’t deserve these nice things.” 

“Yes, you do,” you responded.

Joel shook his head, for once at a loss for words. Sarah glanced between you both on the couch and gave you a small smile before grabbing her opened presents and disappearing to her room. You turned your attention back to Joel, already finding his eyes settled on you. 

“S’real nice of y’all to do this,” he sighed. “I really ‘ppreciate it.”

“She just wanted to do something special for you,” you said, scooting closer to him. “She loves you.”

“I know, I know.”

Joel hauled you into his lap, pulling your arms around his neck before his own settled around your waist. You leaned in close, brushing your nose against his before kissing his lips softly. Those words you had shoved down were coming back up again, crawling through your chest and banging to come out. You couldn’t wrangle them down this time.

“Joel, I—.”

“Don’t,” he whispered.

Your stomach dropped, the happiness you had felt crumbling away. Of course, it was too soon; you had been stupid to think he was ready to hear those words…or even reciprocate them. You chewed on your lip, trying—and failing—to hide your disappointment.

“Don’t say it,” he continued. “I wanna say it first. I love you, babydoll. S’fucking much.”

His features began to blur as tears fell against your cheeks.

“Swear?” You asked.

“On my life.”

Cupping your face in his large hands, Joel pulled you in for a deep kiss, his tongue tracing over your bottom lip as you surrendered to his touch. Your mouths moved together, hands roaming skin, sounds escaping in breathy moans. You hadn’t expected to fall for him so fast—or fall for him at all. It wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did, and you were happier because of it. 

“I love you, too, cowboy,” you whispered.

Later that night, Joel had you laid out on the bed upside down, your head dangling off the edge as you watched him above you through the mirror beside the bed. You could see his lips pressed against your stomach; you could feel the warmth of his mouth on your skin. 

“Watch me, babydoll,” he instructed. “Don’t take those pretty eyes off the mirror.”

You groaned as his tongue glided over your clit, each lick soft and slow. You bit your lip, trying to stifle your whines, knowing Sarah was only a few feet down the hall. You kept your eyes trained on the mirror, watching as Joel’s mouth worked at your wet cunt. His nose rubbed against your clit as he plunged his tongue inside you, a traitorous moan falling from your mouth. His eyes connected with yours through the mirror, the brown in his irises nearly black in the dim lights of the bedroom.

“Quiet, darlin’,” he warned. “Be good for me.”

“I’ll be good,” you promised. 

“That’s my girl.”

Then his mouth was back on you. He guided you toward the edge of your orgasm, keeping you suspended between bliss and delirium. You couldn’t hold on any longer, white-hot pleasure electrifying your nerves and spotting your vision. Joel kissed each of your thighs, raising his head to capture your gaze again, a lopsided grin plastered on his wet lips. You tilted your head up, the blood rushing back to the surface as you settled into the bed. Joel crawled up your body, caging you between his muscular arms. 

“So damn beautiful, babydoll,” he praised. 

“You’re not so bad yourself, cowboy.”

He smiled wider, pushing your legs apart as he lined up with your entrance. Breaking you open slowly, Joel rocked into you, his pace slow and sensual. You melted against him, the press of his skin on yours enough to send another wave of pleasure through your core. Your fingers flexed against the solid muscles of his back, his shoulder blades moving with each roll of his hips. Joel’s hand slid down your leg, cupping the underside of your knee as he hauled your leg higher, forcing himself deeper into you. 

“Joel,” you whimpered quietly. “Feel’s so fucking good.”

“I know, babydoll,” he whispered. “S’like you were made for me.”

You were mindless as another spasm tore through you, your legs shaking around his waist as your mouth dropped open in a silent cry. Joel chased his release moments later, spilling into you with a quiet slew of curses and grunts. He peppered your neck and jaw in an array of kisses, nipping at your earlobe with a string of praises falling off his tongue. 

He hauled you from the bed, carrying you into the bathroom, where you both stood under the spray of the hot water for nearly an hour. It wasn’t long before he had you pressed against the cold shower walls, pulling orgasm after orgasm from your body. 

Into the late hours of the night, you found yourself wrapped around Joel, your limbs intertwined under the comforter's warmth. Your head rested against his shoulder, fingers dancing over the hair across his chest. Joel’s thumb rubbed circles around your shoulder blade as he pulled you tighter to his body. The smell of sex and cedarwood filled the air inside the bedroom, and your eyes drifted closed while you focused on the sound of his breathing beside you.

