#holly chang x mc

[alj4890]

***shortcuts to my masterlists posted on @alj4890masterlist ***

Mixed Signals (Ethan Ramsey x MC) (Tobias Carrick x MC) (Bryce Lahela x MC) Open Heart AU

Can't Take My Eyes Off of You (Maxwell Beaumont x Olivia Nevrakis) TRR Crackship AU

Worth the Wait (Thomas Hunt x OC) in a what if to A Second Chance AU

Thirty Kisses in Thirty Days (various)

Choices Drabbles and Requests (various)

All Through the Night (Dark TRR AU)

While We're Young (TRR Future AU)

And Then I Met You (Thomas Hunt x OC) (TRR/RCD/PM crossover AU)

And Then I Left You (Thomas Hunt x OC) in a what if to And Then I Met You AU)

A Second Chance (Thomas Hunt x OC) (TRR/RCD/PM crossover AU)

None But You (RCD Regency Era AU)

Misfortune's Intentions (TRH AU) (Liam x OC) (Drake x Riley)

Delicate (TRR/OH crossover AU) (Olivia Nevrakis x Ethan Ramsey)

Another Night/Another Dream (TRR/PM/RCD crossover AU)

The Courtship (TRR Regency Era AU)

Winner at a Losing Game (TRR/RCD crossover AU)

A Million Dreams (TRR/The Greatest Showman AU)

Just a Glimpse (TRR AU)

The Other Friend (TRR AU)

[celestial--sapphic]

I thought it would be fun to create graphic versions of all the signs, letters, notes, newspaper clippings and other documents which feature in my Poppy Sweeting x f!MC fic Kiss me (like you wanna be loved) 🎨

This letter appears in the fourth chapter and is opened by Poppy during breakfast.

You can read a snippet of the scene where it features below the cut ⬇️

“I think it’s her latest recipe.” Poppy says before she has even unfolded the note, obviously recognising the handwriting. She scans the parchment quickly and then unexpectedly offers it to Evelyn, who takes it gingerly. The Hufflepuff opens up the feed bag to inspect the treats, as the Slytherin reads.

My dearest granddaughter, Poppy’s grandmother’s writing curves elegantly against the parchment.

I am very excited to inform you that my rhubarb has finally come into season and I have been treated to a bumper crop. There was more than enough for the beasts and for me to make several tartlets (they are frozen and await your return). 

Please do let me know the reaction to my latest infusion, as the holly one was such a hit. 

In other news: 

I recently discovered our resident fairy population has laid a fresh clutch of eggs, they are likely to hatch before you are home.  

The Winthropes are still suffering with their gnome infestation, I daresay they do not make it easy for themselves. 

When Mr Chopra’s son delivered my shrivelfigs on Wednesday he was quite insistent that he saw a quintaped on one of his deliveries. I attempted to explain to him – as you well know – that firstly, such beasts are not native to Sussex and secondly, that if he saw such a beast he would not have lived to tell the tale. I am not sure I changed his mind though, he was quite convinced. 

I hope Highwing is well and you are both staying out of trouble. I am pleased to hear you are spending more time with friends at Hogwarts though, both in your house and otherwise. I might be a biased old hag but they are very lucky to have you. 

Do make sure you are looking after yourself and focus on your studies, even if that means spending less time near the pens, your O.W.Ls are important.  

All my love and affection,  

Gran

It feels odd to read a letter directly from Poppy’s gran, almost like an invasion of privacy despite the Hufflepuff willingly handing it over. It doesn’t escape Evelyn how easily, how absolutely unconsciously, Poppy did pass the parchment over to her. At one time, Poppy’s family was a secret which she clung close to her chest, hardly revealing anything to anyone – not that there was anyone she was close enough with anyway. For a long while her gran was, in many ways, the only real person in her life and her parents a source of sadness, shame and unresolved anger – emotions which Evelyn had been privy to on only a couple of occasions; Horntail Hall being one. 

No doubt letters from her gran would be read and closed with no second set of eyes seeing them; no one to discuss the content with. But Poppy has opened up more and more since they entered this strange more-than-friends space they find themselves in. She has shared a menagerie of details, stories and funny little facts. Everything from her gran’s research (past and present), to places they have gone on holiday (Whitby, Llandudno), and what it's like at their house at Christmas (cinnamon cider warming on the stove in the morning and games in the evening). The simple act of her handing Evelyn a letter from the most important person in her life is perhaps the most significant thing to date in their burgeoning courtship; more than the private, intense kisses, more than the murmured confirmation of feelings, more than the increasingly courageous touches over their respective uniforms. 

It feels personal – deeply intimate, even. 

[sashi-ya]

𝑩𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝑨𝒃𝒚𝒔𝒔, 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒆 ~ +18. Martial God! Byakuya x Great Calamity! Reader

✦ a rather dramatic smut scenario inspired in Heaven's Officer Blessing AU. In case you don't know about what it goes; it is a chinese BL novel turned to a donghwa. The novel tells the story of two lovers; a Martial God (which is essentially a prince that became a god with great skills) and a Great Calamity (a ghost/demon that holds an upper position, basically). two realms are discussed in this fic; the land of gods and ghost city. " tw: in this AU, gods and ghostshey are able to shapeshift, as well as change gender whenever they want, so, Reader will start being a woman but end up having his real form at the end: a man. Gender swapping for reader, if you aren't ok with your gender changing please proceed with caution. oral sex. bondage. a lot of angst. anal sex. "𝑩𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝑨𝒃𝒚𝒔𝒔, 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒆" is one of Xie Lian's (the mc) most famous phrase. if you wish to read more about the spiritual meaning of such word, I found this awesome post that explains it perfectly. I'm not sure why I cried so much writing this, but yeah, enjoy :P ✦ wc: 2k

Across the lands, his temples showed proudly the image of his holly form. The dry branch on his left hand, and the one with sakura buds in his right hand, meant to the worshippers the transformation of the death to a higher self. It also meant how fast life could go from blooming to drying. Byakuya wasn’t a God of water, nor wind or earth… he was, the god of ephemeral life.

He was strong, and he was venerated. His long black hair, fell like a rain on his shoulders and back.

He walked the path of greatness, and never once he had been found guilty of impurity. There was one night, however… that the God’s body went to Abbys. And even if he went back to the skies, his heart rested lingering in paradise for eternity…

Walking through the lands of the living world, he crossed many bridges. One of them in which a soft caress encounters his face. The delicate touch of a passing woman, her eyes of different colours. She is beautiful. More than that; she looks like the embodiment of sin and lust.

He immediately grab his sword, the motion that looked like slowed time took the blade to her neck. “Who are you and how dare you touch me?” he asks, as always so irreverently and uprightly…

“Ah… sometimes even I forget that you are a Martial God” you whisper, moving so fast away from the edge of his relentless sword. Your hands play with his hair and his body exudes high spiritual power.

He takes distance from you. “I’m not gonna ask you again, who are you?” he demands to know. You shouldn’t mess with such a powerful God.

You smile, sadistically. You make him gasp; maybe because of amusement, maybe because he finds you incredibly beautiful. Something about your appearance turns his inside world upside down, and, the urge to break the path of cultivation to be finally dragged to hells.

“I’m someone you surely know too well from past lives, Byakuya~” you purr, acknowledging yours and his non-human nature. “You have become a wonderful God after your ascension… I must ask you, though… why have you been repressing your desires?”

He frowns -a lot more than usual-. Byakuya is confused, with himself mostly. He feels like you are being sincere, but, at the same time, he fears you are indeed way more stronger than you appear. And, in fact, that’s exactly what he learns by suddenly attacking you again.

Your swords cross in a strength and power competition. It doesn’t take you too much effort to make him back up almost instantly, and soon he is left panting, pinned against the floor with your serrated edge lingering over his neck.

“You are… a ghost. Aren’t you?” he huffs, looking at you with those piercing severe eyes he’s always had, even when lying in the floor a few seconds away to be defeated.

You smirk, carving the ground next to him with the tip of your sword. “A ghost?... Not just A ghost… I’m sure you know by now who I am, exactly” you giggle. How comes he isn’t able to remember who you are? Or even worse, recognize you are no other than one of the Great Calamities.

Byakuya’s lips separate, he finally understands. And with the snap of your fingers, he finally passes out because of your strong power. Byakuya is a Martial God, but not a creature as strong as you.

When his dark blue eyes finally open, he is lying on a big bed. The sheets are satin, and they are as pink as the buds of sakura flowers he holds in his hand.

“Wh- where am I?” he asks, shaking. Byakuya feels cold, as if has been dragged to hell.

“Where do you think you are, Byakun?” you ask, sitting in your big chair right in front of the bed. You are eating fruits, right from the hands of beautiful ghosts. Men, women, all of them wearing revealing clothes and their bodies garnished by golden beads.

He suddenly gains strength to stand up from bed, but even if he tries, ties of dark force restrain him to lay with arms and legs spread on the mattress. He widens his orbs. Never has he ever been in no control… or maybe he was, but- not during this life.

You stand up from your seat, waving your hand so that the servants leave you two alone. Walking like a snake towards him, you yet got to decide which body you wish to use this time.

Byakuya begins to struggle to be freed, with of course no luck.

“Stop fighting, you are gonna leave marks on those beautiful pale wrists if you keep pulling. You used to be so docile to me, Byakun… What happened to you? Has heaven changed you? You were always a dark prince to me”

A sudden click comes to him. The term you used to describe his older past has finally made him understand who you are. And why, you, openly admit knowing him. Before he ascended, you or your soul had inhabited a man he knew too well.

“(Name)?” he asks, swallowing. His eyes glimmer for a brief second; maybe he wanted to meet you so badly as you during this eternity.

“Good boy. You recognized me, and you didn’t even need to see me in my real form. Do I look good as a woman, Byakun? Do I look appealing to you? What happened to that woman who married the God? Did she die?” you inquire, with a tint of darkness in your tone. Almost as if you wished to hurt him.

He looks to the side, taking his eyes from you in great shame. A heavy burden stands on top of his shoulders. Byakuya left your world, he joined another. A rather more holly one. And not only he did that but also he married a woman. A pure, innocent woman.

Not a ghost.

Not a calamity.

Not an evil energy, like you.

“Are you ashamed, Byakuya? Do you feel guilty? Is that what taking your eyes from me means?” you ask, crawling in bed next to him. Your fingernails, long and sharp, and black and dangerously, graze his chin to make him look at you again.

But his eyes are teary. And yet, not a single drop of pity hits you. You were the one who had been abandoned, why is he then the one crying?

“Are you ashamed?!” you ask again, with a louder voice and clear pain in your words. “Tell me you are ashamed! You left me here, you left me alone in here” you protest, and carve your nails in his warm cheeks as you crawl on top of him.

You slap his face with no remorse. You simply needed it. Why isn’t he saying something?

Releasing one of his hands from the spiritual handcuffs you take his hand to your breast. “Feel me. See? You like this? you like women more than men?” you ask, on the verge of tears. You force his hand to squeeze your chest, seeing his cheeks grow blush and his breathing haste.

In between hate and desire, you bend over. Your long hair tickles his temples, like the violent caress of a thousand ivy. Your lips, who linger so dangerously near his, are blessed by his warm breathe and the accelerated air scaping his lungs.

You look at him with your head tilted. Memories and hatred uniting in one, the urge and revenge playing thug of war inside you until both combine as if they wanted to use the rope around his neck.

Your lips crash against his. Your teeth bite and pull from them, extracting even some drops of sweet God’s blood that burn your tongue. But you don’t care and keep going, and as you, he does too.

Passionate, out of breath kisses make him hard. And that makes you mad. So mad.

“Your hardness is only an insult to me. You really prefer women over men, don’t you?” you cry out, once again grabbing his face from his cheeks. Byakuya’s eyes are blurry, he is scared. So scared, but still pleads for your mouth to go back to his.

But you won’t give him that, instead, you will make him pay for the disrespect. Crawling off his lap, you snap your fingers and in a blink of an eye mirrors suddenly surround that bed.

From every corner he can see you. He can see himself so pathetically tied to a bed of a Calamity, while being the great noble Martial God he is. A prince so impure like Naraka itself.

“Look at yourself, look at me from every corner” you order, ripping his clothes off. The pure white coverings, the pink details and golden, and everything so extravagant falls like crumbles of dignity on the floor.

Just as you remember… Pale body, the indentations, and accidents of such perfect anatomy. The marks that once you left there, had been erased with the time. Even the kisses you thought were to remain eternally planted in his skin. There is nothing but dried branches of those now. His spiritual pressure lowers, or maybe yours grows bigger and bigger. It’s asphyxiating to him, is heavy on his chest.

“There is nothing left of me on this flesh” you mourn, looking at him with eyes injected in blood and tears that fall down your corners. “But you were mine, you were only mine”

Byakuya’s lips tremble, his long lashes show wetness from his crying. He only wants you, no matter the form you hold now. A woman, a man, a beast. Come back, kiss his skin, feed off his taste and feed him with yours. Get drunk on his scent, let him ascend with yours.

“I’m still yours…” he dares to murmur in between sobs.

You, who have turned your back to him, take a look from the side. You don’t want to fall back into those lies. Because he told them once, and now he told them twice. But even ghosts, with hearts that don’t beat, also feel the pain of missing a love.

“I’m still yours… I haven’t touched anyone, never again since I left. I didn’t touch her, either” he dares to spit, making your limbs go almost limp. And you know it’s not true. Or is it?

You turn around, walking back in between his legs. Like a crawling creature you go up, kissing from the bridge of his foot up his limbs. The inside of his thighs, that are so tender, invite you to bite. And you do, making him moan in pain and in pleasure as well.

His hardness growing more and more, dripping, throbbing. Your tongue going up from his perineum to his gland. It tastes as delicious as before, and perhaps even more. Now that he is sacred, now that he is holly.

He squirms to your oral torture, his eyes go white, his head back. It’s like a work of art, to see the muscles of his back tensing in the mirrors around. His chest going up and down, rapidly, trying to make some oxygen go inside his lungs but never once reaching enough.

You search for his look, but he can’t even see. Byakuya’s open lips, pouting. His moans show, how much, how many years, he has restrained himself from sin.

But it’s definitely the words that come as the first flowers of spring what break you in half, in thirds and in million pieces…“I love you so much. I have waited for you every day and every night. I missed you so much, I missed… I missed you so much, (Name). A life of eternity in hell wouldn’t have been enough to pay for leaving you behind…”

You snap your fingers again. His hands are freed and reach for yours with delicate intertwined fingers that grip tightly. He invites you to go on top of you. Your body takes the real form, his does too.

White aura surrounding him. Red surrounding yours. His legs on each side of your body, you burying on him, deep, deep inside. Your mouths interlocked, your tongues dancing with each other. Chests one against the other, sweating bodies sharing the intimacy connection of love and lust.

“Come back, come back as many times as you want…”

[choicesficwriterscreations]

Red Carpet Diaries FotW - Dec 4 - 10, 2022

🌟= CFWC Holidays 2022 Week 2

All I Want is You | Thomas Hunt x F!OC - @theartoflovingthomashunt ��

An Ugly Time of Year | Victoria Fontaine x MC - @alj4890 🌟

Baking Woes | Matt Rodriguez x Addison Sinclaire - @alj4890

Between the Snowflakes | Thomas Hunt x F!OC - @theartoflovingthomashunt

Distraction Thomas Hunt x F!MC - @hopelessromantic1352

It's Unavoidable | Thomas Hunt x F!MC - @alj4890 🌟

New York Plus Two | Thomas Hunt x F!MC - @hopelessromantic1352🌟

Premiere Date | Thomas Hunt x F!OC - @alj4890

Starting the Year Right | Thomas Hunt x M!OC - @gutsfics

The Getaway | Ryan Summers x Holly Chang - @alj4890

Trapped in Awe | Thomas Hunt x F!OC - @alj4890

Treat | Thomas Hunt x F!MC - @hopelessromantic1352

Wonder | Thomas Hunt x F!MC - @hopelessromantic1352 🌟

CFWC Main FotW List

Open Heart FotW List

The Royal Romance FotW List

[alj4890masterlist]

1st set of Choices drabbles and request

2nd set of Choices drabbles and requests

Everything's Sweeter with Three (Liam x Riley)

One Night (Thomas Hunt x OC)*NSFW*

Premiere Date (Thomas Hunt x OC)

The Getaway (Ryan Summers x Holly Chang)

Trapped in Awe (Thomas Hunt x OC)

Baking Woes (Matt Rodriguez x Addison Sinclaire)

Hollywood Magic (Seth Levine x MC*Jessica Clarke)

An Ugly Time of Year (Victoria Fontaine x Jessica Clarke x Chadley Fortnum) *platonically*

Change of Plans (Thomas Hunt x OC) *NSFW*

It's Unavoidable (Thomas Hunt x OC)

Tis the Season (Thomas Hunt x OC)

The Christmas Card (Liam x Madeleine) (Liam x Riley)

Another Chance (Thomas Hunt x OC)

Christmas Journal (Liam x Riley)

The Christmas Card (prologue to L-O-V-E) (Liam x Riley)

L-O-V-E (Liam x Riley) part 1

L-O-V-E (Liam x Riley) Part 2

L-O-V-E (Liam x Riley) Part 3

Time Together (Thomas Hunt x OC)

Right by Your Side (Maxwell Beaumont x MC)

Something Sweet (Jax Matsuo x MC)/On a Rainy Afternoon (Thomas Hunt x OC)/Addiction (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Don't Let the Light Go Out (Tobias Carrick x F!MC

Interrupted Plans (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

A Couple of Drinks (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

The Date (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

The Reason (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Mine (Tobias Carrick x F!MC) *NSFW*

The Offer (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

The Wake (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

On the Run (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

A Glimpse (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Meeting the Family (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Tobias x Chris artwork (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Holding On (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC)

Tea Time (Naveen Banerji, Ethan x F!MC)

Something Sweet (Ethan Ramsey x OC)

Something Sweet Part 2 (Ethan Ramsey x OC)

The Morning After (Thomas Hunt x OC) *NSFW*

A New Kind of Intimacy (Trystan Thorne x F!MC

The Babysitter (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

No Time Like the Present (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

What Might Have Been (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Nope (Trystan Thorne x F!MC)

Whose Is It? (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Processing and Developing (Tobias Carrick x F!MC) (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC)

Processing and Developing Interrupted (Tobias Carrick x F!MC) (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC)

The Getaway (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Asked and Received (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Always Winning (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

TBI (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Can't Help It (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Anticipation (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

You Know, What! (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Game On (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

The Dinner Party (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Oops (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Heart's Choice Part 1 (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC) (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Heart's Choice Part 2 (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC) (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Heart's Choice Part 3 (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC) (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

First Night Out (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Comfort (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC)

Perceive (Thomas Hunt x OC)

Repeat Performance (Thomas Hunt x OC

Rough Start (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Tobias Carrick x F!MC artbyainna

Admittance (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Say It (Ethan Ramsey x F!MC)

Searching (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Complicated (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

Treat for Two (Tobias Carrick x F!MC)

[queen-of-boops]

After You, Princess: Paige can't get enough of him, and she doesn't even know his name. All she knows is that she wants him more than anything, and that he wants her too. (4k, Jasper x MC) Part of the One Night Only collection

All Cut Up: Levi has the clumsiest soulmate in existence. He just hasn't met her yet. But there's something about River that makes him want to give up on the idea of soulmates altogether. (2k, Levi x MC)

Going for Gold: Everyone who's ever been to the Olympics knows that the Village is a giant party. And this time, Levi is determined to make sure his girlfriend has the time of her life. (4.5k, Levi x MC)

Image is Everything: Jasper Ramsden-Wallace always knew he’d never fall in love. Everything in his life was carefully designed to fit the image he wanted to project, so why should his future relationship be any different? And then he met Avery... (5.5k, Jasper x MC)

The Bonnie Banks: The bonnie banks of Loch Lomond have always Brynn's favorite place. They're alive with magic and possibility, the fairytale world of her childhood. Now that she's found her way back, she's realizing that little changes in these small towns. Including the feelings she once had for her childhood friend. (3.25k, Miles x MC)

Bite Me: Vampire life isn't easy, but Lottie wouldn't have it any other way. That is, until her ex-boyfriend shows up and turns her whole world upside down. (5k, Lottie x Kassam)

Cats & Dogs: Arjun's a dog lover, Roxie's a cat person. He thinks he's hilarious, she thinks he's a moron. Pretty much the only thing they can agree on is the fact that they hate each other. Until they find common ground that rocks the very core of their relationship. (3.25k, Arjun/MC)

Christmas in the Pediatric Ward: Heather's stuck working the Christmas Eve shift. Again. And she's likely going to be snowed in. It's shaping up to be a pretty miserable Christmas Eve after all. Until a certain kitchen worker gets involved that is. (2k, Bobby x MC)

Deals and Demons: Hope has made a lot of deals over the years, but there's just something about this one that's a little different. (2k, Hope x Felix)

Ecstasy: Drug dealing Rocco gets a taste of his own medicine. (1.5k, Rocco x MC)

Evergreen: No matter what changes in Madi's life, she knows she can count on Henrik to be there for her. He's her rock, her best friend since childhood. But when a hike goes bad, everything changes. And she doesn't know how to cope with it. (8.5k, Henrik x MC)

Fight For It: Arjun has never had a normal life. He's spent his whole life running, his whole life avoiding others. Until he met Emma. But he has a secret, a secret he hopes she'll never find out. (4.5k, Arjun x MC)

For The Love of The Game: Shannon is addicted to winning. How will that affect her time on Love Island? (2.5k, Shannon)

Frozen: Lucas had expected to spend the holidays in the city with his long-term girlfriend. Instead, she had to run off to a small town and decide to leave him for the local handyman. Tired, sore, and heartbroken, he meets someone in a similar situation, but what happens next is something neither of them could have ever seen coming. (5k, Lucas x Henrik)

Holidays In Holly Heights: Ash has always hated her small town, but will the arivial of a handsome stranger change her mind? (5k, Gary x MC)

I'm Yours: Lucas and Dani have been happily coupled up since Lucas entered the villa. But Nope has a plan that could ruin everything. (1.5k, Lucas x MC)

Intro to Human Anatomy: Elys needs to pass anatomy: only problem is she spends every class daydreaming about her crazy hot professor. And when he offers to give her a private lesson things get a little... hands-on. (4.25k, Lucas x MC)

