#i am begging liam to be so gentle

[viiriidiian]

“i don’t think i’ve ever felt so small”

“do you have someone?” [the longest, heaviest pause known to man] “…no.”

“orym sees will and keyleth and flashes of the last 12 hours in his mind”

i am making Direct Eye Contact with liam obrien.

[eliasorchard]

William tying our hands / gagging us with his red tie 👁️👁️

highkey steamy sex, p in v, use of belt as constraints and tie as mouth gag, fingering, reader has afab body features.

UAGSHSHS it's been so long since i've written smut. i hope you enjoy. thank you for the request, anon :)

"sit down, (name)." william's back faces you, his hands busily twisting off the cap of a whisky bottle.

"don't order me around." you grit. "i am not your dog."

william's hand freezes, then he slowly turns around — resting against his office desk, and fingers curling round the edges. it's subtle, but his scarlet eyes are slightly narrowed.

he'd expected this anger from you. the remnants of your recent argument was still there, still present — simmering under your skin. and truthfully? it was the same for him.

"my darling," he says, the sarcasm imminent in his voice. "my dearest, my love.. will you please do me the honour of taking a seat? i wouldn't want to tire out your pretty legs."

a hesitant pause. "not in this way, anyway."

fuck, you hiss under your breath. that tone, so annoying. and what came after that was even more annoying.

you settle into the nearest chair, leaning back into it and crossing your legs. he approaches, offering you a glass. you glance at it. "i didn't come here for this. you know that."

"why are you here, then? i am exhausted from arguing."

"an apology."

william raises an eyebrow.

"give it to me." you state, and he scoffs — looking away.

moments linger in silence before he finally replies. "you're right." his expression softens, shoulders drooping as his eyes come to meet your own. he sets the glass of whiskey aside on the coffee table and slowly kneels, taking your hands in his. "i’m sorry. i understand now that my actions and words were wrong. the fault lies entirely with me, and i am truly, utterly sorry."

silence fills the room. you lean in. and kiss him. the world melts. against his trembling lips, you whisper: "forgiven."

william smiles against your mouth, feeling your hand on the back of his neck. you bring him in and kiss him. you kiss him hard. you kiss him again, then kiss him some more. and every time, he kisses you back, angling your lips together.

william's hands travel under you, holding you up. you wrap your legs around his waist. he takes you to his desk, sets you down. his head drops low to pepper kisses against your jaw. "open your mouth for me." he rasps, voice hoarse.

and you do. your lips part, letting your tongue meet with his. it's hot, you think. the room feels incredibly hot — or maybe it's just the kiss. maybe it's your bodies. they glide against each other and you can't help but let out a moan.

"too many clothes." you gasp, trembling hands trying to pop his shirt buttons. he lets out a shaky chuckle. "that's right. so let me, my love."

shirts are shed, and his hands rest over your ribcage, just below your chest, holding you close and steady. he dips his head, kissing the sweetest parts of your neck. but oh, he's taking his time — he's too slow, too soft.

you want him.

and you want him right now. a whine escapes you.

"liam—.." you whisper against the shell of his ear. he shivers.

"please, my dear." william pleads softly, pulling back slightly as he runs a hand through his blond hair. his brows are furrowed, breaths coming in unsteady gasps, with loose strands falling into his face. "be patient."

"no," you beg equally desperate. "right now.. please."

you can't help it — the growing arousal between your legs.

your fingernails dig into his back, rake into his skin, and a pained groan tears out of his throat — his expression twisting. he lets his head fall against your shoulder with a breathy sigh, nibbling on your exposed collarbone. and he holds apart your legs, grabbing fistfuls of your thigh pudge.

"(name)." his voice is raspy, dark, desperate — frustrated. he unbuckles his belt and with it, wraps it around your wrists, securing them with a firm but gentle grip.

and a legion of butterflies takes flight in your stomach as he tightens it. "no more, my dear." he skates his thumb along your cheekbone gently. "it hurts, you understand?"

your brows crease in frustration yourself. but you still nod.

"yes," you whisper sensually. "i do. and i'm sorry. i do."

"good." he presses a kiss to your forehead, pushes your panties to the side — and with the much present wetness, the penetration of two of his fingers is easy.

your jaw slackens, head tilting up while a moan of pleasure makes it past your lips. william takes the chance to turn his attention to your jaw and your neck in hot, frenzied kisses.

"god," you gasp as william continues with his ministrations, fingers pumping in and out of your pussy. "ah- shit. that feels so good." and your moans continue to get prettier, get even louder when he angles his fingers upwards — hitting that spongy, sweet spot over and over. his eyelashes flutter at the sounds you make, now he'd normally never muffle the lovely noises that escape your throat...

but the walls are thin, and he's sure his colleagues are in the other room working on something else entirely. he pulls his fingers out, and you let out a whimper of disappointment at the loss of the feeling of his fingers inside you.

that sentiment, however, shifts instantly when he lifts his red tie, holding it taut between his fingers. "bite down."

you blink in surprise, cheeks flushed. "what?" / "the tie, my love." william says, equally red. "clamp down on it."

hesitantly, you part your lips and bite down on it. his gaze is intense, and you can sense his approval when he smiles. the way you manage to look gorgeous, even as your mouth is stuffed with his red tie makes him chuckle. he leans in, whispering against your ear. "you're beautiful."

you gulp, feeling the tips of your ears turn bright red as william align his tip against you. he lets out a shuddering breath, burying his face in the crook of your neck as he slowly, very gently bottoms out inside of you.

"hngh." william whimpers, gripping onto your waist. he's sure he's covered in the most vibrant shades of vermillions. you feel amazing around him. "you feel so good.. so warm."

a moment passes, letting the both of you get used to each other before william begins to move. "ah..! fuck," you gape, blinking furiously. the friction is lovely — the way he rolls his hips, the motion, the speed — nothing could be better.

william snaps his hips against yours, the loud stuttering of his skin against your's makes him realise how ineffective the gag in your mouth really is. "hah...! (name), my darling—" he pants, adjusting his position for better support, he hooks one of your legs over his shoulder, angling your hips slightly sideways as he picks up on the pace — grip on your hips firm and pulling you closer as he meets your movements.

"mmph," you're seeing stars, and you don't know what you're pleading for exactly, but you know the previous tension between the two of you has completely dissipated.

something pools in your stomach, warm and tingly and you know you're close — so close. william picks up on that, too, and his thrusts further intensify.

you want to hold something, anything to ground yourself—but your hands are tied, the leather cool around your wrists.

"liam, liam, liam," his name comes out in muffled chants, almost incompressible with the tie stuffed in your mouth over and over. the knot within you snaps, and everything releases like a dam. your orgasm washes over you, blurring your vision with white, and triggering his own as he whimpers his own gasps of your name repeatedly.

"haa... haa..."

william collapses against you — his breath labored and huffing. the only thing that brings him back from ecstasy is the beating of your heart against his own, bodies still trembling lightly. "you... have a talent for driving me wild."

[starlightiing]

Everything Ends || M || Pierre Gasly & Nyck de Vries

Title: Everything Ends

Rating: Mature (Violence).

Warnings: Blood, light gore, character death.

Pairing: Gen, Pierre/Nyck if you squint

Based on this BEAUTIFUL. STUNNING. GORGEOUS. (tw blood!!!) Piece of art work from @allphatauri - I am begging you to go reblog the art, it is beautiful and I had the honor of watching it come alive before my eyes on stream in my F1 Server <333 This fic was heavily inspired by Nyck and Pierre's story. There may be a part two with Liam and Yuki's.... B)

His heartbeat roars in his ears the moment his eyes focus on Pierre. He’s sprawled on the ground almost like a ragdoll, skin pale and visibly clammy. The twitch of his chest is faint, barely-there, with breaths that come so quickly it makes Nyck feel like he’s the one starving for oxygen.

And perhaps he is. He realizes, now, that he hasn’t taken a breath since stumbling upon Pierre’s body.

In stark contrast to the paleness of Pierre’s skin are the splashes of deep crimson splattered across his chest and dribbling down from his lips. Nyck stumbles forward, his feet betraying his mind’s need to see and understand exactly what has happened by following his heart’s hesitance at experiencing Pierre’s last moments of life.

No, no, surely not. Surely there’s something –

“Pierre?” Nyck whispers, his voice gentle and weak as he pushes himself forward, trembling legs be damned. He collapses as soon as he makes it to Pierre’s side, taking in the magnitude of the wound. There is a gash in his chest he had not noticed before, angry and red and bubbling with every breath Pierre tries to take. The blood pouring from his lips makes sense, now, with the blunt force trauma to his chest so obvious.

His lungs - they must be -

“Pierre, Pierre, please.” Nyck tries again, his voice louder and more urgent as he reaches a quivering hand forward to test the pulse at Pierre’s neck. The beat is feather soft and all but non-existent, like his heart is merely whispering within the confines of his ribs instead of singing with power the way Nyck is so used to. The way he breathes sends a shiver down Nyck’s spine and straight to the core of his soul. The inhales are wet - gurgled and shallow, with a desperation of a rasp to pull air into lungs that may not have the space left in them for oxygen anymore. The exhales are almost worse, rattling with blood that continues to bubble out from the corner of Pierre’s lips. He is choking, suffocating, on the very same blood meant to keep him alive. 

Nyck swallows a mouthful of bile and nearly vomits on the spot. He moves his hand from Pierre’s neck to the side of his face, and only then do hazy, unfocused blue eyes flutter open to meet his gaze.

“Pierre! Hang on, okay? Just hang on. I will get someone to help, just - just don’t go anywhere.” it hurts too much to say ‘don’t die’ even if that is exactly what he means. There is a spark of recognition in Pierre’s eyes that lasts the span of a heartbeat, before that clarity becomes fear, and then that fear becomes chilling horror. Nyck’s blood runs cold at the expression on Pierre’s face, and he grabs his bloody cheeks between both of his hands. “Hey, it’s okay, it’s alright.”

“Run,” Pierre chokes, coughing up an alarming mouthful of blood. He barely manages to pull in a breath to finish his plea, “Please, run. Now.”

“What? I - I will, I will run and get help.” Nyck assures him, though the fear in Pierre’s eyes only seems to grow. Confusion settles over him like a thick and heavy blanket, one that has him trapped and struggling to squirm his way out. 

A soft flicker of movement twists the shadows around Pierre’s body, and Nyck whirls around so quickly it nearly makes his head spin. A gasp claws its way up from the back of his throat when his eyes settle on another presence, a man, looming over him far too close for comfort. He startles, scrambling backwards until his hand accidentally hits Pierre’s arm, and only then does he sober up enough to recognize the man’s face. The panic quells, and his frantic breaths begin to calm as he pulls himself back up to his feet.

“Christian! Please, Pierre – something’s happened to Pierre. We need to get him help, he can’t breathe.”

Christian remains stoically calm, and Nyck watches as his eyes trail down to Pierre, still struggling for air on the ground. Nothing flickers across his face, not one single flash of surprise, of pity, of empathy -

He merely watches Pierre for a moment, head cocked to the side in interest, before his eyes finally trail their way back up to Nyck.

“I’m afraid it’s too late for him, Nyck. He made his bed, and now he has to lie in it.”

“He…what?” 

At that moment, Pierre makes a strangled sort of sound, something that is suspiciously close to Nyck’s own name garbled through a mouth full of blood and breathless lungs. Nyck looks back down at him, noticing the way his chest no longer moves and his eyes, oh, god, his eyes - they’re glassing over. There’s still life left in them, a defiant spark against his fate, but it is merely a blip, destined to fade out.

Nyck feels Christian’s hands on him in the exact second Pierre’s eyes flutter closed, followed by a burst of fire and pain that erupts at the center of his neck. Just as soon as Christian’s arms had grabbed hold of him, they’re gone, and Nyck looks down to see blood pooling from his neck, dripping onto Pierre’s lifeless body on the ground. His heart roars viciously in his ears, pounding away and unhelpfully spilling more blood even quicker as his hands come up in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

“What did - what did you -” Nyck sputters, stumbling on his feet as blood crowds his throat and pours from him quicker than he can attempt to stop it. He turns, and Christian is gone completely from sight. It’s almost like he dreamed him up, like he was never really there at all.

But the gaping wound in his neck says otherwise. As quickly as the blood spills, so too does his consciousness and strength wane. He sways slightly, before his knees completely buckle and he falls listlessly to the ground, ragdolled next to Pierre. Fear ignites in his veins, a strong sense of self preservation running through him as he tries to push through. 

But mere will alone is not enough to fight the demons of blood loss. It is not enough to clear his airway or keep his heart pumping in his chest. It was not enough for Pierre, either, whose body is cooling rapidly beside Nyck. This is not where he wants to die, this isn’t where he wants things to end –

But, he thinks hopelessly, it surely wasn’t where Pierre wanted his life to end, either.

“P-Pierre…” Nyck gasps, coughing out blood with a horrendous gurgling sound. He can’t breathe, oh he can’t breathe, and is this what Pierre felt only moments ago when he was gasping like a fish out of water to pull anything into his crowded lungs? If Nyck had the energy, he would be sick. “Pierre.”

Logically, Nyck knows Pierre is already dead. He watched him take his last breath, with Nyck’s name pressed against his dying lips. He can see the stillness of his chest, and yet he still desperately calls for something, anything.

Anything he can have, anything his slippery, bloody little hands can grab on to, not to die alone.

“Pierre!” he calls out again, desperately, spitting blood from his mouth in the process. His next inhale provides him with a lungful of blood, and he begins to choke feebly against the same forces that took Pierre from him.

The struggle for air hurts more than he ever imagined it could, the way his chest burns and aches and spasms for oxygen that can no longer make it in. His entire body shakes viciously with the need to breathe, god he just wants to breathe -

It’s only a few moments later his head hits the ground right next to Pierre’s, his lips only centimeters away from the shell of Pierre’s ear. He heaves a dry sob, which makes it no further than the drowning mess of his crushed lungs, and wheezes out, “Please. I’m so sorry, Pierre.”

His heartbeat stumbles, falters, and then halts as soon as the words leave his bloodstained lips.

.

“I truly must thank you boys for your time, commitment, and service to Red Bull Racing and Alpha Tauri. Unfortunately for you, it seems you were just not compatible. Those services will no longer be needed, and may you take your shameful display of performances with you to your grave.”

[igot-the-juice]

The Scarred - Chapter 6

Masterlist

Summary - Penelope Miller works at a florist shop in Gotham, barely getting by in the corrupted city. Her life is shrouded by trauma and judgement with little light to find her way with. However, when a certain painted face starts making himself known to her, things take a turn.

The night air was gentle, forgiving as she walked the path upstairs. Her tired eye grew heavier with each step as she fiddled with the bunched up fabric of her turtleneck in an effort to keep herself awake. By the time she reached her floor she was practically sleepwalking, her feet almost sliding against the floor with what little energy she had left. When she reached the door she noticed that it was ajar and she huffed, lightly pushing it open.

“Liam, how many times -“

“Ah, there she is!” Penelope stilled after having slammed the door shut. Her head slowly turned to the direction of the unknown voice, face paling at the sight before her. “Just the girl I’m lookin’ for!” The green-haired criminal stood at her counter, setting down one of her few glass jars a little too roughly for her liking.

“For a while now.” Her voice was as even as she could make it, unwilling to let him know how terrified she truly was. The man knocked over a salt shaker with a gloved finger. He watched as she stared at him with a blank expression, however he caught a light glimmer behind it and it brought a wide grin to his face.

“You are an oddball, aren’t cha?” He began taking slow steps in her direction.

“You’re one to talk.” The Joker cackled, but it was far from genuine. He stopped just a few feet in front of her.

“It’s the scars, yeah?” He motioned to his mouth with a flailing wrist, but her eye stayed locked on his.

“Why are you toying with me?” Another cackle.

“Because you’re fun!” His laughter suddenly stopped and she pressed herself further against the door, trying to make it as subtle as possible. “I like fun.” The Joker’s tone had been deeper, sending a chill down her spine. “Everyone else is so,” He paused, motioning with his hands with a gaze cast upwards as he tried to find his words. “Boring.” His blackened gaze met with hers once more and he stepped closer, forcing her to crane her neck to look up at him. “They’re all the same. Begging for their lives, strikin’ a bargain, but you,'' He poked at her shoulder. “You haven’t even bat an eye.”

“I suppose I’ve been expecting you.”

“Kept ya on your toes, hm?” He leaned closer, growing intrigued.

“You could say that.”

“After all those nights and here I am, still keeping ya on those toes.”

“The whole city is on their toes.”

“Oh, they should be. But you’ve had your little - ah - friend to lean on.” Anger flashed in her eyes and he swayed on his feet in excitement.

“There ya are!” He turned away to walk further into her apartment. “For a moment there I thought you were, like, a sociopath or somethin’!”

“Like yourself?”

“Oh, no no no no no, exactly the opposite.” The Joker turned around to face her again. He pulled out a switchblade from his trench coat and flipped it open. “But I prefer creative.” He reached her faster than she could comprehend, cold metal held against her throat with just enough pressure as to not break the skin, but enough to where if she moved it surely would. His other hand pushed her into the door, placed against the top of her rib cage to have some form of control over her breathing. But she remained still. Patient. She looked him in the eye, daring him to do something. A challenge.

Her phone ‘ding’ed and her eye snapped to where her bag sat on the floor, the painted man’s own eyes never leaving her form. When she looked back at him he held a mischievous glint in his eyes that no one would be able to miss, hummed, then he suddenly removed the blade.

“Now, uh, I’m gonna leave so you can get back to your dear friend - uh - what was his name? Oh! Right, Liam,” The name was spat out in a mocking manner. Her eye widened ever so slightly and he backed away from her towards her window. “Very busy tonight! Hope you enjoyed your little - ah - birthday party.” He laughed as he crawled out onto the fire escape, the sound echoing in her ears.

She decided to wait a few minutes to ensure he had left to bolt towards Liam’s apartment, quickly yet quietly knocking on his door with a sense of urgency. It wasn’t until that moment that everything started to catch up to her, that her entire being started to shake and tremble, growing numb with fear. The door swung open and Liam’s eyes shot wide like saucers at the sight before him.

“Christ almighty!” He immediately grabbed her and pulled her inside, walking her in to close the door. He held her firmly by her shoulders as she tried to catch her breath, her hand limply fanning her face in a poor attempt to calm herself.

“Liam, he c - he came -!”

“Penny.” Her friend tried to get her to focus.

“He - he was there, he -!”

“Penny!” She stopped babbling and looked up at him, a tear making its way down her cheek. “Who came?” Her breathing stilled for a moment.

“The Joker.” The woman immediately noticed the panic in his eyes, but he remained calm for her sake. Liam walked her over to the couch and sat her down, leaving to get a cup of water for her. She shook her head in refusal and he set it on an end table nearby. She squeezed his torso for comfort, tears streaming down her face as she continued to shake. He looked down at the carpet of the living room as she cried, hands wrapped protectively around her. When it all started to fade Liam decided to speak, voice gentle.

“‘Ow did he get inside?” He heard her take a shaky breath before giving him a muffled reply.

“My door was cracked open… I thought it was you.” He sighed.

“Penelope,” The Irishman felt her tense. “Wha’ did he do to ye?”

“He -“ She swallowed. “He put a knife to my throat.” Liam took a deep breath to compose himself while she pulled away and looked up at him. “And yet here I am.”

“I’m assumin’ tha’s not all?” Penelope sighed and laid her head back on his chest. She listened to his heartbeat to calm herself, regulating her breathing.

“I asked him why he was doing all of this.”

“And?”

“He said that I was fun. That everyone else was boring because they all say the same thing when he pays them a visit, I’m guessing.” Liam rubbed her shoulder.

“Well, now ye know yer juss really lucky.”

“Until he gets bored of me.”

