#helping penelope cope with a man dying in her arms

[gold-onthe-inside]

my baby girl who has to singlehandedly fix this trainwreck of a profiling team

[actuallyspencerreid]

A Thousand Words

A/N: This is the longest thing I’ve ever done but I just didn’t want to break it into multiple parts. I really like this one and I hope you guys do too!

Requested by You already know! @mantlereid (one day Imma release all of her original requests and y’all can tell me if you think I stuck to the script or not lmao.)

Word Count: 2.7k

Tags: @the-unfortunate-fangirl @cynbx @princesswagger15 @obsessivereader36 @hearts-to-the-sky @mantlereid @dreamxcollide @qu3n-elizab3th @hiya-imthatgirl @literallyprentissstwin @bauboywonder @everyday-imfangirling @spencerreidreads @spencerreidobsessed @alixcharmedworld @writer-of-camelot @grubler

-----

The office was oddly quiet. The team had just gotten back from a case, so everyone was catching up on paperwork. Of course, you’d finished yours already because you actually like paperwork. Unfortunately though, that meant that were just fiddling your thumb. JJ had taken a few days off to be with her family and Tara was doing a psych evaluation in Chicago, so you didn’t have anyone to talk to.

Your boyfriend sat across from you, eyebrows pulled together as he filled out his reports. You grabbed your camera and snapped a few candid shots.

“Smile.”

Spencer looked up at you, irritation etched on his face. “Don’t you have paperwork to be doing?”

“I finished a few minutes ago.” You looked at him through the lens of your camera and snapped a picture. “Plus, you look so pretty when you’re focusing on things.”

You took a few more shots as his head dipped back down to focus on his paperwork. “Stop, (Y/N). I’m serious.”

“C’mon Spence, just one smile.”

“I said stop!” He startled you, slamming his pen on his desk. “Your stupid hobby isn’t helping anything! It’s not changing anything! Seven people are still dead and their killer is still on the loose! Come out from behind that camera and smell the dead roses for once!”

You could practically hear you heart beating in your chest, eyes welling with tears. Spencer never snapped, especially not at you. Everyone around you had stopped what they were doing to look up at the source of the commotion. Minding your surroundings, you swallowed thickly and stood.

“I’m sorry.” You whispered before disappearing towards the break room.

“What the hell was that?” Matt asked him quietly.

“She’s always in my face with that damn camera.” Spencer didn’t look up at his colleague, almost afraid of what he would see.

“She’s your girlfriend!” Matt was trying to keep his voice down. “Reid, we all see a lot of bad things out there. Taking photos of you and this team is how she copes with it. Sure it’s a little irritating at times, but it’s how she gets through the day.”

“You screamed at her and she’s the one who apologized.” Spencer actually looked up at Luke. “You gotta apologize man.”

“Research confirms that women tend to apologize much more frequently than men do. Recent studies have shown that this is because they feel that they commit more offenses, when in reality it’s just society dictation of what is considered offensive from men and women. Men are just as likely as women to apologize for a given offense, but their threshold for what they consider an offense is lower.”

Matt and Luke shared a look of disbelief before both rising from their seats. “You’re impossible man.”

Matt made his way to the breakroom, where he found you picking at a muffin as tears slowly fell down your face. He took a seat on next to you and placed a comforting hand on your back.

“Are you okay?”

You shook your head, reaching up to wipe your face. “You would tell me the truth, right?”

“Of course.” You looked over at him with a small smile.

“Are you guys irritated by my photography?” You were almost scared of his answer, but you needed to hear it.

His next words were hesitant. “Sometimes it feels like you’re being a touch oblivious. I don’t agree with what he did, but he’s kind of right. Pictures of us aren’t going to erase what’s going on out there.”

You nodded, standing. Wiping away the evidence of your meltdown, you took a deep breath and thanked your coworker. Matt tried to call you back, tried to reassure you, but you just thanked him and headed for Emily’s office.

“I’ve finished with my paperwork. Is it okay if I go home?”

“Of course.” She gave you a sad smile. “I heard what happened. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” You left before she could ask anymore questions. You were careful not to look at Spencer as you made your way to your desk and grabbed your things.

“(Y/N)...” he started quietly as he watched you carefully pack your camera.

“Don’t worry about it.” You bid him, Matt and Luke farewell before leaving briskly.

-----

The next day at work was quiet. JJ and Tara were still gone, so you decided to spend the day going over a few of your unsolved case files in a Penelope’s office. You were knee deep in the middle of a slasher case when Spencer stepped in.

“Garcia, can you --” He stopped when he saw you. “(Y/N). I didn’t know that you were here today. Your camera wasn’t on your desk.”

“Cold cases.” You gestured towards the board you’d set up and turned back to it, effectively cutting off the conversation. He searched his mind for something to say to you, but decided against it.

“Did you need my help, Boy Wonder?” Penelope grabbed his attention. He nodded, gathering himself to return to his task. You purposely ignored their conversation, racking your brain to connect the dots in your case.

When he left, you released the breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding.

“He’s so smart, but so dumb.” Penelope tried to make you laugh, but it didn’t help all that much. Your heart still ached after what happened yesterday. You’d spent the night alone at your apartment for the first time since you’d started dating Spencer. Getting ready for work that morning, you’d made the conscious decision to just leave your camera at home.