Lessons in Lust: There is one line Professor Noah Alexander is certain he'll never cross. Until Sierra Jimenez waltzes into his classroom and makes him question every ethical boundary he's put up. (5k, Noah x MC)

Lights, Camera, Action...: When Bobby suggested Lucas start filming porn to make some extra cash, he never could've expected something like this. (5k, Lucas x Henrik)

Mix & Match: All Sabina wants is a moment of piece and quiet. Unfortunately for her, the walls of her flat are thin and her neighbor is up at all hours of the night mixing music. (2.5k, Kassam x MC)

More Than Friends: Kassam has been in love with Reyna for as long as he can remember, but there's been a lot of changes in their relationship over the years. (2.5k, Kassam x MC)

Not Like I'm In Love With You: Henrik and Parker are just friends. Friends make out with each other when they're bored, right? (4k, Henrik x MC)

Perfectly Infuriating: Something about Valerie just gets under Blake's skin. She's too nice, too perfect. And Blake can't stand watching her charm the entire villa. But now that Blake's staying in the game, she's determined to figure out what exactly makes her hate Valerie so much. (2k, Blake x MC)

Pining and Post-Its: Carl's got it bad for Naleah and everyone knows it. There's not a chance she feels the same... is there? (2k, Carl x MC)

Press Play to Start: There's no harm in downloading some silly little mobile game, right? Wrong. Because as soon as Mia pressed play, she became trapped inside. And she has no idea how to get out. (5k, MC)

Read Between the Lines: Sage and Noah have never gotten along, but what will happen when they are forced to work together? (2.5k, Noah x MC)

Stay Safe, Wolf-Boy: It's been one year since Arjun and Emma skipped town. One year of running, always looking over their shoulder to make sure they weren't followed. Until now. Now they must rely on their friends to face a new threat. Because it's that, or die trying. (5.5k, Arjun x MC)

Take the Shot: Three years after Zoey broke up with him and Lucas has finally become the star footballer he always dreamed of being. But now that Zoey's back in his life, things are getting... complicated. (9.5k, Lucas x MC)

The Dead Don't Die: Lucas thought today would be just like any other workday. But the infection that is sweeping through the nation is about to reach a tipping point. And it'll change everything. (3.5k, Lucas & MC)

Trading Places: Noah has been wondering what it would be like if his life was different, but he never imagined he would wake up living someone else's life... let alone the person who's dating his best friend. (3.5k, Noah x MC)

Undead of Night: Noah is haunted by the ghosts of his past: literally. Only thing is, he's the one in control. But when a spellbook falls into his lap, it has the potential to change things for good. (5.5k, Noah)

A Midsummer Night's Song: Zara's in love with Rafi. Lottie's in love with Gary. But Zara's been forced into a fake relationship with Gary. An upset Rafi gets some help from a mysterious stranger. What could possibly go wrong? (3.5k, Rafi x MC)

Caroling, Caroling Through The... No: Seb isn't the Christmas type. But his girlfriend Willow definitely is. And she's determined to make their first Christmas together one to remember. (2k, Seb x MC)

Not Another Horror Movie: It was supposed to be just another film for Rafi, but it ended up being anything but. (5.25k, Rafi)

Play To Win: There was exactly one person Brooklyn Hurst was not, under any circumstances, supposed to fall in love  with, but that didn’t stop her from falling for him anyway. Harry Zhong. The sweetest, funniest, and most ambitious guy she’d ever met. Who just so happened to be best friends with her brother. (6k, Harry x MC)

Special: Lainey has always been different. She has no soulmate tattoo, no person she's meant to be with forever. Which just makes it even harder when she meets the person who's everything she's always wanted. (2k, Tai x MC)

Crash Into You: Ryan loves Oliver, she always has. He's her best friend. But when she returns from studying abroad she starts to realize that she might be in love with him. (7k, Oliver x MC)

Missed Messages: Thabi tries to stay in contact with her best friend after leaving the villa. (2k, Thabi & MC)

Play Pretend: Playing pretend with her used to be a lot more fun. Aka, Bruno is in love with his best friend and she has no idea. (2k, Bruno x MC)

Snow Joke: What do you get when you add a girl obsessed with tv shows, the boy she's been crushing on for a year, and an invitation to a Christmas party that comes with a fake dating subplot? Obviously it's a sitcom waiting to happen! (5.75k, Bruno x MC)

Sparks Fly: It's love at first sight for Angie when she meets Briallen. Only problem is, she can't seem to work up the nerve to actually talk to her. (2k, Angie x MC)

Try: Kiera's attitude towards rugby starts to change when she meets a sweet, goofy boy at one of her brother's matches. (3.25k, Tom x MC)

How I Met Your Mother: Kids, have I ever told you the story of how I met your mother? (5k, Andy x MC)

Just Say No: Andy has been in love with Alyssa since the moment they met. And she has no idea. Instead, she's happy to keep things strictly platonic... with some benefits thrown in of course. Every time they sleep together, it breaks his heart all over again. Things would be a lot simpler if he could just learn how to say no to her. (4.5k, Andy x MC)

Principles & Passion: Arabella Singh, a new debutante, just wants to enjoy the endless balls and parties that have suddenly became available to her. Llewyn Pritchard is broke. He inherited land, a title, and enough debt to burry him for an eternity. He has little interest in courting someone only to reveal that he can't support them. Neither of them expect a single moment will change their lives forever. (7.75k, Lewie x MC)

Public Relations: Remi is the best PR agent in the business. But even she can't put a good spin on having to share an office with Marshall Singh. And when their two biggest clients become the world's worst PR nightmare, she's forced to re-evaluate their relationship. (8.75k, Marshall x MC)

Wipe Out: The flames of the firepit cast haunting shadows around the other islanders, the warmth of the fire doing nothing to chase away the chill in Jamal’s bones. Everything in the villa had felt empty since Arin had left. Rooms felt bigger without her melodic laughter to fill out the space, his bed felt cold without the warmth of her body next to his. Even the sun had lost its radiant shine without her smile. (2.5k, Jamal x MC)

Trouble: Doing it in the shower is always risky. There’s a high chance of slipping and falling. Well. Slipping. It’s a bit late for the falling part. (3k, Kyle x MC)

The Fast Lane: There's nothing that compares to seeing your man completely in his element. That is, until Regan's able to get up close and personal with the inside of Jude's rally car and the man that operates it. (4.5k, Jude x MC)

[peachesandlesbians]

Preference: Romantic Quote (RCD)

THOMAS HUNT: 

��This poem is endless / the odds against us are endless / our chances of being alive together statistically nonexistent / still we have made it” — Lisel Mueller

ADDISON SINCLAIR:

“Show me / the most damaged / parts of your soul, / and I will show you / how it still shines like gold.” — Nikita Gill 

HOLLY CHANG:

“Although they are / Only breath, words / which I command / are immortal.” — Sappho

VICTORIA FONTAINE:

“So many people advised me against you. How glad I am we could not resist.” Lee Ann Brown

MATT RODRIGUEZ:

“This is my confession. / As dark as I am, / I will always / find enough light / to adore you to pieces, / with all of my pieces.” — Johnny Nguyen

TEJA DESAI:

“Coffee is / all well / and good / but I would / rather / have your / lips / kiss me / awake / every / morning” — kpk

SETH LEVINE:

“You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known — and even that is an understatement.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald 

[theartoflovingthomashunt]

Farewell Hollywood U #10: And that's a wrap🖤

Chibi headshots by the lovely @/sherry_artwo on Instagram

I will miss this crew so much. They are each so amazing and special in their own way. I absolutely adore the stories they were apart of and the love for writing and creating they inspired in me. I know this isn't everyone, but these are the ones that I've included in my writing before.

I am so grateful to Pixelberry for giving us these characters for the time we had them. I will desperately miss them. I'm not ready to say goodbye to any of them. They will always hold a special place in my heart!

Thanks for the memories, Hollywood U!

[fal-carrington]

Love Will Tear Us Apart

Pairing: Victoria x Mc

Gender: Slightly Angst/heartbreaking filled with romance

A/N: Hi everybody, today I was inspired and I decided to write this. The idea popped into my mind as I was replaying the last chapter of RCD's book 2 when Victoria admits being in love with MC, and MC alternately rejects her, so Victoria says "Don’t say anything else please. If you get there... Amazing. If you don’t... I still think having you in my life has been for the best”

Prompt: Falling in love with your best friend and seeing her date someone else can be painful, especially when you do not admit your feelings to her for fear of losing her and being rejected. That was what Victoria thought, but that was before her agent called with an unexpected offer. When Victoria and Kat have to act as lovers in Thomas Hunt's new series, things can turn out to be disastrous, would Victoria finally admit the truth when she's about to kiss her best friend for the first time on a TV show? Somebody is going to get out of this with a broken heart?

"So what do you think Victoria? I mean, it's a great opportunity and you were saying a few years ago that you wanted to reinvent yourself. That may be the perfect moment." Rachel, her agent was looking at her waiting for a response from the diva. Victoria stared at the script with no expression on her face. She knew perfectly well that this was a great opportunity, many famous names in Hollywood would be in that show, Hunt was the director, that had everything to succeed and be a glorious, but what she did not expect was who would be her co-star. Kat.

"You know very well that I don’t do TV shows, Rachel." Victoria left the script on the coffee table, turning her eyes to her garden, feeling the cool wind hit her face. Her agent took a sip of coffee with an expression Victoria knew well. She would not take an no so easily.

"That role is perfect for you and you know it. I honestly do not know what the problem is in accepting." Rachel groaned again, waiting for a true answer from the diva. "Is this because of Katherine?" Rachel narrowed her eyes. Victoria sighed.

"She is my best friend. She has nothing to do with my refusal,” Victoria lied, swallowing dry, distractedly stirring her croissant on her plate.

"You're a great actress, but I know you're lying." Rachel pointed. "Are you still having that unprofessional tension on the set? I thought that had been solved in Tender Nothings."

"And it was! We get along really well, I love being around her, we talk about everything, we spend most of our time together. She's a good friend,” Victoria said feeling the words run down her throat like acid. Referring to the person she was in love with as a friend was perhaps as bad as being rejected by her.

Rachel stared at her for a few moments before taking her coffee.

"So it happened, huh? I was wondering how long it would take to happen," Rachel said casually.

"What are you talking about?"

"You and her. You fell in love with her. Who would say, honestly I'm not surprised at all. I do not know how the media has not yet realized this tension between you two"

"Oh, please." Victoria rolled her eyes.

"It's true, huh? Tell me how long you've noticed” Rachel leaned back in Victoria's summer chair and looked at her with a triumphant smile.

Victoria sighed. She knew she would not escape that conversation even if she tried. The best thing would be to open the game for her agent and stop denying it at once.

"Since she visited me in New York. Before the recordings of The Last Duchess begin,” She admitted. “... And she show up at The Godmother premiere.”

"And you never opened the game for her? Has nothing ever happened between you both?”

"No, never. And besides, she's dating Matt.” She sighed heavily, feeling the weight of those words. "Why would I say anything? I do not want to ruin our friendship. She clearly doesn’t feel the same and I dont even know if she’s into girls.”

“You never asked?”

“No!”

"So you're afraid of rejection."

"Oh, for god's sake. Enough talking about Katherine.” She rolled her eyes. But deep down inside, she knew that Rachel was right and with that came the memory of last night in her mind.

Victoria was coming down through her Pictagram feed, smiling gratefully at the thousands of likes that popped up in her newest photo. She liked a photo that Teja had excitedly posted from her new chair of director of the film she was directing, Victoria's eyes went down to the end of the screen immediately to the unexpected photo posted a few seconds ago. It had been posted 10 seconds and there were already a thousand likes.

"Night out with bae! Love you.”

Her eyes lingered on the photo for a few moments. Until her fingers went automatically and without her permission to give like in the photo.

It was a picture of Kat with Matt. Both were hugging and smiling, sitting in a booth couch at Vertigo's. Kat was as beautiful as ever, the flash had made a beautiful contrast in her blue eyes. Victoria swallowed hard looking at the photo of the new Hollywood couple. It had been a huge bang when they both took over the relationship, gave in all the magazines and newspapers. Both were in innumerable interviews and the cover of the magazines, she lost her account of the photoshoots they did together. Leland and Candy always demanded new interviews to see them again, just as the paparazzi pursued them in the streets. She wanted to hate Matt.

She wanted to hate him with all her strength, but she could not. Matt was a good person and a good boy, and he was certainly making Kat happy. He probably was a good boyfriend too, he was going in all the fashion shows that Kat participated as a model, she knew perfectly well that he was going, because she also went in all. He had been with her on all her travels, and had been with her almost all her tours, since she had decided to invest in the music career dropping her first album, making a huge success.

He was with the person she wanted to be, the person she had fallen in love with. Her girl, her best friend. But she understood or she tried at least, Matt was young. Both were, and it was undeniable that both could not take their eyes off each other during the entire Tender Nothings recording, Victoria would like to say that she was surprised when Kat came to tell her the news, but she was not.

"I'm not going to lie, it fucking hurts," Victoria murmured softly to herself. She had never told Kat what she felt, but what was the point of doing this? She would only be rejected. She remembered perfectly the tough beginning of their friendship, how she had been rude and cruel to Kat, until she truly knew the girl and realized she was a good person. End up liking her without even realizing what was happening, what was a rivalry became a friendship... And the friendship became love. She never expected to fall in love with her best friend. She'd known Kat for four years, and she had not expected to be so attached to her. She needed her and couldn’t imagine her life without her best friend. Maybe the universe has a sick sense of humor after all.

"... And It's kind of hard to put aside when we're going to have to play as lovers on this show!" Victoria said, running her hand through her blond hair in frustration.

"I know this complicates things."

"Just to say the least." She sighed.

"You have much to consider. Think about it and try to put this question about Katherine aside. I know you two are best friends, you're in love with her, but you're a complete professional actress. Certainly, I know you can leave your personal problems aside on the set.” Before she could said something else, her cell phone vibrated. "Oh, it's Pippa Majors, I have to pick it up. Think about what I told you and then call me, okay? " She stood up leaving a confused Victoria behind.

21h30pm

Victoria paced back and forth in her bedroom, with Rachel's words in her mind. She knew that accepting the role was a difficult choice, but it was probably the right thing to do.

California's hot air entered the room of the actress porch, causing the curtains to sway. She was too busy in her thoughts to realize that her cell phone was vibrating a few seconds ago.

"Oh, fuck," she said to herself and took him in her hands. She bit her own lips, cursing herself when she saw the name and the picture on the screen.

Kat. She watched for mere seconds to Kat’s dork photo and she answered.

"Katherine, what can I do for you?"

"Hey, you." Kat laughed on the other end of the line. "You're not busy right now, right? You can talk?"

"Sure. What's it?"

"So I was talking to Chazz this morning and Hunt came up with this incredible new series offering he's producing, so he mentioned that he offered it to you as well. So of course I got the script, and I was wondering if you already accepted it.”

 "Well, I'm still thinking about. I'm not much of a type making series."

"Oh, come on Vic. It'll be great, you'll love it! "

"I'm not so sure about that."

"What's the problem?"

"Nothing. It's just... It's not my style."

"It's never too late to change." Victoria sighed impatiently.

"I'm thinking about it, okay? I know this is a great opportunity, but I still do not know."

"I'll be there. Let's act together like we did in the past. Tender Nothing’s was great and you know it."

"Yeah... I'm aware of that."

"... And we can see each other everyday. It's been a long time since we've been out, I've been busy and so have you. I have not known what it's like to see you for months. This project will be great for us "

"I'm sure Matt fills my seat." Kat laughed.

"You are my best friend. Do not get me wrong, I love Matt, but he's not you." A smile grew on Victoria's lips at those words.

"Grow up, Kat." Victoria rolled her eyes.

"Oh, come on, do not be mean."

"Yeah. Maybe you're right. Maybe it's good."

"Look, you're already agreeing."

"You're so biased." Victoria laughed and sighed. "Okay fine. I'll talk to my agent."

"Finally! Thank you, Vic."

"Do not thank me, I'll get paid for it." Kat laughed in response. "So ... Uh. Do you have plans for tomorrow? I'm free, and if you want to have coffee or something..." Victoria bit her lip anxiously.

"Sure thing. We can catch up. I have plenty things to tell you."

"Alright. See you tomorrow."

"See ya." She hung up and swallowed dry looking of her cell phone. Until her fingers automatically went up to her agent's name in her agenda and soon the phone was already dialing.

"Victoria?"

"Hey, Rach. I was thinking about the paper... And I decided to accept it."

"That’s great. What made you change your mind?"

"Kat did."

Saint Monica, Malibu 15h30pm 

Victoria was staring at her coffee in her hands, watching people passing by, people looking over her shoulder and taking pictures of her with flash and the paparazzi doing a terrible job of hiding themselves at the tables. She rolled her eyes. As the cafeteria door opened and Kat emerged, a smile lit up her face involuntarily. She looked gorgeous in that white summer dress, her honey-colored hair loose and her blue eyes vibrant. She smiled back when she saw Victoria, walking to her table.

"Hey, Vic." She hugged her.

"Hey Kat," Victoria sighed, patting her back slightly.

"I feel like I have not seen you for decades! You've been so busy lately.” Kat laughed as she sat beside Victoria.

"Oh, shut up. It's you who's been traveling all the time,” Victoria said and Kat chuckled.

"I know, things are going crazy these days. But I'm so happy to see my best friend again." Kat touched Victoria's hand on the table, taking one look from Victoria to the pair of hands together. "I missed you."

"Yeah... Me too. So ... How's it going with Matt?" Victoria scratched her throat trying to distract herself from the scene.

“Like always. He's recording his new movie in London and I'm getting new work in mind now."

"Hunt's new series," Victoria concluded.

"I'm so excited about this. It will be wonderful, all the scenery that goes, the forbidden romance ... All the crime and the action scenes. And of course, I'm excited to see the guys, Chris, Holly, and I was told Pippa's going to be in the movie. Are you excited to see her?’” Kat took a sip of her coffee.

"Who?" Victoria frowned.

"Pippa." Kat shrugged.

"Why would I be?" Victoria looked at her blankly.

"I remembered the chemistry between the two of you that day at the party at her house. You seemed very interested."

"That was... Nothing." Victoria dismissed it with one hand.

"Oh... okay. Well, anyway, The fact that we're going to star together as lovers is awesome. I’m so excited, I mean, you're a great mentor and my best friend, I feel like we're going to do a great job."

"Oh, yeah." Victoria chose the words carefully. Watching the big dimpled smile on Kat's face. "Well, what can I say... Two hot women as a couple on a tv series? This series is already ours.”

“That’s the spirit!” Kat grinned.

“What can get wrong?" Victoria muttered to herself.

[angstymarshmallow]

Simply Between Us Part 4 (Thomas Hunt x MC)

[A little note: A little down time for my OTP currently miserable without each other].

Simply Between Us Series: Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3

[Summary: Weeks of separation has left Thomas Hunt feeling more desolate and confused as ever until Holly Chang helps to put things into perspective. Meanwhile Teja has finally convinced Tatum (MC) to leave the safety of her home and join the real world again].

[Words Counted: 3937]

Before his alarm can fill his ear within the early mornings from the confines of his bedroom, Thomas Hunt is already up – yanking his sheets away and hastily springing to his feet. He swiftly prepares for another long day; another day of burying himself under mountains of work. Another day of working till his body begged for sleep. It is the only thing that keeps him brain off her, off their conversation weeks ago when she decided it was better to spend time apart while he sorted his thoughts.

But his thoughts always lead back to her. 

Distractions never seem to last long, but he does make seldom progress in his current project - a five-part series special he started with Holly Chang and hopes to finish before the end of the year.

Still, on most days Thomas struggles with how much he daydreams. Days when he can’t get her out of his head – especially in moments where the work flow has stopped. Its long enough for him to see her, picture her as though she’s right in front of him instead of half across the city.

Thomas shakes thoughts of her clear before it becomes all he can think about again. He makes quick strides to the bathroom before impatiently grabbing his tooth brush. He doesn’t spend a lot of time peering at himself; noticing the five o-clock shadow and the dark bags around his eyes – rather he focuses on his mental checklist, ticking off things one by one that needed doing before the end of the day.

He spits and quickly rinses his mouth before grabbing his towel and walking back to his bedroom. He dries off, watching the view of L.A. absently from his window while the global network plays their morning stories from his television set. The anchorwoman’s voice increasingly becomes background noise as he finds himself less and less intent in listening for weeks than he has ever been before. Minutes pass until his hair is dry enough. He deposits his towel across the room in his waste basket before he checks his watch for the time.

He sighs.

4:55 am. He’s even up earlier than he has been before, with almost three hours of sleep under his belt. He supposes he could use an early day at the office anyway.

Rubbing his temples, he ventures for a suit within his walk-in closet. His fingers drift over each impeccable suit, over dozens that has well-suited his needs over the past year. Still, he can’t find anything. Uttering another sigh, he turns his fights to a sweater-vest and a buttoned-up shirt, tucking them swiftly under his arms before fishing for a pair of slacks.

A message dinged on his phone as he finishes getting ready. His fingers hover across the screen before he quickly reads the message; he’s surprised to hear it’s Holly Chang wanting to meet him before work.

I know you’re already up, so you might as well join me for coffee anyway – at your favourite place.

Thomas shakes his head ruefully, typing a swift and terse response that he would he meet her there before grabbing his keys and his coat.

-

Thomas meets Holly Chang’s familiar stare with a curt nod before he takes his seat across from her. He’s surprised to already see his favourite in front of him – a simple coffee as Holly stirs her chai latte thoughtfully with a plastic straw.

“Thank you.” He murmurs, inclining his head at her. He takes a sip and nearly sighs by how comforting it is to have the familiar hot liquid slide down his throat.

“You’re welcome.” She clears her throat. Her mouth slides open before quickly slamming shut again.

From where Thomas is sitting, it seems as though she’s almost hesitant to speak. “I assumed you wanted to meet for a reason.” He prompts, quirking an eyebrow at her. “Probably our project.”

“Actually no, that isn’t why I asked you to meet me here.” Holly’s shoulders remain stiff while she releases a short breath underneath her nose. “Our project is going swimmingly well and I can’t wait to get back to it – but this isn’t about that.”

Thomas pauses his cup by his mouth. “Then what is this about?” He has a strange feeling he will not like where this is headed.

