#embossed save the date cards

[thomasrichard12]

Morocco Brown Matte Paisley Themed - Embossed Wedding Invitation

Enhance your wedding with our stunning embossed wedding cards. Explore a range of options, including elegant save-the-date cards, traditional embossed invitations, and charming floral designs. Each card adds a touch of sophistication to your special day, making your announcements as memorable as the occasion itself.

[ellethespaceunicorn]

Something Old, Something New

Title: Something Old, Something New

Rating: Explicit, 18+, Minors - DNI

Pairing: Nick Fowler x Reader

Fandom: The 355

Word Count: 9.5K (whoopsie)

Summary: Your childhood best friend invites you to your old vacation spot for her wedding, and you have been catching up with your first crush: her recently divorced big brother Nick.

Warnings: infidelity, divorce, recreational drug use (marijuana), drinking, mutual pining, pet names (Gumdrop, baby), praise kink, cunnilingus, unprotected p-in-v sex, mention of bodily fluids (creampie), public sex, if I forgot anything please tell me

A/N1: My tiles for @thebasementspouses VOTM Nick Fowler BINGO were: divorced, best friend’s brother, writer’s choice(prompt #802 from @creativepromptsforwriting), drunken confession, public sex. BINGO card at end of story.

A/N2: I have been working on this story for weeks and I really hope I have done the Nick Fowler fandom justice. It's my first time, and hopefully not the last time, writing for Nick. I thoroughly enjoyed writing him. Unbeta’d, we die like people who tried their best. 

Dividers by: @firefly-graphics

Support/Reblog banner by me

Cover Art by me

My Masterlist

Three Months Ago

The cardstock was rigid in your hands, the envelope discarded seconds ago. The confetti in the envelope litters around your Chucks as you bring your attention to the words embossed upon the invitation. You had been waiting for this day ever since you received the Save the Date announcement.

You ran your finger over the pretty lettering, its raised borders were a nice tactile touch. The peaceful pink, whispered white, and mellow merlot of the flowers against a hint of golden accents was a beautiful choice. Not too feminine, nor too masculine.

Turning the invitation over, you found more information. 

‘Accommodations will be completely covered for your 8-night stay at The Ocracoke Harbor Inn by the family of the Bride. You will be staying in the fully-furnished Treasure Chest Cottage. Amenities include full-service linens, complimentary wireless Internet, and guest boat docking. Guests have access to a sound-side beach. Password for WI-FI given upon check-in. Nonsmoking, no pets.’

Leave it to the Fowlers to go nuts and rent out the entire inn for their only daughter’s wedding, you thought to yourself. You were not surprised at all, growing up as a rich girl’s best friend had its perks.

As if on cue, your phone started to play the opening notes of Losing You by Solange to signal an incoming call. Pulling your phone out, you smiled seeing Deanne’s name. You clicked Accept and raised the phone to your ear.

“Hello to the future Mrs. Alexander!” Your cheery demeanor not letting on how jealous you were of your friend’s impending nuptials.

Euphonious laughter rings through the earpiece and you can’t help but join in.

“Girl, can you believe it? I am about to tie the knot, be off the market, and settle down. I’m only 12% nervous about everything so I’m doing great,” she snorted, and suddenly you were a bit less jealous if this kind of anxiety is what she had to deal with, “Anyway, um, I was giving you a call because I wanted to ask if you got your invitation and I also wanted to see if I could save myself time in waiting for your R.S.V.P. and bug and pester you until you agree to let my parents pay for you to come spend a week with us and come to my wedding and–”

“Deanne! Stop with the run-on sentence, doll. Did you think I was gonna pass up this opportunity? God, I love that you chose Ocracoke as your wedding destination. So many vacations were spent getting into all kinds of trouble,” you recalled, images of splashing in the water as kids and lounging on the beach as teens replayed in your mind.

“Yeah. Hey, when we were little girls planning our dream weddings, I was serious when I said I wanted it on the beach on Ocracoke Island. But not in the summer because of bugs and heat, but in the winter so we get that beautiful off-season fresh air,” Deanne mused.

“Dee, it’s gonna be gorgeous. I cannot wait to see you in your stunning dress walking down that aisle. Just know that since I am your oldest friend, you pretty much owe me the bouquet,” you laughed, only half-joking.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s already yours,” she bantered, clearing her throat before speaking again, “So, I also called because I wanted to vent a little, if that’s okay?”

“It’s always okay. You doing alright?” you asked, now worried that your friend was in trouble.

“Yeah, no, I’m fine. I have an update on Nick and Tori, though,” she paused, allowing your mind to wander.

The mention of your first crush’s name sent a shiver down your back. Many a moment had been wasted thinking about his pretty smile and grayish-blue eyes. You’d liked Nick before you knew you even liked boys. He was the heartthrob that trumped every teen dream of every other girl in America’s heart. In your mind, he was the closest to perfect you could imagine. 

You responded, “Oh?”

“So, their divorce is finalized. My big brother is officially a divorcé. I would have thought that a man who was with someone for so long might be partying it up right now. But he says he’s focusing on work and, I don’t know. I just want him to be happy. And like, he’s getting divorced as I’m getting married and it feels so weird. It doesn’t seem fair,” she lamented.

“Dee, come on. You know Nicky wouldn’t want you to think like that. He loves you. You’re his favorite sibling,” you jested, trying to lighten the mood.

“Ha ha. I’m his only sibling. I better be his favorite,” Dee chuckled, happy to be distracted, “So that brings me to you, Miss Missy. Last I heard, you were dating some engineer guy? Do I get to meet him soon?”

You inwardly cringed, hopes dashed of being able to avoid the topic of your relationship status. Things with Curtis kind of fizzled out when you found his tongue down an intern’s throat. You had been bringing him dinner since he’d complained about the late nights at the office.

Turns out he was hungry for more than your baked ziti. 

You explained all this to Dee, remembering the look on Curtis’ face when you poured the prepared food into his lap. He was so shook, it was beautiful.

“I didn’t want to waste all that food but he looked wonderful with my pasta all over his shirt and pants. He honestly deserved it. It was his favorite shirt too. I hope those stains never come out,” you huffed, feeling like you were right back in that office again.

“I have never been so proud of you. I wish I could put hot sauce in his underwear for hurting my girl. I’m sure if I just had a few minutes, I could come up with something more diabolical than that. But it’s what I have at a moment’s notice,” she retorted.

One thing you could always count on Dee for? Getting angry for you and using her beautiful and educated mind to come up with some way to make the person who slighted you pay for their misdeeds. It was both adorable and super embarrassing to have her tiny frame looking up into some bully’s face pointing her finger at them.

“Well, I appreciate your offer, but he is so not worth the energy. You have much better things to think about, like your wedding day. This is your cue to stop worrying about me, Dee,” you advised, a stern tone coloring your words.

“Fine, I will stop worrying about you out loud. You got it, girl. Anyway, I won’t hold you. Talk soon, ok? I miss you,” she said, and you could envision her getting bleary-eyed.

“I miss you too, Dee. We’ll get together soon, I promise,” you sighed, feeling guilty for letting your friendship dwindle over the years.

“I’ll hold you to it. Bye, babe,” she hummed.

“Bye.” You hang up the phone and close your eyes. Visions of what Dee will look like in her wedding dress cloud your thoughts. Little snippets of grayish-blue eyes and dark brown hair seep in and you can almost hear his laugh again. You open your eyes, blinking away the mental images that brought you joy for a moment.

‘This is fine,’ you thought to yourself. Yeah, totally. You’re only going to see your best friend from childhood get married, effectively ending your childhood with a pretty bow on top. You also were only going to be with the biggest crush you ever had for like, an entire week. 

And he’s single. 

And probably needy. 

And...you had better get your jaw up off the floor if you were going to get anything done.

Three months is enough time to get your brain, your body, and your emotions in check before you make a fool out of yourself in front of your second family.

Right?

January 20th, 2024 – Day One

Standing on the deck of the Hatteras Ferry, you watch as Ocracoke Island comes into view. The sun is at its highest and you are thankful for your sunglasses shielding the the bright sunlight bouncing off the crystal clear waters. You can taste the salty air and you are instantly transported to memories of running around the decks of this ferry with Deanne and Nick while your mothers tried in vain to wrangle you all.

The island comes into view and you search the docks for a familiar face. Dee promised to meet you at the docks, but when you approach them she is nowhere to be found. You pull your luggage behind you as your shoulder bag decides to slide off.

Before it can hit the ground, it’s caught by the strap by a strong hand at the same time you reach out to grab it. You thank the kind stranger as you both stand to your full height and you are face-to-face with a grown-ass Nicholas Fowler. He says something and you don’t hear hide nor hair of what the hell he just said, you look at him and break into a smile and he chuckles and speaks again.

“I hope you don’t mind Dee got me to pick you up. She had some wedding stuff to do. I wasn’t listening,” he explains, adjusting his sunglasses and putting your bag on his shoulder. He gestures over to his black Lamborghini Urus. 

Once you walk over, he puts your shoulder bag in the back seat. You step closer to him to hand him your rolling luggage. You are mesmerized as his strong forearms flex when he puts everything in the SUV. 

You clear your throat and look around when he looks back at you, catching you watching him. He closes the back door and guides you to the passenger side, opening your door for you.

“Oh, you’re a full-service driver today, huh?” you joke, stepping past him. Your platform espadrilles clacking on the asphalt. Adjusting your strapless sundress, you climb in.

“Whatever service you require, Gumdrop,” he replies with a smile, making sure you are comfortable before closing your door.

That fucking nickname… He would call you gumdrop instead of your name more often than not. That’s all, he didn’t mean anything by it, right?

When you are both buckled in, you start the drive across the island. Comfortable conversation is easy between you two. It’s like you fall back into a safe space with him. You talk about old vacations, funny moments, and what you both are up to these days. Neither of you mentions either of your failed relationships and you can’t keep the smile off of your face.

“Hey, we still have an hour until check-in. You wanna grab a bite or go to the beach or something?” he suggests.

“Are you sure they’re not waiting for us?” you counter, wondering if it’s a good idea to have a little moment with Nick all to yourself.

“I’d rather ask for forgiveness than permission. No pressure, just a suggestion,” he presses, taking a second to look over at you and smile that smile that has had you in a chokehold most of your life.

After thinking about it for all of five seconds, you agree to have lunch at Plum Pointe Kitchen. You enjoy a generous helping of Drunken Chicken nachos while Nick gets the VooDoo Shrimp PO’Boy. You share half of your meal, and Nick refuses to let you pay for anything.

Making your way to the Ocracoke Harbor Inn after lunch, you finally meet up with everyone. Dee is in mid-conversation with someone when she sees you and Nick pull up into the parking lot. She walks over to you and pulls you into a very tight embrace. It’s like everything was chaos before you got here.

“Oh my goodness, I am so glad you are here. How was the trip? Did you eat? Did Nick bore you? I’m sorry that I couldn’t come and meet you, but we had a little mishap with the reservation for the hotel and then I thought I left my wedding dress at home, and then we–”

You cut off Dee before she can work herself into a frenzy again, “Dee! Breathe. You’re gonna be fine, I promise. And is that Matthew? Introduce me already, would you?” you encourage, trying to get your friend’s mind off of the previous debacle and onto the man walking over.

Dee introduces you to Matthew and he charms you with the way he dotes on Dee. He seems like the type to be able to handle her rambling and intense emotions. How he looks at her while she speaks makes you miss having someone look at you like that.

“Well, it’s just about 3 o’clock now. Let’s get checked in and settled, then we can get together later?” Matthew chimes in.

“Sounds good,” Nick agrees, turning to you, “Go ahead and leave your stuff in my car. I’ll take you to your cottage after we are all checked in.” You nod, trying to hide your excitement. 

Once you are done with the receptionist, you get your key and the wifi password to your cottage. While waiting for everyone else to get done, you fiddle on your phone until Nick’s shadow looms over you. Looking up, you are greeted with his eyes no longer shielded by his sunglasses in the dim lobby.

“You ready, Gumdrop? We still have some time before Mom and Dad show up. And I think I remember Dee saying she would call when she was ready to go out,” he concludes, putting his hands in his pockets and rocking on his heels.

If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was nervous about something. But you don’t push.

“All set,” you say, smiling up at him feeling bold enough to wrap your arm around his while you walk out of the lobby.

Dee shouts after you to behave yourselves and tense up a bit while Nick chuckles, seemingly amused by his sister’s thinly veiled comment on two single adults being close. Damn them.

Nick opens the passenger side door for you again, closing it once you are safely inside. He drives to the Margaritaville Cottage where he will stay with his parents during the trip. He instructs you to stay in the car while he just drops his bags off and is back outside in a few minutes.

The next stop is your cottage, called the Treasure Chest. You snicker at the name, thinking it sounded more like a pirate-themed strip joint. When Nick asks what you’re laughing about, you tell him your thoughts on the name of where you are staying. The slow smile that spreads on his face makes you involuntarily clench your thighs, wondering what his days-old stubble would feel like between your legs.

He tilts his head just slightly at you, then turns back to the road, smile still intact. Luckily the drive is short as the cottages are fairly close to one another. Nick parks in the driveway and you both get out and stretch your legs. He comes around and grabs your shoulder bag and luggage, motioning for you to lead the way.

Walking up the steps to the door, you unlock it and are welcomed by the scent of fresh linen. The central air of the cottage is just this side of perfect and you drop your purse on the dining room table. Turning around, you see Nick walking into a room off of the living room.

“Holy shit, you got a King-sized bed,” he shouts from the bedroom.

Walking in, you sit at the foot of the bed next to Nick and start to untie your shoes. He follows suit and turns to you biting his lip, a question at the tip of his tongue.

Facing him, you ask, “What? Do I have something on my face?” 

“No. I, uh...I’m surprised you haven’t asked yet,” he notes. At your confusion, he holds up his left ring finger. A band of untanned skin around the base clues you in that he’s talking about his divorce.

“Nicky, I would never make you talk about it. It can’t be easy in that situation. I mean, I only broke up with Curtis a few months ago and we were only together for six months. I couldn’t imagine how a divorce feels after how long you and Tori were together,” you insist, placing a hand on his knee.

He covers your hand with his and nods. “Mom and Dad are pretty good about it. They don’t ask me how I’m doing with that sad look in their eyes anymore. But Dee? Jesus, when I told her about the incident, she was out for blood. I had to end up calming her down. All because someone broke her big bro’s heart. Love her, but she can get a little carried away,” he finishes.

“This is not to make you feel like you need to share, but you mentioned “the incident” and now I’m curious. Feel free to tell me to shut the fuck up. But I caught Curtis with his tongue down another woman’s throat. I don’t know for sure how long it had been going on or if they had done anything else together, but I knew at that moment that I was done. I am worth more than that. And so are you, Nicky,” you encourage, feeling a bit of weight lift off your shoulders after finally talking about your breakup.

“My situation was similar. Tori had been cheating on me for the last two years of our marriage with her boss. I had a feeling something was up, just didn’t want to believe it was something like this,” he reveals, continuing, “But I am moving on, so to speak. I’m not holding out anymore for her to come crawling back to me with a sad story and all that. Even though I hope that she falls in a sinkhole.”

You both laugh and continue talking, taking your minds off of your breakups. You reminisce about all of the times you’ve stayed on the island during vacations. You giggle over dumb stories of you all as teens in high school, hiding weed from your parents and drinking on the beach til it was time to sneak back into the hotel.

You get an idea and you tell Nick to give you a minute before you go back into the living room to retrieve your purse. Coming back into the bedroom, you pull out a vape pen and wiggle it in front of Nick’s face, a devilish smirk on your lips.

“We’ll just take one hit each and we will be fine. Just a bit more mellow,” you offer, pulling him to the balcony off of the living room. You each occupy a wicker chair and you hand over the device.

“Gumdrop, you little devil,” he takes the pen from you and inhales, closing his eyes and holding the smoke in his lungs before letting it out. The smoke dissipates quickly and you can see the weight lift off of his shoulders. Handing it back to you, he exhales loudly and leans back in his chair.

Putting the tip in your mouth, you hit the button and inhale. Warm vapor fills you and you release the button, holding in the smoke for a beat and then letting it out toward the sky. You put the pen down on the table between you and fold your legs under you, letting your dress cascade down.

Sitting in companionable silence with Nick feels great. Neither of you feels the need to talk while you listen to the sounds of nature around you. People walking around the cottages, cars driving by, and the distant waves from Pamlico Sound make you wish you had gone to the beach earlier.

“Fuck, that was only one hit and I feel like my bones are made of jelly,” you remark, swaying to a song that isn’t playing with your eyes closed.

Nick looks over to you and smiles, “Must be jelly ‘cause jam don’t shake like that.”

You open your eyes and turn to him, your mouth twitches before you break out into uncontrollable laughter. Nick soon follows and you both are taken over by the giggles. You settle down soon enough, still feeling the buzzing calmness of being high.

“The world needs more people like you,” you beam.

“Nah, I like being unique,” he replies, his phone chiming. Picking up a video call from Dee, “Hey Sis.”

“Hey, me and Matt were gonna go for dinner and drinks, you in?” she asks.

“Yeah, that sounds...good,” Nick answers for himself while looking at you to get your answer.