“There’s too much to ye to get bored of ye, I’m afraid.” The woman lightly punched him in the gut and he chuckled.

“I’m serious, Liam.”

“So am I.” The man looked down at her with a look of adoration. “‘E’s right, ye know?” Penelope slowly sat up from his chest to look at him. “‘Bout erryone bein’ borin’. There’s so much I ‘ave yet to learn ‘bout ye, an’ I know I’ll never know errythin’ ‘cause there’s always gon’ be somethin’ new wit’ ye. Erryone else I’ve met?” Liam scoffed. “Gimme a week wit’ em’ an’ I’ll know errythin’ there is to know. There’s no secrets, no adventure, no thrill. Ey!” Penelope made a noise and he gave her a warning look to show he was being serious. “Yer unpredictable. An’ tha’s exactly wha’ ‘e thrives fer. Tha’s why ‘e said yer fun.” Liam pointed a finger at her. “If I were ye, I wouldn’t be worryin’ ‘bout ‘im sayin’ yer fun. I’d be worryin’ ‘bout why he’s worried ‘bout ye bein’ fun.” Her brow twitched in both confusion and curiosity, lips parted.

“Penny?” The woman cast her eyes from her journal towards Emma, noticing her concerned expression.

“Hm?” Penelope sucked on her lip.

“You okay?” Emma noticed her eye glance off to the side. “You seem bothered.” Holding the same expression, she replied.

“I’m fine.” Her tight lipped smile was of no consolation to her friend. The brunette gently placed a hand over Penelope’s that gripped a pencil.

“Penny.” The woman in question gave a quick sniff.

“Just thinkin’ about that customer.” Emma sighed and took a seat on the stool beside her.

“He’s not going to bother you again, hun. He got what he came for. What’s done is done. Okay?” She gave Penelope an encouraging smile, but she wouldn’t take it.

“How are you so sure? How -“ She took a breath and fidgeted in her seat. “How do you know he won’t do anything?” Emma sighed again, but it had been more solemn.

“Truthfully?” She leaned back a little and folded her hands in her lap. “I don’t. But if he tries anything, then I’ll settle for smashing a vase over that bald head of his.” Emma then stood up and headed to the back room leaving Penelope to herself. She closed her journal and began to chew on her cheek in thought, tapping her pencil against the leather cover.

The woman sat in the waiting room of an average office, heart pounding against her chest as her leg bounced. Her eye burned into the carpet, lost in thought. She heard a door creak open and peaked to see her therapist waving her inside.

“Miss Miller.” The older woman greeted as they both took their seats. “Last time I saw you we talked about your habits, correct?” She watched her patient nod her head. “Have you reflected on that at all?” She was met with silence as Penelope met her eyes.

“You never asked me to reflect.” She mumbled.

“Well, I assumed you would after I mentioned them to you.” The therapist’s tone had grown passive aggressive and it hadn’t gone unnoticed. “Perhaps I should use a more direct approach this time.” She opened the notebook on her desk and began jotting down some notes. “Can you think of any off the top of your head, then? Maybe we can branch off from that?”

You keep biting your cheek like that, you won’t have one to bite on.

“I bite my cheek.” The pen scribbled down her words.

“And what do you think is the reason?” Penelope took a long, shaky inhale and begrudgingly looked at the grey haired woman. She couldn’t explain why, but when she met her eyes she felt frustration, pain. So, as her patient, she decided to let her know.

“Ms. May, if I’m not mistaken, you’re supposed to provide resources to help me, not make me question my own behaviors and feel bad about them.” The woman moved to speak, but Penelope continued. “You’re supposed to be a shoulder for me to cry on, someone I can trust. Someone who cares for me.” Water pooled along Penelope’s water line, leaning forward in her seat. “I’m trying not to think about my problems and yet you expect me to assume that you want me to ‘reflect’ on my habits outside of therapy knowing it would make me think even more about what the hell is wrong with me?” She watched as her therapist continued writing down notes and a wave of rage hit her. “Stop writing and listen to me!” Penelope cried out, tears finally falling.

Everything in the room stilled as the atmosphere thickened, and once Penelope was sure she had her attention she continued.

“I dread these sessions because I know you don’t care. Because I know I won’t get anything out of it. I’m just here to answer your questions so you can write your notes. But please. Give me something. Help me.” They held eye contact for a few moments and Penelope could see the hesitation in Ms. May’s eyes. Then she sighed.

“I can prescribe you medication. That’s the quickest way.” Penelope let out a breathless laugh in disbelief, looking away in disappointment. She quickly wiped off her cheek and stood up.

“I’ll schedule another appointment when I’m ready.”

[hurting-fictional-people]

Betrayal Story - part 5

This is it guys, this is why the characters got names! I hope y’all like it <3  

CW: branding, burning, forced to watch, emeto (pretty brief and only at the end), whumpee restrained to a table, nonsexual noncon touch, hurt no confort again but that will change eventually I promise lol

tagging  @thelazywitchphotographer @swift-perseides @whump-it-like-its-hot  @sunflower1000  @msrandonstuff @fromtheo-withlove  @boxofsilence  @lionhxartx @sometouchofmadness @paleassprince @livingforthewhump (let me know if you ever want me to stop or start tagging you ♡)

Part one is here, continued from here

-

Fire is strangely beautiful, Liam thinks, watching it flicker and dance in the hearth. A kind of painful beauty that hurts to see, the idea of touching it enough for gooseflesh to rise, but pretty nonetheless. 

He wishes he could be like fire. Not because of its beauty, but because it produces no shadow. No darkness comes from the flames, only light. And pain, when touched without notice. If he could be like that, only light and self-defense, maybe all of this wouldn’t hurt so much. Chase’s leaving, the dread of what each of his breaths might bring as time passes, the plummeting of his stomach every time he hears footsteps outside his room’s door. 

The flames crackle, and Liam wonders why it is he can’t shake the fear off, as he remembers the guards bursting into his room and pulling him out of bed, leading him outside as Liam pretended each step didn’t make him want to scream. That was minutes ago, and yet the fear still drums in tandem with his heart, pulsating turmoil into his bloodstream. Why feel fear when all it does is make things worse? Wouldn’t it be easier if he could just be at peace in those moments between pain, before it comes? But instead, his mind or his body or his soul decides to fill him with dread – only another layer of horror he cannot avoid.

Jonah was waiting for him when they brought Liam inside a weirdly cozy living room, leaning against the fireplace and watching Liam’s uncertain footsteps as he was pushed down to lie on a steel table placed in the middle of the room. Eyes glued to him as Liam was restrained until he could no longer move. His gaze went straight to the fireplace and stayed there since, watching the flames as memories of electricity, lighting up his every nerve until he nearly lost his voice to screaming, flashed before his eyes. The memory is still fresh enough to freeze him into not resisting. What a pitiful sight he must be.

“Hello there,” Jonah smiles, taking casual steps towards him and stopping by his side to watch from above, hands in his pockets as if having someone tied to a table in his living room is nothing out of the ordinary. “How are you today, Liam? Has your voice returned after our last encounter?”

He lifts his gaze to find the man’s eyes blinking innocently at him.

“You are sick,” Liam rasps out, shaky and small, but the words are there. He might be restrained and scared, but he is not broken. He isn’t. Right?

“That’s a yes, then. Very good, I like to hear you,” scream – he doesn’t even have to finish the sentence for the word to be heard. Liam feels sick. “Now let’s call our mutual friend, shall we?”

Liam narrows his eyes as Jonah types something on his phone. He can’t be talking about– 

“Chase!” Jonah says to the camera Liam only now notices a few paces away, held by another one of Jonah’s men. He tries to hear more, but Jonah comes so close to the camera and talks in such a low voice that all he grasps and holds on to is the name. 

Jaw clenched and stomach churning, Liam stares at the ceiling, letting the wave of bitter rage break against him without resistance. It wins the battle against fear for one moment, and that’s enough for him to seize it with every last bit of willpower. It is better to be angry than frightened, and he’s had enough of the latter for a lifetime.

The frantic beat of his heart turns into aching memories of Chase’s lies, promises of love he never intended to keep, each word meant to trick Liam into being a fool. Twice. Once months ago, then again when he genuinely, stupidly, hoped Chase would pick him instead of a job. Fucking ludicrous. 

But bitterness can only do so much to keep fear at bay, and when Jonah’s voice reaches his ears again, not even a minute later, it comes crashing back and flooding his veins with pointless adrenaline.

“He was a very good boy if you want to know. Just stood there, still and obedient as we buckled in the restraints,” he says to the camera, stopping beside Liam once more, placing a hand on his head. “Say hi to Chase, Liam boy.”

“Fuck you,” he spits. Fuck both of you, he means to complete, but Jonah’s hand is already closing on his hair, drawing out a pathetic little whimper from his lips.

“Language, Liam.”

He closes his eyes and waits for the hand to let go. It’s all he can do. Still, his hands twitch uselessly by his side, palms turned to the ceiling closing in fists, knuckles scraping against cold steel.

“I guess this is a lesson for both of you, then. For Chase to not be a prick and for you to behave better, my pretty plaything.”

Eyes snapping open, he glares up at Jonah, feeling indignation bubble up inside of him.

Jonah doesn’t even see it. He is too busy looking at his phone with an unamused expression before handing it to one of the guards. 

Is he talking to Chase? Is Chase delighting in seeing Liam like this, helpless and scared?

The part of him that refuses to give up entirely shakes its head, remembers gentle touches and tender gazes that couldn’t possibly have been faked. The other part, the one that grows each day he spends in this hell, purses its lips and scoffs at his naiveness. If Chase cared, he wouldn’t have left him here. 

“You know, if it wasn’t for Chase, this wouldn’t be happening,” Jonah says, painful grip turning into deceivingly soft fingers that run through Liam’s hair in mock sympathy. “He knew what I’d do if he pissed me off. So here we are again. It is always him, isn’t it Liam? It doesn’t matter how far Chase goes, he’s always the one causing you hurt.”

He tries to fight it. Of all the things he’s been put through, he fights the tears that prick his eyes. And just like everything else, he loses. They fall in warm drops down his temples as he turns his head, looks away into the fire again. No shadows there, nothing like the darkness seeping through the cracks of his heart, tainting his soul.

“Now for the fun part,” Jonah declares, sauntering to the fireplace, crouching down in front of it. Something entirely too close to panic pools in Liam’s stomach as he gets back up, holding two iron rods he’d dismissed as fire pokers. As Jonah approaches him, he can see with disturbing clarity how wrong he’d been – the rods’ bright-orange tips shine in intricate shapes. Letter shapes.

“J-Jonah,” he breathes, more sob than word, “please, please don’t.”

Jonah smiles at him, and without saying a word hands one of the brands to a guard before placing himself beside Liam’s exposed arm.

He tries to breathe, beg, say something, but every rational thought disappears as Liam follows the blazing hot shapes with wide eyes, gasping for air that refuses to fill his lungs.

He is almost there, the please I’ll do anything hanging from the tip of his tongue when the branding iron is lowered onto the delicate skin above his wrist. 

Burn could never describe the pain that steals every last bit of himself Liam tries to hold on to. Fire sinks into his skin, into muscle and bones until it reaches whatever lies within, and destroys everything in its path. He screams, cries and wails senseless pleads, but nothing passes through the ocean of agony he’s drowned in. 

He barely notices when the brand is pulled away.

He does when the second one is pressed onto his other arm though. 

Liam writhes and sobs, but there’s no escape, no mercy to be begged for. Only pain to feel, nothing, no one else but pain and pain and pain that swallows and dissolves the world into searing flames that hold nothing of whatever beauty he thought he saw.

-

You know, what really makes me mad isn’t even your fucking stupid idea of keeping things from me. It’s the shit job you did deleting those files. Who do you think I am, Chase?

That was all that waited for Chase when his phone buzzed, along with a link to a live stream instead of a video. No recording this time, no certainty that at least while Chase watches, Liam isn’t in pain anymore. 

“Chase. I see you’re faster now. Pity you’re no smarter,” Jonah sighed as soon as he clicked on the link. “But I won’t go into how fucking idiotic it was of you to delete half the information I asked you to get me,” he hissed, low and angry enough for Chase to feel the words as bugs crawling along his skin, up and down, circling his throat, ready to squeeze. “What’s happening here today is entirely on you. I hope you see and hear and remember every bit of it, sweetheart.”

He felt like screaming when Jonah closed his hand in Liam’s hair and made him yelp. The impulse to clench his fist until it shattered the phone was strong enough for Chase to connect the live stream to the television in his living room and bite on his lip when the image expanded and Liam’s terror became so painfully obvious.

One minute later, Chase nearly threw the phone at the wall when he called the man and Jonah simply looked down at his muted cell phone on the other side of the screen and handed it to someone else.

“You know, if it wasn’t for Chase, this wouldn’t be happening,” Jonah said, and Chase seethed, half anger and half guilt boiling inside of him. “He knew what I’d do if he pissed me off. So here we are again. It is always him, isn’t it Liam? It doesn’t matter how far Chase goes, he’s always the one causing you hurt.”

Chase dropped the phone in time to avoid crushing it, but the desk chair didn’t escape his rage. Its broken pieces fell on the other side of the room, doing nothing to soothe the horror building up in his stomach.

And then Jonah grabbed the branding iron, and Chase’s heart missed a beat at the sight, eyes widening in tandem with Liam’s.

“J-Jonah,” Liam choked out, “please, please don’t.”

“Jonah,” Chase said too, unable to hold it in just like anything else in his life, even if he knew he was the only one listening. There was never such a thing as restraint when it came to Liam. If only Chase had seen it sooner. “No–“

When the iron descended on that soft, silky, perfect skin above the restraint circling Liam’s wrist, Chase fell on his couch, legs too weak to hold his weight. 

Liam screamed, loud and raw and utterly hopeless, back trying to arch and being pulled back down by too tight restraints before it even left the table. His body spasmed, trying to escape the blaze, but there was nowhere to go, and it took only a moment for the despair to turn into sobs and tears.

It didn’t last more than a few seconds, but those would star Chase’s nightmares forever. Jonah pulled the iron off Liam’s now bright red skin, and Chase couldn’t bear to look at the letter-shaped burn. He also couldn’t help it. 

When Jonah exchanged the used iron with the second one, Chase felt bile rise in the back of his throat. “Please, p-please, please,” Liam begged, so little Chase barely heard it, so dazed he didn’t think Liam did either. 

He echoed it though.

“No, please don’t.”

But no one heard him, and the second branding iron was pressed to the inside of Liam’s other arm, and his mouth opened in a silent scream Chase heard nonetheless.

By the time the second one is pulled away, Chase is kneeling on the floor, hands covering his mouth and tears threatening to overflow.

It is nothing compared to Liam, though. His mouth hangs open even as the iron stops touching skin, and soft sobs wrack his slim body as his glassy eyes leak a constant stream of tears into his hair.

Chase doesn’t even move when Jonah’s voice leaves the speakers again.

“So? Do you like it?” he asks, a manic grin stretched across his lips as he points to Liam and the camera walks toward him. 

It focuses on his face first. Sweat, tears, pure agony written all over it. His eyes lay open and unfocused, lost to the pain. The image slides down to his heaving chest, restrained arms, until it stops above both his wrists.

Chase turns to the side and vomits at the sight. 

Two bright red burns mar the perfect skin he had once worshipped with lips and tongue and feather-light touches that never felt like enough. 

Jonah chuckles, and the live stream ends in that ghastly image of two letters forever engraved on Liam’s skin. Flourished and elegant, a C stands out on his right arm and an R on the left one. His initials. Chase Raymond. 

Chase pukes again, and then curls up on the floor and weeps.

(next)

[daddyissuesingreen]

Birthday (Liam Dunbar x Fem! Reader)

Gif Creds: @abominable-snowman-stilinski

Genre: Smut

Warnings: 18+, Smut, Swear words, I think that is it.

Request: @theshyprincess “Can I have a Liam Dunbar smut with a biracial reader first time for her 18 birthday 🎂”

Word Count: 1,352

Summary: Go Shawty, it’s your birthday😉

A/N: I don’t know how much I like this one. Also, I did not include the bi-racial part as I could not really find an appropriate place to mention it, but I hope you still enjoy it! 

“I heard you're feeling nothing's going right

Why don't you let me stop by?

The clock is ticking, running out of time

So we should party all night”

Every year my birthday has been a disaster and this year has been no different. 

Between fighting supernatural creatures to me figuring out I am in love with my best friend, Liam, today could not be more stressful.

At school it seems as though nobody remembers it is my birthday and I don’t know if it should bother me or not. Having low expectations means I have little chance of being disappointed, but what am I supposed to feel when even my low expectations aren’t met?

As if on cue Liam yells at me from down the hall, “Happy Birthday, Y/N!” I of course laugh. 

“Thank you, Liam!” I shouted back while walking to him.

“So any big plans tonight, Birthday Girl?” he places his arm around my shoulder.

“Should I even try to make plans? Any regular plans I make get interrupted by something supernatural.” I laugh and move his arm off my shoulder, hoping he won’t think anything of it.

“It is the day of your birthday, which also, conveniently, happens to be a Friday and you haven’t even planned a party?” he looks at me baffled, “That just means I will have to do it and quickly, we are gonna party all night.” Liam smiles at me.

“Ugh. Whatever you say, but leave me out of the planning, I am already stressed as it is.” I chuckle and walk to my class.

“So cover your eyes, I have a surprise

I hope you got a healthy appetite

If you wanna dance, if you want it all

You know that I'm the girl that you should call” 

Liam insisted on being the one to drive me to the party so I could not run away. I laugh at the thought of him going to all of this trouble just for my birthday, it is sweet, but to others might seem to be a bit much coming from their best friend. 

We arrive at the location and as I am opening my door, Liam stops me. 

“Wait. Hold on! Put this on.” He chuckles and hands me a blind fold.

“What? Why?” I nervously laugh.

“Just do it,” he looks at me, “please!” Liam pleads with me.

“Alright. I guess. Just don’t let me fall while getting out of the car.” I hesitantly put the blindfold on. 

We walk into the building and when he takes the blind fold off of me everybody shouts, “Happy 18th Birthday, Y/N!” I smile largely.

“Thank you!” I shout and hug Liam’s side. “DId you get any food?” I wiggle my eyebrows and he laughs.

“I hope you are hungry because I got a ton of food, but first, we dance!” He takes my hand and we walk out onto the dance floor with everyone.

“Boy, when you're with me, I'll give you a taste

Make it like your birthday every day

I know you like it sweet, so you can have your cake

Give you something good to celebrate”

As we are dancing, I am watching Liam and I am mesmerized.

“What’s wrong, Y/N?” He asks me.

“Nothing!” I laugh nervously. I continue dancing and the way he moves turns me on.

As if he can read my mind, Liam looks at me with a smirk and grabs my hips and places my butt on his crotch and sways us to the music. “I can smell your arousal, Y/N.” He whispers huskily into my ear.

“Well then,” I feel his member hardening, “are you going to do anything about it?” I turn and face him.

“I will eventually,” he says as he notices people walking up to us with the cake, “but I am gonna guess it is time for the cake.” He chuckles and slaps my ass.

“So make a wish

I'll make it like your birthday every day

I'll be your gift

Give you something good to celebrate”

“Make a wish.” Liam whispers into my ear.

I smirk back at him and then blow out my candles. Everybody cheers and I excused myself from the group, Liam is quick to follow my cue.

“So where’s my gift?” I pull him to me by the hem of his shirt.

“‘I am your gift.” He says and then kisses me roughly.

“Let's find somewhere private to do this.” I say, taking him by the hand and leading him to a dark room. 

Once we walked in the room, he quickly kissed me.

“God, do you know how long I have waited for this?” He whispers.

“Tell me about it, Stud.” I say as sexily as I can, earning a laugh from him.