“Well,” she looks suddenly uncomfortable. “Look Hunt,” she won’t meet his stare. “I’m not one to usually pry into other people’s personal lives.”

The strange feeling doubles and he stares pointedly at the corner of their table when she lifts her gaze back to him. “Then don’t.” The words are curt, sharper than he intends but he doesn’t apologize when she winces.

“You look like shit Hunt, and I’m not saying that metaphorically – I really mean that.” She gestures to his mismatched slacks and blazer. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

Thomas blinks down at himself; he thought it looked fine this morning. “Thanks Holly.” He purses his lips.

“I’m trying to be a good friend here, don’t make this anymore difficult by being a pain in the ass.”

He glances back up to find her glaring at him. “Just let me say my piece, okay?”

“My apologies,” he bites the stab of pride that rears its ugly head from her assessment. “Go on.”

“Okay.” She lets out a breath and straightens her shoulders before staring pointedly back at him. “You’ve been acting strange lately, mostly quiet than usual – and that’s saying something.”

He frowns. “I have no idea what you mean.”

She gives him a droll stare. “Are we really going to play this game?” When Thomas doesn’t answer, Holly utters an insufferable sigh. “You haven’t been the same since Priya showed up. And I know that it’s been bothering you even though you’re clearly trying to avoid the issue.”

He bristles inside his seat. “I haven’t been –” at the look she gives him, he changes tactics. “It has been…difficult lately.”

Holly nods, “I suppose it’s been affecting your relationship with Tatum, hasn’t it?”

“I don’t want to –”

“Talk about that?” She interjects. “Well neither do I, but if it’s affecting your performance at the studio – we do need to talk about it. If it’s affecting your health, I definitely can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

“There is nothing going on.” Thomas replies stubbornly, setting his jaw tight. “She wanted to end things and we did. End of story.”

Holly’s eyes widen in surprise then drop in sympathy. “Oh Thomas, I had no idea –”

“Why would you?” He cuts off sharply. “I don’t go around simply telling people these things when it’s clearly no one else’s business.” He clears his throat as he feels his hackles rise with every word. Although it’s been weeks since he’s heard from her, it still stings knowing she’s gone.

“Well like I said, you’ve made it my business when it’s affecting our project.” Her voice rises with every word as she stabs a finger in his direction.

“I thought you said it was doing well.” He barks back.

“I thought so too until I took a closer look at the shots you’ve chosen.”

Thomas winces. He hasn’t been exactly happy with those and he thought he had more time before she’d notice. “I was working through them.”

“I know, but you can’t let your personal life get blended into your work.” Her voice softens. “I’m not Addison – I don’t do comfort very well, but I am a very good listener.” She takes another sip of her hot beverage. “So tell me, what’s going on?”

Thomas remains stubbornly silent for a moment. His eyes roam over her, scrutinizing and assessing the sincerity behind her words. Where would he even begin? How can he ever begin to explain how much of a complete mess he’s been since Tatum left? How alone he’s felt all over again since the last time he’s seen her – since he’s heard her voice?

“I don’t even know where to start.” He says cautiously, finally ending the silence between them.

“Probably from the beginning. That’s a good of a place to start as any.”

He nods once. “Right,” clearing his throat, he takes a huge gulp of his coffee and relishes at the warm feeling that lingers behind in his chest. “I suppose the night Priya wanted to meet me for dinner.”

“So, she reached out to you first?”

“She did, and I said yes.”

“Why on Earth would you say yes?” Holly rolls her eyes, “did you seem to forget the mess she made when she left? How many months you spent buried under a rock without her?” She continues ruthlessly.

“No.” Thomas blanches at the thought. Then he stares at his friend. “I thought you said you were just going to listen – not badger me more than I have done to myself.”

“Sorry.” She even manages to look sheepish as she apologizes. “Please, go on.”

He lets out a tired breath as he retells the night they spent inside one of his favourite restaurants. It becomes a different experience; remembering all the details – the things he thinks he noticed and the gestures he made that night.

“So, seeing her brought up the ugly past again?”

He nods. “It did, and when she started talking about how good we were for each other – well she wasn’t wrong. We were good together Holly,” he meets her expression, “we were really good together.”

“I remember.” Holly frowns. “But I also remember nights where the two of you fought non-stop and it affected our friendship.”

“I –” He falters for a moment as images from the past assaulted his mind. There were indeed a lot of good and a lot of bad – all blended together; painting their complicated past. “It was complicated when we were together, but we were happy.”

“And then she left…” he trails for a moment running his fingers roughly through his hair. The images burn brighter as he thinks about them, they came fast unrelenting from years of keeping them locked inside his head. “I swear I buried how I felt about her, buried it into the ground. That was the only way I knew how to get over her.”

She nods in encouragement.

“And I really thought I was, over her I mean. But it wasn’t until she was right there – sitting in front of me with that daring smile of hers’ that I thought differently. Maybe I was wrong.” He glances away, watching some of the other patrons of the coffee shop with bittersweet resentment. She’s even still here – they both are underneath the hours they used to spend studying - god how has he never realized it before?

“To be quite frank, if I am being completely honest with myself maybe apart of me never really moved on from her. From how she made me feel.” He answers his own question earnestly, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.

“And then suddenly I was thinking about Tatum –” a fleeting half-smile touches his lips, “her laugh, the way she always seems to brighten every room she’s in. The way she challenges me to think of things differently. The sound of her voice when she says my name…I wanted to prove to Priya that I didn’t have feelings for her anymore when I brought her up.” He sighs dejectedly, “it’s only now that I realize I was wrong, to mention her the way I did - just to be spiteful.” He shakes his head. “It wasn’t as if it worked anyway. I didn’t get under her skin, I just proved to her that I still wasn’t completely over her.”

“Ah.” Holly leans back, dropping her empty cup on the table.

“What?”

“I’m just processing…it isn’t often we talk like this.” Holly taps her fingers alongside the table between them. “I just can’t believe the hold still Priya has on you though.” Holly scowls. “It’s clear that you have feelings for Tatum – and for Priya to suddenly appear.” Her scowl deepens. “That can’t be a coincidence.”

“You can’t completely blame her.” Thomas clears his throat, “still caring about her isn’t her fault. It’s mine, and it’s why Tatum and I had a quarrel about it the day after.” He toys with the brim of his cup, his stomach suddenly churning at the thought. “I didn’t deny that I still had feelings for Priya when she asked me point-blank.”

“Hunt,” Holly’s expression turns to one of exasperation and matches her tone. “It’s been years.”

“I know,” he ran his fingers through his hair.

“Then why do you still care?” She continues, scrutinizing him. “You’re not the same person you were then. Neither is she.”

“I know,” he repeats. “Yet in all those years, the moment we started talking – I could still see it. So, I suppose some part of me which had always wondered what if – has never died, not completely.”

Holly is quiet for a moment as if mulling through his words. “I suppose that answers the question then.”

“Hmm?”

“Why I haven’t seen Tatum around much,” Holly informs him, “I figured you two had a little spat but this – this is so much worse.” She sighs, “I guess this is what I get for asking.”

“You wanted to know and make it your business. Thus, here we are.” Thomas points out, earning him a glare from her. “Though I am really sorry that it’s been….affecting my work.” He sighs, “I thought I was handling it all too well and now I’m not so sure.”

“So what now? What are you going to do about it?” Holly folds her arms.

“Pardon?”

“You can’t continue in this sorry state of limbo, it’s not you. You’re a self-assured man that doesn’t usually care for such things and the way things are going its going to continue to influence your professionalism,” she waves a hand dismissively. “And it won’t take very long before it’ll drive you insane.” She replies thinly.

“Thanks for your vote of confidence.”

“If you wanted me to coddle you, you’d be talking to Addison.”

Carefully, Thomas regards her with a faint frown. His eyes turn quizzical as he speaks. “What do you think I should do?”

She shrugs. “Hell, if I know. Figure your shit out is the best advice I can give you.”

“That isn’t very helpful.” He comments dryly.

“Well, what am I supposed to say?” Rolling her eyes, Holly shrugs again. “Look, whether you’re still into Priya or Tatum – or no one. It’s just a matter of figuring out why you’re into both of them….” She trails off for a moment, fumbling for an explanation. “What is it that draws you to them? Is it a reflection of yourself?”

He quirks an eyebrow at her.

“And who makes you feel loved. Cherished. Important. Like you matter enough.” She finishes, resting against the comfort of her chair again. “Because if it’s Priya then it’s Priya. But if it’s Tatum…well, I don’t think you’ve ever mentioned in all this but - are you in love with her?”

Thomas hesitates.

He doesn’t know how to answer. As his thoughts drift to her again, he can’t deny the ache in his chest that constantly reminds him of her absence.  He doesn’t know how to compare love when the only other women he’s loved have all ended terribly. He doesn’t want the same with her. He cares deeply for her but – is he in love with her?

“I don’t know,” he answers finally, dropping his expression to the table. “I wish I did but I don’t. Maybe I’m just afraid.”

“Afraid of what Thomas?” She asks softly.

Instead of answering her, Thomas scowls. “You know your question is leaving me with more questions than answers Holly.”

“Well, you asked and it’s not like I’ve got a good track record with relationships. I’m probably the worst person to tell all this to.” She gestures to herself, adjusting the frames of her glasses. “I’m practically married to my screenplays these days.”

Thomas rubs his temples. “Things were much simpler when I only had work to worry about.” Not women. Not his feelings towards anyone else – except for the work on his desk and inside his head even after he left the office.

But where would he be without Tatum? Working with her brought back some of the joy he believed was lost into the art of filmmaking. She made him see things differently, often challenged him in the most breath-taking ways and every memory of her makes him miss her even more.

The thought sobers him quickly.

“Workaholics, unite right?” Holly says with a rueful smile, interrupting his thoughts and placing an end to the silence that has fallen between them.

“Definitely,” he pushes his cup away from himself just as a server approaches their table. “Speaking of which we should probably return to it.” He checks his watch, “I wanted to get a head start on those scenes – especially after what your…words of endearment.”

She snorts derisively at his sarcasm before grabbing her coat. “I like telling things the way it is and I won’t apologize for it.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Good.” She pauses as he gets to his feet. “And Thomas?”

“Yes?”

“All I’m saying is you can’t whine about it if you aren’t doing something to fix it. Yeah Tatum broke things off - but maybe breaking it off is saving you in the long run.” As she notices his features twists with a frown, she continues. “Or maybe it’s not. All I’m saying is - don’t just wait. Save yourself from you. Take charge. That’s my advice.”

A small smile touches his lips. “I think that’s the best advice anyone has ever given me in a long time.”

“Good.” Holly smiles. “Now are you gonna listen, and take my advice?” 

Tucking his fingers inside his blazer, Thomas glances away thoughtfully. “Yes.”

-

Tatum picks up her tiny ocelot to drape insider her lap as she watches Ten Things I Hate About You curled up inside her giant blanket. Beside her are her other favourites Dirty Dancing, The Notebook and several others ready to continue the cycle she’s settled herself in for the past month.

“But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.” She finishes the end of her poem with her, dabbing the corner of her eyes with a klinex before clutching it tightly into her hand. “Julia, I swear you are literally me. Right now.”

“Meow?” Her ocelot tilts her head to the side questioningly to peer up at her.

“You get me too Sapphire.” She pets the top of his head fondly, until he purrs and nuzzles into her open palm. “You’re probably the only one that gets me at the rate we’re going.” She grumbles to herself.

Sapphire merely tilts his head questioningly, his intelligent eyes the colour of his nickname seeming to share concern for her.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.” She murmurs scratching behind his ear. “Although, the fact that I’m talking to a cat…does beg to question my sanity.”

“Meow?”

“Maybe I do need to get out more.”

Tatum can’t think of the last time she’s even seen the sun from the safety of her window. Keeping indoors for the last few weeks; binge-watching her favourites for comfort and reading a new script her agent recently procured for her in preparation of a new role, has left her cut off from the rest of the world. There simply was no reason to leave. At least, that’s what she tells herself.

The sudden ringing on her coffee table makes Sapphire jump. “Ssh, it’s okay.” Tatum murmurs smoothly, brushing the top of his head.

Teja’s name flashes across the screen.

She looks for the remote to quickly pause the movie before placing her phone between her shoulder and cheek while Sapphire paws at her lap for attention.  “Hey.”

“Tate?! Hey, it’s good to hear your voice.”

“It’s good to hear your voice too.”

“I really hope so, considering you haven’t heard it in weeks.” The way she emphasizes weeks makes Tatum feel a prick of guilt.

In her desire for solitude, she’s barely spoken to any of her friends but ignoring them had been apart of how she copes with loss. She doesn’t go for the comfort of a friend, she turns her sight to movies and junk-food when everything else. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that.” She releases a sigh. “I’ve been pretty much off the radar since…Thomas and I broke up.” Saying Thomas after not being able to say it for weeks felt strange.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” There’s a pause on the other line as if Teja wants to say more but Tatum is relieved she doesn’t.

You and me both. She thinks clearing her throat. But she doesn’t want to discuss it – not yet. Not when she still has trouble even saying his name. “So, what’s up?” She changes the subject. “What totally awesome things have I missed out on lately?”

“Not much if you’ve been reading our group chat.” Teja snorts. “Victoria is finally back in L.A. and we wanted to have a night out to celebrate.” A hesitation. “I called hoping to get through to you.”

“Well, here I am.” Tatum answers simply.

“Here you are.” She agrees. Another pause.

Tatum breaks the silence first. “If you wanted to ask if I’m good with hanging out tonight,” she inhales a a breath, letting it out slowly. She can’t hide forever, “well I am. Or I think I am anyway. I’ve been hold up here long enough.”

“That’s great!” Teja squeals so loud on the other line that Tatum winces, briefly tilting away from her phone. “I mean,” Teja lowers her voice, “it’s also totally cool if you wanted to stay home too. We get it.”

Tatum rolls her eyes. “I know you’re only saying that to be nice.”

“Yup, what kind of a friend would I be otherwise?” She jokes. Then just as abruptly her tone grows somber, “but seriously though if you aren’t feeling it –”

“I’ve felt pretty crappy lately,” Tatum’s grip tightens on her phone, “Every time I think about him, I’m angry and hurt and sad all at once. When do I get to just feel like me again y’know?”

“I don’t know Tate. That’s really up to you and how you cope with everything.”

“Yeah, well I’ll admit…watching my favourite romance movies are the only way I’ve ever known.”

“And is it working?”

“Sort of. I still feel kinda crappy.”

“So, come out with us, it’ll take your mind off of everything – at least let us try. You can tell us how much of a jerk he is. We’ll listen.”

She gnaws on her bottom lip, considering her words thoughtfully. The truth is – she wished she could get him out of her mind. Even with all of her favourite movies and junk-food – none of it kept her mind from thinking about Thomas Hunt for long.

“I miss you. We all miss you.”

“I miss you guys too.” She confesses finally, “okay you’ve convinced me. For real this time.” Lowering her gaze to Sapphire, she rubbed between his ears. “And besides, you all are probably a step up from talking to Sapphire all the time – despite how charming he is, he doesn’t say anything back.”

Her cat’s ears perk up at the sound of his name but flattens as Teja and Tatum starts laughing.

“Great, I’m heading by you now.”

“Right now?” Tatum blinks in surprise, squinting at the time on her TV screen. “It’s only ten though.”

“Yes right now! Ladies are free till eleven, so get your ass in gear Tate. I’ll be there soon.”

Chuckling softly, Tatum shakes her head ruefully after saying goodbye to her friend. She scoops Sapphire into her arms and trudges towards her bedroom, feeling lighter with every step. For the first time in weeks, Tatum thinks she finally has something to look forward to.

-

Tags:  @mrswalkerwrites, @nerdpossible, @mysteli, @simplyaiden-blog, @innerpostmentality@craftytacotrashdream, @nathan-sterling, @enmchoices, @everythingchoices, @kamybelen-blog, @mfackenthal, blackwidow2721, @enmchoices, @tmarie82, @confessionsofabrokegirl, choicesfannatalie , @farahelmasriiii , @sunflowergirl-25, @katurrade, crookedslimecreatorpasta, @the-everlasting-dream, @kinkykingliam@meeraaverywalker, @walkerduchess, @hhiggs, @the-choices-fandom, @mistersinclaire,

[choicesmonthlychallenge]

Thank you to everyone who participated. This appreciation week couldn't have happened without all of you. I know I'm not alone when I say I will miss these games. They will always hold a special place in my heart.

🖤 Thanks for the memories HSS and HWU! 🖤

Hollywood U

A Choice [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt *Throwback*

A Night to Remember (drabble + art) [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Amour Date Videos [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

And That's A Wrap Art [HWU crew] submitted by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Being Together (drabble + art) [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Dad Bod [Hunt x F!MC] by @peonyblossom

Earthquake Prank Gone Wrong [Hunt x M!MC] by @gutsfics *Throwback*

Forbidden Romance [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Free (drabble + art) [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Kiss the Cook (drabble + art) [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Love Among The Stars [Hunt x F!OC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt *Throwback*

Love & Scotch: dx: Beards [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt *Throwback*

Moving in Together (drabble + art) [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

My Forever (Hunt's Journal) + art [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

My Weakness (Hunt's Journal) + Art [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Not Goodbye—Hunt Art submitted by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Putty in her Hands [Hunt x F!MC] by @theicestarme

SpreadJoy 593: Harrison Byrd (edit) by @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy595: Ethan Blake (edit) by @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy596: Addison Sinclair (edit) by @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy598: Chris Winters (edit) by @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy599: Lisa Mermaid Valentine (edit) by @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy600: Thomas Hunt (edit) by @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy602: Holly Chang (edit) by @storyofmychoices

Sweet Ice [Hunt x F!MC] by @theicestarme

The Name of the Game [Hunt x M!MC] by @gutsfics

The One I Want (drabble + art) [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Theme Music uploaded by @gutsfics

Thomas Hunt Custom Funko Pop by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Thomas Hunt Custom Funko Pop 2 by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Thomas Hunt Custom Lego by @gutsfics

Trapped (Drabble + Art) [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

What if it's Now? [Hunt x F!MC] by @peonyblossom

Worth the Risk [Hunt x F!MC] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

High School Story

Autumn Brooks Art by @hsslilly-blog

Cheerleading Art [Mia x F!MC] by @hsslilly-blog

First Day Music uploaded by @gutsfics

HSS Outfit art by @hsslilly-blog

HSS Hand Aesthetics art by @hsslilly-blog

Koh x Kallie Art by @hsslilly-blog

Spreadjoy 594: Autumn Brooks (edit) by @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy597: Julian Castillo (edit) by @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy601: Peyton Saunders (edit) by @storyofmychoices

Theme Music uploaded by @gutsfics

Well it happened because of you Art [Autumn x MC] by @hsslilly-blog

[starsstruck]

cloudbusting; part six.

a classic coffee shop story. harry is a painter that quickly becomes a regular at his neighbourhood cafe, and it just might have something to do with a certain barista. midnight confessions, cozy closing shifts, and new lovers. 

pairing: harry x reader warnings: language, mentions of anxiety, sexual content words: 21.3k

series masterlist

art by holly warburton. (i have no vision for the mc of the fic, people in the images of paintings i use are purely because this is how i envision harry’s art to be)

a/n: thank you for everyone’s patience as i wrapped up the series 🥺 the final part is here ! very bittersweet for me, i am both very nervous and excited to share this with everyone ! tina @sunflowers-styles i truly cannot thank you enough for everything you’ve done to help me out ily to the moon ! 💞❤️ as always please share and let me know what you thought ! happy reading to everyone 🍊💞

The last time you spent a long time analyzing paintings was when your mom came to visit you in the city and the two of you went to the MET together.

There were walls and walls of art that you didn’t really know the context to – ranging from the medieval period to the surge of postmodernism – things that you had remembered but didn’t really know what they meant. At the time, your mother had been the one excited to go, but the more hours you spent at the museum, the more you found a liking to the art.

That said, that was the last time you really went to a gallery. That was until this past month.

You didn’t really know how long you had spent inside the small gallery.  

Harry lingered by your side for a bit, telling you that if you had any questions about the art or if you wanted him to stay by your side, he could do just that.

You had told him not to worry about you, luckily just as Aleena came by your side and gave you enough of a reason without telling him to go away.

You didn’t want him to go away, you actually did want to stay by his side. But you felt so incredibly guilty and overwhelmed that you knew that you would babble all of this in one breath if you were to stay by his side.

So instead, you stayed at a safe little distance. Walking around the space of the gallery, taking in every small detail of his work. There were sunrises and coffee cups, brushes of fingertips and shut eyelids – everything was so intricate and so beautifully planned that if you weren’t in a room full of people you would probably cry.

You always seemed to be not that far from Harry, once and a while catching his eye from across the room. Time seemed to have flown by, and as the night slowed down and people filtered out, you soon started to realize just how late it had gotten.

Harry had told you after, after what? You felt almost silly, waiting around. You didn’t even know what you were really waiting for.

“My husband is coming to pick me up,” Aleena squeezed your arm from where she stood next to you. “Did you want a ride as well?”

She watched from next to you, as your lips were bit together with nerves that never really seemed to leave your system. After thinking over her offer for a second, you smiled at her. “I’ll be okay, thank you though.”

“Okay,” she returned that warm smile she always had, offering you some ease. “Let me know when you get home, yeah?”

Just as you were nodding and promising that you would get home okay, you saw Harry with his eyes focused on you and a quick pace in his step as he walked towards you.

Nerves bubbled over inside of you, grateful that Aleena hadn’t left just quite yet as he turned to talk to her. “Have you had a good evening?”

Aleena’s eyes drifted over to you, where you stood more or less frozen with your hands woven together, trying to not think too much about how intoxicating it was to be standing close to Harry once more.

“I have – thank you for inviting us,” she shot you another look before turning back to Harry. “Everything looks great.”

Harry nodded with a smile playing on his lips, a little humble nod of his head as he accepted the compliment. He seemed to be about to say something else, when Aleena’s hand gripped your arm once more as she glanced down at her phone. “Oh! My husband is here – I’ve got to head out.”

She pulled you in for a little side hug, waving goodbye. Once again reminded you to let her know when you got home safe and her eyes flicking between you and Harry as she spoke wordless things to you.