“He was right though.” You sat next to her, leaning your head on her shoulder. “Nothing I do is going to erase the fact that there are people out there dying. I’m an FBI agent, not Annie Leibovitz. My job is solely to stop the bad guys, not record the good ones.”

“Oh Sugar Plum.” She stroked your hair gently. “Don’t let this job make you jaded. If taking dumb pictures of these dumb people that you love is what makes you happy, then to hell with what they think. Find a new muse and move on.”

You smiled, turning to press a soft kiss to her cheek. “I love you, Penelope Garcia.”

“I know.”

-----

Leaving work that night, you tried to slip out of the office without anyone noticing. No such luck.

“Hey hot stuff!” You groaned silently as Luke drew attention to you. Turning, you gave him a strained smile. “We missed you down here today. Tara just got back from Chicago so we were gonna go pick her up from the airport and head out for a drink. You in?”

“Thanks, but I’m exhausted.” You left without another word.

He turned to Spencer, but the doctor just gave him a shrug. “I tried to talk to her. Twice. She shut me down both times.”

“Try harder.”

Spencer looked at the photo on his desk. It had been an anniversary gift from you just a few months ago. You were smiling at the camera, but he’d been looking down at you with as much love as he could feel. It wasn’t the picture that got to him so much as the frame, gold with the words “You’re My Forever” imprinted at the bottom. Sighing, he quickly gathered his stuff and ran after you.

“(Y/N)!” He reached out to stop the elevator doors from closing, slipping in next to you.

“Dr. Reid.” You addressed him quietly.

“Your place?”

“Sure.” Neither of you spoke again as you walked to your car and drove home.

“It’s a bit of a mess.” You kicked your shoes off as you stepped inside, hanging your jacket up on the back of the door.

He took your bag from you. “I’m sorry about screaming at you yesterday.”

“It’s fine.” He followed you to the bedroom.

“It’s not fine, (Y/N).” He sat on the bed as you disappeared into the closet to change. “This last case really got to me, but I shouldn’t have taken out on you. I’m sorry.”

“Forgiven.” You wouldn’t meet his eye as you stepped back into the room and began picking things up from the ground. He watched for a moment before sighing in frustration.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Spence.”

“No something’s up.” He stepped in front of you before you could bend over again, hands on your arms. “Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”

“Stop pushing me Spencer!” You yanked away from him, crossing your arms over your chest protectively. “You apologized. I forgave you. What more do you want from me?”

“I want you to talk to me!” He ran his hands through his hair in exasperation. “You haven’t said more than a handful of words to me all day. No one even knew you were at work today, and when they realized that you were, they could see that you were acting weird. I’m trying to be understanding and talk, but you’re pushing me away! First the stupid pictures and now this. I don’t know why I put up with any of it!”

He stormed out. You broke, crying when you heard the front door slam. You chucked a pillow at the door with a scream. Climbing into bed, you cried yourself to sleep yet again.

-----

You woke up to the sound of your phone going off. With a groan, you reached for the device.

“Hello?”

“Hey sunshine.” Your mind perked at the smooth sound of Derek’s voice. “Want to come open your front door for me?”

“Should be unlocked.”

He hung up. You heard the door open, then heavy footsteps. There was a dip on the bed as he sat at the end. “Where’s the Kid?”

“Don’t know.” You sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. “Fight last night. He left.”

“Garcia told me that you guys might be having some issues?” You sighed, nodding. “Why didn’t you call? I don’t live that far.”

“You have a family of your own to worry about.” You reach out and gave his cheek a loving pat. “Thank you for coming, but I can take care of my relationship issues.”

“Oh I’m not here because of your relationship.” He help up his phone and it took a moment for your eyes to adjust. “I’m here because I got an event reminder on my phone about a certain genius’ birthday party tonight and I came to see if his lady needed any help with set up.”

“I forgot about his party tonight!” You scrolled through the notifications on your phone, noticing the multiple messages asking if the party was still on. “Spencer hates parties anyway. Is it too late to cancel?”

“Definitely.”

You closed your eyes and fell back against the pillows. “Give me ten minutes to get dressed. Then we can go to Party City.”

-----

Spencer stared at your apartment building as the sun began to set behind him. When he’d gotten the notification on his phone that morning, he’d debating calling you about it, but decided not to. He knew he was being unfair and childish, and it was time for him to face the music.

“You’ve got a real good woman up there.” Luke stepped up next to his coworker, arm linked to Penelope’s. “Don’t lose her.”

Spencer nodded and let them walk in front of him and up to your apartment. The door was slightly ajar and he could hear music and laughter coming from inside. He was hesitant to follow Penelope and Luke inside, and they were all surprised by what they saw.

There were pictures hanging all over the walls on strings of lights. Some were candids, some were posed. As the trio moved closer to the living room, the photos got more and more recent. Spencer immediately realized that they were telling a story, their story, in chronological order. Before he turned the corner to the living room, he was stopped by the photo you’d taken yesterday of him working.

All of the chatter ceased when he stepped into the room. His eyes locked onto yours quickly.

“I’d already developed them.” You explained. “I didn’t want them to go to waste. Plus, I figured if anyone saw anything they liked, they could take them. I’m sorry if you hate it. I just wanted to do something special, I’m sorry.”