“I love you, Joel,” you sighed, nuzzling into his embrace.

“I love you, darlin’. Always.”

**

The months faded away, the air turning warmer as summer crept in. Work had been picking up as the seasons changed, and your schedule was always packed from start to finish each day. On a particularly sunny day, you found yourself free for the afternoon after a long morning meeting. Driving through the town, you turned onto a street far too familiar to you now. Aside from Joel’s truck parked in the garage, the mechanic shop was empty. Smoothing down your pencil skirt, you exited your car with a devilish idea in mind. The bells above the door chimed as you waltzed into the waiting room with a devilish grin. Joel perked up from behind the counter, setting down the newspaper gripped between his hands. 

“What can I do for ya, miss?” Joel smirked, quickly feeding into your energy.

“Got myself a flat,” you feigned distress, leaning against the counter before him. “Can you help me out?”

“S’gonna cost ya,” he shrugged. 

“I’m all outta cash,” you whined, resting your chin on the palm of your hand. 

“Gotta credit card?” he questioned.

“It’ll get declined,” you pouted.

Joel let out a heavy breath, scratching his neck as he took you in your exaggerated appearance.

“Well, that’s got you in quite the predicament.”

“A pretty big one, huh?” You stifled a giggle. He knew what you were implying.

“I reckon we can work somethin’ out,” he insisted, nodding his head towards the back door. 

You followed him out to the garage, excitement bubbling to the surface. Joel leaned against the hood of his truck, tugging at your skirt to draw you closer, forcing you to stumble a bit in your heels. Wrapping a big arm around your waist, he pinned you to his body, his hand coming up to cradle your face. 

“Y’sure are somethin’, babydoll,” he said before leaning in for a hungry kiss. 

“Whatever do you mean?” you said sarcastically. “I’m just an innocent woman lookin’ for help.”

“Keep runnin’ that mouth of yours, darlin'. It’ll only get you in trouble,” he warned.

“What’re you gonna do about it, cowboy?” you taunted, running your hands under the fabric of his shirt. 

Grabbing the base of your throat with a strong hand, Joel forced you down to your knees. You stared up at him obediently, an eager smile on your lips. With his hand still wrapped around your neck, he used the other to free his cock from his jeans, rubbing the tip of it over your parted lips.

“Better make use of that fuckin’ mouth,” he growled. “Since ‘ya need that tire fixed so bad.”

“I’ll do anything,” you pleaded.

You took him into your mouth, rolling your tongue over the head of his cock. The taste of salty precum swirled around your mouth as you took him deeper, eliciting a satisfied rumble from his chest. Joel jerked his hips forward, forcing you to sputter around his cock as he hit the back of your throat. You hollowed out your cheeks, sucking him harder with each thrust of his hips. You reached up to cup his balls, running your fingers over the silken skin as he drove into your mouth over and over again.

“Open that pretty fuckin’ mouth, babydoll,” he instructed, his voice shaky.

You obliged, staring up at him with an open-mouthed grin. With a loud grunt and flex of his thighs, he coated your tongue in his release, some of it dripping off your lip. Your tongue darted out to catch it as Joel watched in a post-climax haze. His eyes were hooded and full of desire, and you could feel your cunt throbbing with need the longer he stared at you.

Standing on shaky legs, you reeled him in for a long kiss, the taste of him still lingering on your tongue. Joel deepened the kiss by twisting his tongue around yours, muffled sounds lost against your lips as he wrapped you into a tight embrace.

“So,” you drawled, pulling away from his hungry lips. “Think I can get that tire fixed?”

“I might be able to work somethin’ out,” he mused. “We can negotiate it over dinner.”

“Oh, you wanna wine and dine me now?”

“Damn right, I do,” he grinned. “Now, let’s go home so I can feast on you.”

“Take me home, cowboy.”

You both decided to leave your car parked at the shop and drive home together in his truck. With the console propped up, Joel had you pressed against his body, your eyes steadily watching him as he drove you home. Home. In the golden hour of sunset, you watched his eyes shimmer in flex of gold and auburn. His tan skin glowed in the sunlight, the silhouette of his face perfectly shadowed by the sun dipping below the horizon. He glanced down at you, a warm smile creasing the lines around his eyes. 

“What’s that look for, huh?” He squeezed your hip, his other hand gripping the wheel.

“I love you,” you sighed.

“I love you, too, babydoll. Always.”