As she walked away with her coat hugged around her frame, a small moment of silence passed between you and the honoured artist of the evening before you even dared to look at him again.

“Did you have a chance to look through everything?” Harry directed all of his attention to you once you did look at him. You laced your fingers together nervously and played with the ring on your pinky. The both of you knew that you had seen everything twice, but he needed to say something.

Nodding, you cleared your throat. “I did.”

“And?” He had his own hands fidgeting with each other behind his back as he watched you.

“I love it. All of it.” You offered him a smile. You saw a light pink tint his cheeks, eyes flicking away from yours for a moment.

“Did you have any questions, or…?”

You paused at his question, looking around the emptying room. “I mean just,” you met his gaze once more. “How?” The word was a breath of air past your lips, as you were still so completely incredulous as how he had done all of this. “How – how did you do all this?”

One side of his lip curved higher in a smile, dimple popping as he watched you sheepishly. “Spent a lot of time at the café, sunshine.”

Your heart sped up at the use of the little pet name he had graced you with. “We need to talk. I – I want to talk to you about everything.”

The words were blurted from your mouth, drawing his attention to focus solely on you as his chest visibly expanded with a deep breath. “Yeah, we do.”

“Okay,” you nodded your head, voice dropping. “Good. I – I wasn’t fair to you Harry.”

He was quiet for a moment, nearly a moment too long but he looked at you with that little half smile and gave you a little hum, before nodding his head at painting to your right. “Which was your favourite?”

You were a bit caught off guard from the way he changed to conversation, but you felt yourself melt a bit closer to him. He took a step towards you to stand next to you, both looking at the paintings in your vicinity.

“All of them,” you said quietly, a truthful answer to his questions. “All of them are my favourite.”

You felt his gaze on the side of your face, meeting his eyes when you looked back at him. His lips were drawn into the biggest smile you’d seen from him all night, a breathless laugh emerging from you at the sight of it. “Not too good at making decisions, are you?”

“Not usually,” you hummed, all the ‘I don’t know’s’ that you’ve spoken coming to mind.

“That’s okay,” he murmured quietly, eyes catching with someone as they waved goodbye to him from across the gallery before he looked back at you. “Can I show you my favourites?”

You smiled. “I thought you said that this one –” you pointed to the smaller frame you had both worked on, “– was your favourite.”

“Mhm it is,” he hummed. “But there are just too many of them that I love.”

A small laugh sounded from you, nodding before he motioned for you to follow him. “I really like this one,” he angled his head to a canvas filled with warm tones, brushing of fingers and peels of mandarin oranges littering the surface.

“I started eating so much more citrus fruit after I met you – is that weird to say?” Harry laughed, a bit nervously in your opinion, as you joined his light humour at the confession.

“I don’t think that’s weird,” you told him, observing the painting again.

“Good,” he mumbled, only briefly stopping with you before he started to move across the gallery once more to another painting.

“This was one of the first one’s I made,” he explained, stopping in front of a large work. There were only unmarked figures and bright spots of colour over the frame, warm toned browns and oranges overpowering the entire thing. As you looked closer, you saw the majority of these unknown people were interacting with each other: small shows of affection of held hands and arms over shoulders.

“It was after sitting in your coffee shop for so long the first time. I knew I felt warm, and comfortable there – just didn’t fully realize why yet. Went home that day and started this one.”

You had no idea what to say. He had started these the first time he had gotten coffee at your work? You wanted to wrap yourself in the canvas and live in the peaceful world he had created within the frame.

“I love the way you paint the café, makes me want to live there.”

“Me too,” he laughed, his arm nudging yours lightly to keep guiding you along. It was the first real touch he’d given you all night.

“This was the first time I painted you,” he stopped in front of a medium sized canvas, splashes of blue mixed into his usual warm tones as a seemingly far way figure was mostly turned away from the viewer.

Although there were no distinct features, there was a certain likeness to yourself that you had no idea how Harry had managed to capture. You looked as if you were almost floating above, other figures around you not as detailed or pronounced.

“I didn’t realize…” you spoke, more so to yourself as you leaned in closer towards the thick canvas.

“Me neither,” Harry admitted. “I didn’t realize it was you that I was painting at first. I finished it the day after we kissed.”

He turned back to face you. “I could talk about these,” he motioned to the room around, “all of these, forever. Just want to show you some of my process – how this all came to be.”

“I know I’ve said this already but it is so breathtaking,” you spoke truthfully.

Harry smiled dreamily at you, a small flush of pink on his neck as he nodded at the compliment. “And I know I’ve already said this, but it’s all you.”

Your breath stopped momentarily in your throat, as Harry was looking at you like you were the only person he ever wanted to see.

Though something pulled his attention away for a moment, and he was soon clearing his throat and glancing around the room before he spoke again. “We should be getting out of here soon – it’s just past eleven o’clock.”

Was it? You had no perception of time since you’d step foot inside the room.

“Do you think, um,” your lips were tight between your teeth. “That we could go somewhere, walk around…”

“I’d love that,” Harry responded nearly immediately, the nerves in your stomach settling just the slightest bit.

He needed to grab something from a room in the back before you left, and he was soon by your side with his familiar bag slung over his shoulder as he guided you out the door.

You didn’t know where you were walking really – if there was somewhere he had in mind or if you were mindlessly wandering. You didn’t care that much though, you trusted him, you knew that much.

There was a cold bite in the air, enough to make you shiver as the wind picked up the slightest bit. You were hugging your arms to your chest, feeling almost weird walking with the distance that was between you and Harry.

There were a good five minutes in complete silence, before you couldn’t bear the quiet anymore. You slowed down slightly to catch a quick glance at him, taking a breath.

“I’m so sorry, Harry. You don’t deserve this. I owe you an explanation.”

“What happened?” He asked quietly, your name low in his mouth. “I thought that we were…” he trailed off, letting you finish whatever thought he had.

You sighed, having planned so many things to say to him but at the moment it all left your head. “I got scared. I um, got insecure,” you laughed nervously. “It’s dumb, really.”

“It’s not,” he shook his head. “Your feelings aren’t dumb.”

You had both stopped walking by this point, stopping by a little park near the water and finding an only slightly damp bench to sit on. You kept your eyes focused on the ground, before braving a glance at him and bearing your heart.

“I really started feeling something for you – more than I thought I could in such a short time. It’s kind of… terrifying to me and unknown and just. I found any thread to pull at to let everything fall apart.”

He was quiet, watching you intently with the little furrow between his brow as he listened. “I get … anxious over every fucking thing.” You spoke in a long breath, blinking quickly. “And I let myself – I get in my own way all the time. Overthinking, finding any small reason to pull back, pushing you away when I really didn’t want that.”

“I feel so lost, most of the time,” you kept speaking. “And you’re like, this big ball of light that came into my life and I didn’t… didn’t feel like I deserved it.”

“It’s okay to not know what you want.” Harry said softly, only briefly cutting in.

“Still,” you exhaled. “It doesn’t excuse the way I was so shitty to you, and,” you took another breath. “I didn’t mean what I said last time.”

“I um, I realized that I really like you. And I don’t feel like that very often – there’s a reason that I haven’t ever really been in a long-term serious relationship – I scared myself into thinking that you maybe didn’t feel the same…”

Harry was still quiet from next to you, and you dared to cast him a glance after your confession. He had a smile building on his lips, one that you weren’t expecting to see. “You were worried I didn’t feel the same?”

“Well…”

“Ate you out on the floor of my studio – don’t just do that with anyone.” He spoke softly. You felt yourself warm at the way he spoke, eyes briefly tracing the pattern of leaves splattered across the ground. “Spent all my free time in your café, all my free time just bugging you while you were working. Painted an entire show just about you –”

He cut himself off, taking a breath as he quietly murmured your name, getting you to meet his eyes again. “Haven’t been able to get you out of my head since the moment I met you.”

Harry fell quiet for a moment again. “I forgive you – and I hope that you can talk to me about everything. Anything that makes you anxious, any reason you doubt yourself – I’m here for you.”

Your heart grew ten times in your chest. “I don’t deserve you…”

“You really need to stop doubting yourself,” his tone was light, eyebrows raised as he watched you with a smile pulling at his lips. “You deserve everything.”

“Harry –” you inhale deeply, insides feeling warm and fuzzy at his confessions. “Thank you. For everything. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

Again, he fell quiet with his eyes flicking around the two of you before he leant back on the bench a slightest bit. “You never answered my question, you know.”

“What question?” Your confusion was clear on your face.

“From that night – after we painted,” he paused, watching your brows fall closer together in your confusion. “I asked if you thought things happened for a reason.”

“Oh,” you said quietly, the memory of the question barely there. “Why’d you ask?”

“I like to think that things happen for a reason,” he mused, not really answering your question either. “Not that we’re all born with a written path, but that you stumble upon people and opportunities based off of the decisions you make.”

“What do you mean?”

“Can’t really put it into words,” Harry mumbled, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s like because of the decisions you make, it kind of … guides you in a certain way.”

You thought over his words, slowly nodding. You agreed that you didn’t think everything happened for a reason, with a planned path for everyone. Though you had never really thought about it in the way that Harry had just described it, and you found yourself agreeing with him.

He kept speaking in your silence. “Like, you don’t have a planned path for you but maybe just a small one. One that changes at every decision and turn in your life.”

“I like that,” you quietly spoke, bottom lip between your teeth.

“Like…” his hesitation made you look up at him. His expression was light, small crinkle in his eyes that held a smile, while he rubbed his thumb over his bottom lip.

“Like how I walked into your coffee shop because I like the colour tangerine, and then I met you.”

His words made your heart leap in your chest. Any thought left your head, the only thing coming out of your mouth was a breathy puff of air.

“I remember thinking,” he kept speaking, confessions tumbling from his lips. “That it was a bit of a silly name ‘Tangerine Coffee’, made me curious. But… it brought me to you.”

You didn’t know how to properly respond, no one ever telling you anything of the sorts that made you feel the way you did – that made you feel like you could give yourself completely to this person without a doubt in your mind. You wanted to wrap your arms around him and kiss him senseless, until you were both gasping for air.

“That’s,” you cut yourself off, starting over again. “Harry –”

“Listen,” he rushed. “I like you, so much so if I haven’t made that obvious yet. I want you, in any way you’d have me.”

Your legs felt like they melted into puddles, taking a breath before telling him. “I want you too – I never wanted you to go anywhere.”

His expression softened, and you saw his hands lace together with his fingertips fidgeting with each other as if he wanted to reach out to you but was restraining himself. “I hope that I make you good, I don’t want you to feel afraid – about anything.”

His words sat heavy in your head. You once again found yourself with so much you wanted to say to him and return his affections but didn’t find the words to say them.

“Do you think we were meant to meet?” You said instead, voice slow as you tried not to let your breath stop in your chest.

“I don’t know,” he spoke honestly. “But I know that now that I have, I can’t imagine my life without you.”

His words warmed your heart. “Me neither.”

Now that you had started, you couldn’t stop. “Harry I can’t apologize enough for how I panicked like I did. With past relationships, they’ve never really gone anywhere – I never really felt anything. Nothing past initial interest or attraction. And then with you… I didn’t realize what I was feeling and then when I did, I let it fall apart.”

A burst of wind passed through you again, and as you hugged your arms around your chest tighter, Harry’s shoulder pressed against yours.

“I’ve only really been in one serious relationship,” Harry started. “When I was twenty-one. Lasted for a couple years, but the longer it went on the more I realized it was more so just… easy to stay together. I had just left school, and wanted to move out here. She didn’t – it didn’t end really well.”

“I moved out here, started over. Felt like nothing was really going to ever work out, but slowly it does. It’s odd – when you’re in your mid-twenties you feel like you need to figure out how you’re going to spend the rest of your life – as if you don’t have your entire life. Looking back, I was much more hurt, and lost, than I realized. I thought… that I wouldn’t feel that strongly for anyone again. But I’ve realized that that can easily change…”

His words calmed you. You held your tongue for a second, before asking. “What about Rory?”

Harry laughed. “Why do you ask?”

You were nearly embarrassed about the confession. “I don’t know. I was… jealous of someone who gets to know you like that.”

“You’ve got nothing to be jealous about, sunshine.” He said, tone light. “We were just friends who dated and it didn’t work out. I’ve seen her, I don’t know, three times in the past year.”

“Oh…” you softly said.

“When I say that things can quickly change, I mean how quickly I started to like you. What I’m trying to say is that… it’s okay if it takes you a few tries.”

He made butterflies erupt in your stomach as you told him. “I also thought I could never, um, like someone as much as I have.”

He turned his head so that his gaze never lifted from yours. “Can’t get enough of hearing you say that.”

You held his gaze, watching the quirk in his lips as he brought a hand up to your cheek. You hadn’t realized the way you had missed his touch, until the few quick brushes that night. Feeling his bare skin against yours again just felt right.

Turning your face slightly while you moved closer towards him, you quickly glanced at his pretty pink lips. You didn’t really know why you felt nervous about kissing him again, but after telling yourself a quick fuck it, you leant forward until your mouth pressed over his. 

His hand easily slid from your cheek to wrap around the back of your neck, drawing you in closer as his lips easily accepted your kiss. You felt yourself both calm down and erupt in excitement as you kissed again.

Although, the moment found itself short-lived.

The first drops of rain always seemed anticipated. First a wet spot on the cement, and then a drop hit your nose.

The third drop to hit you is when you start to realize that you are outside without a cover, without an umbrella.

“Fuck,” Harry muttered, head titled up as he glanced at the drops falling from the sky. His hand retreated from you, disappearing into his big ivory tote bag and pulling out a folded black umbrella. “Don’t have an umbrella, do you?”

“No,” you brought a hand to cover your head, a makeshift cover for yourself as the rain picked up. You couldn’t help but laugh slightly, at the interruption of your moment.

“Here,” he unfolded the barrier against the rain, lifting it up over both of your heads. Extending his bent arm that was holding the handle out to you, silently inviting you to loop you own arm in with his.

Accepting the invitation, taking a step closer to him as your side pressed against his. Your arms tightly woven together, he tugged on your arm lightly as he glanced at you under the umbrella.

“I really don’t want to call it a night…”

“Did you want to,” he continued, pausing as he bit his smile down. “Come back to mine? To keep talking,” he quickly added. “We can have some tea if you’d like, warm you up.”

You laughed lightly, nudging him with your hip. You felt a rush of tingles down your spine, a rush of excitement rather than a rush of anxiety. “I’d like that.”

There was something so cheesy about walking arm in arm under the umbrella with someone in the rain, with someone who liked you and you liked just as much. Something so cheesy, something that would happen to Bridget Jones, something so small that you were so overjoyed about having that you squeezed his arm just a bit tighter.

You had no idea what time it was, and you didn’t care. Getting on the train together, watching Harry under the harsh fluorescents as he sat next to you with his thigh pressed against yours.

He was glancing at you from the corner of his eye, a light smile seemingly permanently etched across his lips as he watched you yawn. “Tired?”

“Not really,” you said truthfully. “Well maybe a bit, but not tired tired. Just relaxed.”

He let out a sigh, smiling with you. “Me too.”

The journey wasn’t very long. Sharing the umbrella once more as you walked side by side to his place, feet splashing in the growing puddles that lined the sidewalk.  Part of you always loved the city at night when it rained – everything was still so bright as the lights reflected off the wet road.

It wasn’t long until you were walking up to the familiar building, letting Harry lead you up the stairs and into the warmth. His place was just as you remembered, seemingly cozier at night with the warm dim lighting coming from his lamps. You followed him inside, kicking off your shoes and heading to the kitchen with him.

Eyes darting around his place to take in the place as you’d only really seen half the place last time while Harry walked to his kitchen, part of you eagerness to have a look around also due to the little cat that you hadn’t gotten out of your head.

“Oh!” Exclaiming maybe a bit too loudly in the otherwise quiet studio, at the sight of the little calico that was lightly running towards the two of you. “Where have you been hiding?”

Bending down to trace your fingertips over her back, reveling in the way she rubbed her head over your leg. “You’re just a little baby,” you cooed, ecstatic when she let you pick her up. Holding her small frame against your chest, watching her enjoy the way you dragged your nails behind her ears.

“Not so much a baby anymore – she’s nearly ten,” Harry chuckled near you, grabbing his electric kettle and bringing it over to the sink to fill with water.

“Really?” You directed your question to Harry, not his cat. “She’s so small, I thought she was a kitten.”

He smiled. “She’s just little. Actually is a bit of an old lady.”

“No,” you looked back down at the little calico. “You’re young at heart, aren’t you?”

Harry laughed at your conversation with his cat, turning on the kettle and pulling out two mugs from the cupboard. “When’s her birthday?” You continued with your questioning, lightly placing her back down on the ground when she started to squirm.

“Not too sure,” he hummed, leaning back against the counter to face you. “She was a stray – there are ways you can test all that but why go through the trouble, you know? Fairly certain of her age and I like to think her birthday is in the fall.”

“I get that,” you agreed. “How long have you had her for?”

“About three years now,” he said, as the kettle got louder. “She’s fairly independent, likes to do her own thing but also loves attention.”

“Have you ever painted her?”

Harry laughed, shaking his head. “I’ve tried a few times, yeah. Could never quite capture her though, I don’t know. I��m bound to try again soon, though.”

“Would love to see that,” you hummed. The click of the electric kettle letting you know it was done, and Harry turned to riffle through another cupboard.

You watched him pull out two little tea bags, placing them in the mugs and twisting the strings around the handle of the mugs. You smiled to yourself, noticing he did the same thing you did when you made tea at work. 

He handed you one of the mugs, leading you over to the flower-patterned couch he had on the adjacent living room. You held the mugs between both hands, the hot ceramic instantly warming you.

Easily falling back into conversation with him, talking until the tea grew cold and forgotten by the edge of the coffee table. 

“Your coworker, I realize I don’t know her name – the one you brought to the show with you tonight.” Harry asked, after he told about the various times he had come into your work a few months ago but you were not there. 

“Aleena,” you told him, smile on your lips.

“Yes, Aleena. She would always bring you up when I came in and you weren’t there. Somehow – she always talked about you with me.” 

Small groan leaving your mouth, recalling the various conversations you’d had with her about Harry. “That sounds like her,” you warmed under his light stare. “I did talk about you with her…” 

He shuffled on the couch, eyebrows raised with a silly little grin on his lips. “You did?”

“Well….yeah I did. Talked about you a lot too – even with my brother out of all people and I never tell him anything.” 

“You did?” He pressed, moving a bit closer to you as his hand nudged over your forearm. You glanced away from him, shaking your head with a smile. “Didn’t realize you had it that bad for me.” 

“Shut up,” you tried to push him away, not doing a good job of it and not really caring all that much. 

“Only teasing,” he hummed happily. “Like getting you flustered.” 

You looked back towards him, trying your best to bite away the smile growing at your lips as he did often in fact, make you flustered. 

“Are you not very close with your brother?” He asked after a moment, voice soft once more. 

You shrugged. “I don’t know. We’re just … very different people I guess. I feel bad sometimes, that we’re not really close, but I don’t think we have a bad relationship or anything.” 

“That’s okay,” he said, hand on your forearm now tracing light patterns over your exposed skin, with the sleeve of your sweater pushed up. 

“We’ve tried a bit harder in the past couple of years, especially since my parents split. We both saw how it affected them.” 

“Affected how?” 

“Well like my mom specifically just… seemed so heartbroken for a long time. Even if she wanted the divorce just as much. It’s hard, seeing a parent like that.” 

He nodded, eyes focused on the movement of his fingers of your arm. The little calico cat had made its way onto the couch as well, demanding your attention for a moment as she tentatively placed a paw over your bent knee. 

“The period of grief,” Harry started after a moment, pulling your attention away from the cat that was resting by your leg. “Any kind of grief – it’s hard but it’s important, you know?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Well like – it shapes you. Like I wouldn’t want to go back to the person I was before. It’s good to let yourself look back, it helps you move forward. But you should be focused on only moving forward, if that makes sense.” 

You didn’t like the idea of Harry having been in pain. 

“Yeah that makes sense,” you nodded after a moment.

He continued. “I think I do that – when things aren’t going well I think back to a time that was better in the past, even if it wasn’t really that much better.” 

“I hope you feel happy now.” 

He glanced back at you, meeting your eyes. “How could I not?” 

A moment passed. A moment where if there wasn’t a cat sitting between you, you were sure that you would topple over him and make sure to never leave him. And with the way he was looking at you, you were certain he was thinking the same thing. 

“I don’t mean –” he paused, fingertips still dancing over your forearm. “Did you want to stay the night? It’s late and raining, and well, you can if you’d like.”

You thought it over for barely a second, every fibre in your body jumping at the suggestion. He was right that it was late, it was likely past midnight. It’s not that you lived that far off, but it would be a small pain to have to walk home in the downpour.

And plus, you very much liked the possibility of ending up cozied up with Harry under the warm covers.

With a short nod and the inside of your lip between your teeth, you glanced at him. “If it’s not too much trouble…”

He nearly sprang off the couch. Holding out a hand to you, you let your palm fall against his as you stood to your feet. He brought you around the corner, to where his bed sat in the back of the studio. Just like the rest of his place, it was warm and inviting.

A dark brown dresser next to a closet had some clothes sitting on top of it, that he quickly grabbed and put them back in their place inside one of the drawers. The tones all around you were deep browns and oranges making you feel cozier just by being in the secluded space. You were busy looking around, at the little images he had on the walls and over the pictures you assumed were of his friends and family.

“Did you need something to change into?” His voice brought your attention back to him, where he was still standing by the dresser and digging through one of the drawers. You glanced down at your sweater covered dress.

“Yes please,” you smiled. “Anything is fine, a shirt or maybe a hoodie? I get cold easily...” you trailed off lightly, eyes meeting his and his expression was the cause for your loss of words.

You didn’t really know why, but he just looked so soft and pretty and so happy to have you with him it was leaving you for a slight loss of words.

He nodded, turning away from you again as he looked for something for you.

“Is this good?” After a second, he passed you a light gray sweatshirt, the fabric soft under your fingertips.

“Should be,” you spoke softly, unfolding the material. You placed it on the edge of the mattress beside you, eyes meeting his for one more brief second before turning away from him completely so that your back faced him.

As if some sense of privacy since you weren’t facing him, although you knew that wasn’t the case as you could feel the burn of his gaze on your back. Biting away a smile even though he couldn’t see the little smirk dancing on your lips, you tugged off your heavy sweater and let it drop next to the sweatshirt on the bed.