Liam then pushes me against a wall and lifts my legs around his waist, he grinds against my crotch.

“Liam, enough fooling around and lets just do this.” I practically beg.

“Wait, isn’t this your first time?” He asks.

“So? Just be gentle. I’ll be okay. I trust you, Li.” I look at him with soft eyes and his eyes immediately darken.

Liam sets me down and we take turns stripping each other. I took his shirt off, then he took my pants off. I took his pants off and he took my shirt off. We continued this until we were both naked.

Liam placed his hand in between my legs and ran a finger in between my folds. “You’re so wet, Y/N,” the boy smirks and I giggle nervously,” since it is your birthday, let me treat you a bit.”

Liam got down on his knees and pulled my legs apart and maneuvered himself under me and in between my legs. He started to lap up my wetness.

He circled his tongue around my sensitive spot, “Liam.” I moan softly.

I feel the boy smirk between my legs as he inserts a finger inside of me, earning a gasp from me.

Liam started pushing his finger at a slow pace, but as soon as he realized I was comfortable he added another and went quicker, not once removing his tongue from my clit.

“Oh, fuck, Liam. I am gonna cum.” I moan loudly.

He pulled away from me and looked up at me, “Let go, darling.” He smirked and returned to his previous position. After a few more pumps, I was a goner and he licked up my release.

“Liam, I need you, now.” I say as i pull him up.

“Then it is me you shall have.” He lifted me onto his waist and inserted his digit inside of me, giving me only a few seconds to adjust before pumping in and out of me at a steady pace.

I grip onto Liam’s shoulders and slightly dig my nails into his skin, he moans which only makes me more turned on.

After a few good pumps, Liam finds my spot.

“Fuck!” I moan loudly and smile at him.

The sound of our skin slapping filled the room, I almost felt bad for any supernaturals who might be listening, but this was my night,

“Y/N, I am gonna cum.” Liam said. 

“Me too,” I moaned at him, “Let me go first.” I smirked.

Liam pushed in and out of me as fast as he could, trying to hold himself together, letting me cum first. I groan as I cum for the second time.

I hop down from Liam’s waist, earning a whine from him.

“Shh, baby.” I smirk and get on my knees.

I grab his member and put it in my mouth. I pump his cock with my mouth as much as I can and use my hand for what I cannot. It was not long before Liam cums into my mouth, I swallow every bit and wipe my mouth seductively.

Liam pulls me up from the ground and wraps his arms around my waist, “Happy Birthday, Y/N.” 

Smiling, I look at him and all I can mutter out is, “Round two at my place?”

[bbrandy2002]

Fools Rush In

Part 6

I’m participating in @wackydrabbles​ prompt 55: This is without a doubt the stupidest plan you’ve ever had. Of course, I’m in.

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Liam x Riley

A/N: Thank you to my amazing bestie @burnsoslow who beta read at 2 am last night. And my prereaders @charlotteg234 and @mom2000aggie

Series Premise: With two weeks until Liam is to marry Madeleine, the guys throw him a bachelor party in Vegas. After a drunk night, he finds himself with way more than he bargained.

**MC did not exist in Liam’s social season. OC lives in Las Vegas.

Word Count: 1740

TW: Drug usage mentioned

Permanent Tags: @burnsoslow @dcbbw @ao719​ @hopefulmoonobject @texaskitten30 @drakesensworld @janezillow  @merridithsmiscellany-blog @mskaneko @loveellamae @queenjilian @sirbeepsalot @pedudley @caroldxnvxrs @jovialyouthmusic @forthebrokenheartedthings @desireepow-1986 @bebepac @kingliam2019 @lovablegranny @cordoniaqueensworld @amandablink @blueaster-blog1 @liamxs-world @choiceskatie @iaminlovewithtrr @hopelessromanticmonie @charlotteg234 @twinkleallnight @annekebbphotography @txemrn @thecordoniandiaries @alyssalauren @cordonianroyalty

Series: @princessleac1 @cordonia-continued @sanchita012 @shz256 @cordonia-gothqueen @narrytheworld @graceful-leah @mom2000aggie @queenwalton @tinkie1973 @muchkoolermk @captain-kingliamsqueen @gabesmommie1130 @cordonianprincess @cinnamonspongecake @loudbluebirdlover @liamandneca @waywardromancefantasygirl @thegreentwin​ @walker7519 

The limo pulled out of the Taco Bell parking lot onto Tropicana Avenue, headed west towards Spring Valley. In the back was one king, a former prince, and a teacher-turned-overnight-queen of a country she'd never heard of 24 hours ago. 

While the trio cruised down the bustling thoroughfare to retrieve some of Riley's belongings, Liam was on the phone with his credit card company. He was trying to figure out why his unlimited card was declined, leaving Riley to foot the bill for Leo's Nacho's Grande Box, a Triplelupa Box with extra lupa, and a Pineapple Freeze. 

Leo gulped as he scooped melted cheese and beef up with a tortilla, trying not to look too guilty. He didn't want his younger brother to know that he and Drake paid for the entire bachelor trip using Liam's card ... among other unusual expenses. However, he breathed a sigh of relief, knowing Drake had it last, and the blame could fall squarely on his shoulders.

Frustrated, Liam hung up the phone after the automated agent couldn't understand his Cordonian accent and continued to reroute his call back to the beginning. No sooner did he put his phone away than he was alerted to an incoming call. Liam glanced down to see his stepmother's name flashing boldly with each ring. There were no doubts in his mind what she wanted. Obviously, the news had reached her at the Palace.

With an anxious feeling growing in his stomach, Liam let out a heavy groan before tapping the screen. 

"Hello, Regina."

"Hello, dear." Her greeting was surprisingly warm and pleasant. "I need to know the truth; are these rumors accurate? Did your brother marry you to some strange woman?"

Liam rubbed a hand nervously across his mouth; he was in no mood for a lecture. "He did. But I don't even remember it happening."

He could hear her disappointed sigh and felt terrible that his actions caused her this much distress. Regina might not be his mother, but she had been an integral part of his life since childhood, and he didn't want to let her down.

"Is your brother with you? If so, I would appreciate speaking with him."

Liam shot a look at Leo, whose hands were covered in melty cheese and sour cream. "Uh, yeah, hang on. Let me put you on speaker." He hit the button and whispered loudly to his brother that it was Regina for him.

A broad grin appeared on Leo's face as he swallowed the last bite of food. "What's up, Mommio?"

"Leonardo Wolfschitz Rys!" Her once-gentle tone was now brittle. "I am highly disappointed in you."

His eyes widened in confusion, the grin he had on before fading instantly. "What? Why? It was Liam's idea."

"Perhaps, but did you try to stop him?"

"No. He's 27 years old," he squealed.

"Be that as it may, you're the older brother. You're supposed to know better."

Liam snorted. "That's true, Leo. You really should start setting a better example for me."

Leo narrowed his eyes, reached across Riley, who jerked back, and punched Liam in the groin, causing him to yelp. "You're such a tattletale; you got me in trouble! She was all I had left."

Liam rolled his eyes then reassured his stepmother he would meet with her when the plane landed back in Cordonia in the morning.

Staying quiet, Riley's wide-eyed stare remained fixed to the front of the limo, hands crossed in her lap. This ... this is my new family.

They made their way to Riley's townhome located within a tree-lined community scattered with homes similar to hers. 

While Riley took the shower she’d been desperate to get since waking that morning, Liam made himself at home just as she asked him to. Leo had met Old Man Burt -- Riley's elderly neighbor -- as they walked up the driveway. He begged the man to let him whittle sticks with him. The senior man thoughtfully looked at him before spitting out chewing tobacco and instructing Leo to score him a dime bag, and it would be a deal.

Leo didn’t know the man from a hole in the wall, but replied, “You know what, Burt? This is without a doubt the stupidest plan you’ve ever had. Of course, I’m in.”

Leo knew just the place and took off.

The neighborhood was quiet and serene; as Liam drummed his fingers on the leather sofa's armrest, he could almost envision a life of simplicity like this. He closed his eyes to take in all the sounds and scents not entirely unfamiliar to him but things he imagined most people took for granted:birds chirping in the windowsill, the occasional car that passed by, the screech of bicycle brakes, apple cinnamon air fresheners, and another scent he hadn't smelled in years. Craning his neck around to look out the window, he saw Leo smoking pot with the white-haired man dressed in denim overalls in the front yard. "What the hell? Dumbass."

Riley's shower took longer than he expected; feeling antsy, he rose from the sofa and walked through the home, trying to get a sense of who she was. The house was well maintained with brightly colored artwork on the walls, a nicely stocked bookshelf, shiny hardwood floors, and metal-framed photographs of different sizes assembled atop the fireplace mantle. 

Liam's eyes danced from photo to photo, studying Riley's images in a graduation gown posing with a small grinning brunette about Riley's age, her with two older gentlemen hugging in front of a Christmas tree, and a classroom of smiling kids holding up colorful drawings. 

There was one frame that laid face down.

Thinking perhaps it fell over, he gently lifted the frame to put it back in place. His brows lifted in shock.

"She's married?" 

"I was," Riley answered.

Liam whipped around with the photograph still gripped in hand, not sure what else to say. It wasn't like it was some deep, dark secret hidden from him, something that should upset him. She more than likely would have mentioned it to him at some point, considering they still hadn't had time to get to know each other. But he couldn’t shake the jealousy he felt.

"I'm sorry. I was just looking at your pictures and thought this one had been knocked over." He carefully placed it back on the mantle as Riley approached him.

Liam watched the hurt etch across her delicate features, and eyes that reflected a shattering pain as she stood face to face with her image in a flowy white gown wrapped in the arms of a man she admitted to being married to at one time.

"I … met him in my senior year of high school. We dated all through college. Had this big elaborate dream wedding after graduation. He was my best friend, my lover -- I thought he would be it forever ..." 

Liam gripped her shoulder when she paused to catch a breath, noticing the slight break in her voice. "After two years, he no longer wanted to do anything together. His excuses were always the same: working late, too tired, ‘just want to hang out with the guys tonight.’ He stopped talking to me. Quit looking at me. Stopped touching me. I think I knew in my heart what was going on, but didn't want to believe it. Then one day … I came home from work, and his closet was empty." She let out a humorless laugh. "But at least he left a strongly-worded letter detailing all my faults and where I failed him. It said he found someone better and that I didn't make him happy. He just ... didn't want me anymore." Those last words came out in whimper.

"Riley." Liam wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. "Sweetheart, that wasn't your fault."

Riley stepped back and swiped the tears from her cheeks. "That's why I'm doing this, Liam."

"What d’ya mean?."

"When I met Madeleine, I just knew I couldn't let you marry someone who would make you miserable too. You deserve to find someone who will make you happy."

He smiled at her. "What if that's you, Riley?"

She stood motionless for a moment, thinking about that question, then shook her head and muttered, "I don't make people happy, Liam. In the end ... they always leave me."

When Riley turned to walk away, Liam caught her wrist and drew her back. His hands flew to both sides of her face, cupping along her jaw. Their eyes studied each other; those compassionate blues cast a spell on her teary browns, engulfing the warm air surrounding both of them in want and desire. 

"I can't do this," she rasped weakly and lowered her face away from him.

Liam tilted her chin, his voice desperate and pleading. "Look at me, Riley. You can. You can. You just have to let me in."

Without a second more of hesitation, their lips collided into each other passionately.

--------------------------

Drake scowled at the envelope in his hand that bore his name in large letters. "What do you mean, I've been served? I ain't been served shit."

The smaller man prepared to explain, but the intimidating glare in Drake's eyes made him choose his words more carefully. "Mr. Walker. Sir. I'm just the messenger --"

"Then, you can take your message and ..." Drake shoved the envelope toward the man. "This fucking envelope back to where you came from. I don't have a kid or owe anyone child support."

The man backed away and looked at Maxwell to gauge whether he would protect him from his rather large, angry friend. He figured out real quickly the lanky one holding two full bags of medications most definitely wouldn't. He swallowed past the fear that collected in his throat. "Everything you need to know is in the envelope." He nodded to them, both. "Have a good day."

Drake slammed the door open and tossed the room key and his wallet on the kitchen counter. He ripped the envelope open and scanned the documents with Maxwell looking over his shoulder. "I'm being sued for $120,000 in back child support by a woman named ... Boom Boom Powell."

A picture slid from the documents and landed at Maxwell's feet. He bent down to pick it up and rose slowly when he caught a glimpse. "Uh, Drake. This must be a picture of the kids." He held the photograph up of what appeared to be three-year-old identical triplets. "Who do these kids look like?" He knew the answer before he asked.

Drake squinted to get a better look; then realization hit him. He had never been to Las Vegas, but he knew someone who had many times before. And judging by the blonde hair, blue eyes, and mischievous smirks on the three little boys in the picture, he knew his assumption was correct. He tightened his jaw. "That fucker! He is dead."

[imagine-loki]

Blushing in His Colours, Chapter 29

TITLE: Blushing in His Colours CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 29 AUTHOR: fanficshiddles ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki being a Daddy Dom, his adores and loves his little, worships the ground she walks on. She has vaginismus, but he couldn’t be more supportive with her. RATING: M

‘What’s happening?’ Mia asked as she walked into the main living room one day.

Most of the team were there, Tony, Steve, Natasha, Wanda, Thor and Maria.

‘We are conducting some interviews for a trainee to help out in the lab with science stuff.’ Natasha said.

‘We’ve narrowed it down to a few. The best candidate is on his way, he has good credentials. Is ready to start ASAP too. Hopefully he will be a good fit and mean we don’t need to drone on through any other interviews.’ Tony sighed, stacking some papers to the side of him.

Mia smiled and took a seat at the other table, booting up her laptop. She had just taken some pictures of Loki and Clint doing some training outside, to upload to social media.

She was so engrossed in her work, that she barely registered when the guy came in for his interview. He was sat down and talking with Tony before Mia registered his voice…

Glancing up, she only saw the back of his head because of where he was sitting, but she still recognised him. She felt her stomach drop, like she was about to be sick.

Quickly putting her laptop in her bag, she stood up as quietly as possible and made a move for the door. As she passed him by, not looking at him so he wouldn’t see her face, Tony stopped her.

‘Oh, Mia. Would you mind hanging around, I’ve got a good feeling about this guy.’ He grinned at the applicant, who was very impressive so far. ‘Would be good to get a profile done.’

Mia’s eyes were wide, she tried to keep calm as she looked at Tony. But that’s when the guy recognised her.

‘Mia? Little Mia?’ He asked, smirking.

Mia cringed and turned to face him. She forced a smile. ‘Hi, Liam.’

‘You two know each other?’ Steve asked.

‘Yes… We used to date.’ Mia said quietly, trying not to look at anyone directly. ‘I uhm, have to be somewhere, I’ll catch use later.’

Liam scoffed. ‘Always running away, timid and shy Mia. Needing someone to hold her hand, to protect her.’ Liam said as he leaned back in his chair cockily and folded his arms over his chest.

Suddenly the rest of them weren’t so keen on his attitude change all of a sudden.

Mia ignored him and turned to head out.

‘I’m surprised a needy baby like yourself has managed to get a job here with the Avengers.’

Mia stopped dead, feeling rage bubble up inside her. Yet also fear and sadness. She glanced back over her shoulder, glaring at him.

‘Do the team know? How you’re so uptight you can’t even relax enough for sex. That you need someone to look after you, because you can’t look after yourself. It won’t be long before you leave here, in search of a Daddy. Because you can’t cope alone.’ He smirked.

‘That’s enough!’ Tony said to Liam. ‘This interview is over.’

Liam laughed. Mia felt tears brimming in her eyes, she turned around to fully face him. Wanting to say something, anything. But she couldn’t find the right words and she felt so humiliated, especially on front of the others.

‘Aww, has the little baby got nothing to say?’

‘Enough! Get out!’ Tony said angrily as he stood up.

‘You better leave before Loki gets here.’ Steve warned him.

Liam scoffed. ‘Loki? As if he would be dating her.’

But then Mia noticed Liam’s eyes widening at something, or someone, behind her. She heard heavy footsteps coming in.

Loki.

He looked absolutely murderous as he walked into the room, in his full armour from being out training. His eyes were locked onto Liam, nostrils flaring as he moved in behind Mia.

‘She has a Daddy.’ Loki snarled low, sliding a hand to the back of Mia’s neck, stroking her softly to let her know she was ok.

But she couldn’t help the tears that fell down her cheeks. She couldn’t take it anymore and ran out of the room.

Loki started to cross the room towards Liam, taking large, threatening steps. Liam was already shaking in his boots as he scrambled up to his feet, knocking the chair over, he quickly picked it up and put it back under the table. He moved back, away from Loki, with his hands out towards him.

‘L… Look… I… I was only joking. Pl, please… Don’t hurt me.’ He whined, backing away until he couldn’t go any further because of a wall. He was right to be scared, as he had seen the drone footage of Loki, so knew what he was dealing with. Heck, he wouldn’t want to be on the wrong end of any of the team, really.

‘Loki… he’s just a pathetic boy, who clearly enjoys humiliating women. He’s not worth it.’ Thor said to try and calm Loki down.

But Loki was angry. No, he was furious.

Stopping a few feet away from him, Loki put his hand out and curled his fingers inwards as if grabbing him. Liam gasped as it felt like a hand was actually around his throat. He put his hands up to his neck in a panic, gasping for breath. Loki raised his hand up and Liam moved up the wall, flailing his legs about.

‘Loki!’ The rest of them said, but they didn’t want to try and stop him because of how angry he was.

‘Loki, stop! Mia needs you to comfort her, not to get into trouble for killing some worthless idiot.’ Tony said desperately.

Whilst part of him wouldn’t have actually minded if Loki killed the little twerp, he didn’t want to deal with the aftermath. And he knew it would cause trouble for Loki. Which was the last thing he would need, Mia too.

Loki knew the others were right. So he tossed Liam across the room, hurting him but not killing him, as he went flying into a book shelf, breaking it.

The God stormed over to Liam and loomed over him as he cowered on the floor, curling himself up and begging not to be hurt.

‘If you ever show your face here again, I will make sure to end you.’ Loki growled.

That wasn’t a threat. It was a promise.

Steve and Tony then rushed over and hauled Liam up to his feet, to escort him out of the building.

‘What he said’ Loki started to say to the others.

‘Just go comfort Mia!’ Maria said as she ushered him away.

Loki knew they wouldn’t care what was said, they didn’t care what happened behind closed doors. The subjects he touched upon certainly wasn’t something that was to be ashamed of anyway. They knew Liam was bang out of order.

Tony just couldn’t believe the sudden change in his attitude. But he was glad they’d seen it now rather than after hiring him.

Loki found Mia in their room, she was curled up in the corner crying. Loki went straight to her and pulled her onto his lap, comforting her as he rocked back and fore.

‘Shhh, shhh. It’s alright, sweetling. Let it all out. He won’t hurt you again, I promise.’ Loki hummed, kissing the top of her head.

It took a while before Mia felt able to speak. She looked up at Loki, he wiped her tears away and smiled down at her.

‘I’m sorry.’ She whispered.

Loki frowned. ‘Why are you apologising? You have nothing to apologise for. There aren’t enough words to describe that despicable imbecile. I should’ve crushed him while I had the chance.’ Loki growled angrily, but he quickly composed himself. ‘Being a little and having vaginismus is nothing to be ashamed about, he is the one who should be sorry for taking the mickey out of you. I’m guessing he never understood about vaginismus and didn’t understand your needs?’

‘No… He got angry that he couldn’t have sex with me, which I think probably made it worse. And he found me far too needy, didn’t like how clingy I was. I tried not to be, but I couldn’t help it. Then he found my diary and read about how I wanted a Daddy Dom.’ She said quietly.

Loki kept stroking her back, he cupped her chin and tilted her head up to him.