“Ok, well get ready and meet us at Oyster Company. And tell my best friend that she is coming, no ifs, ands, or buts. See you both soon!” With that, she ends the call.

“So...our decision has been made for us. Do you need to change or anything?” Nick wonders, gesturing to your traveling attire.

“If I take this dress off, I am not going out. Besides, I like this dress. I think I look positively adorable. But I will change my shoes to something more comfortable,” you finish before Nick can comment on how he also likes your dress. You pick up the vape pen, make your way back to your luggage, and pull out some flat sandals.

Once you are ready, you make your way back outside and are surprised to see Dee and Matt parked on the street outside of your cottage. “We decided to pick you up. Matt is DD tonight, so we can all get a little loosey-goosey. Plus, I can always tell when Nick is high, so get in losers!”

Nick snorts, and you are mortified to be found out, but you quickly get over it once you are in the backseat of Matt’s Audi Q4. The short ride to the restaurant was spent with Nick’s left leg brushing against your right leg. He was either manspreading or he wanted to touch you and wanted to keep it under the radar.

Either way, you were excited to feel his warmth next to you.

When you make it to the restaurant, you sit at a high table and it almost feels like a double date. Especially when your waitress congratulates Dee and Matt on their wedding while remarking that you and Nick make a cute couple as well. Your face warms up and you suddenly feel like every eye is on you. 

Nick comes to your rescue, answering the waitress with a smile, “My girl’s a bit shy, is all. Can we get a pitcher of beer for the table to start? And also two shots of Crown Royal Vanilla for me and the little lady. Thanks.”

If it was possible, you would have melted through the floor and evaporated, but instead, you just hide behind the menu until Nick pokes his head in.

“That wasn’t to embarrass you, I swear. But I got nervous that she was gonna try and flirt with me, so I dragged you under the proverbial bus with me,” he admits, his lopsided smile only making you want him more.

“Fine. You’ll just have to make it up to me,” you warn, a devious grin appearing on your face. 

You put down your menu just as the waitress comes back with the drinks. Taking both shots, you hand one to Nick. Staring in each other’s eyes, you clink your shot glasses and then tap them on the table before taking the shot. The sweet burn of the liquor warms you from within while Nick’s eyes on you melt whatever nerves you had previously.

A cleared throat breaks your trance, your focus changing from Nick to Dee.

“I talked to Mom and Dad and they won’t get here ‘til Friday afternoon with the rest of the guests. Dad said he had a few things to take care of and not to worry. Of course, I worry tenfold because he told me not to,” Dee interjects, busying herself with pouring beer into her frosted glass.

“Baby, they’ll be here as soon as they can. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about anything,” Matt insists, moving a strand of hair away from Dee’s face before kissing her.

“Promise to keep me occupied?” she requests, a sinful smile on her face.

“I do,” he jokes, clearly proud of himself for making his fiancée blush.

“First of all, how dare you? Secondly, that was almost too cute so watch yourself,” she laughs.

You roll your eyes at the happy couple and smile, going back to looking over the menu. The waitress comes back to the table and takes your orders. Over the meal, you get to know Matt a bit more and you can see how Dee fell in love with him. He’s intelligent, funny, and charismatic. The way he talks about and to her makes you so happy to know your friend found love.

When they turn to talk to each other, you and Nick spark up a conversation about work. He tells you what he can about working for the government, keeping the specific details to himself. You regale him with stories of your time as a freelance writer. You’ve written for dozens of publications, but you just want to get your original works out there for people to enjoy. 

After mentioning a few pieces you wrote for GQ, Nick expressed interest in reading your articles. You try and downplay your skills, but he presses you for the links. Taking out your phone, you realize that you don’t have his number. 

While you exchange digits with Nick, you are too busy to notice Dee casting a sidelong glance and smiling to herself. You ramble on as you send him link after link of some of your favorites. With your face in your phone, you don’t notice the way Nick looks at you with a mix of pride and hunger.

“Well, I am ready to call it a night,” Dee yawns, getting everyone’s attention, “But I could use a nightcap. Who’s up for a trip to the ABC Store? We can make it before they close.”

Everyone agrees and after the check is paid, you all pile into Matt’s SUV for the quick drive to the liquor store. You browse the aisles for a bit by yourself. Filling up your basket with a bottle of wine, some whiskey, and a six-pack of hard seltzers, you surmise that this will sustain you for the week ahead and go in search of the others.

You find Nick in front of the beer cooler, hard at work trying to decide between a 12-pack of Sam Adams’ Cold Snap and Harpoon’s Long Thaw. You suggest he get both and he agrees.

Meeting Dee and Matt up at the front of the store, you stand next to Nick in line and he laughs at the contents of your shopping basket. He puts his beer up for the cashier to scan and has you do the same, paying for your items. 

A little piece of you feels taken care of and you thank him while continuing to tell him he doesn’t have to. He just shushes you and says you can make it up to him later. Before your mind can think about what that might entail, the sale is rung and bagged. Nick picks up the beer and you grab the bag of your things.

Nick asks Matt to just drop him off at your cottage since he left his car there. His cottage is literally next door, but you’re not exactly gonna deny yourself the company. Dee and Matt drive away and you turn back to Nick. You both laugh nervously and you surprise yourself by speaking up.

“So, um. I was gonna have a weed and whiskey moment to myself, but I’d be willing to share if you’re interested,” you hint, watching as he weighs his options. 

“Lead the way, Gumdrop,” he replies.

He follows you in, closing the door behind him. He puts his beer into the fridge along with your hard seltzer. You put the wine on the counter and take out the whiskey while Nick finds two short glasses in the cabinet. Pouring a generous amount in each one, he offers you a drink and you take a sip of the amber liquid. 

Letting the whiskey sit in your mouth, you savor the hints of vanilla and spice. You reach in your purse for your vape pen and take a hit of it before offering it to Nick. Taking a long pull off of the pen, he exhales and you watch as his shoulders relax. You both take another sip of whiskey and revel in the dual flavors of the weed and whiskey.

You take your glass and the bottle, moving onto the patio off of the living room, and sit down in one of the wicker chairs while Nick takes the other. The conversation comes easily enough. Mostly high thoughts and random memories come to mind. After a while, you put on some music and when 6 Underground by Sneaker Pimps comes on, you can’t help but dance in your chair.

Nick stares while you close your eyes and move your hands to the trip-hop classic. You spend the entire song moving to the downtempo beat and enjoying your crossfade. The trance you were under slowly dissipates as the song ends and Pendulum by FKA Twigs starts.

When you open your eyes, Nick is pulling you to stand up. You’re lost as to what he is doing until his hands go to yours, pulling them to rest around his neck while he holds your hips. As the song continues, you follow his slow lead and sway to the intimate and mesmerizing indie hit.

🎶

You're younger than I am broken

I dance feelings like they're spoken

So my conversation's not enough

So lonely trying to be yours

Running through sliding doors

So lonely trying to be yours

When you're looking for so much more

🎶

By the time the song ends, the heat between you is unmistakable. Your hand tangles in his hair when he pulls you impossibly closer. Mere centimeters separate your lips. All you would need is to lean just one step closer and you’d finally get to taste his kiss.

Nick beats you to it and his hands pull your face to his, crashing your lips together. You can’t hold back the moan that escapes your lips and he swallows it adding in his own grunts and groans. Kiss after kiss, you radiate carnality and passion. 

Breaking the kiss, you watch as he licks his puffy bottom lip. You take in a breath of air and prepare to dive back in but Nick voices his thoughts.

“You are gonna be the death of me, Gumdrop,” he sighs, and at your brows furrowing he continues, “You’ve only been back in my life for a day and I’m already thinking of ways to keep you in it. Don’t hate me, but I think we should chill out, just for tonight. I swear, if you still want this by tomorrow night, I am all yours. But you better be all mine. Please, tell me you can wait for me?”

“Tomorrow night and you’re all mine?” you plead, and he nods.

“Less than 24 hours, baby. Show me that these feelings aren’t just from the substances in our system,” he insists, and you wanna fuck him even more now after he says that.

You nod and he speaks up, “Need to hear your words, baby, like a big girl.”

“Fuck...yes, I can wait. I can wait for you, Nicky,” you whimper and he rests his forehead against yours. 

“That’s my good girl,” he praises, lifting his head from yours, “Now, why don’t we call it a night before I go back on my word? You look so good in this dress and I really wanna be good.”

Agreeing with him, you clean up your empty glasses and move the bottle to the counter next to the wine. Nick pulls you into him one last time, snaking a hand down to your ass and grabbing a hefty portion of it before a hardy slap lands on your left cheek. He only snickers at your yelp and nibbles on your bottom lip. 

“Keep that same energy for me because tomorrow I’m not holding back,” he vows, and if you weren’t leaning into him, your legs would’ve surely buckled. If he notices the tremble go through your body, he makes no mention of it and for that you are grateful.

“Goodnight, Nicky,” you hum.

“Sleep tight, Gumdrop. And do me a favor?” he challenges, at your nod he continues, “Save it for me. I’m gonna take care of you tomorrow, so no need to touch that kitty tonight, right?”

You let out the breath you didn’t know you were holding, “Right.”

He leaves and once the door is closed, you lean back against it, your hand going to your neck where your pulse is playing a sick beat against your skin.

Less than 24 hours, you think. You got this.

That night, you dream of grayish-blue eyes and large hands roaming your body.

January 21st, 2024 – Day Two 

You wake just before 10:30 am and are greeted with a good morning text from Nick. He lets you know that he is taking you out, just the two of you. Since Dee and Matt are enjoying a couple’s spa package, he figures it would only be right to hit some of your favorite places on the island.

You are dressed and out the door by noon. Nick takes you to pick up lunch at Taqueria 504 Suazo’s and you drive out to rent a Jeep Gladiator at for a few hours to drive on the beach. One of the best things about this island is that everything is so close. After 5 minutes, you are at your destination. 

Nick drives out a ways past the other people enjoying the off-season and stops about a minute after the last two fishermen you see. Guess he wanted a secluded spot, you think to yourself. While you get the food, Nick grabs the beach chairs and umbrella that he rented. The ocean breeze is agreeable enough, but you are glad that you brought a thin sweater to keep the chill off.

Once you sit down, you hand over Nick’s food and he digs into his burrito while you munch on your fish tacos. When your meal is finished, Nick puts your leftovers in the Gladiator and lets down the truck bed. He beckons you over and helps you sit on the edge and he climbs up and sits next to you while you both look at the water.

“Ya know, the last time we came out here I was just finishing my third year at Virginia Tech. You and Dee were seniors. I remember hoping upon hope that you would apply to VT and I remember you telling me you were accepting a scholarship from Princeton. I just sucked it up and congratulated you. Even though I was hoping you would understand why I wanted you close, I was so proud of you for venturing off on your own. You were always one to go after what you wanted. I just couldn’t stop wanting to be what you wanted,” he confesses, looking off into the water.

“I wanted you, Nicky. Trust me, I did. But I was so afraid that I had a dumb little crush on someone who would never see me as someone other than his little sister’s best friend. The last time I saw you, I thought it was right to push away the idea of you ever having feelings for me. I also may have been afraid of what Dee would say. She’s kind of protective over both of us, ya know?” you finish.

“That girl can be a vicious little thing when she wants to,” he chuckles, shaking his head, “But don’t you think it’s kind of a sign that she had me pick you up from the ferry? And how suddenly today, we have a free schedule to do whatever we want together? I know my sister, and she’s done this before. She matched me up with my high school girlfriend, Beth.”

“Ugh, Beth with the braces and bangs. I used to call her Triple B behind your back. I hated her so much,” you mutter, trying to push the image of them kissing out of your mind.

“Yeah, well. I knew you hated her, but me being an idiot teenager didn’t exactly know that meant you liked me. I just thought you didn’t like her because she was kind of a bitch. She was plenty nice to me, but she could be...a little scary, at times,” he laughs, surprising himself.

“So...you think Dee would be ok with...this?” you say, gesturing between the two of you.

“I just think there is no way she would let us be alone together if she wasn’t halfway hoping it would work out,” he guesses, “Plus, honestly? We’re adults. We’re allowed to go after what makes us happy.”

A slow smile spreads across your face and you pull Nick in for a kiss. You don’t want to jinx it but he makes you happy too. The way he looks at you like you hung the moon, the way he listens to you and asks questions and the way he kisses you? 

It just has to be real.

Packing up your beach equipment, you head back to drop off everything. Getting back into his SUV, you head around the island and view some of the sights. You go shopping and pick up some new knick knacks to take home. Visiting the lighthouse, you take some photos and make sure to bring Dee and Matt here before you leave the island.

Since most of the island’s restaurants are closed on Sundays, you venture to Ocracoke Variety Store and opt for cooking dinner together. After you have all the ingredients you need for a simple fish fry, you head back to your cottage and you and Nick get your hands dirty.

You have him cutting up potatoes for steak fries while you are preparing the batter for the fish. When dinner is ready, you sit at the dining room table with soft music playing in the background. While Nick wanted to take you out for your first date, he could appreciate the quiet setting with just the two of you enjoying each other’s company.

Finishing your meal, Nick takes your hand and kisses your knuckles. You smile and warmth radiates in your cheeks. You hate to admit it, but you wish you had a little liquid courage right now. But the nerves you feel only cement that this is happening.

He pulls you up from your seat, the hunger in his eyes evident from his blown-wide pupils. Leading you into the bedroom, he stops just short of the end of the bed. Standing behind you as you face the bed, he runs his hands down your bare arms and whispers in your ear.

“I cannot wait to take you apart, Gumdrop. But,” he starts, turning you around to face him, “First, I just want to take my time and worship this beautiful body I know you’re hiding from me.”

If he wasn’t holding you up, you would have melted into the carpet. But he’s there with firm hands and a gentle grip. Helping you out of your dress, he lays it on the chair in the corner. Coming back, he admires the white lace bra and panty set that accentuates your body shape.

His lips come back to yours, tasting your desire and wantonness with every kiss. Wrapping an arm around you, he guides you to lay back on the bed while maintaining the liplock. He kisses down your neck and across your collarbone while his hand unclasps your bra and removes it from your body.

Laying a kiss between your breasts draws a quick inhale from you. You can tell he’s proud of himself when he looks up at you while he licks one pert nipple, the other between his thumb and forefinger. He sucks on it as if he could siphon gold from your tits. Switching to the other, he gives it the same attention. 

The noises that come from him as he plays with your breasts are enough to make you shiver. He whimpers when you moan and throw your head back. He groans when he kisses down your belly, stopping to look up at you before he plants a quick kiss upon your covered mound.

He pulls down your panties at such an agonizing speed. Nick has to squeeze his dick through his pants when a string of your wetness stretches from your pussy to your underwear. Spreading your legs apart, he feasts on the view of your lips opening like a flower before him.

He wanted to go slow, he really did. But once he flattens his tongue and licks up from your entrance to your swollen nub, he is mesmerized by the taste of you. He goes back and forth between sucking on your button and lapping up whatever nectar drips from you. You can feel yourself inching toward the finish line, and he is right there to talk you through it.

“Fuck...you taste like Heaven...that’s right, baby...let go and cum for me like a good girl,” he commands between licks and kisses.

You’re nothing if not a good listener and seconds later, your walls are clamping around his fingers. You’ve never cum like this before and it washes over you like a warm waterfall. He removes his fingers from your wet opening and sucks them clean before moving up the bed to kiss you.

Tasting yourself on his tongue, you are beyond turned on. You tug at the hem of his shirt and he sits up to pull it off. Running your hands over his chest, you pull at the button of his pants.

“Use your words,” he urges, his hands stopping yours from moving further.

“Need to feel you, Nick. Please fuck me,” you beg, all thoughts gone from your head.

“There’s my good girl,” he replies, standing up from the bed to undress fully. Climbing back on the bed, he kneels between your legs. He strokes himself slowly, eight inches of uncut cock staring you in the face. He squeezes the base and you can tell he is just as excited as you are.

You crook a finger at him and once again, he is on top of you. With nothing between you, you’re impossibly close and you only want to get closer. Your hand soon finds his erection and he hisses at the contact, groaning when you stroke him.

He leans on one forearm while his other hand guides his tip between your lips, gathering some of your slick before entering you. You both groan loudly once he is fully settled inside you. 

“You good, baby?” he asks, anxious to start moving his hips.

“God, yes. Fuck me, Nicky,” you plead, feeling so full when you arch your back.

Foregoing words, Nick retracts his hips and thrusts into you. The wet squelch as he fucks you is music to your ears, just like the way he tells you how beautiful you are in between kisses. He uses your breasts as handholds while he pummels your snatch.

The way he looks into your eyes while he plunges inside you excites you so much that you don’t even notice when a tear escapes your eye. He kisses it away, trailing his lips to your neck where he sucks at your pulse point. At this point, you couldn't care less about a hickey. You just want to be his.

Your next orgasm surprises you and you squeeze his cock from the inside, coating him in your cream. 

“Good girl, coming all over my fucking dick. Feels so fucking good when you tighten around me like that. You are taking me so well, Gumdrop. Yes. You. Are,” he grunts, punctuating the last three words with deep thrusts inside you.