Next was the dress, fingers pulling at the zipper until the material was loose enough to fall off your form. Leaving you in nothing but your navy-blue underwear that left not much of your bum covered, you could feel the hot stare Harry had on your bare back as he remained quiet behind you.  

Grabbing the sweatshirt from the bed, pulling the thick fabric over your head in a quick motion and settled it around you until your arms were through the sleeves and the bottom hem covered just enough. It smelled like him, it wrapped around you so nicely you didn’t think you’d want to take it off.

Turning around, you lifted your eyes until they landed on Harry’s face. His gaze shot up to yours, before dropping down once again as he made no move to hide the way he took in your appearance in his baggy sweatshirt.

“Right,” he coughed. If you squinted, you could make out the little red tint on his neck, even in the dim light. “I think I have a spare toothbrush somewhere.”

He led you to the small washroom, walking through the open door and bent down to search in the cupboard that sat under the sink while you watched from the doorframe.

With a small ‘aha’ muttered past his lips, he rose to stand in front of you with a green toothbrush in its cardboard and plastic packaging. He wordlessly opened it for you, tearing the cardboard from the back until the brush was free and ready for you to use.

“Did you need anything else?” He murmured, shifting forward so that he was practically pressed against you in the doorway of the washroom.

Wordlessly shaking your head, your gaze locked with his until he stepped past you so that you could further enter the room and shut the door.

You easily found his toothpaste next to his brush that sat in a little ceramic cup on the counter. After brushing your teeth, you casually searched through his drawers, picking up miscellaneous objects and placing them back in their spots until you found a little pot of moisturizer.

Washing your face and patting small dots of the cream just around your eyes, you glanced over the rest of his possessions in the washroom with a little casual snoop.

The countertop had a few items spread across the surface; a cologne that you brought under your nose, some hair styling product, a little bottle of light purple nail polish, and a little dish that had a couple rings sitting in it.

Realizing you were probably taking a bit too long, you shot one last glance in the mirror before heading out from the bathroom.

You found Harry picking up some stray clothes from on top of his dresser and folding them back into the drawers. He turned around at the sound of your footsteps on the floor, lips turning into a smile as you neared him.

“Good?” He checked, as your fingertips wove nervously together.

“Yes,” grinning back at him, “thank you.”

His turn in the washroom, you didn’t know what to do while you waited. Obviously sliding into bed was the answer, but for whatever reason you felt it best to wait for him to come back. Instead, you walked around the space near his bed, looking at various things he had on the walls and resting on his shelves.

Head tilting to read the titles of the books sitting on his shelf, finding primarily books on artists – some you had heard of but most you hadn’t. Fingertips skimming over the spines of the books, plucking a thin one with a title you were fairly sure was in French. Delicately flipping through the pages, pages of small bits of texts surrounded with little black and white drawings. Everything was in the foreign language to you, though you stopped on a page when you caught the little scribble of English words on the page.

“…they go even farther perhaps, towards the unknown, into the light and joy.”

You didn’t know what to make of it, not having the context of what the rest of the words were saying but you simply enjoyed this phrase paired with the sketches of a couple and dark waters.

“What ya’ looking at?” His voice behind you caught you a bit off guard, feeling as if you had been caught doing something you weren’t supposed to do.

Turning around, you held up the book still in your hands. “Sorry,” you weren’t sure why you were apologizing. “Was just looking at your books.”

Harry walked over to where you were standing, taking a look at the book that you held. “It’s nice, no?” He hummed, taking hold of the book when you extended it out to him. “It was a gift – feels a bit lost on me though since I haven’t had the time to flip through and translate everything. I do really like these artists though.”

“Who wrote it?”

“An artist from the twentieth century – or actually parts of it were written with their partner too. It’s essentially all about the story of their love. I’ve looked up translations for a few things here and there, this one here,” he pointed to the page you’d opened it on. “I really like it.”

You nodded with a small hum, squinting to re read the words on the page once more.

“It’s just – beautiful, y’know? Going into the unknown, with the one you love.”

Still staring at the book in his hands thinking that he was going to speak again, you looked up at him when a silence fell through the room. He was already looking at you, standing closer than you’d previously realized. He had his bottom lip between his teeth, eyes clear as they seemed to scan your every thought.

Something about standing in a warm cozy room while the rain poured outside, reading stories of love with a man who had recently declared his affections for you. Something about it that made a warmth spread through your chest, and a peace that you had never felt settle over you.

“Did you want to go to bed?” The question was quiet, Harry’s voice subtly cracking is if he hadn’t used it in a while.

You were on the verge of making a joke about him being presumptuous, but you were glad that you held it in as a part of you revelled in the way that a thick layer of anticipation seemed to settle in the air around the two of you.

“Yeah, I do,” was all you said instead.

Harry moved first, placing the book back on the shelf where you’d found it, and made his way over to the bed that sat on the other side of the room. You had only just noticed that he’d changed since you last saw him, long legs nearly bare as his bottom half was only covered by a pair of briefs and a teeshirt over his chest.

With his back turned to you as he turned off the large lamp on the other side of the room, the only source of light now coming from the dim lamp on the bedside table. You couldn’t help the way your eyes dropped to his backside, black fabric hugging over the curve of his ass – impossibly attracted to the man before you.

Eyes falling to a newly exposed tattoo to you as he turned around, not missing the slight bulge in his front before your eyes darted back up to meet his gaze. He had obviously caught you staring, a smirk on his lips that he was doing a terrible job of hiding.

He wordlessly walked over to the edge of his bed, pulling up the covers before sliding his legs over the mattress and settling in underneath the duvet. He looked at you expectantly, patting the spot next to him with his palm smoothing over the pillow.

Silently following his motions, lifting bare legs over the mattress to fall in opposite of him. One of your legs hit his under the heavy blanket; neither of you moved. You were on your side, daring to face him as he peered down at you.

You weren’t close together, but you weren’t that far away either. If you reached out you could easily brush your hand across his cheek, and he could lift his arm around you to pull you in closer. A thick beat of silence passed, gaze only breaking with the occasional blink of an eyelid.

You took a step into unknown waters. “I’ve never felt so comfortable anywhere or… with anyone. So, thank you.”

His lips curved in a dreamy smile. “Why’re you thanking me?”

“Just,” you bit your lips together, voice quieter than the pouring rain. “For making me feel that way.”

“’Course,” the word was so quiet, deep from his chest. “I intend to make you feel all kinds of good things.”

A breathy laugh at his words, paired with a little shake of your head. Though you felt the eruption of butterflies through your stomach, they weren’t nerves and rather were warming your body and making you feel even better than before.

“I’m serious!” He urged at your reaction to the slight innuendo. Lifting himself so that his elbow was tucked under to hold himself up to hover closer to you, leaning forward to press a loud kiss to the side of your forehead.

Turning your head at the action, faces mere inches apart. Letting your eyes dance over the line of his nose, to the dip of his cupid’s bow, until they were tracing the soft curves of his lips.

“You make me feel the same, for the record,” his voice had dropped to a whisper, as you watched his mouth form the words.

Momentarily realizing that you had only gotten one quick taste of his lips that night, that it had been weeks since you’d properly kissed him, you were overcome with the strong urge to kiss him until neither of you could breathe.

Your hand moved on its own accord, reaching across the miniscule space between you until your upper body was somewhat twisting so that you could thread your fingers through Harry’s hair. A light touch against him, curls slipping between your fingers as you saw him lean into your hand.

He seemed to be thinking the same thing as you, as his hand raised to hold a light grip of your forearm and pulled himself closer to you. Leaning down until his nose brushed over your cheek, you let your eyes shut while your mouth parted open.

You raised your head off the pillow, lips puckering and landing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. The hand in his hair was pulling him closer to you as he captured your mouth with his. A feather light touch of smooth lips on top of yours, his hand on your arm sliding until it slipped down to rest over your hip. He was pulling you up with a light pressure to draw you in closer, until you were fully resting on your side as well.

“Sunshine,” Harry called against your lips, a quiet hum in his voice. His forehead rested against yours, while you folded your legs towards him to rest more comfortably as you laid propped up on your side.

Then he kissed you, making you forget any fear you’d ever had. His lips moved with yours, not so much with hunger but with desire, wanting nothing more than to feel as close to you as possible. You felt him lick over your lips, easily complying to him as your tongues met with hot need.

His hands were quickly on you, one trailing over your cheek to hold you firmly over your jaw while the other landed against your middle to tug you over towards him. Mouths parting with a hot breath, barely a second apart before they were pressing messily against one another again.

He was pulling quiet gasps from the back of your throat, swallowing every noise you made against him to hold them to memory. Your hand in his hair scratched along his scalp, freely pulling at the soft strands and repeating the action when you felt his chest vibrate with a muted moan.

While your swollen lips pressed hotly together, you felt his hand slide over your hip, resting heavy there for a second with fingertips treading lightly as if considering whether or not to venture lower. Apparently deciding a yes when you whimpered over his lips, his palm smoothed over the curve of your bum and gripped tightly into the skin, the action causing your lower half to push further against him with need.

Tense air of desire surrounded the two of you, actions growing heated while your breathing grew heavier. His hand couldn’t stay in one place, pinching your skin between his fingers as it moved down to your bare thigh. He hooked it in the fold of your knee and pulled your leg up over his own so that you were partially over top of him.

You let out a whine at the feeling of his touch on you, his hand resting where it was for a moment before trailing up north once more. He pushed his palm against the curve of your ass, your hips rubbing onto his thigh in a small motion.

Your leg over him was tightening around his hips as if holding him in place, while his fingertips played with the edge of your underwear and snapped the band over your hip before they were digging into your skin again.

Your mouths parted for a moment, your tongue tenderly licking over his lips as he raised his head towards you to search for more. A soft moan was heard from the back of his throat when your lips fell from his mouth and moved down his jaw, starting a series of feather light touches before your teeth nipped the skin under his earlobe.

His hand smoothed over the top of your hip, edging up under your sweatshirt and over the small of your back. He was gripping you tighter as you kissed down his neck, licking over the sensitive skin. You felt his stomach clench under you, a whimper of your name past his lips when your nails dug into his scalp.

“God, you’re unreal,” Harry panted from above you. “Make me feel – like never before –”

He cut himself off with a groan, while you moved one of your hands along his chest to venture lower and lower with your nails scratching over the fabric of his shirt. You were kissing up the column of his neck, edging the fabric of his shirt up until your fingers met his bare skin.

His lips slid along your temple, own hand leaving from under your sweatshirt and taking a light grasp of your hand just as your fingers edged around his hips and closer to the elastic of his briefs.

“I…” he paused, stopping your hand while you looked up at him in his hesitation. “Fuck I’m sorry – I can’t now, if that’s okay,” he groaned low against you. You saw him squeeze his eye shut, blinking a few times before meeting your eyes.

“I want you,” his voice was raw, and he pushed his hips against yours to accentuate his point as you felt his hardening length through his clothes. “You have no idea how badly I want you. It’s just – been such a long day – I wanna be able to give you everything you need.”

His words sent a rush down your spine, eliciting a little unintentional whine from your throat as you rested your chin on his shoulder and watched him speak. “And ‘m worried I can’t right now –”

A yawn interrupted him and stretched out his jaw, as if his words brought the display of tiredness along.

“Fuck,” he laughed through the yawn. You pushed yourself up a bit, face hovering close to his with a smile pulling at the corner of your lips. “See? I don’t want to fall asleep on you.”

You kissed his jaw, with a quiet whisper. “It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry,” he repeated, watching you shake with a little laugh. “I… I’ve never wanted anyone more,” he whispered hotly against you. “I just…”

“No need to be sorry,” you murmured, capturing his mouth as your teeth grabbed his bottom lip and your hand cupped the side of his face. When you pulled away from his mouth, you nearly missed the small breath of a whine that was sound from the back of his throat.

Brushing your thumb over his cheekbone, you moved your head just far enough away so that his features weren’t blurry to you anymore, while you kept your eyes locked with his. “And I really want you too.”

The weight of his hand left your waist, skin feeling cold without it but instead he wrapped it around the back of your neck, pulling you back in. His fingertips scratched lightly over your scalp, a soft contrast to the way his lips so greedily caught yours.

“You have me,” he whispered, teeth clashing when he spoke. “All of me.”

A whimper echoed past your lips at his words; at the feeling of his mouth on yours, and the way his legs tangled between your own. Mouths slowing against each other, a nearly lazy kiss while you both tried to catch your breaths once more.

You took a breath, wanting to give him as much as he was giving you but not finding the words.

“We can… we can just kiss, yeah? I don’t want to stop.” You mumbled against his mouth while his hand smoothed over your cheek.

“Yes,” he moaned into your mouth. “Just want to hold you close, and…” he never finished his sentence, true to his word and held you close against him and kissed you deeply.

Continuing like that for you didn’t know how long, quiet moans and heavy breaths being the only sounds in the room, hands still gripping each other tightly.

After a while, you felt a small bit of exhaust yourself. The light movements of Harry’s hand running over your arm and up to your neck were starting to calm you down in a way that had your eyelids growing heavy.

Lips slowing over his, you planted lazy kisses over the corner of his mouth and over his chin, while he cupped your jaw to gaze down at you. Eventually, your lips brushed over the column of his neck until you rested your head over his shoulder with a content hum.

Both with swollen lips and heavy eyes, you lay quietly together as sleep slowly took over. His hand kept moving in soothing motions from the curve of your shoulder to the bottom of your scalp, the slow and gentle motions starting to lull you to sleep.

“Long day for you too,” he hummed quietly, words lacing together and his chest vibrated from under you. “You worked today, no?”

Gently parting your eyes at his words, titling your head up so that you could look up at him. “How did you know I worked today?”

A light smile grew on his lips when his eyes met yours, his lips skimmed over your forehead. “Coffee lingers on you.”

“You can smell it?” you giggled. You could always smell it on your hands, your clothes and your hair. But you never knew anyone else noticed.

“Mm I can,” he inhaled exaggeratedly. “Smells good, sunshine.”

You turned your head towards him, pressing a kiss to his shoulder with a laugh. “I’m glad.”

Resting your head against his shoulder, lips puckering to press a soft kiss over his neck before you settled back down over him with a little hum as your eyes fell shut.

You started to slip your leg off of his, but a hand on your thigh quickly stopped you to keep you in place. “Stay right here.” The words were whispered over your forehead, quiet command that had you easily complying.

A peaceful silence fell over the two of you, the only sound coming from the small breaths leaving the two of you. The patter of the rain seemed to have quieted down, and part of you secretly hoped that it would pick back up soon so that you could lounge around the following day without any guilt.

The feeling of his chest that rose and fell under you, paired with the steady beating of his heart and the soft strokes of his fingertips against your skin was soothing you in a way you had never known. “Goodnight Harry.”

“’Night, sunshine.” His voice was barely audible, fingers gripping you just a bit tighter as sleep seeped through your body, an overwhelming sense of peace surrounding you as you rested pressed together. 

The heavy rain was the first thing that you recognized in the early morning. The second thing you felt was the warmth all around you; there was the heavy duvet paired with the familiar and calming noise of a heater going off. The third thing you noticed was the man pressed against you, a thigh between your legs and a hand wrapped around your middle.

You peaked your eyes open, trying to gage what time it was simply from the blinds that had never been closed. The dark grey – nearly black – sky wasn’t giving you too much of an indication but you knew it had to be very early morning.

You were almost in the same position that you had fallen asleep in: on your stomach with your head over Harry’s arm and your hand wrapped around him. You gently moved your head, tilting it up to look up at the presumed still sleeping man by your side. Harry looked so peaceful, eyes shut and lips only slightly parted.

You took a moment to think over everything in the past twelve hours, everything from the night before that had you positively melting in the best way possible.

With the calm that surrounded you, you jolted in his grasp when suddenly he shuffled and his raspy voice sounded in the air. “Morning,”

Head lifting a bit more to get a better view of him, you watched him turn his face as well so that he could peer down at you. “Did I wake you?”

“Been in and out of sleep,” he hummed, his tired eyes glowing when he met your gaze. “You’re awake early.”

“What time is it?” You yawned, moving your hand from where it rested on his chest to rub at your eyes.

“Just past six-thirty,” his eyes never left you, as you felt his hand over your sweatshirt move in small circles.

“I’m used to waking up early – and hey you’re up early too.” The small hint of a laugh sounded through your tone and you felt yourself waking up.

You saw his eyebrows furrow. “Do you have to get to work?”

“No,” you shook your head, content smile gracing your lips at the reminder that you in fact did not have to go into work. “I’m off today.”

The crease in his brow disappeared, a mirror of your smile on his own mouth. “The whole day?”

“The whole day,” you confirmed.

He shifted, keeping you close while he rolled over to his side and helped you do the same until you were both lying facing each other. Limbs were still tangled, one of his hands keeping a tight grip around your back and he had a leg still between your own. Your arm was reached between the two of you, moving to brush along his neck while the other one rested underneath your head.

“And any other plans for the day?”

“None,” your voice dropped back down to a whisper, his gaze intent on yours as you felt his hand slide lower over your back. “What about you?”

“None,” he mirrored, voice still carrying a slight rasp. Silence fell over you again, this time only the rain against the window filling in the gaps.

You were about to speak again, when a slight move interrupted you. A slight move of his leg between yours that caught you off guard when his thigh brushed over your covered centre in a motion that could be seen as accidental but with the way he was looking at you, you were sure he had every purpose in the world.

“D’you have any dreams last night?” He spoke quietly, voice low for a reason you were sure to be other than the fact that he had just woken up.

“No, I – I don’t think so,” you hummed, feeling his thigh move once more to rest easily against your underwear covered heat, as if taunting you to rub over him. “Did you?”

“Mm I thought I did,” he said slowly. His hand stopped at the small of your back, applying a steady pressure to nudge you forward; both closer to him and over his thigh. “Thought for a second that last night was a dream.”

“It wasn’t,” you whispered.

You saw his eyes glued to your mouth when you spoke the words. Watching his eyelids briefly flutter closed, your head moved over the pillow just the slightest bit as if moving in to kiss over your jaw but he stopped himself.

“Certainly wasn’t,” he murmured, gripping your lower back tighter when he pushed you over him with a little more force. A whine from your lips was barely audible when your centre rubbed over him with a bit more pressure.

“How do you feel?” His voice seemed to drop even lower, smooth in your ear. “Still tired?”

“No,” you whispered, a growing ache dropping through your stomach and straight to the spot between your thighs at the growing tension. “You?”

“Wide awake,” he breathed out, a slow blink before his gaze met yours once again.

It was as if unspoken words were shared between the two of you, conversation from the night before of “not right now” fluttering through both of your heads. Was now the time? The anticipation was slowly driving you crazy. You certainly wanted now to be it, and with the way he was looking at you, you found it safe to assume he felt the same.

He brought his hand that wasn’t against your back to the bottom of your jaw, somewhat tilting your head up so that your face was angled towards his.

“I’d really like to kiss you again,” he hummed softly, eyelids still heavy as his thumb brushed gently over your skin. He looked at you in a way that made you feel like you were on fire, a way that would normally have you avoiding his gaze but right now all you could do was stare back at him with hopefully just as much intensity.

“Then do it.”

You caught the way his eyes fell down to your lips when you spoke. You wrapped your arm further around him, pulling yourself closer over the mattress until your chests were nearly completely pressed together. Pressing down just the slightest bit over his thigh, enough to have him grip you tight and he didn’t waste another second before he got everything out of you he wanted.

His mouth landed along your jaw, a series of loud pecks in a line leading to your chin. His shoulder against yours, he twisted his body until he was hovering over you and pushing you onto your back. Supporting himself on his elbows, he took a second to gaze down at you as one of his hands cupped the side of your face.

His thumb made contact with your mouth first, softly tracing the outline of your lips with the pad of the finger before his mouth captured the trail he had just drawn.

Every kiss with him felt like the first time, like every nerve in your body was alert and that Harry was the only thing occupying your mind. His mouth moved languidly on yours, soft strokes of your lips sliding together. His tongue easily slipped into your mouth, smooth licks over each other in slow movements.

His chest pressed against yours, half his body resting over you as his chin bumped yours as the soft kisses deepened. He was giving you everything he possibly could, wanting to savour every moment as the soft mutterings of “we have all day” rang through his ears.

A hum resonated through your chest, the feeling of his hand smoothing over your neck warming your skin. He repeated the motions, holding a grip to your jaw. He seemed unable to hold you in just one place, touching you, feeling you wherever he could.

His other hand had slid between your bodies, gripping into the material of your (his) sweatshirt tightly. The fabric had ridden up on your thighs, the hem of it sitting right below your stomach and your bare legs tangled with his. The blanket over the two of you was falling off to the side, neither caring all that much as heat was coursing around you.

Breaking apart for a moment, both of your breathing growing heavier and you could feel his heart beating faster against you. Your eyes parted open, meeting his gaze while the lip that he had bit into was then tucked between your own teeth.

You felt a laugh slip past your mouth, chest lightly shaking and you saw his mouth widen in a dimple popping smile. You didn’t know why you were laughing, just feeling so light and at peace in that moment that you couldn’t help the little giggle of bliss.

He leant back down, teeth clashing in another elated kiss. Picking up right where you had left off, smiles slowly falling as a subtle intensity grew. Your soft chuckles being replaced with quiet moans, hasty fingers gripping at each other as if the other were about to disappear.

Heavy tension floated between your bodies, unable to help yourself from the small jolt of your hips over his thigh. He urged you to repeat the action, pushing against you hotly while your mouths greedily indulged the other. You could feel him resting hard against your leg, the thought of having been the one to get him there just further turning you on.

Both your arms wrapped around him, one holding into the thin fabric of his shirt while the other was laced through his hair. Your tugs in the strands were growing tighter when he drove his hips forward. You felt one of his own hands venture lower under the duvet, meeting the bare skin of your hip and grabbing into the skin. Pulling your leg around him, allowing space for him to settle in between your legs.

His head hung in the crook of your neck, peppering pecks over the curve before he was sucking soft kisses over your skin. Moans no longer being muffled by his mouth over yours, he quietly urged you on with a never-ending series of kisses.

“Really gonna kill me,” he muttered, the hint of a smirk evident in his voice.