‘You are who you are, and he doesn’t appreciate that. He is not worthy of any of your time, none at all. Please, don’t let him upset you. It seemed to me that he was perhaps surprised that you’re working here, where he wants to be. He’s jealous and went on the attack.’ Loki nuzzled her nose with his own.

‘Maybe… But, now the others know. What will they think?’ She gasped, getting nervous again.

Loki pressed a gentle but firm kiss to her lips, making her melt a little.

‘You’re mine. I love you. I am yours. That’s all that matters, sweetling. Anyone who dares to say anything otherwise, I’ll rip their head off.’ Loki said with a low growl against her lips, making her heart flutter.

She started crying again a bit, but not from sadness. Because she knew she was truly loved by Loki.

After comforting her, Loki made love to her. In their own way, with his cock between her thighs, rubbing against her. He marked her, biting her neck and sucking hard, to make sure there would be a mark for everyone to see. He felt very possessive with her, more than normal. It was still intimate and tender though, Loki always managed to make it work.

Not only was Mia’s body exploding in pleasure, but her heart was exploding with love, too.

[odetocarrick]

Torn. (Drake Walker x MC.) Chapter One.

Book(s): The Royal Romance. The Royal Heir. Pairing(s): Drake Walker x MC, Sydney Roberts. Drake Walker x Olivia Nevrakis. Liam Rys x MC, Sydney Roberts. Warnings: None for this chapter.  Chapter Summary: A few months after Sydney's arrival to Cordonia, Drake realises just how much things have changed because of her.

A/N: I do apologise for the delay, I haven’t forgotten about this, I’ve just been busy with university, now that I’m finished for the year, I can keep this going! Thank you for the love shown on the teaser.  Chapters in this are intended to be short by the way.  Read the teaser here!

Tags: @marshmallowsandfire @lovingchoices14

- - -

Maxwell's decision to sponsor the bartender from New York who was unlucky enough to serve the bachelors party almost a year ago now wasn't the craziest idea he'd had. However, it had to have been the craziest idea that had worked in his favour. To say that Drake was surprised at how quickly Sydney had settled in and made a home out of the Kingdom was an understatement and he had no problem in admitting that. What he did have a problem with admitting though, was the fact he was disappointed at how much everything, including Sydney herself had changed. His uncertainty regarding Maxwell's rash decision had been crystal clear ever since Sydney had joined them on the flight back home but deep down he was glad to have someone.. normal, in his crew.

Sydney used to be normal. Now she's just like the others and Drake is left as the outcast once again.

Drake shook his head and took a sip of his drink to prevent himself from falling down a rabbit hole of negative thoughts, he already stuck out like a sore thumb at these stupid social events anyways and he didn't want to give anyone a reason to pay him more attention than they had to. He didn’t understand why he kept being dragged along to them but he wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity to drink for free. Plus, getting on Olivia’s nerves was always quite fun.

Sadly, the redhead hadn’t been around much to bother tonight so Drake was forced to watch Sydney dance, laugh and smile with Liam, it was borderline torture and he wondered if Olivia had done this purposely to get to him. He didn’t know if she was aware of his feelings for Sydney but he didn’t care much. Of course he was happy for the two, Liam had been his best and only true friend forever and after all the shit he'd been forced to endure through his life, the future king definitely deserved happiness. The social season wasn't quite over yet but it was obvious who Liam was going to choose as his bride, it was so obvious that even Olivia had given up on trying to win her childhood sweetheart back over. Sydney deserved to be happy too, not much was known about her life back in America but it was clear that she hadn't had the greatest or easiest of times. If she was happy and in love with Liam then he wasn't going to do anything to jeopardise that.  No, he couldn't be the villain, he couldn't be selfish and snatch the beautiful blonde away for himself, no matter how much his heart begged him to confess his feelings to her, the voice in his head reminding him just how scandalous doing such a thing would be, just kept getting louder and louder. So he was forced to suffer in silence.

Maybe he wasn't actually in love with Sydney anyways, maybe he just liked how she treated him decently and didn't look down on him for his average background. He hadn’t even known the woman that long or spent much time with her since she spent so much time with Liam or Hana or Maxwell. 

Of course, that’s excluding the night they slept together but Drake had done his best to forget just how magical that moment had been. 

Pfft, being in love.

Drake's mind couldn’t familiarize with that merry feeling. As if it lingered inside of him, begging to be released, begging to be free.I was swarmed with numerous auras; presences of others. Yet why do I feel so empty? So… alone. As if the world is continuing on without me; the embodiment, living presence of others devouring my soul day by day. Choking internally, beseeching for truth.

"I’m losing myself here." He thinks, finally tearing his eyes away from the happy couple as their dance comes to an end. Sydney goes to join Hana whilst Liam is forced to dance with another noble lady.

"Am I merely distancing myself from others, which disconnects me from the thread of the social world?" Drake's thoughts get louder and louder as he ignores Maxwell, this behaviour is nothing new so the youngest Beaumont doesn't pick up on anything strange. Drake's responses to things aren’t considered normal by the rest of the court, his reactions are seen as odd. His mind works differently – he views aspects that no one else sees. He can understand the earth; from ways of the solar system to the inevitable meaning of life and death itself. It pulls him into something he will never understand. All within a blink of an eye, such knowledge lying natural and effortless. And to Drake, thinking that he's special would be incredibly foolish.

He may be different… but he's also alone.

"Drake?"

The brunette snaps out of his pity party just long enough to register that the woman of the hour herself, Sydney Roberts, has slipped into the spare seat at his and Maxwell's table.

"Are you okay? You look lost, even more so than usual." She speaks softly, letting out a gentle laugh towards the end of her question and Drake feels his heart skip a beat. God damn, why did she have to be so loveable, so caring and so compassionate? It made him sick. "Drake?" He realises he still hasn't answered her question so he clears his throat and somehow manages to make and not break eye contact.

"I'm.." He begins, swallowing a small lump in his throat. "I'm fine Roberts. Thanks for asking though." He manages to flash a somewhat convincing smile and Sydney smiles back, he doesn't fully register the fact that her smile didn't fully reach her eyes. "I'm just going to get some fresh air.. I don't belong here." He adds on and before she can question what he means, he's doing what he does best.. ignoring her calls and leaving the room.

[devildomfairy]

Love Grows

Ta-da! Here is my Liam x Diavolo fic! Liam is one of my Obey Me! MCs. I enjoyed writing this and there is a little angst, but it goes to fluff quickly. Cheesy title is cheesy title okay?

Warnings: Death mention (just slightly)

Word Count: 1,675

Diavolo stood outside in the bright sun and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes feeling the sun’s warmth on him. Feeling the sun’s warmth in the human realm was refreshing from the dark skies of Devildom. He would never get tired of the warm feeling. 

“Ah, Barbatos, that sun feels amazing doesn’t it?”

“It sure does My Lord,” Barbatos replied as they arrived in the human realm. “I will be picking up some ingredients here to take back later. I’ll come by later at Liam’s house, My Lord.”

Diavolo felt his heart race hearing Liam’s name. He quickly regained his composure. “Sounds good to me Barbatos. See you later then!”

Diavolo saw his butler off as he used a teleportation spell to quickly get to Liam’s house.

*

Liam fastened his overalls and was about to grab his gardening gloves when he heard a knock.

“Coming!”

Opening the door revealed Diavolo.

“Dia? What are you doing here?” he asked.

Diavolo felt joy hearing the nickname. It certainly beats hearing Lord all the time.

“I came here with Barbatos so he could pick up some human world ingredients. I thought I’d come and see you while he’s shopping, that is if you don’t mind” 

Liam shook his head and his eyes crinkled. “I don’t mind at all. Come on in Dia.” He let Diavolo into his house.

Liam lived away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city. His home was a small isolated area with few neighbors. Diavolo adored his small house. It was warm and inviting. Much like Liam. 

“Liam, I heard about your garden from the brothers, may I see it?” he asked.

“Of course! I was going to go out there anyway” Liam responded cheerfully and grabbed his gardening gloves and lead Diavolo the way out of the back door.

The Prince was stunned. Liam’s garden was breathtaking. A rainbow of colors was in front of him. He spotted a wooden gazebo, several trellises, and what appeared to be a small building, perhaps a storage building?.

“Liam, your garden is lovely. I can tell you put so much work into it. I’m impressed” His expression softened as he took in the sight. This garden was large and figured there were other things in it. 

“Thank you Dia” Liam’s cheeks reddened at the praise. “My garden I guess you could say is part of me. I love it. It helps me feel at peace when I don’t feel well.”

The Prince detected a hint of sadness in the human’s voice. He decided not to press the subject, but to him, it felt like his dear friend was hiding something.

“Come on in Dia” Liam stepped foot in the garden and waited.

Diavolo was still astounded at how beautiful the garden was. It took his breath away.

“Feel free to look around. I need to trim these shrubs over here real quick” Liam slid his gloves on and pulled a pair of shears from his pocket.

Diavolo took the time to look at the display of flowers. He noted small statues as well. They added an adorable touch he thought. Something then caught his eye.

It was a small area that had a stone bench and multiple white rose bushes around it. He took note of a small wind chime there as well. What really got his attention was a plaque. Taking a closer look, he noticed writing and a photo in the center. A man, and a woman holding a baby. The couple was smiling happily at the camera. Diavolo read the wording on the plaque.

IN LOVING MEMORY. MOM AND DAD

“Diavolo?” 

Hearing Liam’s voice startled him. “I’m sorry! Am I intruding where I shouldn’t be?” He asked stepping away.

Liam shook his head. “You’re good. I guess I haven’t told you have I?”

“About what?”

The human sighed. “When I was four years old, my parents were killed in a car accident. I wasn’t with them, I was at my aunt’s house. My mom’s sister. I didn’t understand what had happened until I realized that they were never coming back. My four-year-old self cried and cried. Why did this happen to me? I was angry and I was sad. The funeral was even worse. I remember begging for my mom and dad to come back. Then one of my Uncles picked me up and took me away when they were put to rest. I ended up staying with my Mom’s sister. She raised me her and her husband. I was raised with their kids. My cousins.” Liam had a downcast look on his face.

Diavolo without warning took him into his arms. “You don’t have to continue. I can’t imagine how hard that was.” Liam’s face burned as he felt himself wrapped by the demon.  A tear slid down his cheek as he relaxed and let himself be held. 

“Thank you, Dia. I had good times as well after that. Even though my parents are gone, I know they are watching over me. My aunt is amazing and so was my uncle as well. Can’t forget him.” He huffed. 

“I’m glad. Sounds like they are wonderful people. You were very fortunate to have them” Diavolo spoke in a soft tone.

Diavolo’s heart ached. How he wanted to tell him how he felt. He knew it would be inappropriate now, so he settled for having Liam in his embrace. If today wasn’t the day, he would wait until the right moment. As of now, the young man in his arms was most important.

Soon, they separated. Liam decided to show Diavolo the rest of his garden. Hearing how passionate the human was about gardening, plants, and flowers delighted him. Along the way,  he learned something new. Liam was into candle-making, soap making, cooking, baking, and many others. Diavolo’s affections only grew stronger. Liam was amazing. Not just amazing, but strong and kind, even though he lost his parents at a young age, he was a positive, and gentle person. It was no surprise the demon brothers fell for him. Now, Diavolo, the future king of Devildom had fallen for him.

*

Barbatos had returned and was shown the garden as well. The butler was impressed. He praised Liam’s work and dedication. 

“Thank you Barbatos. It means a lot.” Liam thanked him. All three chatted a while until they were interrupted by the sound of Liam’s stomach growling.

Embarrassment flooded his body. His stomach just had to do that in front of them.

Diavolo only chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. It’s happened to me too.” He patted Liam’s shoulder. He then turned to Barbatos. “Barbatos, would you mind fixing some tea and some small snacks?”

“Anything in particular My Lord?”

“Any kind of tea will work. Perhaps something sweet to go with it? Whatever you can come up with.”

“Understood My Lord. I’ll get to it.” Barbatos bowed and left to use Liam’s kitchen in his house leaving the two alone again.

Diavolo faced Liam. His cheeks began to warm. “Liam, can I tell you something? It’s important.” His expression was serious but soft.

Liam nodded and gulped. He hoped it wasn’t too serious or was bad.

“Liam, I am going to tell you this. Not as the Prince of Devildom, but as me, Diavolo. Every time I see you, my heart flutters. When I see you smile, it makes me smile. Your smile is so precious. Just picturing your smile in my head when I’m having a rough day makes the day better. Being able to see you, even for a small amount of time, I cherish it. I never thought in my long life, a human would capture my heart like this. You did though. I know you are special to the brothers. I began to understand what made them fall for you. Your kindness, your smile, and just for being you. Liam, I have fallen for you.”

Time seemed to have stopped. Was this a dream? Was this real? Liam couldn’t believe it. Diavolo was in love with him. His heart began to throb. His green eyes met Diavolo’s gold ones. 

“Are you-are you serious?”

“Of course I am,” Diavolo answered.

Liam then knew he was being serious. He looked at him once again and nervously cupped the Prince’s face.

“Diavolo...I feel the same.” He managed a small smile. “I love how passionate you are about uniting the three realms. I love your laughter and smile. Not just that, it’s how kind you are. You’re kind and generous to the smallest demon. I just-adore you so much, I can’t find words. You captured my heart as well.” 

Diavolo felt tears prick his eyes. If this was a dream, he didn’t want to wake up. When tears slid, he knew it was real.

“Forgive me. I’m just so happy.” 

Liam shook his head and wiped the tears away. “I’m happy too.”

A yelp escaped from his lips as he was lifted and held by a laughing Diavolo. Liam found himself smiling and laughing and pressed their foreheads together.

“May I kiss you, Liam?” Diavolo asked. His face tinted.

“Yes, you can. You don’t need to ask” Liam pressed a kiss to the demon’s forehead. He was greeted by a soft kiss to his lips.

Liam kissed back. It was a soft, sweet kiss. The kisses turned playful as Diavolo placed them all over Liam’s face and he began to giggle.

“I love you Liam” Diavolo pressed another kiss on his lips.

“I love you too Dia.”

Diavolo set Liam down then wrapped his arms around him from behind. His arms resting on the human’s waist.

The sun was setting. Setting on a wonderful day. The two shared a peaceful silence simply watching the sunset. 

Barbatos was carrying a tray of tea and cookies when he saw them. A smile rose on his lips.

My Lord Diavolo, I’m glad your feelings were reciprocated.  He said to himself as he too stopped to watch the sunset. 

I wish you two happiness. 

[louloubabys1992]

Five Favs of 2020

I was tagged by the amazingly talented @mercurial-madhouse​ to do this and I thank you for it as its been a while since I’ve looked at my fics or any of my work really....so here goes :D

RULES: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome work.

1-Hang there like fruit, my soul/Till the tree die

Fic summary;

''You still want me?'' he asks, voice thick. ''Yes,'' Harry's answer is absolute, almost defiant. ''But my hands are empty,'' Louis shakes his head. ''I've got nothing to offer you.'' ''I don't care about that. Do you see my hands?'' Harry asks before he cups Louis' face. His touch is gentle. He's always gentle when it comes to Louis. ''When I'm not holding you, I feel empty, but like this,'' he presses closer until their faces are inches apart. He caresses the apple of Louis' cheeks and that's when Louis realizes that he's spilled tears and Harry's wiping them. He didn't even notice; too busy looking into Harry's kind, kind, kind alpha eyes. ''I feel like I'm holding the world and I don't feel empty anymore,''

Louis knows he's a defective omega. He knows its also not his fault but it is what it is. He takes the world head on even when the world is unkind to him. Not Harry though; stubborn as he is, he doesn't back down, not when it comes to Louis

Note;

Those who read this fic know that this is my first ever abo fic. I wrote this in a time when I thought the world was ending. I had been on lockdown like the rest of us with not much to do and yet all the time in the world to finally do what I’m truly passionate about, which is writing. I don’t know if anyone noticed this but the difference between this fic and my latest one was six months (aside from a 16 chapter fic which I was writing almost simultaneously with ‘’Hang there’’ so for it to get any kudos or comments at all is quite unbelievable to me and I am really proud of the journey it took me on. It was one bumpy but amazing ride.

2-As the snow flies

Fic Summary:

’'I can’t sleep without you anymore. Got used to you.’’ Harry is always like that, so transparent with his feelings, so abundant with his love. He cuddles Niall the most, always stares up at Zayn like he’s something cool and out of this world, always attentively serious with Liam and always helping Leona out in the kitchen. He’s not so different from the shy, timid boy he’d first met, still stands pigeon toed when he’s waiting for Louis and the lads to go home after school, still stands with his shoulders all hunched but then he sees Louis and suddenly he’s taller, brighter, smile and dimples on full display.

He’s so beautiful.

-Or the fic in which Louis and Harry are foster kids who get separated long before they could even understand what loving each other means. They were so young and since then, circumstances had made Louis tough, had forced him to harden up. What happens when he and Harry meet again?

Notes:

Probably the easiest fic I’ve ever written because the idea had been swirling in my head for years, I just never had the time to sit down and put pen on paper (or letters on a word document hahah). It’s not for the faint of heart, I know, but I’ve always wanted to write it and flush it out of my system and when I did finally start writing it, it wasn’t as hard as writing my other fics. Like, I knew how it would end, I knew what scenes I had to cut out, what fit, what did not fit and I have to say, even though the outcome is not the way I had imagined it at first but it is everything it was meant to be in the end :D

3-The Boy with the Tin Chest and a Glass Heart

Written for the @bottomlouisficfest​

Fic summary:

Alpha Harry Styles, world-renowned author of fairy-tales, is being persuaded by the Beta, Liam Payne to hire a new illustrator. Since Harry’s own illustrations are too graphic for what is supposed to be children’s stories, Liam feels the need is dire. Omega Louis does not agree with Liam since he believes that Harry’s stories are fine just the way they are. Of course this has nothing to do with Louis being totally biased or totally head over heels for Harry. It certainly has nothing to do with being jealous of the mysterious omega illustrator Liam has in mind to team Harry up with. Seriously, it has nothing to do with that at all. Nothing, absolutely nothing, zilch, nada. Yeah...

Notes;

During my time of self isolation while the world tore itself apart, I busied myself with writing and watching k-drama series to distract from being anxious and swept by it all. It did wonders for me, occupying my time like that as I have always loved writing and this year, I found a new love for korean actors and their dramas and I have to say, their stories have such amazing plot lines. This fic is heavily inspired by one k-drama series called ‘’its okay not to be okay’’ starring Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Yea-ji (I hope I got the names spelled right). Please do watch it if you haven’t already :D

4-The Importance of being Earnest

part of the @1000feelingsfics​

fic summary;

Harry cannot help but pay extra attention to Louis' order, even if it is just a warm cup of tea with a dash of milk and no sugar. He also makes sure that the Danish Louis asks for is warm and fresh from the oven and not the one in the display, even if it means delaying Louis a bit when he fetches said Danish from the kitchen. It's all worth it when Louis smiles his crinkly smile at him before he rushes off to work.

Man, he's hot, he cannot help but think.

Or Harry is a barista who's been harboring a crush on Louis for months. Little does he know that Louis actually likes him back.

Note:

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this before but this fic was included in a podcast which has never happened to me before and I am so so so happy and proud that my fic got that type of attention (or any attention at all hahahaha) so like, it is quite special to me and honestly, a lot of the fics written for the @1000feelingsfics​ challenge are really, truly incredible

5-Bed of Nails

fic summary;

Louis has been keeping a secret for a very long time. The boys don’t know because he doesn’t tell them, not because he doesn’t want to but because he doesn’t think they need to know or be bothered by his troubled past. When they find out, they look at Louis differently. But Harry doesn’t. No, he loves Louis and will do anything in his power for his love to find its way through the cracks.