Spencer’s heart ached as his eyes swept the room. There were bigger prints framed around the room, primarily featuring him. Guilt filled his chest and he had tears in his eyes as he realized just how talented you were. Before today, you very rarely showed the pictures that you took, for fear that they weren’t as good as you thought them to be.

“I need some air.” You whispered before he could say anything, stepping away from the group and out onto the balcony.

“I’m an asshole.” His voice cracked as he looked at the team.

“Only if you stay in here.” Spencer gave Will a nod and quickly followed you out into the brisk October air.

You heard him come out. “I’m sorry if you hate it. I’ll take them all down before the night is over.”

“Don’t.” You turned to him and his heart broke when he noticed that you’d been crying. “Don’t take them down. They’re so beautiful.”

“No, you were right.” You shivered slightly, wrapping your arms around yourself. “It’s stupid and irritating.”

He stepped close and pulled you into him. “No I wasn’t. I was upset and being a jerk. What you’ve done tonight shows beauty and talent and dedication and I’m the world’s biggest idiot for not seeing that. Nothing I could ever say or do will ever being able to convey just how sorry I am for what I said to you. I don’t want you to feel like you have to hide who you are from me.”

You relaxed into him, wrapping your arms around his waist.

“I love you so much.” He kissed the top of your head as you gently swayed together.

You could have stayed there forever, but you heard the balcony door slide open a few minutes later. You both turned to see Matt standing there with a small smile.

“Were you guys planning on freezing out here or were you coming back to the party?” You both laughed.

“Give us a second.” Spencer turned back to you and pressed a soft kiss to your lips. “Thank you for my party.”

“I can’t take all the credit. Derek came and lit a fire under my ass this morning.”

“Maybe I should go in and thank him.” You laughed as your boyfriend wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. He lead you back into your apartment, where your friends were dancing around playfully.

As the night wound down, you gave everyone a tour through the photos. It helped that Spencer had an eidetic memory as he helped to fill in any story gaps that you might have missed. Everyone shared a moment of silence for Hotch, who had taken Jack on vacation a few days ago and therefore was unable to make it to the party. By the end of the night, half of your photos had disappeared.

“This party was beautiful,” JJ said as she hugged you at the door.

“The photos were amazing.” Will pressed a soft kiss to your cheek before shaking Spencer’s hand. “Might have to hire you to get some shots of the boys.”

“Anytime.”

You leaned into your boyfriend as the last of your friends left. He tried to lead you to bed, but you stopped him.

“I got you a gift, but I wanted to wait until we were alone to give it to you.” You stepped into the closet and retrieved the neatly wrapped book. Hesitantly, you handed it to him.

He very carefully unwrapped it. On the cover was the same photo of the two of you that sat on his desk, a golden SR engraved on the bottom right corner. He slowly flipped through the pages that were filled with photos of the two of you. There was small accent and captions on some of the pictures. He didn’t realize he’d been crying until a tear dropped onto the laminate page.

“This is beautiful.” He whispered as you sat next to him.

“You know what they say.” You reached up to stroke his cheek and he leaned into your hand. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

[camillemontespan]

a kingdom divided [part seventeen: devil on your shoulder]

Part Sixteen if you want to catch up!

@jovialyouthmusic @pug-bitch @moonlightgem7 @sirbeepsalot @drakesensworld @ifyouseekheart @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore @dcbbw @carabeth @be-still-my-aching-heart @notoriouscs @thecordoniandiaries

**************************************************************************************

‘I hope Liam knows you’re dying for him. I know he won’t care.'

Kiara's words echoed in Olivia's mind. She could feel Kiara's fingers closing around her throat, intent to bring death. Her eyes were wild and huge.

‘I hope Liam knows you’re dying for him. I know he won’t care.'

Olivia felt a surge of anger in her heart. Kiara knew nothing. Olivia was not going to die with that being the last thing she ever heard in this world, especially from someone as weak as Kiara.

'Let her go!' Leo shouted, getting closer. Olivia's anger only intensified - no man was capable of helping a Nevrakis out of something like this. Nevrakis women could defend themselves.

In a flash, Olivia pulled her dagger from its holster and drove it forward.

Kiara gasped harshly.

Her fingers around Olivia's neck loosened and she dropped her own dagger which she had tucked against her palm. Kiara looked down at her stomach, where redness was beginning to bloom.

'I think I'm going to be sick..' Kiara murmured, wobbling. Olivia breathed heavily, staring at Kiara, trying to shake off the shock that she had just hurt the other girl. This was no time to get emotional. 'Tell me. Who is poisoning court?'

Kiara's eyes were full of pain. 'I can't say..'

'Yes you fucking can. Tell me or this dagger is going through your throat.'

Kiara staggered, grabbing hold of Olivia's arm. ' Le Club Citoyen Secret has many members,' she whispered, struggling to form the words. 'You won't find them all.'

'Give me a name of one member. Or if you can't do that just give me something, anything,' Olivia ground out, clenching her fists. Kiara stared at her then whispered.

'Secret tunnels.'

Suddenly, Kiara fell to her knees, clutching her stomach. Olivia watched as she keeled over into a heap.

Olivia would normally have spat on the body. But this wasn't just any body. This was Kiara.

'Olivia!'

Leo had reached her. The gardens were huge and he looked exhausted from the effort of sprinting. He stared down at Kiara. 'Oh god. Is she dead?'