A breathy laugh was all you could muster, focused on the way his hand was edging under your sweatshirt and feeling over the warm skin of your tummy. He pulled himself away, chest heaving in the air as he moved down to press a heavy kiss over your mouth. His tongue moved slowly over your lips, pulling away with a tug of the sensitive swollen skin.

Harry sat up on his knees, shifting over so that he was by your legs with his hands still holding you. The action had caused the blanket to nearly fully fall off, now only barely covering half your legs. Your eyes skimmed over his form, dark shadows beneath every dip in his body. You couldn’t help but stare at the clear as day outline of his length in his briefs, seeming painfully hard and heavily restrained by the thin fabric. You had to bite back a moan at the sight.

He was leaning forward again, his other hand pushing up under the shirt that was riding high on your middle. His eyes followed his motions, the heavy silence interrupted when he cleared his throat.

“Can I undress you?”

His sultry tone and heavy gaze had caused goosebumps to rise on your skin, no matter the heat that surrounded you. “Yes please.”

A hand on either side of you, hem of your sweatshirt hitting his wrists as he pushed up slowly over your chest. His fingertips trailed over your skin as they did so, trickling up and over the swell of your breasts. Soft graze over your nipple had a little gasp emitting from the back of your throat, your eyes flicking up to his to see his gaze glued to the new skin exposed to him.

“Gorgeous,” he mumbled, as you lifted yourself up a bit to help him push the shirt up and over your head, before it was completely forgotten and tossed aside. He hovered closer to you, hands following the line of your shoulders before dropping down to palm over your breasts.

Massaging them in both hands, fully cupping over them as he felt their weight in his palms. He wasted no time, dropping his head lower until his lips met the skin he was so enamoured by.

Hot lick over your nipple, lips circling around the skin as you felt a hum of vibrations when he moaned around you. Both hands were all over you, as if he was unable to stop his indulgence in his admiration for your chest. You gasped into the air when his teeth grazed over your overly sensitive nipple, leaving it nice and wet before he watched the nub harden once more in the cool air.

A trail of his mouth along your upper chest, stopping with swift nips at your skin followed by soft sucks. He was no doubt leaving a few marks to keep an impression of his mouth on you. Giving the majority of his attention to your other breast, hands still occupying as much space on the soft skin as he possibly could.

The sight of wet patches over your chest had you let out an involuntary moan, the feeling of his mouth over you driving the ache between your thighs to a nearly unbearable pressure.

“Harry…” you whined, hand trailing over his neck and to his scalp as you called his name once more.

“Completely fuckin’ breathtaking,” his voice vibrated over your skin, as he pressed a loud kiss over your sternum. “My sunshine,” his lips moved over your collarbone, “angel,” a kiss to the column of your neck. “My tangerine orange.”

His mouth was over your jaw, as he fell back down to his side to rest over the mattress. One arm supporting himself so that he could lean over you, the other still resting at the underside of your breasts while his thumb rubbed small circles into your skin.

“A tangerine?” You giggled around the words, unable to help but sound breathless as your head was spinning over the attention he was showing you. He lifted his head to meet your gaze, pupils a bit blown and a lopsided grin on his mouth. “You’re going to peel me open and eat me?”

You didn’t realize the innuendo behind your words until they left your mouth, the sudden memory of the way Harry had made you cum on the floor of his studio causing the heat between your legs to grow. A silly little smirk grew on his lips, a soft hum from his throat before he spoke again.

“Yes, exactly.” His chest shook with a laugh, lips puckering to land a kiss over your skin.

“You’re so sunny,” he whispered, hand venturing lower over your hips.

His tongue licked over your skin, “taste delicious.”

The hand on your hip slid over to your thigh, pinching your skin as it slid to the inside of your leg. You parted your legs instinctively, allowing him more space. “Want to spread you open.”

Your eyes briefly fluttered shut at his words, just as his lips fell to your mouth, kissing you deeply. The action nearly distracted you from his hand that was still sitting low, massaging into the skin of your thigh.

“You have to –” he took a heavy breath, your eyes opening to meet his when he spoke. “You have to tell me what you want, okay? Need to make sure you feel good.”

“Okay,” you breathed, promise in his words heavy. “You too.”

“What do you need right now, sunshine?”

His fingertips were so close to where you longed to feel anything. You found yourself at a loss for words for a second, hyper focused on the feeling of his hand tickling your inner thigh. “Can I?” He brought your attention back to his words whispered over your neck. “Tell me if I can.”

“God, yes,” you moaned into the air, arm around him gripped him tighter just as his fingers grazed over your covered clit. His thumb started with small circles over you for a brief second, reveling in the way your legs shook with the pressure that he had been building.

“Feel that…” he groaned, when his fingertips slipped past the elastic. He pushed your underwear aside for two fingers to slide through your wetness.

Your legs parted unprompted, making space between your thighs for his hand as he felt his way through your slit, no doubt soaking his fingers on you before pressing over your clit. He breathed a quiet curse, withdrawing his fingers from you to push your underwear down. Peeling the fabric off your lower half, you lifted your hips up into the air to make his job easier.

The garment easily forgotten, you kicked it off by the end of the mattress and focused on the way Harry’s fingertips circled over your clit. His head lifted from where it was hanging by your shoulder, feeling his hot breath hit the side of your cheek. You turned your head on the pillow, eyes meeting his.

You think you felt yourself grow wetter just by the way he was watching you so intently, as if he was silently demanding that you keep your eyes locked with his. His beautiful eyes watched every reaction you had and every sound you made due to his hand between your thighs.

Drawing him in closer with the arm you had around his neck, he complied and landed a kiss to your cheek. Moving to the corner of your mouth, before fully capturing your lips with his in a deep kiss. His tongue slipped into your mouth, just as his fingers slid over your slit until one was pushing into you. A whimper resonated through your chest, the feeling of his finger slowly dipping into you already had you clenching. He bit down on your lower lip, sharp inhale at the feeling of your warmth around him.

Unable to kiss him properly as heavy breaths left your mouth, he dragged his lips down your jaw until they were latched to your neck once more. You brought your other hand to his chest, nails digging into his skin as your back arched with the slow and steady feeling of his finger inside of you.

Pushing your hips onto his hand, his palm pushing against your clit as you did so. You couldn’t help the moan at the feeling, paired with his teeth nipping and lips kissing over the sensitive skin of your neck. As he laid on his side, you felt his length push against your hip with small nudges into your skin.

His lips slid lower, just as he pushed another finger inside of you with a slow motion. “Good?”

“So good,” you responded quickly. “Don’t stop.”

“Don’t intend to,” he muttered, listening to you with his fingers pushing in and curling against the spot that had you bucking up to meet his movements.

His lips kissed down the swell of your breasts, mouth circling over your nipple with a soft hum from his chest. Teeth grazing over the sensitive spot, pulling whines from your throat as he continued to tease you.

The deep pit of tension from the bottom of your stomach was building, as you felt yourself craving to feel come undone below him. You could hear his fingers move in your wetness, the obscene sound somehow turning you on even more as your arousal was evident.

His mouth left your skin, lifting himself up slightly so that he could watch you. Your hips were pushing up trying to find a rhythm with his fingers, his palm tight against your clit as you couldn’t get enough of the feeling. You were shamelessly chasing your high, already feeling edged closer and closer to it after the long-built anticipation.

His thumb brushed your clit, the pressure as he worked to push you towards your high. Your nails were digging into his chest, gripping him tightly from the side as you pushed your back into the mattress with an arch to spine.

Euphoric sensation floating through your veins, heading straight to your wet centre where his fingers were swiftly working you over. Pumping the two inside you in fast motions, hitting the post along your walls that had you biting your lip so hard you were sure to taste a sting of blood.

“I’m gonna cum,” you moaned, voice breaking out of a whisper as you couldn’t help the raise in tone. You felt good, overwhelmingly so and you wanted nothing more than to feel yourself come undone over Harry’s hand.

“Please, do” his voice was low, hoarse. “I wanna feel you.”

You whimpered at his words, eyes shutting tighter with moans leaving your mouth at the pleasure shooting down your legs and up your spine.

A hum was sound from his throat, he spoke a small “love” in an attempt to grab your attention.

“Look at me.”

Complying at the roughness in his voice, your eyelids parting open to watch him with parted lips and clammy skin. His eyes were dark, intent on your every breath. Arm flexing as his fingers quickly fucked you, while your hand grabbed his bicep tightly when you felt you couldn’t hold it in anymore.

His pace was quick, deep and calculated, noticing what moves he did that made you moan. It was so intensely attractive to you, how closely he watched and wanted you to enjoy yourself.

You could hear mumbling incoherently, unable to decipher or even try and listen to what he was saying as the pressure built and built until you were coming undone around him.

Hips jolting up as he curled his fingers, rubbing over your clit while you choked around your moans. You held him tightly, nails digging into his shoulder as you felt like you needed to hold on to him, onto anything otherwise you would drift away in your pleasure.

He breathed heavily while he watched you, falling back down to his side with his face resting in the crook of your neck. His fingers slowly withdrew from you, still pressing light touches onto your sensitive clit causing your legs to twitch at the feeling. “Harry.”

“Dreamt of you like this,” his words laced together, muttered against your skin. He gave you loud smacks of kisses onto your shoulder, along with his soft mutterings. “Real thing is so much better.”

With hot cheeks and swollen lips, you lifted yourself up on one elbow to hold yourself up and face him. He fell onto his back, just as you were positioned seconds ago and withdrew his hand from between your thighs. Wet fingers raised, slipping them past his lips to taste you with a low hum from deep in his chest.

Gripping your jaw with said hand, pulling you in for a deep kiss. As much as he kissed you this morning, as much as he kissed you in the past day, you could not get enough of the feeling of his mouth. Your own hand lingered over his chest, tracing uneven patterns over him.

You dug your nails a bit harder into his stomach, feeling it clench from under you. Almost as a soothing action for yourself as you settled from your high, you ran mismatched patterns over his front. Dipping lowered and teasing the band of the briefs that he was still wearing, your nails dug into his skin just as an audible groan left Harry’s lips.

He muttered a quiet “killing me,” over your mouth, his hand leaving your jaw and landing over your own hand that rested on his chest.

His fingers laced with yours, and he carried your hand with his and placed it directly over his bulge. Squeezing your hand in his, matching whines from the two of you at the action. Yours at the weight of him in your hand, and his at the feeling of finally having your hands on him.

As if you had switched positions, this time you held yourself propped up on your side so that you could hover over him. His hand left yours, soft groan as you freely palmed over the very defined bulge in his underwear. You kept your eyes stuck to your motions, not even realizing the way your lip slipped between your teeth at the feeling of him.

Pushing yourself up on your hand, sitting up with the rest of the blanket falling off your body. But you didn’t care, you didn’t need the extra heat.

You tugged at the elastic that sat tight against his hips, fingertips slipping under it and over the hot skin. Casting him a quick glance, seeing his eyes locked on your hands, chest rising and falling with a small furrow between his brows.

You pulled down his briefs to the middle of his thighs, watching the way his hardened length rested against his skin. One of your hands trailed up his thigh, resting just under his hipbone. A sharp breath on Harry’s part was heard as your other hand firmly gripped his length.

Circling your fingers around him, a soft stroke until your palm became sticky with his precum. Moving your thumb over his tip, applying more pressure as you saw the way his stomach clenched and his legs jerked with a bend in the knees.

Your silent gaze landed on his face, just as he looked up to meet your eyes. Withdrawing your hand from him, you pushed your thumb past your parted lips to wet it nicely. His eyes greedily watched the way you sucked, moaning your name as a beg while his hand gripped yours on his thigh.

Bringing your hand down to circle your wet thumb over his tip again, giving him slow tugs while you listened to every noise he made. Every small pant of your name and whine into the air. You had never felt more turned on by someone else’s reaction to you than right now.

“You look,” you bit your lip with a smile, looking for the right words as you slowly pumped your hand around him, “really sexy.”

He tried to let out a chuckle, the sound being cut with a moan when you circled your thumb over his tip.

Bending down, you pressed a kiss at the underside of his navel while you worked over his length. Kisses pressed following the trail of hair that led south, before Harry grabbed your shoulder to stop you. “You can’t…” he choked as you sat up straight once more, withdrawing every inch of skin from his so that you were no longer touching at all. “I’m already bursting for you, I don’t want to –” he paused, “– I mean, do you want to have sex?”

You leant forward, palms over his chest once more as you found yourself unable to go without touching him. “Yeah, I really do.”

He pushed himself up, sitting closer to you. “Okay,” he rushed, one hand running through his hair. “Okay.”

You couldn’t help but laugh quietly at his flustered state, watching as he yanked his briefs off the rest of the way down his legs, letting them fall to the floor. He pushed himself up more until he was sliding off the bed, your hands falling from him once more while you watched him stand. “I know I’ve got condoms somewhere –”

And then he was walking away from you, with a quick “stay where you are!” called over his shoulder. You did just as he said, falling down to your back and rolling over to your side with your head resting on your hand, watching him disappear around a corner.

He was back moments later, from the washroom you presumed because you didn’t know where someone would keep condoms other than by their bed. You watched him stand at the edge of the mattress, head dipped down as he threw the wrapper to the ground and rolled the condom over himself.

He took a heavy breath, lifting his legs to kneel over the mattress as he reached out for your legs. Large palms over your calves, he slid them up with soft circles of his thumbs into your skin before he spoke a low “can I have you on your belly?”

Easily complying, you fell forward so that your chest was pressed into the mattress and your cheek against the pillow. You felt his hands slide up your legs, over your thighs until he was gripping the swell of your bum. First you felt his breath hit your skin, then his lips kissed over the skin with a light lick on his tongue. Continuing the motions as he moved up, from the bottom of your spine until he was laying on his side right next to you. Touching you all over, you felt one of his hands graze over the soft skin of your stomach and pull you up, so that your back was pressed firmly into his chest in a spooning position.

Adjusting yourself gently, bending your knees so that they could support you over the mattress. You shifted your lower half, his cock pushing right against your bum. You felt his lips glaze over the crook of your neck, face buried in your skin and he peppered the surface with kisses.

“Are you okay like this?” His voice was muffled by your skin. “We can do it however you’d like…”

Twisting your head so that your eyes could meet, you shot him a reassuring smile. His gaze was heavy on you, desire written all across his features as he followed the small nod of your head. “More than okay.”

He leant forward, forearm wrapping around you to grip your jaw and press his mouth hot and hard over yours, just as a moan of your name resonated through his chest. You could feel him pushing against your bum, the anticipation of feeling him inside of you causing the ache between your legs to become nearly unbearable. His mouth parted from yours, hot promises of making you feel good pressed against your jaw before your cheek was resting against the pillow once more while you were silently begging to feel him inside of you.

A hand was between your bodies, he was gripping his length to push over your folds and get himself wet over you. A quiet moan at the feeling, you couldn’t help but nudge your bum back to rub over his cock. He repeated the action, quiet curses leaving his mouth as his tip found your entrance and he slowly but surely edged himself in.

The intense feeling of him filling you had you gasping out his name. You were certain it was a combination of the closeness of the position and simply the fact that it was Harry behind you, as you’d never felt yourself melt completely into another person like this.

His hand circled around your side, parting your legs a bit further while you pushed back into him. He didn’t stop until his hips were pressed tight against your backside, and a low exhale fell over your shoulder.

“You feel,” he stuttered lightly, firm grip of his hand over your hip.

“How does it feel?” You breathed, turning your head around once more to gaze up at him. He moved his hips, painstakingly slow for the both of you as you moaned at the feeling of him inside of you. His head fell down to brush his mouth over your jaw, hot breath fanning over the expanse of your neck. “Feels incredible,” he babbled. “You’re so fucking… feels amazing.”

Your cheek fell back over the pillow, eyes falling shut and he started to pump his hips into you at a steady pace. You could feel him everywhere around, hitting so deep within you. Soft moans of praises were freely falling from his lips, never seeming to go that long without skimming them along your skin.

His hand slid up from your hip, resting over your lower stomach to guide you over him while he pushed quickening thrusts into you. You let out a heavy pant at the feeling of him rubbing deliciously against spots that made your vision blur. Your hands fisted into the pillow, moving your hips in small rolls to push back on him.

He pumped into you harder, hitting dipper as the pleasure within both of you grew. You moaned when one of his hands slid up your tummy to grip your breasts, massaging the sensitive skin in a way that had you clenching around him.

Your name fell from his lips, kisses planted on the nape of your neck. There seemed to be virtually no space between both your bodies, connected so closely it was making you dizzy.

His fingers pinched over your nipple, eliciting a sharp inhale from your before he moved his hand up to grip your jaw. Titling your head towards him once again, not wasting a second before he leant over and connected your lips. Kisses were rough and messy, licking over lips and hot moans pressed together.

He trailed wet kisses over your jaw, and to the bottom of your earlobe. Muttering hot praises into your ear, telling you how hot you felt and how much he wants to feel your come undone for him. His hand skimmed back down over your neck, blindly grabbing at your breasts and sliding down your stomach.

The sounds filling the room were filthy, paired with the heavy rain outside and the occasional loud motorist. It was something out of a dream, the serenity of your surroundings paired with the euphoria you were feeling.

In a steady rhythm, hips snapping in time together as Harry’s teeth tugged on your earlobe. He was making every delicious sound possible, losing himself in the feeling of you. Shallow breaths hitting your skin as the feeling of his forehead resting over your shoulder weighted over you.

You hummed, lifting your arm around so that you could stroke your fingers over his cheek, pushing through his hair.

“Can – can we switch positions? I wanna see you…” you called, feeling his hand over you stop moving.

“God,” he said quickly, words hitting the back of your shoulder. “Anything you want.”

He slowly withdrew himself from you, both letting out small pants of the feeling of no longer being connected to the other. You pushed yourself up, sitting on your legs as you turned yourself to be able to properly see Harry.

His hair was falling wildly over his forehead, lips deep pink and eyes dark as he watched you move around him. His hand was still on your hip, pressing against your skin as if to push you to lie down on the mattress, but you softly shook your head.

“I want to be on top,” you whispered while you lifted a leg so that you had a knee resting on either side of his hips, your hands landing on his shoulders to help him fall against the mattress. You lowered yourself to sit just at his hips, hovering over him with a kiss planted directly on his mouth. Kissing him deeply as one of your hands rested between your bodies, blindly wrapping your hand around his cock.

“Anything,” his voice was hoarse as he returned your affection. “Tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you.”

“I want,” your hand squeezing him lightly in your palm. “To make you feel good – want to make you feel the way you make me feel.”

You moved your hips over him in a slick motion. He groaned against your mouth, lips easily parting and unable to focus on kissing you back as the feeling of you touching him the way you were was driving him absolutely crazy.

You lifted on your knees, chest leaving his when you sat up straighter. Bowing your head to watch the way he entered you once again, sinking back down around him. Heavy eyes flicking back to his, seeing him just as enthralled with the way the two of you connected.

His heavy hands were gripping onto your hips, a shaky breath leaving his lips as you bottomed out over him. “Don’t know how much longer I’m going to last…” he whispered, eyes meeting yours as one of your hands moved from his shoulder to brush over his jaw.

“That’s okay,” you breathed, swivelling your hips over his. His palm slid over the curve of your ass, fingertips digging into the skin when you moved again. The feeling caused a rush of heavy desire to course down to your heat. “Me neither.”

He was moaning when you started to move your hips on his, sliding over his length as you searched for a rhythm. He felt just as deep like this, just as snug inside of you and you couldn’t help but call out his name while you pumped your hips with his.

“Fuck me,” he groaned, eyes falling over your frame, from your chest to the space where you connected as he watched you move over him. “You look so fucking good like this I –”

You trailed a hand down his chest, fingertips falling over your own lower tummy before they were sliding down your wet clit. He watched you greedily, unable to tear his eyes away from the way that you started playing with yourself.

Rubbing light circles over your clit, heat in your belly burning once again. The combination of the deep strokes of his cock inside of you that was hitting against spots that made your vision blur, and the added pleasure of your own fingers over your wet clit, you were being sent closer to another orgasm.

Harry’s hand circled around your wrist after a moment, tugging your arm towards him until he was slipping the two fingers that had been wettened by your cunt into his mouth. You fluttered around him at the sight of him sucking on your fingers, your thumb pressing firmly on the underside of his jaw when you pushed your fingers further into his mouth.

Feeling his tongue swirl around the digits, you rocked your hips faster over him and you moaned at the view of the man below you. Your hand fell from his mouth when he let go of your wrist, wet fingers sliding over his neck before you were holding his shoulder tightly once again.

A surprised squeak was sound from your mouth when Harry pressed a hand into the mattress behind him and raised himself to a seated position, causing you to fall back against his thighs. You held onto his shoulders, an incredulous laugh sounding past your mouth at the fast motion that had you briefly fearing that you would topple over backwards.

“Alright?” A small chuckle laced his word, although when you shifted over him so that you were properly seated on his thighs with your knees still planted into the plush mattress, his voice caught in his throat.

“Yeah,” your own voice was feeble, airy.

It was the closest you’d ever felt to another person, his chest grazing yours with every heavy inhale as his head dipped down so that he could kiss over your shoulder. His hips started moving up to meet yours, quick thrusts into you as the both of you neared your climax.

Needy for his mouth, you pushed a hand through his hair as you searched for his lips with half closed eyelids. As you tugged on the curly strands, he quickly accepted your kiss with one hand on the small of your back to keep pushing you down over him in tight motions. Chests now pressed flush together, you were moaning into his mouth while he murmured small praises.

“Please,” he begged, unsure of what he was asking for, just knowing he needed something. “How is it – do you feel good? Please …”

“So fucking good,” you moaned around the words. Eyes opening, pulling at his hair so that you could gaze up at him. Desperate eyes watched him, watched the furrow pull in his brow as his hips pumped with yours with quick snaps, wanting nothing more than to have you come undone around him once more. “I’m so close –”

“Please,” he repeated, one of his hands moving from your backside and snaking around your front, shoved tightly between your bodies as he blindly searched for your clit. Rubbing quick small circles over the sensitive bud. The feeling paired with the pleas of having you cum around him that were kissed over your neck, being just what you needed to push you over the edge.

You pressed your lips to his when you came, lips wrapping around his bottom lip as your teeth pulled on the sensitive skin. Calling out his name into his mouth, fingernails digging deep into his skin. You saw the moon, you saw the stars, and most importantly you saw nothing but Harry.