Or the one where Louis has a troubled past that catches up to him and Harry does his best to save him from it.

Notes:

This is my longest fic ever, not just in chapter count but in time (it took me actual years to finish it, whew, what a journey). A lot of things happened while writing this fic but one event that stands out among the rest; I lost my younger brother back in 2016. He was only 23 years old. I started writing this fic in 2015 and finished it January 2020. Losing George crippled me both mentally and emotionally. I had no power, no inspiration and definitely no will to do anything but try and seem okay for the sake of my grieving parents. I bottled it all up to try and seem strong in front of them and in return, I forgot about anything else, including my passions and my hobbies. It took me a herculean effort to finish this fic and I mostly did it because writing to me, is like an itch. I can stop writing sure but every once in a while, that itch that nags at you like an incessant person knocking, begging you to just open up the door on the swirl of words blasting your brain in the middle of the night, begging you to just do something, doesn’t ever completely go away. So, I didn’t ignore it and decided to finish it, no matter how long it took. The itch to write went away after that and a sense of calm and accomplishment took over instead. I miss George till this day. Nothing will ever turn off that feeling but writing to me, in any form, whether in my journal or fics or whatever, does have the power to push me through the day. 

And there goes; my 2020 fics. I want to tag a lot of people but I think most people I know here already did it but if you see this or read this, take that as your cue to do it too. We all need some self love in this world and self love is what we deserve. 

Happy new year everybody :D

[seriouslyhooked]

Lighthouse (CS AU)

Short oneshot where Emma is the Princess and Killian is her longtime love. He’s serving his last deployment in the royal navy and she is eagerly awaiting his arrival. Available on AO3 Here and FF Here.

A/N: This is a fluffy drabble that was prompted FOREVER ago by a lovely reader. They wanted the song “Lighthouse’ by Collabro and the story to include a Lieutenant Duckling Reunion fic. It has been so long since I’ve gotten to write something like that, and I have really missed it, so here is my attempt at some cuteness for you all. Thanks for reading, and thanks so much to the awesome reader who suggested this!

Please let him be safe. Please let him come home. Please let him return to me.

The silent prayers were ones that Princess Emma had begged for more times than she could count. Over the past year, while Killian was out at sea, serving in the royal navy, Emma had been beside herself with worry. It was bad enough to be separated from the man she loved, but to know that he could be in danger all this time pained her heart in shades of sadness she’d never be able to vocalize.

If she had her way in this scenario, Emma would be down at the docks, watching the horizon for any sign of his ship in port. No, forget that idea, she’d be on the ship with him, facing whatever harrowing adventures the high seas might call for without a drop of fear. When she was with Killian, nothing could touch her. The magic they shared was a barrier against anything bad, a fortifying force that protected them both, and Emma felt steadier and at peace. But alas, her destiny was written already, and it held no space for seafaring voyages or long treks on the open ocean.

As the one-day heir of the realm, Emma was expected to put on a brave face and attend to her duties. The people looked to her and her family for leadership and guidance. They all played a part in the health of this kingdom, and her birthright was to inherit all of this someday. At some point in the not too distant future, when her mother and father were ready to step aside, it would be Emma who took the throne, but all the grandeur and the power meant nothing to her, not without Killian to share it with.

Every spare moment she thought of him, and imagined what it would be like someday, when this was all behind them. This was his last deployment under the careful watch of his elder brother Liam, and prior to his going, he’d already received her parent’s blessing to marry her, though not before asking Emma for her hand herself. She’d accepted in a heartbeat, failing to let him even finish the romantic question when she understood his intent. She was desperate to be his in every way, and remembering the smile he’d bestowed on her and the kisses that they shared when she’d agreed, it was obvious that Killian felt the same.

Almost a whole year had passed since that miraculous night, and not long after he was sent away, sailing for the edge of the known world to see what lay beyond. It terrified her to think of what danger may lurk in what was unknown, but Killian reassured her that it would all be fine. He and Liam knew what must be done. They understood the sea and their mission, and Killian swore to find his way back to her just as he had so many times before…

“I just wish that you didn’t have to go,” she’d said, unable to hide her tears in the early morning hours before his ship set sail. They’d run off together to the guest house in the garden, a special spot of theirs since they met when they were younger. For years it had been their hideaway. Killian called it their sanctuary, and Emma always thought that was an apt description.

“Believe me, love, if there were any way around this, I would see the course. You know I’d give anything to be here making you mine as soon as may be. But my brother needs me, and your father has been clear. We need these alliances for the good of the kingdom, and the safety of the people, you most importantly.”

“I know,” Emma agreed, understanding more than most how precious their alliances were with the kingdoms of all realms. This voyage, though long and arduous, would protect them for years to come, and was the last request of Killian’s brother Liam before Killian exited the navy. “You just…”

“I just what, love?” he asked, cupping the side of her cheek and watching her with those beautiful blue eyes of his that always made her dizzy. They were so focused in on her, as if the universe began and ended with what she was about to say. In a world where she was important but never felt truly seen, she’d grown addicted to such attentions. Killian truly knew her and still loved her, and she was more herself with him than with anyone she’d ever met. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of him and savoring the warmth and electricity that came when he was close.

“You just made me love you so much, that letting you go feels like losing part of myself.”

The murmured curse he let loose before devouring her lips made Emma shiver with delight, but she was hardly cold. His touch was like a fire, sizzling through her and marking her as his, just as much as she was marking him as hers. She didn’t know how long they stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, but it felt mere seconds later when they pulled apart. The brightness of the room and the daylight that was breaking signaled much more time had passed than seconds, but it wasn’t enough. No amount of time together ever would be.

“There’s nothing in this world or any other capable of keeping me from you, Emma. My love for you is constant. Not just for this life, but every one from here to always. Have faith in me, my love, because I promise I will be home to you as soon as I am able.”

Though the words were whispered so long ago, Emma still felt them wash against her skin as the sun began to sink over the tree line. Out here, in the back woods of the palace, she was totally alone, but if she couldn’t be with Killian, that solitude was all she could accept. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to fantasize that he was here. Autumn’s chill was back once more. The year was up, and so too should his mission be. In a perfect world she’d hear the gentle crunch of footsteps and catch the subtle scent of ocean waves. The footsteps would approach with precision and determination until the moment just before he reached her where heat flared through her system. She fended off tears at how good her imagination was becoming, and then she felt him, the undeniable press of his body on hers that was so much more vivid than any daydream ever could be. Her eyes popped open and her heart took flight.

“Emma,” he said, nuzzling into her neck as he held her tight and the sound that came from her chest was one of desperation and relief. “Gods how I’ve missed you, love.”

“You came back,” she said, spinning in his hold and seeing that this was truly real. Killian was here and alive. He was somehow even more gorgeous than when he’d left, and he was looking at her with even more affection and love than he’d had before. Tall dark and handsome did no justice to all he was. He was perfection, and he was all hers.

“With a light like yours to return to, there was no other option, love. Trust and believe in that.”

He whispered the words of affirmation as her hand came over his chest. She felt the racing of his heart, and she knew, without his admitting it all that things had been the same for her him as they had for her. She may have been here, and he may have physically been worlds away, but her heart could not reside in a space without him. Now they were together again, and she was whole, happy, and unwilling to ever let him go.

Pulling him in by the collar of his navy coat, Emma almost wept when their lips met after so long a separation. His taste was just the same, his arms, holding her close, the warmest and most soothing home she’d ever known. She was safe here and hopeful, finally believing that the worst was behind them. From here on out things would be different. She and Killian would be together, and there’d never be cause for such sad partings ever again.

“I thought for certain that the love we shared before was as big as it could be…” he murmured, running his hands through her flowing hair and smiling at her, as if he was trying to convince himself that this wasn’t all a beautiful dream they’d both soon wake up from. “How wrong I was in such a thought. This love grows deeper every day. It can’t be quantified. It just…”

“It just is,” Emma echoed, and he agreed, kissing her again and grounding her in a happiness that had been missing for twelve long months. Only when they were breathless, did they break apart, but even then his forehead rested against hers, his arms surrounding her, giving them space to breathe each other in and surrender to their feelings.

“I’ve brought you something, Emma,” he finally said, and she could see the pride in his eyes at the mention of this gift. “It’s something I hope you’ll find worthy of a woman like you.”

Emma knew she’d cherish any parcel from her sailor, but the preemptive affirmations died on her lips as he pulled out a small velvet pouch. Inside the compartment was a ring with a band of white gold, and a green blue gem unlike any she’d ever seen. In the royal vaults there were many treasures belonging to her family, but none that looked like this. It was a sapphire, but colored in such a vibrant aqua hue it didn’t look like any stone she’d seen before. Yet it wasn’t the first time she’d seen this iridescent shade. In fact, it was one that always seemed to find the two of them some way or another.

“Killian, it’s gorgeous,” she said in awe, amazed at how much it looked like the lightest flecks of color in his piercing blue gaze. She knew that in her own green eyes there were flecks of this tone too, a shared sample of their souls, indistinguishable and utterly spectacular. “But you didn’t need to bring me anything. All I need is you, you know that.”

“I do, love. Believe me, a man doesn’t forget such miracles when he’s as blessed as I am. But you are to be my wife, and after searching for some time, I finally found the ring I know was meant for you.”

With gentle ease, he took her hand in his and placed the ring on her finger. It was a perfect fit, and matched the modest white gold of the band he’d given her in promise before he left. Emma knew he’d had the choice of any ring in the castle for his proposal, but he was determined to find something special just for her. She didn’t need anything more than the wedding that would come, but when he shared the origin of this particular gem, she felt its significance.

“I found this treasure at a time of great pain. I missed you so dearly, that even the sea could offer no distraction. Twelve weeks into a twelve-month journey and I was homesick, as I’ve never been before. I walked along the beach in port and found this in a tide pool, underneath a rising moon. Liam gave most of the crew some leave for the first time in ages, but there was nothing that I wanted when I knew you were waiting for me here.

“My brother insisted I get off the boat, despite my attempt at protest, and so I wandered for a while, thinking only of you. Of your beauty and your brilliance and the future you deserve, the one I will do anything to give you. The waves in that water are notoriously unruly and sporadic. They rage along the coast and filter into tide pools unlike our shores here, but the locals claim that the sea bring treasures and tricks alike from far off places. Needless to say I didn’t care about these stories. All I cared about was you. I was thinking that maybe I should come home, even though the mission was not over, and then I found this, glistening in the water just below.”

Emma looked down at the stone and their hands intertwined. She imagined each point of his memory, feeling it so surely, it was like she had been there too. It helped in easing the pain of separation, and she settled in the fact that soon their being parted would be just a distant remembrance, never to be repeated.

“The first time I held you in my arms for a dance, you were dressed in a gown of this shade. I’ll never forget that night as long as I live.”

“Neither will I,” Emma agreed, recalling her public debut. She was a girl of sixteen and Killian was the brother of one of her father’s most trusted Captains, a whole year older than her but already in her eyes so much more mature. Now, so much time had passed, but when he smiled at her the same boyish charm was ever present, and she fell under his spell, stepping into his arms as she would to share a dance. Out there, in the setting sun he held her close, guiding her though there was no music, and she tried not to cry the joyful tears that threatened to spill as he twirled her, eliciting a laugh and making her feel lighter than air.

“Finding this felt like a sign, that even we were parted, we would always be together. I carried it every moment since, knowing someday it would end up here, with you.”

“And now it’s here, and so are you,” she whispered, stealing another kiss from him and halting their dance. He was the sweetest man alive, of that she had no doubt, but suddenly that sweetness was not what she needed. What she needed was love, the love that only they shared, made real in a stolen, private moment.

Reading her mind and her wants with precision, Killian pivoted from dancing to sweeping her up into his arms. She laughed aloud at the motion but didn’t pull back far. Instead she clung to him as he strolled through the back way. A few minutes later, when they arrived back at the garden house she was in no way surprised. She hadn’t been out here since his leaving, but it was just as she remembered, and immediately her sense of inner peace solidified. This was everything she’d wanted and more.

The kiss he pressed on her once they were shut away inside was filled with heat and desire, and soon kisses devolved into so much more, a merging of two people who had missed each other fiercely and we were intent on tying themselves together once again. It was perfect, hard-fought reunion, and Emma would cherish the memory always. But perhaps no part was as special as the glow that came between them when she was wrapped up in his arms hours later, safe and happy as the dawn of a new morning began to break. The world was not bright enough to have created such vibrancy, that was all thanks to them and their true love. As a product of two soul mates, Emma had inherited a bit of magic herself, but that magic was always the strongest in the arms of her Killian.

“Gods above, Emma, you are my light, my truth, my home,” he murmured, his words placed between the lightest kisses that sent thrills of pleasure dancing across her skin. “I’ll love you forever, I give you my word.”

“Good,” she replied, silently affirming that she felt the same with a gentle kiss before finally giving in to the tiredness of her body. And luckily for both of them, the sweet dreams that came of their reunion were nothing compared to the joy of their life together. For they had found something better than wishes – a love so real it would live forever, and a bond so sure it would always lead them home.

………………

Where ever I am Where ever I go Whatever happens, this year I know That you'll be with me to the end When the cold sets in Like you told me all those years ago You hold my hand Where ever I lay And you guide me through come what may Bring the silence through the noise I still hear your voice I remember what I heard you say I'll be your lighthouse Shining bright from dusk till dawn I'll sing a song aloud So you'll hear a voice you know You'll find that somehow Where ever you are, where ever I am Is home Whenever I feel I'm all by myself And every word is a cry for help I just think of you and then I'm safe again I feel you close though you're somewhere else I'll be your lighthouse Shining bright from dusk till dawn I'll sing a song aloud So you'll hear a voice you know You'll find that somehow Where ever you are, where ever I am Is home Do you remember What we used to say? I'll be your lighthouse Shining bright from dusk till dawn I'll sing a song aloud So you'll hear a voice you know You'll find that somehow Where ever you are, where ever I am Is home I'll be your lighthouse Shining bright from dusk till dawn I'll sing a song aloud So you'll hear a voice you know You'll find that somehow Where ever you are, where ever I am Is home Where ever you are, where ever I am Is home

Post-Note: Wow, so first and foremost, if the person who requested this even still reads my fics (because it has literally been something like 4 years since they asked for this), I hope that you enjoyed the chapter. I am so sorry for making you wait so long, but I am also so grateful for your lovely prompt. What happiness this fic created for me as I wrote it. I hope you all get to share in that too as you read the story. I’m also shocked at how close I am getting to 200 chapters of the mixtape. I can’t tell if it is something that I should put on hold, or make a volume two perhaps, but in the meantime, thanks so much to all of you for reading, for commenting, and sending me amazing songs to include. It has meant the world to have your support, and I hope you’ll continue to join me on this slow but steady journey in cute CS oneshots!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9,Part 10,Part 11, Part 12,Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24,Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29, Part 30, Part 31,Part 32, Part 33, Part 34, Part 35, Part 36, Part 37, Part 38,Part 39,Part 40, Part 41, Part 42, Part 43, Part 44, Part 45,Part 46,Part 47, Part 48, Part 49, Part 50, Part 51, Part 52, Part 53,Part 54,Part 55, Part 56, Part 57, Part 58, Part 59, Part 60,Part 61,Part 62, Part 63, Part 64, Part 65, Part 66, Part 67, Part 68,Part 69,Part 70, Part 71, Part 72, Part 73, Part 74, Part 75,Part 76,Part 77, Part 78, Part 79, Part 80, Part 81, Part 82, Part 83,Part 84,Part 85, Part 86, Part 87, Part 88, Part 89, Part 90,Part 91,Part 92, Part 93, Part 94, Part 95, Part 96, Part 97, Part 98,Part 99,Part 100, Part 101, Part 102, Part 103,Part 104, Part 105,Part 106, Part 107,Part 108, Part 109, Part 110,Part 111, Part 112,Part 113, Part 114, Part 115,Part 116, Part 117, Part 118,Part 119,Part 120, Part 121, Part 122, Part 123,Part 124, Part 125,Part 126, Part 127, Part 128,Part 129,Part 130, Part 131,Part 132,Part 133, Part 134, Part 135, Part 136, Part 137, Part 138,Part 139,Part 140, Part 141, Part 142, Part 143, Part 144, Part 145,Part 146, Part 147, Part 148,Part 149, Part 150, Part 151,Part 152, Part 153, Part 154, Part 155, Part 156, Part 157, Part 158,Part 159, Part 160, Part 161, Part 162, Part 163, Part 164,Part 165, Part 166, Part 167, Part 168, Part 169, Part 170,Part 171,Part 172, Part 173, Part 174, Part 175, Part 176,Part 177, Part 178, Part 179 , Part 180, Part 181, Part 182, Part 183, Part 184, Part 185, Part 186, Part 187, Part 188, Part 189, Part 190, Part 191, Part 192, Part 193

[readbythestarlight]

c2e122

I just saw art on the reel of Essek and I hope we see him tonight like he’s probably worried right? They message him suggesting they’re coming and then down show up for days?

Also I still want to know why he’s there like what are the odds? Did Matt put him there as an ally to help them? Is he there to cause trouble? Inquiring minds want to know and by inquiring minds I mean ME

I wish they wouldn’t share so much with him

[[MORE]]

I also wish that he wasn’t so damn CHARMING because I HATE him

"I have a tentacle god chasing me"

"No shit?"

I feel like a ship will be born from that single exchange

Anyway

Cad being like "I’m good where I am" like "rip to Lucien but I’m different"

Also Cad being like "I want to save someone" like damn

He’s so.... fucking... annoying I hate him

Like the smugness ugh I hate him

Let me stab him

Anyway so like I can’t decide if he is or isn’t listening to every single thing they say

I wish they wouldn’t send messages out though because it just tells him that they’re working against him without outside forces

I will give Lucien this tho, he’s a wonderful character. Disgusting and evil vile but it makes SENSE why people follow him. He’s charming. He’s powerful. Like the M9 know how evil he is but even then Jester still admits to liking him

Also this continuing idea of "Molly is still in there and I want to save him" is both understandable and yet frustrating and I hope that all this finally puts Molly to rest

Like, maybe in Lucien’s final moment Molly comes though, a final proper goodbye?

Idk

Oh no

Is it the book?

Caleb I know you can’t resist a book but PLEASE

What if it’s cursed what if it does something awful what if it’s how the Somnovum snares you

Nice Beau can read it

Which is also could be bad but still

This is reminding me vaguely of the Book of Mazarbul from LotR only less tragic more evil

I love/hate the way Lucien controls the situation by controlling how much knowledge he shares

Oh shit even Caleb can’t remember??

I still cannot get over how the joke of the show became the number 9 and then BAM here’s all this symbolism around the number 9 like what are the ODDS

Why are we telling him where it is??

Y’all KNOW Lucien can dispel shit

Beau why would you say that

Why are you letting him hoLD IT

Why are y’all LIKE this what are you even GOING for here with him?

"If you hold onto it you won’t get to stay in my tower tonight"

Siiiiiiigh they’re gonna get lost again

Don’t let him in the towerrrrr *whine*

"I like it when you’re condescending, it’s attractive"

Welp there goes another ship taking off

Ah, Jester and her messages xD

"Maybe no more lava" poor guy

Caleb’s like please don’t come look at my fucked up self-loathing room

Oh yeah!! Dairon!!

They also keep mentioning my hot boi and yet not seeing him and it makes me SAD I want ESSEK

Oh boy the floor

Guys it’s fine it’s just his emotional torture floor

I’m having feeling about Caleb and his childhood home now thanks Liam you’re really out here and gonna make me cry

"I’m just not allowed to forget it."

"I don’t think you ever do. I don’t think this room would change that. And not to speak to how smart you are but I don’t you’ve figured out that you’re not supposed to forget but that you’re—not doing it wrong. You’re not using it the right way."