Olivia nodded silently. Her anger had evaporated and all that remained was a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. She felt sick and scared. What she would call a weak emotion was now running wild in her system. She was terrified. 'What have I done?' she choked.

Leo pulled her into him and his eyes bore into hers. 'You defended yourself. That's all.'

'I murdered her..'

'She was trying to murder you, Liv. I saw her advancing on you with her dagger, she was out for blood.'

Olivia's body came out in a cold sweat. 'I.. I don't know what to do,' she whispered. She was so quiet that Leo had to lean in to hear her. 'I just felt so much anger.' Her ice blue eyes were darting around, her hands were trembling. She looked so vulnerable.

'We'll figure this out,' Leo told her fiercely. Olivia stared at him. 'We?'

'Yes. You and me. I'm here for you Liv. I'm in your corner.'

For once, Olivia didn't protest. 'What should we do now? If Liam finds out.. Oh god, he's going to be furious.'

'We'll deal with him later. Right now, we have to get away from the garden. We'll go round to the front and act like we have been at the front courtyard, okay?'

Olivia stared at him. 'So we just leave her here?!'

Leo sighed. 'Do you want to parade Kiara around the ballroom and have everyone accuse you of murder?' he asked sarcastically. 'Or would you rather leave her here for someone to find and given how courtiers are dropping like flies, the poor person will just assume this is yet another rebel act. Which do you think would be better? '

Olivia reddened. She wasn't used to having someone correct her and tell her what to do. She kind of liked it.

Leo sensed her decision and led her away from Kiara's body. Olivia forced herself not to look back.

The two of them reached the front courtyard and casually walked up the steps to the front door. 'Be normal,' Leo whispered. Olivia nodded and threw back her shoulders to adopt her usual posture.

'Champagne?' Leo asked in his usual easygoing manner. Olivia rolled her eyes but followed him back to the ballroom. She needed alcohol and lots of it. Leo ordered a bottle from the bar. Clearly, he was thinking the same thing.

                           ******************************************************

Hana pried Nevilles hands away from her lower back and placed them back on the center of her spine. He was getting too close for comfort. 'So Hana, tell me. How is life treating you?'

'Not very well,' she said. 'I'm just so worried about everything going on at court. I feel so awful for Penelope..'

'Hmm yes, she was innocent. Poor girl,' Neville replied. He twirled Hana around. 'At least we are safe,' he continued. 'Well, myself at least.. Maybe not you since you are close with the King and he is not very popular at the moment..'

Hana tensed. 'Do you agree with the ones who dislike him?'

'Meh. I see why they're angry. They want their efforts at court to be rewarded. They don't want commoners to be promoted, like that Walker runt and his commoner wife -'

'They are the Duke and Duchess of Valtoria,' Hana suddenly spat. 'You will respect them.'

Neville chuckled. 'Wow. I do like it when you're fiery..' His hands reached down her back again towards her ass. Hana pulled away. She saw Maxwell, standing nearby, staring at Neville with a look of fury etched on his face.

'Please Neville. Play nice,' Hana said, trying to calm down. She couldn't blow her cover now. She needed information.

'As I was saying,' Neville began again, 'I see why they're angry. But I don't understand why the servants are getting involved -' He stopped, his face turning pale.

'Servants?' Hana asked, pretending she didn't know. 'Why would the servants be involved?'

'Oh, um.. Uhh..'

'Neville..' she interrupted, her voice cold.

He sighed and lead her to a corner of the room. He leaned close to whisper in her ear. 'I've heard there's a secret club of nobles and commoners. They want the monarchy dead. They will stop at nothing and they are poisoning all of the King's allies. Hana.. I am only telling you this because you are close to the King and I quite admire you. This is a secret.'

'Where have you heard this?' she asked.

'Because I have been.. opinionated about the King and his decisions, many nobles feel I would agree with them so they talk openly. I listen, if only to find out what drinks to avoid at parties in case I drink a poisoned one.'

'How many nobles talk about poisoning the King? And why are they part of a poison plot? Why not just go to the King and vent their frustration?'

'More than half the court,' he answered bluntly. Hana stepped back, shocked. 'And as for why? They're inspired by your commoner friends colourful French background. Madame de Montespan, have you heard of her?'

Hana nodded.

'They've tried to vent to the King but he hasn't done anything. They are tired of it.'

'Would you want to be part of the club?' Hana dared to ask.

Neville stared at her. 'Do you really think I'm that horrific a person? No. Yes I think he is weak, but he doesn't deserve to be the victim of this plot. I may be opinionated and arrogant, but I'm not a killer.'

'What else have you heard?'

He groaned. 'Well.. They have meetings.'

Hana's heart leapt. 'Meetings? Where?'

'There's a room in the secret tunnels underground. They go there.'

Hana nodded, processing his words. She then spoke. 'Thank you Neville.'

'For what?'

'For being honest.'

'Heh, just keeping an eye out for a fellow noble.'

Hana nodded and moved to leave him. He grabbed her arm. 'Don't tell anyone what I've just told you.'

                               ****************************************************

Olivia had been waiting to hear a scream. Her eyes had been fixed on the French doors out to the gardens.

'Liv.'

Leo clicked his fingers in front of her eyes. Olivia blinked. 'Sorry. Um.. What were you saying?'