Flipping you over so you are on top, Nick grabs your hips and you start to ride him. You bounce on his cock like it’s the last time you get to fuck. By the mewls coming from him, you are doing it just right.

You feel another climax on its way, slowly building up in your core. Nick swats your hand away when you go to rub your clit. He licks his thumb and massages your neglected pearl until you are unable to hold it in any longer. The dual stimulation is too much and you gush, soaking Nick’s abdomen and your thighs.

“Oh fuck, baby. Such a good fucking girl for me. You must want my cum inside you with the way you’re...riding my dick. Shit, baby, I’m gonna blow. Where do you want it, baby?” he asks, you reply by doubling down on your hip motions.

“Right there, Nicky. Cum inside me, please,” you implore breathlessly.

“Yes, baby. Gonna cum for you, gonna fill you up so good. Ugh, fuck, here it comes,” he whimpers, his hold on your hips so tight to keep you close to him. 

You feel every twitch of his cock, his muscles pulling taut across his arms and chest as he floods your canal. Your name on his lips as he comes down is a badge of honor. Yes, you did that shit.

He pulls you down to kiss him, shallow thrusts keeping him semi-hard before he pulls out. He lays you down next to him, cuddling you close and kissing your forehead. You start to fall asleep but you can feel Nick moving off the bed. Your hand shoots out to grab for him, but he shushes you.

He goes into the bathroom and you hear the faucet running before he comes out with a wet washcloth. Wiping down your sensitive folds, he takes care of you so well. Putting the washcloth back in the bathroom, he comes back and helps you get under the covers and he snuggles in with you.

With your arms and legs entangled in one another, you drift off peacefully.

January 22nd – January 26th 2024 

The days before the wedding are spent enjoying the island with Nick, Dee, and Matt before the other guests arrive. More than once, Dee has cornered both you and Nick, asking embarrassing questions. You both say nothing, feigning ignorance even though Nick has moved into your cottage over the week, abandoning the cottage that he was supposed to share with his parents.

That being said, once his parents do finally make it to the island, he doesn’t even try and act like he isn’t staying with you. The smile on his father’s face says it all, he approves. His mother is far too preoccupied with getting everyone together for the wedding rehearsal to notice anything. 

That is until she catches you and Nick making heart eyes at each other as you stand in for the Bride and Groom in rehearsal. Yes, it was a bit too soon to be playing Wedding Day with a man whose divorce is less than 100 days old.

But when you know, you know.

At dinner, you excuse yourself to go to the bathroom and you don’t notice Nick following after you. Before you can enter the ladies’ room, a hand on your arm pulls you into the nearby gender-neutral bathroom.

You turn around and are met with hungry eyes before he descends upon you. Turning you around to face the mirror, he puts your hands on the sink and sinks to his knees, his hands roaming under your dress and up your legs until he pulls down your panties. He pulls out his already hard dick and pumps himself a few times before sliding inside you.

“Don’t fucking move, baby. Keep looking at yourself in the mirror, and your hands stay right where they are. You thought you could get away with teasing me in this tight fucking dress,” he breathes, “I want you to watch yourself while I fuck you til you’re dripping for me like the good girl I know you can be.”

When he places his hands on your hips, he begins a steady pace. He watches you in the mirror as your orgasm takes you over without warning. You squeeze him, your walls fluttering and coaxing him to follow you when you cover him in your juices.

But he surprises you when he pulls out and pulls your panties back up. When you turn around to ask why, he only kisses you and whispers in your ear, “I’ll get mine later, don’t you worry.” That only fills you with a little dread, your legs still wobbly as Nick tucks himself away and straightens his outfit. “Can’t have them knowing I just got my dick wet, right baby? See you back out there.” 

He exits the bathroom and leaves you with slick running down your legs and your brain falling out of your ears. And he’s worried about you being the death of him?

You straighten yourself and use the bathroom for its intended purpose. Once back in the banquet hall, you pray to any god who will listen that you don’t look like you just got some dick. You see Nick and Matt in a conversation like he’d been here the whole time. When Dee asks why you look flustered, you lie and say you’re just a bit tired.

Nick overhears you talking to Dee and interjects himself into the conversation, “Why don’t we go get some fresh air? Don’t worry, Sis, I’ll take care of her.” Helping you out of your chair, you both say goodnight to those at dinner.

Nick takes you back to the cottage, pulling you behind him as he walks out onto the balcony. Crashing his lips to yours, his hands scrunch up the fabric of your dress until you feel the night air chill your skin. 

“Hands on the railing, baby,” he says, peeling your soaked panties from you.

Nick’s pushing inside you in the next breath and it’s like he belonged there all along. Holding onto your hips, he begins his onslaught. All you can do is hold yourself up and be happy that no one is walking down this road because fuck they would be able to see you getting absolutely railed without abandon.

Your grip on the railing is faltering as he slams into you and he takes pity on you. He uses the grip on your hips to pull you back so you sit on his lap while he sits in the wicker chair. He moves you up and down on his dick while saying the filthiest things to you.

Once your climax hits, his pace falters and he thrusts up into you. His tip hits your cervix as he pumps you full. He holds you against him and kisses up your neck as you lay back on his chest. For a few moments, all you both can do is breathe and caress each other.

His dick slips free of you and you feel his load dripping from your thoroughly used hole. 

“Come with me back to Virginia,” he whispers, surprising both of you, “Don’t say no just yet. Think about it. We don’t leave for a couple of days. I have not been this happy in a very long while and I think I make you happy too. Just think about it, Gumdrop.”

A million things go through your head at the thought of giving up your life in New Jersey. This was a big step after only a week of playing house. Your brain comes up with so many what-ifs and reasons to not leap. But then one thought sticks, and you smile.

When you know, you know.

January 27th, 2024 – Wedding Day

You were never a big crier, but you shed many tears watching your childhood best friend marry the love of her life. It fills you with hope that everything does happen for a reason. While listening to their vows, you wonder if you could ever make that type of commitment. At that moment, Nick squeezes your hand and you smile up at him. Like he could read your mind, he seems to always know what to do to give you comfort.

Then again, he has known you most of his life. And when you think about it, it has always been him. A distant memory replays in your head of him simply putting a band-aid on your skinned knee when you were nine and he was twelve. Even then, he was there for you with a smile and a friendly hug.

The wedding reception is an all-out party but you expect nothing less from the Fowlers. The music, the food, and the atmosphere are perfect. Dee enjoys herself and is just happy to be married to Matt. And you are so happy for her, to see her without a care in the world. 

Nick focuses on you the entire night, making sure you are comfortable and that you have everything you need. You sit in his lap, effectively confirming any rumors that may have spread about you two. His hand on your knee is warm and you want to sneak out of here and take him to the nearest closet. But he doesn’t let you move an inch once he has you in his clutches.

The wedding photographer snaps a pic of you squealing when Nick plants a sloppy kiss on your cheek. The guests around you simultaneously swoon and groan, depending on their relationship status. Not that you care, you had your man. That’s all that matters.

After the wedding, you and Nick sneak off to a secluded area of the beach to look up at the stars. Taking off your shoes, you don’t mind the sand between your toes. You spend most of the night on the beach, just enjoying each other’s company under the moon. 

You are lucky enough to see a few shooting stars, and you can’t stop yourself from making a wish or two. Wondering if Nick made a wish, you open your mouth to ask him but close it just as quickly. You know his wish already and only you could make it come true.

Coming back to the cottage is bittersweet. The last night of your vacation is spent lying naked with Nick. No sex, just intimate cuddling. You loved how safe you felt in his arms, and you couldn’t deny yourself this feeling.

January 28th, 2024

You’re nervous all morning and Nick tries his best to keep your mind off leaving the island. But all you want to do is spend all day in bed with him.

Saying goodbye to Dee that day is full of teary-eyed hand-holding, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. You hug her mother and father and thank them for inviting you. 

Nick drives you to the ferry, thinking for all the world that this is the last time he will see you. But like you continue to do, you surprise him when he’s helping you with your bags.

“So, I have some things to clear up in Jersey, but I was thinking Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away. You can come to my place and we can spend some time together. I may not be ready to move 7 hours away just yet. But I know that I am not ready to be without you. I want you to know that I want this, whatever this is,” you admit, gesturing between the two of you.

“I can be amenable to that. On one condition,” he offers, taking your hands in his.

“And what is that one condition, Nicky?” you press, wondering what else he could want or if your terms weren’t enough.

“When we are with each other again, I get to call you my girl. That’s it. Be mine, and all that?” he laughs, watching as the frown lines on your forehead disappear and a smile grows on your face.

“You had me for a second, Nicky. But, why wait? I’m all yours already. Plus, I’ve already planted my flag in your back pocket,” you tease, snaking your hand around to goose him.

“So that would make me your man, then? And you’re my girl. Makes me wanna ask what made you decide to try this with me?” he hesitates, half wanting an answer and the other half just happy that you said yes.

“Hey, like I always say,” you start, wrapping your arms around his neck, “When you know, you know.”

END…?

A/N: All of the places in this story are real, this is not an advertisement for Ocracoke Island, NC btw. I just loved vacationing here so much, that I wanted to use it in a story lol.

**Tag List** (since I never wrote for Nick, I didn't know who else to tag)

@gummydummy19 @blackwood4stucky

Let me know if you wanna be added (or removed) 😁

My BINGO Card:

[safficranger]

Fake Scenarios In My Head #18

(Can be read as sequel to FS#13)

Their case has hit a wall; a neighbor of the perpetrator provided a last-minute alibi for him. Alex is convinced the neighbor is lying, but she can't prove it or understand why he would lie for someone he barely knows. For hours, she sits in her office with Olivia, papers strewn across the little coffee table, couch, and desk, combing through every piece of evidence, searching for the key to cracking the case.

Alex's assistant knocks on the open office door to get her attention. He wears a huge smile and hands her a small package with Alex's name neatly written on it in delicate handwriting. "The delivery guy just dropped this off for you."

She gets up from her desk, thankful to stretch her legs for a bit, and curiously takes the package from him. "Thanks, Andrew."

"Any progress with the witness?"

"No, not yet," Alex sighs. "Any other calls for me?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle."

"What would I do without you?"

"Drown in paperwork, probably," Andrew chuckles. "Can I do anything else? Maybe get you a coffee?"

"That would be amazing. I could really use a break," Olivia interjects.

"Coming right up."

Olivia stands up, stretching her muscles and groaning in pain. "I'm too old for this," she jokes and Alex just laughs in response.

"So... what have you got there, Counselor? I assume it's not related to our case," Olivia asks, pointing to the package.

"I'm afraid this won't help," Alex replies, grinning as she obviously recognizes the handwriting.

"So, you don't want to open it?"

"Aren't you curious, Detective?" Alex laughs.

"To be honest, I am. Kind of comes with the job, you know," Olivia shrugs. "And I could really use some distraction here."

Alex nods in understanding. She unwraps the package, revealing an elegant black box with a brand name embossed in shiny silver. She runs her fingers over the smooth surface, tracing the letters with a barely hidden smile before carefully opening the lid. The inside is lined with black velvet, and a single beautiful flower blossom sits within, the brightly colored petals contrasting the velvet beautifully.

Olivia furrows her brows. "Flowers?"

"A Flower Detective. Singular," Alex quips. "A Strelitzia blossom to be exact."

"Stre... ok yeah... Still... a pretty unusual way to deliver a flower," Olivia remarks.

Alex shakes her head, smiling. "If it were only the flower, I would agree." With that, she lifts the flower, and Olivia spots a beautiful silver necklace nestled inside the velvet bed. The necklace is a cascade of silver spheres, gradually increasing and then decreasing in size, a delicate chain threaded through them to create a fluid cascading effect.

"Wow," she exclaims. "That's beautiful, Alex."

"It really is," Alex says quietly, her voice suddenly full of emotion as her eyes wander from the necklace back to the flower in her hand. Her fingers delicately trace the intricate design of the necklace, and she can’t help but smile at the thoughtfulness behind the gift.

"Who sent it, Alex? Is there a card? Does the flower mean anything to you?" Olivia's curiosity is piqued, and she leans in closer, eager for details.

"Yes, the flower means something to me." She smiles lovingly, slowly twirling the flower between her fingers. "No need for a card. I know who sent it."

"Oh... okay," Olivia says, drawing out the words to give Alex the opportunity to elaborate, but she stays silent.

"So... do you want me to help you put it on?"

"Not now. I'll save it for a special occasion."

"Got something particular in mind? A hot date, maybe?" Olivia teases.

Alex places the flower back in the box and closes the lid with a grin. "Maybe..."

Olivia leans forward, clearly not satisfied with the vague answer. "Alex, come on. Give me something to work with. Who's the mystery person? Is it someone I know?"

Alex chuckles, shaking her head. “Wouldn't you like to know.”

“Do they by any chance drive a Mercedes?”

"Nice try, Detective," Alex replies, her tone light but firm, a small smile on her lips. “Can we please drop the subject now?” She leans back, crossing her arms, clearly not planning to give anything away. There's a playful glint in her eyes, showing she’s more amused than annoyed by Olivia’s questioning.

Olivia sighs dramatically, throwing her hands up in mock defeat. "Fine, keep your secrets. But don't think for a second I'm done with this.”

Before Alex can respond, Andrew returns, balancing a tray with three steaming cups of coffee. "Here you go, ladies. Freshly brewed and just what you need."

"Thanks, Andrew," Alex says, gratefully accepting her cup.

"You're a lifesaver," Olivia adds, taking a sip and closing her eyes in appreciation. "Perfect timing, too. I was just about to resort to interrogation tactics."

Andrew gives Alex a questioning look, but she just waves it off.

“Anything else I can do for you?” he asks.

“No, we’re good for now, Andrew.”

As he leaves, Olivia gives Alex a knowing look. "This isn't over, Counselor. I'll be watching you."

Alex just laughs, raising her coffee cup in a mock toast. "To mysteries and the detectives who love them."

Olivia clinks her cup against Alex's, grinning. "I'll drink to that."

Thank you @hg-mills for inspiration

[chowtrolls]

Moving Day

Dia moves into his first apartment!!! :D His favorite rust moirail comes to help! Google Docs

---

Jodiah really, truly, did not have nearly as many belongings as he thought. He pondered on this as he carried another box inside the rather crappy apartment. There was so little to his name. Even the things he kept at his father’s, the things from his old bedroom he was allowed to take with him. Clothing and tools, mostly. 

The box is set on a coffee table- not originally his, but one his well-meaning moirail insisted on giving him. Said well-meaning moirail stumbled his way into the room shortly after Dia, arms shaking as he struggled to carry two boxes on one trip. 

“Dude.” Dia’s mask did little to hide the amusement in his voice, though he made no motion to help Festur as the scrawny rustblood toted the boxes in. He sets them down rather harshly next to Dia’s box, panting with exertion. 

“M-Maybe…You should’ve asked your…other moirail…to move you in.” Fester all but wheezed, doubling over with his hands on his knees. The lime shot him a sympathetic look and patted his back lightly. 

“I’m not ready for Tori to start sugar-lusus-ing me just yet. You good?” 

Festur looked up at his moirail, seemingly unaware of the trickle of ruby ichor dribbling from his nose, mixing with the sweat above his lip. Dia used the sleeve of his hoodie to wipe it away. 

“Why the…fuck…are those…so heavy?” 

“I think you grabbed my box of impact and torque bits.” 

“...Your what?” 

“Tools, Fes. You grabbed a box of tools.” 

The rust’s brow furrowed, a microexpression that spoke volumes to those who knew how to read him, “...There’s a toolbox in there?”

Dia sighed, a sound not autotuned by his mask. He reached into his stolen boots for a hidden knife - a gift from his father, naturally - and cut the box open with ease. To his surprise, there were no tools. 

“Oh, it was paper.” 

Festur stood upright, peering over Dia’s shoulders with curiosity and annoyance, “You have a box of paper?” 

Dia resisted the urge to elbow his already wounded moirail in his already busted ribs, “Important papers, dumbass.” He rifled through some, pulling out examples. Letters, wriggling day cards, holiday cards, drawings from his siblings,  awards, certifications, palmhusk pictures printed on printer paper, pages torn from books. 

Festur joined in, taking a small handful of papers to nose through. He didn’t bother questioning why Dia had these. He always knew the lime was sentimental. Hard to be sentimental in space. It was amusing to look at everything Dia had saved. Older cards had fingerprints from where Dia had held them, rereading the messages over and over. Fold where he had tucked drawings into pockets for safekeeping. Handwritten letters from his father and mother, tucked safely in their original envelopes. Setting one card down, he noticed an oddity. 

An unopened letter. New- the stamp was expensive, still shiny, and dated recently. The return address was some random Fleet port, with no name to send to. The envelope was neat, a gentle lilac shade, with a strange floral embossing. Festur turned the unopened document around in his hand, investigating it closely. 

“...Are you saving this?” 

Dia’s ears perked up slightly, then dropped again, “Hm? Oh, no. They were sent to the wrong person. I keep forgetting to return them to sender. Here- see?” He gently turned the document over, pointing to the name in the center. 

In a curly cursive handwriting, written in dark indigo ink, was the address of Her Beloved Annihilation. But right above said address was a name that made Festur’s brow furrow once more. 

Little Cristo. 

“Little is an…interesting name.” 