"It feels less like a memory and more like a punishment for yourself, Caleb."

"It exists. If it exists here it exists somewhere."

"It exists somewhere anyway... it’s a beautiful place, Caleb."

Cad and Jester coming through with the gentle nudging and the comfort

"Do you still wish to go back and undo it?"

"Of course. I regret. I regret it."

"Think Lucien has a room like this?"

Well shit, Cad.

I wonder if he still has his plans to like, actually find a way to go back and change things though or if he’s just always going to wish he could

"Endless possibilities"

One floor full of past traumas and the other is the vast openness of his future and that is SO Caleb tbh.

One of those future possibilities had better be a BeauYasha date night and ANOTHER had better be a Shadowgast date night

Huh. A desire to not remember his past. Interesting...

And threatening Cad for prying, I’m gonna fight him

He’s such a controlling freak, demanding what happens at dinner, what gets served

I hate him

“Rich kids”? It’s just magic, Cree, what’s your damage

Oh no the smile xD

Beau

Now is she making vague threats? Talking about clearing out a cult like that to the face of a cult leader

No it’s not the only cult they’ve killed. They also wrecked Obann’s cult. The Angel of Irons cult.

They’re cult killers and he should be scared.

“In the key of G”

Ugh I hate hiiiiiim

I can’t wait for this fucker to DIE already ugh

Specifically following Fjord, huh?

Also if it was someone specifically scrying shouldn’t they be able to make saves against it?

So it’s not a spell to scry right?

Also Caleb just calling him out is my fave

He’s less throwing shade than Beau and less semi-subtle than Cad (both of which are also excellent)

Hot boiiiii hottttt boiiiiiiiiiii

Please I’m begging

Yes it’s true Caleb stop being cynical he LOVES y’all

Okay but yeah the city is def a danger for him

Yes please go to Essek

Travis now is not the time to tease the DM xD

In both excited and terrified

Like listen I’ve been dying for Essek to join them but I’m also scared for him too

Oh boy that’s not a good answer

Does he need ANY of you alive?

Oh Jester, giving him free reign as a kitty cat smh

Cuddle pile on the bed!

Oh NO

I knew the fucking book was gonna be BAD

fucking hell I KNEW IT

I hate it I hate it I hate it fuck fuck fuck

Why did you look, why do you ALWAYS have to look?!

Fuuuuuuck

Please don’t look again

Damn, Matt, this description is amazing though!

“That’s rare”

Beau immediately scribbling it down, smart girl

“That’s not good” no SHIT Beau

I’ve got a bad feeling

Beau had a tattoo eye on her neck

I KNEW IT

Not on her neck but on her hand

FUCK

Oh no oh god

Fuck fuck fuck

Oh goddddd

Do NOT read the book again, do NOT

And do NOT less Essek anywhere near the book either not that he’s who’s important right now but god

And she wrote down scribbles and nothing fuck

I hate this fuuuuuuck

Are they gonna be safe if they don’t read more?? Like he said you had to read more to understand more right??

He did this on purpose he knew this would happen and I want to know WHY

Fuck I’m stressed

Is it Thursday yet?!

[larryssunflower]

The Non-Royal Romance, season two, part two

last part of season one     teaser trailer      season two, part one      masterlist

tagging- @ravenpuff02 @simplyaiden-blog @msjr0119 @butindeed @mfackenthal @choices-lurker @american-duchess @drakelover78 @monosodiumglutamateme @crookedslimecreatorpasta @mrsdrakewalkerblog @traeumerinwitzhelden @gardeningourmet​ @speedyoperarascalparty​ @agent-zephyrkah​ @liam-rhys-x-mc-x-constantine​ @snyggflicka​ @texaskitten30​ @annekebbphotography​ @irishwhiskys-blog​ @nomadics-stuff​ @catlady0911​ @twinkle-320​ @i-bloody-love-drake-walker​ @drakewalker04​ @bigmemesplz​ @jovialyouthmusic​ @sleepwalkingelite​ @pintobom​ @moneyfordiamonds​ @mskaneko​ @lauzales​ @princessleac1​ @kingliam2019​ @queen-arabella-of-cordonia​ @drake-colt-lover-99​

- Thank you all for your support and I really do apologize for taking so long with this! You would think having all the time in the world because of Quarantine would make me write more… guess not lol. But in all seriousness, I have been going through serious writer’s block right now but I hope you guys like this part! I made it a little longer than usual for you guys ;) I can’t wait to continue this story further! love you all <3 -

warning- there may or may not be some smut at the end hehe ;)

Blinking away sleep from my eyes, I sit up, stopping when I see Drake, sitting in a chair beside me, watching me with a soft look in his eyes. I blush slightly, feeling insecure having just woke up, knowing I look like a hot mess. “Ah, good morning Princess,” Drake murmurs amusedly as I stretch my arms above my head before looking at him with a tired smile. “You know I’m Queen now, right?” I retort, my voice slightly hoarse, making him smirk. “Touché,” He comments with a slight nod. I chuckle and start to remember last night, how I asked him to stay when something hits me. “How long have you been awake?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me. He couldn’t have stayed awake the whole night, right?

He seems surprised at the question and takes a moment to think. “About 36 hours, why?” He asks nonchalantly, turning his head to the side. I choke. “36 hours? How are you alive??” I demand incredulously, my eyes wide, half in shock, half impressed. Drake chuckles, looking down. “For a time when I serving the navy, I was trained to stay awake for 72 hours,” He explains, and I’m taken aback yet again. “How?” I ask, making him smile slightly, looking down. “It’s a sniper’s tactic traditionally, which helped them stay awake while watching or following a target for a long period of time,” He says, somewhat tentatively, “It works by creating a fantasy or imagining a scenario which includes the target, to keep them attentive and focused at the task at hand.” Drake concludes. I nod along, thinking for a moment.

I glance up at him, my stomach suddenly fluttering. “So you created a scenario about… me?” I ask softly, and his cheeks redden slightly. “Y-yeah,” He admits. A grin spreads over my face. “Drake…” I start slowly, “what’s the fantasy?” I ask, my eyes flicking up to meet his. He brings his hand to scratch behind his neck, and his eyes shifting to the side. “Well-“ Drake’s cut off by aggressive pounding on my door, making me flinch, my heart stopping.

Drake is instantly on his feet. My eyes widen as I recognize the voice shouting through the door. “Hey! Alana!! I know you’re in there! Open up!”. I laugh in shock, making Drake look at me, surprised. I clamber off my bed, rushing over to the door. “Alana you can’t just-“ Drake starts, coming after me, but I fling the door open to reveal someone who has been at university for the past four years, my sister. “Kai!” I exclaim, throwing my arms around her, making her giggle, hugging me back. “Alana! god, it’s been too long!” She gushes, squeezing me tightly. I pull away to take a good look at her. I feel emotional as she smiles at me, looking so grown up. “Wow, Kai, you look older than me! How is that possible?” I laugh, making her shrug playfully.

“It’s all the studying! I swear I’ve aged about thirty years just to get a damn Bachelor’s,” Kai chuckles, her eyes drifting over my shoulder. “Oh! Kai, this is my bodyguard, Drake,” I say, turning so she can see him. She nods at him, and he does the same back.

I grab Kai’s hand, dragging her inside. “Come in! We need to catch up.” I demand, marching her to my couch in the corner of the room. Drake walks to the door, motioning that he will be out in the hallway, and I nod with a smile.

“Gah! I’m so excited for you! I used to dream about this time when we were younger, thinking about you being Queen and engaged! It’s so exciting!” She exclaims, her face bright. I force the best smile I can. If only she knew how complicated all of this is. “Well it’s not all perfect,” I start, but she cuts me off. “Well of course. You still have that Assassination situation, and I’m sure the wedding planning is going to be crazy, but no matter what you need, I’ll be right here.” She implores, holding my hand.

A huge wave of gratitude washes over me and I smile with a sigh of relief. “Thank you Kai, I really appreciate it. It also helps that you are way more educated than I am,” I say with a chuckle, and she just grins. “I’ve always been the smarter one, I think you should learn to accept that,” She retorts cheekily, making me roll my eyes. “Whatever,” I chuckle.

The door opens after a gentle knock, Drake sticking his head in. “Hey, Maxwell’s here-“ and before he can finish his sentence, Max barges in, squealing with excitement when he sees Kai. Drake just rolls his eyes in annoyance, making me grin. I know he secretly loves it, although he will never admit that. “Little K!” Maxwell exclaims, running over. Kai gets up excitedly, wrapping him in a hug.

We all catch up for a moment before Maxwell turns to me. “Oh yeah! We have that barn-raising today, so you guys should probably get dressed.” Maxwell says, and I groan at my forgetfulness. “Oh, I came just in time then!” Kai says excitedly.

“Let’s go catch up somewhere else and let my dear sister change in peace,” Kai says, grabbing Max’s arm, and guiding him out. I wave after them with a chuckle as Max starts to fill her in on the past four years.

—-

Our car finally arrives at the small patch of farm where the building of the barn has already started. A crowd of nobles are helping construction workers lay down the foundation, clearly sweating on the warm summer day. The paparazzi are snapping photos here and there, while others wait in the shade for new nobles to arrive, ready to assault them with questions for their magazines and gossip columns.

Drake turns around in his seat, facing Kai and I. “Are you two ready?” He asks, and I nod. “Yeah, I guess so,” Kai mumbles, seeming nervous. It’s her first time being introduced to the press. Like me, she was hidden her whole childhood from Cordonia. It actually ended up helping her when she went to university in France, because no one knew who she was. Her intellectual success depended on her work, not her title. I’m not surprised she is nervous, not too long ago it was my first time being in front of the press at the derby. God, that feels like a century ago.

Drake opens my door, holding his hand out. For a moment I’m back to that day, and Drake is still here, holding his hand for me. If only things had changed. In the beginning, I had dreaded the inevitability having to be engaged and married to someone I didn’t love, but after meeting Drake and slowly falling in love with him, the thought of being with someone else became painful to even consider. If only I was on the engagement tour with him as my fiancé, not as my bodyguard. I take his hand and step down, making eye contact with his beautiful deep eyes for a moment, before I look away, feeling loss as soon as my eyes leave his. He helps Kai down, and the three of us start down the dirt path to the barn, the hot summer wind already wrapping itself around me like a thick blanket. The paparazzi spot us, and the vultures descend. In seconds they are crowded around us, shouting and snapping pictures, blinding us with their flash.

“Who is this woman with you?” “Alana! How are things with Liam?” “Have you found the Assassins yet?” “Who are you wearing?”

“Okay folks, back up!” Drake shouts, him and Kai’s bodyguard creating a barrier between us and pushing them away. “Come on! Just one comment!” One reporter begs, and Drake looks over at me. I nod reluctantly in approval. “The Queen will give a statement, so shut up and let her speak,” Drake says in a commanding voice and within seconds the paparazzi quiet down, eagerly holding out tape recorders towards us and positioning their cameras. I clear my throat nervously. “Thank you all for uh, coming out today, I appreciate it. This is my younger sister, Princess Kai, she just graduated from University and will be accompanying me during the engagement tour,” I begin, my palms already starting to sweat. I am hopeless at public speaking. “We, unfortunately, haven’t found anything on the assassination yet, but we are working tirelessly to find out who orchestrated that horrible event. And Liam and I are doing well. Thank you,” I finish the statement to my incredible relief, already cringing at my choppy, awkward speech. The paparazzi only respond with more questions and I’m about to leave when Kai stops me, her hand in my arm. “wait,” she whispers to me before turning to the paparazzi.

“Hello, I wanted to make sure to personally introduce myself to you all. As my amazing sister said, I just graduated from University and I am so pleased to finally be home in Cordonia. It breaks my heart to be home at such a scary time, where the people and nobles alike are scared for their lives. But I assure you, as my sister said, we will work tirelessly until we find who is responsible. In the meantime, all we can do is help unite Cordonia, and remind people of love, kindness, and hope in this troubling time. Because that is what Liam and Alana’s union stands for, the perseverance of our incredible country and the unity of our nation. Now, if you lovely people don’t mind, we have a barn to build.” Kai finishes effortlessly with a firm nod, before looping her arm through mine and leading me toward the barn.

I stumble after her in shock. I open and close my mouth wordlessly. “Wow. You are incredible at speaking- words-” I stutter, further proving my point of being helpless at speaking, making her laugh. “Yeah well I learned a lot about diplomacy and public speaking at school, but to be honest its a second nature at this point,” She says simply. We are quiet for a moment, the only sound being the crunch of our shoes on the dirt.

After a moment, I break the comfortable silence. “You reminded me of dad,” I say suddenly, making her stop, her eyes soft. “Really?” She asks, a hopeful smile on her face. I nod. “He was always incredible at speaking, you know that,, I always admired him for it,” I mumble, a sadness falling over me. He died when I was eight, Kai was only five, but she still misses him just as much. I was always a daddy’s girl which made life after his death so much harder with my distant mother who only got worse as the years went by.

“Hey, just because you aren’t the best at public speaking doesn’t mean you won’t be a great leader,” Kai reassures me, but I just snort. “Let’s hope so,” I say, making her laugh.

“Ah, You must be the famous little sister!” A voice says, and we look over to see Liam and Leo walking up to us. Kai nods with a polite laugh. “That’s me! You must be the fiancé!” She enthuses, and he nods with a grin. He kisses her hand respectfully, before turning to me. “Hey babe,” He says sweetly, planting a kiss on my cheek. “Hey,” I mumble, and instinctively my eyes immediately snap up to look at Drake, who is watching Liam closely, his eyes narrowed. I try to hide my smile as I look away and notice Leo approaching Kai.

“Hello gorgeous,” Leo says with a bow, kissing Kai’s outstretched knuckles. She squints her eyes at him for a moment, clearly looking him over with distaste. “I believe the term you were looking for is ‘Your Highness’,” Kai responds flatly, only making a smirk spread across Leo’s face. He nods. “Of course, Your Highness,” He says slyly, amusement in his eyes. Kai just rolls her eyes before turning to me.

“Ready to raise a barn?” She asks. I chuckle and nod. All four of us, the bodyguards following, head over to the construction site and start hammering, lifting support beams, and painting wood strips.

—

Kai and I paint the newly applied wooden slats of the barn side by side. We chat as we do so, filling each other in on all the gossip of the past four years. “Max finally asked Allie out? I’m so happy for them!” Kai gushes, and I smile at the bittersweetness of the situation. It’s great to have Kai back again, but it’s sad because we have missed out on so much of each other’s lives.

“So, I saw what happened between you and Leo,” I whisper tentatively, glancing over my shoulder to look at Leo, who was helping Liam hammer the support beams. Kai groans with a roll of her eyes. “Ugh, do not get me started. I know all about his ‘bachelor lifestyle’ and how he treats women like disposable tissues. All the women at uni knew about him, and when I told them where I was from, all they could do was gush about him constantly. I don’t get it. He flirts with anything that has two breasts and a vagina,” She scoffs, shaking her head, painting with a new sense of anger. I snicker at my usually composed sister. “So you don’t like him then?” I ask cheekily, making her look over at me with a dead-pan expression. “No.” She says flatly, making me snicker more. At least we can agree on that.

A hand comes up suddenly, touching my shoulder gently. I jump, turning to see Liam. “Hey babe, I think it would be a good idea to be doing some things together, you know, for publicity?” He says, glancing over at the paparazzi hanging around, snapping pictures here and there but looking quite restless. “Oh, that’s a good idea! Yeah, you guys should do that!” Kai nods, and I reluctantly smile. “Yeah, let’s do it then,” I say with fake enthusiasm, before following him.

Liam and I start to do little things together like painting window panes, securing them to the walls, helping hoist materials to the roof, all the while, getting top-notch ‘candid’ pictures for the paps. Eventually, a good amount of the press leaves, clearly getting all the photos needed. “Well, that was fun,” Liam comments, and I nod. We stand in an awkward silence before I speak. “Yeah, I should probably get back to Kai, we have a lot to catch up on,” I say quickly, and Liam nods. I turn around, heading over to Kai before I look up and stop in my tracks.

My jaw drops as I spot Drake, shirtless, pulling on a rope to help maneuver a pretty big beam. My mouth feels dry as I observe the way the sun shines over him through the unfinished roof. Blinking dumbly, I watch his muscles shift in the midday sun, seemingly in slow motion, a sheen of sweat gleaming on his lean figure. “Damn. That’s your bodyguard?” Kai says beside me, snapping me out of my daze. I clear my throat, forcing myself to tear my eyes from his fit form. “Uh- yeah. He’s great.” I mumble, suddenly feeling really hot. “Hey, do you reckon you guys got some good shots with Liam?” Kai asks, and I nod. “Yeah- um, they should turn out great,” I say absentmindedly, grabbing a spare paintbrush and joining Kai at the wooden panels.“Are you alright?” Kai asks, looking at me with concern. I chuckle. “Yes! I’m just a bit hot after all this work! It doesn’t help that it feels like 900 degrees outside,” I laugh, making Kai nod in agreement.

“I have a solution for that problem m’ lady’s,” Maxwell says from behind us, slinging both of his arms over our shoulders. “And that is?” Kai asks with amusement, glancing over at Max’s enthusiastic face. “Well, there is a certain spa not so far from here. If you ask me, it’s the perfect thing after all this hard labor,” Max says with a pair of pleading puppy dog eyes. I snort. “Okay Max, we can go,” I smile, making Max let out a cheer, before going to inform Liam and Leo. “I missed you guys,” Kai says with a sweet smile. “Trust me K, we missed you too,” I grin, my heart happy. It’s nice to have family together like this again.

I sneak a peek back over my shoulder at Drake to see him shaking hands with one of the other construction workers, buttoning his shirt, his suit jacket resting on his shoulders.

In another world, I would be standing in front of him, finishing his buttons for him, straightening out his jacket, and planting a kiss on his lips to finish it off. Like an actual couple. I sigh, before going back to painting the barn.

—

After a quick celebration for the now completed barn, Liam, Leo, Maxwell, Kai, and I head over to the spa, the sun starting to set and the world beginning to cool down, satisfied with the work we put in all afternoon. “Its actually way more satisfying than I thought, seeing our hard work being translated to an actual finished building!” Max enthuses. “And what ‘hard work’ did you do exactly? It almost seemed like every time I saw you, I think you were taking a ‘break’” Liam grins with feigned confusion. Maxwell mocks offense with a dramatic scoff and a delicate hand on his chest. “Dear Liam, never have I been so offended! You just happened to see me between my bursts of intense labor,” Max dismisses, making the rest of us laugh.

“I’m pretty sure the person who did the hardest labor was Mr. Walker,” Kai starts, turning to a now surprised Drake, who was following us with the other bodyguard. “You were helping pull a huge beam, most people would need two others to help with something that size,” Kai says, impressed. The rest of us turn to look at Drake for his answer. Clearly uncomfortable with all the eyes on him, he clears his throat. “Oh, well I know a couple of the construction workers and they needed an extra pair of um- hands, so I helped out,” He says, averting eye contact. I smile at his stubborn humbleness. It’s adorable.

“Well good job man, good to know the man working to protect my fiancé is a hard worker,” Liam says, clapping his shoulder. Drake just nods, his jaw clenching. As we continue our walk, I wonder if Liam is purposefully condescending towards Drake. It really seems like it.

Kai decides to join Max in his car to the spa, and Leo quickly follows. They encourage Liam and me to get some ’alone time’ by driving separately. Liam, Drake, and I reach my car, both men reaching to open the door for me at the same time, making them stop. They look at each other for a moment. “No need to worry about that Drake, I can open the door for my fiancé,” Liam says, an edge to his voice. Drake glances over at me. I just nod, so Drake backs away. “Of course,” Drake says unenthusiastically, allowing Liam to open my door. I get in, and Liam follows, closing the door. Drake gets in the front with the driver, and we follow Maxwell’s car to the spa.