Your hips lost their rhythm over his when you squeezed him tight, grinding down onto his pelvis as a moan was sound from deep in your chest. You tugged at his hair, begging him to kiss you again while your hands desperately gripped at his skin.

He kissed you fiercely, tongue sliding over your lips as you barely had the ability to kiss him back. His hips were still jerking against yours, motions growing more and more frenzied as he bit onto your lips, low mutterings of praises and whines of wanting to cum.

And he soon did, pushing everything he could of himself as he came into the condom. His hands never stopped tracing over your spine, giving your backside sharp pinches as he moaned deeply. Twitching against you as the two of you came down together, his head resting over the crook of your shoulder while he took deep breaths through his nose.

He kissed along your shoulder, mouth wet over your skin. Your fingers traced over his neck, every nerve in your body feeling sensitive as you started to shift over him. You were both quiet, other than heavy breaths and fast beating hearts.  

You didn’t know how long you stayed like that, but after a while the throbbing in your legs died down and you were able to swing a leg over and slide off of him. You fell over on the mattress with a breathless laugh, a content feeling seeping through you as you laid back on the bed.

Watching Harry push his hair from his face, biting his swollen lips together as he watched you with hearts in his eyes. “How are you?”

You hummed, dreamy smile on your mouth. “I’m good – best I’ve been in a while I think.”  

He smiled as he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss over your temple with a muttered “me too”.

Butterfly kisses over your skin, a soft “give me a sec,” before he lifted himself up and swung his legs over the mattress, sliding off the bed and rounded the corner away from you.

True to his word, he was back seconds later after presumably disposing of the condom and cleaning himself up, and he pulled on a pair of shorts that hung low on his hips. “Did you want shorts, or pants to wear?”

“Maybe some pants?” You hummed from where you sat on the mattress. He nodded, handing you a pair of pastel multicoloured sweatpants.

You lifted  your hips from the mattress, pulling the pants over your bottom half before you settled back down. Harry grabbed the blanket from where it had fallen off the bed, laying it over you before he slipped in as well.

You shifted closer to him, accepting his arm that wrapped around your bare stomach and pulled your chest against his. You settled in deeper into the pillows, smiling contently as you felt yourself starting to grow tired.

He watched the way your eyelids started to flutter close, pulling more of the blanket over your back. He pulled it off of where it fell to the ground, draping it over you and the bed before sliding in next to you. “Get some rest – we have all day, yeah?”

You hummed into the pillow, feeling him tighten around you as your breasts pressed into his skin. His other hand was smoothing over your neck just as it was when you fell asleep together last night, the action slowly and surely lulling you to sleep.

Harry watched you as he felt sleep overtake him as well, he watched the slow and steady rise of your chest. He could feel your heart beating against him, resonating with his own heartbeat as if the two had fallen in synch. 

Hours past before you woke up again. The sky was a bit lighter than previously, hard rain still hitting the window from outside as it never seemed to let up.

Your bare chest was tight against Harry’s, skin sticking together. Soft exhales were coming from his parted lips. He had an arm wrapped around you, the occasional twitch of his finger as he moved in his sleep.

Moving over on the mattress, slowly waking up as you raised yourself on your elbows to gaze down at Harry. Leaning over him to kiss over his closed eyelid, gently removing his arm from your middle before sliding off the bed. You easily found the abandoned sweatshirt from the morning, tugging it over your bare top half.

Remembering where his washroom was, you took a quick glance to see the pouring rain outside before flicking on the light switch to the room. Uncapping the toothpaste that rested over the counter, grabbing the toothbrush that you used the previous night.

Due to the briefly running tap, you hadn’t heard the rustle in sheets and feet on the ground that was coming from the adjacent room. Harry was soon poking his head in from the parted door, tousled hair falling over his forehead as he shot you a lazy smile through the mirror.

He hesitated by the door frame for a second, then taking a few steps towards you so that he could stand behind you. Wrapping both arms around you with his chest pushing into your back, he titled his head to kiss over your jaw.

“Morning again,” he murmured, teeth teasingly pulling at your earlobe.

You couldn’t respond with your mouth full of toothpaste, keeping your eyes on him through the mirror. His grip around you loosened a little when you bent down to spit out the toothpaste and rinse out your mouth.

“Hi,” the word whispered as you turned in his grip, raising a hand to scratch over the thin layer of stubble that lined in jaw.

“Want to make something to eat?”

You nodded, mirroring the smile on his mouth as you traced the dimple over his cheek. “Music to my ears.”

Following Harry to his kitchen. It was small, not much counter space you noticed but he had a little table up against the wall that held bowls of fruit and a cutting board. He opened up the cupboard, tapping his fingertips against the wood while he gazed at the contents. “I do have the fixings for pancakes if you’d like…” he moved to the fridge, opening it up, “or eggs…”

He turned back to you, gaging your reaction. “What sounds good to you?”

“Whatever is easiest,” you smiled, leaning back against the counter across from him.

“Not whatever is easiest – what did you want to eat?” He laughed lightly, facing you.

You paused, biting your smile back as he urged you to make a choice what you liked best. “Pancakes.”

“Perfect,” his smile grew, as he turned back to the cupboard he had just opened. “Some fruits too?”

“Yes please.”

He pulled out the mix he already had to make pancakes, grabbing a bowl and a wooden spoon to start getting everything together. You went to see what kind of produce he had, picking out some apples and oranges that sat together in a bowl.

He saw you searching through drawers, clicking his tongue. “Have a seat, I can do it.”

“Okay, okay,” you laughed, taking a seat on one of the wooden chairs by the little table. You grabbed your phone from where it had sat all night by the counter, scrolling through recent notifications before opening up your Spotify to play some music while you prepared your meal.

Choosing one of the playlists you usually played at work, a soft hum of Nancy Sinatra coming through the speaker as you placed your phone back down on the table and watched him quickly work around the kitchen.

“Do you have coffee?” You asked, eyeing the French press sitting in the corner.

You saw the bag sitting next to the press before he answered your question, as you rose to your feet again to grab the paper bag and twist it open, smelling the ground beans.

“Yes,” he answered, turning around to see you having already found it. “Is it… good?”

You laughed breezily at his nervousness over the coffee he had bought. “I’m sure it’s perfectly fine.”

He had already turned on the kettle, you realized, and you grabbed the French press from where it sat ready to make the two of you a morning cup.

“Hey,” Harry brought your attention to him as you eyeballed the amount of coffee you were putting in. “I can do that – let me make you coffee for once.”

You bit back a smile, filling the press with the amount of coffee you liked before sitting back down. “It’s all yours,” you said, as the kettle clicked.

He turned away from the orange he was peeling, grabbing the kettle from where it sat to pour the hot water into the press.

You held your tongue, for about two seconds before clearing your throat. “A good way to make French press coffee is to pour a little bit in first – just enough to soak all the grounds and then pour the rest.”

He silently nodded, doing as you said and waiting a bit before pouring the rest. “You –”

You cut yourself off, watching as Harry lifted his head up to glance at you when you spoke, tousled hair falling over his forehead. “Hm?”

“It’s good to pour it a little slower…” you started slowly.

He laughed, loud from his chest. “Did you want to do it?”

“No, no! It doesn’t make that much of a difference, just some tips.” You let him finish making the coffee while you searched through some more cupboards for mugs.

Pulling out two ceramic ones, walking over to the fridge as you looked for anything to put into the coffee. Finding a small jug of oat milk, not surprised at the find as you took it out and shook the container a bit out of habit.

“I’m going to assume that you don’t take anything in your coffee…” you peered over at him as you poured some oat milk into what would be your mug.

“I don’t –” he cut himself off, as if about to ask why you would assume that but stopping himself as he remembered that you make him coffee multiple times a week.

He let the coffee in the press sit as he finished preparing the fruit, turning back to where you were leaning against the counter with an orange slice in hand. He wordlessly lifted the slice up towards your mouth, taking several steps forward until he was close in front of you.

“It’s not a tangerine, but…” he mumbled, a little smile playing on his lips as you met his gaze. Opening your mouth to accept the fruits, circling around it along with the tip of his fingers that you easily sucked into your mouth.

For some reason anytime he mentioned a citrus fruit you got butterflies in your stomach. You chewed the fruit as his hand fell from your mouth, thumb swiping under your bottom lip. The sweet flavour filling your mouth as his gaze never left yours. His hands fell to the counter on either side of you, boxing you in closer to him.

You raised a hand, taking hold of his jaw between your index finger and thumb, and pulled his face towards yours. His lips parted as did yours, your tongue licking into his mouth as your hand held him firmly. He tasted the citrus in your mouth, sharing the flavour of the fruit together as you kissed.

A hand wrapped around your waist, pulling you closer to him as you slipped your fingers across his jawline until they were tugging in his hair.

He took another step forward, one foot resting between your two with his hips pushing against yours. He was holding you like he thought that you’d disappear if he let go, as your arms wrapped around him in the same way.

He’d already gotten you worked up, and you would let him take you right there if he wanted.

Fingertips poked under the sweatshirt over your body, nearly feigning innocence as his hands held the skin on your sides, before they were smoothing up until they were holding your breasts. Fingertips massaging into the skin, thumbs rubbing over your nipples in a way that made goosebumps erupt under the sweater.

Edging the article up higher on your body, exposing more of your skin until the underside of your breasts were visible.

“God,” he muttered against your mouth, lips sliding over your jaw as he hung his head lower. “Think I’m obsessed with you.”

Your hand followed the move of his head, as he dipped down lower so that he could press his mouth over your newly exposed chest. Sucking into the skin, hot licks until his teeth grazed over your nipple and you were pulling at his hair a bit tighter. He still cupped his palms around your breasts, enamoured with the way he maneuvered them and the way they felt in his hands.

Mummering his name, you pulled his attention back up to your face and he peered at you with heavy eyes. “Hm?”

“You should push down the press,” you angled your head to where the French press sat still on the counter across from the two of you.

His eyes held a laugh, as his hands fell from your skin and he nodded with a bite of his lip. Turning around from you only for the brief moment needed to slowly push the filter through the coffee before he was facing you from across the kitchen once again.

You followed, bypassing him and grabbing the two mugs that you had prepared for the coffee. Taking hold of the press, you poured two steamy cups of coffee. Silently handing him the one without anything in it, you tried to hide the way that your lips curved upwards by biting your lips together.

Harry grabbed the mug from your hands, bringing it up to his lips and took a small sip after blowing lightly over the surface.

“Careful,” your voice had fallen to a whisper in your proximity.

He only hummed, exaggeratedly smacking his lips together while placing the blue mug down on the counter next to him. “Best cup o’ coffee I’ve ever had.”

You let out what could only be called a giggle, unable to hold back your smile any longer. His hand looped around you once more, fitting into the small of your back to pull you close. Careful not to spill any coffee in the mug that you were holding, doing the same as he had and securing it down on the counter.

“Something tells me that might be a bit of an exaggeration…” you trailed off, free hand now resting over his shoulder.

“Hm,” he shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

His mouth sought out yours once again as you laughed under in his grasp. He pressed a peck over your mouth, staying close as he seemed to hesitate. “Did you want to spend the day?”

“Yeah,” you responded quickly. “If it’s not too much.”

“Can’t be,” he hummed. His head hung low between your neck and shoulder, butterfly kisses over your fabric covered skin. “Can’t ever have too much of you.” 

You locked the doors behind you, shaking the handle slightly to make sure it was truly locked before walking across the floor once more to head back behind the counter. Harry still lingered just at the unmarked line that separated the customer area from the staff area, leaning over the counter.

It had been almost a week since the night at the gallery.

Your days off had been spent with Harry, as he was true to his word and never seemed to be able to get enough of you. And the same sentiment was returned back to him. He had finally put his number in your phone, something the two of you had found funny about the fact that you went this far without even exchanging numbers.

Now, he kept you company as you closed up the café alone.

The fall rain always caused a small dip in customers, the shop never too busy, especially in the later hours of the afternoon.

“Do you have much left to do?”

You neared him by the counter, stepping past him and into the back. “Not too much – all of the main cleaning is done.”

“Can I help?” He had shut his little black sketchbook on the counter, pushing himself up from his elbows to near you.

“If you want…” you hummed happily, seeing him edge closer past the counter and into the staff only area. “Come on,” you giggled, tapping his arm for him to follow.

“Is this allowed?” He hesitated, making you turn back around.

You shrugged. “It’s not a big deal, I know my boss trusts me.”

That seemed to be enough for him, as he trailed behind you towards the espresso machine that you hadn’t finished cleaning.

“Tell me what to do, boss.”

Nudging his hip as he hovered near you, you shook your head with a laugh while reaching to grab the basket that had yet to be cleaned.

“You need to unscrew,” you spoke through your actions, grabbing the little flat screwdriver, and leaning down so that you could see under the grouphead on the machine, “the filter. To clean it all out.”

Grabbing the still hot filter with a rag, putting it in hot water. “And then you put this,” you spooned a small pile of cafiza into the flat filter in the basket. “And put it on a cleaning cycle. That’s kind of it…”

“What can I do?”

“If you want you can keep an eye on this,” you pointed to the lit button. “When it flashes you need to put it through the rinse cycle – just press it and it’ll go through.You could also pour hot water through the bottom, just to get everything inside rinsed out.”

Harry was quiet from next to you, nodding his head. You handed him the metal kettle, showing him where to fill it with hot water as you went to clean out the brew coffee pots. You worked through everything on autopilot, having gone through the same routine over and over that it came with no thought to you.

Keeping an eye on Harry with a smile tugging at your lips, watching as his brows pulled together as he tried to not spill any water other than where he needed to. Rinsing out the old coffee from the pots, you took a step away as the sink filled them with hot water.

“I had an idea…” you started, pulling Harry’s attention to you for a second.

Joining his side once more, you put your hand over his forearm. “I think that’s good,” you hummed. “No matter how much you clean there will always be grounds that find their way back – don’t worry.”

He nodded, putting down the little kettle as his back straightened with a twitch of a smile. “Anything you say, boss.”

You smiled through your words, giving his arm a little shove. “You got the paintings back from the gallery, right?”

Nodding, he kept his gaze on yours with curiosity in his eyes. The show (your show, as he called it) was a short-lived one, all the paintings were back in his apartment as he hadn’t put any of them for sale.

“Well I was thinking – and this is completely up to you – but what if you put one of them up in here?”

You saw his eyebrows rise in interest. “This wall here,” you motioned to the one behind him. “Is always empty. And it’s big and pretty uninteresting, so I was thinking if you wanted… you could but one of yours there.”

“For how long?”

“However long you’d like – it’d be like the café has it on loan.”

His smile grew. “And that would be okay?”

“I checked with the owner, she said that I can decorate the place however I’d like so…” you quickly leant over to the sink, shutting off the tap before facing him again. “It’s up to you.”

“You’ve already checked with her,” Harry grinned cheerfully, moving closer to you. “Thought this through, have you?”

You bit back a smile. “Yeah, I have.”

“I’d love to, I think it’s a great idea.”

“Really?”

He nodded enthusiastically. “I really do. Did you have one in mind already?”

“Well…” you paused. “I do – the big one of the café. With the yellow and the orange. I think I’d be perfect.”

He turned around, arms crossing over his chest as he faced the off-white empty wall. There were a few coffee stains towards the bottom that no one would notice unless they knew they were there.

“I think so too,” he nodded, glancing at you from over his shoulder.

You smiled widened. “Yeah?”

“Do you think I could go get it now – that we could put it up tonight?”

“That sounds perfect. Would you need help carrying it over?” You asked, as Harry was already walking around the counter to grab his jacket.

“It should be fine, I’ve carried it before.”

You nodded, watching as he grew more excited and ready to bolt out the door. “I can finish up closing here while you go get it.”

“Should I grab screws or tools or anything?”

“I’ve got some here – we have a little tool kit.”

He patted his pocket, grabbing his phone that was on the counter. “Lovely. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Before heading out towards the door, he moved around the corner of the counter so that he could grab a firm grasp of your jaw, tilting your head up to him. Leaning towards you, mouth hovering by yours as lips were barely touching. “Amazing idea, sunshine”

You nudge forward the slightest bit, fully connecting your lips in a lasting kiss before he headed into the cold air outside.

Finishing up your closing duties while he was gone, turning off all appliances that needed and screwing back in the filter once everything had been nice and soaked. You had already started to count the coins before closing, so the final cash out didn’t take too long.

You were doing some extra tasks to help out the opening staff for the following day, when a rattle of a knock was heard on the glass of the front door.

Jumping in your skin at first at the surprising noise, quickly calming down when you saw Harry waving at you through the window. Fast step over to the door, you propped it open for him so that he could slide the bigger than you remembered canvas inside.

He had it wrapped in brown paper to protect the outside, leaning it over the wall by the door as he ran a hand through his hair that had fallen over his forehead.

“That was fast,” you said, making sure you re-locked the door after letting him in.

“It’s close by,” he shrugged, grabbing hold of the wrapped canvas once more as you helped him bring it around the counter. “Are you all done with everything?”

“Yes – and I texted my boss and she said it's no problem to stay a bit later to put this up tonight.”

You grabbed the small folding step stool from the back, along with the tool kit that you hoped contained everything that was needed.

“Here we go,” you placed the box over the counter. “What did you need?”

“Screws, if you have them.” He hovered close next to you, watching as you rifled through the various things. “They’re better at holding up canvases – more stable.”

“Aha,” finding a little bag that contained a couple dozen screws, all of various lengths and sizes. Harry fished out a few of them, deciding that three should be enough for the frame to hang off of.

You watched as he vaguely measured out the wall and where to place the screws, promising that he knew what he was doing and wouldn’t end up with unnecessary holes in the wall.

Lifting yourself up to sit over the counter as he got the screws into the wall, occasionally leaning forward to hand him whatever he needed. Once he was done getting the wall ready, you watched as he hoisted the painting up in order to hang it up evenly.

“Does that look good?” He called with a glance over his shoulder, prompting you to step back and see if it sat leveled over the wall.

“Move it over a bit to the left,” you called, seeing as he followed your suggestion. “That’s good.”

He hopped off the short step ladder, joining your side to check how the painting looked on the wall. “It looks really good up there.”

You simply nodded, admiring the way it already made the space warmer. It was large, covering a good chunk of the otherwise bland space.

“What gave you the idea?”

Falling to the side to rest your hip against the counter, Harry followed your motions as if you were tethered together and he couldn’t stand being too far away.

“It’s kind of a full circle – no?” You hummed, resting a hand over the counter that he quickly picked up in his, mindlessly playing with your hand as you spoke. “I mean the first time you came in, you asked me how to get your art up there. And now…”

Trailing off, the thought finishing itself as you had gotten one of his paintings on the walls indefinitely.

He was quiet for a moment, a moment long enough that it had you glancing over at him. He had his eyes trained to the side of your face, a dreamy look in his eyes.

“What?” You mumbled with a little laugh, when he didn’t say anything.

He shook his head, eyes flicking between yours and the newly hung painting. “Nothing, it’s just, I – I adore you, you know that?”

You sighed blissfully, a smile playing on your mouth. “Hm.”

“Hm?” He repeated back to you with a laugh, turning around you so that he could face you. His hips bumping with yours, he made it impossible for you to avoid his stare. “What do you mean by ‘hm’?”

He was invading your every sense, a welcomed invasion to you. Dipping his head down to skim his nose over your jaw, letting your hands fall to their place over his shoulders.

“How do you feel?” He breathed against your skin, lips nudging over you. Your hand pressed over his chest, pushing him back the slightest bit so that you could see him.

You played with the hem around the neckline of his shirt, looking into his heavy gaze. “Can’t get enough of you.”

He blinked slowly, forehead resting against yours. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” you hummed happily, palms sliding over his shirt covered chest. “I don’t want… any more miscommunication, you know? I wanted to know, just how things are with us…?”

A smile teased his lips. “Are you asking me if we’re together?”

“Well…,” you hesitated, before straightening out your spine. “I am.”

“Do you want to be together?”

“You’re really good at turning questions back on me, you know that?”

He laughed, forehead moving from yours as he brought hand to cup your jaw, thumb brushing over your cheek. “You do it more than I do, know that?”

He followed his words with a nudge of your nose with his mouth, quick lick over the skin.

“Stop that,” you mumbled, turning your head away from him but not having much room to do so as he kept a grasp around your jaw.

“Stop what?” He brushed over your cheek, teasing you with light kisses over your face.

“Just,” you dug your fingers into the fabric of his shirt, nudging him against you as he pulled his face away from yours for a brief moment. “Kiss me.”

His lips curved upwards once more, eyelids fluttering as he leant back in. “Whatever you say.”

Slipping your hands around his neck, pulling him closer to you as your smiling mouths met. He easily held you against him, free hand wrapping around your back. Lips easily parted as soft kisses were shared. Breaking apart for a brief second as he nudged your upper lip with his before firmly capturing your mouth.

Nails tapping along his jawline, pulling him as close as possible as your mouth followed the path of your fingers. Tips of his hair tickling your nose, your teeth grazed his earlobe before whispering. “I’m yours.”

A shaky breath was heard from his still parted mouth, moving his head back so that he could meet your eyes. “Everything –” he said “– the world is yours, know that? Including me.”

He didn’t waste another second, mouth trapping yours once again after your shared confessions. He pushed himself oh so close, drawing out a quiet whine from your throat as his lips grew greedy.

Peppering kisses to the corner of your mouth, teeth grazing over your chin before making a line of wet kisses over your jaw. A Kate Bush song played on the speakers, you didn’t have the capacity to remember it at the moment.

Eyes briefly parting open, remembering where you were. “You know everyone outside can see us, right?”

He paused at your words, glancing up at the slightly fogged windows that covered the front of the café. The sky hard turned a dark shade of blue, bright lights coming from inside of the café meaning anyone walking by outside could see you. “Not too worried about them.”

You shook with a quiet laugh, a brief shove to his chest as he kept you hugged to his body. “Plus the counter hides our bottom half anyway so –”

“Harry,” you laughed louder now, shaking your head. “My boss could check her security cameras at any moment.”

“Fine, fine” he stuck his bottom lip out.

Your fingertips traced mindless trails over his neck, pressing a lasting kiss over his mouth to keep him quiet.

Harry fell from your front, keeping an arm around your back with his side still pressed close to yours. “Looks good up there,” he hummed lightly, nodding his head towards the painting.