“And Festur isn’t? Who are you to judge, Mr. Septic?” 

Festur’s frown sank deeper, though not from the insult. A seed of worry had seated itself in his chest. He couldn’t quite place it, nor could he shake it. Some deep paranormal concern that the contents of this beautiful lavender letter were not as lovely as it looked. 

“Is this the only one you got?” 

Jodiah shook his head, unaware of his moirail’s growing concern. He rooted through the box of books and pulled out two….three…..four……..five…………six………………..seven. 

Seven more letters. All unopened, all addressed to Little Cristo. All with different dates. And sent from different Fleet ports. 

Wordlessly, Festur opened one, ignoring Dia’s complaints. He unfolded the crisp letter, holding it above his moirail’s head to read. Dia only tried to grasp it a few times before giving up, and waiting for an explanation. 

As usual, Festur’s face remained unchanged. He raised his brow in a faux amusement before folding the letter back up. With a perfect monotony, he said simply, “You got someone’s love letters.” 

“Are they at least juicy?” 

“No. Bland, boring. Old guy language.” 

“Ew.” 

“Mhm. Here- There’s a drop off by the House of Restoration, I’ll take them for you.” 

With a remarkable amount of casualty, Festur collected the other six letters, tucking them into his waistband for later. Dia had no complaints. They would go on to unpack a few more boxes, then Festur would say good day. He made Jodiah promise to lock the doors on his way out. 

“Paranormal paranoia. Watched a lot of trolls die from not locking their doors.” 

Dia rolled his eyes. 

Festur opened the remaining six letters on his walk hive. He scoured over the meticulously handwritten pages, noting how they were, in fact, not love letters. The language was flowery and poetic but deeply sinister. The author waxed on about meeting The Littlest Cristo (as it turned out, Little Cristo was not their name) only a handful of times, but knowing they belonged to each other. The letters would vary from violent in descriptions, to nearly sickening in how loving they were. Descriptions of ownership, of leashing one like a bad dog. Of painting the walls with their illegal hue, of washing them in violet so they knew their place. 

Either these letters belonged to a truly disturbed couple, or the true recipient was in danger. Festur wasn’t sure which he preferred. He knew one thing for certain- even if he knew the letters weren’t for Jodiah, he still couldn’t shake the feeling that something very bad was about to happen.

[fireya-x]

family dinner

AO3 Link (for the full tag list) || masterlist

John asks you to pretend to be his girlfriend for one night, to save himself from annoying questions from his family. Turns out, you're actually who he really wants.

[9k+ words]

cw: smut, piv sex, cowgirl, handjobs, come eating

Embossed golden script on cream white card paper - it was an invitation to his grandmothers' birthday party, alright. A subtle attempt at elegance from a woman who thought tea and a tin of biscuits solved most problems. John sighed.

He already knew the drill; his mother, every aunt and uncle, cousins and second cousins twice removed would be there, armed to the teeth with baby pictures and probing questions to make him wish he’d stayed in another country in some godforsaken warzone.

The phone ringing cut through John’s meager dinner of takeout curry, one of his favorites, when he was back in his flat for a short time leave. He picked it up and answered before checking, as he usually did, expecting it to be Laswell �� but that voice wasn't Kate.

“Jonathan, my dear boy, did you receive the invitation?” His grandmother’s voice was a robust cackle for her age, a force of nature that kept her so fit at ninety.

“Just held it in my hands seconds ago, Nan.” 

“Ninety years young, can you believe it?”

“Never a dull moment,” he answered, picking at the takeaway container lid.

She laughed lightly, then cleared her throat. “Listen, dear. The caterer is extra fussy. Your opinion is special to me, you know that. It’s not like I get to plan this every day”

Here it comes.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m asking you what you want, John. I have everything else planned.” Of course she did. 

“It’s your birthday, Nan. I’ll eat anything,” he sighed. “Toffee pudding can’t be missing from any birthday, though.”

“Of course, that’s a must! Especially with you visiting! You’ve always loved it as a little boy. Now tell me, is your girl more a partial to fish or chicken?”

The fork clattered onto the styrofoam. John almost choked.

“You’ll be bringing someone, aren’t you?”

He should have said no. He should have clarified, for the thousandth time, that his occupation left no room for romantic walks on the beach and candlelit dinners. Maintaining relationships wasn’t something John did, especially when his job included more explosions than birthday candles on her birthday cake. And apparently, eliminating terrorists and global threats was not a suitable substitute for great-grandchildren.

But there was something in her voice. Hope? Excitement to finally see her grandson with a woman at his side? It was her 90th birthday, after all. Who knew how long John would have her still? Seeing him happy was the greatest gift he could give her, and he knew that.

John sighed. “Yes, I will bring someone.”

That she didn't squeal was unexpected, but he knew his mother was right there with her, listening to everything.

Fuck.

What was he supposed to do? Try Tinder, maybe? How hard could it be to find a woman who’d go on a date with him? But John hated every single aspect of using his phone for anything other than texting and calling — and he gave up when the app asked him too many questions about himself.

That’s when he heard footsteps outside his apartment. He remembered that beautiful, chatty neighbor of his. You'd watched his flat and watered his plants a few times when he was deployed. You’d only met briefly, but given John’s sparsely decorated way of living, he wasn’t worried you would steal anything. But his grandmother's plants were something holy to him, and you kept them alive, and that made you a trustworthy person in his book.

And he would be lying if he didn't admit he'd stolen a glance at you here and there, always hidden in a hoodie or a way-too-big raincoat that obscured your figure, and something about it intrigued him.

Before his brain could even process what his feet were doing, he stumbled to the front door and opened it, revealing you, arms full of groceries, struggling to get the key into the door.

“Need help with that?” A low, grumbling voice startled you, and you almost dropped the bag full of fruits and veggies.

“Jesus, you scared me.”

John chuckled, then took the bag from you as if it was something he'd casually do all the time. “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to.”

“Thanks,” you muttered, putting the key in the lock. You took the bag from him and wanted to escape this awkward situation with your way-too-good-looking neighbor as fast as possible. But before you could close the door, he intervened.

“Hey, uh, I have a question.” John’s hand ran through his hair, a nervous gesture that betrayed his usual confidence.

“Yes?”

“I – I kinda promised my grandma that I’d bring a girlfriend to her 90th birthday party, and, well –”

“You don’t have one?” The question came out sounding more shocked than you intended. You were certain he had women lining up for him.

“Yeah, I mean, no, I don’t.” His gaze dropped to the floor for a fleeting moment, as if suddenly embarrassed by the admission. You tilted your head, looking at him expectantly.

“So, you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend? What’s in it for me?”

“Free fancy food?” He smiled crookedly, and you were done for. How could you say no to that smile? The same smile that had been haunting your thoughts ever since he’d given you his keys to his apartment? Your heart was pounding.

“It’s a date,” you said, the words slipping out before you could overthink it. The relief that flooded his eyes made something inside you flutter.

“Thank you, I owe you one. Six p.m. on Friday, alright?”

“What should I wear?”

John wasn’t prepared for that question. And he didn’t mean to check you out – but he did. His eyes wandered from your boots, over your hips, up to your breasts – where his gaze lingered a second too long— and then to your face.

“It’s a garden dinner. I’m sure you’ll look nice in anything,” he said, the words feeling ridiculously inadequate the moment they left his lips.

“Very helpful, thanks.” He braced himself for a sarcastic retort, but you chuckled, shaking your head. “I’ll figure it out. Have a nice evening.”

You retreated to your apartment, leaning back against the closed door, letting out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. Your heart was still pounding. Did John, your neighbor, ask you out? The same John who seemed so unapproachable, wrapped in that aura of intensity he always wore, who disappeared for weeks on end to go on “business trips” and returned with a deep shadow under those blue eyes? 

What did he even do when he disappeared? You'd never asked. Even when he'd given you his keys so you could look after his flat while he was gone, there was nothing that gave away what exactly he did or where he went.

The small conversations you’d shared had always been just that— small nothings, polite exchanges with your friendly neighbor. Still, those infrequent encounters always sent your stomach into a nervous frenzy. 

You rummaged through your closet, trying to find something that screamed “I'm a cool, collected woman who casually dates mysteriously handsome men ” without looking like you’d overdone it. A garden party could literally mean anything, especially since you knew nothing about his family. Were you supposed to pick a nice, flowing dress or stick with casual jeans and a shirt? You had no idea.

You stopped your mind from spiralling further. It wasn’t a real date. It was a fake date . 

What were you thinking, agreeing to this? You were doubting your own sanity — but then you remembered the crinkled corners of his eyes when he smiled, the warmth that radiated from him when he’d helped you with your groceries – saying “no” to him wasn’t even an option. There was something about him that drew you in, a gravitational pull you couldn’t resist, even if it meant playing pretend.

The sundress you wore – he couldn’t even pinpoint the colour, something soft and warm, summery, like the sky just before dusk – hugged your curves in all the right ways, the delicate straps showcasing the elegant line of your neck and collarbone. His gaze traced the gentle swell of your breasts beneath the thin fabric, the way the skirt flowed over your hips, his mind already picturing how it would look bunched up around your waist when –

Fuck.

A wave of heat - he knew it so well, yet hadn’t felt it in what seemed like forever - crashed over him, settled deep in his gut, tightening his muscles, making his cock twitch.

He shifted uncomfortably, desperately hoping you hadn’t noticed the way his pants suddenly felt about two sizes too small.

He’d usually never been one for flowery dresses and delicate gold jewellery like the earrings that decorated your ears. They clashed with the brutal reality of his world. But on you, it was devastating. You were an innocent, oblivious creature walking straight into his hardened, cynical world without even knowing it. And somehow, against all logic and years of self-preservation, he wanted to corrupt every part of you.

His gaze snapped to the flesh of your delicate thighs that left little to his imagination, those toned legs wrapped around his waist while he pulled you closer and –

Jesus fucking Christ, get a grip.

He forced himself to look away, clenching his jaw so hard he thought he’d pull a muscle.

This was his neighbour. You , who’d watered his plants, borrowed his toolbox, offered a smile whenever you met in the hallway. The one who’d agreed to this incredibly stupid idea. You were doing him a favour, for God’s sake.

“Ready?” He shoved the word out harsher than he’d intended, the sound completely alien to even his own ears. But before you could answer, he shut his door and ushered you towards the exit. He needed air. He’d preferred an ice bath, preferably yesterday.

You didn’t mind adapting to roles and play pretend at all, but as soon as you arrived at the estate, your confidence got humbled. The house was huge, and the driveway alone was already filled with floral arrangements and all sorts of birthday wishes – an enormous ninety made out of entirely blush pink roses and lavender decorated the front yard.

The garden party was in full swing already when you two arrived. The air buzzed with the sound of laughter and chatter, clinking glasses and the distant beat of a live band. John seemed oddly out of place in between the flowers and the brightly dressed guests, like a lone wolf who had been dragged to a tea party.

But as soon as you stepped further into the event, the warm air surrounding you, the scent of freshly cut grass and citrus, the smiling faces all around you, your anxiety about the whole thing lessened. 

“Don’t worry too much," John's arm brushed against yours as you navigated through the clusters of guests. He reached out to grab two drinks from a passing waiter’s tray. “The worst they could do is show you my childhood photos.”

He offered you a drink, and you took it from him, smiling. “Somehow, that’s not as reassuring as you think it is.” You earned yourself a deep chuckle that rumbled through his chest and did decidedly inappropriate things to your equilibrium.

When John took your free hand into his like it was the most normal thing in the world, you felt like this was going to be the easiest task. For a fleeting moment, it was easy to forget you were living a lie.

Until dinner.

The seating arrangements were strategically orchestrated, it seemed, to maximize family bonding - or torture, you hadn’t decided which. You found yourself sitting between John, radiating a mix of polite restraint and his usual natural intensity that set your pulse racing, and a woman with the same kind eyes as him.

“This is my mother, Eleanor,” John had introduced her earlier, her smile so warm and welcoming you’d almost forgotten you were supposed to be playing a role. She seemed almost too impressed when you'd introduced yourself, as if she couldn't quite believe he was telling the truth about having a girlfriend. 

You'd prove them wrong, not for their sake, but for your own growing satisfaction at seeing John surprised.

You were no stranger to the barrage of questions about your single status and lack of a partner from your own family, so you knew how tiresome it could get. You braced yourself for a similar interrogation.

Across the table, John's grandma beamed at you with a delight that melted your heart. You understood then what this was all about for him — fulfilling his grandmother's wish to see him happy, settled.

On impulse, you reached out to grab John’s hand beside yours, your fingers threading through his, offering him a reassuring smile, pretending to bring out your best I-am-so-in-love look you could muster. 

He seemed taken aback, his entire body stiffening for a split second as if your touch were an electric shock. But then he recovered quickly, his fingers tightening around yours with a gentle pressure that sent goosebumps dancing up your arm. He raised your hand to his lips, brushing a kiss against your knuckles that lingered a heartbeat too long.

Your breath caught in your throat, your gaze fixated on the curve of his lips, the way his beard scraped against your skin. Your stomach did a somersault, your senses flooded with a rush of longing that was as unexpected as it was undeniably thrilling.

“So,” John's aunt leaned across the table, her voice a bit too loud, as if intended to break the spell you’d fallen under. “What do you do?”

You blinked, momentarily disoriented, your gaze reluctantly leaving John’s hand and focusing on the plate of food a server had just placed before you. Shepherd's pie. But not just any shepherd’s pie. This looked like a culinary masterpiece compared to the frozen meals you were used to eating all the time.

“I work in healthcare,” you answered, your mouth already watering at the sight of the culinary heaven before you. “I’m an ER nurse.”

“Oh, wow,” his grandma chirped from across the table, her eyes twinkling with genuine interest. Her comment, however, was quickly drowned out by his aunt's next, slightly more probing, question.

“I'm amazed you two met with such busy schedules. To be fair,” she added with a sly smile directed at John, “I'm shocked Jonathan managed to find someone at all with his occupation .”

Your fork, laden with a generous portion of creamy mashed potatoes and perfectly seasoned mince, froze halfway to your mouth. Your earlier questions about the nature of John’s job came rushing back. What exactly did he do? You knew he was often away for extended periods, you even kept his plants from dying a slow death from time to time, but his reasons had always been vague. “Business trips,” he’d called them, with a shrug and that infuriatingly handsome smile.

“Right,” you managed, forcing a light laugh as you carefully set your fork back down, your appetite momentarily forgotten. “We make it work. We talk a lot on the phone."

“You do?” His mother, ever the perceptive one, turned to John, her brows raised in what you could only describe as disbelief. “How come you always tell us you can’t contact us?”

John cleared his throat and his hand reached for his beer, his fingers wrapping around the cold glass. “Kate makes some exceptions,” he explained, his gaze fixed on the drink.

Kate? Your mind scrambled for context, your internal “John’s-Life” file coming up short. “Kate” let him make exceptions? Who was Kate, and more importantly, what kind of job required someone to ask permission to make personal phone calls? And why did you feel jealous - you had absolutely no business to feel this way. 

“Who’s Kate?” You asked, reaching for your champagne flute, unable to hide the accusatory edge creeping into your voice.

“My boss . Sort of.” The golden liquid got caught halfway in your throat. First name basis with his boss? His family knew his boss? So many questions came up, and you were slowly starting to panic. You were supposed to be a believable girlfriend, but you were scared the mask was slipping away by the second. 

“Oh, right, Kate. Sorry, darling. You know how my weeks have been lately. It's a wonder I can remember my own name half the time.”

“She must be happy for you, too,” his mother commented, delicately spearing a piece of fish with a precision that made you suspect years of etiquette training lay beneath her impeccably polite facade. “Finding someone special, I mean. Might even spare her some of your, shall we say, moods .” She glanced at John, her eyebrows arched as if she was sharing a private joke with the entire table, except you.

Moods? You’d always found John to be quiet, reserved, perhaps a tad intimidating at times, but never moody. 

You glanced at John, who was pointedly studying his plate, the faintest hint of a flush creeping up his neck. You wouldn't have thought the man capable of embarrassment. It made him seem unexpectedly human, and somehow even more attractive.

You were about to ask for clarification when Nan seized the conversational reins. “So, darlings,” she asked, her gaze moving back and forth between you and John, her smile widening expectantly, “How long have you two known each other?”

“I think six months?” you blurted out, the words tumbling from your lips.

At the exact same moment, John declared, “Almost a year now,” his voice deep and steady, completely contradicting your rushed estimation.

You froze. The silence that descended upon the table was deafening. 

“Has it already been that long?” you exclaimed quickly, forcing a bright smile and injecting as much wonder and mock surprise into your voice as you could muster. You prayed that your sudden rush of amnesia would be enough to distract them from the giant, elephant-sized hole you’d just blown in your story. You reached over to slightly squeeze his hand. “I suppose time flies when you’re in love.”

You snuck a peek at John, expecting to see panic, maybe even annoyance, but what you found in his gaze made your heart skip a beat. He was watching you intensely. And that smile playing at the corner of his lips? It made something dangerous and delicious twist low in your belly.

“I believe that,” John’s grandma chimed in, her voice warm with the wisdom of nine decades lived. “You two are very lovely together.”