Leo sighed. 'Do you want to get out of here?'

'Where would we go?'

'Back to the palace. No funny business I promise. I just don't think you're coping here.'

He did look concerned. His green eyes were looking into hers. Olivia groaned. 'You're right. Let's go.'

She picked up their bottle of champagne and Leo followed. He found their coats in the cloakroom and signalled for Olivia's driver. 'To the palace please,' he instructed.

Olivia took a deep gulp of champagne from the bottle. She passed it to Leo.

In the back of the car, they were sat together closely. Olivia could smell Leo's scent. He had that deep masculine smell. She saw that his fists were clenched.

'Are you okay?' she asked.

Leo looked at her. Perhaps it was because of the darkness so he couldn't see her properly, but in that moment of silence and dark space, he answered honestly. 'I'm glad you're still alive.'

Olivia looked out of the window. 'Me too.'

Leo sighed and turned away to watch the car passing the harbour. He jumped when Olivia spoke. 'Thank you for coming after me. I mean, I could have handled it myself... but thank you all the same.'

Leo chuckled. He drew in a breath when she leaned her head against his shoulder. They stayed like that in silence for the rest of the drive.

                            **************************************************

Drake could taste Camille's watermelon lip balm. His hands tangled in her hair as she straddled him. 'God, Camille, you feel incredible,' he murmured against her mouth. Camille nipped at his ear with her teeth and circled her hips, enjoying the feel of him inside her.

They had gone down to the lake to watch the sunset. The Texas air was warm and the lake was still. Camille had snuggled up into Drake, wearing a loose black sweater and denim shorts. She looked a million miles away from her Duchess persona and the thought that she was just Camille again made Drake want her instantly. He had initiated it, kissing her neck as the sun turned the sky from blue to orange. The sunset made Camille's skin glow and she looked so beautiful in that light.

Now, she was riding him slowly, deliberately. Drake moved his hand down her bump towards her clit, gently finding it. He circled his fingers against her as he bucked his hips and Camille let out a throaty groan as she concentrated on everything he was doing to her.

She was naked against the setting sun. The glow around her body was phenomenal, making her look ethereal and Drake's eyes roamed her body, from her breasts to her slender waist to her baby bump, which was growing by the day. It was so prominent now. It was still a neat little bump but it was obvious now that she was having a baby. His baby.

Her dark hair was tousled around her shoulders. 'Tell me what you're thinking,' she said, smiling.  Drake ran his hands up her waist. 'I'm thinking about you.'

Camille leaned down to kiss him. 'Correct answer.'

Afterwards, they lay curled up beside each other, twisted up in their blankets. The sky had turned violet. The twilight hour.

‘What do you want to do tomorrow?’ Drake asked. Camille shrugged. ‘I don’t know.. since we left Valtoria, we have no Duke and Duchess duties. Bertrand is going to visit the manor once a week just to check in, see how are things are so really, we have nothing to worry about. So I’m honestly not sure, we’ve not had a free day in months!’ Drake ran his finger along her shoulder. ‘How about tomorrow morning, I make us breakfast in bed? We could take the boat out after?’ Camille beamed. ‘That sounds perfect.’

*******************************************************************************************

Olivia wandered along the corridor with Leo next to her. She reached her bedroom door and placed her hand on the door handle. She turned to look at Leo.

‘Don’t worry about anything,’ he said. ‘Just get a good nights sleep.’ Olivia smiled weakly. ‘I don’t think I will.’ ‘Just try.’ She stepped forward and looked up into his green eyes. ‘Can you sleep with me?’ Leo blinked. ‘What?’ She sighed. ‘I don’t mean sex. I mean... actually sleep with me. I know I’m Olivia Nevrakis but I don’t really want to be alone right now.’

Leo’s eyes locked with hers. ‘I get it.’ Olivia opened her door and Leo silently followed her in. He looked around her room. It was painted red, her favourite colour, with a four poster bed covered with gold silk cushions and a Chinese screen was in the corner with a claw foot bath standing behind it. It was very opulent, very glamorous and very Olivia.  Leo felt it was a big deal being allowed into her domain. He had the feeling not many were given the privilege. 

He took off his suit jacket and hung it up. Olivia faced him. ‘Can you help me unzip my dress?’ He nodded, beckoning her over and she turned around so he could see her back. He gently unzipped the dress, his eyes exploring each part of her back as her skin became more exposed. He resisted the urge to touch her. She wouldn’t like that and he didn’t want to show his cards. Not yet. 

The purple dress pooled down onto the floor around her feet. She turned to him. She was wearing a purple lace bralette and thong. She unclipped her hair and it fell in red waves down her back. She looked like a mermaid emerging from the purple deep. 

They stared at each other in a charged silence. 

‘I just want to sleep,’ Olivia told him.

‘I believe you,’ Leo answered.

She went over to the bed and got under the covers. Leo unbuttoned his shirt and trousers. Olivia watched him, just as he had watched her.

Leo got under the covers with her. ‘So Nevrakis,’ he said. ‘What’s your bedtime habits then? Read a book? Cuddle a teddy bear?’ Olivia turned to face him. ‘I read.’ ‘Oh. What books?’ ‘Historical fiction.’ He stared at her. ‘You read historical fiction?’ ‘Yes. Is that so hard to believe?’ ‘Kind of. I thought it would be books about war or fighting techniques.’ ‘That’s my day time reading,’ she answered dryly.