“You painted it.” You followed his eyeline, glancing up at the large canvas.

“But you inspired it – really mean it you know.”

“Mean what?”

“The world is yours.”

Your head fell against his shoulder, taking a moment to rest together as both of you faced the painting. Arms crossing as you held each other close, the warm light of the café flowing through the windows and to the street outside.

The two of you nearly mirrored the painting that hung proudly, soft touches of affection that could only be seen from outside if someone was really paying attention. If one were to be walking past on the street, they would see nothing but a warm reflection of growing love. And just as the title of the painting: you could stay there for hours. And you did.

la fin. (for now).

thank you to everyone who has read and enjoyed my little story, it really means the world to me💞  come by and chat if you’d like, and until next time !

[kingandfireheart]

I don't know if this is a trope or not but I was wondering if youve any recs for books where the girl hasn't been with any one before/knows very less about s*x and then the guy comes along and he shows her what she's been missing? Like with casteel and poppy!!

Hi nonnie!! I've got some recommendations, but I'm also asking my mutuals to chime in . [Mutuals, please advise with recommendations!]

FBAA is pretty high on my smut scale - the sex is described explicitly and there's some kinky shit happening. A lot of YA books I've read have a bunch of build up and then will fade to black when it comes to actually intimate scenes. (I'm assuming you're familiar with the The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black and the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J Mass ).

Here are some books (mostly new adult or adult genre) I read recently that may fit what you're looking for:

[I mention virginity in these, just to answer the question properly, but I just want to put it out there that it is a social construct and sleeping with people is not something that indicates character. idk how old anon is, and I don't want you to feel any pressure to read about/have sex until you're totally ready. I'm the mom friend, I had to include the disclaimer. Come talk to me if you have questions. I promise I'm nice.]

Smut levels are based on taco bell sauce packets so in order: mild (not a lot of detail), hot (detail but I can probably keep a straight face while reading), fire (my apple watch is telling me to breath because my heart is racing).

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston is a modern romance (with some time travel), where the MC is a 23 year old bisexual virgin who meets a girl on the train and falls in love. The writing in this book is excellent, and a lot of the more intimate scenes are mentioned in passing, but August does have her world rocked. [smut level: medium]

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova is an arranged marriage Hades/Persephone fantasy romance, where the MC hasn't been kissed prior to the start of the book. She is whisked away to marry the Hades character, and spend a lot of time learning about magic. This isn't a smutty book, but the few love-scenes are satisfying and fun! [smut level: mild]

Radiance by Grace Draven is an arranged marriage fantasy romance and features one of the healthiest relationships I've read in a long long time. The MC is not a virgin, but didn't enjoy her prior experience, and the first love scene is really well done. The whole book is wonderful. [smut level: like 2 scenes but they are hot]

The Mistake by Elle Kennedy is a modern college romance, where the girl is a virgin, but isn't completely inexperienced prior to the first intimate scene in the book. The guy is a veritable player, and knows exactly what he's doing, but is a bit emotionally constipated. The whole series is about a bunch of white college roommates [they play hockey at a fictional new england ivy league school] who start the series as major players and end with steady girlfriends, so it's not unpredictable at all. They are terrible, which obviously means, I love them. [smut level: fire]

The Deal by Elle Kennedy is a part of the same series (it actually comes before the Mistake). Same general premise: college hockey player who is allergic to relationships convinces girl in his ethics class to tutor him. Shenanigans ensue. I don't want to be too spoiler-y, but I feel like I have to explain why I'm including it here. [TW mentions of past rape and physical assault] The MC is not a virgin, but has struggled finding physical pleasure in past relationships, because she was raped several years prior to the start of the book. The first few intimate scenes are really earth-shattering for her (in a good way), because she's able to work through some of her struggles. [smut level: fire]

The Dare by Elle Kennedy is a tangentially related book (its fourth in the second set of books about hockey players at the same university). It's about a college hockey player who is known for his fuckboy status, and a plus sized-sorority girl, who end up fake dating. Conor is dealing with imposter syndrome after he transferred from LA to escape his past, and Taylor is just trying to escape her sorority sisters relatively unscathed. Shenanigans ensue. Essentially Conor tries (and succeeds) to seduce Taylor, and she finally feels comfortable enough to be vulnerable with him. [smut level: fire]

Shatter Me by Tareheh Mafi is a dystopian romance about a girl who hasn't really been touched her whole life, and so all of her romantic/sexual moments are a bit life-changing for her. [SPOILER: she doesn't have sex until the third book]. This series is a piping hot mess, and while the writing is gorgeous, the actual plot (especially books 4-6) made me want to pull my hair out. If you read this series, I recommend you end with Ignite Me, unless you really love the characters. [smut level for book 3: medium]

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalo hasn't been released yet, but I KNOW this book is going to have Poppycas AKOFAF vibes. The first book, Kingdom of the Wicked, is about a witch living in Italy who summons a hell prince to help her solve her twin sister's murder. There is one steamy make-out scene, but the sequel is supposed to be written for the NA genre, and include a lot more intimate moments. The sneak preview of the first two chapters already has some steamy scenes! [smut level for book 1: mild, book 2: i'm aspirationally saying fire]

If anyone else has recommendations, please reply to this post and help anon out!!

Recommended by mutuals:

The Roommate by Rose Danan (recommended by @noonewhoislikeyou) [link to book description because I haven't read it] [update I read it and this whole series focuses on sex workers and is really good]

Anyway, thanks for coming here and asking me! If other people send recs, I'll compile a list for you!

[love-bokumono-fics]

WIP Wednesday - Trio of Towns

Trio of Towns has no shortage of wonderful works that are in progress. Some of them I know are years in the making and I always look forward to an update.

So here's hoping you find a new story to love!

If you're reading or writing a Trio of Towns WIP that didn't get featured today, please feel more than welcome to drop it in the Submission box and share with the rest of us! (When I only share 10 fics at a time, there's always something that's bound to be missed.)

Two in One - by PineconeTheKitten; WIP, 1/?, 1.3k

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Categories: F/M, M/M, Multi

Fandom: Trio of Towns

Relationships: Ford/Wayne, Female Farmer/Ford, Female Farmer/Wayne; Characters: Female Farmer, Ford, Wayne, Dessie, Inari, Witchie

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Fusion, Magic Revealed, Gods, Goddesses, Spirits

Summary: Ford and Wayne were once two people. Now they aren't. Holly doesn't know what to do. As it turns out, Ward is pretty into Holly, and she into him.

Two Individuals in Love can be Asexual, a Case Study - by chickadeequill; WIP, 1/?, <1k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandom: Trio of Towns

Relationship: Farmer/Ford; Characters: Ford, Female Farmer, Wayne

Additional Tags: Asexual Relationship, Romantic Fluff

Summary: After years of painstakingly avoiding romance, the town's eligible and single doctor Ford finds himself facing a simple question: is there room in his life for love? It seems the hardworking farmer just past the crossroads is still single as well, and Ford just can't figure out why she keeps declining advances from the other eligible singles in all three towns.

Watered-Down Ideals - by LemWrites; WIP, 3/?, 4k

Rating: Not Rated; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Categories: M/M, Multi

Fandoms: Trio of Towns

Relationships: Farmer/Ludus; Characters: Original Male Character(s), Frank, Megan, Hector, Colin, Noel | Noelle

Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Self-Esteem Issues, Slow Burn, Fluff, Self Confidence Issues, ADHD, I gave a farmer adhd and anxiety, this may have more projection then intended

Summary: Join Steve, the newly appointed farmer in the Trio of Towns world, on a journey full of; useless gay pinning, being a disaster, self hatred and more!

Earth and Rebirth - by TheBeckster; WIP, 17/?, 66k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Categories: Multi, Gen

Fandoms: Trio of Towns

Characters: Holly | Nanami, Frank, Marlena, Wayne, Ford, Lisette, Brad, Carrie, everyone

Additional Tags: Undecided Relationship(s), Additional Tags to Be Added, lots of headcanons, Minor Character Death, Eventual Friends to Lovers, I'm not going to tag every single character, but they will all have a part in the story, Grief/Mourning, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Slow Burn, Pregnancy, Unplanned Pregnancy, New friends and found family, world building, Angst with a Happy Ending, Holly is an extrovert, endgame ship tbd, Cover Art

Summary: Holly considered herself fortunate to be living about as close to the dream as any young twenty-something could. A great family, a loving husband, and well, she'd admit their apartment was awful, but they'd be moving onto bigger and better things soon enough. She truthfully couldn't wish for more. But when an accident rips it all away from her, Holly finds herself seeking a change of scenery. Her Uncle's farm out in the middle of nowhere is the perfect place for her to hide to mourn. A familiar story with a twist or two.

Fire and Dew - by Juliko; WIP, 9/26, 73k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Trio of Towns

Relationship: Yuzuki/Original Character(s)

Characters: Original Female Character(s), Yuzuki, Sumomo, Lisette, Colin, Wayne, Brad, Carrie, Shizu, Yaichi, Tatsumi, Omiyo, Umekichi, Lynn, Marlena, Daryl | Darius, Ittetsu, Moriya

Additional Tags: farming, Slice of Life, Drama, Family Drama, Family Issues, Autism, Autism Spectrum, Originally Posted on FanFiction.Net, Original Character(s), Major Original Character(s), Female Character of Color, Friendship, Male-Female Friendship, Friendship/Love, Past Child Abuse, Child Abuse, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Eventual Romance, Romance, Slow Build, Slow Burn, Slow Romance, Humor, Eventual Happy Ending, Comedy, Friends to Lovers, Adoption, Sick Character, Lulukoko characters won't appear in this fic, Falling In Love, Dorks, Ableism, Happy Ending, Romantic Fluff, Break Up, Past Relationship(s), Cows, Chickens, Sheep, Rabbits, Flowers, Stimming, Family Fluff, Bisexual Female Character, Pansexual Character, Lesbian Character, Children, Childhood Memories, Childhood Trauma

Summary: For as long as she could remember, Harper Leigh Maxwell's dream has always been to become a farmer, but her father's job makes it hard to do so, since it involves lots of moving. After graduating from college, she finally decides to take a chance and get her own farm. She's determined to make the most of this opportunity and do what she's wanted. In the process, she makes new friends, learns many new things, and faces many hardships. One of the friends she makes is Yuzuki Fujiwara, a mellow, sweet natured man from the town of Tsuyukusa who doesn't have the best constitution. The two of them form a strong connection that may even end up blossoming into love. But Harper's past might make things complicated, and when it threatens to catch up with her, she may find herself facing the demons from her pre-adoption early childhood. This is the story of two different people, with different interests, passions, and paths in life, walking the same dirt road every day...

Tiny Steps to Big Leaps - by Distracteddiddlin; WIP, 29/?, 28k

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: Other

Fandom: Trio of Towns

Relationship: Ford/Holly | Nanami; Characters: Ford, Holly | Nanami, Brad, Wayne

Additional Tags: Fluff, Developing Relationship, surprise parenting, rating and tags will update, NB Farmer, Idiots in Love, Wet Dream, Love Confessions, oh it's fucking started now, Mildly Dubious Consent, for like the smallest split second

Summary: Me while writing this months ago: what if I did that that Ford/farmer fic again but with a twist? Basically it's what if Ford accidentally became a single dad after the farmer meets him

Stranded - by TheBeckster; WIP, 2/?, 4k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: Gen

Fandoms: Trio of Towns

Relationships: Ludus & Siluka, Ludus & Iluka, Iluka & Siluka; Characters: Ludus, Iluka, Siluka, Tototara, Zahau, Caolila

Additional Tags: all aboard the childhood trauma boat!, Pre-Canon, Peril, Wilderness Survival, Mild Blood

Summary: Desperate for an adventure to break up the interminable boredom of a long summer, three kids set to the high seas and get way more adventure than they ever hoped for or wanted. AKA: Let's explore the Lulukoko Trio's shared childhood trauma!

Trio Of Towns - Figuring Out Love - by vampireprincess624; WIP, 6/?, 5k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: Multi

Fandom: Trio of Towns

Relationship: Ford/Pixie; Characters: Ford, Pixie, Wayne, Brad, Lisette, Carrie, Noelle, Colin, Miranda, Frank, Megan, Hector, Other(s)

Summary: Pixie Fawn is left with a mess she has to sort out after leaving Ludus at their wedding because Ford, who had been away for seven months, appeared as a guest. But how is fixing things with the stubborn doctor more difficult than sorting things out with her ex husband-to-be? Are they destined to be friends or will their stronger feelings for each other lead to love? A lot of Ford/Pixie scenes where they figure out their love for each other. This is Part 3 to my series, Life In The Towns, and I strongly advise you read Part 1 (or at least the last few chapters) before this, but it should still make sense anyway. Hope you enjoy :)

The House That We Built - by CherryQDoodles; WIP, 2/?, 8k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandom: Trio of Towns

Relationships: Holly | Nanami/Ludus; Characters: Ludus, Original Characters, Lulukoko Villagers, Westown Villagers, Tsuyukusa Villagers

Additional Tags: Slow Burn, story building, Learning from the Past, Tons of fluffy moments, farmlife shenanigans, Festivals, Romance, Dark skinned MC, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Summary: Nicola knew as soon as she was able to talk that she was very different from the family she was raised in. From her dark skin to her snow white hair she stuck out as the black sheep, but she loved them like they were her blood, and vice versa. But Nicola always dreamed of wanting more: to become a farmer. Growing crops, raising animals and everything in between! She just had to convince her father that she could handle the hard work within two years time. Follow Nicola's journey to becoming the best farmer she dreams of, and her adventures in the Trio of Towns!

Ford's Roses - by thelighthouse33; WIP, 5/?, 3k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandom: Trio of Towns

Relationship: Farmer/Ford; Characters: Ford, Female Farmer, Wayne, Megan, Frank, Miranda, Carrie, Brad, Lisette, Noel | Noelle, Colin

Additional Tags: My First Work in This Fandom, better late than never, Ford x Holly, Story of Seasons Trio of Towns, Harvest Moon - Freeform, Gaming

Summary: This is a story of how the doctor of Westown, in charge of The White Capsule Clinic, falls in love with the new farm girl...

[choicesficwriterscreations]

The Royal Romance - 2023 Masterlist 1 / 4

18+ = Adult Content/18+ 🔥 = NSFW/18+ Only

List 2, beginning April 15, 2023, can be found here.

April 2023

Week ending April 1, 2023 Week ending April 8, 2023

March 2023

Week ending March 25, 2023 Week ending March 18, 2023 Week ending March 11, 2023 Week ending March 4, 2023

February 2023

Week ending February 25, 2023

Week Ending February 18,2023:

Complicated Couples: Applewood | Various Pairings - @angelasscribbles

Happy Galentine's Day | TRR F!MC, others - @bebepac

Maxwell's Holly Jolly (Series) | Liam Rys x Maxwell Beaumont - @harleybeaumont Part 3 18+

Smoke and Mirrors (Series) | Liam Rys x F!MC - @tessa-liam Chapter 4: As the Smoke Clears

Vancross (Series) | Liam Rys x F!OC - @ao719 Chapter 11: Keep Falling For You 18+

Yoga Pants: A Three Weeks in Ramsford Drabble | Drake Walker - @angelasscribbles 18+

Week Ending February 11, 2023:

Maxwell's Jolly Holiday (Series) | Liam Rys x Maxwell Beaumont - @harleybeaumont Part 1: Anything Can Happen if You Let It 18+ Part 2: Like Something is Brewing, About to Begin 18+

Second Chance Romance (Series) | Liam Rys (King Marquise) x F!MC - @khoicesbyk Chapter 23: Deciding Factor 18+

Spider Drake: A Bad Romance One Shot | Drake Walker x F!MC, Maxwell Beaumont x F!MC - @angelasscribbles

Week Ending February 5, 2023:

Best Kept Secrets (Series) | Liam Rys x F!OC - @ao719 Chapter 9: Nothing for Sure 18+

Hope - @angelasscribbles

Midnights Like This (Series) | Leo Rys x F!OC, Liam Rys x MC - @queenrileyrose Chapter 4: Haven't Met the New Me Yet 18+

Praise the Lord | Maxwell Beaumont @dcbbw

Run Away: A Bad Romance One Shot | Rashad x Riley - @angelasscribbles 18+

Savage Love (Series) | Liam Rys x MC, Drake Walker x MC - @angelasscribbles Chapter 28: Both 18+ 🔥

Smoke and Mirrors (Series) | Liam Rys x MC - @tessa-liam Chapter 3: What's Important 18+

January 2023

Week Ending January 28, 2023:

Bad Dream: A Bad Romance One-Shot | Multiple Pairings - @angelasscribbles 18+

Blinded Lines (Series) | Liam Rys x MC, Drake Walker x F!OC - @queenmiarys 18+ Part 2

Marabelle | Liam Rys x F!OC, Maxwell Beaumont x M!MC - @tessa-liam 18+

Max's Room | Maxwell Beaumont x MC - @angelasscribbles 18+

The Best Ramsford Has to Offer | Maxwell Beaumont - @queenmiarys

The Pact (Series) | Liam Rys x F!OC - @ao719 Part 10 18+

What Happens in New York | Maxwell Beaumont, MC - @angelasscribbles

Week Ending January 21, 2023:

Change of Plans | Drake Walker x MC - @angelasscribbles

Irreplaceable (Series) | Leo Rys x MC, Liam Rys x Drake Walker - @queenrileyrose Chapter 26: For Me, It's You

Love Everlasting (Series) | Liam Rys (Marquise) x MC - @khoicesbyk Chapter 8: Mortal

The Other Nevrakis (Series) | Drake Walker x F!OC - @harleybeaumont Chapter 28: Take My Hand 18+

Smoke & Mirrors (Series) | Liam Rys x MC Chapter 2: I Will Fight for You 18+

Week Ending January 14, 2023:

Heir Apparent (Series) | Drake Waler x MC, Liam Rys x MC (Past) - @angelasscribbles Chapter 19: Going Public 18+

Polo! | Drake Walker x F!MC - @karahalloway 18+

The Pact (Series) | Liam Rys x F!OC - @ao719 Part 9

Vancross (Series) | Liam Rys x F!OC - @ao719 Chapter 10: We'll Get There Together 18+

Week Ending January 7, 2023

[theartoflovingthomashunt]

HWU111: aka All Quiet on the Celestial Front

[Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer Masterlists] [Hollywood U]

Pairing: Alex x Thomas Hunt Other characters mentioned: May Gordon (reporter), Ben Parks, Mike Tanner, Holly Chang, Bianca Stone, Desiree Stone, Anders Stone Book: Hollywood U   Word Count: ~600

This is part of my #HollywoodHacks Series (a Hollywood U/#LoveHacks crossover with Ben Park). You can read the series premise and view the masterlist here.

It has been some time since I've worked on this series. Since I figured most people forgot about it, I thought I would write a gossip news article about some of the things that have happened so far in the series as a fun version of a recap post. This "article" acts as a quick way to catch up before the last few chapters. If you haven't read the series, feel free to jump in now or catch up. This covers the "newsworthy" and public moments from the series but doesn't address anything that happened in private (i.e. all the tender moments between Hunt and Alex).

All Quiet on the Celestial Front by May Gordon

Shortly after casting herself as the lead in her own production, Alex Spencer and the crew of "Centarus Lost" have seemingly gone dark. Little is known about the production of the Thomas Hunt directed "Centaurus Lost". Sources close to the film have refused to comment on its progress (or perhaps, lack thereof?).

Since its inception, "Centaurus Lost" has been plagued with setbacks and scandals. Trouble on set led to the ousting of former lead writer Mike Tanner. This left the film with an incomplete narrative when the team decided to drop Tanner's contribution upon his exit. Instead, they opted for a rewrite that overhauled the story and conveniently put Spencer in a newly created starring role, thanks to the collaboration between rising star, Holly Chang and first-time screenwriter, Ben Parks. Following the departure of Tanner, "Centaurus Lost" also saw the loss of their lead set designer and lead makeup artist. All three former "Centaurus Lost" members were recruited by rival Bianca Stone's upcoming feature, "#QueenB" (more on her upcoming project below). "Centaurus Lost" marks the first outing as a producer for Spencer, the first entry into Hollywood's mainstream for newcomer Parks as a co-screenwriter, and the first post-retirement film for director Hunt—the once-famed and celebrated auteur. If all of that was not enough, the project also boasts the first collaboration between paramours, Spencer and Hunt. As previously reported last month, Spencer, who made headlines when her student-professor relationship with Hunt was outed, found herself in a new scandal when reports leaked that she and Parks were carrying on an affair. Rumors circulated about the potential love triangle between Hunt, Spencer, and Parks. This isn't a first for Spencer; she was previously linked with superstar Chris Winters before moving up to Hunt. Is history repeating itself? Has Spencer left the aging Hunt for the promise of a younger, more talented heartthrob? No further information has been made available at this time. All parties and their respective representation have declined to comment on the ongoing speculations. (Although, this reporter wonders if a lack of denial isn't an admission in disguise.) Over the past several weeks, the production has closed ranks and enacted a total social media blackout for all cast and crew. Little to no information has leaked. What does this mean for the film? Are they hiding a diamond in the rough or covering up a complete dud? Will their intergalactic journey reach new heights or flop into a decaying orbit? With the deadline for submission to the Hollywood Elite Festival looming, fans are curious what fate is written in the stars for this team. In related news, rumor has it that fellow Hollywood U student Bianca Stone's film will have a standout premiere at the festival. Sources allege that the Stone-produced film, "#QueenB", has all the makings of a new classic. Stone is the daughter of Hollywood's infamous Anders Stone and sister to award-winning actress, Desiree Stone. With her reputation on the line will the younger Stone take home her first gold at the festival? It is no secret that Spencer and Stone have had their fair share of public confrontations. They previously competed for the spotlight when the Stone-led "Sisterhood" went up against the Spencer-led "Permanent Wounds". The first battle unanimously went to "Permanent Wounds", which has since cemented its place in film history with its unprecedented award wins for an underdog production. As tensions between these two have only heated up since what will this next match-up hold? Will Stone emerge victorious as rumors predict, or will Spencer prove she's more than a pretty face (with exquisite taste in men)? Things are about to get interesting! Mark your calendars, The Hollywood Elite Festival is coming soon!

Prompts:  "rumor has it" ~@choicesmonthlychallenge

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