Liam’s hand feels foreign as it rests on my knee protectively. “You look beautiful today Alana,” Liam says in my ear. I smile. “Thank you, you look handsome, as usual,” I respond. His hand drifts from my knee to find my left hand, his thumb running over the surface of my decadent ring. I watch as he does so, the familiar feeling of guilt creeping up my throat. “I can’t wait to marry you,” Liam mumbles softly. I glance over at him. He looks up at me with a smile. “M-me too,” I stutter, the guilt overpowering my heart manifesting into sadness. I hate doing this to him. Being engaged, making him think I love him when I fear that I never will. My eyes flick up to the rearview mirror to see Drake watching us. I quickly look away to the scenery outside the window, forcing myself to not let the tear that’s threatening to fall show how broken my heart is.

In about ten minutes of silence, we arrive at the spa to my relief. Liam quickly opens our car door, getting out first, before Drake can even go to open it. Liam seems proud of himself as he holds the door open to me, his hand held out like Drake’s usually is. Drake stands behind Liam, looking frustrated. I take Liam’s hand getting out of the car before brushing softly past Drake and meeting up with the rest of the group inside.

—

We unwind in a private room, equipped with a hot tub, a cold plunge, and lounge chairs. Some of us go off at different times to get massages and facials, before coming back so we can all enjoy the room together. At some point, Maxwell shows off his baby hippo tattoo that I encouraged him to get one night when we were pretty drunk. Kai nearly falls off the lounge chair with laughter. I even catch Drake shaking his head slightly, a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth.

“Good idea on coming here buddy,” Liam comments, making Max smile with cocky satisfaction. He leans back, folding his hands behind his head cooly and stretching out fully on the lounge chair. “Don’t worry about it, I just require that you continue to talk about how awesome and incredible this idea was for the rest of our lives, and how much you admire me,” Max shrugs confidently, making us roll our eyes.

“Yeah, you get to be thrown into the plunge for that,” Leo concludes, making Liam nod in agreement.

“W-wait what?” Max asks, sitting up, his eyes wide. Leo and Liam suddenly grab him, making him squeal as they head over to the cold plunge. They throw him into the freezing water after a dramatic count to three, his high pitched scream cutting out as he is submerged underwater. Kai and I laugh as Leo and Liam nod, looking pleased with themselves until Max grabs their ankles, dragging them into the water, their expressions changing pretty quickly. Kai and I laugh even harder, clutching at our stomachs as the men surface, their hair stuck to the forehead with sour expressions on their faces.

“That’s what you guys get for being jerks!” Kai shouts playfully. “Oh sorry, would you like to join us?” Leo asks, turning his head to the side. “I think she does,” Maxwell confirms, as they get out, heading over to us. Kai gasps, getting up quickly. “No! I hate the cold!” She exclaims with a grin, backing up. The boys suddenly start after her, making her shriek with laughter as she gets chased around the room. I grin, watching them. After they successfully get her in the plunge, Leo and Maxwell turn to me. “Unless you want to have the wrath of the Queen against you, I would suggest you back away,” I warn, making them glance at each other, before deciding its not worth it and backing away, starting a splashing war against Kai.

Liam gets out, heading over and sitting next to me. “How are you feeling?” I ask cheekily as he wraps himself in his towel. “Cold.” He says with a laugh, making me chuckle. “I can see that,” I say with amusement. “Hey, want to join me in the sauna? The hot steam sounds very appealing right now,” Liam chuckles. “Yeah, sure,” I say, getting up. We head down a hallway, the sauna just behind a marked door on the left.

Liam turns around, and he sighs. “Walker, it’s not necessary for you to follow us everywhere we go,” He says, making me turn to see Drake standing behind us, his eyes narrowed at Liam. “It is my job to protect her,” Drake says sternly, holding his ground. “Not for long. Last time I checked, that’s a husband’s job,” Liam snarls, inching towards Drake. “I’m sorry, last time I checked, you two are only engaged,” Drake responds, inching towards Liam as well, his fists balled. I widen my eyes, stepping between them. “First of all, I don’t need anyone to protect me okay? And I especially don’t need you two fighting over protecting me like I’m a child. Drake, thank you for your concern, but we will be okay. Liam, Drake is just trying to do his job, and I need you to respect that,” I lecture them. Drake nods, looking down. Liam backs up, looking embarrassed. “God,” I swear under my breath, shaking my head and walking into the sauna.

Liam and I sit on the wooden seats, enjoying the hot steam enveloping us. I lean back, closing my eyes. I feel my muscles finally relaxing, the stress and soreness from building the barn starting to dissipate.

I open my eyes to Drake kissing my neck, his stubble scratching over my sensitive skin, making me gasp slightly. “Shh, it’s alright, I’m going to make you feel good princess,” He whispers hoarsely in my ear, making me moan breathily, goosebumps rising all over my arms. His hands are running slowly up and down my bare back, his mouth moving down my body. I run my hands through his soft hair, tugging slightly, earning a throaty groan from him. I watch him as his mouth gets lower and lower-

“Alana! I think you fell asleep,” Liam says beside me, gently shaking my shoulder. I jump slightly, looking over to see Liam sitting next to me, watching me with a concerned look. I chuckle, bringing my hand to my forehead, feeling embarrassed. “Sorry! I had no idea I fell asleep,” I say sheepishly, my cheeks burning as I sit up straight. My face feels really hot, I just can’t tell if it’s from the steam or the dream. Liam chuckles. “You seemed like you were having an interesting dream,” He says, making me nod with a gulp. “Yeah, I uh, don’t remember it, you know how dreams can be,” I stutter. He just nods in agreement. “Hey, lets head out, I’m feeling a little light-headed,” I say quickly, getting up.

As we open the door, the cool refreshing air washes over us. Drake turns around to face us, making butterflies flutter in my stomach as we make eye contact. All I can think about is the dream, the way he was feeling me. “Yo Liam! come over here!” Leo shouts from the main room. Liam shoots me a smile before walking over the group. I stay behind, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, glancing over at Drake, suddenly feeling nervous around him.

He slightly furrows his brow. “Are you okay?” He questions, glancing over me. I gulp, with a nervous nod. “Y-yeah, I’m fine, I just fell asleep in there and feel a little light-headed,” I mutter, shifting on my feet. Drake watches me for a minute.

“You’re acting strange,” He states, making me scoff. “Me? I- am not acting strange,” I say, trying to sound casual. Drake leans in, his eyes roaming my face as I stare back at him, my heart pounding. “Did- Did you have a hot dream about me?” He asks a grin pulling at the corner of his mouth.

My mind goes blank on defenses, making Drake’s grin grow wider. “You did didn’t you?” He asks a look of astonishment on his face. My face gets even hotter, only being able to stutter in response.

Drake glances down the hallway, then back at me, before grabbing the back of my neck, pulling my lips to his. I gasp against him, kissing him back. He suddenly breaks off the kiss, making me sigh in defeat. not again. I glance back up at him, waiting for the usual excuses he tells like ‘this isn’t right’ or ‘you’re engaged’, but he doesn’t say anything, just stares down at me.

He grabs my hand and swiftly drags me into the bathroom on the other side of the hall, locking the door behind me. I blink up at him with wide eyes, waiting for him to say something. He just pushes me up against the closed door, kissing me again, rougher this time. Oh. I kiss him back hungrily, basking in this feeling with him, the way his large hands are tugging me closer against his frame, how his lips move in sync with mine. He breaks the kiss, his mouth right beside my ear, his warm breath fanning across my cheeks. “I hate seeing you with him,” He murmurs lowly, making me gulp at his deep voice, arousal shooting up my body. “mhmm, why is that?” I ask coyly. “because you’re mine,” Drake snarls with a protective squeeze, making goosebumps rise on my arms. I lean back so we are face to face. He stares at me for a moment, his pupils blown. “prove it,” I whisper slowly. His gaze becomes determined and he deftly moves his hands to roughly grab just below my ass, hoisting me up. My legs wrap around him instinctively, biting my lip at the feeling of his hands digging into my thighs and the cool wall against my back.

His lips find mine once again, quickly and with purpose. I start kissing him back, a sound of surprise erupting from the back of my throat as I feel one of his hands move to the inside of my thigh, making my stomach flip. “Is this okay?” He breathes slowly and I gulp before nodding rapidly, my heart suddenly hammering with anticipation. He smirks and his fingers reach my core, making me gasp, heat flickering up my abdomen. I feel a rush of adrenaline shooting through my veins as I realize what’s happening. I groan as his fingers move expertly between my legs, making my toes curl in pleasure, the knot in my stomach growing. I squeeze my thighs around his waist to garner more friction, moaning at the feeling of his touch. “you like that princess?” He growls, his voice deep. I nod with a soft moan as I throw my head back, making Drake take the opportunity to kiss the sensitive skin under my jaw, the various sensations overwhelming my senses. His fingers start to move in tantalizing circles around my clit, making me whimper in pleasure, grinding down on his hand. I can barely keep still, overcome with the intoxicating feeling of being with Drake.

The knot builds and builds until my chest is heaving as Drake continues to touch me, and in a second, the knot comes undone and I chew my lip to stop myself from crying out as I finish, seeing stars. Drake gently helps me on my feet as I try to catch my breath, my knees weak. “I- wow,” I pant, earning a slight chuckle from Drake. For some reason, I feel embarrassed, but when I look up to see the way he is looking at me, all of the apprehension vanishes.

He gently raises my chin, gazing softly down at me. “I cherish you, more than he ever can” He murmurs, making me fall for him even more, something I didn’t imagine was possible. I smile back up at him, looking into his sincere eyes.

“I only have eyes for you Walker, you know that”

—-

end of part 2 :)

I hope you guys liked It! I’m sorry if the smut is bad, I haven’t written in so long and I’m still not very good at writing it haha! sorry again for how long this took

[bbrandy2002]

My Love

Chapter 8

Pairing: Liam and Riley

Book: TRH

A/N: Thanks @burnsoslow​ for the punctuation and grammar magic on the first half of this. The rest is all on me ... lol (Somehow, I got two college degrees with my shame). Also, @patriciaanchrist2019​ , who has begged me for two weeks to get this posted ... here ya go :)

**This chapter is, by far, my most favorite thing I have ever written. I don't care if everyone hates it, thinks it weird or whatevs. It’s so different that I can’t get enough of it. After the next chapter, I have no idea where this thing is heading, but damn if I can't wait to find out.

___________________________________________________________

Liam clenched his fist so tightly, he felt the burning sting of blown veins and vessels that had earlier been penetrated by a needle forcing fluids into his hot blood. These same two hands that squeezed together in murderous rage were the same ones he had envisioned moments ago being wrapped around the exposed neck of his wife's recently discovered killer, gripped so firmly and securely, there would be no doubt that not one drop of air would enter or depart from her immoral lips. He needed to watch her fearful eyes beg him for the compassion and mercy she so callously cheated Riley of  -- cheated him of. Instead, she had the audacity to stare back at him with an expression reminiscent of a blushing bride approaching her groom at the altar. 

She looked at him with love and admiration.

He looked at her with hatred and scorn.

Somehow, amid this face-off, Liam would make damn sure those bright brown eyes that mysteriously beamed in the darkness of her chilly hospital room would soon witness the long-awaited wrath and vengeance he had waiting for her.

Riley had a million thoughts racing through her head all at once. The man she had loved and given her heart to in life was standing before her. His appearance was weak and frail; he wasn't the same muscular, strong, and cheerful man she remembered. Her heart sank further into her chest, wanting to hold him and make the hurt all disappear. Riley could only assume this change in Liam was a result of her death, and if he only knew that she was right there waiting for him to take her into his loving arms, it could change everything. 

But how would she even begin to bring that up? Riley had never believed in such things, and Liam was far more realistic and pragmatic than even she. 

For the moment, all she could do was play along.

Liam casually shut and locked the door to Riley's room before inching further inside. The moonlight cascaded a bluish glow through the window of the room as Liam ran a menacing hand over the hard plastic footing of her bed.

"Your Majesty." She spoke with a guttural whisper and bowed her head to him. "It's kind of you to come … although I am somewhat surprised you would visit me -- and at this late of an hour."

Liam stroked the scruff on his chin, never once taking his blazing eyes away from her. "I bet you are, Miss Talbert," he replied derisively.

Riley sensed the peculiar tone in his voice and demeanor; she wasn't sure what to make of it, never having seen him this way. She shifted curiously in her bed.

"Sir?  Is there something --"

He raised his hand to stop her. "Never address me unless you are asked to. Are we clear?" The softness of her small, listless voice had no effect on him, nor did the gauze and bruises that blanketed her delicate skin.

"My apologies, sir. I … I was only trying --" she scrambled nervously, attempting to make sense of his bitter tone and attitude until he abruptly shouted an array of expletives and shoved her hospital tray across the room. Riley startled, and her eyes widened in panic as he whipped around to the side of her bed and placed his hands in the crook of her neck. "Liam! What are you doing?"

"You fucking bitch! Did you honestly think you could get away with it?"

"I don't understand! Away with what?" she wailed frightfully. Her tiny hands gripped both of his wrists in a desperate struggle to loosen his hold while her feet burrowed desperately into the mattress. This was not her kind, gentle Liam; this man's venomous glare could have pierced daggers straight through her.

"Don't you dare give me that bullshit! They found the cyanide. They know about your fake name … Victoria! Your relation to Amalas!  We know it was you who killed Riley! I just don't know why … so I will give you exactly 30 seconds to spill your guts or so help me, I will do it for you!"

Riley's shaky hands left Liam's wrist and stretched over her gaping mouth. "It was … Amanda?" she muttered through shock and growing nausea that spontaneously transformed into her own personal anger and betrayal. There was literally no time to dwell on it or even think it through because Liam was mere seconds away from killing her. She knew how much he loved her. She knew he had every intention of doing so.

"You have 30 seconds, Amanda, to tell me why … why you took her away from our baby and me…" Liam's tone grew more somber, and his jaw began to quake. "She was … the best wife … the best mother … my best friend and queen …  my love … and you … you took all of that away, and I just want … no … I need to know … why?"

Tears flowed heavily down Riley's cheeks at his poignant words, but the hurt and pain this woman had caused him were so tremendous and profound that she was appalled by it all. 

And she was the cause of it.

"ANSWER ME! WHY?"

Her breathing was strained as she struggled for a response that would not only satisfy him but also keep her alive. 

She decided to take a gamble.

"I know this is going to sound crazy --"

"I don't want crazy; I want the truth!" he snapped back.

Riley's glistening eyes gazed deeply into his harsh ones as she steadied her breaths. "Liam, I'm asking you to listen carefully to what I am about to tell you. If you will give me a chance, I can prove everything to you … I think."

Liam furrowed his brow; there was something oddly familiar about the way she spoke and looked at him. "I already have proof. There is nothing more you could possibly prove to me that will prevent you from your fate."

"I know you. I know your hopes … your dreams … your fears. Do you remember being on the balcony at Valtoria during the Lantern Lighting Festival? You asked what part of yourself you should let go of before you released it into the sky. You released your fears about being a good ruler. You questioned it so frequently that … it just made sense."

"How the hell did you know that? Did my wife tell you?"

Riley smiled affectionately. "I assure you … your wife would never betray your confidence like that."

Liam released his hands from her neck, more so out of curiosity over this new game he felt she was playing than thinking there was something more to her words. He glared at her with intrigue and crossed his arms. "What are you doing?"

"You have a tiny scar on your left elbow that you got from Leo when you were six years old. He pushed you into an armchair after you told your dad he swiped a questionable magazine from the former Duke of Karlington's chambers. You never told your wife about that."

Liam faked an amused laugh while he clapped his hands deliberately and with emphasis. "Thank you for taking me down this little road of memories. Did you wish to continue telling me private things about myself, or did you want to tell me what I ate for dinner the night before I married Riley?" he asked with a sardonic tone. 

"You snuck into my room at the palace after the rehearsal dinner, and we had pasta with tomato sauce, just as we did during our first date at the Beaumonts' when you told me your greatest dream was to one day have a family."

"Shut up!"

"Liam … I know what Amanda did, but I need you to look past that right now and see who I really am."

"I said, shut the fuck up! You are not her! This is all just some terribly-planned scheme to play on my emotions, and it's not going to work."

"You hated the annual Regatta because the boat you and Drake snuck out onto when you were kids collapsed and you nearly drowned. Applewood was the only place you ever felt normal as a kid. You chucked a blackened salade Nicoise into a vase in Paris --"

"I'm warning you! Stop!"

"-- The combination to the wall safe in our bedroom is your mother's birth date backward, and the passcode to the arsenal is 20 numbers long, and only three people know it, but I can recite them for you right now if you wish … "

Liam stood silent and expressionless, but inside, his heart was thundering out of his chest, his mind cluttered with so many questions, he couldn't make sense of any of it. There is no way she can know all of this stuff.

Riley, however, knew that stoic expression all too well; it was the look he had when he was nervous and deliberating deeply in his thoughts. If she ever had the chance to at least have him seriously consider what she was trying to tell him, it was now.

"I know it's crazy … I know …  but please look at me, and you will know. Amanda died in that park, Liam. I heard you this morning in our bedroom, begging me to come back to you before you collapsed, and I know it sounds completely and utterly ridiculous, but it's me, Liam! It's me … Riley."

__________________

Liam was discharged the following morning but couldn't get the words Amanda had thrown at him late last night out of his mind. As he rode in the limo back to the palace, he fumbled with the hospital bracelet that was still taped around his wrist and gazed thoughtfully out the window. He wanted to believe, yet at the same time, he didn't. Believing meant getting hurt by something so outrageous and unbelievable that he couldn't allow himself to go there.

After she made her final declaration stating she was Riley, he destroyed her room in a fit of rage, and guards had to break through her door to stop the destruction. Liam heard her terrified cries and pleas for him to stop before he hurt himself, but nothing could have upset him more than this woman trying to pass herself off as his late wife.

He couldn't help but wonder how she knew all of those things. Maybe Riley mentioned them to her during their short time working together; however, his wife would never tell this woman -- or anyone else for that matter -- their closely guarded secrets. Liam twisted his arm and glanced down at the tiny scar he had long forgotten on his elbow. He rubbed a finger gingerly over the nearly invisible mark, knowing he had never mentioned it to Riley. He didn't recall Leo sharing it with her during their brief encounters together, either. 

She knew he collapsed yesterday while calling out for his wife. Amanda was found beaten in the park around that same time.

The only thing Liam knew for sure at this moment was that one of the questions that had haunted him for weeks had finally been answered: Amanda murdered his wife. 

Liam walked through the door of his quarters and was immediately met with the sound of his daughter's hearty cackles and what he believed to be Maxwell blowing raspberries on her tummy. He rounded the corner and entered the living room suite, where he saw Maxwell holding Ellie in front of his face, tickling her belly with his nose. Drake was seated on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table watching X-treme Cordonian Monster Trucks and absentmindedly twirling Ellie's pacifier on one of his fingers. 

Liam chuckled to himself. "It appears I'm missing one hell of a party."

Both Maxwell and Drake perked up at the sight of their friend looking at least somewhat healthier than he did yesterday and greeted him.

Liam lifted Ellie from Maxwell's grasp and sat on the sofa to snuggle her into his neck. Nothing felt better than holding her so tightly, smelling the scent of her lavender baby lotion, and hearing her excitement over being held and talked to by her daddy. He sat her down on his lap to face him and reached one hand around her back for support while he fussed over her. 

Drake and Maxwell were surprised by his calm demeanor; they both knew Amanda had been named the killer. That was the only thing they knew. They gave Liam time to play with his daughter, knowing how much the two of them had missed one another. Ellie had become a daddy's girl in every sense of the word, and Liam didn't mind one bit spoiling the brightest spot in his life. She watched his face intently as he made silly faces at her, which in turn caused her to let out a quick giggle and for her chubby arms to flap wildly. Liam couldn't help but notice her eyes had that same familiar gleam he saw in Amanda's last night. Please look at me, and you will know. 