Leo laughed and Olivia, surprisingly, smiled at him. She caught herself and fixed her mouth back into a hard line. ‘You smiled at me,’ Leo said.  ‘No, I didn’t.’ ‘You did. Don’t deny it, Liv. You smiled.’ She swatted him away. Her touch burned against his skin. 

Olivia rolled over and closed her eyes. A minute later, Leo sighed and rolled over, slinging his arm around her. They moved and found that they were both spooning. 

Olivia expected to feel her skin crawl as it usually did when someone got too close for comfort. But she didn’t feel that. Instead, she felt.. safe. Ugh. She felt so tragic.  ‘Fuck..’ she whispered to herself.  Leo sniggered. ‘You’re thinking about how nice this is, aren’t you? And you hate yourself for it.’ Olivia didn’t bother lying. ‘How did you guess?’

Leo pulled her in closer. ‘This doesn’t have to mean anything,’ he whispered. ‘It’s just me. You wanted company, you got it. I’m not going to try anything. I’m your friend right now.’ ‘What are you usually?’ ‘Hmm.. the devil on your shoulder?’ Olivia smirked. ‘Sounds about right.’

They fell asleep soon after, all thoughts about the evening gone. 

*******************************************************************************************

There was a scream.

Liam’s conversation with Emmeline was interrupted. The guests in the ballroom all turned to see a woman running in from the gardens.  ‘Kiara!’ she screamed.  Liam rushed forward to take the woman. ‘What’s wrong? What’s happened?!’ The woman, Christina, shook. ‘In the gardens.. around the side..’

Liam and a few of the courtiers raced outside. Hana, Maxwell and Bertrand followed, Hana clutching onto Maxwell’s hand. 

They all stopped short when they rounded the side of the manor and found Kiara’s body. The girl lay on her back, her eyes open and glassy. Liam let out a strangled cry.

He got down on his knees and propped Kiara up against him. Tears ran down his face. Another person dead in my court. 

Liam’s eyes studied her, trying to work out how long she had been dead, how it had happened. It was when his eyes settled on the dagger protruding out of her stomach that his heart dropped. 

He recognised the dagger. It had a red ruby handle. Only one person he knew had that dagger. Olivia. 

[inloveandwords]

Happy Almost-February everyone!

It’s time for another one of my TBRs which is really just a ‘suggested list of books I may or may not read,’ because I’m such a moody reader.

This month I’m planning on participating in Contemporaryathon, so I’m going to include that TBR here, too.

Contemporaryathon Round 6 Info

Dates: 2/10 – 2/16

Hosts:

Chelsea from Chelseadolling Reads

Julie from Pages and Pens

Natasha from MyReadingisOdd

Challenges:

read a contemporary book with green on the cover

read a contemporary from a new to you author

read a diverse contemporary (keeping in mind that it is Black History Month!)

read a backlist contemporary (something that has been on your TBR for over a year)

 read a dark/hard-hitting contemporary

 read a contemporary with an illustrated cover

read a contemporary that is beloved by a member of the book community (and shout out the creator!)

Books I’m Hoping to Read:

Credence by Penelope Douglas / book with green on the cover I keep seeing this book around and the hype has absolutely gotten to me. I’m dying to read it and it’s on Kindle Unlimited!

Tiernan de Haas doesn’t care about anything anymore. The only child of a film producer and his starlet wife, she’s grown up with wealth and privilege but not love or guidance. Shipped off to boarding schools from an early age, it was still impossible to escape the loneliness and carve out a life of her own. The shadow of her parents’ fame followed her everywhere.

And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. But has anything really changed? She’s always been alone, hasn’t she?

Jake Van der Berg, her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of eighteen. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore. As the three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them.

And as a part of them.

She also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching.

One of them has her.

The other one wants her.

But he…

He’s going to keep her.

Thirty Day Boyfriend by Whitney G. / new-to-you author This is one I have on my Audible Escape wishlist. It’s only a couple hours long, so it’s perfect for a readathon. I’ve also never read anything by this author, so it works for the prompt.

I should’ve never agreed to this arrangement…

Thirty days ago, my boss—Mr. Wolf of Wall Street, came to me with an offer I couldn’t refuse: Sign my name on the dotted line and pretend to be his fiancée for one month. If I agreed, he would let me out of my employment contract with a “very generous” severance package.

The rules were pretty simple: No intimate kissing, no actual sex. Just pretend to love each other for the press, even though I’ve secretly wanted to knock that sexy smirk off his face since the first day we met.

I definitely didn’t need to think twice about this. I signed my name and started counting down the seconds to when I would never have to deal with his special brand of ass-holery again.

I only made it to one minute…

We argued the entire four-hour flight to his hometown, failed to make a convincing impression with the welcoming press, and right when I was about to knock that arrogant look off his face in real life? He purposely dropped his bath towel in front of me, distracting me with his nine-inch cock to “show me who the bigger person was” in our relationship. Then he gave me his trademark smirk once again and asked if I wanted to consummate our marriage.

Tragically, this is only day one. We still have 29 more days to go…

Behind the Bars (Music Street #1) by Brittainy C. Cherry / diverse contemporary I’ve been absolutely obsessed with Brittainy C. Cherry lately after discovering her last month. I’m determined to read her backlist and this one just happens to be on Audible Escape!