Eleanor nodded in agreement. “She’s good for you, Jonathan. Maybe having someone special to come home to will make those long missions away a little easier.”

"Speaking of which, how’s that new posting treating you, lad? Heard it’s a bit of a hot zone, eh?” John's uncle boomed across the table.

“It has its challenges,” John replied, taking a long sip of his beer as if to fortify himself for the inevitable round of inquiries. “But it’s good to be back in the field.”

You frowned. Field? Posting? What kind of job involved working in a “field”? And what exactly made it a “hot zone?” You felt more and more confused by the conversation, it was as if they spoke an entirely different language, a language riddled with code words and shared experiences you weren’t privy to.

“That I believe,” his uncle answered, also reaching for his beer as if to toast to a shared understanding. “Bet your rank will get you far, though.”

You felt John tense beside you, his hand tightening around yours, not letting go. His family's casual acceptance of his frequent — and apparently lengthy — disappearances made you increasingly curious. You knew by now he often travelled for work, but something about the way they spoke, the underlying thread of concern laced with pride, hinted at a world you were only just starting to glimpse.

“I imagine those long stretches apart must be difficult, darling,” John's aunt commented, her gaze fixed on you with a sympathy that only deepened your bewilderment. “But I’m sure you’re used to it by now, working in a hospital and all. Those long shifts must be a challenge, too.”

You smiled, still confused about what was going on—but you also saw an opportunity. It was time to take control of the narrative, to steer this conversation into a territory you could navigate — even if it meant bending the truth further than it had already been twisted.

“Speaking of long stretches,” you interjected, shooting John a look that was equal parts challenge and playful invitation. You’d gone from wanting to bolt to wanting to play this game, see how far you could push him, how convincingly you could both lie. “Remember that road trip we took last fall? The one where we got hopelessly lost in the Scottish Highlands and ended up sleeping in the car?”

As you spoke, you noticed that everyone else at the table had dived into their food, the initial round of introductions and polite inquiries fading into a comfortable murmur of conversation. Nan beamed at you both, her fork hovering over a generous slice of shepherd’s pie, her eyes twinkling with the quiet pleasure of seeing her grandson – even a pretend version of him – happy.

Beside you, John stiffened, his gaze meeting yours with a mix of surprise and what you could only interpret as wary amusement. “Ah, yes,” he murmured, his voice low and rich, like velvet draped over steel. “Scotland. Beautiful, isn’t it, love?”

“Beautiful?” you countered, tilting your head and letting out a soft laugh that you were fairly certain sounded far more genuine than it should have. You couldn’t help but admire his quick thinking, the way he effortlessly picked up on your cue and played along. “Those winding Highland roads. They were more treacherous than romantic, if I’m being honest. I was certain you were going to drive us straight off a cliff at least a dozen times.”

His smile widened, revealing a flash of teeth that made something deep inside you melt a little. “I assure you, love, my driving is impeccable. You were simply distracted.” His gaze lingered on your face for a beat too long.

A delicious warmth flooded your cheeks. “Distracted? I seem to recall you being the one with wandering eyes," you countered, your voice dropping to a low murmur as you met his gaze head-on. You weren’t sure if the heightened awareness you felt buzzing between you was a product of the lies you were weaving or something more.

“That’s because you are quite the sight to behold, love,” he said, his voice husky, the words brushing against your senses like a caress.

You stared at him, your mind scrambling to process his words, their unexpected sincerity throwing you off balance. Had he just complemented you?

“You are—” He paused, his gaze sweeping over you, lingering on your chest. He didn’t even try to hide it. You held your breath, waiting, as the air thrummed with a sudden, unexpected intimacy.

“Breathtaking.”

What was he doing? you thought, your heart pounding. Was he still playing the part, or was there something more simmering beneath the surface? And why did the possibility excite you?

The air thickened, the sound of his family’s conversation fading into the background as the world seemed to shrink, the space between you charged with an energy that was impossible to ignore. You weren't sure if you wanted to laugh or lean across the table and kiss him senseless.

Just as you felt yourself leaning into that dangerous impulse, Eleanor cleared her throat delicately.

You both startled, like students caught whispering in the back of the classroom. John's cheeks, you noticed with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction, were flushed a faint shade of pink. Even a man like John wasn't immune to a mother's watchful gaze.

“Those rolls are delicious, dear,” Eleanor commented, and turned to you, her tone light but her eyes sharp with amusement. “Why don't you have one?” 

You reached for a roll, suddenly starving, the earlier tension dissolving into a relieved chuckle as you caught John's eyes. He winked at you, a playful glint in his blue eyes. You winked back, feeling a warmth spread through you caused by the man sitting beside you, a man who, despite your best efforts to resist, was quickly becoming more than just a convenient prop in this game of play pretend.

You'd managed to escape the clutches of the dinner table without completely blowing your cover, even when, at some points, you weren’t so sure how nobody saw right through you. But then came the real challenge — mingling. The party had moved inside the house, and you were separated from John. 

You silently cursed yourself for agreeing to this whole fabricated scenario. What if you told completely different stories to his relatives? What if someone asked you about his work, for God’s sake?

Glasses of port in hand, John’s extended family seemed very determined to catch up on months’ worth of news in one evening. You did your best to smile politely at every occasion, your inner monologue continuously reminding you to simply not say anything stupid.

Suddenly, a very chipper and well-dressed woman intruded on your personal space, waving her phone in front of your face. “You must be John’s girl!” she exclaimed, and before you could even answer, she swiped through numerous photos. “Look at her – isn't she adorable!”

You leaned in, attempting to make eye contact with the child in the photos while subtly taking a step back, her perfume a bit overwhelming. “Absolutely adorable,” you agreed, putting on a wide grin, and the woman beamed. “Oh, I can’t wait to see what children you and John will bring into this world. Aren’t they the greatest thing?”

Children? Your smile faltered. You opened your mouth to respond, to stammer out some vague response about “one step at a time”, but before you could even get a word out, the woman had moved on, already excitedly showing off her offspring to the next unsuspecting relative. 

Note to self: Avoid eye contact with anyone holding a baby photo, you thought, your internal panic rising. This whole “fake girlfriend” thing was rapidly becoming a high-stakes obstacle course, and you weren’t sure you were agile enough to navigate it without falling flat on your face.

You were trying to reach John, a plate of sticky toffee pudding on your plate, wanting to show off that you were going to try his favorite dessert – when a booming voice cut through the chatter, catching your attention. “There he is!” A tall, older man with curly hair approached John and shook his hand with a force that could crush granite. “That last mission you pulled off? Absolute textbook. A captain leading his own task force? The old man would be bloody proud.”

John’s posture stiffened ever so slightly. “Cheers, uncle,” he responded, raising his glass, his gaze darting towards you for the briefest of moments.

Mission? Captain? Task force?

The people around you, completely oblivious to your internal meltdown, continued chatting, casually dropping words like “deployment,” “classified,” “weapons,” and all other sorts of military jargon as if they were discussing the weather.

Suddenly, everything fell into place.

All those late-night departures, when you heard heavy footsteps echo through your shared hallway; the vague explanations about “work trips” when you met him outside your apartment; those calls he received at odd hours, his voice tight, his tone clipped, echoing through your shared walls; those calls that always seemed to coincide with a breaking news report or some global crisis. John, your sweet, infuriatingly attractive, seemingly normal neighbor – was leading a deadly task force.

Not that it was any of your business what he did. He owed you nothing.

Then why did this feel like such a blow? That he didn’t tell you beforehand, throwing you into the midst of his family who were clearly all about that life, and leaving you in the dark, making a complete idiot of yourself?

You had been looking forward to trying the famous dessert all evening, but suddenly, your appetite completely vanished. The plate that you held suddenly felt as appealing as cold porridge.

“Everything alright, love?” John approached, noticing the shift in your mood.

You forced a smile, hoping it was convincing. “Peachy,” you replied. “Just, fascinating, hearing everyone’s stories.” You stabbed the pudding with your spoon, not sure where the feelings of anger came from.

You shoved the plate into his chest, forcing him to take it from you. “I just need some air.” You turned and made your way towards his Nan’s beautiful rose garden.

He’d lied to you.

Well, maybe not lied, exactly. Maybe it was the sudden awareness of the danger that shadowed his every move, who he really was, who he was compared to you.

You had every right to feel foolish, to even agree to such a stupid idea. But betrayal? You had no idea where it came from, it seemed like an overreach for a situation that had been, from the beginning, just a constructed lie.

Stepping out into the cool of the garden, you breathed a sigh of relief. The scent of flowers seemed to calm your racing mind a little, a welcome contrast to all the voices you just escaped. You found your way to a small bench underneath an old oak tree, sinking onto the cool wood, straightening your dress doing so.

You didn’t hear John approach, but then again, stealth was probably part of his many talents. You didn’t know whether to be impressed or terrified.

“Enjoying the party?” he asked, stopping right next to you, an arm leaning on the backrest of the bench.

You sighed, running a hand through your hair, frustrated by all these emotions you were feeling. “Well, the food is excellent, your grandma is adorable, and I haven’t witnessed any international incidents first-hand - yet. So that’s a win, I guess?”

He chuckled, the sound low and warm, a welcome contrast to the tension that had been knotting your stomach ever since you’d pieced together the things about his life. You’d grown accustomed to that sound, to the way it rumbled deep in his chest, unexpectedly gentle for a man who, apparently, spent his days navigating a world far removed from yours.

He shifted slightly, settling beside you on the bench. You felt the heat radiating off him in the cool air of the evening, an awareness that lingered even though he wasn’t touching you.

“Look,” he began, fidgeting with the collar of his shirt, a gesture that was strangely endearing on a man who usually was so confident. “My life –” He gestured vaguely towards the party, the house. The unspoken explanation – “ my life is a full-blown, military-grade soap opera ” – hung in the air between you.

“You know,” you interrupted him, turning to face him. “A little heads-up about what you do would have been nice. Especially that it’s such an important thing in your family.”

“I’m sorry. You’re right. It wasn’t fair to throw you into that without a warning. I guess because it’s so normal to me, I just completely forgot about it.”

“I’m a nurse, I don’t really specialize in disarming bombs or whatever it is your uncles like to do for fun.”

He laughed then, a full, hearty laugh, that made your heart flutter faster in your chest.

“It’s not funny.” You said, looking away. “And I know I have absolutely no right to feel – ” you struggled to find the right word. 

“To feel –?” he prompted, leaning a little closer.

“Disappointed,” you breathed. “It’s silly, I just felt like I was left out of inside jokes during dinner. I tried so hard to not let this lie slip, but it could have been so much easier if I had known.” You took a deep breath. “So, while I was keeping your plants alive," you added, unable to keep the bitterness out of your voice, "You were out there doing what exactly? Neutralizing threats? Saving the world? I missed that chapter in the ‘Good Neighbor Handbook.’”

You couldn’t help the edge that crept into your voice. At first, it had just been a fun little game, a chance to play dress-up and enjoy delicious food. But now, now it felt different. You were, suddenly, uncomfortably aware of just how much you didn’t know about the man sitting beside you. 

The silence stretched between you, punctuated only by the gentle chirping of crickets and the soft rustling of leaves overhead. John stared at you, his eyes searching yours with an intensity that sent shivers down your spine.

“You probably think I am a complete idiot,” you continued, the words tumbling out in a rush, a jumble of emotions you couldn’t quite decipher. “I'm sorry, I'm being absolutely dramatic –”

The words died on your lips as his hands shot out, cupping your face, his thumbs brushing your cheeks with a touch that was both possessive and unexpectedly tender. His gaze held yours captive, those blue eyes burning with a fierce intensity that stole your breath away. And then, without a word, without warning, his mouth crashed down on yours.

His lips were hard, demanding, hungry, devouring yours as if he couldn’t get close enough, his tongue tangling with yours in a desperate, unyielding dance. 

It was primal, raw, untamed. It was the kind of kiss that stripped away the pretence, obliterated the boundaries, and left you gasping for air, your mind reeling, your body aching for something you couldn’t name but craved with every fibre of your being.

Time seemed to stand still — the garden, the party, the lie — it all faded away. There was only the feel of his lips on yours, the light scrape of his beard against your skin. The taste of him was intoxicating, the heat of his body radiating off him in waves.

Eventually, he pulled back, his breath mingling with yours in the night air. His hands lingered, resting on your face, slightly tracing the lines of your jawline. His gaze was wild, eyes dark and burning into you with an intensity that made you want to melt into a puddle.

You stared back, your mind racing. This was the moment the lines blurred. There had been something there — you felt it. It was more than pretend, more than just playing a game. Desire. Interest. Even though you felt like you no longer knew this man at all, you wanted to get to know him all over again. Taste him, touch him — you blinked, trying to collect your thoughts.

“Would you prefer to leave?” John's hand, still warm from its possessive grip on your face, gently brushed a stray strand of hair behind your ear, the gesture both intimate and oddly reassuring.

You shook your head. “It’s your grandma's birthday. You can’t just leave because I feel uncomfortable.”

“I think we’ve both had enough of the party for one night,” he murmured, a quick smile flashing across his face. “I’m going to let her know you aren’t feeling too well. Alright?”

He leaned in again, his lips brushing against your cheek, then, with a low rumble, he whispered in your ear, “Wait here.”

In front of both your apartment doors, the silence was an awkwardly long stretch. It felt like you were both trying to understand what had just happened, unsure where to begin.

“So, um,” he started, then stopped, running a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture that you found strangely endearing. “Thank you for coming.”

You nodded and smiled, “Of course. It was nice to get the dust off this dress again.”

He leaned towards you slowly, and your breath hitched. For one heart-stopping moment, you thought he might kiss you again – would he? Was what happened in the garden just an impulsive decision?

But he hesitated, the moment frozen, and there was something indecisive happening between you. But you didn’t mean to push, neither did he.

He cleared his throat and finally spoke. “Good night,” he said, his words careful, as if he were holding back from saying something else.

“Good night,” you echoed, your voice barely a whisper. The small hope that you'd taste him one more time evaporated.

You turned, your hand reaching for your door, keys almost to the lock, when strong hands grabbed you, spinning you around in a dizzying motion. Before you could even register what was happening, his lips were on yours again — silencing all those unspoken doubts and hesitations.

This was real. You felt it; your heart screamed it; the way his mouth was devouring yours, displaying a hunger and desire that shouted it from the rooftops.

Your hands tangled in his hair, holding on for dear life, as his tongue traced the seam of your lips with a possessiveness that made your knees weak. You felt the rumble of his groan against your mouth as he backed you against your apartment door, his body moulding against yours as if he was starving for the feel of you. You were breathless, lost in the heat of his touch, the way his hands roamed your back and finally settled on the curve of your ass.

You realized then that you had always dreamed of kissing this man, silently, secretly, whenever his eyes lingered on yours for a beat too long right there in the hallway. You’d always dismissed those fantasies as wishful thinking, but clearly, he’d been wanting the same.

You heard a click as the lock on your door was turned, and you felt as his hand fumbled with the doorknob behind your back – all while his lips were still on yours, occasionally wandering to kiss your jaw and giving you an opportunity to breathe. He cursed under his breath, and before you even processed what was happening, he shouldered the door open and pushed both of you back into the darkness of your apartment.

The familiar space of your home was suddenly transformed, and John's touch was the compass guiding you. He didn't release you, keeping you close to his body as if you might slip away. With a smooth movement, he shoved the door shut, tossing your keys somewhere onto the floor.

His hands gripped your thighs, lifting you up flush against him, the gasp that escaped your lips quickly swallowed by his next kiss. He carried you, your legs wrapped around his waist, until he reached your couch, where he gently laid you down, his body hovering over yours, his eyes devouring you, making you feel incredibly vulnerable.

The sofa dipped as he planted his knees left and right next to your legs, and he leaned to hover over you. You were both breathing hard, the only sound in the silent room. The only light illuminating you was the sliver of moonlight spilling through the window above.

“Is this still pretend?” you managed to whisper, your voice a shaky breath.

His eyes locked onto yours, the slight smirk on his face sending a thrill to your core. His hands moved to your hips, deliberately grinding them against his groin. You gasped as you felt the hardness of his arousal pressed against you, hyperaware of the thin fabric separating your most intimate parts.

“Fuck, no,” he growled, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through you. He moved his hips again, his hands slowly but intentionally pushing up your dress.

Your skin felt like it was on fire; your head was spinning. 

One of his hands moved up to the line of your dress, and with a rumble in his throat, he pulled the fabric aside, exposing the swell of your breasts to his hungry gaze.

His pupils dilated, his eyes dark and intense, as he stared at you like a starving man presented with a banquet. You'd never been so incredibly turned on, no man had ever made you feel this way— John’s simple gesture of delicately tracing the skin around your nipples made you moan so loudly you immediately threw a hand over your mouth, slightly embarrassed.

“No, let me hear it all. You sing so beautifully, sweetheart,” he murmured, his hand gently moving yours away, his touch a mixture of possessiveness and unexpected tenderness.

"John,” you breathed, your voice a shaky sigh.

“This bloody dress,” he groaned. “Wanted to rip it off you the second I saw you standing at my door.” His voice was raw, unfiltered – gone was the nice, gentle neighbor; this was the Captain coming through, the darker, more commanding side of him that should have scared you, but only served to intensify the desire swirling inside you. You wanted to know all about the man he left behind as soon as he stepped into this building.