Drake noticed the change in Liam's crestfallen face and cleared his throat. "What's wrong, Li?"

"Yeah, I noticed it too, Drake. Baby E always makes you happier, so what's up?" Maxwell asked as he passed Liam a fresh bottle. 

Liam was reluctant to share what happened last night with anyone, but at the same time, it was all he could think about, and he really wanted the advice of his closest friends. With a deep breath, Liam told them about dropping by Amanda's room at the hospital. Both guys questioned why he would do that to himself after everything he had gone through yesterday -- and then finding out she was the one who took Riley's life. 

Liam leaned back into the cushions of the sofa; Ellie was still feeding on the bottle he held for her. "I just … I needed to know why. I wanted to find out who she was working for."

"Did she tell you anything?" Drake asked.

Liam scoffed and nodded. "You could say that. She claimed she was … Riley."

Maxwell scurried over to Liam and placed his hands gently on Ellie's tiny ears, knowing what was about to be said.

"What the fuck?!" Drake remarked and clenched his fist. "I'll kill her myself."

Maxwell lifted his hands from Ellie's ears and scratched the edge of his brow. "She claimed she was Riley? What … I mean, why? Is it from her head injury?"

"Maybe … I don't know." Liam stood with Ellie still in his arms and walked to the fireplace. He glanced up at the picture of him and Riley that had been taken on their first trip to the Eiffel Tower during the Engagement Tour. "She knew things about our life … very personal, private things that no one else knew."

"Riley must have told her. Or, you were spied on." Drake countered.

Liam continued to study the picture, more specifically, Riley's flashing smile and sparkling eyes in it. He turned to face Drake and Maxwell with a thoughtful expression. "Let me ask you something, guys. Did Riley ever tell you what I wished for during the Lantern Festival, or … hell, even the combination to our safe?"

Both men were surprised by the oddity of his questions but answered together with a resounding no.

"If Riley didn't tell her closest friends … why would she share that information with a woman she barely knew?"

"Then you were spied on," Drake retorted.

Liam reflected for a moment, then twisted back around to study her face in the photo again. "She knew things that were said only to Riley in so many different places and different occasions throughout our relationship that there is no way it could have been incidents of spying. They were little, insignificant things ..." He closed his eyes and felt the first trickle of a tear roll down his cheek. "It just felt ... so real." 

Visibly shaken, and noticing Ellie's eyes beginning to roll with heaviness, Liam insisted he was fine, excusing himself to put Ellie down for her nap and get himself cleaned up.

Drake reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his car keys before he eyed Maxwell. "What do you say about paying our little friend a visit?"

___________________

That morning, Riley was visited by another trauma counselor who wanted to discuss her feelings about the previous day's assault. Everyone, including Liam, wanted answers from her that she didn't have, and, most likely, never would. While sifting through a tray of cold scrambled eggs, she mulled over the betrayal by someone she thought of as a friend, and how it had so profoundly affected her husband. Riley was in an impossible position that she had no clue how to get out of. If last night was any indication, she was a trigger for Liam. Enemy number one. If she were to somehow get him to believe her, how would she face the onslaught of backlash from a country that was sure to want her punished severely for the murder of their queen? 

For every question lobbed at her, Riley had her own.

Riley took a sip of her water. Over the small, plastic cup, she caught a glimpse of two familiar faces whose scowls implied they were no longer friendly. She placed her cup on the stand beside her and tucked a strand of her now golden-brown hair behind her ear. As she watched a timid Maxwell lean up against the wall closest to the door, Drake moved in closer to her with a look that suggested he was not there to catch up on old times.  

She glanced between the two men who were like her brothers and plastered on a nervous smile. "Drake … Maxwell," she acknowledged.

Drake lowered himself into an exaggerated bow before rising again to his fullest posture. "Your Majesty … that is who you are, right? Or have you decided you're someone else now? Perhaps you can be my late dad or Maxwell's mother. Whatever gets you the most sympathy from someone -- am I right …  Amanda?"

Riley closed her eyes, concern clouded on her features, and she turned her head away from him. "How is he, Drake?"

Drake scratched his neck and replied sarcastically, "Oh, he's just peachy. Got a lot to do, you know, with planning your execution and all."

Riley's hand shot to her mouth to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape. She didn't want to piss him off anymore than he already was, yet at the same time, she really did. "Since when did you start saying 'peachy,' Walker? 'Oh, he's just peachy,'" she mocked jokingly in his husky voice. "God, Drake … I love you sometimes, you big marshmallow."

Maxwell let out an uproarious guffaw and clutched his stomach. "You are a big marshmallow, Drake!"

Drake glared back at him. "Maxwell!" he shouted. "Who the fuck's side are you on?"

"Don't listen to him, Max," Riley goaded while she casually smoothed out the wrinkles in the blanket that covered her. "He knows you'd take a bullet for him." Realizing what she just said, Riley, cut her eyes to Drake and chortled. "I know, Drake. You actually did."

Drake furrowed his brows and felt a twinge in his shoulder. "Everyone knows that. It's public knowledge. Gonna have to try a little harder there, lady. Next thing you know you'll be telling me I drink whiskey." 

Riley smirked. "Try a little hard, huh?" She perched her lips and nodded, not sure if she really wanted to bring the subject up after so long, but it was her best shot. "I can tell you something that no one knows about except you … and I."

Drake crossed his arms. "Try me."

"Tell me, Drake … what did you say to me after Tariq left my room at Applewood?"

Drake scoffed. "I didn't tell you, shit."

Riley tapped her chin playfully. "Hmm, I think you did. And again in the Beaumont Ballroom when we were arranging the flowers in preparations to host the court."

Drake remained silent, but Maxwell's ears perked up. "What'd you say, Drake?"

Riley raised her brows and motioned for him to answer.

Drake rolled a doctor's stool out and squatted down on it and dragged his feet closer to her. "Listen here! You are not, Riley Brooks. You are just some con-woman who somehow managed to weasel her way into working for her before you murdered her. Now … you're just some has-been, who is about to be blown out of existence. You're going to leave Liam alone, Amanda. He's been through enough already."

"You said, and I quote ... 'The way you look at me sometimes, Brooks, if we're alone together, I'm not sure I'll be able to stop myself from doing something stupid.'"

Maxwell's jaw dropped, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Drake?"

Riley snickered when she noticed the red hot glow on Drake's neck, spread into his face. "My, my, Walker! I thought Olivia was the only one who could get your face that red."

Drake started to say something, then stopped himself. So many thoughts and feelings hit him all at once, and he didn't know what to make of them. What she was trying to assert was impossible, not to mention, absolutely insane. Drake felt like he was having a conversation with Riley. She had the same mannerisms, the same pattern of speech, the same way of annoying him, yet carried no resemblance to her. He stood from the stool and walked out of her room.

Maxwell stared at the closed door that Drake had just exited. He placed one hand on the door handle and let it linger there for a moment before he pulled it open. He paused and glanced over his shoulder. "I found something on the streets in Paris once. It was during the Engagement Tour, and something I really wanted but gave it to Riley instead. We were on the train …'

"...and Bertrand said, no. It was Chance, Maxwell … it was, Chance," 

With his hand still gripped loosely to the door, he turned slightly more to face her with a smile. "Maybe that's what I'm giving you again," Maxwell replied with a wink before he left.

____________

It had been one week exactly since Riley was admitted to the hospital. One week since she came back to this realm of life and found herself in a predicament she hadn't anticipated. Each day, she was questioned by the King's Guards relentlessly, in regards to the poisoning, and each day she continued to tell them she honestly didn't know what happened that night. 

No one had visited, not even Maxwell, who she thought might stop in. Riley knew she had planted the seeds in Liam, Drake and Maxwell's mind, but wasn't sure if she was doing more harm than good. If Amanda was indeed the one who took her life, then she was confident that no amount of evidence she could provide would lift the need for revenge, Liam so desperately craved.

After seven days in the hospital, Riley was released into the custody of the Crown and placed in a cell.

Liam wanted a quick trial, and to end her charade rather quickly. He had spent several sleepless nights contemplating her words, as well as, the one's Drake and Maxwell shared with him during their visit with her. Maxwell was somewhat open to the concept of Riley somehow being present in the body of this woman, while Drake claimed he just didn't know. Neither one of them pressed the issue too hard, both stating it was something he had to figure out on his own. If she was telling the truth, and he doubted highly that she was, he felt as if he would know.

He didn't.

Liam sat in his office, glancing studiously over transcripts of the guard's conversations with Amanda the past several days. Every single discussion was nothing but her telling them she didn't know anything. He had grown tired of what appeared to be her failure to cooperate with this investigation. What struck him the most was her lack of ability to provide them with answers that had nothing to do with her case. Something as simple as her birthdate couldn't be provided, and she didn't even have a response to why she was in the park during her own attack. Doctors assured him the blow to her head was not damaging enough to cause memory loss, but perhaps the emotional trauma was enough for her to want those memories repressed.

Liam's cell pinged, and he read the message from Bastien stating that Amanda had just been placed in one of the palace cells. After directing Bastien to meet him in the interrogation room with her, he gathered the transcripts and put them in a manila folder to take with him.

Riley sat at a small table with Bastien sitting opposite of her. One-by-one, he went over the evidence they had accumulated against Amanda; it wasn't much, but enough to strongly suggest she was the one who poisoned Riley. 

Liam stood in the corner of the room, his arms folded in front of him, listening to her give the same canned non-answers she had been spewing since the beginning. She didn't admit or acknowledge her part in the murder, but astoundingly, did not deny it either. He paced across the floor behind Bastien, listening intently to every word she said, hoping for a hint or clue that could be used against her. The room became cold, and an electrifying chill spread throughout his body as he felt her eyes following his every movement.  He paused for a moment to collect himself and quell the burning ache that for a reason he couldn't explain, awakened in his stomach.

Liam placed his hands on the table between Riley and Bastien and leaned onto them. Beads of sweat collected around his brows, and the pounding in his chest could be heard by everyone in that room. He asked his head guard to stop his questioning and looked directly at the lustrous face of the woman who sat before him. His voice shook lowly as he glowered at her. "You are not my wife."

"Liam." Riley raised her hand to touch his face, but he grabbed her wrist before she made contact.

"I am the King of Cordonia, and you will address me as such!"

She quickly rose to her feet with her wrist still gripped tightly by his grasp. "Look at me, Liam! You know who I am … I can see it on your face!"

Liam clenched his teeth and shirked her arm away from him. "You're right, I know exactly who you are! You're the woman who took my whole world away from me!"

Riley shook her head and waved an arm up and down the length of her body. "Yes! This is the body of the woman who took that away from you, but she's gone, Liam. She's gone!" Riley swallowed hard and tried to steady her nerves. "I heard every word you spoke to me! The blame and anger over leaving you alone. The lingering questions of how I was doing, if I was with your mother, how you would tell Ellie about me …  I heard every damn word you whispered to me every single day and I fought like hell to come back to you … to our daughter! I'm here, Liam!"

"Goddamn, you!!" Liam turned and jerked Bastien's gun from his side holster and placed the tip of its sharp barrel against Riley's temple. "Bastien! Get the fuck out of here now!"

Riley froze where she stood while Bastien questioned frantically, what his boss was doing. 

"I said, get out!" he seethed.

Bastien feared more for Liam's mental state than he did for what he assumed was about to be the execution of the woman who killed his Queen. The King was teetering on the edge again, and he questioned to himself whether Liam was thinking this method of justice through. At that moment, he had received his orders and exited with great hesitation. 

Liam shot a look to Riley, his breathing was erratic, and his hands trembled. "I want your confession now!"

Riley didn't know for certain whether Amanda was guilty; she more than likely was, but seeing Liam like this was more than she could bear. If killing her right now brought him closure … gave him the chance to move on … took just a tiny amount of his pain away,  then she would give him what he wanted.

"I just want you to be happy. It's all I ever wanted. And I can't tell you whether or not Amanda did this, but … I will confess on her behalf anyway."

Liam flipped the safety from the gun and affixed his finger firmly on the trigger. "Any last words?"

Riley clasped her hands over her stomach and put on a brave face. Her teary eyes looked at him resolutely and peace he hadn't expected. This woman was prepared to sacrifice herself for him, and it was quite obvious, she was perfectly content to do so. She smiled softly with a sincere flash of faith and love in her eyes. "I love you, my King. I always have …'

Liam's eyes swelled with a flood of tears as the gun dropped to his side. 

 "And I always will, my love ...  Riley?"

[mirdaniaa]

see the distant flume

While James is celebrating the birth of another bastard, a neglected Meg decides to have a little flirtation of her own.

This is a request from a friend who wanted me to transpose the Catherine x Liam storyline from Reign 1x17. This is set between TSP seasons 1 and 2, before Meg and Alexander have officially met.

Thank you to @itslaurenmae for looking this over and suggesting the title!

read it on ao3 if you wish

Christmas should be a happy occasion, but Meg is far from happy right now.

One of James’s mistresses is pregnant again, and rather than hide her away in a manor far from here, he’s showing off her pregnant belly at court, raising toasts to the unborn bastard and setting his mistress on his knee.

All in front of Meg, who has still not managed to conceive.

It’s not completely her fault. She is eager to be a good and dutiful wife, to bear her husband an heir, but James’s visits to her bed are infrequent at best.

“Isnae your fault, hen,” he’d reassured her. “You’re just...younger than what I’m used to. You still have a child’s body.”

At sixteen, Meg is not a child and does not have a child’s body anymore, but there is some truth to what he says; she is younger than what he’s used to. His youngest mistress is a whole decade older than Meg, and most of them are well into their thirties. He likes experienced women; and Meg, who came to him as a child of thirteen, is far from experienced.

She watches from the edges of the crowd as people surround James and...Elizabeth? Isabel? It’s so hard to keep track of his mistresses, really. Everyone is toasting to the new baby, and Meg is, once again, left to contemplate her own flat belly.

“She’s carrying high,” observes Ellen, one of her ladies-in-waiting. “That must mean it’s a girl.”

“She could be carrying a goat for all I care,” Meg says irritably, handing her goblet to Ellen and walking away from the great hall.

A man, however, falls into step just behind and beside her. “Yer a saucy one, aren’t you?”

“I beg your pardon?” Meg demands, whirling around to look at the impertinent man. She’s never met or even seen him before, but she can tell from his tartan that he is a Stewart. Not that that helps her narrow it down; Edinburgh is overrun with her husband’s kinsmen. He has a shaggy mop of black hair, a black beard trimmed short, dancing brown eyes, and a wide smile. “Saucy?!”

“Don’t be offended,” he says, standing far too close and not making any signs of deference due to a queen. “It’s a good word, ‘saucy.’ It’s sauce that makes food worth eating...and women like you that make life worth living.”

Meg flushes until she’s almost as red as her dress. As a Tudor Princess and Queen of Scotland, she’s been paid many compliments in her time, but none of them have left her feeling as warm as this one. He is blunt, like many Scotsmen, but to be this blunt...

“You are outrageous,” she says, turning to leave, but he grasps her wrist.

“Oh, don’t take yerself away from me, beauty!” he says with the earnestness of a young man courting, still not letting go of her wrist.

“Do you know who I am?!” she demands, wondering if perhaps he is drunk.

“I can guess.” He massages her wrist, and the gesture is so unexpectedly pleasant that she doesn’t stop him. “I’d say yer a lady-in-waiting.”

Meg opens her mouth to correct him--and then stops short. He isn’t saying these things to seek favor with his queen, he’s saying them because he thinks he’s flirting with some noblewoman.

“Yer too well-dressed te be anything else,” he continues, mistaking the surprise on her face. One hand skims down the length of her arm, the other slowly pressing her hand to his chest. “And by yer accent, I’d say you accompanied the queen here from England.”

Meg knows she should put a stop to this now...but she doesn’t want to. All night--for the past three years, really--her husband has made her feel childish and inadequate, not pretty enough to tempt him into bed with her. But here is a man openly flirting with her, not because of her crown, but because he likes what he sees.

So she smiles and says, “You’re right. I do serve the Queen of Scotland.”

“I knew it.” His thumb is massaging her knuckles, and through the thick layers of his clothes, she can feel a well-defined chest. “What do they call you?”

“Meg,” she says without thinking, but luckily, he doesn’t draw the connection; after all, there are many Megs and Margarets at court.

“Meg,” he hums. “I’m Alexander. Do you want te go someplace quieter, Meg? Just te talk,” he adds quickly.

“Just to talk?” she asks skeptically.

“Just te talk,” he confirms.

In the great hall behind her, she can hear James raising another toast to his son. A son Meg cannot give him.

“Alright,” she says to Alexander. “Let’s go someplace and...talk.”

.

They climb the stairs to the easternmost tower; from one of the windows, you can see all of Edinburgh laid out like a little toy city. It’s one of Meg’s favorite sights, but she has a feeling she won’t be doing much sightseeing tonight.

“Ah, I’ve missed this,” Alexander says, looking out at the city.

“You’ve been away?” she asks, wondering if this is why he doesn’t know who she is.

He takes her hands, rubbing them to keep her warm. “Aye, staying with my brother in France. Have you ever been?”

“To France? No.” She doesn’t miss the way Alexander’s hands slowly draw her closer to him. “I hear it’s beautiful.”

“It’s alright,” he says carelessly. “Nothing like Scotland.”

“Really?” she asks, a bit breathless at their proximity.

“Aye,” he hums. “Some think she’s cold and harsh...but she has a beauty that can pierce yer heart.” His hand reaches up to cradle her head, his palm warm against her cheek as his eyes search hers. He’s seeking permission, permission that Meg ought not give.

But why shouldn’t she? James is downstairs openly parading his indiscretions while the whole court celebrates; what harm is there in her kissing a stranger?

So she gives a small nod, and closes her eyes as Alexander leans down to kiss her.

His kiss is surprisingly gentle...at first, anyway. As their arms wind around each other, the kiss deepens, becoming hungrier and less gentle. She wants more, even finds herself moaning with how much she wants. Alexander wants more, too; he presses her against the wall, his hands feeling her through her dress. It feels good, he feels good, and that’s why Meg pulls away.

“I can’t,” she manages to slur, drunk off of desire. “I…”

“I won’t take yer maidenhead,” he murmurs, and she realizes that he thinks she’s a virgin. Beneath his experienced hands, she certainly feels like one. “But there are other things we can do.”

“Like what--” she starts to ask, but Alexander is already bending down, his hands gripping her thighs through her dress and lifting her. She gasps, clutching his shoulders as his hips press against hers. She can feel him even through her bunched up skirts; not completely, but enough. He kisses her neck while his hips begin to rock ever so slightly.

Meg feels as though she’s turned to butter, melting in his arms. He kisses her lips, her cheeks, her jaw, her neck, her collar, even the swell of her breasts, his hips slowly building a rhythm that is driving her mad. She feels as though her skin is too tight, as though she’s climbing towards a peak that never seems quite within her grasp.

“Meg,” Alexander murmurs, his voice so rough it almost sounds like a growl.

It’s his voice that brings her to her peak and over the edge, making her cry out as her hips rock desperately against his. She can feel him rocking back against her with equal desperation, both of them rutting like animals as they chase this feeling.

It’s a long moment later when she lowers herself onto trembling legs, her heart pounding. “I should go,” she says breathlessly, wondering what on earth she’s just done. She starts to head for the door, but Alexander’s hand closes around her wrist again, stopping her with an easy strength.

“I want te see you again,” he says breathlessly, desperately.

She lets out a small, hysterical laugh. “Don’t worry, you will.” And with that, she leaves him, feeling so light that her feet barely touch the steps on her way down.