When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops.

I was the awkward musician, and she was the high school queen. The only things we had in common were our music and our loneliness.

Something in her eyes told me her smile wasn’t always the truth. Something in her voice gave me a hope I always wished to find. And in a flash, she was gone.

Years later, she was standing in front of me on a street in New Orleans. She was different, but so was I. Life made us colder. Harder. Isolated.

Caged.

Even though we were different, the broken pieces of me recognized the sadness in her. Now she was back, and I wouldn’t make the mistake of letting her go again.

When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops. When we met again, I became her darkest storm.

The Infatuation (The Josh & Kat Trilogy #1) by Lauren Rowe / backlist book I actually can’t believe I haven’t read this trilogy yet because I’ve been dying to hear this couple’s story. Just in time for the Reed Rivers Trilogy coming out in Feb.

It’s a war of wills between stubborn and sexy Josh Faraday and Kat Morgan. A fight to the bed. Arrogant, wealthy playboy Josh is used to getting what he wants. And what he wants is Kat Morgan.

The minute Josh Faraday meets feisty, vivacious Kat Morgan, he wants her. Not for a relationship, of course. He doesn’t do those. He wants her in his bed. But, to his shock and extreme frustration, Kat won’t play by Josh’s rules like all the others. No, this stubborn woman declares she won’t so much as kiss Josh until he divulges some highly personal information . . . But it’s something Josh has never told anyone, and won’t be telling Kat. Not over his dead body, no matter how gorgeous and sexy she is.

But the chemistry between the pair is explosive, scorching hot electricity like nothing he’s felt before. Oh, God, he’s got to get a taste. He figures all he has to do is wear the sexy woman down with is patented “playboy razzle dazzle”—show her the hotness she’s missing out on and she’ll cave, like all the rest . . . The only problem with that strategy? It’s Kat’s strategy, too: she plans to wear Josh down and get what she wants by showing him the hotness he’s missing out on.

It’s a war of wills. A match to the bed. Who will crack first? And when they do, will either of their hearts be on the line?

Disgrace by Brittainy C. Cherry / hard-hitting contemporary Brittainy is known for writing hard-hitting books, and I’m sure this one will be no different.

Each day I prayed for my husband to love me again.

After fifteen years together, he walked away from me, and into the arms of another.

I didn’t know how to cope. I didn’t know my worth. I didn’t know how to exist without him by my side.

All I wanted was for him to come back to me.

Then, Jackson Emery appeared.

He was supposed to be a distraction for my mind. A summer fling. A confidence boost to my bruised heart.

We were perfect for one another, because we both knew we wouldn’t last. Jackson didn’t believe in commitment, and I no longer believed in love. He was too closed-off for me, and I was too damaged for him.

Everything was fine, until one night my heart skipped a beat.

I didn’t expect him to make me laugh. To make me think. To make my sadness somewhat disappear.

When our time was up, my heart didn’t know how to walk away.

Each day I prayed for my husband to love me again, yet slowly my prayers began to shift toward the man who wasn’t right for me.

I prayed for one more smile, one more kiss, one more laugh, one more touch…

I prayed for him to be mine.

Even though I knew his heart wasn’t destined to love.

Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert / illustrated cover This has been sitting on my Kindle, haunting me as I hear everyone rave about it and I’m excited to get to it ASAP! I’m really looking forward to the chronic illness rep as well.

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamourous family’s mansion. The next items?

Enjoy a drunken night out. Ride a motorcycle. Go camping. Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex. Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage. And… do something bad. But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.

Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.

But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…

The Bromance Book Club (Bromance Book Club #1) by Lyssa Kay Adams / loved by a member of the book community It’s not just one member of the book community that has been raving about this book, I’ve heard SO many people gush about it and I’m so excited to pick it up!

The first rule of book club: You don’t talk about book club.

Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

  Here are the non-readathon books I’m hoping to read this month:

Rage (Stormheart #2) by Cora Carmack I finished Roar, the first book in this series in January and this book happens to be on Audible Escape, so I’m planning on finishing it.

Princess or adventurer.

Duty or freedom.

Her Kingdom or the Stormhunter she loves.

If Aurora knows anything, it’s that choices have consequences. To set things right, she joins a growing revolution on the streets of Pavan.

In disguise as the rebel Roar, she puts her knowledge of the palace to use to aid the rebellion. But the Rage season is at its peak and not a day passes without the skies raining down destruction. Yet these storms are different—they churn with darkness, and attack with a will that’s desperate and violent.

This feels like more than rage.

It feels like war.

  Call it What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer After reading and falling in love with the first two books in her Cursebreakers series, I decided I really want to give her contemporaries a try!

When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.

Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship…

This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?

  Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women #1) by Evie Dunmore I’ve heard so many good things about this book – particularly that it is great for people who don’t normally read historical romance. I also happened to get it as my Book of the Month book in Jan.

A stunning debut for author Evie Dunmore and her Oxford Rebels, in which a fiercely independent vicar’s daughter takes on a duke in a fiery love story that threatens to upend the British social order.