“Every fuckin' time I saw you in the hallway, those quick hellos were never enough,” he confessed, one hand tightening on your hip, the other slowly trailing down your skin beneath the hem of your dress. His touch was agonizingly slow, leaving a trail of heat in its wake that made you lose your mind. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

His words were so honest, it caught you off guard completely. It must have shown on your face right then, because he smiled in return. “Never thought I’d stand a chance," he admitted. "You always seemed out of reach.”

You frowned. “Out of reach?”

He let out a short, humorless laugh. “Figured I’d never stand a chance against the queue of blokes lining up at your door.”

“John, what? A queue, for me?” You laughed, your disbelief genuine, gesturing towards yourself.

He sighed, sitting up, his fingers playing with the lace trim of your panties as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “You’re beautiful, and tonight, I learned it’s inside and out. You're you, and that's fuckin’ wonderful."

You shook your head in disbelief. His words made your entire body tremble.  He wasn’t just looking at your body; he was seeing you. And it felt extraordinary.

He watched you intently, his eyes filled with a longing that mirrored your own. “I kept thinking about what you were hiding underneath those baggy clothes,” he confessed, his voice a husky whisper, his fingers slowly sliding your panties down your legs. He felt you shy away from him a little, a smirk on his face stole your breath, as he pushed your legs apart with his calloused hands. “Like I said, so beautiful.” He whispered, his voice so rough with what you could only describe as lust. It made you shiver.

“You know,” you whispered, “The funny thing is, I thought exactly the same.”

“What do you mean?” You watched as he slowly ran a hand along your thighs. A ragged breath escaped your lungs, and you struggled to continue speaking.

“You’re incredible – there’s no way you didn’t have someone to –”

“To what?” he asked, suddenly stopping his movements, his gaze intense. “Willing to take a chance on a bloke who doesn’t know a thing about flowers or romantic dinners? Who spends more time on planes than in his own flat? Whose idea of a good time involves dodging bullets and disarming explosives?” He let out a self-deprecating laugh, shaking his head.

He was being so completely honest with you, so vulnerable, it sent a sharp pang through your chest. He was seeing you – the real you, hidden beneath the baggy clothes and carefully constructed walls – and for the first time that night, you were truly seeing him . John, who looked like he could bench-press a small car, who radiated an aura of danger as naturally as he breathed. 

He wasn’t some playboy who brought women home every other night, like you’d assumed. He could have any woman he wanted – and yet, here he was, his gaze tracing every inch of your naked body.

He liked you. He’d thought about you.

It felt surreal.

“Best decision I’ve made in a long time,” he murmured, leaning closer. “Asking you, I mean. Thinking I could never have you, and now –”

You held your breath, anticipation coiling in your stomach. “Now what?” you whispered.

“You’re mine.” He growled, and before your brain could even process what happened, his mouth was on your clit, kissing and sucking like he finally got to taste that delicious meal he was promised. 

“Oh god–!” you moaned, your hands instinctively gripping his hair, your nails digging into his scalp. He moaned, and the vibration of it against your skin made your legs twitch uncontrollably.

John’s touch was relentless, his tongue swirling against your most sensitive flesh, sending waves of pleasure crashing through you that were unlike anything you'd ever experienced before. You arched against him, your hips bucking involuntarily, craving more of the delicious friction that was driving you to the edge of madness.

He seemed to sense your desperation, the way your body was begging for something more. He pulled back, his gaze meeting yours, his eyes dark with a possessiveness that both thrilled and terrified you. His hand replaced his tongue, fingers gently caressing your sensitive clit. “Look at you,” he murmured. “So fuckin’ hot.”

“John,” you breathed, you were speaking without any control over it.

“What do you need, love?” he asked, his voice thick with lust, his hand never ceasing its tormenting, exquisite torture against your aching core.

“I – I need –” You couldn't form the words. Your mind was blank, and your body was trembling with need that eclipsed all rational thought.

He seemed to understand, his gaze softening, a knowing smile curving his lips. He rose slightly, his hands moving towards the belt buckle, groaning as he released himself from the confines of his trousers.

He stepped out of his pants, the sound of fabric hitting the floor echoing in the sudden silence. His shirt followed shortly after, and you were captivated. His body was hard, sculpted muscle, his arousal straining against the fabric of his boxers, proof of the desire you'd awakened within him.

You watched, mesmerized, as he slowly peeled off his boxers, his gaze never leaving yours. His hand reached down, fisting himself, and your breath hitched at the sight.

“Still think you’re not attractive to me, love? Look what you’re doing to me,” he let his thumb slowly run over the head of his length, spreading the drop of pre-come that formed there, and he must have known it was teasing you, driving you mad. “Tell me what you want,” he commanded.

You opened your mouth to speak, to voice the desire that was burning through you with the force of a supernova, but the words caught in your throat. All you could manage was a whimper as your fingers were digging into the cushions, hips arching upwards, instinctively seeking out friction you craved.

You felt like if you couldn't have him, you might die.

“Uh-uh.” His hand reached forward to grab the soft flesh of your tits, one after the other, and his thumb brushed a teasing circle around your nipples, the pressure increasing just enough to make you gasp. "I said, tell me what you want.”

“You,” you confessed, the words torn from your very soul. “For God's sake, I fucking need you.”

John's gaze intensified, his eyes dark, and the corner of his mouth twitched, a predatory smirk playing on his lips. He loomed over you like a predator about to claim his prey. With a growl, he leaned down, pressing his mouth on yours, and you could feel his erection pressing between your folds.

One of his hands shot out, cupping the back of your neck, his fingers threading through your hair, holding you captive. 

“You’re going to get everything you need, love,” he breathed, and followed by his promise, he entered you in a deliberately slow movement, almost torturous. He moaned, so raw and primal, it made you clench around him, and your entire body ignited as he filled you completely. His size, his heat, the intensity of the sensation – it sent your senses into overdrive, causing you to dig your nails into his back.

“Ohhh fuck,” you moaned, your voice a breathless whisper, lost in a world of sensation he'd created with his touch.

He paused, holding himself perfectly still within you, savoring the feel of your body clenching around him and the soft moans escaping your lips.

You whimpered, arching your hips up instinctively, desperate for more, aching for him to erase every thought, every doubt, every worry, with the overwhelming pleasure that throbbed between you.

He chuckled, a low, dark sound that sent shivers down your spine, and then he moved. Slowly at first, deliberately drawing out the sensation, his hips rocking against yours, each thrust a slow, agonizingly delicious torture that had you clinging to him, your fingers digging into his shoulders, your nails leaving trails of fire on his skin.

“Fuck,” he groaned, his voice tight with need as he buried himself deeper. “You're so fucking tight – so fucking wet.”

But even in the haze of pleasure, a primal instinct took over. He needed more. He rolled you both over, shifting his weight so that you were straddling his lap, your legs draped over his thighs, your core aligned perfectly with his arousal. He kept his eyes locked on yours as he reached for the hem of your dress, his fingers working quickly, impatiently, to free you from the loosely hanging fabric.

“Now,” his hands found your hips, guiding you closer, his thumbs stroking the sensitive flesh. “Ride me, love.”

You looked down at him, at the raw, unfiltered hunger in his eyes, the way his chest heaved with each ragged breath, and a surge of confidence, of pure, unadulterated lust, washed over you. You began to move, supporting your weight against him by running your hands through the light fur that dusted his chest. 

His hands dug deeper into your skin as you increased the pace, moving faster, harder, riding his cock wildly, completely lost in the pleasure.

Every movement sent jolts of pleasure through you. He watched you, his gaze never leaving your face, his chest rising and falling with each ragged breath as if he were hanging onto your every move.

“Fuck, yes,” he growled, his voice thick with approval. “Like that, love. Ride me hard.”

His words were a primal command, a challenge that sent a thrill through you, making you even bolder, even more daring. You leaned forward and kissed him, biting his lip, drawing a groan from him that resonated deep in your core.

He tasted of salt and desire, the scent of his arousal filling your senses, making you wild. His hands were guiding your movements, matching your intensity, pushing you both closer to that sweet edge of release.

With each thrust, you felt the coil of pleasure tighten inside you, building towards a crescendo that threatened to shatter you both. You moved faster, harder, your body driven by an instinct as old as time itself. His touch was a brand, marking you as his, and the possessive hunger in his eyes as you rode him, almost send you over the edge alone.

He was groaning now, his words a jumble of incoherent pleas and praises, his fingers digging into your flesh as he struggled to maintain control. You felt him tense, the muscles in his thighs and arms bunching beneath your touch, and you knew the storm was about to break.

“Don’t stop,” his voice was raw with need, his gaze burning into you as if he wanted to sear this moment into his soul. “Come for me, love. Let me feel you shatter."

And with one final, earth-shattering thrust, you did.

A shudder ripped through you, a wave of pleasure so intense it stole your breath away. Your walls clenched around him, a thousand tiny sparks of sensation exploding behind your eyelids. Your name tumbled from his lips, a breathless groan, as he held you tighter. You cried out, the sound swallowed by his eager mouth as he captured your lips in a desperate kiss, his tongue tangling with yours as wave after wave of pure bliss crashed over you, leaving you trembling, weak, utterly undone.

After you came down from your high, you watched him intently as he was also struggling on the edge of release. Driven by need and desire, you slowly let his cock slip out of you. He made a sound that sounded animalistic, a groan, low and deep in his chest, an expression of frustration. Your hand moved instantly, your fingers finding his length, circling him, stroking him with a deliberate, unhurried rhythm. Your fingertips traced a feather-light path up the underside of his shaft, lingering at the sensitive ridge just below the head before gliding back down to the base, your thumb brushing teasingly against the swollen vein that pulsed with his arousal.

His head fell back against the cushions, his eyes closed, a ragged breath escaping his lips as you continued to tease him, your touch the only cure for his aching need. You watched him, mesmerized by the play of muscle beneath your hand, the raw power he embodied even at that moment of vulnerability.

“I can't –” His fingers dug into the cushions, his body tensing as if fighting against the tide of pleasure that threatened to overwhelm him.

You smiled. The power thrumming between you was intoxicating, addictive. “Can’t what, John?” you whispered, leaning in, your lips trailing a teasing path along the hard planes of his stomach. “Can’t hold back anymore?”

His answer was a strangled groan. His body went rigid, and the wave of pleasure that followed was written all over his face. His hand shot out, not to stop you, but to grip your wrist. His fingers tightened around it, his control started slipping, shattering, as his release washed over him.

You whispered small praises, and watched, fascinated, as his release spurted over your hand in hot, pulsing bursts. His hips were stuttering, his cock, hard, thick in your grasp, throbbed, and the remnants of his release felt warm against your skin. He was completely at your mercy.

You’d never felt this bold, this empowered, this reckless. Before you could overthink it, you raised your hand to your mouth and licked his come off of your fingers.

Your wish to taste him, it couldn’t get any more him than this. Salt, sweat, and something so uniquely his. It made your walls clench around nothing, sending a new wave of excitement through you.

John’s gaze snapped to yours, his eyes wide, a flicker of something dark and possessive flaring in their depths as he watched you, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.

“Fuck,” he groaned, and reached out, his hand resting on your neck, his thumb slowly stroking along your pulse. “You’re something else, you know that, love?”

A nervous giggle escaped your lips. The sudden awareness of your actions, the intimacy of the moment, sent a wave of shyness washing over you. “I, uh,” you trailed off, averting your gaze, unable to meet the intensity burning in his eyes. Your cheeks burned, and you wanted to hide.

John’s hand shifted, his fingers tracing the curve of your jawline. He tilted your chin up, forcing you to meet his gaze.

“Don't shy away from me now, sweetheart,” he murmured and softly ran his thumbs over your lips. “Not after that.”

“That was –” You struggled to find the words, your thoughts were a mess. “I've never –”

“Never?” He leaned closer, his breath warm against your cheek, the scent of him filling your senses, making you dizzy.

“Never been that bold,” you admitted, your gaze dropping to his lips, their fullness suddenly a source of endless fascination. “Or wanted someone so intensely.”

A dark smile spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with triumph and something that sent a delicious thrill through you. “Good,” he growled, the word a low rumble that vibrated through you. “Because you're mine now, love. And I'm not about to let you forget it.”

And then, before you could protest – not that you had any intention of doing so – his lips crashed down on yours. It wasn’t gentle. This kiss was a possession, a claiming, a wildfire consuming everything in its path. His hand shot out to grab your neck, holding you close to him.

This really wasn't pretend anymore.

[utah-announcements]

Elevate Your Big Day with Custom Designed Wedding Invitations

A wedding is a celebration of love and commitment, a momentous occasion that deserves meticulous attention to detail. Among the many elements that contribute to the magic of your big day, wedding invitations hold a special place. They are the first glimpse your guests will have into the theme and tone of your celebration. Custom designed wedding invitations offer a unique and personalized touch that sets the stage for an unforgettable event.

The Significance of Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations do more than just provide essential information about your wedding day; they also convey your style, taste, and the ambiance you wish to create. A beautifully crafted, custom-designed invitation becomes a cherished keepsake for both you and your guests, encapsulating the essence of your special day.

Personalization at Its Finest

Custom designed wedding invitations allow you to infuse your personality and love story into every detail. Unlike pre-made templates, custom invitations are tailored to reflect your unique style and preferences. Here are some ways you can personalize your wedding invitations:

Unique Themes and Styles: Whether you envision a rustic, vintage, modern, or bohemian wedding, custom invitations can be designed to match your theme perfectly. From the choice of colors and fonts to the incorporation of specific motifs, every element can be customized to your liking.

Monograms and Crests: Incorporating a personalized monogram or family crest adds a touch of elegance and exclusivity to your invitations. These symbols can be carried through other wedding elements, such as programs, menus, and thank-you cards, creating a cohesive look.

Illustrations and Artwork: Custom illustrations or bespoke artwork can make your invitations truly one-of-a-kind. This could include a hand-drawn map of your venue, a portrait of you and your partner, or illustrations of significant landmarks in your relationship.

Special Materials and Finishes: Choosing high-quality paper, adding foil stamping, embossing, or laser-cut designs can elevate the look and feel of your invitations. These luxurious touches add depth and texture, making your invitations stand out.

The Design Process

Working with a professional designer to create custom wedding invitations is a collaborative and creative process. Here’s what you can expect:

Consultation: The process begins with a consultation where you share your vision, preferences, and any specific ideas you have. This is also the time to discuss your wedding theme, colors, and any motifs you want to include.

Concept Development: Based on your input, the designer will create initial concepts and design ideas. This stage may involve sketches or digital mock-ups to give you a visual representation of the proposed designs.

Feedback and Revisions: You’ll have the opportunity to review the concepts and provide feedback. The designer will make revisions until you’re completely satisfied with the final design.

Production: Once the design is finalized, the invitations will be printed and assembled. This stage includes selecting the right materials and finishes to ensure that the final product is of the highest quality.

Benefits of Custom Designed Invitations

Reflect Your Unique Love Story: Custom invitations allow you to tell your love story in a way that is meaningful and unique to you as a couple.

Create a Memorable First Impression: A beautifully designed invitation sets the tone for your wedding and leaves a lasting impression on your guests.

Ensure Cohesiveness: Custom invitations help create a cohesive look that ties together all elements of your wedding, from the save-the-dates to the thank-you cards.

High-Quality Materials and Craftsmanship: Professional designers have access to a wide range of high-quality materials and printing techniques, ensuring that your invitations are crafted to perfection.

[kajalingale]

Elegant Invitations: Top Wedding Card Printing Services in Pune

Your wedding invitation is the first glimpse your guests will have into the magic of your big day, setting the tone for what’s to come. In Pune, a city rich in culture and traditions, wedding card printing services are abundant and varied, offering a wide array of designs, materials, and customizations. "Elegant Invitations" is a curated guide to the top wedding card printing services in Pune, where craftsmanship, creativity, and attention to detail come together to create unforgettable invitations.

Prints & Patterns Overview: Prints & Patterns stands out for its exceptional quality and bespoke designs. They specialize in custom wedding invitations that reflect the couple's personality and wedding theme.

Key Features:

Personalized Designs: Work with talented designers to create a unique card that tells your love story. Premium Materials: Choose from a range of high-quality papers, including handmade, recycled, and textured options. Finishing Touches: Enhance your invitations with foil stamping, embossing, and laser-cut details. Eco-Friendly Options: Environmentally conscious couples can opt for eco-friendly materials and inks. Why Choose Prints & Patterns? Their commitment to quality and customization ensures that each invitation is a work of art, tailored to your preferences.

The Invitation Studio Overview: The Invitation Studio is renowned for its elegant and sophisticated wedding invitations. They offer a blend of traditional and contemporary designs to suit any wedding style.

Key Features:

Variety of Styles: From classic and vintage to modern and minimalist, find the perfect style for your wedding. All-Inclusive Packages: Comprehensive packages that include save-the-dates, RSVP cards, and thank-you notes. Attention to Detail: Each card is meticulously crafted with precision and care. Digital Invitations: In addition to printed cards, they offer beautifully designed digital invitations for tech-savvy couples. Why Choose The Invitation Studio? Their wide range of styles and all-inclusive packages make planning your wedding stationery effortless and cohesive.