England, 1879. Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar, has earned herself a place among the first cohort of female students at the renowned University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship, she must support the rising women’s suffrage movement. Her charge: recruit men of influence to champion their cause. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain’s politics at the Queen’s command. Her challenge: not to give in to the powerful attraction she can’t deny for the man who opposes everything she stands for.

Sebastian is appalled to find a suffragist squad has infiltrated his ducal home, but the real threat is his impossible feelings for green-eyed beauty Annabelle. He is looking for a wife of equal standing to secure the legacy he has worked so hard to rebuild, not an outspoken commoner who could never be his duchess. But he wouldn’t be the greatest strategist of the Kingdom if he couldn’t claim this alluring bluestocking without the promise of a ring…or could he?

Locked in a battle with rising passion and a will matching her own, Annabelle will learn just what it takes to topple a duke….

  Hunted by Meagan Spooner I feel like I keep almost reading this book, but never quite do. It’s a beauty and the beast retelling and I am always here for those.

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them.

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

  The Beginning of Everything (The Rising #1)  by Kristen Ashley This is a full-cast narration that I am SO excited for. It’s available on Audible Escape.

From the unparalleled imagination of New York Times best-selling author Kristen Ashley comes an enchanting new audio-first fantasy romance series that will sweep you away!

Once upon a time, in a parallel universe, there existed the continent of Triton. The land was filled with beauty, but it was also splintered by war. Out of the chaos grew a conspiracy to reawaken the Beast, a fearsome creature who wrought only tragedy and devastation. The only way to stop him was to fulfill an ancient prophecy: Triton’s four strongest warriors must wed its four most powerful witches, binding all nations together and finally bringing peace to the land.

This is the story of their unions: the quiet maiden Silence and the savage king Mars. The cold warrior Cassius and the fiery witch Elena. The steadfast soldier True and the banished beauty Farah. And the pirate king Aramus and the mysterious queen Ha-Lah. Their unions will not be easy, but each couple must succeed, for the fate of their world is at stake….

  One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid It’s been a while since I’ve sat down with a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel and this is one of her backlists that a friend of mine recommended.

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

  Heartbreak Warfare by Heather M. Oregeron, Kate Stewart I picked this book up at the recommendation of many people who attended Shameless Book Con, and I’ve heard others talk about it as well. It’s supposed to be super emotional, so if I’m feeling like that kind of romance, I’ll be reaching for this one.

Briggs,

Remember when we parted ways in Germany? It was the day I broke your heart. What you didn’t know was that I was breaking mine too.

I thought they’d be enough–my husband and my son. That I’d get home and everything would go back to the way it was . . .

Before the war. Before the ambush. Before you.

But, no matter how hard I try, I can’t erase the trauma we shared. I can’t seem to forget the way my heart beat in time with yours.

The truth is I’m lost without you.

I thought the nightmare was over when they pulled us from that hole in the ground, but nothing could have prepared me for the war I’d face at home. I know it’s selfish of me to ask, but, please, I have to see you one last time. . .

All my love, Scottie

  The Right Swipe (Modern Love #1) by Alisha Rai I’ve heard a lot of good things about this and I found it on Scribd!

Alisha Rai returns with the first book in her sizzling new Modern Love series, in which two rival dating app creators find themselves at odds in the boardroom but in sync in the bedroom.

Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionized romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career—and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules:

– Nude pics are by invitation only

– If someone stands you up, block them with extreme prejudice

– Protect your heart

Only there aren’t any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former pro-football player Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night… and disappears.

Rhi thought she’d buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful—and in league with a business rival. He says he won’t fumble their second chance, but she’s wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that’s too high a risk…

  Passion of Park Ave by Lauren Layne Lauren wrote my all-time favorite Friends-to-Lovers romance: Blurred Lines and everyone has been raving about this series. It’s available on Scribd!

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Stiletto and Oxford series, the first in a sizzling new series following the unlikely friendship of three Upper East Side women as they struggle to achieve their dreams and find true love and happiness in the city that never sleeps.

For as long as she can remember, Bronx-born Naomi Powell has had one goal: to prove her worth among the Upper East Side elite—the same people for which her mom worked as a housekeeper. Now, as the strongminded, sassy CEO of one of the biggest jewelry empires in the country, Naomi finally has exactly what she wants—but it’s going to take more than just the right address to make Manhattan’s upper class stop treating her like an outsider.

The worst offender is her new neighbor, Oliver Cunningham—the grown son of the very family Naomi’s mother used to work for. Oliver used to torment Naomi when they were children, and as a ridiculously attractive adult, he’s tormenting her in entirely different ways. Now they find themselves engaged in a battle-of-wills that will either consume or destroy them…

Filled with charm and heart and plenty of sex and snark, this entertaining series will hook you from the very first page.

  Love from A to Z by S. K. Ali Not gonna lie, I’m a little scared to read this one because there is Multiple Sclerosis rep in it that is supposed to be pretty heartbreaking, and I’m not sure if I can’t quite handle it, but we’ll see.

A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together.

An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are.

But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry.

When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break.

Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her.

Then her path crosses with Adam’s.

Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam’s stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister.

Adam’s also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father.

Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals.

Until a marvel and an oddity occurs…

Marvel: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

Oddity: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

        February TBR/Reading List: including #contemporaryathon picks! Happy Almost-February everyone! It's time for another one of my TBRs which is really just a 'suggested list of books I may or may not read,' because I'm such a moody reader.