Creative Impressions Overview: Creative Impressions is a favorite among Pune's couples for their innovative and artistic wedding invitations. They take pride in turning your vision into a tangible keepsake.

Key Features:

Artistic Designs: Collaborate with their artists to bring your dream invitation to life. Innovative Techniques: Incorporate unique elements such as watercolor illustrations, hand-lettering, and mixed media. Personal Consultations: Personalized consultations to understand your style and preferences. Flexible Pricing: Various pricing tiers to accommodate different budgets without compromising on quality. Why Choose Creative Impressions? Their artistic approach and innovative techniques ensure that your wedding invitations are as unique and special as your love story.

Elite Cards & Crafts Overview: Elite Cards & Crafts offers luxury wedding invitations that exude opulence and grandeur. They cater to couples looking for sophisticated and lavish designs.

Key Features:

Luxury Materials: Use of premium materials like silk, velvet, and acrylic. Elegant Designs: Lavish designs featuring intricate patterns, royal motifs, and rich color palettes. Customization Options: Tailor every aspect of your invitation to match your wedding theme. Exclusive Collections: Exclusive collections inspired by various themes and trends. Why Choose Elite Cards & Crafts? For couples seeking a touch of luxury, their opulent designs and high-end materials ensure your invitations make a grand statement.

EcoWedding Cards Overview: EcoWedding Cards is perfect for eco-conscious couples who want to celebrate their special day while minimizing their environmental impact.

Key Features:

Sustainable Materials: Use of recycled paper, plantable seed paper, and eco-friendly inks. Nature-Inspired Designs: Beautiful designs that incorporate natural elements and organic patterns. Custom Eco-Friendly Solutions: Customized solutions that maintain elegance without harming the planet. Community Focus: A portion of proceeds goes to environmental conservation efforts. Why Choose EcoWedding Cards? Their commitment to sustainability ensures that your wedding invitations are both beautiful and eco-friendly, reflecting your values.

Invitations by Design Overview: Invitations by Design offers a blend of creativity and professionalism, providing couples with bespoke wedding invitations that stand out.

Key Features:

Tailored Designs: Work closely with designers to create invitations that are uniquely yours. High-Quality Printing: State-of-the-art printing technology ensures vibrant colors and sharp details. Complete Wedding Stationery: From invitations to menus and place cards, they offer a cohesive stationery suite. Flexible Delivery: Timely delivery and flexible options to meet your schedule. Why Choose Invitations by Design? Their personalized approach and comprehensive services make them a one-stop-shop for all your wedding stationery needs.

Shubh Cards Overview: Shubh Cards is a popular choice for traditional wedding invitations, offering a wide range of designs that capture the essence of Indian weddings.

Key Features:

Traditional Motifs: Designs featuring traditional Indian motifs, patterns, and colors. Cultural Elements: Incorporate cultural elements and rituals into the design. Budget-Friendly Options: Affordable options without compromising on elegance and quality. Experience: Decades of experience in crafting beautiful wedding invitations. Why Choose Shubh Cards? Their expertise in traditional designs ensures your invitations honor cultural heritage while looking exquisite.

Lavish Invites Overview: Lavish Invites is known for their modern and chic wedding invitations that appeal to contemporary couples.

Key Features:

Modern Aesthetics: Sleek designs with clean lines, modern typography, and minimalist elements. High-End Finishes: Luxurious finishes like metallic foils, velvet touches, and embossed details. Customized Solutions: Custom solutions to match your wedding’s theme and color palette. Digital Invitations: Offer digital versions of your invites for easy sharing and RSVPs. Why Choose Lavish Invites? Their modern designs and high-end finishes are perfect for couples looking for stylish and contemporary wedding invitations.

Classic Card Creations Overview: Classic Card Creations specializes in timeless and elegant wedding invitations that never go out of style.

Key Features:

Timeless Designs: Classic designs with an emphasis on elegance and simplicity. Quality Craftsmanship: Meticulous craftsmanship ensuring each invitation is perfect. Custom Embellishments: Options to add custom embellishments like ribbons, pearls, and lace. Personal Service: Dedicated service to help you choose the perfect design. Why Choose Classic Card Creations? For those who appreciate classic elegance, their timeless designs and quality craftsmanship are unmatched.

Innovative Invites Overview: Innovative Invites is known for their cutting-edge designs and creative solutions, perfect for couples who want something unique.

Key Features:

Creative Concepts: Innovative designs that incorporate unusual materials and formats. Interactive Elements: Incorporate interactive elements like pop-ups, slides, and digital integrations. Custom Themes: Custom themes that reflect your personality and wedding style. Detailed Consultations: In-depth consultations to understand your vision and bring it to life. Why Choose Innovative Invites? Their creativity and willingness to push the envelope ensure your wedding invitations are truly one-of-a-kind.

Conclusion: Choosing the perfect wedding invitation is a crucial part of wedding planning, and Pune offers an array of talented designers and printers who can bring your vision to life. Whether you prefer traditional elegance, modern chic, luxurious opulence, or eco-friendly designs, there is a wedding card printing service in Pune that can cater to your needs. "Elegant Invitations" highlights the best of the best, ensuring that your wedding invitations set the perfect tone for your special day while staying within your budget. Each of these top decorators brings their unique touch to the art of wedding invitations, promising to make your announcement as memorable as the event itself.

[oppvenuz7]

Anchored in Love: Nautical Themes for Your Wedding

"Anchored in Love: Nautical Themes for Your Wedding"

A wedding inspired by the nautical theme, "Anchored in Love," embodies the perfect blend of elegance, romance, and maritime charm. This theme not only highlights the serene beauty of the ocean but also symbolizes the unwavering stability and enduring commitment shared between two hearts. Here's a detailed guide to infusing your wedding with nautical elements that will create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.

Click Here More Deatils:https://www.oppvenuz.com/services/anchor

Venue Selection

Selecting the right venue is the cornerstone of a nautical-themed wedding. Ideal locations include beachside resorts, coastal mansions, seaside pavilions, or even a yacht. These venues naturally offer breathtaking views of the ocean, creating a stunning backdrop for your celebration. If a seaside venue isn't feasible, consider waterfront properties, marinas, or elegant indoor venues that can be transformed with maritime decor.

Invitations and Stationery

Your wedding invitations are the first glimpse your guests will have of your nautical theme. Choose designs featuring classic maritime symbols such as anchors, ship wheels, lighthouses, and nautical ropes. A color palette of navy blue, crisp white, and gold accents evokes a timeless nautical feel. Incorporate elements like embossed textures, gold foiling, or even parchment-style paper to enhance the aesthetic. Extend these design choices to your save-the-dates, programs, place cards, and menus for a cohesive look.

Decor and Ambiance

Creating the perfect ambiance with decor is essential to bring your nautical theme to life. Start with a navy blue and white color scheme, accented with touches of gold or red for a vibrant contrast. Use anchors, ship wheels, lanterns, and vintage nautical maps as focal points in your decor. Rope and netting can be used creatively, such as table runners or draped around pillars and railings. Centerpieces can feature elements like driftwood, starfish, seashells, and candles to evoke the coastal charm.

Attire

The attire for your nautical-themed wedding should reflect a balance of elegance and maritime flair. Brides can choose flowing gowns with lace details reminiscent of sea foam or waves. Grooms can wear classic navy suits or opt for lighter linen suits for a more relaxed, beachy vibe. Bridesmaids can be dressed in shades of blue, aqua, or soft pastels, while groomsmen can complement them with navy blazers and khaki trousers. Nautical accessories, such as anchor cufflinks, seashell jewelry, or boat shoes, can add subtle, meaningful touches.

Culinary Experience

A nautical wedding menu should celebrate the flavors of the sea. Consider offering a variety of seafood dishes, such as shrimp cocktail, oysters, lobster rolls, and grilled fish. For guests who prefer non-seafood options, include delectable alternatives like grilled chicken or vegetarian pasta. Your wedding cake can be a masterpiece adorned with maritime details like edible seashells, anchors, and waves. Complement the menu with signature cocktails named after nautical themes, like "Sailor's Delight" or "Ocean Breeze."

Entertainment and Activities

Entertainment that aligns with your nautical theme will enhance the overall experience. Live music with a coastal vibe, such as a steel drum band or an acoustic guitarist, can set the perfect mood. Consider organizing activities like beach games, boat rides, or a bonfire to create memorable moments for your guests. A photo booth with nautical props like sailor hats, life rings, and pirate accessories will add a fun and whimsical element to your

celebration, ensuring that your guests leave with cherished memories and delightful keepsakes.

Floral Arrangements and Bouquets

Incorporate the essence of the sea into your floral arrangements and bouquets. Choose flowers in shades of blue, white, and soft pastels to evoke the colors of the ocean and sky. Hydrangeas, delphiniums, and white roses are excellent choices. Enhance the arrangements with nautical elements such as starfish, seashells, or small anchors. For an extra touch of seaside charm, consider wrapping the stems of bouquets in nautical rope or ribbon.

Ceremony Details

The ceremony is the heart of your wedding day, and there are many ways to infuse it with nautical charm. Set up an arch or altar adorned with flowing fabrics, flowers, and maritime decorations like anchors or ship wheels. A sandy beach ceremony with the sound of waves crashing in the background can be incredibly romantic. If your venue is inland, consider creating an aisle lined with lanterns, seashells, and driftwood to simulate a coastal pathway.

Wedding Favors

Send your guests home with favors that reflect your nautical theme and appreciation for their presence. Consider gifts such as mini anchors, seashell candles, nautical-themed bottle openers, or small jars of sea salt. Personalized items like coasters with an anchor motif or custom tote bags with a nautical design are both practical and memorable.

Photography and Videography

Ensure your photographer and videographer capture the essence of your nautical theme. Plan for shots that highlight the natural beauty of your coastal or waterfront venue, including sunset photos, beach scenes, and candid moments with maritime decor in the background. Props like vintage compasses, telescopes, and captain’s hats can add a playful and thematic touch to your photos.

Conclusion

"Anchored in Love: Nautical Themes for Your Wedding" is a celebration of enduring love and maritime beauty. By thoughtfully incorporating nautical elements into every aspect of your wedding—from the venue and decor to the attire, menu, and entertainment—you create an event that is both visually captivating and deeply meaningful. This theme not only offers a picturesque setting but also symbolizes the stability and strength of your love, much like an anchor holds steady against the ever-changing tides. As you embark on this new journey together, let your wedding day be a reflection of your unwavering commitment and the boundless horizons that lie ahead.

[keiraconnery]

Personalized Services of Wedding Card Printing Near Me

Introduction

The journey to a perfect wedding is paved with numerous details, and among the most significant is the wedding invitation. Wedding cards set the tone for the event, offering the first glimpse into the style, theme, and personality of the celebration. In recent years, the demand for personalized wedding card printing services has surged, as couples seek unique and customized invitations that reflect their individual stories. This article explores the advantages of choosing personalized wedding card printing services near you, covering aspects such as customization options, quality assurance, convenience, and the emotional value of bespoke invitations.

The Advantages of Personalized Wedding Card Printing

Uniqueness and Personal Touch

One of the primary benefits of personalized wedding card printing is the ability to create unique and memorable invitations. Unlike generic, off-the-shelf cards, personalized invitations can be tailored to reflect the couple’s personality, preferences, and wedding theme. From custom illustrations and monograms to bespoke color palettes and typography, every element can be designed to create a one-of-a-kind invitation that stands out.

Reflecting the Wedding Theme

Personalized wedding cards can seamlessly align with the overall theme and aesthetic of the wedding. Whether you’re planning a rustic countryside celebration, a glamorous black-tie affair, or a whimsical beach wedding, personalized invitations can incorporate design elements that mirror the setting and mood of your event. This cohesion enhances the guest experience, providing a cohesive narrative from the invitation to the actual event.

Customization Options

Design Flexibility

Personalized wedding card printing services offer a wide range of design options, allowing couples to experiment with various styles, formats, and finishes. You can choose from classic, modern, vintage, or artistic designs, and work with professional designers to bring your vision to life. The flexibility to adjust every detail ensures that your invitations are a true reflection of your tastes and preferences.

Material Choices

The choice of materials plays a significant role in the overall look and feel of your wedding invitations. Personalized printing services offer a variety of high-quality paper stocks, including textured, glossy, matte, and recycled options. Additionally, you can opt for specialty materials such as vellum, linen, or handmade paper to add a unique touch. The ability to select premium materials ensures that your invitations not only look beautiful but also feel luxurious.

Embellishments and Finishes

Embellishments and special finishes can elevate the design of your wedding invitations. Options such as foil stamping, embossing, letterpress, and laser cutting add texture and dimension, making the cards more tactile and visually appealing. These finishes can highlight specific elements, such as the couple’s names or wedding date, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication.

Coordinated Stationery

Personalized services often extend beyond the wedding invitation itself to include a full suite of coordinated stationery. This can encompass save-the-date cards, RSVP cards, thank-you notes, menus, programs, and place cards. Having a cohesive set of stationery ensures consistency in design and theme, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the wedding.

Quality Assurance

Professional Expertise

One of the key advantages of choosing personalized wedding card printing near me is the access to professional expertise. Local printers typically have experienced designers and print specialists who can guide you through the process, offering valuable insights and recommendations. Their expertise ensures that the final product meets high standards of quality and craftsmanship.

Proofing and Revisions

Personalized services often include multiple rounds of proofing and revisions, allowing couples to review and refine their designs before the final print run. This process helps to eliminate errors and ensure that every detail is perfect. The ability to make adjustments based on physical proofs provides peace of mind and confidence in the final product.

High-Quality Printing Techniques

Local personalized printing services utilize advanced printing techniques to produce high-quality wedding invitations. Whether using digital printing for intricate designs or traditional methods like letterpress for a classic look, these services ensure that the finished product is of exceptional quality. The use of state-of-the-art equipment and high-resolution printing guarantees sharp, vibrant images and text.

Convenience and Local Support

Accessibility and Communication

Working with a local printer offers the advantage of easy accessibility and direct communication. You can visit the printing facility, meet with designers in person, and discuss your ideas and preferences in detail. This direct interaction fosters better understanding and collaboration, ensuring that your vision is accurately translated into the final product.

Timely Delivery

Proximity to the printing service can significantly reduce turnaround times, ensuring that your wedding invitations are printed and delivered promptly. This is particularly beneficial for couples working with tight timelines. Local printers can often accommodate last-minute changes and rush orders more efficiently than distant or online services.

Supporting Local Businesses

Choosing a local personalized wedding card printing service supports the local economy and small businesses. This decision can have a positive impact on the community and fosters relationships with local vendors who may also provide other wedding-related services.

Emotional Value of Personalized Invitations

Capturing Personal Stories

Personalized wedding invitations have the unique ability to capture and convey personal stories. Couples can incorporate meaningful symbols, quotes, and imagery that reflect their journey together. This personalization adds emotional value to the invitations, making them cherished keepsakes for both the couple and their guests.

Creating Lasting Memories

Beautifully designed and well-crafted wedding invitations become lasting mementos of a special day. Guests often save these invitations as reminders of the celebration. The emotional connection created through personalized invitations enhances the overall experience and leaves a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Practical Considerations

Budget and Pricing

While personalized wedding card printing services can be more expensive than generic options, they offer greater value in terms of uniqueness and quality. It’s important to discuss your budget with the printer and explore different options that align with your financial plan. Many printers offer tiered pricing based on the complexity of the design and the materials used, providing flexibility to accommodate various budgets.

Volume and Quantity

Consider the number of invitations you need when planning your order. Personalized services can cater to both small and large print runs, but it’s essential to order a sufficient quantity to cover all your guests, including a few extras for keepsakes and unexpected additions. Discussing your requirements with the printer can help determine the optimal print run and avoid any last-minute shortages.

Eco-Friendly Options

For environmentally conscious couples, many personalized wedding card printing services offer eco-friendly options. This can include using recycled paper, soy-based inks, and sustainable printing practices. Choosing green alternatives not only reduces the environmental impact but also aligns with values that are important to many couples today.

Conclusion

Personalized wedding card printing services near you offer a range of benefits that make them an excellent choice for couples seeking unique, high-quality invitations. From the ability to customize every aspect of the design to the assurance of professional expertise and high-quality printing techniques, these services provide the tools to create memorable and meaningful wedding invitations. The convenience of working with local printers, combined with the emotional value of bespoke invitations, ensures that your wedding cards will be cherished keepsakes for years to come.

Choosing personalized wedding card printing services allows you to reflect your personal style and wedding theme, ensuring a cohesive and beautiful presentation from the first announcement to the big day. By considering practical aspects such as budget, volume, and eco-friendly options, you can make informed decisions that align with your vision and values. In the end, the investment in personalized wedding invitations is one that pays off in lasting memories and a truly special start to your wedding celebration.

[worldofweddingco]

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Elevate the anticipation of your special day with our exquisite embossed save the date cards, meticulously crafted to capture the essence of your love story. The intricate arch design, embossed with precision, adds a touch of sophistication and charm, making it the perfect prelude to your wedding journey.

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[vishakha03]

The Convenience of Buying Wedding Cards Online

Introduction

Planning a wedding is an exhilarating journey filled with excitement, joy, and the promise of a lifetime together. Among the many aspects that make a wedding special, wedding cards hold a significant place. They are more than just pieces of paper; they are a reflection of your love and the beginning of a beautiful new chapter in your life. With the advent of technology and the internet, the process of purchasing wedding cards has been revolutionized. In this blog post, we will explore the convenience and benefits of Buy Wedding Card Online, focusing on the ease of online ordering and the vast array of options available for purchase.

1. Wedding Card Online Order: Simplifying the Process

Gone are the days when you had to visit numerous stationary stores to find that perfect wedding card design. Online platforms have made the process of ordering wedding cards incredibly convenient and hassle-free. With just a few clicks, you can explore a plethora of options from the comfort of your own home. Online vendors offer user-friendly interfaces, allowing you to effortlessly browse through various designs, colors, themes, and even customize the content according to your preferences. Additionally, you can save time and energy by avoiding traffic, long queues, and exhausting searches, making the overall experience of ordering wedding cards online an absolute delight.

2. Wedding Cards Online Purchase: A World of Choices

When you opt for Wedding Cards Online Purchase, you open yourself up to a vast array of choices that may not be available at local stationary stores. Online vendors collaborate with talented designers from around the world, ensuring that you have access to the latest trends and unique designs. Whether you desire an elegant, traditional card or a modern, quirky one, the online market caters to every taste and style. Furthermore, you can explore cards made from various materials, embellished with special features like embossing, foiling, or laser-cut designs. The options are virtually limitless, making it possible to find a wedding card that perfectly complements your vision for the big day.

3. Convenience and Time-Saving

Planning a wedding can be a time-consuming task, and anything that simplifies the process is a blessing. Buying wedding cards online offers unparalleled convenience, allowing you to multitask efficiently. Instead of setting aside a specific time to visit a store, you can access online platforms 24/7, making it convenient for couples with busy schedules. Moreover, you can easily compare prices and features, read reviews from other customers, and make informed decisions without feeling rushed. The cards can be delivered to your doorstep, saving you the trouble of physically picking them up.

4. Personalization and Customization

Every couple wants their wedding to be unique and reflective of their personalities. Online vendors understand this desire and provide ample opportunities for personalization and customization. From adding your names, wedding date, and personalized messages to choosing your favorite color combinations, the options to make your wedding cards special are extensive. Some platforms even allow you to upload your designs or pictures, making your cards truly one-of-a-kind. This level of personalization adds a touch of warmth and sincerity, leaving a lasting impression on your guests.

5. Cost-Effective Solutions

Contrary to the misconception that buying online is more expensive, wedding cards purchased online can be surprisingly cost-effective. Online vendors often offer exclusive discounts, deals, and package offers, allowing you to save money while getting top-quality cards. Additionally, you can avoid extra expenses, such as transportation costs, that are incurred when visiting physical stores. By exploring various options online, you can find budget-friendly choices without compromising on style or quality.

You Can Visit More Type Cards : -

Buy Invitation Cards Online

Digital Wedding Invitations

Hindu Wedding Invitations

Conclusion

The wedding card is the first glimpse your guests will have of your special day, setting the tone for the celebrations to come. The convenience, vast array of choices, personalization options, and cost-effectiveness of Buy Online Wedding Card make it an ideal choice for modern couples. Embrace the technological era, and embark on your wedding planning journey with ease by exploring the multitude of options available for online purchase. Let this aspect of your wedding planning be a joyful and stress-free experience, allowing you to focus on the love, happiness, and memories that your wedding day will undoubtedly bring. Happy wedding planning!

[blog-about-khaki-scarf]

Merino Khaki Scarf

Throw this fantastically delicate lambswool scarf on when the times get chillier or the nights attract. Dry cleansing and a cool iron are recommended. As with any garment containing silk, jewellery or tough surfaces can cause harm, so care must be taken when dealing with and wearing the item khaki scarf.

Sign as much as our e-newsletter for 10% off your first purchase and stay updated with the most recent trends and curated collections. Iron at high temperature, utilizing steam to extend softness. This website ships only to the European Union. We only use 100% pure linen from the oldest Italian mills, to ensure softness and durability. Sign up to our Newsletter to get your Welcome Code and be notified about our new designs. Please confirm your e-mail handle and confirm your account by clicking the hyperlink within the e mail.

We advocate you save your return receipt and tracking quantity in case you want them later.

All our light-weight printed scarves are available a complimentary presentation field with gold emboss.

We wove it width-wise on the loom to bring out all the colors used in the scarf’s cotton threads by way of mini-fringes on the two ends of the scarf.

We solely use one hundred pc pure linen from the oldest Italian mills, to make sure softness and sturdiness.

Orders can be collected from chosen standalone Mulberry stores free of charge.

This scarf is designed to be worn on the pinnacle or across the neck. Its length allows for a lot versatility in the greatest way it can be wrapped across the head to provide either an unique, bohemian or elegant look. Public collections could be seen by the public, together with different shoppers, and may present up in suggestions and different locations. Buffalo Check Pattern Accented Oblong ScarfAccent your look with this khaki scarf soft, highly versatile rectangular scarf.

Softened Linen Scarf, Natural Light-weight Linen, Unisex Scarf, Shawl, Gift Idea, Equipment, Linen Wrap

To get probably the most out of your Colorful Standard merchandise, we advise taking proper care. Send me unique offers, distinctive present concepts, and personalised ideas for shopping and promoting on Etsy. The print placement may range from what is represented in the pictures shown on the product page.

We'll search excessive and low in our shops across the globe and allow you to know as quickly as we discover your merchandise. Enjoy free returns and exchanges for orders in the EU inside 15 days from the date of receipt. Depending on shipping vacation spot, our providers and inventory might differ. Gift Card purchases don't rely in path of the free shipping threshold. For international purchases, duties and taxes may be relevant based mostly on the import legal guidelines of your nation. Heirs to the know-how of our mother and father, grandparents and great-grandparents, we have been creating and manufacturing scarves for several decades.

We are only offering self-postage for Hungary inside our return portal. We are only offering self-postage for the Czech Republic within our return portal. We are solely offering self-postage for Cyprus inside our return portal. We are solely providing self-postage for Croatia within our return portal. We are only offering self-postage for Bulgaria inside our return portal. This khaki cashmere and wool scarf will maintain you warm in style.

You have 30 days from the delivery date to return your purchase. Shipping costs for returns from a European country are at the customer’s expense. A return label might be provided, but €50 shall be deducted from the amount refunded. For normal delivery, a charge of €50 might be added to your bill’s complete.

For extra info and international shipping prices, please see Shipping & Returns. In order to make the buying and supply course of smoother, customized duties and taxes are included. Your bundle will be delivered DDP and no further payment might be charged at supply. Please in case you have any questions about an order or product on our web site, or want assistance, contact us at We are sorry for the inconvenience.

We kindly ask you to incorporate the delivery observe within the package deal to ensure a fast and easy course of. Once we now have obtained your return we'll ensure to concern a refund. The merino wool scarf is so luxuriously heat and gentle, you’ll literally need to sleep in it.

Large women’s scarf rich in colour with a remarkably particular feel. The mixture of pink and green hues offers a wonderfully wealthy depth of shade to this accent. The mix of cotton with a little bit of rayon, mixed with an additional wash, adds to the softness of the scarf.

Traditional Natural Sweatshorts - Petrol Blue

All of our items include our signature Mulberry Green packaging. Please note personalised merchandise usually are not eligible for return or refund. A beautiful light-weight scarf in a muted shade of khaki with stone tree of life repeat sample. We suppose this is a versatile and stylish scarf created from 65% polyester and 35% viscose and measuring at 71" long.

This particular warm shade palette permits it to be paired with most outfits. Be transported to our flagship Jermyn Street retailer by way of our inspiring weekly newsletter. Filled with style steerage, product releases, interviews, and much more. This 100 percent wool voile fabric is luxuriously soft and light-weight with a really refined matte finish. The pure quality and khaki scarf color of the wool gives the print a classic finish. For further information please go to our Returns & Refunds page.

Gift Cards at the second are out there to buy and use as a cost possibility. There can additionally be the option to complete cost via ApplePay or GPay, relying on your gadget. • Stationery orders under $60 are despatched through United States Postal Services or International Post and will not require a signature for supply. You will obtain a notification when the product arrives.

Be the first one to pay attention to about our craft and new designs. Be the first to find out about new collections and exclusive presents. Choosing a selection results in a full web page refresh. Please note that ATP Atelier shoes are in Italian sizing. Read extra about measurement suggestion for particular kinds on the product web page under Details. Ortanella is 65x65cm and bares a print by Carina Seth Andersson.

Pre-access to exclusive launches, special offers and deal with in your first order. We settle for funds by way of Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Paypal. Klarna is also available in Sweden and offers payment options that lets you pay instantly, by bill, or through installments.

Great quality linen is the perfect material for warm climates, due to its softness, breathability, and very excessive moisture absorbency fee. Linen scarves are good to protect you from the night breeze and to add a touch of favor to your look. Our scarves are light and breathable and have elegant fringing on every finish. Change beneath if you would like to ship to a different area or nation.

• During Peak and Sale - as a end result of excessive volume of orders, there could additionally be a cargo despatch delay. However, please be assured that we are working to get your purchases out to you as soon as attainable. Orders could be collected from selected standalone Mulberry shops freed from cost.

We have a lot of archives on which we rely to make unique stoles. Our weaving workshop has at all times evolved and examined new methods and innovation in textiles while remaining devoted to the custom of jacquard weaving. We wove it width-wise on the loom to deliver out all the colours used within the scarf’s cotton threads via mini-fringes on the two ends of the scarf. Please sign in to your Mulberry Account to save tons of gadgets to your Wishlist.

Please notice, you might be unable to return personalised objects, until defective. Orders might be delivered inside 3-5 working days (incl. personalised products), excluding weekends and bank holidays. Designed to resemble wool however made from 100 percent organic cotton for an itch-free, longer lasting life. We're expecting to restock this merchandise quickly, and will notify you once it has arrived.

[indianweddinginvitations]

Pocket Perks: 5 Benefits of Choosing Pocket Wedding Invitations

Choosing pocket wedding invitations for your big day has its perks! Not only are these types of invitations more affordable, but they also offer a number of other benefits. From being able to personalize your invitees' experience to create a keepsake that can be cherished for years to come, pocket wedding invitations are definitely the way to go. Keep reading to learn more about the top five benefits of choosing pocket wedding invitations.

Pocket wedding invitations are more affordable than traditional invitations

Pocket wedding invitations have become a popular and affordable alternative to traditional paper invitations for couples who are looking to save on costs. With pocket wedding invitations, you can get a luxurious look without breaking the bank by selecting from hundreds of discounted styles available online. They also provide greater flexibility for customization, allowing you to further personalize the invitation with die-cuts, embossing, and foil stamping. Additionally, pocket wedding invitations are more convenient for guests as everything is included in one envelope rather than having multiple cards - an RSVP card, an accommodation card, etc. - that need to be mailed out separately. For couples on a budget but still want their big day to be as special and elegant as it should be, pocket wedding invitations may just be a perfect choice.

They're easy to DIY if you're crafty or have some time to spare

DIY projects can be a great way to make something beautiful or useful out of ordinary items. Not only are they thrifty, but DIY tasks can also help revitalize items we might have otherwise tossed in the trash. With some creative vision and a little bit of time and effort, you too can unlock the potential within discarded materials. Projects like constructing furniture out of old pallets or creating art with used bottles are just some examples of what you might be able to achieve with a little bit of creativity and work. So don't be shy– if you're crafty or have some time to spare, DIY projects could be your perfect self-care activity!

You can choose from a variety of pocket invitation designs to match your wedding theme

With so many options available, choosing the perfect pocket invitation design for your wedding can be overwhelming. There is a wide selection of pocket card designs to suit any wedding theme, from classic and elegant to fun and unique. Whether it be a modern take on traditional motifs or whimsical patterns to reflect the couple's interests, you are sure to find something that will make your guests feel special. Plus, customizing your invitations with the couple's name and wedding date will really set them apart from all the other invites out there!

Pocket invitations save you time by not having to stuff envelopes with extra inserts

If you are hosting a special event and need to send out invitations, save yourself time by investing in pocket invitations. Rather than having to stuff as many as several hundred envelopes with awkward inserts like reply cards and direction sheets, pocket invitations are put together in one piece. You can also find invitation pockets that come with pre-cut windows, so recipients will have easy access to all the relevant details without having to take out the contents. Plus, pocket cards provide a smoother look for the invites and come in elegant designs that will truly impress your guests.

They're more eco-friendly since you're not using as much paper overall

Shopping online is becoming increasingly popular, and it's not just because it's convenient. It also has environmental benefits compared to shopping in person. By purchasing items through the internet instead of in a store, you use fewer resources since you're not printing out receipts or even using physical product packaging. By avoiding paper usage overall, online shopping is more eco-friendly than traditional retail purchases. This means you can buy what you need without feeling guilty about leaving an eco-footprint on the planet. So if you're conscious about being kinder to the environment and helping to conserve resources, doing your shopping online should be part of your game plan!

Endnote:

Pocket invitations are a great way to save money and time on your wedding invitations. If you're crafty, you can even DIY them! There are lots of designs to choose from to match any wedding theme. Not to mention, they're more eco-friendly since you're using less paper overall. Have you considered pocket invitations for your own wedding?

[graduationannounce]

How to Make Graduation Announcement Memorable?

The announcement for a high school or college graduation party should be unique to the graduate or their alma mater. Likewise, on invitations to a graduation celebration, announce the event's theme.

  Strategies for Creating a Memorable Invitation

An announcement of a student's graduation is more than just a token of congratulations; it also provides useful information about the event itself, such as the student's name, diploma, school, date, and time of graduation.

  Make sure to include the party's location, time, as well as an address where cards and presents can be sent for those who are unable to attend if you intend to utilize the announcements as invitations.

    Graduation announcements often feature these popular layouts:

Make use of your senior pictures by designing a photo card that may be used as an invitation or announcement. Personalized Folded Graduation Announcements can feature the graduate's name and school on the front, with event details like the ceremony or party printed on the back.

  Typography Forward: Sometimes, a clear statement may be made by simply stating the words themselves. Create a visually appealing typographical design by using a variety of fonts and varying the size of the fonts.

    Use an artwork or visual to break the news to the more creative graduate. Patterns can be made using graphics, pictures can be utilized to represent the graduate's major or degree, and the student's own artwork can be incorporated into the design.

  Print finishing techniques like embossing, foil printing, and laser cutting may elevate any invitation or announcement design to the next level.

  Know the quantity and expected delivery date of Homeschool Graduation Announcement before placing an order.A few variables to consider when calculating the number of invitations or announcements you will need.

  Relationships with Loved Ones - Graduations and the festivities that follow them are among the most important milestones in a young person's life, right up there with marriages. Hence, spread the wonderful word far and wide! Make sure you get enough invitations for the graduate's extended family, friends of the family, and classmates.

  Save a few extra copies of the graduation announcement to look back on in years to come.

  You should round up the number of invitations you plan to order in case you fail to include an important relative or if the graduate decides at the last minute that the entire softball team should be invited. When planning an event, it's always a good idea to have a few extra announcements on hand in case you need to do a modest, last-minute reprint order.

  Considering how hectic the holiday season may be, it's recommended that you place your card purchase at least a couple of weeks in advance. There will be plenty of time for visitors to respond and for you to mail out the invitations and postage.

  Do not overlook many more thank you notes which will be sent after the event when ordering announcements or invitations. Complementing the party's invitation or theme with thank-you notes is a nice gesture.

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[dodelinedesign]

What are the various printing methods?

Save-the-date cards and wedding invitations are among the first items your guests will see, and their design will establish the tone for your wedding. Here are the seven primary printing processes utilised by Designs by Sarah.

​ DIGITAL PRINTING

Digital Printing is currently the most prevalent, cost-effective, and straightforward printing method. Directly delivered digital files (such as PDFs) are used for digital printing. Drum-like electrostatic rollers apply toner to the paper. Except for metallic hues such as gold, silver, and rose gold, a vast array of hues and tones can be manufactured.

​ OFFSET PRINTING

Offset Printing applies ink to a sheet of paper via etched metal plates (one plate is manufactured for each colour being printed). The metal plates are attached to the rollers that transfer ink to the paper. Compared to digital printing, colour matching is more exact with offset printing since flat and metallic ink colours are custom-formulated. ​

LETTERPRESS

Letterpress, one of the earliest printing techniques, has become one of the most preferred printing methods for wedding invites. The ink is pushed into the surface of the paper so that the text or image can be seen and felt. Each item is individually pressed, which contributes to the timeless appearance and feel of your wedding day. ​

 FOIL STAMPING

Foil Stamping is a printing technique comparable to letterpress in which metallic colours or foils are heatedly applied to the surface. The foil adheres to the paper due to the heat, producing a decorative appearance. Gold and silver are the most regularly utilised hues in this method. ​

The antithesis of letterpress, embossing raises the design rather than indenting it into the paper. This appearance is obtained by imprinting the paper with an etching that leaves a mark on the paper.

Any renowned wedding invitation printing near me can help you out as a guidance.